GabSalamanes's Blog

Iâm a Pentecostal
Composed by Nathaniel Haney
Pastor of Christian Life Center UPC Stockton, California

I
Weâve been known to get wild, and let our hair hang down
Drink till we get merry, rolling on the ground
Weâve cranked up the music, weâve danced all around
Shouting Hallelujah as His glory came down
Itâs just our style, the way we do our thing
Weâre the Pentecostals, baptized in Jesus Name

CHORUS
Iâm a Pentecostal, and I am not ashamed
Just read the Book of Acts, we are still the same
We worship only One God, Jesus is His name
We are Apostolic in every way

II
Some thinks weâre crazy, others think weâre strange
But when I got this Holy Ghost, I could not contain
More exciting than a party, higher than a drug
Itâs the greatest feeling, being washed in His blood
So if youâre tired of traditions, religions done you wrong
Youâre feeling dry and empty, no longer have a song

III
The story is not over, things for you can change
You can feel the fire burning, as the Spirit fans the flame
Thereâs millions who have come, and millions on the way
And leaving their dead churches, for this Pentecostal Faith
Thereâs a hunger in the world that gets stronger everyday
Theyâre crying out for Pentecost, and that is why I say

________________________________________
"History says that we, as a church, must compromise; I say it won't happen. I want to propose to you that we make some history ourselves."
________________________________________
Can the United Pentecostal Church which you and I love, for which you and I are giving our lives, which you and I under God have helped to build, and which we have seen so blessed through the years-can this church survive the onslaught of history?

The United Pentecostal Church is being attacked by history. We are being assailed and pressed by history. History says that we, as a church, must compromise our fundamentals. History says that this church must enlarge its fellowship, and take in those who. do not interpret and believe God's Word as we do. History says that we must formalize our worship, that we must close the prayer meeting, that we must lower our holiness standard!

History says this because, you see, others have done it, and others are doing it today. And you and I are being pressed, assailed and attacked every day by those who tell us that we must go the way others have gone.

I ask you again, "Can we survive this onslaught of history?"

Let's take a brief look at the historical records. History records the rise and fall of many religious movements through the centuries. And almost every time this was caused by the rise and fall of spiritual fervor in the church.

This was true of Israel. If you study the graph of Israel's history, you will find it is an up and down, a rising and falling, depending upon the spirituality of the people.

This is also true of the history of American religion. Many of the great early American churches were fraught with discord and division. The cause of this was that some wanted to remain orthodox and fundamental in beliefs and practices, while others chose to depart from fundamentals and orthodoxy. This was true of the Presbyterians, who maintained a close fellowship with the Congregationalists. It was also true of the Episcopalians, who had what was known as a high party and a low party in its ranks. The low party was evangelical in spirit, and favored simplicity of worship. The high party was not so fervent or evangelistic, and desired a more formal type of worship. Do you know what happened? The low party gradually lost its influence, and the high and formalistic party took over.

Other religious groups, such as the Baptists and the Methodists, made great impressions on the people of their day. They gained followers by their simplicity of manner and message, and by their spiritual fervor. Many of their ministers worked with their hands, and this had a strong appeal to the common people.

The famous old circuit rider who rode his horse from station to station, and mission to mission, preaching the gospel in the old-fashioned way, came out of these groups.

These denominations were also troubled by division, and some departed from the faith and spirituality. The strong tendency of the church to divide and subdivide is noted in American church history. From this, such denominations as the Mormons, the Adventists, the Christian Scientists and the Jehovah's Witnesses came.

The years following World War I were known as boom years. In these years of tremendous prosperity, wealthy men gave generously to the church, which resulted in the erecting of costly and beautiful church buildings across the land. But in keeping with the beauty of these church edifices, the worship service was made formal. Their preachers wore gowns; their choirs wore robes.

A more dignified type of music was introduced into the church. The processionals and recessionals, and such things, were begun. Elaborate church services were held, but attendance declined. The preaching of the real Word of God disappeared, and the church lost sight of its central purpose.

Someone vividly put it this way: "The heart had been removed from the church."

This is some of the history that is pressing us tonight. This is some of the history that has attacked us, and that says we must follow suit, that we must go the way they have gone, that we must worship the way they worship, that we must dress the way they dress, and we must act the way they do. This is history pressing in on the United Pentecostal Church.

Notice the principles of the early church: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," as well as in worship, and the Lord added to that church. Because the church followed these principles, it became a church different from any other religious body of That day. Thank God for that! Because it followed these principles, it revolutionized the religion of that day. It did everything just opposite from what the other religions did. And because it followed those principles, it became a flourishing church.



