The Apostolic Faith (October – January, 1908)
Denmark.
“Kirkeklokken,” a Danish gospel paper, reports that through the Pentecostal outburst in Copenhagen recently, many sinners have come to the Savior, many backsliders have been restored to the joy of salvation, many believers have been filled with the Spirit and have received supernatural gifts.
In Wales
“Praise God for another brother here who has also now received the Pentecost with tongues. He went home from here speaking in tongues all along the street. There are others to follow. Glory to Jesus. Tonight five or six brothers are coming here for their Pentecost. O, I do praise God that He sent me to Sunderland to get such a wonderful blessing. Praise His holy name.”–W. J. Tomlinson, Lynion House, Grove Place, Port Talbot.
Honolulu
Brother and Sister Turney, who have returned from Honolulu, now on their way to Africa report the work in Honolulu: “We had a glorious meeting Honolulu. The power came down and one young man a captain of the Salvation Army, who received his Pentecost, has now opened up an Apostolic Faith Mission in Santa Cruz, Cal. A lieutenant also received his Pentecost and went to carry the news to London, England. Charley Puck, who had a most wonderful experience, is preaching the Gospel on the Island of Hawaii in the city of Kanuela. They are having good meetings and good attendance. People are hungry for the truth.
London, England
I do thank God that there are a few whose eyes God has opened to see their lack and who have waited upon His in prayer for quite a year and a half ** Ackerman Rd., Brixton S.W., London. God has manifested His almighty power there in the baptism of dear Sister Price and one brother and myself, and I am so glad to send in my testimony to the glory of God and the encouragement of all His children. People are coming from far and near, and no one has been even invited. They just hear how God is working and come. This power was mightily present last Thursday, two sisters being shaken and nearly spoke in tongues. One night the very room was shaken as we read in the Word: “And when they had prayed the place was shaken.” Several have had blessed anointings, outpourings of the Spirit and revelations of Jesus Christ. Praise His Holy name.-Mary A. Martin, 319 Southampton St., Camberwell, London, England.
China.
Brother and Sister Garr are in Hong Kong, China, last report. God is using them blessedly. A glorious revival is breaking out. Several souls in Hong Kong have received their Pentecost.
In Macao and Canton, China, numbers have received the baptism with the Spirit. They are hungry for the Holy Ghost. Brother McIntosh wrote, “They come to our house at all times of the day and rap at our door at 11 and 12 o’clock at night, coming to seek for the Holy Ghost, and we stay up till one and two o’clock praying with them, and glory to God, the Pentecost falls and they speak in tongues.” Two sisters who received their Pentecost in Brother Cashwell’s work in the South have gone over to help Brother and Sister McIntosh. They are Sister A.E. Kirby and Sister Mabel Evans. Address Macao, China, care S.C. Todd.
Sweden.
Bramaregarden, Hisingstad, Goteborg, Nov. 19.-”I am very glad to hear from the old Azusa Mission, my home. I have victory through the dear, cleansing Blood of Christ. Glory to His great name! It is one year today since I came over to Sweden and this city Goteborg. God is still saving, sanctifying, and baptizing with the Holy Ghost, and people are getting healed of God. Last Sunday two got their Pentecostal blessing. We had a wonderful day, the Holy Ghost running the meetings, God’s children testifying, praising God, talking in unknown tongues. The fire has begun to fall on small islands near the city. Bless God! The work is still going on in many places in Sweden and God’s people are getting more hungry than ever. We trust God to send out more workers into the field. The fire is falling in ‘Norrland.’ Yet many, many have not heard this Gospel yet. This work will go on till Jesus our Lord comes back. All the saints in Goteborg salute you.”-Andrew G. Johnson.
Germany.
“Auf der Warte,” a German paper, says: At Cassel many children of God received the fullness of the Spirit after God had cleansed their hearts by faith. Many children of God have put right old debts. Through the speaking in tongues and the preaching, sins and bonds were revealed, and it was clearly taught that deliverance from the power of sin and the experience of heart cleansing are the conditions for receiving the Pentecostal baptism.
The manifestations of the Spirit when the souls were touched were different according to I Cor. 12. Some were knocked down to the floor, some were overflowed gently while sitting in their chairs. Some cried with loud voice, others shouted Hallelujah! clapped their hands, jumped or laughed with joy. Some saw the Lord not only in the meetings, but when silent in the houses, or in bed, or when walking on the road, god touched their souls.
All that was uttered in tongues as far as it concerned salvation was in perfect accord with Scripture. What the Lord gave to utter about His Cross, His Glory, and the Second Coming was refreshment and comfort for every believing soul. Through the speaking of tongues and prophecy those in the audience received conviction of their sins; which statement is proven by confessions made afterwards to the minister.
The fire is already burning at Grossalmerode. The Lord is doing great things. Many have received the Pentecostal baptism; and the Lord bestowed gifts upon many, especially the gift of tongues and interpretation.
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WITNESSES IN ENGLAND
(From reports printed at Sunderland, Eng.)
Children Receive Pentecost
I was present when the two girls, who were the first children to speak in tongues in England, Janie and May Boddy (the two daughters of the Rev. Alex A. Boddy, All Saints’ Vicarage, Sunderland), received their Pentecost. It was at the Vicarage.
The nine or ten persons present will never forget the scene. Janie received the interpretation for each sentence, and her childlike simplicity and joy, her beaming face, that I shall never forget, she turned message she received was: “Jesus is coming!” With a surprised look of joy on her face, that I shall never forget, she turned to her mother and kissed her, repeating the words: “Jesus is coming, mother!”
Then her fact became serious. She bowed her head a little and lifted her left hand to her cheek (she was kneeling all the time at the end of the table). Again a foreign language was heard. Then came the interpretation: “The Heavens are opened!” followed by the same jubilant glee.
One message was very solemn, spoken, too, with emphasis: “The first shall be last, and the last first.” Coming from such childlike lips, it made a great impression on us all.
Oh, what joy when she said: “Oh! mummie, Jesus has come, and come to stay; oh, good Jesus, good Jesus!” then peals of joybells of laughter.
As she related her experience the next day to a large crowd of children at the Parish Hall, she said, whilst inviting them to seek their Pentecost, “Oh, it is so wonderful, so wonderful!” It was wonderful, it was the Holy Spirit come to dwell within them.
May Boddy had a great revelation of God’s power. She prayed so earnestly that she might not “be left out.” It was touching, too, to see Janie, who had just received her Pentecost, as she laid her hand on her sister’s head and encouraged her; “It’s all through the Blood, May, all through the Blood! Jesus is come, He said, May too, May too.”
May spoke a long time. Some words were very clear. It seemed as if she was constantly claiming Jesus. His name was repeated time upon time. The words, “Aa, Ja, Jesus! Ja, ja, ja, Jesus!” were distinctly Norwegian, with the correct pronunciation (Oh, yes, Jesus! yes, yes, yes, Jesus!)
These two dear children have been kind and good girls before and loved Jesus dearly but now they love Him much more and are bold to tell others of His wonderful power to save-T.B. Barratt.
