Saturday, July 25, 2009

Statement of Faith at the "Upper Room"...(Pt.#2)

1. God, One entity yet three distinct persons (The Divine Godhead) is; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. At creation God said, “Let us make man in our own image”. Jesus prayed to the Father; Jesus had the power to forgive sin; Jesus said the Father would send the Holy Spirit, “In His name” after His death, burial, and resurrection. The work, action, and operation of God in through three distinct personalities are what we believe, what we see, and what we teach from the Bible.

2. Original Sin, doubt, and the depravity of man; We acknowledge the fact that without an understanding of what man really is there is no need for a Savior’s Love and mercy for humanity through His suffering and death on the cross. At the first sin of humanity God made a promise to the serpent that deceived Eve, that He would send a Savior to redeem man from what Adam lost; Second, God’s curse upon humanity said all men born after Adam would be born with a sinful nature in a fallen state of being. Because of this inherited depravity man naturally doubts or rejects the truth about God in Christ. We believe as the Bible teaches that man can be forgiven from sinful acts and likewise be delivered from a sinful nature through faith in the redemptive work of Christ.

3. The true Gospel according to the Prophets is Our Church foundation; The true Gospel was Prophetic utterance by the Old Testament Prophets that said a Saviour would suffer, die by crucifixion, resurrect from the grave, and thus send the Holy Spirit down from heaven . Christ preached the first Gospel message to His disciples after the ressurection. The true Gospel in this present “Church Age” is confirmed through the New Testament records of the Bible. This Biblical truth by the work of the Holy Spirit sets the standard within our local body.

4. Repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit in the human soul. Repentance is the process of a changed mind or turn that men and women make when they accept Christ into their hearts for the forgiveness of sins. Godly sorrow works enough repentance into the human soul that “fallen man” can accept Christ. The Gospel we preach by the goodness of God leads men and women to repentance.

5. Divine Grace: We believe Divine Grace (a gift from God) is the greatest blessing any man can receive . Divine Grace is what keeps the Holy Spirit present in our lives . Divine Grace saves the soul from sin and initiates holiness of heart and conduct through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only by Grace can a sinner become a child of God..

6. Faith: We believe as the Bible teaches that men and women can “keep” faith or “lose” faith. Faith comes to man by hearing the Word of God. Faith is grown and can be added to. Faith is consent of the human will. A faithful man will stay focused on things that concern Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. By faith man will accept Christ for the forgiveness of sins and desire a renunciation from all wrongdoing. Faith does require obedience.

7. Justification by Faith: We believe Justification is God’s hand of mercy extended to a penitent sinner “when” he believes. It is a pardon from God that places a fallen man into right-standing with God. Justification from God declares fallen man to be “not guilty” because of his trust alone in a Savior’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Justification by faith is what allows a penitent man to approach God for the fullness of Salvation and Sanctification through the Spirit.

8. Regeneration: Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit within the human soul that comes through the “New Birth”. Regeneration provides fallen man with a new nature. Regeneration allows the Holy Spirit to testify Christ to the heart of a believer. It is the beginning of Salvation where a new desire is given to the believer to “stop” practicing sin.

9. Holiness of heart and conduct: We believe a life of holiness begins at the New Birth by the work of the Holy Spirit “upon” and “within” the soul of a believer. When the heart of penitent sinner is cleansed from sin this individual thus becomes a child of God through regeneration of the Spirit. Belief in the truth and the work of the Holy Spirit within the soul, allows a believer in Christ to maintain holy conduct throughout life because of his “God given desire” to obey the truth.

10. Sanctification through the Spirit: We believe sanctification through the Spirit severs man from the world and his unholy state of being. As the Gospel message ministers to soul of man by the work of the Holy Spirit, God’s saving power begins at the conviction of a sinner and thus leads to repentance. In the New Birth the Holy Spirit regenerates the soul of a believer and provides him with a new nature. After the new nature is given to man the work of the Holy Spirit reveals “death to the Old man” or “simply a crucifixion of self”. When self is “put off” a believer is then able to receive the fullness of Salvation by the “Baptism with the Holy Ghost”. This final work of the Holy Spirit through a Baptism with the Holy Ghost cleanses the heart of a believer from the conflicting and inherited carnal nature. This final work of the Spirit of God in the heart of a believer is called “Entire Sanctification”.

