This exposition is primary focused on a Biblical promise that God gave about a coming Messiah who was foretold to be…“Thy Seed”. Thy seed pertains to a promise that God made to Abraham and the Hebrew nation in many chapters in the book of Genesis. This promise of Christ to be “Thy Seed” given from God to Abraham…was given at a period of time 430 years before the Law of Moses was given to Israel. Genesis 22 is only one of many promises made by God about, “Thy Seed”, Christ.
Gen 22:17-18…That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in “thy seed” shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
In God’s promise of “thy seed” it was stated that all the nations of Earth would be blessed. All nations of the Earth included the entire nation of Israel and the entire Gentile world. All nations speak of the entire human family. This is the prophetic picture here. This direct promise from God, given to Abraham (before the Law), was confirmed to be Christ by the Apostle Paul in the records of the Galatian Epistle.
Gal 3:16…Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to “thy seed, which is Christ”.
Notice Paul said not to seeds (plural)…but to Christ, “Thy seed” (singular). Within the person of Christ came the Church, the body of Christ, the Grace dispensation, and the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant we now live in. In the New Testament records Christ “Thy seed” was considered to be a blessing upon both the Jewish nation and the Gentile nation. This blessing was the Holy Spirit’s omnipresence in the Church Age that made both Jew and Gentile “one” in “Thy seed” ….Christ.
Gal 3:27-29…For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Notice Paul said believers today in the Church Age are baptized into Christ and thus become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise God made to Abraham. If you look back to the period of time when God promised His blessing to be upon Abraham and his chosen people, the Hebrew nation it was 430 years before the Law of Moses was given. God gave this called out people (The Hebrew nation) a promised land. God gave this called out people (The Hebrew nation) a covenant that was sealed by a physical circumcision in the flesh. Circumcision of the flesh separated this chosen people from the rest of humanity. All this was a miniature picture of God’s Promises of the land and complete restoration on the Earth for His elect, Israel.
God’s covenant relationship with His elect and chosen people by promise, allowed Him to keep a perfect genealogy that would bring forth the Son of God…Christ. This in turn would bring forth the promised Messiah (Thy Seed), according the pre-determined plan, purpose, and will of God for the Jew first and also the Gentile. Abraham by faith trusted the promises God. Abraham by faith had glimpse and future hope of “Thy Seed Christ” to be the promised Messiah.
Many Old Testament promises of Christ were concealed in Torah but were actually confirmed when Christ came. These promises were later confirmed and written about in the New Testament Epistles by the holy Apostles and Prophets under the Grace covenant and the power of a resurrected Christ. Confirmation of the promised “seed, Christ” concealed in the Torah were given to Abraham and passed down to Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc. These promises gave hope to Abraham and his offspring for the coming of a promised Messiah (Thy Seed) who would bless all the families on the Earth. Notice how God said He would “bless” all the families of the Earth.
Gen 12:2-3…And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The blessing of Christ (Thy seed) is what allowed God’s Grace to come upon the Gentiles at present. The promise of the omnipresence of Spirit of God flowed from the cross at Calvary. The Law of Moses was abolished and those who were afar off (Gentiles) were made nigh by the Blood of Christ. Those promises came through the Hebrew nation. Christ (Thy Seed) was promised in many of the Old Testament records. Those promises were not limited to the Old Testament only! Today Christians by faith (Jew and Gentile) are just as much entitled to God’s promises as Abraham was. Why? Because God promised “Thy seed” in the Torah but fulfilled that promise when Christ died and ascended to Heaven where He sent down His Holy Spirit to be in the Church today. The Blessing of Abraham's promise from God thus came upon the Gentiles.
Gal 3:7, 8…Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:14…for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Additional food for thought.
• Christ was also foretold to be the seed of a woman in Genesis 3:15.
• When the fulness of time came Christ was made of a woman and made under law Gal. 4:4.
• Christ was conceived and born of a virgin and had no earthly Father.
• Christ was God’s seed and not the seed of a natural man.
