Protecting Faith

The Shield of Faith

Withal taking up the shield of faith— Eph_6:16 (R.V.)

The Power That Protects Us

The armor of the ancients was of two different kinds, and both kinds were absolutely necessary. It was partly armor for attack and partly armor for protection. Now very generally, in the New Testament, faith is one of the weapons of attack (1Jo_5:4). We see that magnificently illustrated in the pageant of the eleventh of Hebrews. But here, and it may be only here, Paul looks on faith in quite another light, for he sets it among the armor of protection. Faith is not here the power that leads to victory; it is the power that protects us in the battle. It keeps us unembittered and serene amid the mysteries and buffetings of life. To believe that love is on the throne and that through everything there runs a loving purpose is in the deepest of all senses to be shielded.

How effectual that shielding is, is shown by the apostle's choice of words. An exquisite and unfailing niceness of selection is the real meaning of verbal inspiration. There are two words in the Greek tongue for shield the one is common and the other rare. The one connotes a little shield or target; the other a frame that covered the whole man. And it is notable that only here nowhere else, I mean, in the New Testament is the latter word employed. Faith is not a partial protection; it casts its defense over the whole of life. It is a means of safety for the intellect, as surely as for the passions of the heart. It guards the feet when they are prone to wander, and the hands when they are growing weary, and the eyes when they are drawn to what is wrong. The shield of faith is an all-embracing shelter. It is coextensive with our being. Faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ is nothing less than a universal safeguard. All was choicely shown to the Ephesians by the word which the apostle used when he bade them take up the shield of faith.

Faith Is Given to Guard Life in Everything; Not from Everything.

But if faith be a protecting shield, what then of the apostle's own experience? So far from being defended from life's ills, he knew them all in an abounding measure. He was not protected from cold or heat or hunger, nor from shipwreck, nor from the hand of robbers (2Co_11:1-33). He was not protected from bodily infirmity, for he suffered from his lacerating thorn (2Co_12:1-21). Everything that makes life bitter was mingled in the cup of the apostle, and yet he dares to speak of faith's protection. I think there are many who have still to learn that faith was never intended for exemption. Faith is not given to guard the life from anything; it is given to guard the life in everything. It empowers one to bear, and to bear cheerfully, what otherwise would break the heart and darken the loving ordering of God. To pass through the very worst that life can bring, undismayed in soul, and unembittered; to tread the darkest mile and sing in it; never to lose heart, or hope, or love; that is what faith achieved for the apostle and can achieve for every one of us, and that is the shielding power of faith. So was it with our blessed Lord. When He came here, He was offered no exemption. He was a man of sorrows, and He suffered, and He was tempted in all points like as we are. Yet to the end, in a faith that never faltered, He was loving, tranquil, and forgiving and under the cross spoke about His peace.

This Protecting Faith Has to Be Taken Up

One should notice, too, that this protecting faith is one that we require to make our own. In the apostle's words, we have to take it up, in the same way as we take up our cross. There is a faith that is part and parcel of our being. It is ours without any conscious effort. We believe quite naturally when the sower sows his seed that there will be a harvest in the autumn. But to believe, when life is stem, and sorrowful, that God is with us and loves us as a Father, that is not natural to sinful man. We have to take it up, in the apostle's words. We have to summon up the resources of the soul. We have to use our will in a deliberate effort, if such a faith is to be part of life. And it is just there that the Lord Jesus makes all the difference to us in our weakness, for God commendeth His love to us in this, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Fear and Faith

   

"God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 

How many have watched the TV show fear factor?

The program did remind me that fear is an emotion that we are all very familiar with it. 

One of my fears is of spiders and ticks. 

One time when my Mother was 16, She was resting on a screened in porch. When she opened her eyes, there was a wolf spider spinning a web right to her face. Needless to say, she screamed!  She transferred her fear to me and now I’ve transferred it to Alexus. 

You can transfer fear as well as doubt. 

Would you be willing to conquer your fears to do what Jesus asks you to do?