One hundred and twenty were filled with the Holy Ghost at one time (Acts 2) ; three thousand were saved in one day (Acts 2) ; five thousand were saved at another time (Acts 4); multitudes believed the Word of. God (Acts 5); a whole city believed the gospel and turned to Jesus Christ (Acts 8). The gospel spread to other races (Acts 8). It spread out to reach the Gentiles (Acts 10).

Persecution, instead of discouraging the people of God and dispersing them into oblivion, spread the gospel of Christ.

I am talking about a flourishing church!

Because the church stood by its principles, prison walls were shaken (Acts 16), and this gospel message was brought to the attention of kings and rulers. It was a flourishing church, it was a different church, it was a revolutionary church, because they held to certain principles.

I say unto you tonight that the United Pentecostal Church is a flourishing church because, up to now, it has followed, in belief and in practice, the same principles of the early church.

But history says it can't continue. History says it has to stop; it can't go on; that we can't always be a holiness believing church, a Jesus' name baptizing church, a repenting church, a Holy Ghost, tongue-talking church.

Let me caution you about something: If and when this happens, our real growth as a church will be stymied. For these things will hinder and $$ the growth of God's church.

We may grow numerically, but die spiritually. Our membership may increase, but our fellowship with God will decrease, when history takes over. The day that you and I depart from the principles of that early church will be the day that we lose our contact with God, our touch of God, the Spirit of God, the power of God, and the saving grace of God.

What is real growth? Is it building a new headquarters building? No, this is not it. Is it more institutions, more buildings, more church edifices? No, this is not it. Real growth is not a strong church numerically or financially. I hope that we never get to the place where we boast of our beautiful headquarters, our fine church buildings, our overflowing treasuries, our gifted preachers, etc. I hope that God never allows us to become so carnal that these are the things uppermost in our minds. This is not real growth!

Let's look into God's Word and see what kind of growth the United Pentecostal Church must experience down through the years that are ahead of us. We can do nothing about the past, but we have all the years ahead of us until Jesus comes.

Paul tells us, in Ephesians 4:13, that real growth is " . . . coming unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Real growth, then, is when we can measure up to t h e stature of the Christ whom we sing about, and preach about, and exalt.

Too many of us are measuring ourselves by someone else.

Several years ago, when my oldest daughter graduated from high school, she was one of five who were chosen to speak at the graduation exercises. One thing she said was this: "Our job is not to judge ourselves by others, but to judge ourselves by ourselves." Too many times we set our sights to try to be better, or do better, than someone else; to try to build a bigger church than someone else, or to draw a higher salary than someone else; to drive a bigger car or live in a better home than someone else. If this is true of you, change your sights, change your standards, change your measuring rod. Christ Jesus must be our standard, He must be our ideal - the one we try to measure up to.

In Ephesians 4:15, Paul taught that we should " . . . grow up." Grow up! I said, "Grow up!" If you never grow up, you will always act like a child. You will talk like a child, you will kick and scream and howl like a child, just to get your own way. But Paul said, "Grow up!"

Look at someone that we call a dwarf. We mean that his physical growth has been stunted. His mentality has developed, but his body remains like that of a child. We look upon such a one with compassion, because, physically, he has not grown up.

Paul said, " . . . grow up into him in all things." I am trying to show you, by God's Word, what constitutes real growth. And when we, as men and women of God, begin to know how to treat one another, how to talk to one another, how to fellowship one another, how to overlook one another's faults, and how to be tolerant of one another, we are growing up.

Real growth constitutes the continual saving of lost souls. The continual work of the church is to reach into the regions of the lost, the sinful and the depraved, pluck them out of the hand of Satan, and deliver them, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, into a state of redemption and salvation from sin.

Real growth is a continual, everyday, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks out of the year display of the character of Jesus Christ. Do I have to try to display the character of Jesus Christ? No, it doesn't come that easy. It is not a commodity that you can put on a shelf, and take down and use as you wish. No, it is something inside of you. With the fruit of Christ's Spirit hanging all over your "spiritual tree" you can display His character every day of your life.

In writing to the Colossians, Paul said, ". . . your life is hid with Christ in God." When you hide something, you put it out of sight. So when we hide ourselves behind the cross of Jesus Christ, that means that we don't want anyone to see us; we want to be put into obscurity, we want to be put out of sight, that Christ may appear in us. Thank God that the Spirit of the lovely Jesus Christ may be manifested and demonstrated in us, so that when people look at us, they will see Christ instead of whoever we are. This will keep the United Pentecostal Church a flourishing church. This will give this church real growth.

