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| PentecostalTheology.com
Pentecostalism is what some might call the forgotten legacy of John Wesley. In nearly 100 years the movement has become the fastest growing body of Christians on the face of the planet. Pentecostalism is growing at a rate of 13 million a year, 35,000 a day, and has nearly a half billion followers. It is the second largest Christian group after Roman Catholicism. There are Pentecostals in almost every denomination and every part of the world. The largest Protestant church in the world is a Pentecostal church in Korea, the Yoido Full Gospel Church, which has over 240,000 in weekly attendance. All of this would not have been possible without their theological and ministerial connection to John Wesley. This article will attempt to briefly discuss the historical development of Pentecostalism by making a special application of John Wesley’s contribution.
There has been a lot of research that has shown the connection between the Wesleyan-holiness movement and Pentecostalism. 1 Much of this research has attempted to show that John Wesley is the grandfather of Pentecostalism.2 Wesley placed a strong emphasis on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. He believed that the Spirit played a unique role in entire sanctification. Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection was crucial to the theological roots of Pentecostalism. It was the idea of a second work of grace (sanctification) that opened the door for theological discussion about the possibilities of a third work of grace: the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Wesleyan Sanctification
Pentecostalism is the forgotten legacy of John Wesley.
Shortly after his memorial sermon, “On the Death of George Whitefield,” preached on November 18, 1770, Wesley entered into a unique alliance with John Fletcher that shifted the direction of Methodist history.3 Fletcher worked closely with Wesley and soon became one of the most influential leaders in early Methodism. Fletcher is perhaps best noted for his Checks to Antinomianism (1771), which defended the theological views of John Wesley and the early Methodism. Wesley was so impressed by Fletcher’s piety and theological prowess, that Fletcher became his “authorized interpreter and designated successor.”4 In Fletcher’s writings we begin to see a paradigm shift take place. Fletcher placed a strong emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian perfection. He used Pentecostal language to describe the Spirit’s work with phrases such as “baptized with the Spirit” and “filled with the Spirit.”
Joe Absher
Is there more?
Varnel Watson
there is always more to Sanctification
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher John Lathrop Seems like its a publish Wesley day I’ve seen this piece in several variants already
Joe Absher
Aren’t you the one that said “preachers are a dime a dozen we need miracles.” and other variants?
Varnel Watson
Yes In Wesley;s case we have plenty of miracles http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/encouraged-by-the-diary-of-john-wesley/
Joe Absher
I am surprised so many preachers do not know his work.
Varnel Watson
I am surprised so many preachers do not know GOD’s work.
Fletch
I am becoming more aware that preachers know no more than the congregation. Anyone can read a lesson. The key for Christian leadership is repentance, Lordship, and personal study of the Word of God. And that goes for everybody.
Anonymous
How can study more about it
Anonymous
Ai Thankachan our website has literally hundreds if not thousand of posts on Wesley and his holiness teaching
Anonymous
Troy Day thank you. I want studying more about it
Anonymous
https://www.pentecostaltheology.com/
Anonymous
I’ve been to the Church in Savannah, Ga. where John Wesley first preached. (They have a historical marker outside the church)
Anonymous
Gary Sawyer YES which one – there are MANY churches where he preached. I lectured at the Wesley Room in Bristol after they renovated it
Anonymous
Gary Sawyer too bad that he preached there before May 24, 1738. Then he would have preached from personal experience.
Anonymous
TRUTH is Gary Sawyer Wesley was highly unsuccessful in his first preaching in America
his diary is explicit about his ongoing failure as a preacher
THEN he went back to England and revival broke out
THEN he came back and establish Methodism in America
BUT remained Anglican to his death
AND was able to establish Methodism in America
MEANWHILE he noticed eternal security aint working Kyle Williams
and revisited BIBLICAL entire sanctification …
https://fellowshipandfairydust.com/2022/06/13/john-wesleys-savannah-mission-and-the-roots-of-methodism/
Anonymous
Ai Thankachan Peter Vandever Joseph D. Absher Dale M. Coulter
Pentecostalism is the forgotten legacy of John Wesley.
Shortly after his memorial sermon, “On the Death of George Whitefield,” preached on November 18, 1770, Wesley entered into a unique alliance with John Fletcher that shifted the direction of Methodist history.3 Fletcher worked closely with Wesley and soon became one of the most influential leaders in early Methodism. Fletcher is perhaps best noted for his Checks to Antinomianism (1771), which defended the theological views of John Wesley and the early Methodism. Wesley was so impressed by Fletcher’s piety and theological prowess, that Fletcher became his “authorized interpreter and designated successor.”4 In Fletcher’s writings we begin to see a paradigm shift take place. Fletcher placed a strong emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian perfection. He used Pentecostal language to describe the Spirit’s work with phrases such as “baptized with the Spirit” and “filled with the Spirit.”
Anonymous
I went to America to convert the Indians, but, oh, who shall convert me? Who, what, is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief?
John Wesley.
Anonymous
John Mushenhouse “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” –Journal, May 24, 1738.
Aldersgate was the site of perhaps his greatest revival after they locked him out from more than 1 churches around Bristol
Anonymous
“At four in the afternoon, I submitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation, speaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thousand people.” – Journal, April 2, 1739.