Part of the Family 

I do not remember exactly when I became interested, actually captivated, in searching for our family roots.  I do remember seeing the TV miniseries "Roots" and thought it would be interesting to see where my family origins began.  For some years I have spent hours searching out family history through genealogy libraries and even internet websites.  I do not mind the hours of tedious searching of microfiche looking for grandpa's name or verifying dates of family members to make that final family connection.

So, my latest Global class – Assemblies of God History, Missions, and Governance, reminded me of that type of research – to dig out information stored away in obscure files or even history books.  Connecting the dots to events on the timeline of Pentecostal history creates a sense of belonging with those gone on before.  Just like finding Uncle Claude and realizing he is family even though I never knew him.

After the Protestant Reformation, John Wesley introduced the doctrine of Christian perfection.  He believed in a second experience after salvation, sanctification which brought believers freedom from this sinful nature (p.15).  It was  in the early 1800s where we saw the "Holiness Movement" that taught about the "double cure" – the blessing of salvation and the second blessing of the Holy Spirit for power for holy living (p.16).  Spirit baptism began to fill the holiness literature.  However, the Spirit-filled life was viewed differently by various groups.  Here is a quick outline of these groups:

Reformed Calvinistic – equated Spirit baptism with conversion

Revivalists – claimed it was a second work of grace.  Men like D.L. Moody strongly emphasized Spirit baptism to empower for service.

Charles Finney – taught that Spirit baptism empowered one for ministry

The Keswick conventions – (England) rejected Wesleyan perfection  and preferred "full consecration" and the "fullness of the Spirit" (p.16).

About this same time we also read about the "Healing Movement."  Dorothea Trüdel in Switzerland set up a hospice for healing called a "faith home," where the sick were instructed in biblical promises of healing, encouragement to build their faith, and prayer for their healing (p.16).  For those who believed in divine healing, this movement was a haven.

Our next period on this textbook timeline is the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Revival was turning up everywhere.  God was moving on believers around the world.  In 1904, the Welch revival produced over 100,000 converts (p.18).  Revivals in Australia, South Africa, and India had believers looking at this outpouring as the great end-time revival (p.18).   In the United States, Charles Parham, who considered himself the founder of the Apostolic Faith Movement, and his Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, saw the beginnings of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.  Parham, for the first time, heard speaking in tongues at Shiloh, Maine (p.20)  It was in October 1900 that "Parham gave his students an assignment – the study of the book of Acts."  Upon his return, his students also agreed with him, "Acts showed tongues as the biblical evidence of being baptized in the Spirit" (p. 20).  The Pentecostal revival that started in Topeka, Kansas spread to Galena, Kansas; to Houston, Texas; to Zion, Illinois and then to Azusa Street -- the most recognized locations by Pentecostals.  As with most new theories, the doctrine of speaking in an unlearned tongue as the spirit moved was not embraced by everyone.  In the group of Pentecostals, there was a difference in their doctrines:  the required evidence of the Spirit baptism, the nature of sanctification, and the view of God as a Trinity.

There are other people associated with this great time of revival of the Holy Spirit.  William J. Seymour ( a black man), was not allowed to sit in the classroom with white students, but he accepted Parham's view of baptism in the Holy Spirit and tongues (p.21).  Mr. Seymour, in1906, accepted the pastorate of a church in Los Angeles, but  after being locked out, he held meetings at a house on Bonnie Brae Street.  When the porch collapsed, he moved to Azusa Street – the former Stevens African Methodist Episcopal Church.  At the time, The Apostolic Faith, a publication by Seymour and Clara Lum was the most influential paper.  This paper carried the accounts of the revival describing the meetings and the experiences encountered by the attendees, such as "prayer for the sick, shouting, Spirit baptism, singing in tongues, and preaching" (p. 21).  Because many believed that Jesus was coming soon, there was a great urgency to get the gospel to all the world; hence missionary endeavors became a primary focus.  By decade's end, there were more than 200 missionaries serving overseas (p.25).  Many missionaries were ill-prepared for the demands of life in a foreign country – they did not have sufficient funds, they did not study the language, they shared the gospel but their fruit did not last.  We know little of their story because the Pentecostal editors did not want to publish their sad stories (p.25).