Testimony of a Vicar’s Wife
After a long time of silent waiting upon Him, God gave me a wonderful vision of Christ in the glory at the right hand of the Father, and from Him came a wonderful light on to me, causing me to laugh as I had never done before. I thought this was the Baptism, for this gave me more power in speaking for Christ, and more realization of His indwelling, but yet God had a more excellent way for me. After waiting with others for months at home, in eager and earnest expectation of His Baptism of Fire, God chose that when the fire did begin to fall here, I should be in the South of England, not able to return until Pastor Barratt had been here for nearly a fortnight, and several had received their Pentecost. God was working in me more than I realized, literally drying up all experience, all spiritual life of the flesh. When I returned home on the evening of the 10th of September, I felt utterly callous, and even, to my surprise, uninterested I could not pray, nor read, nor even think of God, but just rested by naked faith on the Word of God that “I was dead,” and only Christ was my all-in-all.
I went to the meeting the next evening, but could not sing nor pray, I just rested in God and asked Him to lead the Pastor to lay hands on me when He wished. Soon the Pastor was “filled with the Holy Ghost” and came to me. When he laid hands on me, I expected a great rush of feeling, such as I have often experienced, as the Life of Jesus thrilled through me body, but I felt nothing. The Spirit then flashed light on to the Word, “They laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.” I should like to emphasize that it was at this point of really believing in my heart God’s Word, that I had received (Acts Viii., 17), that He began to manifest His presence (the empty cleansed vessel receiving the out-poured gift), and I just rested again in the fact that God the Holy Ghost had come and would do His own work. Suddenly the Lord fulled His Temple and I was in the glory. What followed I cannot describe, and it is too sacred to do so, but I knew God had come. Though never unconscious, I was quite oblivious to everyone around, just worshiping. Then my mouth began to quiver, my tongue began to move, and a few simple words were uttered, as I just yielded to the Holy Ghost. Much to my astonishment, I began to speak fluently in a foreign language-Chinese I think. The Spirit sang through me. The joy and rapture of this purely spiritual worship can never be described. If for no other purpose, I felt at last satisfied that “there was no difference between me and them as at the beginning,” Acts xi., 15. Then came a vision of the Blood. As the Spirit spoke that word I was conscious that ALL heaven oh glory! (myself included) was “worshiping the Lamb, as it had been slain.” Oh, the efficacy, the power of the Blood. In one moment, what I had believed in for years was illuminated as a reality. Nothing else can take its place, it is the Blood that cleanseth. Then came more words in ‘tongues’ with the interpretation. “Worthy is the Lamb; Jesus is coming.”
People say, “What is the difference now?” Just this, and this is all the difference. What one has held on to by faith in the Word, is a reality. I know, as never before, that Christ liveth in me. The Power to love and believe and witness is there, as never before; and last, though not least, after longing with a hungry heart for years to satisfy my God and Savior, that “He might see the travail of His soul and be satisfied,” I thank Him with all my heart that at last He has received from me pure spirit-worship-”mysteries,”-I Cor. 14, 2; John 3, 23. I recognize, as never before, that it is still a walk of faith and obedience, that I am nothing, and Christ is my all in all. I am launched out into the fathomless ocean of God’s love, joy and peace. It is “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I thank god for the Pentecostal sign of ‘tongues.’ I did not ask for ‘tongues’ but for the Holy Ghost, and He “gave me utterance,” and the joy of praising God in the Spirit is truly wonderful.-Mrs. A.A. Body, Sunderland, Eng.
Testimony of a Sunday School Teacher
On Sunday, September 8th, I surrendered my whole being full to Jesus and accepted cleansing through His most precious Blood, and on Monday, September 9th, while reading a little booklet, I got a great blessing form these two verses:-
Nothing to settle? all has been paid,
Nothing of anger? peace has been made;
Jesus alone is the sinner’s resource,
Peace He has made by the Blood of His cross.
Nothing of guilt? no, not a stain,
How could the Blood let any remain,
My conscious is purged, my spirit is free,
Precious Blood is to God and to me.
And then I claimed my Pentecost through that precious Blood, and stood firm on the blessed promises in Luke xi., 13, and Luke xxiv., 49, and I praised Him for it until Friday, September 13th. Oh, that glorious night when Christ came into my heart in all His fullness. It was about twenty minutes to nine when I went into the meeting and they were singing “Rest in the Lord,” the message He gave me on Thursday, Psalm xxxvii., 7. A dear sister gave me the card with “Now I give up all to Jesus” on, and told me to let all go and just yield to Him, and oh, the unspeakable joy that flooded my soul when I, in simple faith, let my whole heart go. It was Jesus Himself who came in, glory to His Name. I could have shouted Glory, Hallelujah! all the way home. On Sunday, September 15th, we had a prayer meeting at a friend’s house and the Spirit fell mightily upon me and I spoke in a strange language. Oh, it’s all Glory, Glory, Glory, I cannot explain the joy and peace I now have, but I know it is all through the precious Blood of Jesus. Praise Him, praise Him.
Testimony of a Yorkshire Farmer
The Holy Spirit came upon me on Sunday night, showing me the mighty power in the blood of Jesus. The following night it was Jesus himself and the Holy Spirit entering in like a flood. I do thank the Lord that He enabled me to take Him in, or rather, He so melted me that I allowed Him to come in. I took Him in all His fullness, that the life of the head might be the life of the member of the body. How unnatural it would seem to see a person going about with life in the head and not the same life running through the body and the head no control over the body. I feel that I want to be like the bed of a river, perfectly still, but wide enough to admit a flood. When I got home on Tuesday night, I was sitting by myself occupied with the Lord, when I got the sign of tongues. Glory to the name of Jesus.
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PENTECOSTAL MISSIONARY REPORTS
Since the last paper, Spirit-filled missionaries have gone out from Los Angles to Monrovia, Liberia, Africa, two sisters to South China and a band of nine missionaries to North China. Also a band of fourteen missionaries went from Spokane, Wash., to Japan and China. They were able to talk to the Chinese and Japanese at the dock and on the ship in their native languages. The “Apostolic Light” is now published by Brother Ryan in Tokyo, Japan.
Our dear Brother A.H. Post who is on his way to South Africa from Los Angeles, writes from London, England, “Praise our god the ‘latter rain’ is falling in England. Glory to our God forever. I do greatly rejoice in Him for this blessed privilege of carrying this wonderful salvation to other nations. My heart leaps with joy and burns with His love for so great a privilege.” Address him at 14 Ackerman Road, Brixton, London, S.W., care Mrs. Price.
We never saw a more humble and Spirit-filled band of missionaries than the dear ones that left Los Angeles for North China, going by the way of Seattle where they were joined by others, making twelve in all, besides children. Brother Bernstein, Brother and Sister Hess and six workers from the Swedish Mission, made up the company from here. They went out trusting God alone for their support. Brother Bernsten says, “God has laid it on my heart to go to a new field and open up the work there. It is on the railroad line south of Peking, a big field, and to open our home for any independent worker filled with the Holy Ghost and fire, to come and stay with us until they are sure where God wants them. Pray for a dwelling place and a home convenient for Chinese orphans.” We are expecting God to wonderfully bless these consecrated and anointed ones. They are going into the famine district. Address B. Bernsten, Taiming fu, Chih-li, North China.
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Our dear Sister Farrow, who was one of the first to bring Pentecost to Los Angeles, went to Africa and spent seven months at Johnsonville, 25 miles from Monrovia, Liberia, in that most deadly climate. She has now returned and has a wonderful story to tell. Twenty souls received their Pentecost, numbers were saved sanctified and healed. The Lord had given her the gift of the Kru language and she was permitted to preach two sermons to the people in their own tongue. The heathen some of them after receiving the Pentecost, spoke in English and some in other tongues. Praise God. The Lord showed her when she went, the time she was to return and sent her the fare in time, brought her home safely, and used her in Virginia and in the South along the way.
