Azusa Street Testimonies (Part 4)

 

Healed From Sickness

A sister who has had hemorrhages of the lungs for years was brought very low lately, having seven hard hemorrhages one after another. She was nearing the river and heard her name called three times by a heavenly messenger, but she answered that she did not feel she could say she had fought a good fight and kept the faith. Then the drawing to the other shore ceased. The saints prayed for her, and she arose, and dressed, being perfectly healed. She went to the table and ate her dinner and afterwards played and sang several hymns. She has received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and God has raised her up to preach the whole Gospel.

From Alaska

Bro. H. M. Turney, an evangelist who was in Alaska when he heard of the outpouring of God's Spirit in California, struck out immediately for Los Angeles, and he has received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and gift of tongues. About five minutes before he received the Holy Spirit, while kneeling at the altar, he whispered to Bro. Oyler that the devil was tempting him that the speaking in tongues was not for him. Bro. Oyler replied, "The devil is a liar from the beginning." And immediately the Holy Spirit fell on our brother and he spoke with tongues. Since then he says the Lord waked him up at night speaking and singing in tongues, as He has so many others. A brother from Redlands, seventy-nine years old, came for Divine healing. He was deaf and used ear trumpets. The Lord opened his ears immediately. Then as he arose to go, a brother asked him," "Where are you glasses?" He looked around and said with astonishment, "Why, I can see as well as I ever did." He had had poor eyesight. The Lord also healed him of rheumatism at the same time. "With his stripes we are healed."

Bro. G.A. Cook Receives The Holy Spirit

God has told His children to be witnesses, and the most convincing evidence is testimony of personal knowledge. To endeavor to help those who are sending in letters of inquiry to the Apostolic Faith office, asking how they may receive the Holy Spirit, the writer will state a little of his personal experience in obtaining this pearl of great price, the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I dropped into the meetings on Azusa Street some time in April, having heard that some people were speaking in tongues, as they did on the day of Pentecost. Although I had been trying to preach Pentecost for five years, the speaking in tongues was as strange to me as though it had never been mentioned in God's word. At first the meeting seemed a very tame affair to me, as I had been along the line of much fleshly demonstration and noise.

As I was indoctrinated in the second blessing being the baptism with the Holy Spirit, I branded the teaching as heretical, not going to the meetings for some time. In the meantime, Pentecost came to the place, and many began to speak in tongues. I now began to attend regularly. In fact, I could not stay away. My heart began to break up, and soon I was going from one person to another, asking them to forgive me for harsh words and criticism. God so melted my heart that I would cry at my work or riding on a streetcar. How the dear Lord began to teach me that what I needed was His loving, tender Spirit, and that power with God meant deep humility in our dealings with our fellow creatures. I now began to go to the altar and earnestly seek for the Lord to have His way with me. Soon the power of God began to work with me. The Holy Spirit showed me that I must be clay in the Potter's hands, an empty vessel before the Lord. I laid aside all doctrine, all pre-conceived ideas and teachings and became absolutely empty. The Holy Spirit now settled down on me, and I could feel the power going through me like electric needles. The Spirit taught me that I must not resist the power but give way and become limp as a piece of cloth. When I did this, I fell under the power, and God began to mold me and teach me what it meant to be really surrendered to Him. 

I was laid out under the power five times before Pentecost really came. Each time I would come out from under the power, I would feel so sweet and clean, as though I had been run through a washing machine. I now had come to the place where I was completely submitted to the whole will of God. I had been seeking about five weeks, and on a Saturday morning I awoke and stretched my arms toward heaven and asked God to fill me with the Holy Spirit. My arms began to tremble, and soon I was shaken violently by a great power, and it seemed as though a large pipe was fitted over my neck, my head apparently being off. I was now filled with the Holy Spirit. Words cannot describe the power I felt. The nearest description that could be given would be the action of a pump under terrific pressure, filling me with oil. I could feel the filling in my toes and all parts of my body which seemed to me to swell until I thought I would burst. 

I do not know how long this continued but it seemed to me a long time. The pressure was now removed and my soul and spirit seemed to leave the body and float in the air just above. My body seemed hard and metallic like iron. This was undoubtedly the baptism into the death of Christ. It was now time for me to arise and go to work, so I got up without speaking in tongues. I believe I would have spoken in tongues then, if I had remained in the hands of the Lord long enough. About thirty hours afterwards, while sitting in the meeting on Azusa Street, I felt my throat and tongue begin to move, without any effort on my part. Soon I began to stutter and then out came a distinct language which I could hardly restrain. I talked and laughed with joy far into the night. Praise His name for such a wonderful experience of power and love and joy. G.A. Cook.

