In the year 1906 the world experienced one of the greatest REVIVAL after the greatest revival that exploded in Acts – 2:1 – 4. This revival on the street #312 of Azusa, Los Angeles, California. Here is how it all happened:
A man named William Seymour moved from Houston to pastor a church in Los Angeles. He preached his first sermon on the Holy Spirit one Sunday morning and returned that night to preach again. The door was padlocked, and a note informed him that he was FIRED. They don’t want this strange stuff like Holy Spirit because they are the Baptist Christians and they’ve never heard or experience this strange baptism of Holy Spirit. Mr. Asbury was a member of this church. He came up to Seymour and said, “I knew they were going to do this but I’ve got a house over Bonnie Brae Street. You can preach from there”. The Asbury also happened to be on one of the prayer groups, praying for REVIVAL. Soon Brother Seymour realized that he needed a much larger gathering place as the crowd grew larger and larger with each passing day. Looking for a place to meet, he found an abandoned warehouse that at one time was used as a Methodist church. The warehouse was perfect, and the only thing keeping Seymour from renting the building was money. That night, the need to move was heavy on Seymour’s heart. He prayed to God for direction and before the evening was over, he had received his answer. God instructed him to get a trolley car as soon as the service ended and go to Pasadena. There was one hitch. By obeying God’s instructions, Seymour was going to break the law – the sundown law – which stated that no person of color could be on the streets of Pasadena after dark. True to God’s leadership, Seymour didn’t argue but trusted and obeyed. He rode the trolley until God instructed him to get off. Then he followed as God guided him to an apartment nearby. Sister Carney, just a teenager but married, had arrived in Pasadena earlier that day. She was to meet with several of her friends who had been members of the First Baptist Church. They were hungry for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which somehow didn’t fit Baptist doctrine. They had been meeting together for months now in the apartment of one members of this group. This particular evening, they were coming together to pray for revival. They were certain that God was about to do something great and big in the Los Angeles area. Around 10:30 p.m. And after hours of fervent prayer, God brought together two elements of a force that usher in one of the greatest manifestations of God ever experienced by man since the day of Pentecost. Seymour walked up to this apartment where God led him and knocked on the door. Startled, the ladies went to the door together and opened it. They found a black man, blind in one eye, standing before them. Instead of slamming the door and calling the police, which would have been reasonable given the day and age, the owner of the apartment apprehensively asked, “Can I help you?”. The answer to this simple, fretful question would startle and astonish those gathered for prayer. After several months of fervent prayer, God responded in an unusual manner. Seymour replied, “You’re praying for revival, right?”. When the ladies responded unanimously Yes, Seymour made a bold statement, “I’m the man God has sent to preach that revival.” Without hesitation, the ladies invited Seymour in. The prayer meeting that evening and those present were not coincidental. God had been preparing many for the miracle of Azusa. Without this ordained meeting, Azusa may have never happened. After some excited chatter, he preached to them and took up an offering that was more then enough to rent the Azusa Street warehouse. Now Seymour preached everyday in his rented house about revival and within a very short time people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and thus the revival took place. Thousands and thousands have received and experiences miracles in this revival. Sometimes the glory of the lord was so strong that people see the pillar of fire which stood in the middle of the house for weeks. The miracles that happened in Azusa are unusual. When the presence of God get intense the people who were fellowshipping together can see glory clouds in the room and sometimes they can’t even see the person next to them because it was so thick. Brother Seymour will sometimes in the middle of his preaching will call upon group of people and everyone who stood up will instantly be healed from all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. Sometimes Seymour will call, “all the cancer patient, tumor, withered arms and legs stand up” and instantly everyone will be healed. All kinds of healing, deliverance, miracles, signs and wonders took place in this explosion of revival at Azusa. It was recorded in history that withered hand and legs will be grow out, popping eyes who have lost it, tumor and cancer will instantly be healed, demonized people will be delivered, crippled and lame will walk, blind eyes were opened. In this revival people who walked the Azusa Street will fall under the power of the Holy Spirit where in the middle of the street people start confessed their sins, speak in tongues and be healed from every kind of sicknesses. People will received baptism of the Holy Spirit from ship, train from thousands and thousands mile away from Los Angeles. They will be convicted by the Holy Spirit where there was hundreds and thousands with tears on their eyes started praying to God for mercy, reconciling with one another, speaking in tongues. Club, bar and pub were closed down. The Spirit of God touched and speak to people who were in the those places and holding wine in their hands they will start crying to God for salvation and mercy. All this mighty and great things happened in this Azusa Street Revival. As the bible in John – 14:12 Jesus says, “Verily verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also. And greater works than these shall he do. Because I go unto My Father.” The Azusa Street revival was the fulfillment of these promises of God.
