Brother Ryan Receives His Pentecost

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This testimony was published by the Azusa Street Mission newsletter, in November of 1906, by William J Seymour. It is the testimony of M. L. Ryan.

Rev. M. L. Ryan, a holiness evangelist and editor of Light, Salem, Oregon, hearing the good news from Los Angeles, suddenly dropped in at the Azusa Street publishing office. After a few words of greeting, he went into the upper room meeting and in about two hours after he arrived, he was baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke and sang in the power of the Spirit. He has returned to Salem and a band of Spirit-filled workers have gone to Salem to help in a Pentecostal meeting there. Brother Ryan says:

"Little did I think that God had such a rich experience for so unworthy a person as myself. When I arrived in Los Angeles I had my mind made up that I must seek for the Pentecostal baptism at least one week before receiving it. To my unutterable surprise and joy the power fell upon me at once. The Holy Ghost prayed and spoke through me in tongues. One of the blessed privileges that conferred upon me was a place in that heavenly choir, The songs of which defy all power of human to imitate. Hallelujah for His unspeakable gift."

Signed, M. L. Ryan.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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The Lord Led Her

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This was a testimony of an old lady in California about her receiving gift for the Holy Ghost many years ago. It was recorded in the newsletter of the Azusa Street Mission, in Los Angeles, California in November of 1906.

Sister Malone went to Redlands as a worker from Los Angeles. In a meeting there, an old lady of eighty-six years of age came in. S*** not been taught of man about the Pentecost, but arose then testified that years ago she took her Bible alone and said, "Lord, led me." And they gave her the baptism with the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues.

Sister Malone asked, "can you speak what comes?" And immediately she began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave utterance and to interpret. This is no new thing. It was begun on the day of Pentecost, but has been hidden for centuries except here and there as some humble soul has been taught of God and received his Word without question.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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In Money Matters

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This was an article written by William J. Seymour of the Azusa Street Mission, In which she published this article in November of1906.

There have been teachers who have told all the people to sell out, and many of them have gone into fanaticism.  We let the Spirit lead people and tell them what they ought to give. When they get filled with the Spirit, their pocket books are converted and God makes them stewards and if He says, "Sell out," they will do so. But sometimes they have families. God does not tell you to forsake your family. He says if you do not provide for your own you are worse than an infidel.

Some are not called to go out and teach. We find some who have no wisdom nor faith, and the devil takes them to disgrace the work. Under false teaching, children have been left to go half naked, women have left their husbands, and husbands leave their wives to wash and scrub, in the Bible says that it is worse than infidelity. Then they will go and borrow and cannot pay back. That person ought to go to work. The Bible says, "let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him the needeth."

He sent those that are called out to preach the Gospel, to "take no thought what ye shall eat or drink." Get down and pray. Make your once known under God and he will send it in.

God does not expect all to sell out for He says in 1 Corinthians 16:1, "now concerning the collection for the saints,... upon the first day of the week, that every one of you lay by him and store, as God had prospered him." It does not mean for you to have great real estate and money backed up while your brothers and sisters are suffering. He means for you to turn loose because all that money is seen going to be thrown to the moles and bats.

So it is better to spread the Gospel and get stars in your crown then to be holding it. But for us to go and tell you to do it, pick out somebody that has money and read to Word to them would not be the Spirit of the Lord. The spirit will tell you what to do. He makes you do it. When he wakes you up at night and tells you what to do you cannot sleep till you obey. He says everyone shall be taught of God from the least to the greatest. God wants a free giver.

Ananias wanted to have a reputation that he sold out like the rest, so he plotted that he should give a portion and say he had sold out for the Lord. But the Holy Ghost told Peter that Ananias had told a lie. Peter told him the property was his. The Lord allows you to be the Stewart over it. The property was his and the sin was in lying to the Holy Ghost. It is right for you to have property, but if the Lord says, take $200 or $300 or $1000 and distribute here or there, you do it.

We must know our calling. We can work when baptized with the Holy Ghost. Some think they have got to preach. Well, we do preach and testifying. Some think they must go out because they have the tongues but those are good or Los Angeles are anywhere else. The Lord will lead you by His small voice.

Signed, William J Seymour.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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Sister Mead's Baptism

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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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Brother Mead's Testimony Of Pentecost

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This is the testimony of Brother S. J. Mead's salvation, as reported in the Azusa Street Mission newsletter on November of 1906.

We are asked by many dear ones about our Pentecost, etc. It is beautiful, simple and full of comfort. I went to the meetings when I first heard of the manifestations of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, healing of the body, etc. I was not surprised, For we had been praying and expecting something of this kind to arouse God's people to the reality of the Word of God, And the truth of God's Emanuel. While seeking the closer walk with God in Africa, the Spirit seemed to fall on us, revealing Jesus so real to our souls; a burden seemed to be on my heart, in writing and in conversation, I could but say, Jesus is real.

The first night at the meetings, My heart went out for the baptism. I went forward to be prayed for, and hands were laid on me, then prayer was made, but I might receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I continued praying and fasting, and hope and much comfort.

What evening, in complete abnegation of self, It was revealed to me that the same power and persecutions that were in the beginning were now to be repeated for the perfecting of the Church. Would I choose it? My heart cried out, oh yes Lord, With your smile. And my soul was flooded with divine love; And I commence to speak as I would sing a new song.

