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Revival Fire
The true account of Frank Bartleman

From Footsteps February 12, 2004

In 1906 on a street called Azuza in Los Angeles California, began what is considered by many to be the most significant move of God in recent history. In succeeding years this revival fed a movement that spread reaching around the globe, it was the beginning of what we know today as the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement. While by no means do I believe that we should camp out on moves of the past, there are still things worth considering as to how and with whom God has moved in the past. (editor)

This is an eye witness account by Frank Bartleman of possibly the greatest spiritual awakening in America to date, The Azusa Street Revival. Quoted from the book "Images of Revival: Another Wave Rolls in;" by Richard M. Riss, Kathryn Riss.

"We had no pope or hierarchy. We were brethren. We had no human program; the Lord Himself was leading. We had no priest class, nor priest craft. These things have come in later, with the apostatizing of the movement. We did not even have a platform or pulpit in the beginning. All were on a level. The ministers were servants, according to the true meaning of the word. We did not honor men for their advantage in means or education, but rather for their God-given gifts. He set the members in the Body.

The services ran almost continuously. Seeking souls could be found under the power almost any hour of the night or day. The place was never closed nor empty. The people came to meet God...He was always there. Hence a continuous meeting. The meeting did not depend on the human leader. God's presence became more and more wonderful. In that old building, with its low rafters and bare floors, God took strong men and women to pieces, and put them together again, for His glory. It was a tremendous overhauling process. Pride and self-assertion, self-importance and self-esteem could not survive there. The religious ego preached its own funeral sermon quickly.

No subjects or sermons were announced ahead of time, and no special
speakers for such an hour. No one knew what might be coming, what God would do. All was spontaneous, ordered of the Spirit. We wanted to hear from God, through whomever He might speak. We had no respect of persons. The rich and educated were the same as the poor and ignorant, and found a much harder death to die. We only recognized God. All were equal. No flesh might glory in His presence. He could not use the self-opinionated. Those were Holy Ghost meetings, led of the Lord. It had to start in poor surroundings, to keep out the selfish, human element. All came down in humility together at His feet. They all looked alike and had all things in common, in that sense at least. The rafters were low, the tall must come down. By the time they got to Azusa they were humbled, ready for the blessing. The fodder was thus placed for the lambs, not for giraffes. All could reach it.

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