In Him
Tyrone

Azusa Street Testimonies (Part 3)

 

Brother Rosa’s Testimony

When Rev. Evans and his wife and Sister Florence Crawford went to the city of Oakland preaching the full Gospel, I went the first night, not to criticize but to investigate. Many preachers were there to criticize, but when I stepped in, I felt the power of God and could not say that it was the work of the devil, as most of the preachers declared, for I was practically convinced that it was the work of the Holy Spirit. I went home and began to study my Bible, and went to God in prayer to reveal to me if these people were really the people of God. He revealed to me in the attitude of my supplication that they were preaching exactly what the disciples of old preached. I was convinced that every minister of the Gospel should receive the same baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire that the disciples received on the day of Pentecost, before they are prepared to preach the Gospel. 

I was teaching that when we receive sanctification, we receive the Holy Spirit, as most of the preachers are teaching. But as I went to my Bible with the spirit of prayer, God revealed to me that the disciples were justified before Christ ascended; but they never were baptized with the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost. The second day that I went to the meeting, the Lord put a real hunger in my soul to go forward, but I was too proud as a minister of the Gospel to humble myself in a lowly mission and let ladies pray over me for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and I had in my mind what people would think of me. But the third day, as I arose to testify in the audience, the only words I could say were: "What does God think of me?" Then I could only weep for some minutes and the power of God came upon me until I dropped to the floor. 

I was under the power of God for about an hour and a half, and it was there that all pride, and self, and conceit disappeared, and I was really dead to the world, for I had Christ within in His fullness. I was baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke in a new tongue. I praise God for the light, and now I am walking in it. The desire of my heart is to see every man and woman that preaches the Gospel of Christ, baptized with the Holy Spirit, for without the Holy Spirit it is almost impossible for us to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and the judgment.

Testimonies Of Outgoing Missionaries. 

A company of three missionaries left Los Angeles September 13, en route for the west coast of Africa. Sister Hutchins has been preaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit. She has received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and the gift of the Uganda language, the language of the people to whom she is sent. A brother who has been in that country understands and has interpreted the language she speaks. Her husband is with her and her niece, who also has been given the African language.

Sister Hutchins' Testimony.

I was justified on the 4th of July, 1901, and at that time, I felt that the Lord wanted me in Africa, but I was not then at all willing to go. But on the 28th of July, 1903, the Lord sanctified me. Before He sanctified me, He asked me if I would go to Africa. I promised Him I would. From that time on, I have felt the call to Africa, and have been willing to go at any moment, but not knowing just when the Lord would have me leave. On the sixth of last month, while out in my back yard one afternoon, I heard a voice speaking to me these words: "On the 15th day of September, take your husband and baby and start out for Africa." And I looked around and about me to see if there was not someone speaking to me, but I did not see anyone, and I soon recognized that it was the voice of God. I looked up into the heavens and said: "Lord, I will obey." Since then I have had many tests and temptations from the devil. He has at times told me that I would not even live to see the 15th of September, but I never once doubted God. I knew that He was able to bring everything to pass that He told me to do. After hearing the voice telling me to leave Los Angeles on the 15th, I went to one of my neighbors and testified to her that the Lord had told me to leave for Africa on the 15th of September.

She looked at me with a smile. I asked her what she was smiling about. She said: "Because you have not got street car fare to go to Azusa Street Mission tonight, and talking about going to Africa." But I told her I was trusting in a God that could bring all things to pass that He wanted us to do. He has really supplied all my needs in every way, for the work where He has called me. I want to testify also about my husband. He was a backslider, and how the devil did test me, saying: "You are going out to cast the devil out of others, and going to take a devil with you." My husband was not saved, but I held on to God and said: "Lord, I will obey." I continued to testify and to make preparations to leave on the 15th. The Lord reclaimed my husband and sanctified him wholly and put the glory and shout in him. So now it is my time to laugh. The devil has oppressed and mocked me; but praise the Lord, now I can mock him. Glory to God! It is now ten minutes to four o'clock in the afternoon on the 15th day of September. I am all ready and down to the Mission with my ticket and everything prepared, waiting to have hands laid on and the prayers of the saints, and expect to leave at eight o'clock from the Santa Fe station en route for Africa. We expect to go to Mt. Coffee, Monrovia, Liberia. Feeling the need of a real companion in the Gospel that was out and out for God, I prayed to God that He might give me one to go with me. I had my eyes upon one that I wanted to go, but in prayer and humility before God, I found out it was not the one the Lord wanted to go. So I said: "Anyone, Lord, that you would have to go will be pleasing to me." And, to my surprise, He gave me my niece—a girl that I had raised from a child. Now she is nineteen years of age, is saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Spirit, and is going with me out into the work of the Lord. So instead of giving me one companion, He gave me two—my niece and my husband.

