Tomorrow in class we will look at the ministries of John Wimber, Kathryn Kuhlman, and Lonnie Frisbee. We will then be closing this trimester (Kingdom of God II) by reviewing the people and movements that have been covered thus far such as:
- A.B. Simpson
- A.J. Gordon
- Maria Woodworth -Etter
- John Dowie
- Charles Parham
- John G. Lake
- Alfred Garr
- Aimee Semple McPherson
- Smith Wigglesworth
- Dr. Charles Price
- Gordon Lindsay
- Oral Roberts
- William Branham
- Jack Coe
- A.A. Allen
- And many others.
Everyone we have learned about in class has intrigued me, from Smith's power stories to Aimee's theatrical production to Branham's super-accurate super-natural words of knowledge. But the person who sticks out to me the most is John G. Lake. The faith him and his family had was phenomenal. Growing up in Zion, he knew of the Lord's healing, but wasn't convinced that it is His will and pleasure to heal. He saw his wife's leg healed and his siblings healed from various diseases and even his sister raised from the dead, but still did not realize the truth, until his wife was deathly ill. He became furious and threw his Bible at the fireplace and it opened right to Acts 10:38 - "...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and... he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." This was the breaking point (or breakthrough point) for Lake, and he realized that sickness is not from God. Lake turned his heart to the Lord and believed his wife would be healed exactly at 9:30am. And she was.
ReplyDeleteThat's when Lake's ministry exploded. The healings are cool and glorious and all, but what intrigues me most is his faith. Maybe it's because I want faith like that, to know that my needs will be taken care of. My favorite story of John G. Lake is his boat trip to Africa. Plain and simple... he heard, he believed, God provided. PHENOMENAL!!! His faith and obedience lead over 100,000 people to Christ in Africa. What more do I have to say?
Tom, I love the faith of John G Lake as well. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHealings are awesome, breakthrough is sweet, but power intrigues me; who really stood out is John Dowie. Sadly, not because of his success. He accomplished cool things, healing houses and the like; nor is it as if the concept of a Christian city is so horrible. But you offer the slightest bit of personal recognition to someone who isn't completely dead to selfish ambition or personal gain, Hell breaks lose.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Dowie makes me wonder what it would have been like if his gifting had been for supernatural power as opposed to just supernatural healing, and what kind of city he would have built.
The example of how necessary it is to be dead to all sin is just insane. How many years during his ministry did the thought of "being the coming Elija" never even cross his mind? And then some people start throwing the concept at him . . . and then some more . . . and then some more . . . once he took a hold of it it was nearly a lost cause.
That alone offers a lot in regards to learning form other people.
Alfred Garr has probably been my favorite, and not just because he's one of the few I can put a name to.
ReplyDeleteI love that he fasted whenever there was a need of any kind. That sort of faith and discipline is rare, especially considering his non-religious background. I'm also a fan of the irony God worked through his life--how the slander caught up with him, and God redeemed it by having the papers eventually reporting his ministry for free. The fact that God could use all the bountiful mistakes in Garr's life and turn them around for good reminds me that there's hope for me yet.
Plus, he is one of the few we studied that had a happy ending. This is always a boon.
(I had a much longer, more insightful post originally but the interwebs ate it. Again.)
My favorite, (although I enjoyed learning about them all!) was Smith Wigglesworth. That man heard clearly and was confident in what he did in response to God! To punch a man dying of stomach cancer in the gut... I want to hear and act with such accuracy and confidence! (Plus I just like that God used his rough mannerisms in the way he ministered!)
ReplyDeleteI also really found it funny and inspiring that he was an awesome plumber, and that many people spoke of his gift with plumbing as much as the supernatural things after he died! It gives me hope that maybe I can be an awesome potter, but God could still use me awesomely in ministry in His Kingdom! I guess I thought you only get one exceptional gifting in this life.
Finally, I loved that he was not polished or learned. I loved that God used him as he was. I found it endearing that when he tried to preach, he would just end up angy and crying. After he was filled with the Spirit he was finally able to preach, which convinced his wife that what he had experienced was really God. God used him powerfully in both circumstances! When he was unable to preach people saw this strong gruff man become vulnerable and tender to God and it drew people to give their hearts to God. When the Spirit came to rest on him and he could speak, what he said, though still not eloquent, still stirred people to come to God. God is so cool!
OH! I almost forgot! I also admired his zeal to live an undivided life. He might have taken it a little far in not letting a newspaper even enter his house, but I totally understand where he was coming from. Today's life is just crammed packed with distractions: TV, internet, video games, the list goes on and on. I believe every follower of Christ needs to separate themselves from as much distraction as possible.
Though I liked Smith Wigglesworth's story the best, I really like the idea of God resting on a location more. I think the responsibility and pressure of His power being on a single individual is too much! I am more for the "nameless & faceless" spreading the power of God's Kingdom than the singular "superstar" revivalist.
Well, Josh, that's my two cents!