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There is no man at the head of this movement. God Himself is speaking in the earth. We are on the verge of the greatest miracle the world has ever seen, when the sons of God shall be manifested, the saints shall come singing from the dust (Isa. 26:19) and the full overcomers shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The political world realizes that some great crisis is at hand, the scientific world, the religious world all feel it. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh, it is near, even at the doors.
THE APOSTOLIC FAITH
312 Azusa Street
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THE APOSTOLIC FAITH MISSION
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QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Should a person seek sanctification before the baptism with the Holy Ghost?
Yes. Sanctification makes us holy, but the baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers us for service after we are sanctified, and seals us unto the day of redemption. Sanctification destroys the body of sin, the old man Adam. Rom. 6:6, 7, “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.” When a man has been saved from actual sin, then he consecrates himself to God to be sanctified, and so his body of sin is destroyed or crucified. Then the resurrection life of Christ rises in his soul according to the Scriptures, Rom. 6:8, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
Is it necessary for a person to leave their home duties in order to wait at some place for the Holy Ghost?
No; you can wait right in the kitchen or in the parlor or in the barn. Some have received the baptism of the Spirit in their barns, some in the kitchen, some at family worship, some on their porch, some about their business.
Must people give up their property and have all things in common, in order to receive the Pentecost?
No; God has made us stewards over all that we have, and He lays on our hearts to give as He prospers us. At the beginning of Pentecost, there was a great awakening in Jerusalem, and many people were waiting for salvation. Numbers of them were poor and had no home, and were in need of food and raiment. And God laid it on the hearts of as many as were possessors of lands or houses that they sold their possessions and brought the price and laid the money at the apostles feet, to help supply the food and to spread the Word of God, that it might be preached over the world. But they did not do this in order to get salvation. God laid it on their hearts to do this for a special need. So those that were sent to preach the Gospel found favor with all the people and their needs were supplied, and they all were in one accord in the Spirit. But God does not mean that we should today, wherever the baptism is poured out, just sell our homes and come and wait for salvation, and expect to receive salvation simply because we have sold out our homes and our business and given up our talents. We can have positions that are decent and get salvation also, and can be called to a special business and can keep saved.
We read God’s word in I. Thess. 4:11, “And that ye study to be quiet and to do your own business and work with your own hands as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
People that have large families have become so enthused over this wonderful salvation that they have sometimes sold out their homes, when God has not said so. We believe that people can have homes and still be in God’s order. We bless God for everyone to whom He has given homes and still be in God’s order. We bless God for everyone to whom He has given homes.. We tell them not to run ahead of the Spirit in selling their homes, except God has really laid it on their hearts to do so. We have seen many that did so and regretted it afterwards.
What is the real evidence that a man or woman has received the baptism with the Holy Ghost?
Divine love, which is charity. Charity is the Spirit of Jesus. They will have the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” This is the real Bible evidence in their daily walk and conversation; and the outward manifestations; speaking in tongues and the signs following; casting out devils, laying hands on the sick and the sick being healed, and the love of God for souls increasing in their hearts.
Can a person lose the Pentecost and be restored?
Yes; if they have not sinned willfully. A willful sin means to deny the Blood of Jesus Christ and insult the Spirit of truth, which is the blessed Holy Ghost. Then there is no more remission of sin. But the person that has been snared by Satan and will confess their sin and turn to God will find saving power in the Blood to cleanse them. There is a great difference between denying the Blood of Jesus Christ or doing despite to the Spirit, and just simply falling into temptation and being overcome by Satan. If they repent and do the first works, and consecrate to receive sanctification, and wait for the baptism, they can get it again.
Do you teach that it is wrong to take medicine?
Yes, for saints to take medicine. Medicine is for unbelievers, but the remedy for the saints of God we will find in Jas. 5:14, “Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Does the Lord Jesus provide healing for everybody?
Yes; for all those that have faith in Him. The sinner can receive healing.
Does a soul need the baptism with the Holy Ghost in order to live a pure and holy life?
No; sanctification makes us holy, Heb. 2:11, “For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” The Holy Ghost does not cleanse anyone from sin. It is Jesus’ shed Blood on Calvary. The Holy Ghost never died for our sins. It was Jesus who died for our sins and it is His Blood that atones for our sins. The Scripture says, I. John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. It is the Blood that cleanses and makes holy, and through the Blood we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost always falls in answer to the Blood.
Do we need to study the Bible as much after receiving the Holy Ghost?
Yes; if not we become fanatical or many times will be led by deceptive spirits and begin to have revelations and dreams contrary to the word, and begin to prophesy and think ourselves some great one, bigger than some other Christians. But by reading the Bible prayerfully, waiting before God, we become just little humble children, and we never feel that we have got more than the least of God’s children.
Is it necessary to have hands laid on in order to receive the Holy Ghost?
No; you can receive Him in your private closet. The gift of the Holy Ghost comes by faith in the word of God. You may receive the Holy Ghost right now, that is if you are sanctified. Take your Bible, turn to the first chapter of Acts, 5th verse, “For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Just read this verse of Scripture and cry out to the Father, “Lord Jesus, baptize me with the Holy Ghost,” and believe the Lord with all your heart and the power will fall.
The baptism of the Spirit is a gift of power on the sanctified life, and when people receive it, sooner or later they will speak in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. A person may not speak in tongues for a week after the baptism, but as soon as he gets to praying or praising God in the liberty of the Spirit, the tongues will follow. Tongues are not salvation. It is a gift that God throws in with the baptism with the Holy Spirit. People do not have to travail and agonize for the baptism, for when our work ceases, then God comes. We cease form our own works, which is the very type of the millennium.
Is the speaking in tongues the standard of fellowship with the Pentecost people?
No; our fellowship does not come through gifts and outward demonstrations but through the Blood by the Spirit of Christ. There is nothing more loving than the Blood of Jesus Christ in our hearts. The Lord Jesus says, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” If a man is saved and living according to the word of God, he is our brother, if he has not got the baptism with the Holy Spirit with tongues.
How are we to keep the anointing of the Spirit after receiving the Pentecost?
By living in the word of God with perfect obedience.
In meetings, should a number speak in tongues at the same time?
No; except as God sends a wave of the Spirit over the saints. Sometimes the Spirit will come as a shower or a rushing wind and everybody may speak that has the power. But it is not in order or Bible regulation for all to speak in tongues at once. I. Cor. 14:23, 24. Yet sometimes God works in ways that we do not just understand. But for the edification of all, there comes a time when we have to get back to the 14th chapter of First Corinthians from the 26th to the 40th verses. Paul says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Is this movement a new sect or denomination?
No; it is undenominational and unsectarian. We believe in unity with Christ’s people everywhere, in the Word of God. It is the old-time apostolic assembly, the same old teaching of 1900 years ago. It is new to the world in these last days, but its teaching and doctrine is old as the New Testament.
Does any man control the missions of the Apostolic Faith?
No; every mission will have its own elders and teachers as the Holy Ghost shall appoint and teach the pure word of God. Every mission will be in harmony and work in unity. The Lord has deacons, elders, and teachers for the perfecting of the ministry in His saints, until we all become a perfect man in Christ Jesus.
What is the Bible way for a preacher to get his support and to raise the expenses of the church?
To pray to the Lord God and by free will offerings and donations, as God lays it on the hearts of the people that he is laboring with. God will graciously supply all needs, if you simply will trust Him and look to Him. He will pay off expenses.
