HC Apostolic Ministry

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Howard Carter Recordings

Rev. and Mrs. Howard Carter

"The Need For Apostolic

and Prophetic Ministry"

Rev. Howard Carter

Copyrighted Recording

Length: 38 Minutes

Live Stream

Recording Description:

Recorded at the Brittish Assemblies of God convention in 1961, it is what Carter termed a "sackcloth and ashes" message, a message given "in sorrow and grief," in which he bewailed the state of Pentecostal churches of the time. In front of an assemblage of his esteemed ministry brethren, he asked some pointed questions, offered some clarifying insights, and issued some stern rebukes and warnings.

Carter presents the very questions, insights, rebukes, and warnings we should think deeply on today concerning current day affairs in Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of Faith, and Prophetic circles. Messages like this one that come from an individual on fire with Pentecostal power, are timeless and never grow old. This is as relevant as though he preached it yesterday.

Carter asks, if we have the Pentecostal power that we claim to have, why is it that we see good meetings here and there, but the fires of the Spirit are not sweeping his nation (and ours) burning down the religious traditions of men, and cleansing both our souls and our land, and bringing many more sinners to Christ?

He asserts, and I believe rightly so, their problem (and ours) is the shunning of genuine apostolic and genuine prophetic ministry. He notes that for the most part, by failing to acknowledge genuine apostolic and prophetic ministry, Christians have been left to fall into the clutches of the self-appointed (but false) apostles and (false) prophets. He goes forward to point out numerous apostles and prophets he had known in his life.

Carter's sermon ends abruptly with him saying, "I can not continue with my message!"

     His comments in this message are a far cry from those he gave four years later, as he enjoyed ministering at the Goodwins' church. At the Goodwins' church he found the very "Pentecostal Blessing" he had remembered from 1915. In his sermon at the Goodwins' church he exclaimed:

     "It is a great joy to be in a meeting where the power of God comes down. Where there's liberty. Where the Lord can have His way. This is a wonderful church. I could wish that all the churches that we minister in had such freedom in the Spirit as you enjoy here."

     Here in this recording though, he gives us all much to think and pray about.

What a man of God!

Please note that this recording has three or four places in it at which the sound in the original tape is missing. Therefore, in three or four places the recording jerks forward by two or three seconds. I apologize for these glitches, but nothing can be done about them.

Howard Carter's Story:

     Born in England in 1891, Brother Carter was born again in 1909, and filled with the Spirit in 1915. He grew in the things of the Spirit and began ministering to others. When World War I broke out against England, as a minister of the Gospel, he did not feel that he could take up arms against others. England did not allow "conscientious objectors." So Howard Carter was thrown into prison. This was no Country Club. His head was shaved. He was dressed in rough prison garb, and was fed bread and water. And so he remained throughout the war years of the First World War.

     Prison was a difficult test and trial, but rather than causing him to lose faith in God, it drove him closer to God. And God honored Carter's convictions, by visiting him in prison. God began revealing to Carter deep truths concerning the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

     Up to this time, many believed for instance, that the Word of Knowledge, was exemplified by the knowledge possessed by college professors. They believed that the Gifts of Healings were fulfilled by medical doctors. But God showed Brother Carter that the gifts were all supernatural, not natural, gifts. And He revealed to Carter the teaching outline of dividing the nine gifts into the three categories of Revelation, Utterance, and Power.

     Carter came forth from prison, with his faith tried and refined like pure gold. He began teaching the truths God showed him, and his teachings have found universal acceptance throughout Charismatic and Pentecostal churches. He helped to found the Assemblies of God in Great Brittain. He chaired national conventions at which his friend, Smith Wigglesworth, preached. He took a young Lester Sumrall under his wing, and travelled the world with Sumrall. Carter taught on the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, while Sumrall preached evangelistic sermons.

     I contacted the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, which contains the Assemblies of God archives, and asked their curator how many recordings of Howard Carter were known to be in existence. He told me that only one recording was known to exist, and their center had it and sold copies of it through their bookstore. To this one known recording, the Goodwin Collection adds six more, two of which are on this website now.

Acknowledgement:

This particular recording was not a part of the Goodwin Collection. It was graciously shared with us by Rev. Keith Malcolmson who is the Director of The School of Christ at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland. His website www.pentecostalpioneers.org, is a wonderful resource for historical accounts of Pentecostal moves of the past, and for the present day Pentecostal power in Europe, Asia, and Africa. I encourage everyone to visit their site and partake of the materials they offer.