How's Your HC?

The word conditioning holds different meanings, depending on who you're talking to. There's physical conditioning, mental conditioning and hair conditioning, for openers. For the Christian a different kind of conditioning exists, one that, generally speaking, is unheard of or underused. It's called heir conditioning, as in being conditioned to being an heir of God, joint (equal) heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16,17).

As children of God, we are His heirs. Usually, being heirs means that someone died, a will was read, and those mentioned receive whatever the deceased left to them. In this case, however, the person who died-Jesus-has been resurrected, and is very much alive.

And, now, as God's children, we still get to receive and enjoy our inheritance. In this life, with no waiting.

God made the world, which is His (Psalm 51:12). He made it for us, His children, not the devil and his crowd. As His heirs, God wants us to have the very best in life, being willing to use it to further His kingdom, here in this life. He wants us to enjoy our inheritance, without our eyes and hearts holding on to temporal things, which we can't take with us.

More than temporal things, though, God wants us to truly know the reality of our place in Christ, as the triumphant Church in the earth, enforcing Satan's defeat, which Jesus won for us. As the Church, Christ's Body (Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18, 24), we are to rule as kings in this life, by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). This is part of our inheritance. Both yours, and mine.

It takes time to grasp the reality of what God is saying to us: We are His heirs, joint (equal) heirs with Jesus Christ Himself. What Jesus is heir to we are, in equal portions. No intelligent person would think of Jesus as a pauper. No, He's King of kings and Lord of lords. Well, who are the kings Jesus is King of? Among others, us. Again, this is all part of our inheritance.

Being willing to believe what the Bible says about us is the first step towards knowing and walking in our inheritance. For some, the obstacles of religious thinking will have to be overcome, but their persistent efforts towards doing so will be well worth it.

I'm passing on what's begun in my own life. Whatever time and effort I'm putting in to improve my heir conditioning (being conditioned to think, believe, talk, and act like an heir of God) is paying off!

And I'm just getting started.

So, how's your HC? How's your heir conditioning coming along-being conditioned to think, believe, talk, and act like an heir of God? If this sounds too good to be true remember that God sees this about you. Since agreeing with and acting like an heir pleases God, go ahead and please Him.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2017-2024

Sunday Mystery Hour

My wife and I enjoy watching detective mysteries, the kind where we try to figure out who did what to whom, before the hero does. Those from England/Australia rank high. Sadly, for multiple reasons, a Sunday mystery hour happens live before the eyes of many. No television or movie channel access is needed; this mystery is aired live, in thousands of church services worldwide. No signup necessary, for this mystery is found in the hour+-long services being led by many pastors.

I say mystery because many who attend these services are either unchurched, or come from a completely different background than what they're checking out. To use a restaurant analogy, the menu being offered is in a language foreign to the guest.

Generally speaking-and regardless of intent-so much of what's being said in our Sunday services is geared to those already familiar with words and phrases used by pastors and other leaders. In short, the unchurched and those from mainline denominational backgrounds don't speak our lingo. It is, in part or in whole, a mystery to them.

We in churches need to do a better job of keeping things simple. " Can't you feel the Presence of God, this morning?" may register with "regulars" but confuse guests. What if they don't "feel" God? Are they, then, unspiritual or in sin? I know what some mean by that but, at the same time, God's in service with me all the time, because He's in me-whether I "feel" Him or not. The same is true concerning my liver, which I've never "felt."

New people checking out your church aren't stupid; they're hungry for something not found on the menu of traditional restaurants. Their appetite has changed; not so the menu. Worship leaders, pastors, and others in the public eye need to realize that not everyone understands what they take for granted. Trying to learn "Christianese" takes a lot of time, something those new to contemporary settings  may not be willing to take.

Let's not use high-sounding phrases as a means of appearing super spiritual to newcomers. Jesus always spoke using terms common to most people. Parables centered around corn, wheat, mustard seeds, fish, and bread-things people readily understood. Even the Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee, used simple words in his preaching,

With pretty good results, I'd say.

There's a time and a place to explain deeper meanings found in Scripture. Using my previous analogy of a restaurant, simplifying our menus will bring more hungry "customers" into our midst. Doing so can help take the mystery out of Sunday services.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2017-2024

Who's in Charge?

Perhaps you've heard a customer ask store personnel, "Who's in charge?" They want to know who the boss is, who's in authority. Many people, including non-Christians, think that, here on the earth, God is in charge, that He's in authority, that He's in control. But is it true? Is God really in charge on the earth? Saying that God is in charge on the earth implies that everything that happens here is of God. That every test, trial, and temptation is somehow from an all-knowing loving God Who knows what's best for us. It implies that sickness, disease, wars,  murder, tornadoes, floods, torture, rape, and human trafficking are somehow controlled by a supposedly loving God. Don't ever question God. Ours is not to reason why; ours is but to do and die.

