DAY 17: Azusa Street Revival

By Collegiate Jesus Fast Team

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”
— Acts 2:1 (NIV)

No great move of God has occurred without His people together in one accord. What made the 1906 Azusa Street Revival so special? Three key factors at Azusa mirrored the reality of the early church formation in Acts 2. Firstly, there was a multi-ethnic gathering of unity in Christ (Acts 2:1-11). Secondly, the ministry of the Holy Spirit was powerfully demonstrated (Acts 2:2-4). Finally, a clear presentation of the Gospel led many to salvation (Acts 2:37-41).

This outpouring of the Holy Spirit descended on the poor districts of Los Angeles during an incredibly dangerous, volatile, and prejudiced period of American history. Yet, God used an African-American leader named William Seymour to launch this modern Acts 2 movement. Black, White, Asian and Hispanic came together in the bond of love, unity, and prayer.

Sadly, by 1916, the original Azusa Street Revival had officially ended. Segregation once again fractured the fragile unity of the Church, dividing God’s children along the very same color lines previously and gloriously erased by the Holy Spirit. Even so, the flames of Azusa led to various renewal movements that spread like wildfire across the U.S. and abroad. Over the past century, these movements have seen more salvations than the previous 19 centuries combined! If the Kingdom has expanded mightily despite our division, how much more could it achieve in unity?

PRAYER POINTS:

• Pray for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit like the Azusa Street Revival.
• Pray for the “color lines to be washed away in the Blood” as at Azusa Street.