05/17/2026
THE PRICE ~ A.A Allen
How long had I been here in this closet? Days or just hours? Surely it seemed days since at my own request I had heard my wife lock that closet door from the outside! What would she think about me shutting myself away for so long? Had it really been days or just hours? Was I really getting anywhere with God? Would God answer? Would God satisfy that hunger of my soul or would I have to admit defeat again as so often I had done? No! I'd stay right here on my knees until God answered, or I would die in the attempt! Hadn't God's word said, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up-up-UP-with wings-with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall ---."
Had my wife opened the door? No, it was still closed! But the light, where was the light coming from? It was then that I began to realize that the light that was filling my prayer closet was God's glory! It wasn't the closet door that had opened, but rather the door of heaven instead!
The presence of God was so real and powerful that I felt I would die right there on my knees. It seemed that if God came any closer, I could not stand it! Yet I wanted it and was determined to have it. Little wonder that Paul under like circumstance, "fell to the earth". Acts 9:4. No wonder John, "fell at his feet as dead". Rev. 1:17.
Was this the answer? Was God going to speak to me? Would God at last, after these many years, satisfy my longing heart? I seemed to lose consciousness of everything but the mighty presence of God. I trembled, I tried to see Him and then was afraid that I would, for suddenly I realized that should I see Him, I would die. Just His glorious presence was enough!
Then like a whirlwind, I heard His voice. It was God! He was speaking to me! This was the glorious answer that I had sought so diligently and for which I had waited so long. Yes, this was what I had been waiting for since my conversion at the age of twenty-three. Yes, this was what my longing soul had cried for ever since God called me to the ministry.
That call to the ministry had come with such force and was so definite that nothing could ever make me doubt it. From the time of my conversion God had made it so real to me even though my past life had not been spent in such a way as to provide any preparation for this work.
From the time of my conversion, I realized my need of much study if ever I were to fulfill the call of God upon my life. Therefore, I spent many hours reading the Bible, and seeking to understand its message and meaning. To my simple untaught soul, God seemed to mean exactly what he said -- and seemed to say it directly to me through His Word -- "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. HEAL THE SICK, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matt. 10:7. All this seemed included in a call to the ministry, yet I DID NOT SEE IT BEING DONE! I was myself powerless to carry out these commands of Christ. Yet I knew that it COULD BE DONE, for Christ would not give a command which could not be carried out!
Before my conversion, I knew so little about God and his word, that I could not even quote John 3:16, nor name the four gospels. In the Methodist church where I was converted and of which I became a member, I was not taught to expect to be baptized with the Holy Ghost as the first disciples were on the day of Pentecost, nor to expect the signs mentioned in Mark 16:17,18 to follow me as a believer in the Lord. I was taught to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and was gloriously saved, and set free from condemnation for sin. Then as I searched the Scriptures, asking God to lead me to those readings from which I would receive the greatest benefit, the Lord began to reveal to me the truths of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the signs following, the gifts of the spirit, and the supernatural things of God.
It was not long until God led me into a Pentecostal church, where I began to see in a small measure the blessings of God, and a few of the manifestations of the Spirit. It was in these meetings that I became convinced that I needed the Baptism with the Spirit, and there I began to pray and earnestly seek God for that experience.
Thirty days after my conversion, I was gloriously filled with the Holy Ghost, in an Assembly of God camp meeting in Miami, Oklahoma, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
I had read, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8. I fully expected that with the infilling of the Holy Ghost, I would immediately have power to heal the sick, and to perform miracles. It did not take me long to realize that more was required than the baptism with the Holy Ghost, in order to consistently see these results. The baptism with the Spirit provides access to this power, but the gifts of the Spirit provide the channels through which this power operates. I began immediately to pray and seek the gifts of the Spirit. I felt I must have power to heal the sick, for I knew that God never called anyone to preach the Gospel without commissioning him also to heal the sick.
The power of the Holy Ghost may be readily likened to the power of electricity. When one is filled with the Spirit, it is as though he has had his house wired, and established connection with the "power house". Many people use electricity for years just to provide light! They never take advantage of the great possibilities that are available through using the appliances which electricity will operate. The gifts of the Spirit may be likened to the appliances. As new gifts are added more work can be done, with greater ease. The power has not changed, but it is made more effective. God never intended to STOP when he had filled his people with the Spirit. This is just the beginning. "Covet earnestly the best gifts." I Cor. 12:31. This, I found, is the path to greater accomplishment for God.
- Spiritual Notes
