The Kairological Kingdom of God

        Weekend getaway? A place to go to when you need to get away. Roadside shack? That's indicative of our character that's been developed by past failures and mistakes. By the way I’m speaking of your spiritual house, you know, the one that's gonna last forever somewhere. Paul said "I know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God , a house not made with hands, ETERNAL in the heavens". Where we spend eternity, depends on how we live daily, Heb.3 reads, "for we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end". We need to build a steadfast spiritual house, one that doesn’t vacillate, not fickle; it isn't dependent upon others, only God. Acts 2:42 they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine... Continue means to go on without interruption. Can you keep building the right house no matter what happens in life? If you're so fickle that you can't you need to pray thru to the Holy Ghost, and continue to build again the great house of God.
        Foundation is everything in this house. You need one that is VERTICAL. This has got to be a God thing. You don't have what it takes to build on your own, Psalm. 37, the steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD... God directs the building process, he's the superintendent, the blueprint, inspector, quality control manager. Every major facet of your house, God has got to be in the process. God wants to be the Gen.1:1 "beginning". Not somewhere along the line after you lay a shoddy foundation and the walls are as crooked as tree limbs. Why not let God be in control in the outset?

                                                                                                 Vertically Minded,
                                                                                                  Rev. Tony Spell

       The word of God often times admonishes us to consider our house, although this is a good principal in the earthly structure that you call your place of abode, the bible is primarily speaking about you. When Joshua made that great proclamation in Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my house we will serve the LORD" I believe he was talking about himself, his own person. This is what the bible is really in reference to when it talks about the house.         In the book of Proverbs 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:Prov. 24:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Yes, I believe it takes wisdom to build any earthly structure, if you don't think so, you might want to endeavor this task on your own. But the real meaning is your house of clay, your body, soul and spirit. And it takes understanding for it to be established, then the rooms are filled with good things, but first there was wisdom.
        Have you ever wondered why in the bible, wisdom is almost always referred to in the female gender? The same reason why the church is called the bride of Christ, because she has the ability to produce life/offspring. The church has perpetual youth, she never outgrows her child bearing stays, remember the scripture that talks about the church and says Jesus is coming back for a church that is "without spot and wrinkle, washed in the blood of the lamb" God's church hasn’t aged, it's beautiful, and always has the ability to produce life.
        Wisdom has this ability. What kind of house are you building today? Have you taken time and careful consideration to start your day with prayer? Have you spoken words in kindness to those in your care? Have you done all in your power, to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. Have you pulled down strongholds in your mind? All you have to do to be lost is listen to yourself. Pro. 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Genesis 1:1 has got to be the foundation for our homes, physical and spiritual. Walls of faithfulness, roofs of dedication and commitment. These are the materials necessary to build a Godly Home.



                                                                                          Vertically minded,
                                                                                           Rev. Tony Spell

       When we cease to preach what Peter preached at Pentecost, we cease to have what the city of Jerusalem had at Pentecost. Fifty days after the Passover feast, in which Jesus connected the communion and foot washing service, was the day of Pentecost. Peter preached Acts 2:36 that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. Thank God for the Pentecostals that still preach that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, and was not a second person in the trinity, not in the Godhead, but “all the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily", Col. 1:19, Col. 2:9. I believe that the more we magnify Jesus; the mighty God in Christ, the more power packed church services we have. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, Eph. 2:20 tells us what that doctrine is ”We are built upon the foundation of the apostles' and the prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Matt. 16:18 tells us that the revelation of who Jesus is, is that rock upon which he will build his church, making it hell proof. This is not an hour to take the "tuck tail and run" method of shuck and jive preaching and living, and witnessing, But this is the greatest hour the church has ever had to be Pentecostal. The Pentecostals who know there is but One God, and Jesus is his name, with no distinction of persons in the Godhead. The Pentecostals who declare essentiality of Jesus name baptism, Holy Ghost infilling with the evidence of talking in tongues as the Spirit gives the evidence, and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Let's continue steadfastly in this doctrine, in doing so we will continue to see one, two and three people baptized in Jesus name every week, and men and women being filled with the Holy Ghost. The Pentecostal message is the only experience that can break the back on the strongholds that the devil is putting upon us as a society today. I pray that God empower every Oneness Pentecostal everywhere with a fresh anointing of the Holy Ghost, to carry out the message that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.


