PENTECOST

PENTECOST

Through our 70 years of association with ministers, both young and old, and reading some books written by men and women who were there when modern Pentecost got its start, we have gleaned a few little-known facts about it.

An old friend of ours, Howard A. Goss by name, received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1902. It was just after the outpouring in Topeka, KS. He told us of how he couldn't speak in English for several days. When he would go to the grocery store, he would have to point at things. He couldn't tell them what he wanted. (By the way, stores were different then than they are now. You told the clerk what you wanted. They went and got it-- weighed it out, or poured it off for you.)

Bro. Goss told Pearl and me about some of the meetings they had in those days. People would go out into towns, rent a hall, and start holding meetings. There was not much need to advertise-- the Holy Ghost did that. Folks came from far and near to see what was taking place. They were seldom disappointed-- the miracles of healing, and other manifestations of the Power of God were very convincing-- and CONVICTING.

As long as the young people were at a loss to know what to do, and when to do it, God took over and did things the Right way. He knew when to do what, and how to do it.

But little by little, men began to "LEARN HOW" to do things, and the Holy Ghost backed off and let them "do it."

Revival fires burned for several years, however, and in 1913 Bro. Goss and a few other men organized the Assemblies of God movement. There was a need, they thought, for a more orderly method of getting the Gospel out. There were some of the brethren who were doing things which were not correct in the sight of the most of the brethren. And there could be strength in numbers. More could be accomplished for the Lord.

There are folks today who doubt the wisdom of the move those men made back there. God alone REALLY knows.

In 1914, a man named Frank Ewart who lived in southern California received a revelation of the Oneness of the Godhead. Along with it came the realization that proper baptism should be in the NAME OF JESUS, according to ALL the accounts in the Bible where baptism took place.

A new Revival broke out when Bro. Ewart started teaching his findings. Great healings and other miracles started all over again. Azuza Street all over again.

Bro. Goss investigated this new thing, and was himself convinced of its correctness. He also began to teach and preach "Jesus Name" and "Oneness".

An emergency meeting of the Assemblies of God was held, and the majority of the brethren voted to stay with the "trustworthy Trinity" doctrine. After all, it had served for more than a thousand years. Why change now?

They did not know then that in the fourth century AD the text of the Bible had been changed by the State Church of Rome. It was changed in two places, allegedly, in order to incorporate the teachings of the followers of Mithra, a pagan god, whom they had "evangelized" with the sword. They also "enforced" or "taught" the new doctrine with the sword-- a very effective way, by the way.

The Assemblies of God was split almost as soon
as it was born. Bitterness was the result, which
remains today. Those who were convinced of
Oneness and baptism in the Name of Jesus were to be called "New Issue" and "Jesus Only" and "Of the Devil". They still are called that today, 90 years later.

Howard Goss has been dead for many years now, but his memory lives on with Pearl and me. He was a mighty man of God. We owe very much to him. He ordained me in 1943.

One thing which must really grieve the heart of God is the fact of the factions in the Pentecostal movement. It is a blight on the work in the USA. Third world countries are experiencing an overwhelming move of the Spirit in the absence of strife and division.

We are not getting by with the foolishness of fighting. It is costing us more than we can afford to pay. When will it stop?

When God "makes up His jewels" the fighters will be left out. They will not "hear" that "shout" nor "trumpet", having disqualified themselves by disputing and quarreling.

Let's not do that any more.