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Chapter 1 Ye Shall Receive Power, The Purpose of Pentecost This night is darker than any before. The Doctor's prognosis strikes like the sentence of a trial judge and gives no hope of appeal. Death draws near and the morning sun will not be seen. The cancer has done it work -- life is painfully slipping away -- the daughters are told that the fight can go no further. Violet had faithfully held that healing would be hers. Her girls and loving husband stand with her and hoped to heaven for something good. Nevertheless, the darkness now grows heavier by the hour. What could turn the tide? Where is God's help? It seems that this may indeed be the end. Wait -- there is yet one final appeal! Look again to the mediator that can be touched in such a time as this. Violet's Council now stands at the right hand of God. There he waits to intercede for those that sued in faith. Now before God the evidence is presented -- Stripes for the healing of those who believe. The plea is given -- "These signs shall follow them that believe." The judgment is overturned -- "Because I live ye shall live also." The bailiff is dispatched -- "Lo, I am with you always." For Violet the swelling tide of death is miraculously turned into complete physical healing. Her astonishing miracle is carried home and finally blooms into a total restoration of health! This one story is special to me because Violet is my Sister in Law. Nevertheless, this is only one healing among many, many, others. The coming of the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts has provided God's people the kind of help that we cite here. Jesus' power has continued to be seen as the promises of God are enjoyed by one generation after the other. We can say from experience that God also has a blessing for you. Advance to the Fight Modernistic theologians wrongly assert that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost vanished with the early apostles. In this volume we survey the work of the Holy Ghost throughout Church History and the notable miracles that have continued to bear witness to the Gospel message. Many will be astonished by the Pentecostal gifts that have worked through the most highly regarded Christians of the past. These were men of power whose prayers wrought extraordinary wonders. We shall document that Pentecostal power has remained in force since the days of the early apostles and that Jesus is truly the same yesterday, today, and forever! Why must Pentecostal gifts endure beyond the early apostles? Scripture teaches that the Holy Ghost was given for the spreading of the Gospel through the methods and power of Jesus. (Acts 1:8) The disciples preached while exercising the miraculous gifts of the Spirit! Paul confirmed, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." (2 Corinthians 12:12) Today, we need no less than the primitive church. The needs of our age are equal to those of the first century. (I Cor. 10:18) Scripture never indicated that the gifts of the Spirit would be removed during the age of grace but rather affirmed a wonderful outpouring in these last days. (Acts 2:17-18) Therefore, we must seek God's Pentecostal power to enable Christ-like ministry. Like great men throughout history we must lay hold of God's Pentecostal anointing and thereby reach our lost generation! Satan's Counter Attack Satan has fought these truths in two ways. First, to create confusion he has initiated many false signs and wonders. False miracles can be identified by their failure to exalt Christ and inspire love for the Scripture. Secondly, Satan has sent his army of doubters, naysayers, and neologians like a plague of destroying locust. These have all risen to oppose the Spirit and the life changing power of the Gospel. Remember that God has never changed and has always done the miraculous. On the day of Pentecost, God's power was sent into His eternal temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16) Satan has been trying to destroy God's house ever since. While Jesus is unchanging, Satan continually changes into every disguise to accomplish his deception. We can defeat him with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost. Get ready and come with expectancy: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39) Our Foundation As the reader considers one servant of God after the other, it will appear that we are pointing toward a sort of apostolic succession of the spiritual gifts. This is to say that, one generation has imparted its power and message to the next. Therefore, today's various Evangelical groups are the distant successors of the first apostles. Let me emphasize that this is not our aim or message. Such a concept takes away more than it gives. God does not approve his people because one generation validates the next. Dead religion is grounded on that false assumption. Our present obedience to the Scripture and God's personal approval are the only things that truly count. Although, human to human ministry such as witnessing, exhortations, and the impartation of blessings are legitimate, these never do away with the fundamental need for a personal meeting with Christ. Every individual must touch the God of creation. No religious ritual can substitute for a personal relationship to Christ. No human can impart God's redemptive touch. No truth apart from those already revealed in Scripture can bring us to our heavenly prize. Therefore, as the reader views the continuous train of miracles, please remember that this train is seen only because God himself is present in every generation. God seeks for and finds an obedient heart in every age. When God finds such hearts He sends his Pentecostal power to enable for service! Our church organizations are only valuable to God as long as they promote truth as recorded by Christ's apostles and the old prophets. If we embrace their teachings and touch their God we all become DIRECT FIRST GENERATION SUCCESSORS OF THE APOSTLES. Thus, when anyone asks how we became Christians and through what minister did we receive the Gospel? Our truest (most correct) answer is that the apostles lead us to Christ through the Scriptures and Jesus himself called us, as he spoke to us through his Holy Ghost. Hallelujah! We happily find ourselves with all the blessings of the first century Church! |