The Price of God's Miracle Working Power

[commonsense]

Bro Strange, your words reflect questions I've often had. There were many miracles at these services and we know they weren't "3 steppers". I don't question their power or miracles, it just seemed a shame that we didn't tap into that same power.

Many years ago Pat Boone ( and no I don't follow or support his life) wrote a book, I don't recall the title. He tells of a visitor to their home who was injured, I think in their swimming pool, and it was a serious injury. Pat Boone prayed for the person and they recovered. I was impressed and dismayed at the time. Why didn't we have that power?
My personal take on it is that we add too many requirements to the task.


It should be on faith alone!

[Joseph Miller]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

Probably the only man that I ever knew that is as stout 3 stepper as I am today was my Dad.

When I was about 14 years old (about 1954) Gayle Jackson pitched his huge tent in our community. Many people were getting healed, delivered from every sort of bondange, including demonic possession. His meeting which lasted for many weeks shook the foundation of our community, though it was strong Catholic. I would listen to those services on radio which was being broadcasted live and in real time. Those services stirred my heart. I begged my Dad that we could go to that meeting. I will never forget his answer as long as I live, "Son, I would not walk across the street to see one of those men." I'll never forget it nor will I ever forget the expression on his face when he said it. I knew that he meant it and I knew why. He was a stout three stepper.

I knew that Trinitarianism was wrong and all who followed after that error would not spend eternity in the realm of the blessed. I knew that their baptism acknowledged three. Yet, I knew that God was there and operating in a powerful and in a wonderful, beautiful way. His presence there was real. I knew that. So, I answered my Dad, "Dad, if God is not too good to visit over there, why are we too good?" I'll never forget his answer either. Though sweet, it was too the point and very humble.

In another year, I was able to make the meetings of some of those Voice of Healing ministers such as Freeman, Hayes, Allen, Coe and many others too. Like T.W. Barnes who attended some of their meetings, I saw first hand the moving and operation of the Holy Ghost. It was God because "no man can do these works except God be with him," as was said about Jesus by the Phairasees.

Actually, I was very much greived that we as Oneness, strong three steppers did not see the Miracle Power of God in our midst as they saw it in there's. Though I would never compromise my understanding of the full requirements of eternal soul salvation, as I have received that from the Lord, I made friends with some of these men. I have tried to talk to them about what God requires to be saved. None as far as I know took me seriously, only dismissively. Yet, they were kind and sweet in that dismissal, assuring me that their salvation was as real for them as I considered mine. I talked to Allen about it. I talked to Alton L. Hayes. I talked to J Charles Jessup too, though I never saw too much of the move of God in Jessup meetings. Yet, each will have to give an account of what they heard from me.

Why I was drawn to those meetings where God moved so marvelously, can only be answered by the fact that God moved so marvelously. But what would account for the fact that God would move in such a way for them and we (strong three steppers) would not see such a move among ourselves within the oneness ranks except for Branham (one stepper) who was actually the beginning of the great Healing Revivals that began in the mid 40s just after WW II?

Why was not God moving and working among US three steppers? I've come to understand some things both by illumination of the spirit by the Spirit and also by the Word of God that I would not have come to understand but for that association.

I will not discuss all that I've come to understand, as I know that on these little internet forums, I would pay the price in ridicule, as I have before in my attempts to share a few simple things. But, I will say this much and little more, miracles and healings are largely and for the most part among those who are full of the Holy Ghost, having paid the price in fasting, prayer and in the Word....who....catch this...who preach "Jesus Christ, THE SON OF GOD." Did you get it? There is Miracle and healing POWER among those who are FULL of the Holy Ghost who have also paid the price in prayer, fasting and in the Word WHO ALSO PREACH JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD without apology.

Oneness people can scarcely even mention the SON OF GOD, without having to pause long enough to explain how he is both the Father and the Son. Then, it becomes a lesson in theology having little to NO miracle and healing worth.

Too many three steppers have as much Holy Ghost as the best of those fellows and have also paid the price as much as the best of those fellows have. Yet, too many of the three steppers also lack the manifestation of the power of God that they could very easily have with only an unapologetic saving, healing, miracle message of Jesus Christ, THE SON OF GOD. It is in preaching the SON, the lamb, the sacrifice, the propitiation, the burden bearer, the suffering, uplifted SON OF GOD that the miracle healing power is unveiled. There is POWER in preaching (the blood) the Son of God...without a lesson in theology that weakens or dilutes the message.