Do you teach that divine love in the heart would make any familiarity between men and women safe and right?
No, every precious child that is getting the baptism of the Holy Spirit should be watchful and avoid all appearance of evil. Satan is transformed as an angel of light to deceive many precious souls that receive great spiritual blessings; and not understanding the cunning devices of the enemy, people have been led by Satan into freelovism. Some have taught that a baptism of love would make you so holy that you could overstep he bounds of propriety. May God help us to keep free from anything that is impure. If a person happens to get under the influence of these powers, they must denounce their doctrine and get these spirits cast off from them and get under the Blood. The doctrine of freeloveism is Satan’s counterfeit of genuine salvation through the Blood of Jesus.
On what grounds did the Lord Jesus teach that a man and wife could separate?
On the ground of fornication. These are the words of Jesus, “It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement; but I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”-Matt. 5, 31, 32. Notice He says, “It hath been said, let him give her a writing of divorcement.” This used to be the teaching before the great Teacher came, but in Christ’s church there is no divorcement. Now a man has a right by the Scripture to put away his wife for fornication, but he has no right to marry another, according to the Scripture, while she lives. “For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband, so long as he liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband; so then if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress.”-Rom. 7:2, 3.
If a man puts away his wife, except for fornication, he exposes her to get another husband and send her soul to hell, so it will pay every man and every woman to live with their companion for the salvation of their soul, except for the cause of fornication. He has a right to put away but not a right to get another again.
Do you have preachers and evangelists of the Apostolic Faith that have two wives or two husbands?
No, we did allow it before we became settled down and searched the Scriptures and compared scripture with scripture. We allowed those that were divorced and remarried to preach the Gospel, thinking that everything was under the Blood, and if they did not have any more light it did not condemn them. But after searching the Scriptures, we found it was wrong; that the widow was to be the wife of one man and the bishop was to be the husband of one wife. We found no scripture where the preacher could be engaged in this blessed Gospel ministry with two living companions.
If people never had light on the divorce question and have the second companion, how shall they regulate their lives in harmony with the Scriptures?
“If any man come to Me, and hate not his father and mother and his wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”-Luke 14:26. That does mean to desert a lawful wife, but it means to let nothing stand between you and Christ. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.”-Luke 15:27. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is probable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement but I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever marrieth her that is divorced, committeth adultery.”-Matt. 5, 29, 32.
Can a child of God be possessed by evil spirits?
No; evil spirits cannot come under the Blood, any more than the Egyptians could pass through the Red Sea-the Red Sea represents the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Blood gives you power over all the power of the enemy. But we must have Christ within us. If the soul is left empty and no “strong man” within, then the evil spirit can just take the house. (Luke 11:21, 26.) Some say that when the soul is sanctified, the house is empty and clean, and if he does not get the Holy Ghost, a wicked spirit can come in. Don’t you ever believe that. That empty house represents a man that had a demon cast out (as we see plainly in the 24th verse); and he did not get Christ within. But a man that is sanctified has Christ ruling within. People that are living under the Blood live free from demons and satanic powers. They live pure and holy before the Lord. A man might be a Christian and oppressed by a demon, but that is altogether different from being possessed. Wicked spirits are driven out and repentance and faith wrought in the heart, when a man if justified. Then Christ comes in and keeps them out. A demon might be in the flesh as in the case of a cancer. The devil may oppress the body with sickness but that is very different from possessing the soul.
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A WONDERFUL BAPTISM IN ENGLAND
Two years ago, a special work of grace began. The Holy Spirit came upon me with manifestations, and the old natural life was in very deed and truth crucified with Christ. And from that time, I became a crucified follower of my crucified Lord. Anointings of the Holy Spirit were continually given me for service, as each need arose. It was indeed a walk in newness of life, proving the power of His resurrection.
On the last night of the old year, came the command to tarry, which was promptly carried out. The result being a further revelation of the exceeding sinfulness of sin and of His glorious holiness and love. At the end of eight days came a baptism of fire burning and consuming through my whole being as the very ashes of my old life were consumed and done away with. Love to God and man took possession of me, and I was filled to overflowing with the resurrection life of my Lord. Much time daily was spent in silent waiting before the Lord, receiving from His Holy Spirit such teaching, that what had formerly been light was translated into life for spirit, soul and body.
With two dear Pentecostal saints, I met for prayer and waiting. I saw in vision Christ on Calvary, bearing my sin. Each act of sin was laid separately upon Him and weighed Him down deeper and deeper, until beneath the awful weight of blackness and darkness of woe and of anguish, His heart was broken and mine seemed to break with His. How long this lasted, I do not know; but at length, consciousness returned. The glory broke and the Holy Spirit sang through me in English a hitherto unknown song of praise and thanksgiving for the precious, precious Blood, and of glory to the Lamb upon the throne.
On the evening of our next united gathering for prayer and waiting, revelation after revelation was given of the Lamb; the glory of the Lamb, the power of the Lamb, the victory of the Lamb, the marriage of the Lamb, and the reign of the Lamb with His glorified bride. I knew from that moment that Christ Jesus was on the throne of my heart as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and that His purpose was to demonstrate the Lamb life through me.
The Holy Spirit descended in clouds of glory, wave after wave of glory broke upon me. Tidal waves of resurrection life and glory surged through every organ of my body, so that I was constrained to cry aloud for everything within me shouted “Glory” and could not be silenced.
I realized that this was that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, that God had made good His promise to me, and poured upon me His Holy Spirit. Glory to His name.
When I was once more alone, the Lord spoke to me and asked if I was disappointed that the gift of tongues had not been given. Disappointed Lord! I have You and You can speak in every tongue. It was You I wanted-You alone; and now You have taken full possession. He gave me to understand that tongues would soon be given. And a few days later when in prayer with two dear friends, He gave me the gift, and the Holy Spirit sang through me in a tongue utterly unknown before. The interpretation was given, and I knew it was all about the precious, precious Blood. Glory to the Triune God! Glory to the Lamb upon the throne.-Your English sister, M.J.D.
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“Jesus is coming soon,” is the message that the Holy Ghost is speaking today through nearly everyone that receives the baptism with the Holy Ghost. Many times they get the interpretation of the message spoken in an unknown language and many times others have understood the language spoken. Many receive visions of Jesus and He says, “I am coming soon.” Two saints recently in Minneapolis fell under the power were caught up to Heaven and saw the New Jerusalem, the table spread, and many of the saints there,-both seeing the same visions at the same time. They said Jesus was coming very soon and for us to work as we had little time.
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Wherever this blessed Gospel goes, through Christ’s Spirit-filled servants, a fruitful field grows up right away. The birds all begin to sing, showing spring has come. The flowers all bud out in their souls, and they commence singing in tongues like the birds, showing us that the Holy Ghost brings spring to our hearts, and the blossoms and the fruit commence growing. Glory to God.
CHRIST’S MESSAGES TO THE CHURCH
The last message given to the church was by the Holy Ghost, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through Brother John on the Isle of Patmos. Dear beloved, we read in Revelations 1:5-7, these words, “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood.” Hallelujah to His name. “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and the Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wait because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
This is the beginning of this wonderful and blessed message given to our beloved Apostle John while he was suffering for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus knew all about His servant, though He had been living in Heaven more than half a century after His ascension. And He came and visited that beloved apostle, the disciple who loved Jesus and leaned on His bosom. He now was old but had been faithful to the trust that Jesus had given him. He had passed through awful trials and tribulations for this precious Gospel, even being boiled in a caldron of oil, tradition tells us; but, blessed be God, they were not able to kill him. And when they got tired of this precious Holy Ghost Gospel messenger, preaching to them the faith of Jesus, they banished him to the Isle of Patmos. And while he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, our blessed Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, our great Redeemer, came and gave him this wonderful revelation, and introduced Himself to John as, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Hallelujah.