Parham and Seymour did share different views when it came to the "mingling of the whites and blacks together in worship" (p.22).  Eventually, they parted ways because of the contradiction in Parham's behavior  – how could one claim to have the power of the Holy Spirit and display such lack of love, a fruit of the Spirit? (p.22)

Since Parham considered himself the founder of the Apostolic Faith Movement, being the first to teach that tongues is the initial physical evidence of Spirit Baptism, perhaps that Topeka revival was the beginning for the term "Pentecostal."  

There are many leaders that influenced those early years of the Pentecostal message and eventually had helped found the Assemblies of God.  Some of those early pioneers, I believe, were very courageous in searching the scriptures for truth and wisdom and understanding as God would reveal – in His time.  They are family, the family of God.

I am Learning – In His Time

Prayer Expectations

I often wonder why “things” – events, requests, phone calls – you know the things that come up unexpectedly.  Why do these things come into our lives when they do?  (I know, God has a purpose and a plan, but . . . .)

There have been a few of these unexpected “things” enter my life just recently.  A sister who is facing critical health issues that, unless God’s healing touch is laid on her she will eventually face surgery.  Our church is undergoing a restructuring from top to bottom; similar to a corporation downsizing.  We are being squeezed – losing members and facing financial uncertainty.  Our home, since our kids have grown and moved out, has always been our sanctuary – a place where we have peace and quiet.  Now though, our eldest son and family of five have moved in with us.  There is no time or place to find peace and quiet for the foreseeable future.

These unexpected events create a challenge in one’s prayer life.  We pray and want to have an answer we can live with on our terms.  We do not have time to wait and hear what God is saying to us!  We need and almost expect God to answer the way we want the outcome to be.  We want the answer now, not later.  We are hurting now!  We need relief now!  Where are you God?    

In the midst of these testing issues our next A/G Berean class began; Relationships and Ethics in Ministry, dealing with relationship and ethics.  Out of 11 course objectives let me list just a few: 

•   Identify the physical, emotional, social and spiritual effects that relationships bring to the life of the minister;

• Describe the priorities of conduct that can lead to effective relationships both at home and within the church.

• Define personal integrity and explain how it can be maintained effectively.

Although each chapter presented a Biblical approach for relationships both personally and professionally (in this context, as a minister), it was the first chapter that brought a real challenge to me.  In the section entitled Personal Priorities the one that caught my attention was “When you Pray, Write Down your Words.” 

Spontaneity is often necessary.  However, at other times, writing out petitions, gratitude, and praise puts your communication into sharper focus than spoken, generalized statements do.  . . . .   He does not expect every human prayer to be a masterpiece of logic or fantastic prose.  However, prayer is a discipline and writing your inner thoughts gives a direction that otherwise is too easily confused.  (Ch. 1, p. 20)

How was I challenged?  Well, in the midst of this ongoing church restructuring, I volunteered to facilitate a Wednesday night prayer/Bible study class.  My intent was to do just the one night; however, that was four weeks ago. 

As a part of that first night’s study this very challenge was made: Write Down Your Prayer.  Each week another one comes forward to share their written prayer.  They have told me it was harder than they thought.  Not only in what direction they started to write but what eventually the prayer became.  It has been very emotional for all of us because the emotion we put in the prayers have a connection to family, church, relationships, finances, just everything. 

Here is one of my prayers:

 Father God, as your love abides in us and we love one another (1 John 4:12) show us Lord, how to love our community in your name.  May our life and service to this community create a Christ-honoring relationship bridge so that the message is felt, tasted and experienced like good fruit.

I pulled some of these thoughts from our text, but they exemplified what was in my heart and fell in place for this prayer.

Putting our praise and petitions into written form is taking control of the direction and purpose of the prayer so we are not rushed or lazy in what and how we present them.  Consider this:  “Prayers deserve intensity because you are dealing with power that can change the world.” (p. 21, emphasis mine.)

Through this class and the others past and future, I still feel I am learning more with each sentence I read and in the good books that I find.  I am realizing how blessed I am to have God’s grace extended to me.  It is more than time to share what we have.

I am Learning – In His Time

Restaurant evangelism

I am supposed to be on vacation from my part-time job.  So, today Jim and I went out for a day trip.  We decided to head south to a restaurant known for great biscuits and gravy.  The busy freeway offers many truck-stop restaurants each with their own signature décor and food offerings.  Our restaurant of choice had stopped serving their breakfast biscuits by the time we arrived, so we opted for lunch.

