(Jennifer A. Miskov P.H.D) The Azusa Street Revival was catalytic and played a significant part in the expansion of the Pentecostal movement around the world. This revival was marked by a hunger to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. People from around the world flocked to Los Angeles to be a part of this great move of God and to receive impartation to take back to their nations. They, like many in the early church in Acts (see Acts 2), waited on the Lord until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and also spoke in tongues. This all-consuming encounter with God drew people in to a revival that swept across the world.
I have been struck lately by Matthew 3:11-12, in which John the Baptist said: “I indeed baptize you with water to repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean His floor and gather His wheat into the granary, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” While Azusa Street was marked with a baptism of the Holy Spirit, I believe that the next great move of God will be marked with a baptism of fire. Fire purifies, refines, sanctifies and makes holy. It causes all the dross to dissipate and only the gold to emerge. FULL REPORT
