Pentecostalism - It's Origins

The roots of the Pentecostal movement go back a long way - to the day of Pentecost as described in Acts chapter 2 (see previous page). The church increased in number and influence, where some commentators suggest that as much as 20% of the then known world was predominantly Christian. Hence the reason why they were persecuted by so many of the Roman emperors. Under the flames of persecution the church continued to grow until Christianity became the recognised 'state' religion by Constantine. it wasn't long after this that the Church started to decline. However throughout history God has sovereignly moved upon certain individuals who have been instrumental in performing some amazing acts in the power of the Holy Spirit. Below are a number of examples where the gifts of the Spirit have been clearly demonstrated. It must be stated that there are not a great number of records, and sometimes there may be more than one explanation to these references.

Who are Pentecostals?

Pentecostals are Christians who promote the person and work of the Holy Spirit. They are evangelistic and fundamental by nature, whose roots go back to the day of Pentecost when God poured out His Spirit in Acts chapter 2. They also recognise the importance of the role of the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament scriptures. They believe that the 'Baptism in the Holy Spirit' should be the norm for every born again child of God resulting in a person demonstrating one or more of the Holy Spirit's gifts. They believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are as relevant and necessary for today as they were in the times of the apostles. They embrace the essential doctrines of the Church in relation to salvation, God, Jesus, the Trinity, heaven and hell, the soon return of Jesus Christ - to name but a few. They expect that believers should imitate the life of Christ in godliness and give room for the Holy Spirit to work in and through their lives.

The Supernatural Working of the Holy Spirit throughout History

Many of the early church fathers refer to the operation of the gifts of the Spirit and other 'spiritual' phenomena that took place in their day. One realises that in certain instances listed there may well be more than one interpretation, these have been included because there is some ambiguity as to exactly which is correct.

In the 18th century the brothers John & Charles Wesley were instrumental in fanning the flames of revival in Britain. There are numerous references in John Wesley's journals referring to people being healed, and also many references to those who were filled with the Holy Spirit in his meetings.

In 1831 Henry Irving, minister of Regents Square Presbyterian Church, London, preached about the restoration of spiritual gifts in the church. Tongues and prophecies were said to be manifest in his church.

At the end of the 19th century a small group of keen Bible students and staff from Bethel Bible College, Topeka, Kansas, USA under the directions of Charles Parham, searched the scriptures and started to seek God for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit. They didn't really know what to expect, or what would happen - if anything. But they were desperately hungry for God to breakthrough and move mightily amongst them. On 1st January 1901 - God started to pour out His Spirit on the small group of believers and they started to praise God in languages they had never learned just like the day of Pentecost 1900 years earlier. A mighty revival broke out in America and spread rapidly throughout a number of states in the USA.

These early Christians received much opposition, because of the zeal, enthusiasm, and exuberance that took place in the meetings, with many people speaking in other tongues.

However, while God was moving in such a mighty way in America an even grater move would break out in Wales on 31st October 1904. A young blacksmith Evan Roberts (26), was at a crossroad in his spiritual life and had a mighty experience of the presence of God in the early hours of one spring morning, which lasted daily for quite a few months. He wept uncontrollably until his heart was overwhelmed with a deep sense of the peace of God. This had such an effect upon him that he wanted everyone to know and experience what he had. This he shared with the youth group in his church in Loughar, prior to going off to Bible School to train for the ministry. This resulted in a cooling off, but it wasn't long before Evan experienced the 'baptism in the Spirit', and his life was deeply touched and transformed. He became sold out on revival and began to preach this message wherever he went. As a result this led to him conducting a meeting for the young people in his church (Moriah Chapel, Loughar) following the Sunday evening service on 31st Oct October 1904. Within a couple of weeks Evan was travelling all over South Wales proclaming the transforming message that had had such a dramatic effect upon his own life. People started to become overwhelmed with the love of Lord, and they began to realise that the Lord had wonderfully changed their hearts.

Within a few months over 100,000 people had responded to his message and had surrendered their lives to Christ. Crime dropped to the extent that magistrates did not have any cases to hear in their courts. Pubs were almost empty whilst, hardened Welsh coal miners would attend prayer meetings deep underground, and when they had finished their work would often go straight to church without going home. The language of many changed to the extent that the donkeys working in the pits did not understand what the miners were saying, because they were so used to them swearing. These amazing events were widely reported in the "Western Mail" and other local and national papers. The coal mines were filled with men praising God, singing hymns and sharing with each other the power of the scriptures. Broken relationships were healed as people forgave each other, putting aside their differences, and generally speaking peoples' live were dramatically changed for the better.

One of the many families who were converted as a result of this revival was the Jeffreys family. Stephen, George and other family members all came to faith in Jesus Christ. No one realised the effect that this family would have upon Britain and the rest of the world. The name of George Jeffreys has been placed alongside great men of God such as Wesley, Whitfield, Moody and Wigglesworth, because of the great influence he had upon so many.

In 1906 - William Seymour a student of Parham believed Parham's interpretation that God would give the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to believers so that they could use 'the gift of tongues' for evangelistic outreach. Seymour was invited to pastor a small group of believers in Los Angeles. His belief in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues was not accepted and within weeks of his arrival, he was without a church.

In April 1906 Seymour rented a building on 312 Asuza St. The services were held on the first floor, the seating arrangements were very basic - planks of wood sitting on top of barrels which sat on sawdust covered floors, there was no platform or pulpit, and the congregation were multi racial, a very unusual thing in those days. From these humble beginnings a move of God's Spirit was to break out and would ultimately touch the four corners of the world. It wasn't long before over 300 people would be crammed into the 40 by 60 foot building, experiencing the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and a variety of manifestations.

It wasn't long before these meetings were being criticised by the press and other members of the church, who believed this to be nothing more than another religious sect or cult. Seymour's response to his critics was not to get involved and to continue to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord.

Parham disagreed with the exuberant style of worship, but in spite of this, meetings were held three times a day for three years - with thousands being touched, changed and transformed by the power of the presence of God. What was unique concerning Seymour's meetings was the evidence of the miraculous taking place. Hundreds of people reported of being healed. It seemed like the book of Acts all over again.

The power of the Holy Spirit came upon people in such power that a variety of manifestations were evident:-

• People fell down under the power of the Spirit
• 'Holy' laughter
• Shaking and trembling
• Inability to move or speak
• Sometimes meetings were unable to continue such was the strong sense of God's presence
• There was drunkenness by those overcome by the Spirit's power and influence just like those on the day of Pentecost

From these early beginnings the Pentecostals have become a mighty world-wide movement within Christendom approaching 500,000,000 followers and it is still rapidly growing - throughout the world.

George and his brother Stephen were influential in commencing the Pentecostal movement in Britain which later became two powerful streams known as Elim and the Assemblies of God respectively. These movements have also taken the Pentecostal message and influence all over the world, resulting in vast numbers of people turning to faith in Christ and experiencing the dynamics of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

For many years and even today in some Christian circles the baptism and gifts pf the Holy Spirit have proved to be controversial. and instead of bringing the Church into a greater freedom in the things of God have brought a certain amount of criticism. Some of this has been very valid, as the fledgling Pentecostal movement has made some mistakes through ignorance rather than error, as it has tried to learn and understand the ways of God. However much of these have been addressed in subsequent years, and as a result the vast majority of the Christian Church now embraces the relevane of the Holy Spirit, His gifts and fruit and has seen the value of Pentecostal teachings and practises in Church life as well as day to day living.

Read on to find out more about our history