O beloved, the Lord Jesus knows all about our trials and tribulations, because He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. His whole life was a life of suffering. We read in Heb. 5:7, 8, “Though He were a son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey.” O bless our God. Just to think that Jesus was God’s Son, and all things were made by Him and for Him; yet He was foreordained before the foundation of the world that He should die. He was slain before the foundation of the world. So the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among men and was handled by men, and lived in this world. And at the age of 33 years, He paid the debt on Calvary’s cross. O beloved, if we expect to reign with Him, we must suffer with Him-not that people must be sick or unhealthy or go with a long face, but we must bear all things and keep the faith of Jesus in our hearts. Our lives now are with the suffering Christ: and “it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Glory to Jesus.
After Jesus introduced Himself, He gave John these blessed messages to the church. John was permitted to see from the beginning of the church age on down to the white throne judgment, the final winding up of the world. He was permitted to see the overcomers. He was permitted to see the millennial reign with Jesus in triumph over the kingdoms of Satan; to see this old world pass away, to see the new heavens and new earth, and the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven. John saw things past, things present, and things in the future. He had witnessed the glory and power of the apostolic church, and saw the falling away of the church, and God sent him to the church with this blessed message; that she should come back to her first love.
The Vision of Jesus in His Church
The most striking passage of Scripture in the first chapter is where John was permitted to see Jesus walking among the golden candlesticks, which represent the church. Christ is in His church today to fill men and women, to heal their bodies, save and sanctify their souls, and to put His finger upon every wrong and mean thing in the church. His rebuke is against it, for He hates sin today as much as He ever did when He walked by the Sea of Galilee. Glory to His name. Jesus hates impure doctrine just as much as when He rebuked the Pharisees for their impure doctrine.
John beheld Jesus in His glorified body. What a holy scene it was: the Son of God clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.” Hallelujah. There is nothing but purity and holiness in our Savior. And “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” Glory to Jesus. “And His feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. And His voice as the sound of many waters,” which represents many people. Bless God.
“And He had in His right hand seven stars.” This represents His Holy Ghost ministers. Jesus has them in His hand, that is to say that He gave them the authority to preach the Gospel and power over devils. All of our authority and power comes from Jesus. It is so sweet when we know that we have authority from Jesus. Bless His holy name. O beloved, when we know Jesus Christ has His minister in His hand, we know that minister is a live preacher. Glory to Jesus. Hallelujah. A live minister represents one that is saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then the same life, the same authority that Jesus promised we will find in his life.
“And out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance, was as the sun shineth through the blessed Christ. “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as one dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.” Praise God, Jesus is alive and because He lives everyone that gets Christ is alive in the blessed Holy Spirit. The Blood of Jesus Christ does give life, power and fire, joy, peace, happiness and faith. Hallelujah to His name.
“I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.” Bless His holy name. He wanted John to know that He was the same One that hung and bled and died and shed His precious Blood on Calvary’s cross, went down into the grave, and rose again. This ought to make the whole body of Christ’s people everywhere happy to know that Jesus is alive for evermore. Hallelujah to His name.
Then He said, “And have the keys of hell and of death.” Bless God. No wonder Bro. David said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me.” When we get Jesus Christ in our hearts, we can use the word and it is a comfort to us to know that we have passed from death to life.
Then He told John particularly, “Write these things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”
The Message to the Church of Ephasus
Then He gave him the messages to the seven churches. “And to the angel of the church at Ephesus write, “These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” Hallelujah to His name. Ephesus was a city of Asia, quite a commercial city, a city of wealth, refinement, culture and great learning. It was where John preached and where Paul had labored. Many people there had been saved and baptized with the Spirit. Paul had witnessed a great scene in Ephesus where he had preached the Gospel of the Son of God and of the doctrine of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and 12 men after hearing of this blessed doctrine, received water baptism, and when Paul laid his hands on them, they received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts. 19;6. So Ephesus was a favored place, but the message was sent to it and to all the churches of Asia. This is a true picture of the Lord Jesus’ eyes upon the church ever since its beginning, and; will be unto the end. We are living near the close of the Gentile age down in the Laodicean period, when the church has become as formal as the Laodiceans. This message was first to the church of Ephesus.
I Know Thy Works
The Lord Jesus said, “I know thy works.” God knows our works, He knows our hearts. “And thy labor and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou has tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne and hast patience, and for My name’s sake hast labored and hast not fainted.” Bless our God. That is more than many churches today could receive from the Master. Jesus commended them for what they had done. He commended them for their faithfulness. He is not like men. He knows our hearts, our trials, our conditions. But bless God, He does not make any allowance for sin. He hates sin today as much as He ever did. Yet He does not come to destroy us or condemn us, but to seek and to save us.
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” The Lord does not want anything to get between us and Him. O may every precious child in these times that are getting the Holy Spirit not go into apostasy, but may they be a burning and a shining light for God, just as we were when we first received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. God wants us to keep the same anointing that we received and let nothing separate us from Christ.
Repentance
We find Jesus still preaches the same doctrine of repentance that He preached while on earth. In order to get right with God, He says , “Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Dear beloved, if there is anything wrong in your life and Jesus has His finger is truly in His church today. This is the Holy Ghost dispensation and He does convince men of sin, righteousness and the judgment, and if we will be honest, God will bless us.
To the Church Today
When a church or mission finds that the power of God begins to leave, they should come as a whole and confess, and let all get down before God and repent and pray to god until the old time fire and power and love come back again. Many times the Holy Spirit will leave an assembly, mission or church because the pastor grieves Him, and sometimes not only the pastor but the whole body commences backbiting, whispering, tattling, or prejudice and partiality creep in, until the whole becomes corrupted and Jesus is just ready to spew them out of His mouth. But, O beloved, let us then come to the 2nd chapter of Revelation and see what Jesus says to the assembly. He expects to find the church, when He comes back to earth again, just as full of fire and power and the signs following, as it was when He organized it on the day of Pentecost. Bless His holy name. May God help all His precious praying children to get back to the old Pentecostal power and fire and love. The church at that time was as terrible as an army with banners. She conquered every power of evil. Hypocrites were not able to remain in it any more than Annanias and Sapphira. God gave such wonderful love to His people.
Then He gave messengers to every church, showing that Jesus’ eyes are upon every church. His finger this day is upon every heart that does not measure to the fullness of holiness. God wants a holy church and all wrong cleansed away-fornication and adultery two wives, two husbands, not paying grocery bills, water bills, furniture bills, coal bills, gas bills, and all honest bills. God wants His people to be true and holy and He will work. Nothing can hinder. Bless His holy name.
I thank God for this wonderful message to the church, a message from heaven, given by Jesus to show that He is in the church, that He does walk among the golden candlesticks. He is in heaven, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, He walks in the church today. Nothing can be hidden from His pure eyes. He wants people to live the highest and deepest consecration to Him. He does not want their love for him divided. Their first love is to Him.
