1.4 Factors That Gave Rise to the Modern Pentecostal Movement

[Aidan]

I find it very powerful that the Pope had dedicated the 20th Century to the Holy Spirit. While I am sure the ongoing effects of that declaration were not foreseen at the time, it does show that the church was ready with anticipation to receive the Spirit in new measure. It is also a beautiful picture of God bringing His church together through His Spirit. At the end of the 20th century people from across all denominational lines were being baptized in the Spirit. Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals, Anglicans, Alliance churches and many more are still experiencing the ongoing effects of the revivals in the early 20th century. The Spirit is being poured out on all flesh, He is no respecter of persons or theological leanings. All can receive the Spirit if they are seeking Him.

[Melissa Smyth]

I appreciate that William Seymour kept the emphasis and focus on Jesus and not on speaking in tongues. I think it is still a concern and pitfall that we need to be aware of and make sure to always pursue the giver of gifts and not the gifts themselves. Tongues is still a gift of the Spirit and is worth celebrating and talking about, but it should always be in service of glorifying Jesus and be in obedience to what He is doing.

[Zach]

William Seymour said don’t tell people about tongues but tell people about Jesus. I agree in what I believe he is saying, which of course is not that we never talk about tongues as that would not be biblical (part of 1 Corinthians does so, and so needs to be spoken about) but that the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the evidence of tongues in not just to be taught as an experience disconnected from Jesus, but is part of our relationship with Him. He is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit, and He does it so we can be empowered to be His witnesses. It would be at odds with the nature of the Holy Spirit in whom we are seeking to be immersed in, and the purpose for this immersion, to make this all about a phenomena and not the person the phenomena was to point to. Also as a matter of practicality, because it is Jesus who does the baptizing, if you seek Him and present Him as He is, it is impossible to ignore this feature of His work and ministry towards us (it must be denied or taught against, but can’t be ignored).

[Anna]

In his comment, talking about Jesus not tongues, Seymour was pointing his people back to the source of the gift and not focussing merely on the gift itself. During a time of explosive power, it would also be very easy for onlookers to want to worship power of God rather than God Himself; forgetting that Jesus is at the centre of it all.

I think a person would be far more effective in reaching the lost by telling them about Jesus and what He has done for them, then to merely talk to them about the gift of speaking in tongues. It is a gift afterall, something given BY God to His people in order to reach the lost…It is not the message of the gospel, but a tool to bring the message. The tongues had the power to bring the people to the revival, but hearing about Jesus has the power to change their lives. Also, if people were to ask about tongues, the answer should be: JESUS!

Tongues is a sign for unbelievers that Jesus is who He says He is, that He has the power He says He has. They are not a sign of salvation and they are not mandatory. Believing in Jesus as saviour is mandatory for getting into heaven, therefore hearing about Jesus becomes of utmost importance.