More than once God has bypassed the religious elite at the temple to choose redneck fishermen in Galilee.In the early Spring of 1906, a black minister by the name of William J. Seymour went to Los Angeles, California, to conduct a series of revival meetings. When he began the meeting with Acts 2:4 as his text and preached his first sermon on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the people of the Santa Fe Street mission were shocked and offended. When Seymour returned for the evening service he found the mission door padlocked.
He was taken in by Mr. & Mrs. Edward Lee and eventually was able to conduct a cottage prayer meeting in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Asbery at 214 N. Bonnie Brae Street. In need of larger quarters, he moved to 312 Azusa Street -- the site of the old African Methodist Episcopal Church. At the time it was being used as storage shed for construction materials. After much hard work, the building was made ready and services began.
The rest is history. Little did anyone realize “that 312 Azusa Street would one day be renowned as the center from which the most far-reaching religious movement of the 20th century radiated around the world” (William Faupel, The Everlasting Gospel, p. 191).
I am struck by the fact that God chose William J. Seymour to lead the Azusa Street revival and placed him at the head of the Pentecostal movement. He seems to have been the least likely candidate for such an appointment, especially in the light of men like John Alexander Dowie, Frank Weston Sandford, and Charles Fox Parham -- three prominent men who dominated the landscape of the emerging Pentecostal movement.
Who would have dreamed that out of all the people in the world to play such a significant role in the plan of God, the Lord would have chosen a poor, half blind, barely educated man -- a black man in a society deeply entrenched in racism -- as the catalyst for worldwide revival?
But this is not the first time that God has passed over Eliab and Abinadab to anoint David (1 Sam. 16:6ff). More than once God has bypassed the religious elite at the temple to choose redneck fishermen in Galilee. Paul said, “ . . . not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things . . . that no man should boast before God (1 Cor. 1:26-29).
I believe there is a hidden remnant -- a “David Company” -- that God is raising up. They are presently unknown, except among those in heaven and hell. They will care nothing for notoriety and fame; they will shun publicity and refuse to be exalted or promoted by men; they will live their lives for God, work for His glory alone, and serve in a way that only His eyes need to see.
They have been in training for years, faithfully taking care of their Father’s flock. Among them are those who have been passed over.
From the most unexpected places, God will raise up the most unexpected people to do an extraordinary work.
They will not merchandise His anointing or exploit His glory for personal gain, and He will use them mightily because He knows His glory is safe in their hands.
Perhaps I should refer to them as “The Seymour Company.”
