Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street

Over the last 120 years three names stand out in Church history: Zion, Topeka, and Azusa Street. Two are cities; the other is the name of a street in Los Angeles, California. Millions of Christians have experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Millions have also received healing in their physical  bodies. Sadly, far fewer have heard of Zion or Azusa Street. Those who hear of Topeka usually do so in the context of it being the capital of the state of Kansas. It is, but there's more to Topeka than being a state capital. Far more

Today's and the next two posts will give an overview of and tell why each is important.

Zion, Illinois, located north of Chicago, will be forever linked to Dr. John Alexander Dowie. Dr. Dowie, a Scottish-born minister, received a revelation of divine healing while pastoring in Australia in the 1870s. Instead of congregants dying, they lived following Dr. Dowie laying hands on them. Moving to America in 1893, Dr. Dowie was mightily used of God to reintroduce divine healing to this country.

In 1896 Zion City was founded by Dowie and followers of his ministry as a veritable heaven on earth, with an emphasis on divine healing. Healing homes were set up where people lived in an atmosphere of healing. Many documented healings took place. My great grandfather, Dr. John G. Speicher, and his wife, were part of Zion's founding. Later, they were in charge of one of the healing homes. Being both a medical doctor and minister, Dr. Speicher was among the first to stand with Dr. Dowie's ministry, now over 120 years ago.

Despite errors in leadership and doctrine, the healing anointing on Dr.Dowie's ministry continued outside Zion's borders through many, including these notable individuals:

John G. Lake left Zion to go to Africa, starting 500 churches in five years. He returned to America, starting Healing Rooms in Spokane, Washington. 500,000 documented healings took place over 5 years, leading Spokane to be dubbed "the healthiest city in America."

F.F. Bosworth left Zion with a healing ministry encompassing public meetings as well as radio broadcasts. Thousands wrote in to testify of their healing while listening to the anointed broadcasts. Bosworth went on to write the healing classic: Christ the Healer.

Gordon Lindsay, founder of Christ for the Nations, in Dallas, Texas, was born in Zion. He edited The Voice of Healing, the leading publication of the Healing Revival, from 1947-58.

Raymond T. Richey, who had an outstanding healing ministry, lived in Zion as a boy.

The last time I saw Grandma Gardner, Dr. Speicher's daughter, she was 95. How well she remembered crutches, wheelchairs, and other "trophies" of God's healing power on the wall at Zion's Shiloh Tabernacle. Grandma even remembered playing the piano in church.

Sadly, Grandma asked me whether anyone believed in healing (this was in 1986). I assured her that yes, people still do. I'm thankful for the stories Grandma told about Zion!

Zion is tied to both Topeka and Azusa, beginning with Topeka in my next post. I hope you'll enjoy reading and, hopefully, learning about the outpouring of God's Spirit in Topeka, and its tie to Azusa Street.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2017-2024

LifeChange, Episode Ninety

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The Most Misunderstood Word

A lot of words are misunderstood by the hearer, sometimes even by the one speaking. Years ago, under the former Soviet Union, communist leaders declared their wish for peace. Sounds good, right? The only problem with that is that peace, to communists, was them being in charge over the rest of the world. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, proved that communism's idea of peace didn't work-and never will. Even more misunderstood than the word peace is, in my opinion, the word love. People talk about how they love this food, that drink, their favorite sports team. Some love cold weather, others just love hot weather. I've met a lot of people who love hiking, fishing, hunting, and/or cooking. And let's not forget the love for ones pet, as in puppy love.

Then there's love for God, family, and fellow man. All of these areas referenced with the single word of L-O-V-E. How can one truly say, however, that he/she truly loves sports more than his/her own family. Yes, I know that too many men, as well as a few women, fall into this category. But it's still wrong. Speaking now to men: The team you claim to love won't divorce you for failing to spend time with it by television or cable. But you stand a good chance of alienating-even losing-your family by  neglecting them game after game.

In the english language we have one word for love: love. The Greeks have four words for love: Agape, Storge, Phileo, and Eros, Agape is the God-kind of love; Storge is  (non sexual) love, based on affection;  Phileo is brotherly love. the city of Philadelphia is called the city of brotherly love. Eros, the last kind of love is sexual love, between a man and woman, within marriage.

One word meaning so many different things in the english language. No wonder people find learning English so difficult. In this instance I think the Greeks got it right. The love I have for my dog may be Storge, but it's certainly not Agape. No, Agape is reserved for human beings, an outgrowth from God-Who is love-and His love inside me.