Our first stop will be Chattanooga, Tenn., Harge Row. I want the prayers of the saints that I may stay humble. Mrs. J.W. Hutchins  Address: Mt. Coffee, Monrovia,  Liberia, Africa.

A Girl's Consecration For Africa. 

I am saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Spirit and have the Bible evidence. The Lord showed me that the language I spoke was the language of Africa. My aunt who has been the same as a mother to me, was going to Africa. I asked the Lord if He wanted me to go, to open up a way for me, and the next morning He opened the way for me. I did not have the means and He gave me the fare and supplied all my needs. I am willing to trust Him through to Africa. I know the Lord wants me to go there. I want to testify to those people and teach the children about the blessed Lord, and to work for the Lord. I am willing to forsake all my loved ones for His sake. I want the saints to pray for me for I am young in the Lord. Leila McKinney.

In Christ,

Tyrone

Azusa Street Testimonies! (Part 1)

 

Azusa Street Testimonies! (Part 1) 

God’s Workings Amongst His People

No Bottom

We meet many honest souls these days who are under the delusion that they have committed the unpardonable sin. The following incident should be an encouragement to such.

A child of God was attacked by the enemy with the suggestion that she was forsaken of God and had committed the unpardonable sin. She was then on a mission field in the South, separated from other Christian workers; and without any apparent cause, the archenemy that tempted our Savior told her that God hated her. The words, "God hates you" seemed to be continually shouted in her ears and she could not get away from it. She lost her faith and believed the enemy, not knowing his power. The next suggestion was, "Drown yourself in the river." She stood looking into the dark water, but the thought of her dear mother made her turn away.

She returned to her room, and throwing herself down, fell asleep and dreamed. She seemed to be on a boat on which all the people but herself were rejoicing and praising God. She heard the captain call out to the pilot, "Sound the depths and compare it with the love of God." The depths were sounded and the call came back "No bottom! No bottom!" She awoke in an ocean of God's love, all darkness past and the cry ringing in her ears, "No bottom!" For years since then she has been in Gospel work on both sides of the ocean.

The Lord Provides

A sister who was called to Oakland had her faith tested as to her fare, as the time was near and she had not received it. That night she was caught away in the Spirit and when the Lord brought her back, the words came to her, "If I can carry you around Los Angeles without a body, I can take you to Oakland without a fare." So that day she received the money.

T.W. McConnell Testimony

The first time I was out of wood after the Lord had shown me to trust Him, I asked the Lord for wood and the wood did not come. The Lord had shown me that I could not ask for what I already had. If there was flour in the barrel, I could not ask for flour till it was gone. I went down into the basement that morning and found some hard knots that had been laid aside and had enough wood for that day. The "next morning I asked the Lord for wood. The wood did not come. I picked up enough chunks and chips to do that day.

The next morning, I went to the Lord and said, 'Father, there are no more chunks and chips, we are out of wood. Send the wood.' I went down to the city and forgot all about it. Did not think of it, until I returned home, and my daughter said, 'Papa, who brought the wood?' I told her that 'she need not trouble, the Lord would send it.' But she said, 'some man brought wood, who was he that you sent it by?' I thought she was joking, but she said, 'Look in the box and in the basement.' I went down and found a large load of wood already for the stove and just the length that we used in our stove.