Let's take another look at the historical record.

The early church had fundamentals, it had a standard, it was built upon a solid foundation. It had a doctrine. But the record of history shows that doctrine has been, and is being, pushed into the background.

History tells us that we don't need emotion. History says that you don't have to go through the emotional experience of repentance any more, that you don't have to be sorry for your sins, and weep and pray at an altar. This is too old-fashioned, this is out of style. Just accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and you are in the church of the living God. This is what history is saying to you and me today.

History says that you don't have to separate yourself from the world to be in the church. You can keep the habits you have. You can keep the same appearance you have, and still be in the church.

A few years ago my wife and I attended a church gathering in which there were people of different denominations. There were speakers from different churches. There was a so-called Pentecostal church represented, and we met the president of their "ladies auxiliary." The appearance of this woman astonished us. She had bobbed hair, a string of pearls around her neck, earrings hanging from her ears, and you could not have told her from any other woman in the world.

History says that such things must happen to us! History says that it will be that way someday. History says that we will do it, because all other churches have done it, and are doing it. I'm telling you how history is attacking us; I'm telling you what history wants to do to our ranks.

History says that water baptism is not for the remission of sins; it is only a mark of identification. And you may baptize people any way you want to: sprinkle them, dip them; using either the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost or the name of Jesus, since it doesn't mean very much anyway.

History says that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is just an extra blessing. It is not an essentiality, and you don't have to speak with other tongues when you receive it. You may receive it if you want to, and if you don't want to, you are all right without it. Just join a church. That's what history says.

History says that we should lower the barriers, and let just anybody in. It doesn't make any difference whether they believe in baptism in Jesus' name or not; whether they have the Holy Ghost or not; whether they are living right or not. History says join up with church alliances, join the ecumenical movement. But how could a church of the living God, such as the United Pentecostal Church, join the ecumenical movement? How could we ever ally or associate ourselves with any religious group that does not believe in the fundamentals, as you and I believe?

I deny the allegation! I say, I deny the allegation! I say it won't happen! History says it will; I say it won't! For, you see, I don't want to lose our identity as the people of God. Hallelujah!

In the same convention that I mentioned earlier, the General Superintendent of that particular organization was to give a devotional message. I said to my wife, "This is wonderful. Most of the talks have been very dry and dull. Now we'll get to hear a Holy Ghost man preach." But this man got up and read his devotional message, word for word. It was just as dry and dull as the rest. You see what happens when you ally and affiliate yourself with other groups. You gradually fall into the pattern that they follow, and you lose your identity as an individualistic church.

History says that in our devotion, in our worship, in our expression of love for God, we should not put on a display; that there is no need to be so demonstrative. It says that we should be a little more dignified. Am I right?

History says to have only a limited audience participation. Don't have real freedom of worship, but be careful that you don't offend anybody, because somebody might be there who doesn't worship like you, who doesn't believe like you, and who isn't as emotional as you. For this reason, we should all be dignified, and not disturb anybody.

I have a proposition to make to you. I want to propose to you that we make some history ourselves!

As the Lord God added to the first church because it followed right principles, He will also add saved people to this latter-day church.

I propose to you that we hold fast to what we have. We can make history by doing this. Don't change the Manual to weaken it; just abide by it.

I propose that we make history by keeping God's Word. Thank God, we don't have to depart from the good old Word of God. We can make history by standing true to that wonderful, glorious name of our Lord. Don't deny His name! Don't deny His name!

We have an open door before us. I say that all we have to do is walk in.

We can make history by continuing to do real missionary work in foreign countries - not such work as building hospitals, and buying followers with our money, but saving souls in those countries. That's making history!

We can make history by emphasizing the teaching of God's Word in our Sunday Schools. With all of our forms, and all of our programs, we are doing a great work, but let us keep these programs centered upon God's holy Word, and we shall make history.

We can make history by leading young people to an altar of prayer, and the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than to socials and entertainments. Let's make history!

We can make history by publishing in our publications the real, down-to-earth, unadulterated truth of God's Word. If we keep the Word of God in our publications, we shall make history.

We can make history by keeping the holy anointing of God Almighty upon everything we do. Everything we do that God is in, will stand. It will stand, thank God! And we shall make history!

The story is told of a young, thirteen-year-old boy, the sturdy son of a frontiersman, who fell one day, and skinned his left knee. It was just a scratch, and it ached, but he ignored it.