The problem with believing that God is in charge is that it's not totally true. It's a half-truth, which is half truth and half lie, making it worse than a lie. Why? Because too many Christians have no concept of a devil being behind all the evil in the world today. Those who believe in the devil far too often feel helpless to do anything about the devil's evil.

One of the great truths of the New Testament, under which Christians are to live), is that we have authority-dominion-over the devil, and all of his cohorts. Jesus, Who possessed all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18) gave it to His Church. Authority is delegated power. God's delegated power is our authority. Not apart from Him; together.

As Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we now represent God in the earth to the devil, as well as sinners. We, not Jesus, now reign in this life, by the authority Jesus gave to us. The Church, not Jesus, is to command sickness, disease, and tornadoes to go, in the Name of Jesus (you don't stand a chance by yourself). To God be the glory, I've seen all three depart from me, as I operated in my God-given authority, here on the earth. I'm bragging on the Name of Jesus, on God's Word. I'm bragging on the authority given to me.

Because of Adam's sin, the devil is now the god of this world, but not yours or mine. Why? Because although we're in this world, we're not of it. We're born of God. Greater is He-the Spirit of God-Who is in us than he (the devil) who is in the world (I John 4:4).

Jesus was in control over sickness, disease, storms, and all the works of the enemy. Now, Jesus is in Heaven, at God's right hand. As authorized by Jesus we, the Church are to be in charge, we are to be in control. No, we can't make the devil go away-he has a legal right to be here until his time is up.  But we have been given everything we need to get the same results against satan as Jesus did while He was on the earth (John 14:12).

It's up to us, the Church, to be in charge. The question is, are we? If not, why not?  If yes, it's because we're learning who we, the Church, really are, then acting like it in the earth.

It's our choice.  I said yes. I hope you'll join me.

312 Azusa Street

Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street are the three most prominent names in the last 125 years of church history in America. Two previous posts highlighted Zion, Illinois and Topeka, Kansas. As mentioned in my last post, William J. Seymour was in Houston, Texas, where he heard Charles Parham teaching in his Bible school. Through a series of divinely-orchestrated appointments Seymour arrived in Los Angeles, California, in early 1906, bringing the message of Pentecost with him.

Finding favor with local residents, William Seymour began laying hands on those desiring to be filled with the Holy Spirit. On April 6, 1906 they were filled, with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. Thus began the Azusa Street revival. Crowds soon necessitated moving the meetings to a deserted warehouse, that once housed an African Methodist Episcopal Church. The address for the larger space was 312 Azusa Street.

Only 60 x40 feet, the building was hastily cleaned and made ready for the growing numbers of those hungry for this Pentecostal experience. Seymour presided over the daily services, often with a wooden box over his head. When God told him to remove the box, the Spirit of God began to move, often in miraculous ways. A humble man, William Seymour was mightily used by God to minister salvation, the infilling of the Spirit, and miracles.

Thousands of healings took place at 312 Azusa Street over the course of 3+ years. Goiters came off, the sick were made whole, the lame walked, the blind saw. Jesus, the Great Physician, was making house calls there. Then there were the miracles: arms growing out of empty sockets, eyes formed where none had ever had been. Legs grew out; new teeth replaced the rotting old. There was a reverence for the Presence of God that is rarely seen today.

The Azusa Street Revival had world-wide influence. People came from around the world to receive what God was offering through yielded vessels, such as William J. Seymour and others. Just over 100 years after its beginning, the effects of what took place at 312 Azusa Street are still being felt around the world. Major denominations, such as the Assemblies of God, the Church of God in Christ, the Church of God (Cleveland, TN),  the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, and many others trace their roots back to God's doings on Azusa Street.

Tommy Welchel met the children of Azusa Street in the 1960s, hearing their stories of what God did during the Azusa meetings, both through others and through them. God worked many healings and miracles through children and teenagers. Their stories are preserved in Tommy's book entitled, "They Told Me Their Stories." In this book the youth and children of Azusa Street tell their stories of what God accomplished at 312 Azusa Street, in Los Angeles, California. I strongly encourage you to get your own copy, as I have. Like me, you'll never be the same.

Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street: three prominent names in church history. I hope you've enjoyed reading about these places, as well as their contributions to all of our lives today.

If you've enjoyed any or all of these posts please let me know. I'm always interested in others being blessed by what God has done in the past, knowing that God is the same today as He was in Zion (1896), Topeka (1900), and at 312 Azusa Street (1906-1909).