I did not know for some time who brought the wood; but one day when holding meetings in South Seattle, a man invited me home with him, and while at dinner he said, 'I want to tell you something that happened to me. I was crossing the bridge with a load of wood. My wife had written out a bill of some things that we had to have, and I needed feed for my horses. I was taking this load of wood in to get the groceries and feed. While out on the bridge and no one near me, an audible voice said behind me and just above me, "Take this wood to McConnell." I looked around me and there was no one near me. I said, "I cannot take this wood to McConnell, I have got to have the groceries and feed," and drove on. The voice said again, "Take this wood to T.W. McConnell." I said, "How can I take this wood to McConnell; I must have these groceries and feed for my horses." And the third time the voice spoke, and so strong that it scared me, and I answered, "Well, I will," for I believed it was the Lord talking. There was no one about.

'I went and made inquiry, finally looked in the directory and found where you lived. I drove to the house and unloaded the wood, then drove back home as quickly as I could, loaded up some wood that I had and drove back to town, sold my wood as soon as I reached town, got my feed and groceries, and from that time I have prospered as never before."

The Gift Of Tongues

We clip the following from the Apostolic Faith published by Bro. Charles. Parham at Baxter, Kansas

A remarkable incident of God's searching power was recorded in Melrose, Kansas, during a revival which has been held by some of our young people at that place.

The power of the Holy Spirit was greatly manifested in the meetings by the speaking in unknown tongues. This was much criticized by the town and vicinity, so the principal physician, who was familiar with several different languages, was prevailed upon to go to the meetings in order to denounce the whole as a fake. Miss Tuthill, in an unknown language to herself, but known to him as Italian, spoke his full name, which no one in the town knew save himself, telling him things that had happened in his life twenty years ago, and on up to the present time, until he cried for mercy and fell on his knees seeking God.

He found full salvation the next day, and is now a believer in 'the Gospel' that Jesus taught, and also in the power of the Holy Spirit that was given unto us to witness to a living Christ. He now says he would rather pray for the sick than give drugs, and is seriously thinking of leaving his profession and going into the Lord's work.

Many precious souls have been saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Spirit as a result of the preached word under the Spirit's anointing power."

Jesus Is Coming!

Sister Anna Hall, who came here from Houston, Texas, in response to the call of God, is now assisting in Los Angeles. The Lord led her into the Pentecostal Baptism and gift of tongues without her hearing the truth except from the Word. She related the following wonderful vision and revelation.

A few weeks ago, as we were in our camp meeting, the first night we called our altar service there were 100 at the altar seeking God, and a strange power came into my being that I had felt once before when God wanted to reveal something to me. I have learned that it pays to be quiet before the Lord. I went home to my daughter's house and prepared for bed. Just as the gray dawn began to appear, I waked as if someone had touched my shoulder, and felt the same power. I heard the beautiful warbling of a bird, and thought it was a mocking bird which one might hear there. But no, It seemed away down in my soul. And as that beautiful bird began to sing, I saw a little infant face right before my eyes. And as the song of the bird began to ripple, it began to sound like water running over pebbles. It increased till it sounded like many waters, and the face enlarged till it was a full-grown face. I said, 'Surely this is a messenger from the holy country.' The voice answered, 'Yes, and I have come to tell you that Jesus is coming. Go forward in My name, preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, for the King's business demands haste. My people have only time to get on the beautiful garments, and prepare for the wedding supper in the Heavens.' Dear ones, have you got on the beautiful robes of righteousness? I said, 'Lord, reveal unto me what this means, the singing of the bird and rippling of the waters.' And God spoke to me, 'The singing of the beautiful bird and the baby face was the proclamation of the first coming into the world; and the voice of many waters is the proclamation of Jesus Christ that is soon coming.” Repent and believe the Gospel, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Divine Healing!

Bro. J.A. Warren of Houston, Texas, relates his experience as follows: "I had suffered two years from chills and fever and could never get rid of them. I was down with them, when it was told to me that the Lord would heal us and wanted to do it without the help of medicine, so I made up my mind that I would not have another chill; that the Lord would heal me. My chill was to come on about seven o'clock in the morning. It started to come and I was about to call my people to put more cover over me, when I thought how I had taken the Lord for my healer. So I got up and dressed and would not let the devil bring a chill on me, but prepared for breakfast. When the ice wagon came along and my little grandchild called my attention to it, I started to say, 'No, I will not take ice for this is my chill day.' (I was in the habit of taking ice only on the day I had fever). Then I stopped myself and said, 'Yes, I will take ice,' and I drank ice water all day. I was healed and in two months had gained about twenty-five pounds in flesh."

The Best Is Yet To Come! Jesus Has Saved His Best Wine For Last!

In Christ,

Tyrone