Impure Doctrine
We find many of Christ’s people tangled up in these days, committing spiritual fornication as well as physical fornication and adultery. They say, “Let us all come together; if we are not one in doctrine, we can be one in spirit.” But, dear ones, we cannot all be one, except through the word of God. He says, “But this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” I suppose that the apostolic church at Ephesus allowed people that were not teaching straight doctrine, not solid in the word of God, to remain in fellowship with them; and Jesus saw that a little heaven would leaven the whole, and His finger was right upon that impure doctrine. It had to be removed out of the church or He would remove the light and break the church up. When we find things wrong, contrary to Scripture, I care not how dear it is, it must be removed. We cannot bring Agag among the children of Israel, for God says he must die. Saul saved Agag, which represented saving himself, the carnal nature of old man; but Samuel said Agag must die, and he drew his sword and slew him. Christ’s precious word, which is the sword of Samuel, puts all carnality and sin to death. It means perfect obedience to walk with the Lord. There are many people in these last days that are not going to live a Bible salvation, they are going to take chances. But may God help everyone, if their right hand or right eye offend them to cast it from them. It is better to enter into life maimed than for soul and body to be cast into hell fire.
The Lord says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” O beloved, if we expect to reign with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. There will be many that will be saved but will not be full overcomers to reign on this earth with our Lord. He will give us power to overcome if we are willing. Bless His holy name.
W.J. Seymour.
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CHINA MISSIONARY RECEIVES PENTECOST.
On leaving China, October, 1906, I was asked to investigate the Apostolic Faith Movement in Los Angeles, where they claimed to have manifested the same gifts of the Holy Ghost as of old. (I Cor. 12: 8-10.) I heard such contradictory reports that I kept away for some time, but praise God, He had His hand upon me for this wonderful gift, and I had no rest until I went and heard and saw for myself.
It only took a short time after the beginning of the first meeting, to know it was of God. And when the altar call came, I went forward.
Before this I had asked God to turn His great searchlight upon my heart and was astonished to find so much worldliness, spiritual pride, vanity, insincerity, lack of love, selfishness, and other things. When I had left for the foreign field seven years before this, I thought I had died to everything; but when the Spirit began to deal with me in preparing me for the fullness of the Spirit, I found I was very much alive, in fact had scarcely begun to die to self. Although the Lord had given me wonderful victories in my life and what I thought was the baptism of the Spirit, yet when God began to search me as never before, I had to confess that I had never even been sanctified.
I had been taught the suppression theory, and now and again the “old man” would pop up in a greater or less degree; sometimes harsh words did not escape, but I would feel the boiling up inside. But God showed me that His word meant just what it said, that provision was made in the atonement-not only for our sins but for our sin, the old Adamic nature. (Rom. 6: 6, 18, 22.) How I did rejoice that at the last, the longing of my heart to be rid of that which had kept me from being entirely free from sin, was to be satisfied. I had sought my baptism of the Spirit three times, when the Lord told me that I must be sanctified before the Spirit could take full possession of my body. Just so were the disciples sanctified before Christ left them (John 17: 17, 19), that they might be ready for the baptism of the Spirit.
After some of the saints had prayed for me, one of them asked me if I had the witness of the Spirit to my sanctification according to Heb. 10: 14, 15. For some years back I had been taught of the Spirit to keep “short accounts” with the Lord, and there was nothing left to do in the way of restitution; and having laid all on the altar, I knew I had met the condition, and that god had fulfilled His promise; although there was no other feeling than the assurance that God had done the work because of His Word. I then began to praise God audibly, and in a few minutes I was flooded with billows of glory, and the Spirit sang through me praises unto God. Besides this witness of the Spirit, was the witness of the fruits; for under whatever provocation, there is no uprising, for there is nothing to rise up. Glory to Jesus.
When sanctified, I was filled with such glory that I felt sure it must be the baptism, which did not come for three weeks. In the meantime, the power was upon me almost continually, sometimes lying under the power for hours, while I consecrated myself to God as never before.
At last after a real dying out, as I never dreamed could be possible on earth, in the upper room at Azusa Mission, the promise of the Father was made real to me, and I was charged with the power of God and my soul flooded with glory. The Spirit sang praises unto God. Glory to Jesus. He gave me the Bible experiences, speaking through me in other tongues..
The Lord showed me that the cross was going to mean to me what it had never meant before. One morning the Spirit dealt with me, singing through me-
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free:
No, there’s a cross for every one,
And there is one for me.”
The last line He just seemed to burn into my soul by repeating it over and over again. Sometimes the Spirit would sing a line and then sob out a line. Although I wept and was in anguish of soul, it was all in the Spirit.
The life of Jesus passed before me, and He asked me if I was willing to follow Jesus in living absolutely for Him in ministering unto others. I thought I had known something of what this meant in China; but now to preach the everlasting Gospel in the power and demonstration of the Spirit and to truly go out on the faith line and to minister day and night, sometimes unto the hungry multitudes in the face of fierce opposition, meant far more than ever before. But He enabled me to say, “By Thy grace I will bear this cross.”
The Garden scene came up before me next, as the Spirit again sang, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone?” And He seemed to say, “Your friends will forsake you, your own family will misunderstand you, you will be called a fanatic, crazy; are you willing to bear this cross?” Again I answered, “By Thy grace, I will.”
The crucification scene then came before me and it seemed as if my heart would break with sorrow, and I could only wait in silence. Then I said, “Lord, if it was to be beheaded, I could; but-” I could go no further. Later in the day, the Lord spoke to me again as I was under the power. It seemed as if I would almost perish in soul anguish. I was unconscious of the workers all about me. It seemed as if Jesus Himself stood beside, looking down upon me. I could only say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, I will, I will, I will.” His promises came to me as distinctly as if audibly said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” And in a flash, He gave me to understand the secret of the endurance of the martyrs who were burned at the stake with the glory of heaven upon their faces, and seemingly free from pain. And He enabled me to say, “Yes, Lord, your grace is sufficient.”
Then the Spirit began to sing in a joyful strain, repeating over and over again the last line until I could almost see the crown:
“The consecrated cross I’ll bear,
Till Christ has set me free;
And then go home a crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.”
To sum it up, the baptism of the Spirit means to me what I never dreamed it could this side of Heaven: victory, glory in my soul, perfect peace, rest, liberty, nearness to Christ, deadness to this old world, and power in witnessing. Glory to His name for ever and forever!-Antoinette Moomau, Eustice, Nebr.
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We ought to claim perfect health through the atonement of Jesus.
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The well of water that is within you that springs up into everlasting life is the Spirit, and its fruit is love. That love waters your own soul and everyone else that you come in contact with.
THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
There is no difference in quality between the baptism with the Holy Ghost and sanctification. They are both holiness. Sanctification is the Lord Jesus Christ crowned in your heart and the baptism with the Holy Spirit is His power upon you. It is all holiness. It makes you more like Jesus. It is Jesus in justification, Jesus in sanctification and Jesus in the baptism with the Holy Ghost. If we follow Jesus, we will never have any other spirit but the Spirit of holiness.
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Everyone that gets sanctified and cleansed through the Blood has perfect union with the Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism with the Holy Ghost does not cleanse and free you from sin but it is the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Then the Spirit falls in answer to the Blood.
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Every man or woman that gets sanctified gets the witness of the Spirit. But when you enter into the Holy of Holies, you get the great Shekina glory upon you and cloven tongues of fire, and speak as the Spirit gives utterance, and the pillar of fire guides you every day of your life.
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Everyone that gets this blessed Holy Spirit the signs will follow. Tongues are not an evidence of salvation, but one of the signs that follow every Spirit-filled man and woman. We find the people that abound in talking of Jesus today are people that are given power by the blessed Holy Spirit. The time is out for the work of the flesh.