There is no doubt that fear is no friend of our effectiveness for Christ. We are often fearful about witnessing, giving our money away, saying no to our friends, forgiving a cruel offense, or risking being misunderstood if we speak up for biblical values. If Satan can get us focused on fear, he doesn't have to do much else to shut down our spiritual progress and usefulness.

So, let’s talk about what it takes to succeed for Jesus in the face of fear.

Let’s remind ourselves that fear primarily focuses on protecting and preserving “me.” Once you and I realize that a self-surpassing passion for others and that Jesus trumps FEAR, we can understand why the apostle John wrote that love casts out all fear.

(1 John 4:18). 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

But loving can often feel too risky. That’s why we need another ingredient to release the power of the love that conquers fear. That ingredient is TRUST. Trusting that God will protect you when you are fearful, that God will reward you when you feel at risk, that God will give you guidance and courage when you feel lost and intimidated is what it takes to defeat the fear that holds you back. 

Are you afraid that when you love you will become vulnerable, misunderstood, taken advantage of, or misused?                                                                                                   

Trust God to watch over you, and meet your needs, and give you His best, and those fears will become increasingly nonexistent. When our lives are characterized by a  trust-filled love, fear ultimately will not be a fear-factor.

You wouldn't think so, but

Fear and faith have something in common, they both ask you to believe that something is going to happen.

Fear says:  The pain in your chest is the same thing that killed your Mom or Dad, and your going to die from the same thing. TD. Jakes, at age 48 had a heart attack while driving his car, and he said these words “I guess I’m going to die like my Father died”. 

Faith says: The Holy Ghost came upon him and he stopped his car and got out and started coming against the devil and says “I WILL NOT DIE” he stopped the generational cruse that had followed his life. He faced his Fathers Devil and conquered him that day, and he did not die!!!!!

Fear says: The economy is so bad, and I feel like I will never get ahead in life.

Faith says: The Lord supplies all my needs!! Phil 4:19 My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!!

Walt Disney is an example of someone that didn't let economy or money come in the way of his dream. He filed bankruptcy three times before he created Disney World. Look what it is today! 

Fear says: You've done to many bad things, you will never be accepted by anyone.

Faith says: God is my best friend and He will never leave me. He accepts me, and he wants me to use my past to help others so they don’t have to go down the same path.

See, fear activates the (devil) and Faith activates (God).  they do the same thing but just the opposite. 

Whatever you meditate on is what is going to take root in your spirit. If you dwell on negative things all the time, you give fear the right to be in you.  The enemy will have a legal right to make what you say, come to past. Prov 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Story:   When I was sixteen and my parents were in another state at General Assembly, I was staying with family. We received word that my parents had gotten in an accident and were killed. Talking about fear, it gripped me so strong, and I went kinda crazy for a little while, until we heard from my parents and they were ok. That moment was temporary, but it did something to my soul. I had a hard time when my parents left me with family from that point on. Situations like that mark us, and only God can heal those wounds in our souls.  

Story: Living in fear for six years, afraid all the time that I was going to be beat again or worse. Every day was a new battle and a new demon I had to fight. Alcoholism, Bi-Polar (undiagnosed) was just a few things I faced that only my Son and I saw and had to live in. God was there the whole time, and he always lead me to people that were Christians to help me cope with the abuse. Fear kept me there, but my faith lead me out!

Hebrews 13:5-6

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

YOUR JOURNEY…

• What does God want you to do, but you are afraid of doing?

• What did David say he would do in the face of fear? Are you ready to do the same?

• In Psalm 56:3, 3  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Words from the Lord:

Behold I stand, waiting.

Lay heed I say to you, the days are shortened.

Many will not be ready.

Do not wait, do not wait.

Take heed that you are ready.

Take heed I say, seek me now!! Souls!

There are souls waiting to learn of Me. Souls, Souls.

Lean on me I say, Believe.

Seek me with your whole heart. 

