Information on the Pentecostal Religion

The modern Pentecostal movement began in the early 20th century.

Pentecostal refers to a Protestant faith that focuses on first century Christianity with a focus on holiness and the outworking of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those in the Pentecostal movement believe the gifts of the Spirit, which include speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing, are available to Christians today as much as when given to the church after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The initial evidence of the presence, or baptism, of the Holy Spirit among the congregants for most Pentecostal churches is that individuals begin speaking in a language other than their own. The sounds may seem like nonsense to another person, but for those speaking, the language seems to open a new, intimate connection to God, one that brings a sense of peace and joy. The emphasis on speaking in tongues set the Pentecostal movement apart from other Christian revivalist movements of the early 20th century.

Speaking in Tongues

Speaking in tongues has two uses for those in the Pentecostal movement. The first use is the private use of speaking in tongues in private prayer. Speaking in tongues may be an offering of worship, petition or an expression of deep emotion. Another use of speaking in tongues is for public information, admonition, encouragement, correction or prophecy. According to the Biblical passage I Corinthians 14, speaking in tongues needs to be done in order and with respect to other speakers with a message from God. Some Pentecostal churches monitor this public usage more than others.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

According to I Corinthians 12, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit consist of Knowledge, Wisdom, Prophecy, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Discernment, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues. Those in the Pentecostal movement practice the use of each of these gifts within their bodies of believers. Each focuses in on the special presence the Holy Spirit gives each of the gifts.

Spirited Worship

Those in the Pentecostal movement are known for their spirited worship services. The services focuses as much on music and prayer as they do on sharing a word from God through the sermons. Corporate worship is seen as a way to draw together the body of Christ and to draw those in worship into the presence of God.

History

The movement known today as the Pentecostal movement began in 1901 at a small Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, when a student at the school spoke in tongues as a sign of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, it was the revival under the direction of William Joseph Seymour, an African-American evangelist, at Azusa Street, Los Angeles, California, in 1906 when the Pentecostal movement began rapidly to spread throughout the country and the world. The new movement emphasized holiness and spiritual power with a focus on the presence of the Holy Spirit.

References

• Religious-Information.com: Pentecostal Religion
• International Pentecostal Holiness Church: Brief History-Pentecostal Movement
• "The New American Desk Encyclopedia": Concord Reference Books; 1989
• The Free Dictionary: Pentecostal Religion