• Christ was “Thy Seed” that blessed all the families on Earth through His death, burial, and resurrection.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Where Flowers Grow
Under the grave
No flowers grow
Within the heart
No love dost know
Above the earth
Sunlight abides
Reach out and choose
His arms are wide
I could not choose
For I was dead
Sins, trespasses
Lay o'er my head
Layers of sin
Around did coil
Til thrusting Word
Dug up the soil
Forgiveness rained
Upon my soul
Lifting me from
Death's darkened hole
He covered me
In purest white
Redeeming blood
Of darkest night
Breathed into me
His Spirit's light
Opened my eyes
And gave me sight
Above the grave
Where flowers grow
Within my heart
Thy love I know
...a Christian poem made Christmas Day December 25, 2010...by rosehorseblue from ChristianBlog.com
No flowers grow
Within the heart
No love dost know
Above the earth
Sunlight abides
Reach out and choose
His arms are wide
I could not choose
For I was dead
Sins, trespasses
Lay o'er my head
Layers of sin
Around did coil
Til thrusting Word
Dug up the soil
Forgiveness rained
Upon my soul
Lifting me from
Death's darkened hole
He covered me
In purest white
Redeeming blood
Of darkest night
Breathed into me
His Spirit's light
Opened my eyes
And gave me sight
Above the grave
Where flowers grow
Within my heart
Thy love I know
...a Christian poem made Christmas Day December 25, 2010...by rosehorseblue from ChristianBlog.com
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The greatest indictment in the Bible
Rom 3:9-13...for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips
This great indictment and very important Bible Truth is a necessary subject for any student of the Bible to know and understand. This great indictment is a Biblical accusation made against fallen man who is criminal in the eyes of God. God's Word from Genesis to Revelation teaches why man is criminal in the eyes of God. Why man is rebellious against the will of God. Why man is a violater of Divine Law. Why man naturally "rejects" Christ; and why behind every sin that man commits is "rejection" of the Lord Jesus Christ.
These many issues are taught in the Word of God and that's the reason why the Apostle Paul compared fallen man to the light of the holy presence of Christ...in all of his preaching. Paul preached Christ and manifested the power of God's Grace. The Apostle Paul in all of his letters made this great contrast between fallen man and the power and glory of the supremacy of Christ. When a comparison is taught between fallen man and the revelation of Christ, man see's himself as he really is. Man see's his fallen void and emptiness. Man see's his rebellious nature that shows him he's an enemy against God. Man in light of Christ see's himself out of harmony with God. Thus he realizes his need for a Saviour.
The Apostle Paul was a converted Jew with knowledge of the fact that Jew's violated the Law of Moses, but Paul also indicted the Gentiles who were also accountable to God by their own conscience. Paul realized all men, both Jew and Gentile were "under sin". Notice the language, "under sin" which implied the carnal nature dominated the heart of man.
What is man? What is the nature of man? How does the Bible define the human being and the human make-up? The Bible teaches the make-up of a whole man is spirit, soul, and body. Within this human make-up and human being is the inherited fallen nature of man that controls the whole man...spirt, soul, and body. What controls the spirit man? What controls the soul of man? What controls the body of man? Within the human make-up you have the mind, the will, the intellect, the thinking, the understanding, the reasoning, etc. All these faculties of the mental process are part of the human make-up. The Bible teaches these faculties are inclined to sin, inclined to reject Christ, inclined to rebell against God, inclined to live unholy, inclined to do wrong, etc.
Notice the following Bible language of the King James version...
Men are under sin
Men are servants to sin
Man is carnal sold under sin
Man is born disobedient because of Adam's sin
Scoffers are "willingly" ignorant...showing the human will is controlled by sin
Men have the deceitfulness of sin within their being
Men have the deceivableness of unrighteousness and receive not the love of the truth
The mind is "blinded" with sin
Human understanding "darkened"
Man is without strength
Men are enemies against God..rebellious by nature...rejecters of Christ
No man is good...no not one
There is no goodness found in the heart of any man. The heart is...polluted with, tainted with sin, and morally corrupt. When you realize that the carnal nature has this much dominion over you...you can then see why man's choices, decisions, and intentions can seem right but still fall short of the Grace of God. Human effort can fail. God's Grace will never fail.
