1 Peter 5:8 ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:’
DAILY READING; 2 Peter 3; Jeremiah 45-46; Psalm 141
The Azusa Street Revival is commonly regarded as the beginning of the modern-day Pentecostal Movement. It began in 1906, in Los Angeles through the ministry of William J Seymour.
In September of 1906 Seymour began a publication titled, ‘The Apostolic Faith’, which carried testimonies and news of the revival. Within a few months, this publication quickly spread to reach thousands of people in many cities.
The influence of the publication was immense and ensured a continuous flow of visitors to the Azuza street Mission. It also brought in financial contributions that enabled Seymour to advance the work.
Ironically, this Newsletter that brought so much blessing and expansion, also became a major cause of the Mission’s demise.
Two white women, Clara Lum and Florence Crawford, who were active in the work of the Mission, helped publish the Newsletter.
However, these two women had objected to Seymour’s plan to marry a young black woman named Jennie Evans Moore. When Seymour went ahead to marry Jennie on May 13, 1908, they secretly plotted to undermine his ministry.
Clara Lum and Florence Crawford left the Azuza street Mission and relocated to Portland, Oregon, where Florence founded another mission. Clara Lum who was the Azuza street Mission’s secretary had taken with her the entire national and international names and addresses on the mailing list of the ministry’s publication.
These women began publishing the magazine with the same old name but now with their new address in Portland, Oregon. The new issues carried no mention of Seymour and all references to Azusa street Mission were omitted entirely.
Many people without realizing the change, continued to send testimonies and finances to the new address in Portland.
Without a mailing list, Seymour could not continue the publication of the Newsletter and gradually this terminated the initial world-wide influence of Azusa and the Mission’s worldwide base of support. By 1913, the revival at Azusa Street had lost momentum, and most of the media attention and crowds had left by 1915.
These women, through stealing the publication, virtually crippled the great Azuza street ministry.
Anyone who is making a headway in life must beware of destiny killers. As we pursue after progress, the enemy often sends people whose purpose is to hit where it hurts most and cripple our efforts.
These can be Achans in the camp who through their actions knowingly or unknowingly bring defeat to the tribe.
In Joshua chapter 6, God gave the Israelites victory over Jericho and delivered the city into their hands. Joshua chapter 6 ended with these words “So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.”
However, just after this victory, immediately in chapter 7 the story changed.
Though Israel had just defeated the greatly fortified Jericho, without losing a single man, when they went up to attack Ai, a comparatively small city, Israel was woefully defeated and lost 36 soldiers.
The reason for Israel’s defeat was found to be internal. The actions of Achan who had stolen forbidden spoils had brought this trouble and defeat on the whole nation of Israel.
The lesson we learn here is to beware of the Achans in our camp. Some people have suffered losses in life without knowing that it was due to an enemy within their camp.
The greatest challenge, before anyone seriously pursuing their destiny is distraction from people on a mission to curtail their vision. There is no one seriously on a mission for God that will not face such challenges.
To make progress, we must therefore not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices. People that usually fall victim are those who take the enemy for granted.
The book, ‘Art of War’ is one of the oldest and most successful books on military strategy, having influenced military strategies for centuries. The author, Sun Tzu, says, “He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.”
The Christians who will triumph in this end-time are soldiers who are ever sober and vigilant.
Certainly as we remain spiritually alert we will be able to overcome the hidden battles against us. Indeed God has given us mighty weapons with which we can pull down the enemy’s strongholds.[ 2 Corinthians 10:3-4].
The weapon of God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit, through which we receive the wisdom and faith to triumph always. Also employing the weapon of fervent prayers and worship will sharpen us spiritually to discern the plots of the wicked.
Certainly, through the Lord’s mercy we shall be saved from every wolf in sheep’s clothing.
By God’s grace every evil plan targeted at truncating our progress will surely fail woefully.
What the enemy planned as disappointment, the Lord will turn it around to divine appointments for us.
And whatever we may have lost in the past due to lack of spiritual discernment, in this season, through God’s help, we shall experience recovery and restoration.
Indeed throughout this year we will have every cause to be joyful and thankful because of God’s grace that continues to prevail against every device of the wicked.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always walk by the light of Your Word so that I can avoid every trap of the enemy and overcome his evil devices. Lord, by Your grace nothing shall stop or hinder my progress throughout this year in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
As a child of God you have to recognize that you are in the middle of an ongoing battle, but through faith we have the victory. WORDBITE 222