11. Doctrine of Baptisms: We believe two Baptisms are prevalent regarding Salvation to the human soul. The Holy Spirit under the Saving Grace of God performs both baptisms. The initial baptism is the Spirit’s baptism into the body of Christ. This baptism puts the believer into Christ at the New Birth where a new nature is received. The second baptism is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost that follows the new birth and deals specifically with the conflict between the carnal and divine nature. This subsequent baptism deals only with a selfish part of a believer that only the Spirit of God can remove from the soul of man. The inner evidence of the second baptism is a cleansed heart from the carnal nature. The outer evidence of this baptism is speaking in unknown tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Water Baptism performed by a preacher is not necessary for salvation of the human soul.

12. Christian Perfection: Christian perfection is the work of God in the heart and life of a believer. Christian perfection is not based on the works of man. Perfection deals specifically with what God does “in” man; not what man does to reach God. Man in no way is perfect on his own accord. The words Perfect, perfected, and perfection used 120 times in the King James Version of the Bible. Perfection deals specifically with the “complete or completed” work of God in the soul of a believer.

13. Distinction between Law and Grace: We believe that right division of God’s Word is essential for all students of the Bible. The distinction between the Law of Moses given to Israel and Grace given to the Church under New Testament teaching is made within our ministry. This distinction beautifully allows us to teach the proper context of Old Testament prophecy, Christ’s earthly ministry from the Gospels, and New Testament doctrine since the death of a Savior. This right division has enabled us to bring clarification to topics like the Jew and Gentile and the distinction between the Church and Israel. The foundation of this distinction has become a great blessing for our Church and toward our discipleship.

14. Distinction between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven: We believe that within the four Gospels, during the earthly ministry of Our Lord, two Kingdoms were mentioned and confirmed by Christ. These were the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is a promised earthly and visible Kingdom where Christ will rule tangible earth from the Throne of His father David in Jerusalem. The Kingdom of God is a heavenly and invisible Kingdom that governs the hearts of believers in Christ by the Holy Spirit. In the present Kingdom of God, Christ seated in the Throneroom awaits His future return to earth to set up His visible Kingdom in Israel.

15. The Rapture: We believe that Christ is coming back to take the Church, the Spiritual body of Christ out of this present world. This “calling out of the saints” to meet with Christ in the air is the Prelude to the Great Tribulation spoken of in the Revelation of John. The Rapture is a New Testament truth that awaits Christ’s return and will happen in the blink of an eye. Preparation for the Rapture is a clean heart provided by the truth of the Gospel message through the forgiveness of sins.

16. The Great Tribulation: We believe the Great Tribulation is a seven-year period without the mercy of God that takes place “after” the Rapture of the Church. The Great Tribulation is a prophetic truth spoken of and confirmed in Daniel’s 70-week prophecy as the last week where the Anti-Christ will confirm the covenant. The Great Tribulation was called “a time of sorrow” for Israel and spoken of by Jesus in Matthews Gospel. In the Book of Revelation the Great Tribulation is broken into (two) three and one half year time frames. During this seven-year period without God’s mercy it will be a time of sorrow that no man has ever known in the history of humanity. At that time through God’s extended plan of redemption Israel that is gathered from the four corners of the earth will accept Christ as the Promised Messiah.

17. The second coming of Christ: We believe that during the Tribulation period Christ returns in Divine Judgment to minister wrath upon the earth before the promised restoration of all things. The Bible calls this End time event the “Wrath of the Lamb”. At the end of the seven-year tribulation Satan’s Kingdom will also fall. A bodily resurrection will occur and those that rise with will visibly reign with Christ in Jerusalem as kings and priests for a thousand years. At that time the Kingdom of Heaven promised from the foundation of the world will be established as Christ visibly rules from the Throne of His father David in Israel.

18. Eternal Judgment seat of God: We believe in Heaven and Hell as Jesus himself taught and the Bible teaches. The saved and unsaved souls of men and women are rewarded or punished according to God’s Divine Judgment. Eternal rewards and eternal damnation are two subjects taught within the context of the Bible. Bodily resurrection in regards to Judgment will occur at the Rapture, the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ, and at the Great White Throne Judgment. At the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ death , hell, and the Devil himself will be cast into the sea of fire for Eternity.

19. New Testament Church structure: We believe in New Testament church structure the same as in the first century. The office of an Apostle is the same today as in the records of the New Testament after the death of a Savior. The Eldership, ordination of elders, and order in the local Church is the same today as in the early church (bishops, deacons, etc). The gifts of the Spirit operate today the same as in the early Church because Christ is still alive in the Throneroom. Speaking in tongues did not cease at the early Church because it’s the same Holy Spirit in the same body of Christ today where Christ governs from the Throneroom. According to the Bible Spiritual gifts and God given appointments concerning Church government still exist today. No records of the Bible say otherwise.