What I find unique about this restaurant, and usually not found in most places of business, is the message of the love of God.  A reader board in the foyer read “Repentance means hating sin enough to turn from it” with a scripture reference to Hosea 6:1-6.  Just inside the front door, in front of the pie rack so you cannot miss it, was a revolving bookrack stuffed with books of inspiration, devotional materials, how to books on finances and even some Bible trivia.  Also, on our table a flyer proclaimed the message of good news for your day.

I know it is rare to find these good news messages in the typical restaurant or any business.  It seems the norm is for owners to be politically correct so as not to offend anyone who may want to shop or eat at their business.  However safe that is, the alternative has eternal consequences.

 The meaning of “good news” or “gospel” is from the translated Greek word for “evangelism.”  In Local Church in Evangelism (p.27), the end objective of evangelism is a disciple–a committed and faithful follower of Christ. 

 We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.  Colossians 1:28

 As a believer it is not our responsibility to convince someone to make a decision for Christ; all we need do is “proclaim” the message that Jesus is the answer–He changes lives.  I am finding the simplest way to share is to just tell what Christ has done in my life.  Trying to come up with just the right scripture or defend a “truth” someone wants to pursue, just causes distraction from the real purpose – to share Jesus.  Being an effective witness does not necessarily depend on how long a person has followed Christ or even how spiritually mature he or she is.  (Evangelism, p.29)  

The restaurant we were in today is using the opportunity of providing food to share the good news with customers.  Our opportunities may come entirely different as we work or play with our friends and family. 

I am Learning – In His Time – He will lead me

Jesus -- Who and Why!

Just to let you know up front, I'm in the final days of the latest Bible study course I'm taking.  This study has been a real challenge to me and how I perceive my roll as a believer in Christ.  Our text book is from A/G’s Global University, The Local Church in Evangelism, and while reading Chapter 7 we were presented with Peter's preaching style found in the books of Mark and Acts.  The key components of Peter's message on the Day of Pentecost were relating who Jesus is and why He gave His life.  Peter’s presentation of the gospel is so easy to understand that I wonder why it has taken me so long to grasp it.  Why do I find it difficult to talk about this amazing savior to outsiders?  I decided to gather more specific historical information about Jesus. 

As you may know, the internet is really not the best place to find truth–remember even basic facts are subject to the author!  On one site I found a statement that Jesus never lived.  He was only a fictional character made up from many past characters.  My son, Jim, is finishing his last year at Northwestern University.  So, I went rummaging through his growing library of text books from Bible encyclopedias and Parallel Bibles where eschatology, theology and exegesis get lost in so much verbiage.

This is what I found regarding Christ.  A Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus was an eye-witness to history and is best known for his works War of the Jews and Antiquities of the Jews, which are considered by many scholars most authoritative.  These and other of his writings provide historical insight to Jewish customs and culture, even referring to Jesus. 

I even found references in The Bible Almanac (Packer, Tenney, White, 1980) to a Roman biographer Suetonius, a historian of the second century, Tacitus, and a Roman writer Lucian.  These men referred to the fate of many Christians during Nero’s reign.  Lucian described “Christ as the man who was crucified in Palestine.”  (Almanac, p. 511)  So how is it that a man who never existed can be found in ancient history.

So, who was Jesus?  The most important authority is still the Word of God.  Jesus was and is, period.  We know he was God in human form.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and conquered death by rising again to offer us forgiveness of sin and the gift of everlasting life.  (Evangelism, Ch. 7, p. 91.)  We also know who He was not.  Jesus was and is more than a fictional character; more than just a man, a great teacher or even a prophet as some historians tend to depict.

Here are some of my favorite references to who Jesus is:  the Son of God (Mark 1:1, 24); The Christ – The Messiah (John 1:41); The Bread of Life (John 6:35, 47); The Lamb of God (Luke 22:14-18); The true vine (John 15:1).

The second half of Peter’s sermon presentation is “why He gave His life.”  I think the key element here is in the wording.  He gave His life.  No one took it from him.  His mission was to purchase our redemption.  That He did on the cross, shedding His innocent blood as a sacrifice for sinful man. 

Also consider the why in that:  Christ should suffer (Acts 3:18; Mark 8:31); your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19; Salvation is in no other; no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12; 10:43); Forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31; 13:38); Put to death on the cross (Acts 5:30; 10:39).  (Evangelism, pp. 90-91)

Jesus is the gospel message.  The good news I want to share. 

I am Learning – In His Time – He will lead me