Paul knew about the whole being of man and the entire human make-up. Paul realized that man's natural charcter was controlled by the carnal nature that "compells" man to sin against God.
1 Cor 2:14...But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A natural man (without God) is lawless by nature. Rebellious by nature. Carnal by nature. Why? Carnal is the make-up of fallen mans nature. The rebelliousness and lawlessnes of fallen man is what Paul was bringing these charges against. This indictment in Roman's 3 brought charges against fallen man... both Jew and Gentile. Why did Paul accuse the whole human family of being guilty in eyes of God. Because man is morally corrupt and sinful. The will is tainted by the fallen nature. The choices are intended to be right but man still does wrong. Why does man choose to do right and still do wrong? He's controlled by indwelling sin which the Bible defines as a carnal and corrupt nature.
Rom 3:9-13...for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips
Why does God's word say there is none righteous? Because "self" cannot make man righteous. Why don't men understand God? The natural man cannot receive or know about the spiritual things of God. Men don't seek God because they are self seekers. Men cannot go the way of God without God's Grace. God's ways and man's ways are opposite. Men do things "unprofitable" in effort to acheive, to advance toward, or to acomplish God's favor. No man can do good without Christ beause there is no good found in the carnal heart of man. The heart of man is filthy in the eyes of God...so likewise man's tongue and words are filthy also.
Paul made this great indictment against fallen man because he knew how desperately man needs to be saved from the bondage of sin, and liberated from the Devils nature. The Gospel message about who Christ is and what Christ is doing brings the Grace of God to a lost and morally corrupt world. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ breaks the yoke of bondage caused from man's siful nature. This power of Divine Grace "gives freedom to the human soul of a believer in Christ". For the first time...man can do right because he's made right by the Grace of God. Man can be holy because he's made holy by the Grace of God. Holiness and righteousness of heart are given when man accepts the person of Christ.
2 Cor 4:3-4...But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Christ "breaks" the human will from rebellion to obedience. Christ turns the attitude of rejection to acceptance. God declares man to "be" righteous and to "do" right. Believers in Christ are led by the Spirit. The human will is taken out of the picture by the Grace of God. We are so blessed to live in this Church Age where Christ performs the greatest of miracles...the "new birth". This blessing and miracle of the new birth found in the Grace of God qualifies man to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire...that sanctifies the heart of man from all carnality. Yes, my brother the Grace of God can purify your heart from "all" carnality even as Christ is pure. God's Grace has the power to do it!
Compare God's Grace with Paul's indictment against fallen man and you will see Christ. Compare yourself with Christ and you will either see your need to be forgiven or your need crucified from self. Read the Roman letter in chapter three and ponder this great indictment against fallen man. May it bless your heart and life with Christ.
This great indictment and very important Bible Truth is a necessary subject for any student of the Bible to know and understand. This great indictment is a Biblical accusation made against fallen man who is criminal in the eyes of God. God's Word from Genesis to Revelation teaches why man is criminal in the eyes of God. Why man is rebellious against the will of God. Why man is a violater of Divine Law. Why man naturally "rejects" Christ; and why behind every sin that man commits is "rejection" of the Lord Jesus Christ.
These many issues are taught in the Word of God and that's the reason why the Apostle Paul compared fallen man to the light of the holy presence of Christ...in all of his preaching. Paul preached Christ and manifested the power of God's Grace. The Apostle Paul in all of his letters made this great contrast between fallen man and the power and glory of the supremacy of Christ. When a comparison is taught between fallen man and the revelation of Christ, man see's himself as he really is. Man see's his fallen void and emptiness. Man see's his rebellious nature that shows him he's an enemy against God. Man in light of Christ see's himself out of harmony with God. Thus he realizes his need for a Saviour.