                                                                                                                         Vertically Minded,
                                                                                                                          Rev. Tony Spell

        Why beware? II Peter 1:5-7 lists 7 things we should add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. II Peter 1:8 gives a promise, “If these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is why a church that has added to its faith these 7 things is not barren (idle), also they are birthing babies in to the kingdom of God at their altars. Our churches should be birthing suites where newborn babies are crying out with joy. Not mortuaries where people are asleep on the premises. You show me a dead, non-emotional church. I’ll show you a church that’s not having revival. The bible says we are “lively stones”, not tombstones. The one God Apostolic church that I’m a part of is alive, and worshipping and liberating, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”          Peter said it right, when he said “but he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten.” Beware lest thou forget, because when you forget this, you not only lose your memory of yesterday, but you can no longer see the future! Circumstantial evidence that the church God sowed on the day of Pentecost is the church God is going to reap on resurrection morning. God help us to remember who we were, so we can know who we are and see where we are going. We’re one God, tongue talking, Jesus name baptizing, isle running, praisers and preachers of the liberating power of the Holy Ghost. Beware lest thou forget.


                                                                                         Vertically minded,
                                                                                           Rev Tony Spell

        Deut 6:10-12 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,[11] And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
[12] Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
        The word of God often times admonishes us to beware. Col. 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men and not after Christ." Luke 12:15, Jesus said beware of covetousness. Matthew 16:6, Jesus said beware of the leaven (sin) of Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Paul warned the church at Philippi; (Philippians 3:2) Beware of dogs, evil workers, concision. There are many more things we should, the Bible says, "beware of". These of which time will not permit me to add...But, Deut. 6:12 says, "beware lest you forget".
        We have a tendency to forget because the blessings are always greater than the curses. It's what the scripture is in reference to in Jude 2:10 when it said there arose another generation which knew not, because somebody forgot where god brought them from. This is where we are as a nation and as a church. I'm not so jaded as to say that everyone in our nation has forgotten where they came from and what they came here for, just as I would never say the WHOLE church has forgotten where God has brought them from. A people that forget are blind and cannot see the future. Do you see the correlation, (1 Peter 1:9) when you forget that you were purged from your old sins, you can't see afar of. You're blind, no longer seeing men as souls possessing bodies. Instead you see, as the blind man of whom Jesus touched his eyes,(men as trees walking).
        My God, I see so many church people in this miracle. He wasn't born blind; he knew what men and trees looked like. I see people on their pews who haven't always been blind, and they used to have the ability to see afar off. But somewhere in their walk, they stopped seeing all men clearly. They stopped seeing Revival as a blessing, but instead see it as work. They no longer see outreach as an opportunity to keep them and their families saved and on fire, but as an inconvenience. God stir us, God help us, lest we forget!

                                                                                          Vertically Minded,
                                                                                            Rev. Tony Spell

