The Great Fight-Part II


         On February 7, 1849, one of the most famous prizefights of the 19th century took place in the backwoods of Maryland. New York born, Tom Hayer aka "Young American" challenged reigning champion James "Yankee" Sullivan, who was not a native of the U.S., but an Irish immigrant, who had waited 2 years for this match. Sullivan, who stayed in trouble with the law, was a punishing fighter. So much so that he had difficulty finding opponents. It seemed though that $10,000 would bring out a worthy opponent. That amount of money, which was unheard of in those days, brought out the "Young American". The country was eager to replace Sullivan with a native champion. After 16 half minute rounds, with no gloves and bare knuckles and both opponents nearly disfigured, Sullivan suffered the first defeat of his career to a taller and heavier "Young American". This is now known as "The Great Fight".

Great as they say it was, I'm sure ‘good’ would have been an adequate adjective. I know of a greater fight.


Everyone knows Jillian Michaels a.k.a. “The Shredder”. She promises to make her students the "biggest loser" in only 30 days. It's an all out fight to lose those undesirable pounds. The great fight is to SHRED the body of all its impurities. “Come on!” is her admonishment, “Let's shred some pounds!” As for me, I could stand to add some pounds this year, which is just what I intend to do.

Still, I know of a greater fight than this. The great fight of faith; an all out fight to preserve, to protect, to preach, to witness, to "earnestly contend for the faith".

Now, what is “The Faith”?
The oneness of the Godhead, with no distinction of persons in the Godhead.
The essentiality of Jesus name baptism for salvation.
The essentiality of the infilling of the Holy Ghost for salvation.
The essentiality of Holiness, without which no man shall see God.


This and every other Bible truth that the Apostolic church preaches, is what is known as "The Faith". And you'd better believe it's going to take a "Great Fight" to keep the floodtide of compromise out of God’s Church. The devil is making sure of that. But allow me to encourage you. Jesus said "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". This, my friend, is a hell proof church that we are a part of, but the war is between God’s church and apostasy. Does anybody want to stand up and fight the good fight of faith? As for me and my house, we will. Who will join in "The Great Fight"?



                                                                                                  Vertically Minded,
                                                                                                     Rev. Tony Spell

The Great Fight-Part I


      There has never been a more needful hour than this, to write of the common salvation. Jude 3 states Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The revisers of this portion of scripture handle the expression "it was needful", by saying," I was constrained" [ASV]. What was the urgency? What seemed to be the problem? What was all the fuss about? The answer, truth was under attack, and something had to be done. Jude says it’s time to "earnestly contend". Let's you and I say, as one commentator puts it, wage a real fight for the faith. Ready, set, let's go, go, go!!!

The faith was once delivered to the saints. It's not going to be redelivered. It's not going to become more relevant. It's not going to change in any way whatsoever than how it was once delivered to the saints. If you find yourself in any way, shape, or form whatsoever compromising on THE FAITH, I urge you to turn and join in the fight, stand up for right, be a soldier for Jesus.

Let me make myself a little clearer on what the war/fight is. It is this, John 3:5 is under attack, not to mention the entire word of God, but to undermine the essentialities of salvation, and the truth. Will we stand idly by as THE FAITH is under attack? Sure the war had already began in the book of Jude, and if apostasy had become so prevalent in Jude's hour, how much more should apostasy be noticed in this hour?

Jesus stated, Verily, Verily, or truly, truly, or amen, amen. Jesus said this is truth. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". This means exactly what it says. You must be baptized [baptizo] means to immerse in water. We are "buried with him by baptism into death" Rom. 6:4.
Rom. 6:3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? That breaks up the trinity baptism. That breaks up infant baptism. That breaks up the doctrine of "no water baptism", as if that could even make sense. When you get baptized, it has to be in Jesus name, not titles/trinity, but in the name; Acts 2:38 "in the name of Jesus Christ". If I baptize you in the Father, according to Rom. 6:3 the Father would have had to die. The only problem with this is, the Father is eternal, He can't die. Why would I baptize you into a death that never occurred? Same goes for the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost is eternal. It cannot die, it has no beginning nor ending.


Everybody who was, is, and will be saved since the day of Pentecost, has and will be saved, by having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let's earnestly contend for the faith. Let's fight for the truth. Let's stand for that which is right.

                                                                                                   Vertically minded,
                                                                                                     Rev. Tony Spell

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”


        Just so there’s no confusion as to what the vertical church in a horizontal world’s mission is, we declare that everybody since the day of Pentecost, who was, is and will be saved has, is, and will be so
according to the Acts 2:38 and John 3:5 message.
John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
       Nicodemus did not know who Jesus was, he said "no man". Jesus was the "Mighty God" of Isa.9:6. Jesus’ answer was "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus was speaking of the new birth experience, or being "born again". Jesus is not talking about the natural birth; Jesus is talking about the supernatural birth from above, the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
        Jesus states that without the Holy Ghost, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus then asks "...How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

1. Jesus said you must be born again, or you cannot see the kingdom.

2. Jesus said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".

3. Jesus is saying water baptism and Holy Ghost infilling are both essentialities for salvation.

4. John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Eternal life is found in John 3:5 through Jesus name baptism (born of water) and receiving the Holy Ghost (…and of the Spirit). Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be; but he that believeth not shall be damned.


To be continued.....


                                                                                               Vertically Minded,
                                                                                                Rev. Tony Spell