Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!
This is a testimony of Ardell K. Mead, that she wrote in to the Azusa Street Mission, and they published it in their newsletter, in November of 1906.
Two years before we left Africa, The Holy Spirit began to speak to us in an especial way. We felt the lack of the power and love in the service of our Master, And we commit seeking not power from Him; we had no definite light on the baptism in our sanctified life of twenty years. And praise God, we did have a most wonderful experience when we were justified, and our sins forgiven.
And then after we were sanctified, the joy of heaven killed our souls, and we had the wonderful "anointing which abideth." Yet we felt the lack of power in our lives, and this was what we were earnestly seeking, as we waited on God in our little mission home in Africa. It was at this time, that the Book of the Revelation was so wonderfully opened up to our souls, for which we shall never cease to praise God.
Just before our return to America, we believe that was the Spirit of God, who said to us very plainly: "Los Angeles, California, is the end of your journey." This seemed strange to us, at the time, as we had no friends in Los Angeles; but we see now it was the Holy Spirit of God, to bring us to Los Angeles to receive our Pentecost.
Our faith was indeed tested after reaching this city. After three days, I had pneumonia and both lungs, and for days I realized nothing of this world. But praise God He raised me up in answer to the prayer of faith, and I shall never cease to praise Him, that he spared me for this wonderful day of my Pentecost. While in our home in Los Angeles, at times the Spirit would be wonderfully poured out upon us in our morning worship, and then the enemy would thrust sore at us, knowing that his time was short.
About this time we met a sister in Christ, who told us of the Azusa Street meetings, and that some were speaking in tongues, so we went at once to see if these things were true. We felt the power of God immediately as we entered the meeting. After two or three days, as the invitation was given for those who wish to seek for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I went forward to the little humble altar.
While on the way the enemy said to me, "You, a missionary in Africa twenty years, now going forward to the alter," I said, yes. I am going forward, for I want all that God has for me, and then and there I gained a real victory in my soul. Then Brother Seymour, Sister Crawford and another Sister laid their hands upon me that I might receive the Holy Ghost. As they prayed, I felt the power go through my body, but did not receive then the full baptism.
We waited on God daily in our home for three weeks, searching the Scriptures, confessing our faults, and getting everything under the blood, even forgetting at times to take food. During this time, while attending the meetings one day, the tongues became a stone of stumbling to me, and a rock of a offense, and I immediately went into darkness, which was so great that my dear husband cried the Lord for me, and I was restored, willing to submit what I did not understand to God. Then the enemy tried to get me discouraged, telling me that this baptism was not for me.
I went into my room feeling so discouraged, when the Spirit said to me as plainly as a voice, "How did you receive your justification? How did you receive your sanctification?" I said, Lord, by faith. He then said, "Receive me." I arose, and felt very happy, praising the Lord. This was on Friday evening and we went into our front room and said we would have a meeting to seek the Spirit just as they did at Brother Seymour's. So we sang and testified, and they fell on our knees in prayer. As we repeated over and over again, we receive the Holy Ghost and our simplicity, He came in, and we could not retire until late. Then we asked the Holy Spirit to continue his work in us while we slept.
On Saturday morning at the breakfast table I said, something seems to hinder my perfect freedom, and my husband said, "It may be in regard to your little neighbor; you know she did not receive the gospel, and left off coming in to see you, and so you have left off going in to see her. You have more light than she, and perhaps have done wrong." The faithful Holy Spirit convicted me, and I said, beginning to cry like a child, Oh, Lord, I see it and fell on my knees. Just as I did this crying "let it all be under the blood," The Holy Ghost fell upon me in great sweetness and power; and just then I had a wonderful revelation that the blood of Christ making me as clean and innocent is a child, and Jesus was real to me.
I was under the power from early morning till about five at night, prophesying in the Scriptures and then began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave me utterance. I spoke most of the afternoon, having some very sweet revelations concerning the precious blood of Christ, which I trust will never be taken away from me, and may, through the Spirit, be used to glorify my Savior.
Since then I have been shown that what I speak is an African dialect, and concerning the blood of Christ.
And now I follow on to know the Lord more fully and may I be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; and may have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
If any sanctified soul is seeking Pentecost, the way is so simple. Believe and receive, and it is His will to fill your precious soul.
Signed, Ardell K. Mead.
William James Roop, MA.B.S.
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