I know the plans I have for you. Be still and know that I am the Great I AM. See that you are ready.

Soon I will come. Fresh wind. Those chains that bind you, I shall break. Soon I will come in like a fire.

Keep my word. You will know I am He!

I will show myself to you. Great power! Soon!

Verbal Pollution

What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it “verbal pollution,” passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. “The poison of pessimism,” Swindoll writes, “creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized.”

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! As they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to “put off” the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (v.22,30) and “put on” the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God’s help. It’s a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment.

uninhibited worship

Women in Ministry

Biblical Examples of Women in Ministry 

Old Testament history includes accounts of strong female leadership in many roles. The
following are striking examples: Miriam was a prophet to Israel during the Exodus,
alongside her brothers Moses and Aaron (Exodus 15:20). Deborah, both a prophet and a
judge, directed Barak to lead the army of Israel into successful combat against Israel’s
oppressors (Judges 4 to 5). Huldah, also a prophet, authenticated the scroll of the Law
found in the temple and helped spark religious reform in the days of Josiah (2 Kings
22:14–20; 2 Chronicles 34:22–28).

The New Testament also shows that women filled important ministry roles in the Early
Church. Tabitha (Dorcas) initiated an effective benevolence ministry (Acts 9:36). Philip’s
four unmarried daughters were recognized prophets (Acts 21:8,9). Paul singled out two
women, Euodia and Syntyche, as “women who have contended at my side in the cause of
the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers” (Philippians 4:2,3).
Priscilla was another of Paul’s exemplary “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans
16:3,4). In Romans 16, Paul greets numerous ministry colleagues, a large number of them
women. In these greetings, the word Paul uses to speak of the work (kopiaō), or labor, of
Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis (Romans 16:6,12) is one he uses extensively for
the labor of ministry (1 Corinthians 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17).

Phoebe, a leader in the church at Cenchrea, was highly commended to the church at 

Rome by Paul (Romans 16:1,2). Unfortunately, translation biases have often obscured 

Phoebe’s position of leadership, calling her a “servant” (NIV, NASB, ESV). Yet Phoebe 

was diakonos of the church at Cenchrea. Paul regularly used this term for a minister or 

leader of a congregation and applied it specifically to Jesus Christ, Tychicus, Epaphras, Timothy, and to his own ministry. Depending on the context, diakonos is usually 

translated “deacon” or “minister.” Though some translators have chosen the word 

deaconess (e.g., RSV, because Phoebe was female), the Greek diakonos is a masculine 

noun. Therefore, it seems likely that diakonos was the designation for an official 

leadership position in the Early Church and the proper translation for Phoebe’s role is 

“deacon” (TNIV, NLT, NRSV) or “minister.” Moreover, a number of translations reflect similar biases by referring to Phoebe as having been a “great help” (NIV) or “helper” (NASB) of many, including Paul himself (Romans 16:2). The Greek term here is prostatis, better translated by the NRSV as “benefactor” 

with its overtones of equality and leadership.

ESTHER – A WOMAN OF COURAGE

As women have opportunity to serve in our churches, we look to the Scripture to discern 

how God used women in significant ways in the past. An outstanding example for us is 

found in the little book of Esther. Esther was a woman who lived in difficult 

circumstances, had a difficult marriage, and yet she was used to change the fate of her 

entire nation. Women, even in difficult personal circumstances, can make a significant 

difference in God’s purposes.

Esther

We will consider this book from three perspectives and see what we can learn about how God uses women for His purposes. We will see that He prepares us, we must risk obedience, and seek His wisdom in acting for Him. You might say that for every time there is exists a prepared person, a real risk, and a wise way. Let’s consider these 

together, beginning with “a prepared person.”

