Introduction
A famous 20th century revival was in Azusa St, Los Angeles (1906). As the birthplace of modern Pentecostalism its significance is inestimable.
One characteristic feature of this move of God was called “tarrying”, following Jesus command recorded in Luke chapter 24 verse 49 (King James Version), “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” “Tarry” is simply an old English word for “wait”.
At Azusa St there was a dedicated “tarrying room” where people from all places and races would join together in seeking Christ to baptise them in the Holy Spirit. And, if speaking in tongues and other glossolalia are signs of the outpoured Spirit (Acts chapter 10 verse 46; chapter 19 verse 6), the Lord often did!
All this might sound outmoded, quaint and archaic, but I believe it presents a challenge to the way we treat Jesus and his Spirit today.
Beyond Biblical Literalism
That the Spirit is outpoured in response to extensive and/or focussed waiting is quite biblical. The unified apostolic band devoted themselves to prayer for 10 days between Christ’s ascension and Pentecost (Acts chapter 1 verse 14), Saul was praying prior to being filled with the Spirit (Acts 9:11, 17), and the centurion Cornelius “prayed continually to God” (Acts chapter 10 verse 2) before receiving the Spirit via Peter.
Whilst such earnest waiting isn’t commanded nor taught as a condition for the coming of the Spirit, to teach this eliminates any need for “tarrying” like behaviour would be a mark of biblical legalism.
The Way of Jesus
Luke emphasises that “Jesus was praying” as he received the Spirit at his baptism (chapter 3 verse 21), and notes that only after 40 days of prayer in the wilderness did he return to public life and ministry “in the power of the Spirit” (chapter 4 verse 14).
A more literal rendition of Jesus explicit teaching on pursuing the gift of the Spirit says, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke chapter 11verse 9 New Living Translation). This strongly indicates that the Spirit is granted to those who persevere in seeking God.
Hungry Hearts
When Paul says, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans chapter 14 verse 17) he speaks to our hearts.
It is those who hunger for righteousness who will be satisfied (Matthew chapter 5 verse 6) and Jesus promises the thirsty who come to him, “Out of his innermost will flow rivers of living water.” (John chapter 7 verse 38). The prophetic commentary, “Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.” (Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 15) is true of human nature worldwide.
It is very rare to be satiated physically and to be alert spiritually. This is a dimension that the contemporary Western Church, with its many excellent coffee shops, struggles to even be aware of!
Conclusion
It would be easy to mock those uneducated working class early Pentecostals and their naïve “tarrying meetings”. But God met them in ways which should embarrass us.
They in fact were possessed by a simple humility and “shameless audacity” in pursuing God which was rewarded, just as Jesus promised (Luke chapter 11verse 8).
Today however almost everyone feels under constant time pressure, plus when you pile on a technologically enculturation to instant answers, it seems humanly impossible for us to appropriate the heart of the old “tarrying meetings” that were so astoundingly blessed of God. Who has time to keep on keeping on seeking the Lord.
I know of only one way forward, the Lord ALWAYS answers “pleas for mercy” (Zechariah chapter 12 verse 10). I am praying that Jesus mercifully grant us time to be like our lowly spiritual brothers and sisters of old so we might receive a new impartation of the Spirit.