It was entirely different from the way Mrs. Mead received her baptism. I was as conscious as I am at this moment, but my heart was full of praises and thanksgiving. I see now to have conception of the mighty efficacy of blood of Christ, and His omnipresence and Spirit, as never before.

Many ask, "Do you think these tongues will be used in a foreign field?" As for myself I cannot say. My God is able, this I know. The Pentecost or baptism of Divine love, That would enable a missionary to say to the poor Africans, as the Spirit did through Peter and John, to the poor cripple at the gate of the Temple, "silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk," with Mark a grand epoch in the history of foreign missions. I believe God is about to repeat many of the miracles and wonders wrought in the early history of the church.

Signed, S. J. Mead.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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Receiving The Holy Ghost

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Here's a personal testimony by G.A. Cook, that he wrote to the Azusa Street Mission. It was published in their newsletter in November of 1906. 

I dropped into the meetings on Azusa Street sometime in April, having heard that some people were speaking in tongues, as they did on the day of Pentecost. Although I had been trying to preach Pentecost for five years, but speaking of tongues was as strange to me as though it had never been mentioned in God's word. At first the meeting seemed a very tame affair to me, as I had been along the line of much fleshly demonstration and noise. As I was indoctrinated in the second blessing being the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I branded the teaching as heretical, not going to the meetings for some time.

In the meantime, Pentecost came to the place, And many began to speak in tongues. I now begin to attend regularly. In fact, I could not stay away. My heart began to break up, And soon I was going from one person to another, asking them to forgive me for harsh words and criticism. God so melted my heart that I would cry at my work or riding on a streetcar. How the dear Lord began to teach me that What I needed was his loving, tender Spirit, and that power with God meant deep humility in our dealings with our fellow creatures.

I now began to go to the altar and earnestly seek for the Lord to have His way with me. The Holy Ghost showed me that I must be clay in New Potter's hands, an empty vessel before the Lord. I laid aside all doctrine, All preconceived ideas and teachings and became absolutely empty. The Holy Ghost now settled down on me, And I could feel the power going through me like electric needles. The Spirit taught me that I must not resist the power but give way and become lit as a piece of cloth. When I did this, I fell under the power, And God began to mold me and teach me what it meant to be really surrendered to Him.  I was laid out under the power five times before Pentecost really came. Each time I would come out from under the power, I would feel so sweet and clean, as though I had been run through a washing machine.

I now had come to the place where I was completely submitted to the whole will of God. I have been seeking about five weeks, and on a Saturday morning I awoke and stretch my arms toward heaven and ask God to fill me with the Holy Ghost. My arms began to tremble, And soon I was shaking violently by a great power, And it seemed as though a large pipe was fitted over my neck, my head apparently being off. I was now filled with the Holy Ghost.

Words cannot describe the power I felt. The nearest description that I could be given would be the action of a pump under terrific pressure, filling me with oil. I could feel the filling in my toes and all parts of my body which seemed to me to swell until I thought I would burst. I do not know how long this continued but it seemed to me a long time. The pressure was now removed and my soul and spirit seem to leave the body and float in the air just above. My body seemed hard and metallic like iron. This was in delay the baptism into the death of Christ.

It was now time for me to arise and go to work, so I got up without speaking in tongues. I believe I would have spoken in tongues then, if I had remained in the hands of the Lord long enough. About thirty hours afterwards, while sitting in the meeting on Azusa Street, I felt my throat and tongue begin to move, without any effort on my part. Soon I began to stutter and then out came a distinct language which I could hardly restrain. I talked and laughed with joy far into the night. Praise His name for such a wonderful experience of power and love and joy. 

Signed, G. A. Cook.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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Whisperings Of The Comforter

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This is a testimony written by Mary Perkins, but she wrote to the Azusa Street Mission in November of 1906. The story was published in their newsletter.

The Lord had been given me this passage, Burning it into my soul for months, "The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, fair one, and come away." Cant. 2:13.

I would always get so blest when the Lord would give it to me. Finally I said, Lord, What does it mean? And immediately the thoughts came into my mind, "why the fig tree in the Bible represents the Jews and the vines represent the ones who are the branches of the vine, Jesus. The Jews are beginning together at Jerusalem and beginning to show life. And the tender grapes on the vines giving a good smell means that the bride is making herself ready, showing that His coming is near. The vines are laden with fruit and begin to give a sweet smell, ripening for His coming."

At another time, this kept coming to me, "fear not, For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine." Isa. 62:4. It would come with such sweetness and power that finally I said, Lord, What is my name? He said, "Hepz-ibah, my delight" Isa. 62:4.

Again the Lord gave me this verse, "Thine head upon day is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple. The King is held in the chambers." I asked the Lord what that meant. Immediately it was given to me, "Thy head like Carmel, That is red under the Blood; And the hair of thine head as purple, means that you belong to the royal family. The king is held in galleries, That is in the little cells of the brain of my head as well as in my heart."

One evening I went to the restaurant for supper, And I sat there and had commenced my meal, when someone touched me on the shoulder. I looked around, but did not see anyone, so I turned around and commenced the eating again. Then something said, "You have not given thanks for your food or ask him to bless it."

Signed, Mrs. Mary P. Perkins.

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

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