William Seymour on Fire
William Seymour on Fire
"God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:5
On this day, April 1, in the year of our Lord 1906, William Seymour received his own personal Pentecost. Within eight days he would welcome the great Azusa Street Revival that would rock the nations. On this day, he received his own personal revival that rocked his soul.
Seymour was an African American pastor, and on Maundy Thursday, April 1, he knelt with a white man in prayer. Douglas Nelson wrote in a biography, “Divine love melted his heart; he sank to the floor, seemingly unconscious.” Seymour would later describe the experience like a “sphere of fiery, white, radiance falling on [me], maligned [my] heart with divine love.”
It is interesting that Seymour did not speak in tongues at first. He would later write, “Tongues are one of the signs… but it is not the real baptism in everyday life. If you get angry, or speak evil, or backbite, I care not how many tongues you have, you have not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” For Seymour it was not tongues, but love that characterized the true baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Seymour went on to demonstrate unusual love for all people, welcoming Ethiopians, Chinese, Indians, Mexicans, and all nationalities worshipping together. Within two years, his mission would send out missionaries to Liberia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and other nations. Within three years they would have churches in fifty nations, from Iceland to Tasmania, and his literature would be published in thirty languages. Today is a good day to re-dig this historic revival well.
Father God, rock my soul with Your loving Holy Spirit. Pour out Your presence on me, my family, and my church family the way You did on William Seymour. Bubble up a revival of love that will transform our world, for Jesus Christ’s sake.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
"God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:5
On this day, April 1, in the year of our Lord 1906, William Seymour received his own personal Pentecost. Within eight days he would welcome the great Azusa Street Revival that would rock the nations. On this day, he received his own personal revival that rocked his soul.
Seymour was an African American pastor, and on Maundy Thursday, April 1, he knelt with a white man in prayer. Douglas Nelson wrote in a biography, “Divine love melted his heart; he sank to the floor, seemingly unconscious.” Seymour would later describe the experience like a “sphere of fiery, white, radiance falling on [me], maligned [my] heart with divine love.”
It is interesting that Seymour did not speak in tongues at first. He would later write, “Tongues are one of the signs… but it is not the real baptism in everyday life. If you get angry, or speak evil, or backbite, I care not how many tongues you have, you have not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” For Seymour it was not tongues, but love that characterized the true baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Seymour went on to demonstrate unusual love for all people, welcoming Ethiopians, Chinese, Indians, Mexicans, and all nationalities worshipping together. Within two years, his mission would send out missionaries to Liberia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and other nations. Within three years they would have churches in fifty nations, from Iceland to Tasmania, and his literature would be published in thirty languages. Today is a good day to re-dig this historic revival well.
Father God, rock my soul with Your loving Holy Spirit. Pour out Your presence on me, my family, and my church family the way You did on William Seymour. Bubble up a revival of love that will transform our world, for Jesus Christ’s sake.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
Posted in Year on Fire
No Comments