PENTECOST

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                  PENTECOST

     Through  our 55 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  Cali-
fornia 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  con-
vinced  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  con-
vinced  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, 80 years later.

     Howard Goss later became the national Chairman of an organiza-
tion which sprang up as a result of the split of the Assemblies of God  in 
1914.  The new organization went through a few changes of name, etc., 
and finally was called the United Pentecostal Church.

     It is a progressive organization, standing for holiness of life  and 
pureness of doctrine.

     In  spite  of the criticism and disdain sent their way,  the  United 
Pentecostal Church has made great strides for God, and is  a force to be 
reckoned with.

     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 stife 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.