When it comes to God, I Agape Him. Agape is the highest kind of love because God, Who is Love, is in me, enabling me to love Him in return. The love I have for God is far above any of the other three types mentioned. Yet, on the surface, love is still spelled the same.

I think that It's too late to change our English language to show the different meanings of the word love. But at least we can agree that, perhaps, love is the most misunderstood word.

LifeChange, Episode Eighty Nine

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What's in Your Words?

A popular commercial asks the viewer, "What's in your wallet?" A few years ago, the big-selling question was"Got Milk?" Apparently viewers liked/like being asked questions. Here's a question that is, perhaps, new to you: "What's in your words?" By that I mean I'm wanting to know the content, tone, and value of what you're asking or saying.

Many people are talking without really saying anything. In fact you may know those who fit this unfortunate description. As they, themselves, might say, "Oh, I'm just talking."

In Proverbs 18:21 we read that death and life are in the power of the tongue. In John 6:63 Jesus stated that the words He spoke were spirit and they were life. Proverbs 4:22 shows us that God's words are life to those who find them and (they are) health-or medicine-to all their flesh. There's a pattern here of God's words being words of life. It's then our choice to speak (God's) words of life, or words contrary to God which are words of death.

We, for the most part, choose what words we'll say on a regular basis. We can resort to allowing our tongues to spew out toxic words tainted with hate, fear, strife, unforgiveness, sickness-even death. Or we can speak words of encouragement, peace, faith, love, hope, and tenderness. Either way, it's our choice.

Since words really do matter, it is so important that we view our words as seriously as we do our health and financial wellbeing. Why? Because words are containers: they contain life or death, health or sickness, prosperity or poverty, in seed form. The hearers of your words then decide whether to believe them or not, to allow them to germinate  and produce fruit, or not. Which is better to tell a coughing friend, A."It sounds like you're coming down with something. After all it's flu season", or B."Aren't you glad for health, strength, and deliverance from sickness?" Pssst: the answer is B.

Now, some go the extreme where you can't ever tell a joke or say something funny. Good, clean humor can be beneficial, not just all day long. Remember, humor comes from God.

So, what's in your words? What do your words contain? I know that, for myself, I'm working at being better at speaking words of life, encouragement, and blessing, rather than "just talking." If I were to meet you that's what I'd be doing, because you're worth it.

LifeChange, Episode Eighty Eight

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LifeChange, Episode Eighty Seven

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How Are Your Supplies?

If you've read much about Civil War history, you'll recall that, at the Battle of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, the Confederate armies were led by General Robert E. Lee. But General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union forces, wasn't there. So, where was he? While General George Meade commandeered Union troops at Gettysburg, General Grant was at the Battle of Vicksburg, in Mississippi.  Fought over a nearly two-month period, the battle resulted in a Union victory. One significant result was that the Union now controlled the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two. Supplies for Confederate troops, once readily available, were no longer close to those in need of food, medicine, clothing, weapons, and ammunition. Without supplies men were put at risk of starvation, sickness-even death. The Confederacy was never the same.

In life it's important to know where your supplies are, and have ready access to them. Like it or not you need certain supplies to succeed in your Christian walk, such as:

1. A Bible. What natural food is to your body, the Bible is to your spirit. It's faith food.
2. Time with God. It's called fellowship. You need times of worship, thanksgiving, and talking to God, your Heavenly Father, about every area of your life.
3. A good Bible-believing (and practicing) local church to attend and get involved in.     You need their supply, and they need yours. Mutual supply.
4. Fellowship with other believers. If you work around non believers, fellowship with another Christian can be an encouragement to you, as well as to that fellow believer.
5. Access to good Bible-based teaching by reputable ministers. Most of what's on the Internet is a bunch of junk, including what some ministers are teaching. There are, however, plenty of good ministries serving up spiritual food you can grow from.

Opportunities to give into the support of good organizations. This is above and beyond tithing through your local church. Giving to missions, the poor-there are qualified people and ministries out there to get involved with. Ask God to show you; ask around. One such place is The Orphans Hands, (www.theorphanshands.org), a ministry in Moldova (Eastern Europe) dedicated to rescuing girls from sex trafficking; boys from slave labor. It's one that my family supports as well.

Philippians 1:19 talks about the supply of the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit, God supplies our supplies. It is up to us to use them. Be thankful for supplies. Keep them near you. Use them continually.  You keep your supplies, and they will keep you.

How are your supplies? Smart phones have a Bible app, even if you don't have a Bible of your own. Spend time with God. You need the time with Him-and so does He with you. You get the picture. If you're needing some supplies, ask God for them. He's in the delivery business, so watch for His provision. Stay near your supplies; enjoy life.