[11] Good News, vol. 17, no.2, Feb 1926

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

When the war was on I used to go along to the "Congregational" prayer meeting to pray for the war to be ended.

I did not think it was possible for me to open my mouth in prayer, but I made up my mind that I would make an attempt. I used to walk along asking the Lord to help me pray, if it was only two or three sentences, and after praying I would get a great blessing. Afterwards, when we returned to live in Mt. Hawthorn, where we formerly resided, a women's meeting was started, purely for Bible study ami prayer. Here again I used to make the effort and pray, but I was glad when my turn was over.

The leader took up the subject of the Lord's second coming, and we were all intensely interested in the Scriptures on that subject. Afterwards she read to us, chapter by chapter, a book on the influence of the Holy Spirit.

I prayed over this, but could not understand it to my satisfaction; but I used to pray that the Holy Spirit would influence my heart and lead me to understand.

One day two sisters from Melbourne were asked to take a meeting, and Sister Edie spoke on "Divine Healing." The second time she was asked to speak she gave us a lesson on "Praise." Then, again, she told us how God was pouring out His Holy Spirit and giving manifestations as in Acts 2: 4. I was filled with wonder, but looked up the different experiences in Acts Chaps. 2, 8, 10, 19, and also 1st Cor. Chaps. 12 to 14, and saw that it was all according to the Scriptures. We women had caught such a touch of the fire of the Holy Spirit from the sisters' ministry that we were asked to conduct church service one Sunday, and a revival began, and the church enjoyed a season of much spiritual blessing.

When talking about the Holy Spirit to my husband, he told me it was not another language they received, but eloquent speech, and there was more power in what they said.

By this time the sisters had returned to Melbourne, and as I wanted to hear more on the subject I was led to go to Adelaide to attend a mission being held there. At Adelaide I met Pentecostal people, whom I questioned as to whether they had spoken in tongues. They replied, "Yes! When we were filled with the Spirit we spoke in another tongue."

I was, therefore, quite satisfied that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the new tongue were meant for us to-day.

When I returned to Perth after being at the beautiful meetings in Adelaide I felt that the church was cold; I kept on attending, but felt I must have extra fire; so I went to the Salvation Army once a week, the officer-in-charge being a man on fire for God. Some months later he was transferred to Adelaide, and a week afterwards three of the Army lassies told me there was a tarrying meeting held at Maylands, and asked whether I would like to go with them to wait on the Lord and ask if we might be filled with the Spirit.

I was delighted, and went with the others to meet Sisters Edie and Ruby, who had returned from Melbourne.

After a little while several were baptised in the Bible way, and came out speaking in other tongues. I kept on attending month after month, and heard them speak of the power of God which they felt, but couldn't understand them, for I had no such experience.

However, one night, while Sister Edie was giving an address, I felt something go through my arms like an electric thrill. I told Sister Edie, and she said, "Praise the Lord! It is the power of the Holy Spirit." This was an incentive to me to go on seeking, and I began to see that those whom God had filled had put in extra time "waiting on the Lord"; so I decided to set aside half an hour each morning and afternoon to wait upon God for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Within three weeks, at a meeting when few were present, I was kneeling beside a chair, and emitted a big sigh (or, rather, the Holy Spirit sighed through me), and thought the people would think I was sobbing; then I felt great waves of glory going all over my shoulders. Everyone in the room was praising the Lord. I was filled with wonder, but suddenly realised that God must be filling me with His Holy Spirit!

As we left the house on our homeward journey I started to laugh heartily; it came from my "inner-most being" alright. (Gen. 21: 6.)

After walking a few blocks, my tongue went around in my mouth unexpectedly, and I nearly sank to the ground.

As my tongue went around I spoke words I could not understand, and I knew I had got the "Bible Evidence," so I praised God for the great and wonderful baptism. Truly, this is the Rest and this is the Refreshing; yet they would not hear. (Isa. 28: 11-12.)

—C. Cousins.

Perth, W.A.

* * * *

THE BONES OF THE CHURCH.

Church members may be divided into three classes in a skeleton outline—wish-bones, jaw-bones, and back-bones.

The wish-bones are always languidly wishing that the church may somehow grow without their effort; the jaw-bones criticise and grumble and backbite; whilst the back-bones get under the heavy burdens and carry them. Reader, of which class are you?—Sel.

© Southern Cross College 2003