Unlikely Vessel

God often chooses unlikely vessels to work for Him. In the latter part of the 1800's and early part of the 1900's He chose a former slave. Not only that, but a one eyed slave. A childhood disease cost this chosen vessel vision in one eye. This African American man was not even allowed to sit in theological classes when God called him to preach. Because of segregation, he had to sit outside and listen to the lectures. He was not actually allowed in the classroom. It did not make him bitter.

Someone said about William Seymore, "He was the most humble man I ever met." The story goes someone from a very small church in California heard Seymore preach and told her pastor he should invite him to come to their small congregation. They raised money for the train fare and Seymore arrived in California all the way from Texas. He had not preached there long before the pastor told Seymore he no longer wanted his services. Seymore felt stuck. Another pastor took in him and they began praying at night. Often they prayed all night. The host pastor had another job during the day, but Seymore devoted his time to seeking God. Little did Seymore know God was about to use him more than he could ever imagine.s

Out of those prayers a revival came. It is known at the Azuza Street Revival. It is most famous for what theologians call the birth of the Pentecostal movement. That is not my focus. My focus is that Seymore, during the height of that revival, gave himself to prayer seven hours a day! God heard and answered in dramatic fashion.

They say that revival lasted for years and millions trace their origins as a churches or denominations back to Azuza Street. Seymore did not even have a pulpit, but preached with some wooden boxes stacked on top of one another. Historians report that Seymore spent much of his time on his knees behind that makeshift pulpit with his head in one of the openings of the box.

That little church band, in that small simple building saw a powerful move of God that spread around the world. God used an unlikely vessel to lead that movement. Can God do that again where you are? Can He use you to be catalyst, a spark to ignite a move of God that sweeps through a church and a community?  I believe He can because He has done this numerous times through history. Maybe you are one of those unlikely vessels.

[I Cor 1:26-29]