The Apostle Paul was a converted Jew with knowledge of the fact that Jew's violated the Law of Moses, but Paul also indicted the Gentiles who were also accountable to God by their own conscience. Paul realized all men, both Jew and Gentile were "under sin". Notice the language, "under sin" which implied the carnal nature dominated the heart of man.
What is man? What is the nature of man? How does the Bible define the human being and the human make-up? The Bible teaches the make-up of a whole man is spirit, soul, and body. Within this human make-up and human being is the inherited fallen nature of man that controls the whole man...spirt, soul, and body. What controls the spirit man? What controls the soul of man? What controls the body of man? Within the human make-up you have the mind, the will, the intellect, the thinking, the understanding, the reasoning, etc. All these faculties of the mental process are part of the human make-up. The Bible teaches these faculties are inclined to sin, inclined to reject Christ, inclined to rebell against God, inclined to live unholy, inclined to do wrong, etc.
Notice the following Bible language of the King James version...
Men are under sin
Men are servants to sin
Man is carnal sold under sin
Man is born disobedient because of Adam's sin
Scoffers are "willingly" ignorant...showing the human will is controlled by sin
Men have the deceitfulness of sin within their being
Men have the deceivableness of unrighteousness and receive not the love of the truth
The mind is "blinded" with sin
Human understanding "darkened"
Man is without strength
Men are enemies against God..rebellious by nature...rejecters of Christ
No man is good...no not one
There is no goodness found in the heart of any man. The heart is...polluted with, tainted with sin, and morally corrupt. When you realize that the carnal nature has this much dominion over you...you can then see why man's choices, decisions, and intentions can seem right but still fall short of the Grace of God. Human effort can fail. God's Grace will never fail.
Paul knew about the whole being of man and the entire human make-up. Paul realized that man's natural charcter was controlled by the carnal nature that "compells" man to sin against God.
1 Cor 2:14...But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A natural man (without God) is lawless by nature. Rebellious by nature. Carnal by nature. Why? Carnal is the make-up of fallen mans nature. The rebelliousness and lawlessnes of fallen man is what Paul was bringing these charges against. This indictment in Roman's 3 brought charges against fallen man... both Jew and Gentile. Why did Paul accuse the whole human family of being guilty in eyes of God. Because man is morally corrupt and sinful. The will is tainted by the fallen nature. The choices are intended to be right but man still does wrong. Why does man choose to do right and still do wrong? He's controlled by indwelling sin which the Bible defines as a carnal and corrupt nature.
Rom 3:9-13...for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips
Why does God's word say there is none righteous? Because "self" cannot make man righteous. Why don't men understand God? The natural man cannot receive or know about the spiritual things of God. Men don't seek God because they are self seekers. Men cannot go the way of God without God's Grace. God's ways and man's ways are opposite. Men do things "unprofitable" in effort to acheive, to advance toward, or to acomplish God's favor. No man can do good without Christ beause there is no good found in the carnal heart of man. The heart of man is filthy in the eyes of God...so likewise man's tongue and words are filthy also.
Paul made this great indictment against fallen man because he knew how desperately man needs to be saved from the bondage of sin, and liberated from the Devils nature. The Gospel message about who Christ is and what Christ is doing brings the Grace of God to a lost and morally corrupt world. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ breaks the yoke of bondage caused from man's siful nature. This power of Divine Grace "gives freedom to the human soul of a believer in Christ". For the first time...man can do right because he's made right by the Grace of God. Man can be holy because he's made holy by the Grace of God. Holiness and righteousness of heart are given when man accepts the person of Christ.
2 Cor 4:3-4...But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Christ "breaks" the human will from rebellion to obedience. Christ turns the attitude of rejection to acceptance. God declares man to "be" righteous and to "do" right. Believers in Christ are led by the Spirit. The human will is taken out of the picture by the Grace of God. We are so blessed to live in this Church Age where Christ performs the greatest of miracles...the "new birth". This blessing and miracle of the new birth found in the Grace of God qualifies man to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire...that sanctifies the heart of man from all carnality. Yes, my brother the Grace of God can purify your heart from "all" carnality even as Christ is pure. God's Grace has the power to do it!