Two days later, the leg ached too badly to drag it to the barn. It was Sunday, so the boy stayed at home. By noon he climbed into his bed, and his foot was swollen so large that he had to cut the shoe off. His mother bathed his leg, applied poultices, and bathed the young lad's forehead.

Doctor Conklin came to the house. He looked at the boy's leg, and said, "It's not likely that we can
save it."

The boy asked, "What's that mean?"

The doctor answered, "It means that if it gets worse, we'll have to amputate it."

"Not me," the boy stormed. "I won't have it! I'd rather die!"

The doctor said, "The longer we wait, the more we will have to cut off."

The boy cried defiantly, "You won't take any off!"

The boy called his brother Ed, and in a voice hoarse with pain, he said, "Ed, if I go out of my head, don't let them cut off my leg. Promise me. Please promise me, Ed; don't let them cut off my leg."

Ed ran to the kitchen, got a fork, then ran back and put it between the boy's teeth to keep him from screaming. Then he stood outside his brother's door, folded his arms, looked the doctor in the eye, and announced, "Nobody is going to saw off that leg!"

The doctor said, "Ed, you'll be sorry."

Ed said, "Maybe so, but I have given him my word." And the boy never yielded. He even defied the parental authority of the home, which was unheard of in that day. He stood guard at his brother's bedroom day and night; he never left. He ate his meals there, he slept there. For two whole days he never left that door.

The boy's fever mounted; he babbled in torment. The discoloration in his leg crept up toward his pelvis. At one time the old doctor shouted in rage, "It's murder!" as he slammed out the door. The family realized that it would take a miracle to save this boy's leg.

In the turmoil of their fears, the parents had forgotten all about their faith. They remembered that the boy's old grandpa had been a vigorous and inspiring farmer-minister in Pennsylvania. He had believed in healing by faith.

So they began to pray for the boy's leg. The mother, the dad and Ed took turns, and later the other four boys joined them. They took turns praying for the boy, and going out and doing the farm work.

The next time the doctor came, he saw that the swelling was going down. He raised his head and closed his eyes and prayed an old rusty prayer of thanksgiving.

That prayer vigil went on all day. At night they lit the coal-oil lamp. Then the boy opened his eyes. The swelling had gone way down, and the discoloration had almost vanished. In three weeks the boy was pale and weak, but with eyes clear and voice strong, he could stand up. And, so, Dwight Eisenhower was ready to face life.



I want to liken the ministry of this church to Ed, who stood guard at the door. The minister is the guard at the door of the church, standing against the onslaught of history.

History says we must amputate the fundamentals for full salvation, but the minister says, "You'll never cut it off! I've given my word."

History says that we must lower our standard of holiness, but I'd like for every minister of this church to, pledge and promise tonight that the standard of this church will never be lowered!

History says that we must fellowship everybody, that we should not put up so many barriers, but I challenge the ministry to stand at the door of the church and say, "We shall protect our fellowship; we shall keep the enemy out!"

History says that we shall have to amputate true worship from the church. We don't need demonstration or emotion, so let's amputate it. The longer it goes, the more we will have to cut off. But the minister at the door says, "Nobody will ever cut that off; I have given my word."

History says that fervent prayer is no longer necessary, so let's eliminate it. We don't need to all pray together. God can't understand all of us when we pray like that. Let's just have one person pray a dignified prayer. But I challenge the minister to stand in the door and say, "Real prayer will never be amputated from this church!"

History says that we must preach a social gospel, and cut off the saving gospel. But the minister stands at the door, and says, "I gave my word; we'll always work for lost souls."

History says it is too much trouble to send out missionaries to foreign countries; let's amputate it, let's saw it off, let's forget it. I challenge you to night, ministers, to stand at the door of the church and pledge that this will always be an evangelistic and a missionary church.

In the darkest hours of World War II, the late Sir Winston Churchill, with that bulldog determination for which he was noted, told Britain, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the fields and in the streets; we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."

I say unto you of the United Pentecostal Church that we must have this same bulldog determination. We shall never surrender to history. We shall never succumb, we shall never capitulate, to history. We shall fight the good fight of faith, wherever there is sin. In the cities and in the villages, on the mission fields, among the young, among the middle-aged, among the old, among the poorest or the richest - wherever there are people - we shall fight, and we shall never surrender. I say, "We shall never surrender!"

Will you give your word tonight, minister? We shall never succumb to history. We shall never compromise our principles. We shall never turn our backs upon the living God. Will you pledge this tonight? Will you give your word?

We shall never surrender to the onslaught of history!