AZUSA STREET AND THE HEAVENLY LANGUAGE

Acts 2:2-4 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Many people have an idea of what revival is until they taste it for themselves, how do I know, because I did. Those who taste it for themselves can never be the same. Here are some observations on Azusa Street from Vinson Synan.

“Worship is what we do when we encounter God. The intensity of their encounter with God led many at the mission to respond in ways that before their encounter, they could “only imagine.” It was a life-changing moment, a trans-formative time that produced a range of responses. There were those who, “surrounded by [His] glory” at the mission, broke into dance. Others jumped, or stood with hands outstretched, or sang or shouted with all the gusto they could muster. Others were so full of awe when they encountered God that their knees buckled— they fell to the floor, “slain in the Spirit.” Some spoke, rapid-fire, in a tongue they did not know, while others were struck entirely speechless.”

Here is an eye witness account of Azusa, obviously this man experienced something life changing. This brother tasted the reality of God’s presence found in the place of supernatural worship. It is indescribable, nothing else even comes close. Reminds me of our visitation almost twenty years ago.

GLENN A. COOK

“In recent years I have heard preachers speak lightly of the Azusa Street meeting, saying they had just as good meetings under their ministry. The old-timers can only feel sorry for such and pity them. In this meeting you not only were baptized in the Holy Ghost, but also lived in such a heavenly atmosphere of love that you never can forget it, and all else seems so empty and void. Even as I write these pages the memory of that meeting comes floating back, my eyes begin to swim with tears, and such a longing and yearning seizes me for a return of such a condition. I can feel that sacred fire still burning and have the conviction that God will again visit his people in a like manner before the present dispensation ends.”

Like I said earlier, many Christians have a pre-conceived idea of what they think revival or awakening should look like, it seldom comes the way people expect. It’s a rushing mighty wind, it’s tongues of fire, it’s stammering lips; in other words, revival can be quite messy. For those who have tasted real revival, they can never be satisfied with man’s substitute. While the modernists and seeker sensitive crowd try to orchestrate man’s version of church I think I’ll keep looking for the fire, after all, there is nothing like it.