Charles Parham and Topeka

My previous post: Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street, mentioned the significance of each of these three locations in church history. Zion was highlighted, giving a brief overview of its significance. Today's highlight is Topeka, Kansas, holding a place in church history of greater significance than just being Kansas's state capital. As an itinerant preacher, Charles Fox Parham made his headquarters in Topeka, where he started Bethel Healing Homes, for those who came placed their trust in God for healing. Through a series of events Parham started Bethel Bible College in 1900,  in an unfinished mansion, dubbed "Stone's Folly," after the original builder.

Seeking for a deeper experience with God, Parham instructed his students to study the Scriptures, to determine if there was a connection between being filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues. After a diligent search, the students concluded that, yes, there was a connection, and that speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

On New Year's Eve, 1900, after prayer, a female student, Agnus Ozman, became the first person there to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. News of this spread, with many others receiving this divine experience, including Charles Parham himself.

Parham was later used of God to minister healing to hundreds in Kansas. He traveled to Zion, Illinois to meet Dr. John Alexander Dowie, whose healing ministry had influenced Parham.

Charles Parham eventually went to Houston, TX where, in early 1906,  he ministered to many, including a young, one-eyed, black man named William J. Seymour. It was later that year that God used Seymour to carry the message of Pentecost to Los Angeles, California.

Notice how God brought people to specific locations for specific purposes: Dowie from Australia to Chicago, Illinois, Parham to Topeka, Kansas, and, as we'll see in my next post, Seymour from Houston, Texas, to Los Angeles, California. Three locations; three purposes.

I hope that you're learning something from each of these two posts, and that you're looking forward to reading about 312 Azusa Street, the most famous address in modern church history.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2017-2024

Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street

Over the last 120 years three names stand out in Church history: Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street. Two are cities; the other is the name of a street in Los Angeles, California. Millions of Christians have experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Millions have also received healing in their physical  bodies. Sadly, far fewer have heard of Zion or Azusa Street. Those who hear of Topeka usually do so in the context of it being the capital of the state of Kansas. It is, but there's more to Topeka than being a state capital. Far more

Today's and the next two posts will give an overview of and tell why each is important.

Zion, Illinois, located north of Chicago, will be forever linked to Dr. John Alexander Dowie. Dr. Dowie, a Scottish-born minister, received a revelation of divine healing while pastoring in Australia in the 1870s. Instead of congregants dying, they lived following Dr. Dowie laying hands on them. Moving to America in 1893, Dr. Dowie was mightily used of God to reintroduce divine healing to this country.

In 1896 Zion City was founded by Dowie and followers of his ministry as a veritable heaven on earth, with an emphasis on divine healing. Healing homes were set up where people lived in an atmosphere of healing. Many documented healings took place. My great grandfather, Dr. John G. Speicher, and his wife, were part of Zion's founding. Later, they were in charge of one of the healing homes. Being both a medical doctor and minister, Dr. Speicher was among the first to stand with Dr. Dowie's ministry, now over 120 years ago.

Despite errors in leadership and doctrine, the healing anointing on Dr.Dowie's ministry continued outside Zion's borders through many, including these notable individuals:

John G. Lake left Zion to go to Africa, starting 500 churches in five years. He returned to America, starting Healing Rooms in Spokane, Washington. 500,000 documented healings took place over 5 years, leading Spokane to be dubbed "the healthiest city in America."

F.F. Bosworth left Zion with a healing ministry encompassing public meetings as well as radio broadcasts. Thousands wrote in to testify of their healing while listening to the anointed broadcasts. Bosworth went on to write the healing classic: Christ the Healer.

Gordon Lindsay, founder of Christ for the Nations, in Dallas, Texas, was born in Zion. He edited The Voice of Healing, the leading publication of the Healing Revival, from 1947-58.

Raymond T. Richey, who had an outstanding healing ministry, lived in Zion as a boy.

The last time I saw Grandma Gardner, Dr. Speicher's daughter, she was 95. How well she remembered crutches, wheelchairs, and other "trophies" of God's healing power on the wall at Zion's Shiloh Tabernacle. Grandma even remembered playing the piano in church.

Sadly, Grandma asked me whether anyone believed in healing (this was in 1986). I assured her that yes, people still do. I'm thankful for the stories Grandma told about Zion!

Zion is tied to both Topeka and Azusa, beginning with Topeka in my next post. I hope you'll enjoy reading and, hopefully, learning about the outpouring of God's Spirit in Topeka, and its tie to Azusa Street.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2017-2024

How Are Your Supplies?