We first observe God in community with Himself (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) 

determine to create mankind in His image. The interaction, communication, and 

collaboration within the Trinity reflect the intrinsic connection of God’s image and 

community. Additionally, from the beginning the image of God is reflected by both male and 

female, human beings. Being created in God’s image means having both male and 

female genders. The act of creation of man and woman to reflect God’s image is done 

in community as well – male and female as mankind in two persons. We discover in 

these verses that woman is a bearer of God’s image equally with man giving her great 

worth and dignity. From these verses we also learn that woman shared with man the responsibilities 

assigned by God in creation. They were not either/or, but both together. 

Verses 26-30 commands both man and woman 

• To rule over creation 

• To be fruitful and multiply 

• To subdue the earth and fill it 

• To enjoy the fruit of the earth 

Because God made both man and woman in His image and gave these tasks both the 

man and woman we can surmise that: 

1• Woman is equal in nature with man as a person with intellect, emotions, will, and 

spirit. 

2• To both man and woman, as bearers of His image, God gave dominion, blessing, 

and the important responsibility to rule and to be fruitful. 

3• And He gave to both of them the pleasure of enjoying that fruitfulness. 

4• It is not only man or only woman, singularly, who can fulfill this commission. It 

is given to them both as a part of community that involves both male and female. 

Male and female complement each other as image bearers. 

5• Though we see that woman is like man, we also see in verse 27 that she is created 

to be different. There is a reason that this verse differentiates woman from man. 

6• In this way, neither man nor woman is defined by marriage itself, but each reflect 

the glory of God through their gender in unique ways. Marriage itself can be a 

means of that reflection, but it is not fundamental to the expression of God’s 

image through a man or through a woman as a created being and an individual 

before God. 

Women have a unique connection to what is human and personal. This ability 

provides strength in connecting people to each other through relationships in the 

family, in the church, and in the community. It is interesting to realize that 

because Adam was already created, Eve entered into a world where human 

relationships were available (i.e. Adam) whereas Adam had experienced a world 

prior to human relationships (which God declared not good) Also, she was created 

from Adam’s side, his very person. Perhaps that is why women have a bent 

toward relational connections.

Adam and Eve in the Garden

God worked with the dust of the earth to form man. Then He breathed His 

own life into man. Man has a unique connection with the earth. 

1• When Adam was alone there was something missing that was not good. 

God meets this need in making woman. “I will make a helper suitable for 

him.” The fact that God took the rib from Adam and formed woman 

pictured that his incompleteness was made complete. 

2• God’s image was not complete when Adam was alone. Something was 

missing? God formed Eve from Adam’s humanity, and human community 

was set in motion. 

3• God worked with bone, flesh, and blood to form woman. 

4• Here is a picture of something warm, human, and personal in the way God 

formed woman and the material He used. 

5• Woman has a unique connection to what it means to be human, with a 

special connection to others. 

6• Woman was formed from a human being, from a person. 

7• She has a capacity to see life in a way that man does not have as clearly. 

Likewise, he has a capacity to see life in a way that she does not have as 

clearly. They complement each other. 

8• When she was created as a “suitable helper,” she was given a unique role.

Regardless of our particular backgrounds and convictions about how women serve in the 

church overall, the ministry of  women is clearly an area that is both biblical 

and needful for the sake of a healthy church. The ministry of  women is an area 

in which the exercise of all the gifts toward equipping, disciplining, and serving are 

essential. 

A. If women are guided by mature women in effective, serious studies of Scriptural 

truth, the problem of gossip will diminish rather than grow. The use of small groups 

and personal relationships with godly women will also give them a necessary and 

healthy outlet for discussing their lives in productive ways, and praying toward 

Christ-honoring attitudes and solutions. 

B. Significant ministry of  women in the area of counseling and guidance 

through life issues protects the church and its leadership from the problem of 

sexual temptation and even immorality that so often begins when men take on the role 

of counselor to women. Surely this was part of the Lord’s protection for us all in 

mandating the needful and effective ministry of  women. Thus, women need to be well trained and prepared to meet this challenge biblically and from a position of personal maturity. 

