We will not forget or let go, of the legacy of the reality of Pentecost in SA
What we have easy today, have come at a great price for men of women of faith and obedience paying with their lives, so that the seed of His Word can continue to spread over all the World.
May we be counted worthy to enter into the labours of these heroes of faith, and see God transform our People by His Glory For His Glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
“For inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
For we were born yesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
Job 8:7-10
John G Lake’s legacy of starting a work of Pentecostal outpouring in South Africa!
One day some years ago, being environed by certain conditions powerful and influential enemies who pamphleteered us throughout the whole world, broke confidence in our work for God to that extent that the little pittance of financial support almost dwindled away. I had one hundred and twenty workers out on the frontiers of South Africa, beyond the confines of civilization. The question arose as to what to do for these at such an hour. I said, “There is only one thing. That is, be honorable with these men and women. Let them know the true condition. If possible, let us call them in and let them decide as to the best thing to do.” So we sold our household possessions; we sold our watches, we sold everything that was salable for money enough to bring that hundred and twenty in.
When they arrived in Johannesburg, I poured my heart out to them as I am to you today. And alter a while they said, “Brother Lake, we would like to be alone for a little while and we ask you to retire. We have a decision to make.” I retired into the vestry for a half hour, and then they called me in. When I came in I found the hundred and twenty sitting in an oval in the middle of the tabernacle.. They had cleared the chairs away, made a large open circle with a hundred and twenty seats around, and a little table in the middle with bread and wine. They said, “Brother Lake, we have made our decision. We are going back to our fields. If we die, if our wives die, if our children die, we will never reduce that ministry that Jesus Christ has established through this work in Africa.” They said, “Brother Lake, serve the bread and wine.” I took my place at the head of the circle and started the bread around and the wine around. And every man said, “The new testament in my blood,” meaning “my blood to save South Africa.”
They put only one restriction: They said, “Brother, if we die. one request—come and bury us.” And twelve times in that year of hell, I stood beside twelve of the finest men and sixteen of the finest women and children God ever let live in this world. ] buried them because they starved to death, or they died because they could not get proper nourishment. That is the reason that the work in South Africa lives, and that is the reason that all the damnation on earth has never been able to assail it. But like a conquering glory it has gone on these years, conquering and conquering in the name of our Christ, until my hundred and twenty have grown to two hundred and fifty white preachers of the same character and until our five hundred black preachers have grown to be twelve hundred preachers of the same type and character, and until our mission stations are planted all Over Southern Africa.
May God grant us and enable us in the same way, than these powerful heroes of faith, to continue in the message of the Kingdom with signs and wonders following!!
“Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Taken from: The New John G. Lake Sermons, edited by Gordon Lindsay!
