BIRTH of a REVIVALIST - A Must-Read
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
by Gram Carole
Over the past year the Lord has lead me to read about many of
the great saints and ministers of the past, from the beginning of
the Church until now.
Some of the books jumped out at me in strange and unusual
places: Flea markets, second-hand stores, yard sales down
dusty, graveled roads, some in book stores and some I had to order.
For the first time, some of these mighty men and women of God
have come alive unto me and are now real. Marie Woodworth
Etter, Smith Wigglesworth, Saint Teresa, Brother Lake, and many
others who are largely unknown, yet awesome saints. George
and I are amazed by the common threads which seem to tie all
together: Absolute faith in Jesus Christ, His Atonement, His
Word, and their ability to fully grasp His meaning, embace Him
entirely and project their revelation to others.
May I share a chapter from one who was unknown to me, but
whom you may be aware of? His name is J.W. Byers and was
a wonderful minister here in America during the late 1800's and
early 1900's, and I quote:
"In one of these experiences in 1893 in the city of Los Angeles,
California, I was shut away from the world, on my face before
God, crying for more authority and power to cope with the
tremendous powers of darkness in that city, at that time
manifested through Spiritualism. The Devil was exulting through
a medium who claimed to heal diseases, and the people were
receiving the abominable imposition. A holy jealousy for the truth
arose in my heart. I saw as never before, how the church was
being obscured by the multiplied counterfeits of Satan. We were
professing to have the light of the gospel, but, oh, how dimly it
was shining! The clouds of deception from the pit of hell were
darkening the world, and only here and there a flickering light that
could be seen in the gloom and darkness. This was a vision
which saddened me beyond my power to endure. Oh, how my
inmost soul mourned and wailed. This terrible pressure laid me
low in the dust. Could the precious cause for which my Savior
died and for which my life was being sacrificed daily, be thus
bleeding as in the jaws of a ferocious lion?
"In the depths of this sad musing with intense desire, my heart
was uplifted to God in prayer for the gift of healing. Oh, that the
church might be upon that plane of power and authority where the
apostles lived, when the glorious light of truth shone out with
heavenly glory with such power that it dispelled the gloom and
darkness of Satan. Could not that same light now, in this awful
age, do the same? and instead of the church being a helpless
prey in the mouth of the lion, could she not rise in the strength of
Jehovah and beard the ferocious monster, and with the mighty
sword of truth make -him- the prey?
"The gifts of healing with apostolic power could alone supply the
cry of my soul, and without some assurance of this I could never
arise from my face.
"On that spot a solemn scene was presented to my vision. I saw
the apostles and primitive saints at the stake; their blood was
flowing, and burning flames were covering their bodies. I heard in
plain words this question to me: "Are you willing to pay this price?"
I was asking for the gifts of healing and apostolic power, and here
was the price--could I pay it? There was a sinking within me for a
moment, and then as if I was shedding my life's blood, I looked up
with an eternal "Yes, Lord." From that moment my prayer was
turned to praise. The overwhelming assurance was wonderful. The
Holy Spirit winessed to my soul that these gifts were in the church,
and that I might have a share in the exercise of the same, to labor
and to suffer in this capacity, to bear the reproaches and
persecutions which would necessarily follow."
Needless to say, dear Brother Byers went on to fulfill an amazing
healing and deliverance ministry. His opponents were not worldly
souls, but, alas, other pastors who gave their parishoners harsh
retorts and warnings about him.
How my heart has hungered to see Jesus elevated to His rightful
place in the Church and in me, thus manifested to the world as
He truly is: Altogether Wonderful, All-sufficient, All-powerful,
Almighty God! How I abhor this flesh which prevents Him from
expressing Himself in fullness.
The Lord has persuaded me that before signs and wonders can
follow the Word being preached, He is going to have to clarify and
cleanse the Word being preached. Many claim to have the Truth,
the Whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, but for the most part,
the confirmation of the Lord is not abundant. The Truth must be
preached and practiced without compromise or thought of
consequences. We must not continue to form a doctrine or a
religion out of glimmers of revelation He gives. This taints the
Word and denigrates it. Those who will dare to press upstream
and proclaim the Revelation He gives, releasing it completely,
will receive more Revelation. Those who continue to please men
by compromise, profusely adding their own interpretations to
clarify it, will lose what little Truth they have. "Ever learning, yet
never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth."
However, He will have a people who will proclaim His Truth with
holy boldness.... regardless of the "price".