C. If women are growing spiritually and discovering their spiritual gifts, there will be 

many more servants equipped to participate in the ministry of the church. Women 

enjoy serving if they understand how and where to use their gifts! In this way, they 

are more fulfilled as well as appropriately supportive of church leadership. In general, 

when women are actively encouraged to serve in the areas of their gifts and 

biblical calling, they will be fulfilled and satisfied, not angry and looking to 

dominate church governance inappropriately. If their needs for relationship and 

nurture are being met, they will be healthy and effective contributors. 

D. When the relational needs of women are met in relationship with other women, they 

are happier at home, at work, and in every arena of life. Families are also affected 

in wonderful ways. Women who are studying God’s Word, growing in their faith, and 

serving others provide excellent role models for their children. Their commitment to 

spiritual growth may also serve as a catalyst to their husband’s spiritual development. 

Our relational priorities are one of our greatest strengths if properly tended! 

E. When married women are trained and able to join their husbands in ministering to 

others, greater understanding and unity can be fostered in the home and in 

ministry. As married couples labor toward a common goal, both feeling connected to 

this calling, they will also be able to provide needed support to each other in the face 

of various struggles and pressures. 

F. Women in ministry support the overall goals of the church. Ministry to 

women, by women and for women, to bring us closer to God and to a heart for 

serving and loving those around us, should exist in support of the overall ministry and 

goals of the church, not exist as a separate entity outside the church. This focus must 

be continually held before us, accountable to church leadership, given support and 

encouragement by leadership, and contributing to the welfare and success of the 

church and those who lead the church in following Christ.

As women, we have all received different callings and gifting from the Lord. We all live 

in different circumstances with different personalities and personal histories. Esther 

changed the course of history for her nation in spite of personal difficulty. How might 

you make an impact in your world if you follow God’s call?

Spend some time in prayer thanking God that He has 

made you female in His desire to express aspects of 

Himself in the universe through you. Thank Him for the 

special ways He delights in you and invites you to 

participate in what He is doing around us for His glory! 

Healing for the Broken Heart

Do you feel a power drain inside?? Do you feel like you always hit a brick wall when praying in the spirit?? In Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. He wants you to deal with the hurt that has robbed you of so much joy in your life. 
Your heart can be broken from so many different areas, such as, death of a loved one, physical abuse, abortion, divorce, abandonment, rejection with children can be very serious. People don't realize how tender a child's heart really is. It can be broken so easy. Bullying is a epidemic in the school systems in America.  The Military suffer from extremely serious disorders when they return from war, because their hearts are broken from what they see. 

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Jesus carried our sorrows in His work on the cross. The NT Greek tells us that the word sorrows here literally refers to anguish, affliction, grief, pain, and sorrow. Jesus took these things and paid the price with His own blood for us! You need to know that God desires to heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds. This is what the Bible tells us:


Psalms 147:3, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

Do you want to receive healing from emotional wounds, pain, sorrows, grief, and anguish? It is vital that we take advantage of what Christ has done for us, and learn to cast our cares upon the Lord. Not some of them, but ALL of them; knowing that He cares for you and wants to take those things from you.

Say this prayer if you are brokenhearted, He is able!!!!

Jesus, I come into your presence now, and I ask you to surround me. I come under your authority and your claim upon my life. I give myself to you—body, soul, and spirit. I give my heart to you, in every way—including the broken places in me. I declare your authority over my heart, for you made my heart and you have redeemed my heart.I ask you  Jesus to come into the emotion, the memory, of this broken place within me. I give you permission; I give you access. I open the door to this particular place in my heart. I Ask you Jesus, to bring your light there. I speak life into my heart.  Shine your light in my heart. Jesus, I invite you into this broken place within me (this wound, this memory). In Jesus name, I pray, amen.

What if your Pastor did this????

What if you walked into church this next Sunday and you looked across the audience and saw your Pastor setting on the front pew with a wood box on his head??  What would you do?? ummm would you leave or have a seat right behind him to see what was up? I for one, would have a seat and listen and watch. Especially if I had confidence in the man with a box on his head. 