Compare God's Grace with Paul's indictment against fallen man and you will see Christ. Compare yourself with Christ and you will either see your need to be forgiven or your need crucified from self. Read the Roman letter in chapter three and ponder this great indictment against fallen man. May it bless your heart and life with Christ.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Amazing Grace...by Hubert T. Lindsey
The following audio/video was orginally recorded at a morning service at the Church at Birmingham in 08/28/1988. It magnifies the greatness of God's Grace and puts Grace in contrast with man's own abilty. The 30 minute sermon comes out of the Philippian Letter with great authority. It magnifies God's Amazing Grace through the power and presence of a living Christ.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Christmas Walk in Williamsburg Ohio..2010
Greetings to all of you from the Upper Room. How blessed we were again this year during the Christmas Walk at Williamsburg,Ohio 2010! We were able to come together as members of the body of Christ and to have fellowship, food, and a good time in the Lord. We wanted to share this joyous experience with all of you around the world as we celebrate the Holiday Season. Most of all Jesus is the reason for the season. God Bless. We love you!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Holy Hubert's fellowship with the suffering of Christ
The following Blog is an excerpt from the Hubert Lindsey biography or possible documentary that I hope to publicize someday...
During the turbulent years of Holy Hubert's ministry on the West Coast (in the 70's) Brother Lindsey was injured numerous times by riotous crowds and anti-war protestors. Brother Lindsey considered his suffering strictly a result of the Gospel he preached. Within those riotous mob crowds were certain groups such as members of the Hell’s Angel’s motorcycle group, the Manson family, and members of the Black Panther Movement. As a result of anti-war protestors and mob crowds Hubert was injured over 100 times in one year for the cause of Christ. His wife Phoebe was also physically and mentally injured during that period of time. As a result of those beatings Hubert had lost his eyesight twice however; he was marvelously healed by Christ once. He then became blind again in the mid 1970’s and remained blind throughout the latter years of his ministry until he died. Hubert always confessed that Christ was going to heal those blind eyes again, the second time!
Blindness never affected Brother Lindsey’s preaching for 29 years because he had almost the entire Bible memorized. He could preach endlessly and explain in detail verses, chapters, and books from the Bible with very little intellect or effort. Hubert’s memory was indescribable! His memory allowed him to live up to the nickname, “The Walking Bible.” It’s hard to comprehend but Hubert’s memory of the Bible and ministry of the Spirit allowed him to captivate people’s attention and interest for the cause of Christ. Brother Lindsey would preach Christ in the Spirit and impact hearts and souls with the power of God’s Divine Grace.
Even though Hubert suffered and was beaten numerous times by an ungodly and riotous people he always came back time and time again with love in his heart preaching Christ. Love enabled Brother Lindsey to keep preaching Christ even to those who beat him. His return to that crowd only magnified the true love of God in the heart of a man commissioned to do a work for Christ. Hubert would modestly tell those who hurt him, “I will love you until the end” and he meant every word he spoke.
Any one that knew Brother Lindsey knew his amiable spirit, his compassion for the sinner, and how much he loved humanity. Brother Lindsey never deviated from the love God put in his heart! He hated sin but loved the sinner! Hubert’s love was heartfelt and truly proven by his action as a Christian! His love for humanity even for those who beat him was a testimony for Christ that spoke by his example. Love for God and love for humanity, even for those who beat him is just another reason why Hubert Lindsey was nick named, “Holy Hubert”. Only a true man of God could have a heart to love those who beat him and still not gripe or hold a grudge against them. Brother Lindsey never wavered from his love for man or for Christ. He walked in love as he made himself an offering for the Christ he served.
• Eph 5:2…And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Hubert suffered from opposition because his holiness preaching conflicted with the fallen nature of man. Hubert’s compassion toward fallen man allowed him to understand why men “reject” Christ and why men reject Christ’s messengers. Hubert’s love allowed him to love those who rejected him. Hubert Lindsey understood that the fellowship of suffering he experienced for Christ made him conformable unto Christ’s death. Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering allowed him to understand why he was sometimes hated, why he was sometimes rejected, and why he was often misunderstood for the Christ he served. Resurrection power from God helped Holy Hubert Lindsey to endure suffering for the cause of Christ like the Apostle Paul wrote about in his Epistles.
