‘It’s power for service!’ That was Oscar’s passion- serving
God. And to do that he needed all the help he could get. Having read a book on
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he knew that was what he wanted.
His good friend Arthur Wallis questioned him on it, not sure
of some of the aspects of what the Pentecostal denomination had taught. ‘But
Arthur, it’s power for service!’ That was the clincher for Oscar Penhearow (1921 - 2013). He sought and
received a mighty touch from God and knew his ministry take on a new power. And
Arthur wasn’t too far behind.
One time on a bus, Oscar felt he needed to speak to the lady
next to him. She was a Christian but without any knowledge of the Holy Spirit and
the power God released in someone. She gladly received help and the next Oscar heard
was that her church was in revival. All because of that conversation!
We may think that there is nothing unusual about the baptism
in the Holy Spirit. It’s what we are taught nowadays. But this happened to
Oscar in 1951, a long time before the house churches that his friend Arthur was
to develop. And long before baptism in the Holy Spirit was taught in most
churches in the UK.
Oscar had started as a boxer in the British Army. He finished
his life having served as an evangelist for nearly seventy years.
Oscar and Arthur were pioneers. Men ahead of their time. ‘It
revolutionised my life’ says Oscar. And the secret to staying full of the Holy
Spirit? ‘Stay in love with Jesus. There is no short cut. The greatest secret to
fruitful evangelism is staying close to Jesus.’
You can see here, four short clips from one of the last
talks Oscar gave before he died earlier this year:
CLICK HERE: http://youtu.be/CXgcmIxzJvc
Further Reading:
Oscar's Biggest Fight- Winning Souls For Christ - Oscar Penhearow (Private Printing)
Arthur Wallis: Radical Christian - Jonathan Wallis (available from the author)