Your Pastor

By now I have your attention, I am speaking of the Azusa Street Revival.  Rev. W. J. Seymour was a very interesting person and I have  loved to read about the revival that took place in California in 1906.  Spiritual tremors were beginning to be felt before Seymour arrived in the city. Indeed, it seems the city’s entire Christian populace was eagerly awaiting the outpouring of the Spirit, like water coming to the boil. Seymour spent much time here in private prayer and fasting, becoming known as a man of unusual prayerfulness. Thereafter Seymour invited his host and hostess to share in his prayer times. Much to the consternation of Mrs. Hutchins, other Santa Fe members began to feel a spiritual compulsion to attend these prayer meetings. Lee invited Seymour to minister in a small home Bible study and prayer meeting in the home of Richard and Ruth Asberry at 214, North Bonnie Brae Street. He agreed to this and continued to do until mid-April 1906. The meetings grew so large that they had to find a large building to meet in. They found that building on the infamous Azusa Street. 

They began to meet at 10am every day and sometimes the services would go into the night. 

There were no hymn books nor musical instruments, and no collections were taken. A sign on the wall over a free-will offering box declared, “Settle with the Lord.” No teachings or ministries were prepared; everything was left to the spontaneity of the Spirit. The pulpit was composed of two large wooden “shoe boxes.” Elder Seymour would usually sit behind these, deep in prayer with his head buried inside the top box. The preaching was simple and direct and covered themes taught in many other holiness missions: salvation by a personal acceptance of Jesus as Saviour sanctification by renunciation of sin and turning from worldliness, abandonment of rigid traditions and the legalisms of man-made religion, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, divine healing. Often personal testimonies were given or were read from correspondence from those elsewhere. “Divine love was wonderfully manifest in the meetings. They would not even allow an unkind word said against their opposers or the churches.  The message was ‘the love of God.’ It was a sort of ‘first love’ of the early church returned. The ‘baptism,’ as we received it in the beginning, did not allow us to think, speak or hear evil of any man. The Spirit was very sensitive, tender as a dove.”

“Scores of personal and eyewitness accounts attest that many who came to ridicule the meetings were knocked to the floor where they seemed to wrestle with unseen opponents, sometimes for hours. These people generally arose convicted of sin and seeking God. One foreign-born reporter had been assigned by his paper to record the “circus-like” atmosphere in a comic-relief fashion. He attended a night-time meeting, sitting far in the back. In the midst of the meeting a young woman began to testify about how God had baptized her with the Holy Spirit when she suddenly broke into tongues. After the meeting the reporter sought her out and asked her where she had learned the language of his native country. She answered that she didn’t have any idea what she had said, and that she spoke only English. He then related to her that she had given an entirely accurate account of his sinful life, all in the language of his native tongue . Awesome!!!!

Story from one of the young girls that attended:

Sister Carney Azusa Age: 17 (newspaper reporter interview)

 When the woman entered the meeting room, she was holding a

bloody bandage to the side of her head. Sister Carney noticed she appeared to be in

tremendous pain and went over to minister to her. While waiting for Seymour to come

down and the meeting to begin, Sister Carney asked her what had happened, and the

lady told her about the fight she had with the woman that she found cheating with her husband. She told her that she didn't have the ear with her, and Sister 

Carney reached over and kind of pulled the bandage off to see the wound that basically

looked like a bloody, raw piece of meat. Without hesitation, she began to pray for the

woman. After praying for her, the lady said that the pain was gone so Sister Carney

looked at her wound again, and to her astonishment, right before her very eyes, a brand

new ear began to grow out. Sister Carney sat there with her mouth open and simply

exclaimed, ―Oh my God!‖ This wasn't the first miracle that Sister Carney witnessed, but

it was the first one she witnessed as a result of God working through her own prayers.