        We're on the brink of the 50th anniversary of Life Tabernacle church, Where Bishop B.A. Spell has served in the capacity of Pastor, and now Bishop. Having founded/starting this work Nov. 6, 1959, how can I really appreciate the labor, work and unending efforts that go into 50 years of standing, reaching, growing for the Kingdom of God? One scripture comes to mind 2Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Unfeigned faith brought us this far, is keeping us, and will bring us to the next level. So many scriptures talk about past, present, and the future. 2 Cor. 1:10 also said God delivered us, doth deliver, in whom we trust will yet deliver us. Thank God for our heritage, I'm talking about the one that rattles the chain of succession all the way back to the upper room. Back to Topeka, Kansas, back to Azusa street, back to Elton, La. in 1914 where my great-great grandmother got the Holy Ghost. Now I represent 5 generations of Pentecost, but we can't have that without somebody who will still earnestly contend for the faith, and fight the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life. A people that do not remember their past, have no future. The past church that I am recalling right now was built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. God give us like verse 6 of 2 Tim. something that'll stir us up, by putting us in remembrance. Remembering how G.T. Haywood got the revelation of The Oneness, and baptized his whole congregation in Jesus name. When I remember that, it stirs me to no end, because I know God can do that again. That kind of memory will drive you to your knees, make you push the plate away, make you witness with a greater fervency than ever before. God give us men who remain anchored to the past, and fight for it in the present, therefore transforming the future.
                                                                                             Vertically minded,
                                                                                               Rev. Tony Spell

        Today is mine and Shaye's 13th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary to the most beautiful lady, mother, & pastor's wife in the world. She has devoted her anniversary to the church, getting ready for the 50th anniversary of the church, Bus routes and more baptisms of Holy Ghost and water. Happy Anniversary.
                                                                                          ♥ Your Husband,
                                                                                                 Tony

        Yesterday we left off speaking of walking with God. Today I would like to begin where I left off with a continuation of looking backward to see forward. In the word of God, It is said of only two men "he walked with God". I'm sure you could think of hundreds of men’s names in the Bible who you think walked with God, or perhaps you feel like it should have been said these men too, walked with God. However the Bible does not make mistakes, this is why it is called the infallible word of God, because it is impossible for God to make a mistake. In one place the bible reads "it was impossible for him to lie", now that's the kind of God that I want in my corner when the fight is on, no trial and error, no let's see what will happen if I do this or that. No, Gods word is proven, Gods word is a tried and true blueprint that you can build lives, families, homes, marriages, etc. on. So with that being said, Let's look backward to see what characteristics these two men by the names of Noah and Enoch had that it is said of them that they" walked with God". First I think the greatest characteristic was faith. Remember, Noah had faith in God. How do we know this, because he started building an arc 120 years before it started to rain. Now that takes faith. And this is one of the reasons it is said that he walked with God. Whenever it was unpopular, whenever others mocked, whenever the world did not listen to him preach, he kept right on walking with God. Enoch walked with God also. It is said that he had this testimony that he pleased God, and he was not for God took him. Noah of course is type and shadow of the nation of Israel, or the Jewish people. Enoch is a type of the One God Apostolic Pentecostal church. We know this because Noah was preserved thru the flood/judgment of the earth. Enoch was caught away/raptured, before the flood/judgment. This is exactly where we are today. Before God rains down judgment upon this world, he is going to rapture his church out of the way first. This is known as the pre-tribulation doctrine. This instance and many others in the word of God absolutely proves this. God took Lot out of Sodom, before he destroyed that wicked city, etc..

        I want to be known as a man that walks with God. Not walking away from God, like the bible says, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation". Every thing about this generation is untoward. Politics, public education, Hollywood, all these and more are influential parts of our society that are untoward God. And Peter said on the day of Pentecost save yourselves from this untoward generation. I want to go toward, not untoward God. How are we going to go toward, and walk with God? Not by merging into our society, culture, religious world/emergent church; But by posturing ourselves more Apostolic- by becoming more the church than we have ever been before. Each generation has had to fight there own battles, and overcome there own obstacles. It's time this generation does so with a greater passion than any generation prior to us. How? Preachers, preach the word without fear or favor. Preach when people are with you, and preach when people are against you. And I will tell you from experience that God will meet you and confirm His word with signs and wonders. I have found that if we do right, some element of people will hate you. The same is so if you do wrong, an element of people will walk away from you. I've made up in my mind that I'm gonna do right, walk with God, and in doing so please God. Psa.1:1 says what not to do to please and walk with God. If we're gonna please God, we may not always necessarily please man. Suffice it to say if it comes down to pleasing man or God, I'm going to please God.






