THE LEGACY OF AZUSA STREET
Yashah Ben Yah'shua
Servant and Royal Emissary
The House of Davïd
APOSTOLIC ADDRESS
In the late winter of 1906, in the tiny 'colored' section of Los Angeles, California, a devout Christian woman made a history-changing recommendation to her fledgling congregation; a group of families just broken away from the local Second Baptist Church, and in search of a new pastor.
Sister Neely Terry recommended William J. Seymour - an itinerant holiness preacher whose sermon had impressed her while visiting Houston, Texas the previous year. Brother Seymour's message centered on her congregation's newly held belief in the 'second work of grace' teaching of the landmark Holiness Movement of the late 1800's.
At the invitation of the church's leader, Julia Hutchinson, brother Seymour boarded a train in Houston; arriving at Los Angeles in February of 1906. The events that took place over the following three years forever changed the landscape of organized religion among "African Americans" - Hebrew Yisraelites - as well as in America at large, and around the world…
This humble servant of Christ, a son of former slaves, was used by Abba YAH in a mighty and miraculous way, to restore the baptism of the Ruakh-Holy Spirit to the lost Kingdoms of Yahudah and Yisrael, being held in religious bondage under the ritual-oriented European Protestant tradition.
Amazingly, every 'religious' organization in the world that preaches the Full Gospel - the five-fold ministry and the gifts of the Ruakh - traces its roots back to 312 Azusa Street; the former livery-stable-turned-meetinghouse of Pastor Seymour and his Apostolic Faith Mission. But ironically, although multiplied millions of professing believers from around the world profess to be Spirit-filled or Pentecostal, the teachings of brother William J. Seymour himself, have been all but abandoned by the very revivals and denominations they spawned. And given the fact that his ministry's mailing list was stolen by Euro-Gentile converts, it is no surprise that Pastor Seymour left a final request in writing that his successor be "a man of color."
But this key historical footnote has been conveniently overlooked by most Yisraelite-unaware Pentecostals, 'blacks and whites' alike, who in their cultural confusion, faithfully follow the leadership and doctrine of their Euro-Gentile "word of faith brethren." And likewise, in their cultural pride, many among the Hebrew Yisraelite-aware have overreacted to sellout prosperity preachers, and completely ignored the monumental spiritual legacy of Pastor Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival altogether, without so much as a casual study of the matter. Sélah.
For example, history reveals that the greatest teachers of our true doctrine as Yisraelites emerged from the Holiness Movement - the shared legacy of Pastor Seymour and his Azusa Street Mission; and ultimately, both the Shavu'ot-Pentecostal and Messianic Hebrew Yisraelite Movements worldwide. Most notably, through the anointed leadership of Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, Founder of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC); and the great Prince Shaleakh Ben Yehudah - formerly, Prophet L.A. Bryant of COGIC - the Founder of 'The School of the Prophets' for the Village of Peace at Dimona, Israel. [May They Rest in Eternal Shal'm.]
In fact, Pastor Seymour taught his followers that speaking in tongues is not the initial evidence of being filled with the Ruakh! But his great legacy has been violated by the "word of faith" movement, with its abuse of the gift of tongues, and its anti-Gospel prioritizing of material prosperity. And the same holds true for the Hebrew Yisraelite Movement, with its overreaction to Pentecostal excesses, and its overlooking of the key points of doctrine we all share.
So how has this great spiritual legacy, which began as a genuine move of the Ruakh among the children of Yisrael, degenerated into rampant spiritualism, materialism, denominationalism and theological chaos? In short, through America's religious and social culture of "White supremacy." Nevertheless, the amazing legacy of Apostle William J. Seymour is destined to be fulfilled by its true inheritors - by those in whom Abba YAH has placed the revelation of the legacy and destiny of Hebrew Yisraelites in Christ!
Although Pastor Seymour learned through hard experience that his successor must be "a man of color," the apostle never fully recognized the purpose of so-called blacks as Hebrew Yisraelites. And therefore, he was without the necessary understanding to establish international order within the Shavu'ot-Pentecostal Movement. And yet, this Divine purpose remains Abba YAH's end-time strategy to bring racial and doctrinal unity to the Body of Christ; and to the faithful remnant of the Kingdom Commonwealth of Yisrael. Sélah.
All too often, Hebrews, we perceive those from among our Yisraelite-unaware, Spirit-filled brethren as "sell-outs," "house niggas" and "holy rollers." But the truth of the matter is, right from the outset, the Pentecostal-Apostolic Faith Movement, like her sister, the Hebrew Yisraelite Movement, was mercilessly ridiculed by the "white" establishment as well. And ironically, in the same manner that many carnal Hebrews among our ranks express their condescending attitudes toward our Greco-Romanized brethren today...