The very first message that the new convert, Paul the Apostle preached was "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" without a lesson on the Godhead. It was the message of the Apostles who saw by their hands, through their preaching, many signs, wonders and miracles were wrought.

So, over the years, I've seen many good, honest and pure minded three steppers question these men and the miracles that follow their preaching as something amiss, some even calling it the work of the devil. They were so mistaken. They could have had the same things themselves except for being hung up on the Oneness doctrine so strongly that they could not bring themselves to preaching THE SON OF GOD, without a lesson in theology. The Trinitarians did not have to apologize for preaching the Son of God pausing to explain how he is the 2nd person in the Godhead. They just preached JESUS, the Son of God and saw manifested what was provided by the office of Sonship...which is the BLOOD.

I'm sure that I will be critisized by this also, but you asked me a question. I will not go too much further in this because of the ready arrows that stay trained on me most of the time anyway. In fact, I would not have shared this much except that I felt led to go ahead and do it. I have never shared this on any forum, even though I have been on these forums for more than ten years. I probably will never repeat it again. Certainly there are other things that I will never share in public but have from time to time, in private.

God bless. I hope this explains what you see as an undestandable dichotomy in my stance.

GREAT post Bro. Strange.

[Pastor Keith]

I was digging through some books of my passed Grandfather, I found a Song book for AA Allen's meetings, great classic hymns with pictures from the Big Tent.

[OneAccord]

First, thanks to Bro. Sam for starting this thread.

I have a copy of the book and, have read it many times. I first read it not long after Bro. Allen died. While much controversy surrounds the life, ministry and death of A.A. Allen, no one can deny the influence he has had on the Pentecostal Movement. I don't think there has ever been an evangelist, Oneness or otherwise, that, having read "The Price of God's Miracle Working Power" didn't start cleaning out a closet for a place of prayer to seek the face of God. I know I did. Let's set aside the name ALLEN for a minute and just read the book for what it says. Doesn't that make a fire burn in our heart to see God's Power operate in our lives? Doesn't it make us want to search our hearts to find those "13 things" that are hindering us from seeing God manifest Himself through our lives and ministry with greater intensity?

Now... Bro. Strange: First, it is good to see you posting agin. I've missed your wisdom and Christian spirit. And I have missed messages just like this. How blessed we are to be fed with fresh manna, from a brother who has been to the mountaintop. Its obvious that you've been there. Like the disciples, its obvious you've been with Jesus. Act 4:13

Names like Allen, Branham, Coe and others, have, regrettably, become linked with scandal, false doctrine and excess... People seem to remember the controversy and have failed to remember that these men (and many more men and women) were instrumental in getting us to where we are today. Allen established a Bible School to train preachers to recieve Gods power and anointing at a time when education was looked down upon. Branham worked to bring a spirit of harmony among ALL Pentecostals. Could Oneness and Trinity people worship God together from the dictates of their own hearts without some organization dictating to them who and who not to fellowship? With the great gulf among us today, that seems impossible... but isn't that what Jesus desired when He prayed that we would be One?

Sadly, this thread will lose its appeal. It will lose its attraction when we focus, not on the message, but on the controversy. But for a brief few minutes, we should take a few minutes to read Bro. Allens words and ask our selves this: All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Mat 19:20 What am I missing? And, we should read Bro. Strange's message and, instead of throwing the whole thing out because we disagree with something, we should read it for what it is...

a powerful word from the Lord.

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

This bump is for Sam before this thread finally fades away into the sunset.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

This is an amazing post. Does Brother Strange still post here? I don't recall seeing his name around.

I realize now this thread died an untimely death. Thanks, Nahkoe, for resurrecting it. This is the kind of discussion I can get into. Too bad theres not more like it. Bro. Strange doesn't post here anymore, for reasons stated in his message. You can find more from Bro. Strange at Apostolic Library.com. He is an exceptional brother.

[Sister Alvear]

I find this very interesting...blessings to Brother Strange.