• Phil 3:10-15…That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Hubert expounded on the above verse with much clarity. He used the Greek text of the Bible to explain how that resurrection, can mean being resurrected “out from among the dead”. Resurrection in Philippians 3:10-15 implies a resurrection without dying! Entire Sanctification which was the heart of Brother Lindsey’s Gospel, is the Spiritual work of the resurrection power of God in the heart and life of a Christian, “On this side of Heaven”. Like the Apostle Paul, Holy Hubert Lindsey taught that a sanctified man can deal with suffering for the cause of Christ because Christ suffered. A sanctified man who preaches holiness knows Christ; knows the power of Christ's resurrection; and knows the fellowship of Christ's suffering.
As many of you have already found out there are many details about Holy Hubert Lindsey's opposition and suffering for Christ’s sake that will surface throughout this biography. This writer’s expectations are with hope to clarify how Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering was made perfect in the eyes of God. Holy Hubert Lindsey had a servant’s heart that allowed him to be conformable unto Christ’s death. Hubert gave himself as Christ gave himself. Hubert Lindsey ministered Christ to any one and to every one who would hear. He preached the Open Air for Christ, many years. Holy Hubert’s main objective in life was to get people to Christ's Salvation of the human soul. The sanctified life that Brother Lindsey experienced was the source of power and strength that helped him to endure suffering like all other Apostles suffered before him.
I'll close with these words by the Apostle Peter.
• 1 Peter 4:13-14…But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
During the turbulent years of Holy Hubert's ministry on the West Coast (in the 70's) Brother Lindsey was injured numerous times by riotous crowds and anti-war protestors. Brother Lindsey considered his suffering strictly a result of the Gospel he preached. Within those riotous mob crowds were certain groups such as members of the Hell’s Angel’s motorcycle group, the Manson family, and members of the Black Panther Movement. As a result of anti-war protestors and mob crowds Hubert was injured over 100 times in one year for the cause of Christ. His wife Phoebe was also physically and mentally injured during that period of time. As a result of those beatings Hubert had lost his eyesight twice however; he was marvelously healed by Christ once. He then became blind again in the mid 1970’s and remained blind throughout the latter years of his ministry until he died. Hubert always confessed that Christ was going to heal those blind eyes again, the second time!
Blindness never affected Brother Lindsey’s preaching for 29 years because he had almost the entire Bible memorized. He could preach endlessly and explain in detail verses, chapters, and books from the Bible with very little intellect or effort. Hubert’s memory was indescribable! His memory allowed him to live up to the nickname, “The Walking Bible.” It’s hard to comprehend but Hubert’s memory of the Bible and ministry of the Spirit allowed him to captivate people’s attention and interest for the cause of Christ. Brother Lindsey would preach Christ in the Spirit and impact hearts and souls with the power of God’s Divine Grace.
Even though Hubert suffered and was beaten numerous times by an ungodly and riotous people he always came back time and time again with love in his heart preaching Christ. Love enabled Brother Lindsey to keep preaching Christ even to those who beat him. His return to that crowd only magnified the true love of God in the heart of a man commissioned to do a work for Christ. Hubert would modestly tell those who hurt him, “I will love you until the end” and he meant every word he spoke.
Any one that knew Brother Lindsey knew his amiable spirit, his compassion for the sinner, and how much he loved humanity. Brother Lindsey never deviated from the love God put in his heart! He hated sin but loved the sinner! Hubert’s love was heartfelt and truly proven by his action as a Christian! His love for humanity even for those who beat him was a testimony for Christ that spoke by his example. Love for God and love for humanity, even for those who beat him is just another reason why Hubert Lindsey was nick named, “Holy Hubert”. Only a true man of God could have a heart to love those who beat him and still not gripe or hold a grudge against them. Brother Lindsey never wavered from his love for man or for Christ. He walked in love as he made himself an offering for the Christ he served.
