Has The Fire Of Pentecost Gone Out In Many Pentecostal Churches?
Nov 2023
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“And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep.”
—I Samuel 3:2-3
About seven years ago, Donna and I resigned our pastoral duties in North Texas and returned to Baton Rouge to teach here at Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and to preach once in a while, at the invitation of Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, at Family Worship Center. After being here a while, I was asked to be a panel member on Frances & Friends. I was also asked to help on The Message of the Cross, and A Study In The Word. Being on these programs, which air on SBN, I have heard first-hand from hundreds of faithful Pentecostal believers and church members in respect to the Pentecostal churches they attend. Often, we hear sincere, dedicated Pentecostal church members say, “Something has happened to our church. The Holy Spirit is not moving in our church like He used to move.” Some of them tell us that the gifts of the Spirit are no longer allowed in the services. They complain, “Our new pastor stopped it.” Also, many Pentecostal pastors seldom give altar calls anymore. Some call in to Frances & Friends and say, “Our preacher is just not anointed anymore; it has been months since anyone has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Pastors and lay leaders, this ought not be happening in Pentecostal churches. Are we a real Spirit-filled Pentecostal movement or not? Have we forgotten Azusa Street? Has the fire of Pentecost gone out in many of our Pentecostal churches? Are pastors and denominational leaders who oversee Pentecostal movements doing anything to stir up Holy Ghost revival in our churches? Are Pentecostal Bible colleges stirring up our Bible college students for real revival? Do Pentecostal college professors and leaders want Holy Ghost revival? Do Pentecostal pastors want real, biblically-based Holy Ghost revival? Remember what happened at Asbury Theological Seminary in February of 2023? It should be happening in Pentecostal colleges, I believe.
WHAT HAPPENED AT SHILOH IN THE DAYS OF ELI AND SAMUEL
When you open the Scriptures to I Samuel, the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant is not in Jerusalem, but in Shiloh. The village of Shiloh is north of Jerusalem and south of Mount Gerizim. The assigned priest of the tabernacle was Eli, aided by his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas—two sons who lived very ungodly lives. Within the holy room of the tabernacle were three pieces of furniture that required daily attention: the altar of shewbread, the altar of incense, and the golden lampstand, having seven lamp bowls that needed fresh oil.
In I Samuel 3:3, we read “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.” This large golden lampstand had to be serviced with fresh oil every day to burn brightly all night and into the next day. If fresh oil was not brought to the tabernacle every afternoon, then the fire could burn up the oil, and there would be darkness in the holy room.
When the prophet Samuel sits down to write the history of Israel, he remembers that specific night in his childhood when God called him to the prophetic ministry. On that night, while sleeping in the tabernacle, Samuel remembers that the light was very dim. He knew that Eli and his sons had not brought in fresh oil to the tabernacle. I Samuel 3:3 reads “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD.” Pastors, lay leaders, are we keeping the lamps of God in the houses of God full of oil, shining bright? Is the oil of the Holy Spirit being poured out in our churches every Sunday? Are we taking time, weekly, to have old-fashioned Holy Ghost prayer vigils? Are we fasting and praying for another Azusa Street outpouring? It is the sacred responsibility and duty of pastors and lay leaders to bring fresh oil daily into the house of God. Also, worship leaders must be full of the Spirit as well.
In Matthew 24, Jesus gives the parable in respect to the kingdom of heaven being likened unto ten virgins. Five, who kept their vessels full of oil, were wise; and five, who allowed their oil to burn out, were foolish. In Matthew 25:8, the five foolish virgins cried out, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” The bridegroom showed up, and the door was shut. Pastors, have we (not our members), allowed the fire of Pentecost to burn out in our churches?
Friends, do you remember what happened in Acts 2:2-4? After praying for ten days, the 120, including the eleven disciples, were in the upper room, in one accord, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Wow! The fire of heaven, yes the fresh oil of heaven fell on those 120, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and they went out and changed their world for Christ.
I think that the Pentecostal church needs to start singing that song that Charles D. Tillman wrote in 1895:
They were in an upper chamber
They were all with one accord,
When the Holy Ghost descended,
As was promised by the Lord.
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
And baptize ev’ry one.
Yes, may the fire and the oil of the Holy Spirit come to the Pentecostal church again. Second Chronicles 7:14 declares, “If my people … shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,” then God will hear and send a mighty revival to our churches and to our nation.
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