According to Sister Carney, many people were there in wheelchairs and cots brought in from the hospitals around the area. Often, before Seymour would come downstairs or even when

he was sitting with the box on his head, Sister Carney and others would go to the sick

and crippled and pray for them, and they would get their healing. She and the others

would go to those in wheelchairs, pull up the footrests, pray for them, and then watch

them walk off, pushing their empty wheelchairs. One of these wheelchair healings stayed with Sister Carney in a special way. One man had heavy braces on his legs and had not walked in years. She recalls that the wheelchair he was in had wheels made of wood. She prayed for him, and he was miraculously healed. His name was Brother Aubrey, and he was pastor of a big church in Los Angeles. Sister Carney explained that miracles

abounded at Azusa. People with bones twisted were restored. You could hear bones

popping and see arms and legs growing out right before your eyes.  Miracles performed by God through faithful saints attending the meetings to the difference in miracles when

Brother Seymour was preaching. Sister Carney explained that when Brother Seymour

would come down, there were even greater miracles. Seymour never had a set pattern,

rather he would come down and put the box over his head and then later would take the

box off when directed by God, get up and do what God told him to do. Sometimes, he

would go to a certain section of wheelchairs or to a certain section of cots—the cots

were for people who had been carried in from the hospital. She explained that to her

astonishment, Seymour would point at them and say, ―Everyone on the cots or

wheelchairs, you‘re healed in the Name of Jesus.‖ Everyone on the cots or in 

wheelchairs would get up and walk around fully healed of whatever malady they suffered

from Some of the greatest miracles were when the flames were above the building.

Bones that were cracked and broken were totally healed. When Seymour came down to the meeting, he would sit down and put a box on his head. At first it startled Sister Carney. Sometimes he would sit with the box over his head for ten minutes and sometimes it would be an hour or more. Although the practice seemed ridiculous, Sister Carney realized that he was obeying God, no matter how silly or ridiculous it appeared. That apparent act of humble obedience led to mighty power when he removed the box. This box and act of humility were critical to the power God displayed through Brother Seymour. When Brother Smith asked Sister Carney what caused the miracles and Azusa to stop, she replied, ―It stopped when Brother Seymour stopped putting that box over his head. When he quit coming down and putting the box on his head, it started dying. The discussion about Azusa turned to the Shekinah Glory. When I asked about her experience with the Presence of God‘s Spirit, Sister Carney‘s face would light up. She described it as being a part of heaven. To her, it was like breathing pure oxygen, and to her wonderment, it was always present. When I asked her to describe the Shekinah Glory Fire reported by many, she told her story. She recalled the fire department coming because of a call that the building was on fire. When they arrived, they didn‘t smell any smoke or see any evidence of fire. She didn‘t run out with the firemen. She remembered that it was Seymour, Bosworth, Lake, Smith, and Sines that ran out.

Sister Carney did go out one time to see the flames for herself. Remember, the fire

department had been called on several different occasions, as passers-by would report

seeing flames leaping up from the roof of the building. Finally, Sister Carney asked John

Lake why the fire department kept coming and looking for the fire. He explained that

the fire was coming down from heaven into the building and fire was going up from the

building and meeting the fire coming down. Fascinated, Sister Carney went out, walked

about a half a block and saw the awesome sight for herself. To her, this divine

connection of fire coming down from heaven and going up to heaven was just further

evidence of God‘s mighty Presence in that place. Sister Carney noted that although the

Shekinah Glory was present all the time within the building, this divine connection

wasn‘t an everyday occurrence. Whenever this connection was present, the power of

God was even more intense within the meeting. 

 Here are just a few testimonies that took place during those days of revival! 

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH News Paper

Azusa Street Testimonies

VOL. 1, NO. 3

The Lord is saving drunkards and taking the appetite for liquor and tobacco completely away.

Reports come from Denver that forty souls have received the

Pentecost and are speaking in tongues.

A young man saved from the morphine habit has no more

desire for the stuff and gave up his instruments.

Four workers from Texas, Brother and Sister Oyler and Brother and Sister Quinton have arrived in Los Angeles lately. God has been using them in Whittier.