For example, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time, that "a bizarre new religious sect" had begun, with people "…breathing strange utterances, and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could understand." They went on to say, "Devotees of the weird doctrine practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories, and work themselves into a state of mad excitement."
They further described the congregation thusly: "Colored people and a sprinkling of whites compose the congregation, and night is made hideous in the neighborhood by the howlings of the worshippers, who spend hours swaying forth and back in a nerve-racking attitude of prayer and supplication... To top it all off, they claimed to have received the "gift of tongues," and what's more, 'comprehend the babel.'"
Sound familiar, Hebrews?
Surely, the hour has come for the Hebrew Yisraelite-aware at large to move beyond the smug superiority we often display toward Yisraelite-unaware Spirit-filled Christians. If we as Yisraelites would simply move beyond racial and cultural pride, we would see, for example, that the African Methodist Episcopal church (AME) believes "Jesus" is a so-called black man, and that the ancient Yisraelites were 'black' as well. And it is no so-called coincidence that it was the Methodist-influenced Holiness Movement out of which brother Seymour emerged. And that the "tumble-down shack" (as the L.A. Times called it) he used as a meeting place was the former home of an AME church. Is this denomination not fertile ground for spreading our true identity and destiny?
In truth, there are many Christians from all factions who know that Christ is a 'black' man. And there are many who manifest the fruit of the Spirit even without this revelation. And of course, there is the Seventh Day Adventist denomination which keeps the Shabbat. Behold, saints: Just like Yosef (Joseph), the favorite son of his father, rescued his brothers before they knew his true identity; so Yahushua, the favorite son of His Father, often rescues His brothers before they know His true identity as well. Sélah.
The truth is, there are many among the Yisraelite-aware who came to Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit before they discovered their true identity as Yisraelites. And like the late, great Prince Shaleakh Ben Yehudah from the Church of God in Christ - are they not spiritual sons of the 'Azusa Street' legacy? When I for one, was "far from the peaceful shore," I called on Christ with the "transliteration" of Yahushua - "Jesus." But rather than being concerned with how I pronounced His name, He chose to rescue His drowning kinsman first; and then make me aware of His true name after I was safely ashore, and fully recovered from the shock and trauma of my distress. Very wise…
Finally, brethren, it is written, "The word of YAH came again unto me, saying, 'Son of man, take one staff, and inscribe upon it, Yahudah, and for the children of Yisrael his companions. Then take another staff and inscribe upon it, Yosef, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Yisrael his companions, and join them one to one into one staff; and they shall become one in your hand. And when the children of your people shall say to you, 'Show us what these staffs mean.' Say unto them, thus says Adonai YAHUWAH, 'Behold, I will take the stick of Yosef, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Yisrael his companions, and will put them with the staff of Yahudah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand'" (Ezek. 37:15-19).
Although most of us are familiar with the literal meaning of this prophecy concerning the ingathering of the twelve tribes in the last days, so often, we fail to see the hidden metaphorical aspect of this passage. Allegorically speaking, the Hebrew Yisraelite-aware in Christ of today are like unto the Judean followers of Christ in the first century, who were chosen of YAH to take the Gospel to the Hellenized Yisraelites scattered abroad. And the Spirit-filled Yisraelite-unaware brethren are like unto those Greek Hebrews - in Christ, but without a cultural connection to the Covenants.
And now, in this final phase of our captivity, Abba YAH is raising up chosen vessels from among the Hebrew Yisraelite-aware in Christ, to reach out in fellowship to our unaware brethren. Just as it was in the first century, when the apostles of Yahudah confirmed and established the Greco-Romanized Yisraelite tribes scattered among the nations, the Hebrew Yisraelite-aware shaleakhim-apostles shall soon confirm and establish our Hellenized, Spirit-filled brethren scattered among the 'denomi-nations.'
Hear, O Yisrael, and understand: YAHUWAH our Father is moving among His Yisraelite-unaware Christian sons in a mighty way! And truly, as it is written, the fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few…
Arise, you Hebrew Yisraelite aware, and be reconciled to your fellow countrymen, the sons of the Azusa Street legacy; who remain stripped of their true heritage, but are yet clothed in the Ruakh; that the House of Abba YAH might be filled… And that the High Priestly Prayer of Yahushua Ha Mashiakh might finally be fulfilled in our midst - that we all may become one, even as He and the Father are One! Even so, Ahmen.
YAH Khai v'HalleluYAH! - YAH lives, and Praise YAH!
IT'S KINGDOM TIME.
For the downloadable address,
click on the link below:
The Legacy of Azusa Street.pdf
For a full listing of Kingdom resources, click here.