Azusa Street

Can anyone tell me where I can find some Sermons or Testimonies during this time.
I have read some of the Testimonies, and my soul hungers for more of our Lord.
God Bless
Nellie

After reviewing the doctrines and teachings of those involved in the Azusa Street phenom I have concluded that with the all the unBiblical teachings and false prophecies, this could not have possibly been a movement of God.

That's quite the statement, Krispy. You're basically concluding that the Assemblies of God church (which was born in the fires of Azusa Street) is of the devil. Which basically implies that David Wilkerson is deceived, Ravenhill (who endorsed Pentecostals like Wigglesworth and Lake) was deceived, and preachers like Jim Cymbala are deceived, etc.

I don't want to argue this, but, please, if you're going to make a statement like this...please substantiate it! What false prophecies? What "unbiblical" teachings are you referring to?

BTW, you're right about sticking to the Word! God bless.

In meekness, Paul

Personally I think you'll find more of the Lord by studying His Word fervently, and not in "revivals" such as Azusa Street.

Stick to His Word, and dont chase after movememnts in order to find more of Him.

Hi Krispy, although your counceles are great, I think they are not on right place,time and manner, and instead encouragement they can produce the opposite. Do you know sister Nellie?

Kire

Hi Krispy...

I agree with the need to study the Word fervently in order to distinguish between Truth and error. There are indeed a lot of false teachings that are accepted by many believers. I have read many things about Azusa Street -- both pro and con. Unfortunately, it is difficult to pass judgment on the revival -- because I was never there (in fact, I'm not certain that my great-grandmother was even born at the time).

I have a few friends that often traveled to the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola. They went on and on about how this was "the beginning of the last day outpouring as discussed in Joel and Acts chapters 2." Yet another friend of mine attended, and he wasn't impressed at all. He said it just felt like a lot of excited people got together that truly wanted a move of God. This friend told me that he realized that the greatest "move of God" or "revival" should happen primarily in the heart and in our own prayer closets. He told me, "If you can't find God when you are alone with Him, then it will be difficult to find Him in a gathering."

Was Azusa Street a true move of God? A lot of good did come out of it (according to books). At the same time, there were some strange things too (according to books). But I do not hold any first hand knowledge of the situation in order to pass any sort of final judgment. I feel that premature judgment is always dangerous.

I believe that a timely warning is found in the message [i]A Christless Pentecost[/i] by David Wilkerson. Another good resource is found in the book [i]They Speak with Other Tongues[/i] by John Sherrill (who co-authored [i]The Hiding Place[/i] with Corrie ten Boom, [i]God's Smuggler[/i] with Brother Andrew, and [i]The Cross and the Switchblade[/i] with David Wilkerson).

:-)

Dear Nellie,

If you haven't read Azuza Street by Frank Bartlman yet, you will be blessed.

In Christ,
GaryE

{quote} Krispy

I never said that. I believe you can be saved, yet be deceived on certain doctrines. I know my doctrine cant possibly be 100% correct too as long as I am alive in this sinful body.
................................................

Yet most discernment ministries take the position that they know everything or at least talk like they do. if I am not careful, I end up following their lead and end up pulling tares and end up in their silly debates about things that don't profit anyone. Sometimes I have all my Indians lined up for battle according to scripture, yet when I see my own heart, I find it is only a prideful flesh on my part that has no compassion for the person I'm dealing with or anyone else. Maybe I win a debate in this fleshly state, but is this really what I want?

Things are different when I walk in the Spirit though. Instead of tearing down and criticizing everybody, the words of my mouth edify. This is what I really want; to speak words that edify the body of Christ and bring glory to the Lord. You do to, right. :-)

In Christ,
GaryE

If something is false, it is false. Krispy has found things in the Azusa street revival that are unbiblical, we are to expose false doctrine.

I dont feel you are tearing someone down when you try to steer them away from the false, I dont know exactly if this revival was a true move of god or not, I was not there. I do know that the pentocostal church is and has been in some serious trouble as of late, and one of the biggest problems I have with them is the use of tongues, and that being the evidence for the baptism. I would like to see some evidence in scripture.

Just because Ravenhill and wilkerson talk good about something, doesnt make it perfect. I was saved at a Times Square Church crusade, so I have nothing against Wilkerson, but they are not perfect.

I hope this helps, not hurts anyone

god bless

boomatt

If something is false, it is false.

Of course, but the problem here is that nothing has been [i]proven[/i] false. This is merely someone's own personal belief. It is wrong to cast a blanket statement over the entire Azusa Street revival just because you're not convinced tongues accompany Spirit Baptism. That's like me casting a blanket statement over the Southern Baptists as being lukewarm because they're not spirit-filled and flowing in the gifts. It's foolish. You can't prove to me from scripture that tongues do not accompany Spirit baptism, and conversely, I can't prove to you they do. I can show you many cases in scripture where they actually did, but this doesn't prove that it ALWAYS must happen in the same manner. God is sovereign. Plus, the issue has nothing to do with salvation.

The reason I've made a big deal of this is to not argue doctrine; Nellie was obviously being blessed by studying the occurence of what many believe was a genuine move of God's Spirit at the beginning of the last century. The world missions movement which was birthed in the revival planted churches all over the globe for Jesus Christ. Stories abound of missionaries who only spoke English suddenly speaking in foreign tongues, praising God in languages only known to savages. Whole tribes would get converted. But someone with a biased theological perspective discouraged Nellie from examining it any further by passing a judgment that "the whole thing was false." Well, okay. But you had better be right, bro!

Remember, we know things only in part.

The whole "third wave" thing and Word Faith movement is a separate issue. I totally agree with you. I don't like that stuff either. But Azusa Street was different, and it has the fruit to back it up.

Krispy,
I agree with you that the Bible is supposed to be my number one priority as far as doctrine, or anything else.
I also agree with you as far as the WOF movement is concerned, but I have been blessed by the Testimonies that I have read from the people who attended the Azusa Street meetings.
As someone stated, I wasn't there, but the Testimonies are great.
Could you tell me what you base your concern on, other than speaking in tongues?
Thanks
God Bless
Nellie

Hi everyone.

I would like to encourage us to remember caution and patience in dealing with these issues.

My earliest Christian background was in the Apostolic, Oneness Pentecostal movement which Bartle mentioned.

One thing I've noticed as I have been exposed to the different histories and experiences of Christian thought and practice is that there is often a significant measure of misunderstanding on the part of the differing sides. Maybe this is due to the nature of the [i]debates[/i] or to the flaws in our attempts to communicate with each other, or both or even more. There is misunderstanding nonetheless.

Meanwhile, there is a mass of experience on all sides which carries with it a certain weightiness. You find it in the lives of men and women who throughout history have been vessels of honor, filled and poured out in service to the Master.

My humble advice is that we come to their example, be encouraged, and seek a transforming encounter with Jesus our Lord for on our own. That, and be wary of those groups who have

reigned as kings without us

who, it would seem, no longer [i] see as through a glass darkly[/i].

Chris

My humble advice is that we come to their example, be encouraged, and seek a transforming encounter with Jesus our Lord for on our own.

Amen, brother. We need the transforming power of Jesus to work in our hearts. All other things (past revivals, moves of God, etc.) are extraneous and have no bearing on our present walks.

It was foolish of me to even say anything in defense of Azusa Street. Who am I? All I aspire for is to get closer to God each day. Evertything else, like you say, is but looking through a glass darkly.

God bless you all!

Bro. Paul