Brother Tom Qualis from Fresno said, “I came 300 miles to this meeting and I feel heaven in my soul. It seems to me I am getting some of the crumbs that fall from Father’s table. I feel the presence of God here.”

“Cartoons in the newspapers were my first introduction to this meeting,” said a brother, “and I said, this is what I have been praying for years. I was warned by leaders that it was of the devil, but I came and got a touch of heaven in my soul.”

The blind man who was saved and had his sight restored was

saved because of hearing a few praying in tongues in a cottage meeting. He was a sinner; a very profane man, and was convicted because of tongues. Praise God for His marvelous works to the children of men.

Here is a personal letter that Rev. Seymour wrote about receiving the Holy Spirit.

 LETTER TO ONE SEEKING THE HOLY GHOST

Dear Beloved in Christ Jesus:

The Lord Jesus has said in His precious Word, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”Matt. 5, 6. God’s promises are true and sure. We can rest upon His promises. He says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5, 8. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5, 3. The Lord Jesus is always ready to fill the hungry, thirsty soul, for He said in His precious Word, “He that believeth on Me as the scripture hath said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spoke He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7. 38, 39. But, praise God, He is given to us today.

All we have to do is to obey the first chapter of Acts, and wait for the promise of the Father upon our souls. The Lord Jesus said in His precious Word, “Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24, 49.) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.“Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts

I. 5, 8. They tarried until they received the mighty power of the baptism with the Holy Spirit upon their souls. Then God put the credentials in their hearts, and put the ring of authority on their finger, and sealed them in the forehead with the Father’s name, and wrote on their heart the name of the New Jerusalem, and put in their hand the stone with

the name written that no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever. Let us stand upon His promises. They are sure, they will not break.

The Lord Jesus says, “Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10, 19. Dear loved one, the Lord Jesus when He rose from the dead, said “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(Matt. 28. 19) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any

deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Mark 16: 16-18. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Praise His dear name, for He is just the same today.

The first thing in order to receive this precious and wonderful baptism with the Holy Spirit, we want to have a clear knowledge of justification by faith according to the Bible. Rom. 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” faith that all our actual sins may be washed away. Actual sin means committed sin. And then the second step is to have a real knowledge of sanctification, which frees us from original sin—the sin that we were born with, which we inherited from our father Adam. We were not responsible for that sin until we received light, for we could not repent of a sin that we

did not commit. When we came to the Lord as a sinner, we repented to God of our actual sins, and God for Christ’s sake pardoned us and washed our sin and pollution away, and planted eternal life in our souls.

Afterwards we saw in the Word of God, “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” I Thess. 4:3, also John 17:15-19. We consecrated ourselves to God, and the Lord Jesus sanctified our souls, and made us clean.

Then after we were clearly sanctified, we prayed to God for the baptism With the Holy Spirit. So He sent the Holy Spirit to our hearts and filled us with His blessed Spirit, and He gave us the Bible evidence, according to the 2nd chapter of Acts verses 1 to 4, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Praise our God, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Receive Him  now and He will fill you. Amen. Don’t get discouraged but pray until you are filled, for the Lord says, “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” Don’t stop because you do not receive the baptism with the Holy Ghost at the first, but continue until you are filled. The

Lord Jesus told His disciples to tarry until they were endued with power from on high. Many people today are willing to tarry just so long, and then they give up and fail to receive their personal Pentecost that would measure with the Bible. The Lord Jesus says, “Ye shall be filled.” He says that to the person that hungers and thirsts after righteousness and He

says they are blessed. So if there is a hunger and thirst in our souls for righteousness, we are blessed of Him. Praise His dear name!

Yours in Christ,

—W. J. Seymour

After reading all I could find about this meeting, I began to pray to the Lord to raise up men that will not allow the politics of the church and the unGodly influence of men to sway the move of the spirit. We need a revival on this planet that will shake it to its core. As an intercessor, I pray this year will be a deep move, where the Glory will dwell within our churches.  

Love in Christ, 

Heather Dunn