This little church is a humble place Filled with God's love and His grace The cemetery nearby is slowly filling up With many of those saints, I did sup

On top of roof, steeple stands tall The Lord was pleased as on His name they did call Prayers were answered in a special way When steeple was placed on church that day.

Irvin L. Rozier

Somewhere along line a predominate number of people began to see natural disasters as accidental or irrelevant to God’s purposes. From this mindset came belief that God was no longer Sovereign. He no longer controlled events of history. Also, miracles didn’t happen any more, and it was foolish to believe such nonsense. When revivals brokeout in 20th century, they were opposed by this mindset. Because of prevalence of this attitude, 20th century would not see restoration of cities and economies like it did in First Great Awakening.

The Bible says that we are to believe Him for who He is—Almighty God. Because He is Almighty, He can do anything but fail. As long as we have a heart to believe that God is still same miracle working God that He has always been, we will experience miraculous in our lives; however, if we think God has lost control and is weaker than He was during Pentecost, we will miss many supernatural events that are soon coming.

There are two secular movements—one of 18th and one of 19th century that stripped God of His Sovereignty. In his book that he co-authored with Peter Bocchino, Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary Answers to Crucial Questions about Christian Faith, Norman Geisler talks about secularization at work during 19th century.

One powerful force that opposed Christianity and is still affecting lives today was a philosophy propounded by a German atheist, Friedrich Nietzche. He’s intellectual that coined phrase, “God is dead and we have killed him.” In simple, Nietzche asserted that myth of God’s existence, which was once widely believed, died, and that myth of objective values died with him. He believed that there was no meaning to life, except meaning man gave to it. Hitler was influenced by this philosophy. Another secular force at work during this time came about in middle of 19th century. In 1859 Charles Darwin published his book on macroevolution, On Origin of Species. People were ripe for godless theories it stated. They readily embraced Darwin’s teaching and man was lowered to level of animals.

One final feature of Holiness movement, was its split from Pentecostals because of their belief that “tongues” was initial evidence of being baptized in Holy Spirit. When Azusa outpouring began, people came from around world to receive gift of “tongues,” and then carry gift back to their part of world.

Typical of what happens when great moves of God break out, explosion happens first, and then men try to explain explosion by doctrines later. When one of Charles Parham’s Bible students, Agnes Ozman, received Baptism of Holy Ghost and began speaking in tongues, Parham made an assignment for his students. He wanted them to study Bible, and list every occurrence of Holy Spirit Baptisms in New Testament. They were then instructed to list one thing that manifested with it.

Overwhelmingly students reported “tongues” to be initial evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism. Later when Azusa outpouring was going strong in Los Angeles, California, Reverend William Seymour, a Holiness preacher who led early Azusa outpouring, came into conflict over doctrine of sanctification with William Durham. Durham said that sanctification was a progressive work of holiness being worked out in believer by Holy Spirit. He said that Baptism of Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues was not work of sanctification but an experience subsequent to salvation.

Sanctification was a work of Holy Spirit in life of believer, which continued entire lifetime of believer. Seymour, being a true Holiness preacher who had received Baptism of Holy Spirit with tongues, disagreed. He said that salvation was first, then entire sanctification, and then Baptism of Holy Spirit with tongues, last. They never resolved issue and eventually went separate ways.

The issue has never been settled. The Holiness churches that teach “entire sanctification” still believe that sanctification is a Divine work of Spirit to seal Salvation experience with power. They are opposed to “tongues” being sole or initial evidence of Baptism in Holy Spirit.

And, then again, there is a group of sincere Christians that believe Reformed doctrine of Martin Luther. They believe sanctification is a progressive work of Spirit, continuing throughout lifetime of saint. They do not teach "entire sanctification" nor Pentecostal experience of being baptized in Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

However, some groups in Reformed tradition believe there is first Salvation, then Baptism of Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues, and then progressively sanctification of a believer is worked out a believer “walks in spirit and not flesh.” Nevertheless, no matter how you pronounce potato, it’s still a potato. If one is hungry for God and seeks a deeper walk, one will find a more intimate, a more satisfying experience of Him if they keep searching for Him.

So, I’ve given you some of important features of Holiness movement from its inception in middle 19th century to its split from Pentecostal movement of 20th century. One important point to remember from this document is God’s desire to use simple prayers and insignificant people who simply have a burning and passion for God, to reach their community and nations. The Bible warns us against sneering at small beginnings. No matter how big move, it started with a seed. Once again, I believe that God is stirring up revival winds. The wind of His Spirit is getting ready to fan flames, until revival is burning out of control. Are you ready?

Terry Dashner Pastor of Faith Fellowship Church Broken Arrow, OK (Sources cited are available)