• Eph 5:2…And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Hubert suffered from opposition because his holiness preaching conflicted with the fallen nature of man. Hubert’s compassion toward fallen man allowed him to understand why men “reject” Christ and why men reject Christ’s messengers. Hubert’s love allowed him to love those who rejected him. Hubert Lindsey understood that the fellowship of suffering he experienced for Christ made him conformable unto Christ’s death. Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering allowed him to understand why he was sometimes hated, why he was sometimes rejected, and why he was often misunderstood for the Christ he served. Resurrection power from God helped Holy Hubert Lindsey to endure suffering for the cause of Christ like the Apostle Paul wrote about in his Epistles.
• Phil 3:10-15…That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Hubert expounded on the above verse with much clarity. He used the Greek text of the Bible to explain how that resurrection, can mean being resurrected “out from among the dead”. Resurrection in Philippians 3:10-15 implies a resurrection without dying! Entire Sanctification which was the heart of Brother Lindsey’s Gospel, is the Spiritual work of the resurrection power of God in the heart and life of a Christian, “On this side of Heaven”. Like the Apostle Paul, Holy Hubert Lindsey taught that a sanctified man can deal with suffering for the cause of Christ because Christ suffered. A sanctified man who preaches holiness knows Christ; knows the power of Christ's resurrection; and knows the fellowship of Christ's suffering.
As many of you have already found out there are many details about Holy Hubert Lindsey's opposition and suffering for Christ’s sake that will surface throughout this biography. This writer’s expectations are with hope to clarify how Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering was made perfect in the eyes of God. Holy Hubert Lindsey had a servant’s heart that allowed him to be conformable unto Christ’s death. Hubert gave himself as Christ gave himself. Hubert Lindsey ministered Christ to any one and to every one who would hear. He preached the Open Air for Christ, many years. Holy Hubert’s main objective in life was to get people to Christ's Salvation of the human soul. The sanctified life that Brother Lindsey experienced was the source of power and strength that helped him to endure suffering like all other Apostles suffered before him.
I'll close with these words by the Apostle Peter.
• 1 Peter 4:13-14…But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Hubert Lindsey's Baptist realization of the power of Divine Grace, "after" Justification
The Baptist denomination strongly advocates the initial invitation and acceptance of Christ in Salvation but that’s as far as they take the Christian experience! Baptist’s emphasize Salvation of the human soul but do not advocate the cleansed heart, the life of holiness, and the believers obedience to God that follows after one receives the forgiveness sins from Christ. The doctrine of Regeneration through the Spirit; Justification by faith; and the new birth where a divine nature is received… are taught under the Baptist persuasion. The doctrine of Entire Sanctification through the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is not! This experience is what Hubert Lindsey claimed he had missed for 26 years as a Calvinist.
Contrary to many denominational beliefs (not just Baptist), the Bible teaches that Entire Sanctification comes in another Baptism which is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is not a baptism into Christ where a new nature is received through the new birth experience. The baptism with the Holy Ghost is a baptism from Christ in Heaven that cleanses the believer’s heart from a still existing Old Adam that conflicts with the Divine nature received in the new birth. God revealed to Brother Lindsey another baptism through the work of the Holy Spirit that was not Water Baptism by immersion. Brother Lindsey claimed he baptized 9000 people. This particular baptism I speak of pertained to the Spirit’s work of Sanctification that destroys the carnal heart. This is the experience that Brother Lindsey had always claimed he was missing. It was a baptism that a believer receives after the new birth! Hubert then realized that Water Baptism through the ages had pulled men away from understanding the sanctifying power of the Pentecostal experience! The Pentecostal experience is a Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire performed by Christ upon a believer… not a sinner! The Baptism with the Holy Ghost has no relation to water Baptism by immersion performed by a preacher.
The purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire does not deal with the new nature received after God justifies a sinner. God’s declaration of Justification deals with a penitent man! The sanctifying power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost deals with the old nature that still exists in the life of the penitent believer after God’s Justification is declared! God revealed this to Hubert’s thinking! Hubert realized where he missed it!
The Bible teaches that any believer can receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire... in this life. This Baptism takes away the process of getting sanctified in heaven after you die! Sanctification performed by Christ from the Throneroom is not performed by a preacher through any act of water baptism. John the Baptist spoke of sanctification when he said, Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire”. Contrary to the Baptist doctrine and Calvinism God showed Hubert there was more for the believer that followed the new birth. God confirmed to Hubert Lindsey the Sanctifying work of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. This final work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believer is called Entire Sanctification.
The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire and the truth of the New Testament records had finally got Hubert Lindsey’s full attention. God had been showing Hubert Lindsey how to get self out of the way for years. All Hubert had to do was to let go of the old Hubert and let God take over! Hubert realized if he got out of the way the truth of Entire Sanctification through the Spirit would destroy the old Hubert! He claimed he learned this from the Word of God. As a matter of fact his whole Theology was destroyed also. He had to re-learn the Bible from this perspective.
The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire spoken of by John the Baptist and Jesus himself was now brought to full revelation upon Hubert Lindsey’s thinking after being a Baptist for 26 years. The beauty of this revelation was this Baptism is a baptism that destroyed a still existing fallen nature in the life of Hubert Lindsey. Hubert was unsettled on that truth for many years! God wanted to destroy what Hubert Lindsey contemplated in his thinking for 26 years. On the human side the struggle with self that came from the Old man in Hubert Lindsey’s life was crucified. Through the Spirit's work of Sanctification the Adamic nature that still tried to rule in the life of Hubert Lindsey was destroyed through the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.
• Rom 6:6… Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
After being entirely sanctified the Holy Spirit renewed Hubert. Everything in his theology was changed. Everything in his thinking was changed. God delivered Hubert from the Devil’s prison house. After being a Baptist for 26 years Entire Sanctification from the Old Hubert was found to be the missing link. Within that missing link the foundation of the Word in Hubert’s heart had been misconceived and taken out of its proper context. Confusion from the Baptist teaching and practice was a result in Hubert’s mind. Hubert realized the doctrine of "once save always saved" had been hindering the fullness of Salvation for years in his personal life. This fullness of Salvation and change of theology that was given to Hubert’s heart only came through the Sanctifying power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.
One night in the basement of the little Methodist Church Hubert died to self and asked God to sanctify his heart entire. Through Hubert Lindsey’s brokenness Christ filled him with the Holy Ghost and fire that night! As a result Hubert was sanctified from the Old man and spoke in unknown tongues as taught in the Bible. Contrary to the Baptist doctrine Hubert was doing something very much scriptural and realized why. That night God confirmed the truth in Hubert Lindsey’s heart and soul. Hubert realized this Biblical gift from the Holy Spirit did not cease at the Early Church as he had always been taught. The result was Hubert’s entire Calvinistic and Baptist theology went straight down the drain. Hubert Lindsey was filled with the Holy Ghost and preached Entire Sanctification the rest of his life as a preacher for Christ.
Christ’s Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire God made Hubert Lindsey a living witness to the fact that God can deliver any man from the Old Adam. Hubert realized traditional teachings and denominational teachings were not teaching the truth about Entire Sanctification as the Bible teaches. Deliverance from the Old Adam only comes upon a believer when he dies and receives the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. Many modern denominational teachings miss that very blessed experience. Hubert never went back to his old Theology nor did he ever quit teaching the truth about Entire Sanctification as long as he lived. Revivals were birthed many times throughout Hubert’s ministry as result of preaching Entire Sanctification and the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. By the Grace of God Hubert’s uncompromising efforts were never in vain as peoples hearts and lives were changed under his ministry and that teaching. This writer and other disciples who were touched by Brother Lindsey’s ministry still carry on the doctrine of Entire Sanctification today.
The recent audio I posted (in the link below) about Brother Lindsey's experience with the "Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire" will confirm this Blog.
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