If you've read much about Civil War history, you'll recall that, at the Battle of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, the Confederate armies were led by General Robert E. Lee. But General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union forces, wasn't there. So, where was he? While General George Meade commandeered Union troops at Gettysburg, General Grant was at the Battle of Vicksburg, in Mississippi.  Fought over a nearly two-month period, the battle resulted in a Union victory. One significant result was that the Union now controlled the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two. Supplies for Confederate troops, once readily available, were no longer close to those in need of food, medicine, clothing, weapons, and ammunition. Without supplies men were put at risk of starvation, sickness-even death. The Confederacy was never the same.

In life it's important to know where your supplies are, and have ready access to them. Like it or not you need certain supplies to succeed in your Christian walk, such as:

1. A Bible. What natural food is to your body, the Bible is to your spirit. It's faith food.
2. Time with God. It's called fellowship. You need times of worship, thanksgiving, and talking to God, your Heavenly Father, about every area of your life.
3. A good Bible-believing (and practicing) local church to attend and get involved in.     You need their supply, and they need yours. Mutual supply.
4. Fellowship with other believers. If you work around non believers, fellowship with another Christian can be an encouragement to you, as well as to that fellow believer.
5. Access to good Bible-based teaching by reputable ministers. Most of what's on the Internet is a bunch of junk, including what some ministers are teaching. There are, however, plenty of good ministries serving up spiritual food you can grow from.

Opportunities to give into the support of good organizations. This is above and beyond tithing through your local church. Giving to missions, the poor-there are qualified people and ministries out there to get involved with. Ask God to show you; ask around. One such place is The Orphans Hands, (www.theorphanshands.org), a ministry in Moldova (Eastern Europe) dedicated to rescuing girls from sex trafficking; boys from slave labor. It's one that my family supports as well.

Philippians 1:19 talks about the supply of the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit, God supplies our supplies. It is up to us to use them. Be thankful for supplies. Keep them near you. Use them continually.  You keep your supplies, and they will keep you.

How are your supplies? Smart phones have a Bible app, even if you don't have a Bible of your own. Spend time with God. You need the time with Him-and so does He with you. You get the picture. If you're needing some supplies, ask God for them. He's in the delivery business, so watch for His provision. Stay near your supplies; enjoy life.

When Change Can Be Good For You

Change has been around for thousands of years, including the Garden of Eden. As long as Adam and Eve obeyed God things went well. Then something  happened: Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered into a perfect world, and Adam and Eve encountered change in their lives. Man and woman were evicted, if you will, from having it all to living off of the land, by the sweat of Adam's brow. Not a good change. Becoming a Christian is certainly a change. Going from spiritual death to eternal life, from darkness to light, is change, the best change of all. A change associated with becoming a Christian-being born again-is renewing ones mind to think in line with God's Word. This produces change in the way one thinks, which eventually affects ones words and actions. Renewing ones mind is definitely a good change. A very good change.

Recognizing change around you and being willing to use what's changing (i.e. technology) to impart the unchanging Word of God to the world around you, including your next-door neighbors, is part of good change. Those under the age of 25 are better at this kind of change than those of us over 50.

Why are people against change, especially when it comes to technology? Why do so many who are 60 and over dig in their heels to resist change when they were those who saw (some demanded) so much change in the '60s and '70s? To use a restaurant analogy, spiritual appetites were changing in the '60s but most menus (churches) weren't.

One church that did change was Calvary Chapel, in Costa Mesa, California. Pastored then by Chuck Smith, this church became a leader in what came to be known as the Jesus Movement. Pastor Chuck allowed change to come into the sanctuary. New music, new people, new attitudes. And it was for good. The Movement spread across the country to the East Coast. Catering to young people drew thousands to churches willing to change or risk being left behind, culturally speaking.

Fast forward to today. As Christians we have the greatest message of all time, the message of the Gospel. Let's not change that; let's keep the pureness and simplicity of the Bible. After all, how much simpler can John 3:16 get? At the same time, each generation learns differently than those before it. Take potatoes, for instance. You can boil, fry, bake, boil, stew, and mash potatoes.  I've had potatoes each of these ways over the years. It's called variety.

A lot of churches-thus Christians-are like potatoes. They "preach" potatoes but serve them up only boiled, for instance. As much as I like potatoes, I'd get tired of them being just boiled. After a while. I'd be looking for change. The same is true in reaching younger generations: they're hungry for the potato (message), but want it some other way than boiled. Those refusing to change may lose a whole generation of "eaters." Isn’t that worth changing?

Using technology to present the timeless truths of Jesus Christ is one great example of when change can be good for you. Let's not lose another moment in being willing to change methods in how the message is "served." It's change the Church cannot afford to not make.

What are some changes you would like to see happen in the church you attend? What are you doing to try to bring about good change where you live?

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024