Even From The Early Days Of The Azusa Street Revival As God Restored The Holy
Spirit To The Church, The Chief Criticism Was Tongues.
Scripture: Isaiah 28:14
Isaiah 28:14 says, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, Who rule this
people who are in Jerusalem,…” The primary leaders in Jerusalem were Pharisees. Opposing
tongues is pharisaic. Perhaps tongues comes as a Pharisee-test, demanding surrender to the
Spirit. Verse 14 is aimed at every person who will ever assume any role of leadership in the
church. We have to bow to the wisdom of the King and choosing tongues often means
rejecting tradition. Which one will we choose? Even from the early days of the Azusa Street
Revival as God restored the Holy Spirit to the church, the chief criticism was tongues. The
early Pentecostals were castigated, criticized, and mocked by the rest of the church.
Receiving anything from the early Pentecostals required great humility.
Pray against weariness and surrender to the Spirit and have the humility necessary to
truly accept and embrace our prayer language? Not just once after the Baptism but a
continual practice with prophesying.