[nahkoe]

That's too bad he doesn't post here. I'll have to go looking for him because I really do need to read more like this. Thank you for the non link. :-)

Originally Posted by OneAccord

I realize now this thread died an untimely death. Thanks, Nahkoe, for resurrecting it. This is the kind of discussion I can get into. Too bad theres not more like it. Bro. Strange doesn't post here anymore, for reasons stated in his message. You can find more from Bro. Strange at Apostolic Library.com. He is an exceptional brother.

[nahkoe]

I read this book online when Bro Sam first posted the link. I'd only been back in the church for just over a month. I had, as of yet, made any real decision to turn back to God. I was mostly attending services out of a deep curiousity, I can still safely say I've never been to a church like the one I go to right now and I've never had a pastor like my pastor. lol My story is really too long for this thread, but suffice to say, it's been a rough road back. This book made a huge impact on me at that time and really helped to pull me closer to making a decision.

It's interesting I would find this thread here (I was only reading at GNC when Bro Sam posted this) and now. Bro Strange's post really spoke to some things I've been thinking about recently. I'll leave it at that because his message is far more powerful than anything I could say. I'm in awe of the goodness of God and His ability to pull everything together at just the right time. I'm sure Bro Strange had no idea when he typed that in August what those words would mean to someone in November.

Originally Posted by OneAccord

First, thanks to Bro. Sam for starting this thread.

I have a copy of the book and, have read it many times. I first read it not long after Bro. Allen died. While much controversy surrounds the life, ministry and death of A.A. Allen, no one can deny the influence he has had on the Pentecostal Movement. I don't think there has ever been an evangelist, Oneness or otherwise, that, having read "The Price of God's Miracle Working Power" didn't start cleaning out a closet for a place of prayer to seek the face of God. I know I did. Let's set aside the name ALLEN for a minute and just read the book for what it says. Doesn't that make a fire burn in our heart to see God's Power operate in our lives? Doesn't it make us want to search our hearts to find those "13 things" that are hindering us from seeing God manifest Himself through our lives and ministry with greater intensity?

Now... Bro. Strange: First, it is good to see you posting agin. I've missed your wisdom and Christian spirit. And I have missed messages just like this. How blessed we are to be fed with fresh manna, from a brother who has been to the mountaintop. Its obvious that you've been there. Like the disciples, its obvious you've been with Jesus. Act 4:13

Names like Allen, Branham, Coe and others, have, regrettably, become linked with scandal, false doctrine and excess... People seem to remember the controversy and have failed to remember that these men (and many more men and women) were instrumental in getting us to where we are today. Allen established a Bible School to train preachers to recieve Gods power and anointing at a time when education was looked down upon. Branham worked to bring a spirit of harmony among ALL Pentecostals. Could Oneness and Trinity people worship God together from the dictates of their own hearts without some organization dictating to them who and who not to fellowship? With the great gulf among us today, that seems impossible... but isn't that what Jesus desired when He prayed that we would be One?

Sadly, this thread will lose its appeal. It will lose its attraction when we focus, not on the message, but on the controversy. But for a brief few minutes, we should take a few minutes to read Bro. Allens words and ask our selves this: All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Mat 19:20 What am I missing? And, we should read Bro. Strange's message and, instead of throwing the whole thing out because we disagree with something, we should read it for what it is...

a powerful word from the Lord.

[OneAccord]

Sorry for the "non-link". Maybe this will be better:

http://www.apostoliclibrary.com/foru...isplay.php?f=5

http://www.apostoliclibrary.com

I have never met Bro. Strange, but, his writing speaks volumes to me. He is, withoput doubt, a great asset to the Body of Christ. I'll try to find something he posted here awhile back. Meat. Meat of the Word.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by commonsense

Bro Strange, your words reflect questions I've often had. There were many miracles at these services and we know they weren't "3 steppers". I don't question their power or miracles, it just seemed a shame that we didn't tap into that same power.

Many years ago Pat Boone ( and no I don't follow or support his life) wrote a book, I don't recall the title. He tells of a visitor to their home who was injured, I think in their swimming pool, and it was a serious injury. Pat Boone prayed for the person and they recovered. I was impressed and dismayed at the time. Why didn't we have that power?
My personal take on it is that we add too many requirements to the task.


It should be on faith alone!

Uh...who says we DON'T have that power? I hear and read a LOT about those kinds of things happening in our circle too. BTW as for all accounts like this from them or us....they might also be made up.

However Im a little surprised that you would say what you said as though you've never heard or read similar accounts among us.