                                                                                             Vertically minded,

                                                                                               Rev. Tony Spell

        Allow me to paraphrase Ecc. 1:9-11. If you want to see forward, you've got to look backward. As anti-progressive as this thought may seem to my readers, the bible challenges us, the people of God to realize that "that which hath been, is." 
        Jesus said in Matt. 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the days of the coming of the son of man be”. For a summary of Noah's days, Gen. 6:5 I say best summarizes in one verse matt. 24:37, Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Imagination in the Hebrew signifies also purposes and desires. Now if you have the mind of Christ, and perhaps even a carnal man could notice, that every modern and relevant topic in 2009 from a political standpoint, from every major facet of society, right down to our culture as a whole certainly fits hand in glove with Gen 6:5. Be it stem cell research, partial birth abortions, privacy act, tolerance, non-tolerance. Whatever the main ingredient may be, our modern culture is a recipe book for disaster, and the judgment of God.
         A good friend of mine last week told me the only way to defeat, or combat an idea is to do so with a better idea. So the better idea is God needs a Noah! A preacher of righteousness who will walk with God when men mock, laugh at, and ridicule him, he just keeps right on preaching. How long? Noah did it for 120 years, who are we to get discouraged between Sunday night and Wednesday bible study. God give us men and women who will walk with God in thick and thin, good and bad, for better or for worse. If you're wondering what will effect this generation, impact/ make a difference in this society… Look backward every man who ever made a difference in the bible, and history were radicals, with a radical message {APOSTOLIC} not post-modern but just the church being the church. Nothing fancy or spit and polished, just what pleases God, and that is what Noah did and the reason he pleased God the bible says is because he walked with him. Not in front of, nor behind, Just walking with God.

                                                                                          Vertically minded, 
                                                                                            Rev. Tony Spell

        Luke 16:16 "...The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it". Hebrews 2:4 "God will bear witness, and confirm his word with signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Ghost". God is doing just that in Life Tabernacle Baton Rouge. 3 baptized in Jesus name, and 3 received the Holy Ghost. To God be the glory.



                                                                                                 Vertically minded,
                                                                                                   Rev. Tony Spell
 

        It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required. In the gospel according to St. Matthew 20:26 Jesus said But it shall not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; [servant] 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
        God give us servants in this generation - Men and women who would put others before self. General Booth summed up the entire existence of the Salvation Army with but one word, "OTHERS". God I want to be others-minded, I want to serve my own generation well and then as King David did go and sleep with my fathers. The church that is others minded is the church that is growing. The church that is others-minded is the one that God is blessing, and dropping handfuls on purpose to. If we're going to have revival today, we're going to have to reach out to the less fortunate, hungry, needy, lost generation that has absolutely no idea what it is to be God minded, not to mention others minded. What made this country the greatest country on earth is the fact that we served others when it was of no benefit to that present generation. When a country is founded on an others principle it will stand the test of time. For righteousness exalteth a nation, and you'd better believe that serving others is righteous.
        What made this church great was that it was built on Jesus, the solid rock [Matt.16:18] And that Jesus, while dying on the cross did that for others. Did you ever notice in the 4 gospels, in giving the events of Calvary that before Jesus ever used a personal pronoun I, me, myself. Jesus said son behold thy mother, OTHERS.
        Woman behold thy son, OTHERS. He was saying that even in my greatest hour of pain and heartache, and suffering, I want all of creation to know that I still care about OTHERS first. You can't kill that kind of church; you can't stop that kind of attitude. You better know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. You better know greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against that kind of church. If your best is all about me, myself and I, your best is not what God wants, He wants what is required "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. No wonder St. Paul said I am a debtor, and there was a man who was called into the third heavens. God break up the fallow ground of this selfish generation, and make us a servant generation.


                                                                                                  Vertically minded, 
                                                                                                   Rev. Tony Spell