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Imagine when the winds of spiritual hunger swept through a city, igniting the hearts of men and women from every race, background, and denomination. That was the scene in 1906 Los Angeles, where the Azusa Street Revival unfolded—a revival that was not just a singular event but a movement that reverberated across continents, reshaping the landscape of modern Christianity. This wasn’t just an ordinary revival; it was a confirmation of what many have come to call the third work of grace—the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Before we dive into the swirling history of Azusa Street, let’s unpack what a revival is. Simply put, a revival is an awakening, a powerful and often sudden move of God where hearts are stirred toward repentance, holiness, and transformation. Men do not orchestrate revivals; they are divine interventions where God breathes new life into weary people, fanning the flame of faith until it consumes communities, cities, and nations. The Azusa Street Revival was one such fire—a fire that not only sparked individual transformation but also set the stage for a global movement.
Theologically, the Azusa Street Revival confirmed what many Pentecostals believe to be the third work of grace—the baptism of the Holy Spirit, following salvation and sanctification. This baptism, marked by speaking in tongues, empowered believers for supernatural ministry, just as it had in the Book of Acts. The revival was, in essence, a restoration of the early church’s apostolic power, a long-awaited fulfilment of prophecies like Joel 2:28: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
The story of Azusa Street begins with William J. Seymour, a humble African-American preacher, who boarded a train in Houston in February 1906, bound for Los Angeles. His heart was filled with expectation. His mission? To preach the message of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a message he had learned from Charles Parham, the father of Pentecostalism. Little did Seymour know that what awaited him would become one of the most significant religious movements of the 20th century.
But as soon as Seymour arrived, challenges met him at the door. He was invited to preach at a local church in Los Angeles, but the congregation rejected him after his first sermon, deeming his message too radical. Seymour, undeterred, found refuge in the home of Ruth and Richard Asbury at 214 Bonnie Brae Street, where the real spark of revival was about to ignite.
In March 1906, prayer meetings began in the Asbury home. The small group of believers prayed earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and their prayers were answered powerfully. On April 9, 1906, during one of the meetings, Edward S. Lee, a local believer, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues—an experience that would soon spread to others in the group. Just three days later, Seymour himself received the baptism, and the revival truly began.
News spread quickly, and the crowds grew. So many people came to the Asbury home that the front porch collapsed under the weight. It became clear that a new meeting place was needed, and that place was 312 Azusa Street—a former stable that would become the epicentre of a spiritual earthquake.
Other Notable Figures Towards The Asuza Street Revival
1. Joseph Smale: He was a Baptist pastor in Los Angeles who played a pivotal role in setting the stage for the Azusa Street Revival. After visiting the Welsh Revival in 1905, Smale returned to Los Angeles with a vision for spiritual renewal. He led prayer meetings that focused on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which influenced the atmosphere of expectancy in the city. Though Smale did not directly lead the Azusa Street Revival, his efforts to encourage revivalist prayer contributed to the hunger for a deeper move of God, which Seymour’s mission later fulfilled.
2. Charles F. Parham: He was a key influence on William Seymour and the theological father of Pentecostalism. Parham's teachings on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which included speaking in tongues as evidence, laid the foundation for the events at Azusa Street. Parham had established a Bible school in Kansas, where the Pentecostal experience first occurred in 1901. Although Parham initially mentored Seymour, he later distanced himself from the revival due to disagreements over racial integration and some of the manifestations of the Spirit at Azusa.
3. Frank Bartleman: He was a Holiness evangelist and chronicler of the Azusa Street Revival. His writings, particularly his extensive correspondence and articles, documented the early days of the revival and played a significant role in spreading its message beyond Los Angeles. Bartleman was an enthusiastic supporter of the revival, attending the meetings and encouraging Seymour. His writings helped preserve the memory of the revival and contributed to its global impact.
Today, as we celebrate the wonders of God on Yadosh, we are reminded that the same Spirit who moved at Azusa is still moving today. Revival is not just a historical event; it is a living reality, available to every generation that seeks God’s face.Side Note: A Recent Insight from a Brother and Leader
In reflecting on the Azusa Street Revival, a recent conversation with a brother and leader provided a profound insight that wasn’t touched on in the podcast but deserves mention. While endorsing tongues as a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit, William Seymour soon realized that speaking in tongues alone wasn't enough to signify true revival. He discovered that some individuals, particularly White people, could speak in tongues yet continue to treat people of colour as inferior. For Seymour, the transformation brought by revival had to be holistic, reflected not only in the gifts of the Spirit - such as speaking in tongues - but also in the fruit of the Spirit, manifested in one’s character and actions.
Seymour understood that while speaking in tongues could serve as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, it wasn’t absolute evidence. True revival, in his view, was marked by tongues accompanied by the dissolution of racial barriers, a sign of the Holy Spirit’s indisputable work.
From this, my key takeaway is that every revival brings about a dissolution of societal or cultural norms. For the Azusa Street Revival, the breaking down of racial barriers and the fight against injustice were central to its transformative power.
Also, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone (literally two leaders I consider dear to me, whose names may not want to be mentioned) who generously reviewed this podcast/blog before it went live. If you'd like to share your thoughts or insights, feel free to message me.
Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll continue exploring the profound legacy of the Azusa Street Revival!
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