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When the Holy Ghost comes in, He fills you with love and joy and satisfaction. You have something when you have the baptism with the Holy Ghost. You have Him. People are hunting for blessings, but if you get the Blesser, you have Him all the time. You want not simply a blessing but the Holy Ghost. When He comes down, He will keep a fire in your heart. He is a person, He comes to lead and guide into all truth.
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The baptism of the Spirit is the in-filling of the personal Holy Ghost, which is the earnest of the Spirit. Then God gives us the authority to do the same work that Jesus did. We find where men and women have received this baptism with the Spirit, there is a revival going on just as on the day of Pentecost. That is what the baptism with the Holy Spirit means-a continual revival.
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When you get the baptism, you have a street in your soul called Thanksgiving Street, and you have an Amen Street and a Glory Street. Thanksgiving and the voice of melody is in your soul. When the Holy Ghost comes in, He comes singing, preaching and talking. It is because the church has brought forth the “man child.” Then we go on to perfection, forgetting the things which are behind and pressing forward to the things that are before.
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The Lord God says He will make you witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth. When He sent His disciples to the lost tribes of Israel. He sent them to those that spoke Greek and Hebrew. They did not need the languages of the nations. But when He sent them out after Pentecost, He gave them the commission, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” And we find the first congregation they preached to after they received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, they had seventeen nationalities that heard the Gospel in their own tongue without confusion. (Acts 2, 9-11.) He is doing the same today, compelling men to believe that He is the same yesterday today, and forever. When God performed a miracle right before those people, of course they were convicted. So it is today where this Gospel is being preached in the power of the Spirit with signs following, men will fall out under the mighty power of God, and rise up and report that God is in you of a truth. This Gospel has power. Bless God.
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The God of Pentecost has never lost any power. He stands to baptize man and women with the Holy Ghost today just as He did 1900 years ago. Every worker that is going out to stand for Christ ought to get the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. It is for you as soon as you get light upon it.
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Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the manifestations, not seeking to get some great thing more than somebody else. The Lord God wants you just as humble as a baby, looking for Him to fill you with more of God and power. If you get your eyes on manifestations and signs you are liable to get a counterfeit, but what you want to seek is more holiness, more of God.
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The Holy Spirit has been in the world ever since God created it, for we find in Genesis 1: 2, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” This precious Spirit was with Enoch, He was with Elijah, He was with Daniel, He was with God’s priests and prophets, and they spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The disciples of Jesus knew the Holy Spirit, because they had His presence when they were sent out on a mission, for Jesus empowered them Himself while on earth to cast out demons and heal the sick and raise the dead. The Spirit was upon them for a special work, but He was not in them, for Jesus said to them, “Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but ye know Him for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” (John 14, 17.) But when Jesus Christ took His place in heaven on the right hand of God, then He poured out His Spirit and gave us another Comforter that He should abide with us forever, to empower and to lead us into all truth.
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The Holy Spirit talks with us like a companion, for He is a companion. Jesus was the Comforter of His disciples while He was here in the flesh; but He said when He went away, “I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. * * * It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. When He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.” The day came when He should make His home in the hearts of men and women, it was the day of Pentecost. He came to abide. He is the abiding Comforter. O praise God, He has come and taken His home in our hearts. Everyone can receive the personal Holy Ghost in their hearts, for He says, “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.”
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The baptism of the Holy Ghost comes on the sanctified, cleansed life. After the vessel is cleansed and made holy, it is meet for the Master’s use. Bless His Holy name. “If a man therefore shall purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” (II Tim. 2, 21.) In seeking this baptism, if you realize that you are sanctified and cleansed by the Blood of Christ, and wait before Him for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit in thanksgiving and faith, He will come in and fill His temple from head to foot. This Holy Ghost is love, power, joy, blessing, wisdom and holiness. He will guide you and open the Scriptures to you.
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The most wonderful thing a man or woman can receive after being sanctified is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost in their heart. He is fire and rivers of salvation in you inmost being. Isaiah prophesied, speaking of the Holy Ghost as floods of water: “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon they seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.” (Isaiah, 44, 3.) “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be accounted for a forest.” (Isaiah, 32, 15.) Hallelujah! O it is so sweet and precious to receive this almighty baptism with the Holy Ghost in our souls. “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth. In His days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace as long as the moon endureth.” (Ps. 7 1/2, 6, 7.)
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JESUS, O HOW SWEET THE NAME!
“Jesus, oh, how sweet the name!
Jesus, every day the same,
Jesus, let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever-”
is the beautiful hymn the saints sang for three hours the night I received my baptism (June 15th, about 12 o’clock).
Oh, praise the name of Jesus! I sang it until the Precious Holy Ghost took my tongue and spoke for Himself. Oh, how wonderful, oh, how wonderful. Oh, praise God for His wonderful love! I wish I could describe to you what Jesus is to me. Oh, I thought I knew how to love Him before, I thought I knew Him, but never in such a way as I do now. Oh, it is so sweet to commune with God. I just wait before Him by the hour and let Him talk to me. I just cannot tell it. There are not words in the English language that can describe what Jesus is to me. I cannot begin to tell all, as my time is too limited, but will do the best I can.
I received my first anointing May 15th. By the anointing I mean the first I felt the Holy Ghost within. You will know when He begins to work. He just took control of my limbs and head. Oh, I cannot describe it. You must taste and see, you must have this blessed experience. Do not let anything interfere. Had another anointing a few days after that. Then felt the power within me almost every day until I received my baptism. About May 20th, I had such a wonderful anointing and I believe I would have received my baptism then, had I just known how to hold on to God by faith and rebuke the devil. Oh, he tried so hard to cheat me out of it. After that I got sort of discouraged for I felt I had done my part. Knew I was sanctified and ready for my baptism, and couldn’t understand why I did not get it. I thought the saints should pray more for me, but I had to die to the saints. I thought I ought to hurry and get it so you and the other dear ones would be encouraged, thought you would wonder why I did not get it sooner. But praise God He showed me that I must die to all opinions of people, so praise Him, I died to that.
Then He showed me the Word that, “After ye have done the whole will of God, ye have need of patience, that ye might obtain the promise.” I felt my need of that, for I was anxious. Oh, we just have to die to everything and everybody and see no one save Jesus. Praise His dear name! How blessed it is to reach the place where we see Him only.
Well, the Lord showed the Azusa street people that they were to have a camp-meeting, so they came out June 1st. Miss Johnson and I rented a tent and came also. during all this time I knew the Lord was with me, and I also knew the old devil was trying with all the forces of hell to cheat me out of the blessing. He presented everything imaginable to my mind, but, praise God! He brought me through more than conqueror. I just tell this for your encouragement. Remember, when the Lord works the devil works too, but when Satan presents anything to you, just tell him you are under the Blood. Just plead the blood, and he will flee.
July 11th, before going to the meeting, I had a blessed time talking to the Lord, and just felt sure I was going to get through. Went to the altar; the power of God was upon me, but I heard Miss Johnson say, “Hallelujah!” right at my side, and that was so unnatural for quiet Miss Johnson that I couldn’t help but think she must be getting through, so I looked at her. She was under the power and, bless God, she did get through. Had a wonderful experience. Both sang and spoke in tongues. Oh, I rejoiced that she got through. Now, just a word, remember when the power of God is upon you, even a thought will interfere with the workings of the Spirit. Oh, He is so easily grieved. So, when the Holy Ghost is working, keep your eyes centered upon Jesus, and when the devil presents a thought just rebuke him and plead the Blood.