20. Fivefold ministry: Our mission to a lost world is a Spirit led mission where Christ governs from the Throneroom. A clean heart, subjection to Christ as head of the Church and obedience to the truth of the Bible allows our local body to operate under Christ’s Divine authority. Christ “gives” gifts unto men for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry. These said gifts by Divine appointment are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

21. Divine Healing: Divine healing is the will of God for all humanity based on the suffering and death of a Savior. Divine Healing did not cease at the first Century Church. Christ instructed the disciples that in His name these signs shall follow. Greater works than these are done now by Christ from the Throneroom. Isaiah prophesied Divine Healing in the Old Testament records. The miracle of healing is blessing from God and only received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

22. Truth of the Holy Scriptures: We believe the Bible is our textbook and guide within God’s ownership. Bible truth through the Gospel message is what we preach. Truth changes hearts and lives and that is our mission. The moral truth of the New Testament is a present tense truth passed down from holy men of God 2000 years ago. Prophetic truth about a Savior that stems back to God’s promise to the serpent in the Garden, Noah’s Ark and the Flood, Abraham’s promised seed, Moses and the giving of Law, etc. actually confirmed the coming Messiah and His death, burial, and resurrection. In the four Gospels Jesus quoted and confirmed Holy Scripture from the Old Testament records. Scripture has confirmed scripture through the pages of history. Many New Testament verses were quoted by the Apostles from the Old Testament. Many Prophecies concerning Christ have already been fulfilled however many prophecies concerning His Kingdom to come are still yet “unfulfilled”.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Statement of Faith at the "Upper Room"

The following is a product of the "Apostle's Doctrine"according to the New Testament records of the Bible:

· The foundation of our Church is based on the true Gospel message according to the Prophets. (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Romans 1:1-5). The truth of the message we preach is one that ministers the person of Christ to the human soul. This Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation that morally changes the hearts and lives of those that trust Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation of the human soul is our main objective. We know Christ changes the hearts and lives of those who believe. We use a King James Version of the Bible to teach from.

· We are a New Testament Church that believes, practices, and teaches Christian Holiness by the power of God’s Grace. This Grace is what keeps the Holy Spirit present in our lives.

· The Bible is our textbook. We preach from Old Testament prophecies, the four Gospels, and the New Testament records. The Bible’s historical, archeological, geographical, and prophetic truth has formed the basis of faith we live by. From the Holy Scriptures based on Christ we teach God’s plan of redemption for the human family, Our teaching ranges from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation i.e.; Creation, Adam, Noah, The Law of Moses, the Prophets, the Church, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the second coming of Christ, the 1000 year reign, and final redemption through Christ’s millennial reign.

· Winning souls and maintaining fellowship through Christ is a priority within our local body. We believe in a daily responsibility and accountability to God through a Savior’s love. The following statements of our faith will beautifully describe the distinction between the unbeliever’s frailty/depravity in light of the believer’s accountability/responsibility to God in three persons (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). The work and action of God within our hearts and lives through faith is the standard of Christianity we live by.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Hubert Lindsey got this writers attention...by pointing me to Christ!

For 21 years I've been a writer/believer in Christ. God put me into the ministry in 1989. It wasn't my choice...it was God's. I met Brother Lindsey in 1988 and began to study his theology. I learned what little I know about the Bible through extensive study. Brother Lindsey prompted study of the Bible... in my personal life as a minister of Christ. I was already called by the Lord, but through Brother Lindsey's teachings I was able to realize and understand what God wanted me to do as a minister of the Grace of God.

Brother Lindsey's teachings of Bible Truth always point people to Christ. Knowledge of Bible Truth "floods" anyone's thinking who sits under this type of teaching. I must admit what I learned most from Brother Lindsey was to teach people to realize and recognize the person of Christ. The importance of learning the Word of God in this manner made me steady in the Christ in whom I serve with a whole heart. Brother Lindsey's theology is not "milk"...it's strong meat. Strong meat belongeth to those who are of "full age".

Knowledge of the Word of God has "fortified" this writer's walk with Christ for 21 years. Biblical knowledge has become the basis of my faith. Brother Lindsey's timeless teachings of Bible Truth will never die as long as I have life in the Spirit on this side of Heaven. I know the worth of this type of teaching! That's why I write! That's why I publish Brother Lindsey's material! It's the knowledge of the Truth of the Bible, that Brother Lindsey taught, that needs so much to be publicized! This Blog has become a vehicle for that work of art! This Blog has became a work of God's beauty! Brother Lindsey would be honored to see the fruit of this Blog, if he were here.

This writer had the privilege to personally commit to Brother Lindsey before he died. I committed to him that I would carry on and continue this ministry... as long as I lived. God since has made way for this Blog to carry on that ministry, my writings to be published, Brother Lindsey's audios, Brother Lindsey's past Church services, Brother Lindsey's Theology and so much more!

