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Pentecostal Rays PENTECOSTAL RAYS The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit by Principal George Jeffreys (Founder and leader of The Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance) Elim Publishing Company, Limited Park Crescent, Clapham Park, S.W.4. First Published July 1944 Foreword. by one who has witnessed the phenomena of Pentecost under the Author’s ministry. The twentieth century Church has experienced a miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power unparalleled in her history since the first few centuries of the Christian era. A revival of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit is in evidence. The outbreak of revival was spontaneous and not organised, breaking forth in different parts, and among different groups of Christians at the same time. The great opportunity for evangelical churches had arrived. At their disposal was power adequate to combat materialism and spiritism. But they did not know the day of their visitation. In consequence of the Church’s official attitude, which was Pharisaical, numbers of Christians found themselves virtually excommunicated, and generally met together in back-street mission halls and in private houses. The result was that Pentecost went back to the upper room and stayed there, except for a few urgent souls who became foreign missionaries. Such was the condition that obtained in the British Isles when the author of this book was guided by the Holy Spirit to found the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance. Against fanatical opposition from sincere but mistaken people from within, and organised prejudice from without, Principal George Jeffreys led the movement to the public, and established its churches in main thoroughfares of each of the four countries of the British Isles, besides sending missionaries to different parts of the world. On the nineteenth centenary of Pentecost the largest hall in the provinces of England was packed for the conclusion of a campaign in that city through which ten thousand people were converted. For eight years the Royal Albert Hall, London, has been crowded at the annual Easter Convention, and at Whitsuntide meetings in the same hall about three hundred received "the Holy Spirit, with supernatural signs, in one day. Every national newspaper has carried the news of the Principal’s phenomenal success in his revival and healing campaigns. No man living is more qualified to speak with authority on this subject. Behind every sentence is twenty years of singular experience. From a wide field of historical research evidence has been deduced to prove the continuity of the supernatural gifts, and that they were not early withdrawn, as generally supposed. Not only is the case presented, we believe beyond controversy, for the miraculous signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit to-day, but to those who have been extreme in the use of the gifts, and have over-emphasised the speaking in tongues, this work presents a challenge. It tells what the gift of tongues is for, and what it is not for. Also it explains the purposes of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how, when, and where they are to be used. To every open-minded Christian it will be evident that any system of worship without these gifts is incomplete. James McWhirter. Contents. Foreword. Chapter I. The Day Of Pentecost. Chapter II. The Great Outpouring. Chapter III. The Holy Spirit Personality—Terms—Views. Chapter IV. The Spirit Of Christ And The Holy Spirit. Chapter V. More Than Twenty Years After Pentecost. Chapter VI. Three Baptisms Of The New Testament. Chapter VII. Three Baptisms In Type. Chapter VIII. The Relations Of The Holy Spirit To Christ’s Human Nature And His Relations To Every Believer. Chapter IX. Fruit Of The Spirit And The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit. Chapter X. The Gift Of Tongues. Chapter XI. The Utility Of Speaking In Tongues. Chapter XII. The Gift Of Prophecy. Chapter XIII. Miraculous Gifts In Evidence Throughout The Present Age. Chapter XIV. Baptism In The Holy Spirit. Chapter XV. The Supernatural In The Local Church. Chapter XVI. Conclusion. Pentecostal Rays. Pentecostal Rays! Yes, rays of light from the Inspired Word upon a subject that is claiming the attention of the Christian Church universally—the baptism of the Holy Spirit and miraculous gifts. A baptism received in the first century by one hundred and twenty believers in the ancient city of Jerusalem, some seven weeks after the resurrection of Christ, is now received by tens of thousands of believers in the twentieth century all over the world, in view of the Second Advent of Christ. The miraculous gifts so conspicuous in the Early Church during the first few centuries are finding their place to a greater degree in the closing days of the dispensation. The gates of worldliness, unbelief, opposition, and compromise, which resulted in the gifts practically ceasing, are giving way before the onward march of an empowered Church. This companion book to “Healing Rays” simply contains the subject matter of our studies and addresses given during eighteen years’ ministry amongst those who have earnestly contended for the faith, put into literary form in response to the increasing requests of succeeding years. Chapter I. The Day Of Pentecost. Scenes and Circumstances Prior to the Outpouring And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. Luke xix.41,42. Jerusalem, prior to the day of Pentecost, had passed through strange and moving scenes, more especially within the previous two-score years. Within and around her had taken place events of vital importance and far-reaching effects, which had caused anxiety to leaders of religion and state. The former were concerned because persistent rumour had divested their long-looked-for Messiah of His glory and triumph, and had wrapped Him in garments of lowliness and humility. The latter were aroused because a kingdom of a new order was about to be established, and its King had already been born. On one side there were predictive whisperings and murmurings regarding the end of Jewish tradition; on the other fears and dark forebodings concerning a usurped throne. One saw the passing away of all ceremonial law, the other the decline and fall of their glorious empire. More recently the strange and fearless John the Baptist had come dangerously, near to the city, and his approach had intensified the anxiety, for he openly proclaimed the establishment of a kingdom that would supersede Caesar’s. The loud, commanding, penetrating voice of the desert preacher had reached the ears of the rulers, and his message struck terror to their hearts -“Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” The leaders of religion discerned in the sound of that voice the death-knell of empty formalism, the end of all typical sacrifice, and the awful spectre of a vacated Temple. Even the select Pharisees and Sadducees had come under the preacher’s denunciations—“O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We believe Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” The severe tension in religion and state was further accentuated by the news that Jesus the Nazarene, the coming King, was being openly presented to the people, that He had been actually baptised by John in the presence of vast multitudes, and had been publicly declared as the one Mediator between God and man. Time passed on, and nerves, strained to breaking point, were somewhat relaxed through the death of John the Baptist. But it was not long until the inhabitants of the city began to realise that what they had already experienced were but the rumblings preceding the great spiritual and moral earthquakes that were to shake the city to its foundations. The temporary relaxation through the riddance of John the Baptist is ended, and there are manifold fears within and without, for the ministry of Jesus is confirmed by miracles and signs which John never did. The whole world seemed to be going after Jesus. It would not be long until the common people themselves would acclaim Him King, and as for established religion, it was passing quickly away. Something must be done and that soon, if religion and state are to be saved. The task of convincing the people in their favour and against Jesus is formidable. How could the people be turned against Him when they saw the result of His touch in delivering and healing? Why, the winds and the waves obey His voice, and even the dead are raised. The only possible way would be to find some discrepancy between His teaching and the teaching of their beloved Moses. A seeming inaccuracy might suffice, because the people loved and revered the Law, and even Moses himself. Time passes on, and intrigue soon discloses a possible solution. Jesus must die like John the Baptist, and the state combines with religion to erect His cross. Then with fury, malice, and hatred surging around it Christ gives up the ghost amid scenes of ignominy. The desert preacher is gone, Jesus is dead, the great struggle for existence is now over, and they begin once again to build upon the foundations of false hopes and uncertainties.
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