The next night I was under the power, and almost spoke, but some one came into the room who did not feel right toward the sister that was praying for me, and the Spirit was so grieved within me that I just cried and cried. Not I, but the Spirit grieved. Oh, such grief, it was heart-rending. Oh, how careful people should be not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Before I go further I must tell you that when I went to the altar that night the Spirit began to shake my head, then my body, and gradually and gently laid me out of the floor. The Spirit did this three different times. At times it shook my whole body, and I was perfectly conscious all the time, but my thoughts were on Christ, I knew He was having His way in me.
The next morning (after the night just mentioned) I went to the eight o’clock prayer meeting and, while praying, the power came upon me, the Spirit laid me out on the floor again, and I was there from 8:45 until 4 o’clock that afternoon, right on my back, God having His way with me. Neale was dead and clear out of the way. It was the temple of the Holy Spirit, and He was having His way. This was in the large tabernacle. They had service at 10:30 and lasted until 12:30 or 1:00, and then service again from 2:30 until 5:00. Well, praise God! I was just covered with straw, but I never gave a thought, it was my baptism I was seeking. I was lost to the people, the straw and everything else. Well, may God bless and put a real hunger in your soul while you read this. Some one got up and sang a hymn (in the flesh), that means, of themselves, and it so grieved the Spirit in me I again gave vent to bitter tears. Oh, I have had sorrow in my life, but the deepest sorrow was when the Holy Ghost was grieved within me. To think of God Himself being within, having His way and then someone full of self getting up and talking and grieving the Spirit to such an extent that He leaves. Sad? Oh, I cannot find words to express it, but how it has taught me to walk carefully, to speak only as He gives me utterance. I would rather lose my life than grieve the Holy Spirit in anyone. But while I suffered from it, it just put such a contempt in me for this old life, this self life. Oh, what a terrible thing it is. How we have to walk and talk only as the Spirit leads, else we grieve the Spirit.
Well, it would take a long time to tell you how the devil tried to cheat me out of it. The Spirit was grieved again the next night but, praise God! on Friday night I got the victory and about 12 o’clock I received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. The Spirit having been grieved so often, I felt very sad, and as I sat in the tabernacle that night, the Lord looked down upon me in pity, and He led a dear sister over to me (who was filled with the Holy Ghost) and she just threw her arm around me with such pity and tender mercy. It was not she but the Holy Ghost within that led. She was at the altar and our Father, praise His dear name, told her to go to me. Oh, how I love Him, how sweet to know how He loves us, how He pities us and how ready and willing He is to cheer us. As soon as she came, the old devil said, “You will not get there tonight.” I said, “Jesus, I am looking to Thee,” and as I looked to Him He brought this sweet and beautiful hymn to my mind, “Jesus, oh, how sweet the Name,” etc. I began to sing it and the saints that were there joined, and oh, praise His name! it was Jesus only I saw. This part is so holy, so sacred, that I know words will fail to convey it to your mind. I just kept singing until I seemed borne to a heavenly atmosphere. The beautiful strain seemed like a heavenly choir as I was borne upward, upward. Oh, how wonderful! It seemed as though I had become a little child and Jesus led me by the hand. As He led me on and on, I said, “Yes, I’ll go all the way with You.” He showed me the stake. I said “Yes.” I thought that would be easy, for He stood right by my side, and I felt-O! I just cannot tell you what sweet confidence I had in Him. He showed me the foreign field, He showed me home, etc., and it seemed I was so satisfied to do anything, for He had my hand all the time. Praise His precious name! I said, “Yes, Jesus, yes,” and I even said, “I want You to talk for me,” and that is when I spoke in another tongue. I feel that I fail when I try to write it. Words cannot express it. Wonderful! Wonderful! He spoke through me for some time. Remember, I was conscious all this time, but it was Jesus and I who were conversing. The world was shut out, self was shut out, and I was lost in God.
Oh, how wonderful to let God take every thought captive, and not only your thoughts but your body, too. Praise His holy name! My body shook most of the time and my hands went so fast. I sang just the chorus, “Jesus, oh, how sweet the Name!” and the saints sang it all the time, too; but I lost sight of the saints. I could hear the strain and it seemed like a heavenly host that was helping to bear me upward. Praise God! Praise God! This has been the most wonderful experience of my life. Oh, how could any one doubt God? That God shall give you your baptism soon is my prayer. Seek earnestly. Let no worldly care cheat you out of God’s wonderful gift.-(Letter written by Miss Martha Neale to a friend. This has been slightly altered for publication.)-Good Tidings.
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A CHEERING TESTIMONY.
“I never was so determined as now to stand in all the fullness of this great Gospel. O my life is in His hands to do just as He will with me. I can say from my heart, I count not my life dear unto myself; and there’s something down in my soul that says:
“Though earth and hell my way oppose,
Jehovah’s mightier than my foes.”
I bless and praise God that the Holy Ghost fell in dear Los Angeles. Oh, and it took me in. Oh, how hungry I was, and how the glory of heaven flooded my soul as I sat and listened to dear Brother Seymour expound the Word of God. “This is that” which the prophet Joel said should come. Glory to His holy name, it’s come! It’s in my innermost being and abiding there. Oh the glory of the anointing that abideth. It’s clean hands and pure hearts and a walk blameless before God, in holiness, in fear, meditating day and night in the law of God that keep this wonderful anointing. Few will pay the price to get that that Joel should come, and few will continue to pay the price to keep it; but by His grace and power, I mean to keep it if all hell should shake and conspire to make me fall or step for one moment aside. I’ve taken the narrow way. O I love it. I mean to go through with the despised few.
O how I love Jesus. I never loved Him as I do now. His word never was so sweet. It’s my meat and drink day and night. How can I ever praise Him enough or do enough or suffer enough for what He’s done for me! What a privilege to suffer a little with Jesus. This awful power and prince of the air is our worst enemy. We don’t fight against flesh and blood now. This is a greater fight-and with the greater fight comes far greater power. For every ninety-nine pounds of trial comes one hundred pounds of grace.
How it thrills my heart to think of the dear blessed saints that are standing true. As never before we are going to see the mighty signs follow the preaching of the Word; as we keep in line with the truth and in no way compromise, preach the word and let the Holy Ghost magnify Jesus. Glory, glory to His precious name. How my very soul does thrill with the thought of what God is going to do through a clean people. O I want to be spotless and have every thought brought into subjection. This Gospel is going like wildfire. It shall sweep everything before it, compromisers and all. The blessed Lord does let us see a little ahead to encourage our hearts while the fight is on. The blessed Jesus is so precious to me. Amid evil reports and great demands for help, He gives such assurance in my poor soul that all is well, and O the calm that’s coming after the storm.”-Florence Crawford.
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The Lord wants a people in these days that will make the very highest consecration to God. He wants us to step up to the heights of holiness. We are in a time when we ought to be looking for the greatest revival the world has ever had, because the time is drawing nigh when the Scripture says, “And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Now, beloved, if we come together in unity and love and look to God, He can send an earthquake to this old world, just as He did to the Philippine jail and loose the bands. He wants His people to have faith in God that He may do a mighty work.
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The principles of the doctrine of Christ are:
1. Repentance.
2. Faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
3. Water baptism.
4. Sanctification.
5. The baptism with the Holy Spirit.
6. Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. Final white throne judgment.
This is a word for word reprint.
