As a result of the visitation there was a tremendous emphasis on worldwide vision. There was a real missionary spirit. We felt that because God was so merciful in sending revival to us that we should tell the world about it. Almost immediately we sent missionaries to Africa, the Fiji Islands and into the far North. I was one that went to the North at that time. World evangelism seemed to be the talk of everyone. It was a message of glad tidings. We felt that same spirit and anointing that I am sure was upon Jesus in Luke 4:18, when He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
Many had received the gifts of the Spirit and wanted to use this spiritual equipment for God. We felt, I think, like the apostles in Matthew 10:8, that we were to go forward like Jesus admonished His disciples when He said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." The Holy Spirit opened our hearts to help everyone, whether at home or abroad. We had a desire to fellowship with all of God's people. Like the early church we fanned out in different directions. We travelled across Canada and down the West coast with a spirit of good will.
This was the revival that I beheld. I am so glad that I was there and could witness those glorious days. If some have departed from the principles and guidelines that God laid down, it is not God's failure but man's. It was pure and holy, and very scriptural in the outset. It was true in the early church that some departed from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, but that did not change the scripture or the truth, one iota. The trend in church history has always been that some would depart from the original, but in spite of it all, God has always established His truth.
From Martin Luther's time until now we have had similar experiences. Through Martin Luther we have the doctrine of "justification by faith." He was opposed by the ecclesiastical leaders and persecuted, but the truth still stands. John Wesley, with the truth of" sanctification" born in his heart, would not recant and was cast out of the church; but he preached to more people who gathered to hear him in a nearby graveyard than he did in the church. A. B. Simpson, who was dying of an incurable disease, saw the truth of "divine healing" in the Bible and was healed. Healing still stands as an indisputable truth today.
The Brethren movement saw the truth of not only the unity that should be among Christians, but also the great hope of the Church--"the literal coming of Jesus for His people."
At the turn of the century, in 1906 at Azusa Street, Los Angeles, in Topeka, Kansas, and in other places, at the same time people began to be baptized in the Spirit and speak with other tongues. There was great persecution and ridicule, but the truth was established and it is gaining in momentum even today.
I do not believe that anyone can say that what happened in Saskatchewan, Canada, was not of God scripturally. I have seen the divine principles that were laid down then work today. If there be those who might oppose, I would suggest that you be careful in your judgement, lest you be fighting against God. Usually those who are nearest to a new truth given by God are the first to resist it. If it is a God-given revelation, to refute it is as useless as trying to sweep back the mighty Pacific Ocean with an ordinary broom.
Let me say in sincerity--keep your hearts open to the truth. I am aware that there is deception in the land, but there will be divine revelation also. For some years now I have felt I should write this book. It was only on my last trip to East Asia, having just returned from holding seminars in Malaysia and Indonesia, as I was looking out the hotel window viewing the sprawling city of Singapore that I felt the urge of the Spirit to conclude the book. I saw that only a united Church, filled with the Spirit, equipped with the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, would get the job done. Communists are united in their effort to dominate the world; only a glorious Church with the power of God can turn the tide.