In 2013, a Pastor named Lou Angle had encountered a visitation from Jesus. And in this visitation Jesus told him that after 1080 days He will revisit American people once again and He will pour out His Spirit and sent forth His revival fire upon American people and the Church. Lou Angle was sharing his dreams with one of his closed friend that he sees a flight “FLY UNITED” which interpreted that only the United church can healed the divided nation. Lou Angle and his friends went to a stadium and claim it in Jesus name because there was such an unction in his heart to pray for this stadium after the prayer Lou Angle received an email from a young lady from Washington DC and she said, ‘ Lou I had a dream and in that dream I saw a huge stadium which is both football and Baseball field’, then he Google it and it was none other than the stadium he and His friend prayed Its Memorial Coliseum Stadium in Los Angeles, California, which is both football and baseball field where the Azusa Now meeting was supposed to be held. Lou angle count the date he saw in this visitation it was 9th April 2016, and it stunt him when he found this ordained date of God, it was the 110th anniversary of Azusa Street revival which took place in 1906. He started sharing his visions and dreams for this revival meeting and every time he shared this visitation of God with different churches all over America the youth and the church have experience the power of Holy Spirit in unusual ways.
One of my classmates here in Rhema Bible Training College, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma sent me the first video of this Azusa Now conference promo. The moment I watched it , I felt such an anointing flowing through out my whole body. From the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, I felt the touch and power of the Holy Ghost so strong and powerful and I just knew in my spirit that this meeting was for me and I need to go there by any means. I’ve started praying for these meetings and as I shared about it with my pastor Zotuo Kiewhuo (Senior Pastor Koinonia Baptist Church) he said my trip to this meeting will be sponsored. I didn’t asked or I dint expect that but I believe God knows me that I need it. I’ve shared with some of my Rhema Students friends but no one come out with positive responses. In my heart the Holy Spirit said ‘wait I’ll sent you company’ and I waited. Only one week left and I’ve no body then suddenly my two friends Jason Yang and Sarah Renee Magrell from nowhere came out and said they really want to go to this Azusa Now meetings. The promise of Holy Spirit fulfilled to send me friends. We packed everything and started our journey from Broken Arrow – Oklahoma to Los Angeles, California to attend this meeting. For me it was not only a meeting but an ordination and impartation time for my life and ministry. The more we get closer to Los Angeles the more I felt the power of Holy Ghost become stronger in my spirit. We reached Los Angeles on 8th April, rested and then on 9th April the much awaited day for me a came as we wake at 3:00 a.m and drive our car to reach the stadium around 5:30 a.m. Early in the morning yet as we reached the Memorial Coliseum Stadium what I see shocked and surprised me! Around 30,000 people gathered around the gate! When I saw these people, I thanked God and prayed this prayer, “Lord I want to thank you for such a thirst and hunger that you put on this generation and especially the youth”. As the gate opened everyone entered the stadium shouting and declaring ‘ Hallelujah’, thanking Lord and glorifying God as if they’ve entered Heaven. So here I was in the stadium for the Azusa Now revival meeting, with full of tears in my eyes, tears of joy not sorrows. There was explosions going on within me and there was only one prayer in my heart the whole day, “JESUS I only want you and Your revival that you’ve promised. Please don’t let this day passed by without giving me the desire of my heart. You’ve sent me to America so that I can receive and give it back to my people and the world, so dear Lord Jesus visit me today with your power and revival”. For 15th hours we’ve been fasting and praying and all around the stadium there was only one echo and shout that is, ‘Lord, Your REVIVAL.’ The Worship started and there are 120,000 people in the stadium United together as a church with one heart and one accord within every heart there’s only one thing REVIVAL. Denominations like, First Baptist church, Methodist church, church of Christ, Assembly of God, charismatic, Catholic, Jewish churches etc and even many international ministries come together as a church, reconciling, forgiving one another, receiving one another with love. One of my favorite moments was when a Catholic father and a rabbi from Israel come on stage and asked forgiveness on behalf of the denomination. Suddenly all the ministers on the pulpit felt on the ground declaring respect and honor to one another denominations and the atmosphere changed when all the people came together with unity and love. Miracles started, signs and wonders is everywhere in the stadium, people started shouting and thanking God for the miracles. People who came on wheel chair started running, withered leg and hand straightened, blind eyes could see, Cancer patients were testifying of been healed, all kinds of sicknesses and diseases started to be healed in Jesus mighty name. The worship continues and the people continue to receive their miracles. The Whole day it was raining but non move from his/her seats, we’ve prayed for 15th hours and the rain can’t stop the people because the Spirit of GOD is moving among His people. I had to cry a lot that moment because of God’s move, His anointing and love. The whole day I was in the presence of God, Soaking and receiving what my God has for me. After the meeting was closed there was such an anointing and filling of Holy Spirit in my spirit that I was feeling as if I am going to explode. I was praying and waiting when I will get back to Nagaland and release this anointing of Revival upon our people.
I believe God is preparing the present generation and especially the youth to move out of one’s comfort zone, breaking all the religious barriers and mindset and carry this fire of Revival to revive the entire world and prepare people for the coming of our King and Savior Lord Jesus Christ. I just know that revival has began and this time it will be not like the Pentecost day of the Acts or Azusa revival but this time it will be the greatest revival that the world and ages have never seen before and will never see again. Many prophets and prophetess have seen the coming revival upon our Naga people and prophesy upon our people that in this end time’s revival our Naga people will carry the flames of fire, fire of revival and will reach out to every parts of the world. We will change nations and transform nations with this REVIVAL fire. For all this years I’ve been praying for revival and now I see it has begun and it has started to create that thirst and hunger upon the generation and the youth of Naga. Transformation Crusade is one such meeting that I’ve witnessed. Thousands and thousands people flooding the ground and filled the stadium just to receive the miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit. Thousands of young hearts praising and worshiping God with one accord without any discrimination of race, colors, tribes etc. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms118:23-24)
God spoke to me some few months ago when I was praying for our Naga people that, “Only REVIVAL can change our Naga people”
Are you ready? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you prepared? Are you ready to surrender your life to Jesus? Are you ready to receive? Are you ready to reconcile? Only those who are willing can receive this REVIVAL. God never compels us so He will touch who are willing to surrender his/her life to Him. As prophesy by Prophet Joel – 2:28 – 32, God will send His REVIVAL SPIRIT to this generation and to His church. Awake, awake, awake, open your eyes and change your heart. Returned to Jesus now. Oh! my people, my Naga people lets come together, forgive one another, reconcile with one another, receive one another with love and compassion, break all the ‘ism’ that has build gap among us, hatred that has break all the bonds and love we have for one another. It’s time for our Naga people to come together as a united body, rebuilt and reshape the church which we have destroyed because of jealousy, gossips, hatred and strife. It’s time for us to arise, time to awake from our sleep and ready to move with this Revival which God has ordained our people for the great harvest. “Arise and shine for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold the darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross darkness the people. But the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the gentiles shall come to thy light, and the Kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah – 60:1 – 3).
Mhalevilie Avi Yongo
(The writer is from Koinonia Baptist Church, Kohima and is also a Praise and worship Leader for Transformation Crusade. He will soon be releasing a book titled ‘Identity in Christ’. Feedbacks at swordkoinonia@gmail.com)