To Christ be the Glory! May the God of our Creation and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless this ministry over the Internet and at the Upper Room.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Hubert Lindsey told people they were going to Hell. So did Jesus!

Some people think its cold and uncompassionate to tell people they're going to Hell. Other people don't even believe there is a Hell. Would you believe its God's compassion to save a lost soul from Eternal Damnation that's found in the fires of Hell? Would you believe that Brother Lindsey had compassion for lost souls and gave his total life to the cause of Christ to save souls from the Eternal fiery pits of Hell's Fire? Jesus did the same!

Hell's Damnation is not mentioned to much anymore as people think its an uncompassionate and cold subject that doesn't need to be touched on today. The Bible teaches the opposite. I personally teach Hell and make people acknowledge the fact that they don't have to believe in Hell to go there. I got that slogan from Brother Lindsey.

Today, I read other Blogs such as...Stone the Preacher...and hear excellent testimonies from men that reached back as far as 1968 where Brother Lindsey preached on the streets of Berkeley to radicals, hippies, protesters, students, organizations,the upper crust, the lower crust,the rich, the famous,the talented, the untalented...and just PEOPLE! Brother Lindsey gave himself to the cause of Christ...totally!

People still testify to such today...Why? They were touched by the Christ behind Brother Lindsey's preaching. Even back 40 years ago. Here's a beautiful testimony that touched my heart. It came across another Blog yesterday

In the fall of 1968, I was a brand new freshman, walking onto the campus at UC right at the corner of Bancroft and Telegraph. There he was, surrounded by a small crowd. Isaac the Satanist was mocking him. I was from a little resort town in the Sierras and had never seen anything like this. Somehow I got found myself at the front of the gathering. I had never seen anything like this! He was telling us that we were going to hell and other similar things, with energy, humor and anger. Suddenly, he pointed me out. “And you, you don’t know what you’re doing. Do you?” That was it. I was a 18 year old kid suddenly exposed and humiliated in front of a bunch of strangers. I got away and after that, kept my distance.

But he was right. I didn’t know what I was doing. Three years later, I met Jesus. For the past 38 years have been all over the world, carrying the love and power of God. Unknown to me, Hubert had given me “the word of the Lord.”

Monday, July 20, 2009

Divine Grace

Did you know Divine Grace and Apostleship comes to men of faith today through Christ the head of the Church? The Apostle Paul stated that he received Grace and Apostleship through his personal faith in the Gospel. Paul's faith in a resurrected Christ kept him obedient to the truth of the Gospel...but it was the Grace of God that produced the character of Christ within that soul. The theme of the New Testament Scriptures...Acts-Revelation ring to the tune of "Divine Grace" or "the exceeding abundant Grace" or what some simply called, "Great Grace". The miracle of the Divine Grace of God... is life-changing power that only comes to people who trust and accept what Christ did for them personally at Calvary and what He's doing "now" presently from the Throneroom.

1 Thess 4:7..For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Divine Grace is the power of the Gospel message that changes the moral make-up of sinful man. How? Grace rids man of sins dominion. Romans 6:14

The Grace of God...saves the soul of sinful man from eternal death. Romans 5:20-21

The Grace of God...teaches sinful men to be Godly, righteous, and sober in this present world. Titus 2:11-14

Right standing with God is a believers state of existence because of Divine Grace...through faith. Romans 5:19

Righteousness is the gift of God's Divine Grace given to those who accept Christ. Romans 5:17

The Divine Grace of God...produces the character of Christ in the heart of a believer. 1 Thess. 2:10

Divine Grace produces holiness of heart and conduct man is unable to receive without Christ.

Divine Grace keeps the Holy Spirit present in the life of a believer.

The Bible says where sin abounds...Grace abounds "much, much more". Romans 5:20

The Grace of God is what changes men morally by giving them a holy heart...thus the body becomes the temple. 1 Cor. 3:17

When Paul received Divine Grace and Apostleship... he became a "holy example".Romans 1:1-5. Unlike the Law of Moses...Divine Grace changed Paul's behavior and character. Paul stated that in his old life he was the chief of sinners but in the new life he became a pattern or example of holiness to those who followed his ministry.1 Tim. 1:14-16

Strong's concordance says that Grace is a Divine influence upon the heart of a believer that reflects in that life.

Divine Grace has nothing to do with the "works" of man, or human effort, or human achievement. Divine Grace is the action of God. Divine Grace is the present tense operation of God that is bestowed upon the heart of man through faith and trust in Christ's redemptive work for personal forgiveness if sins.

2 Tim 1:8-9...but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,