Stevens made a permanent move to the Los Angeles area in 1946.1 After a few years of evangelistic work, he became the pastor of the Lynwood, California, Assembly of God church. In 1949, Stevens experienced another milestone revelation from the Lord which included a vision of the continuing restoration of the purity and power of the first-century apostolic Church as described in the book of Acts. Thereafter, John Stevens began teaching his congregation about the restoration of the Church. The essentials of this teaching emphasized the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the return to the pattern of church government outlined in the New Testament. While scripturally sound, this was a bold departure from established denominational doctrine at the time—so much so that the Assemblies of God removed him from his pastorate in March 1950.
With the majority of his congregation following him, Stevens established Grace Chapel of South Gate, California, in June 1951.2 This was the first church in what would later become known as The Living Word Fellowship. Two years later, in 1953, Stevens established Grace Chapel of Honolulu.3
During this time, the Latter Rain movement was gaining attention. Stevens investigated the movement, because he saw some similarities in its teachings, especially regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit and singing in the Spirit. He was encouraged that others in the earth were hearing the voice of the Lord. However, in seeking the Lord about it, “…He spoke that I was not to be a part of the Latter Rain movement, that there was yet a thing He was to bring forth in the earth.”4 In just a few years time, much of the Latter Rain movement had fallen apart and many prominent leaders had moved on. However, since Stevens’ beliefs shared a few commonalities with the Latter Rain, he was mistakenly believed to be a leader in the movement. This misconception persists today.5
In an intensive seven-month period of waiting on the Lord in 1955, Stevens received many of the scriptural truths that would become the fellowship’s foundational teachings, as well as the scriptural basis for what was to unfold in God’s continuing restoration of His Church.6 This included the importance of waiting on the Lord, personal and church stewardship, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in I Corinthians 127, the five-fold gift ministries identified in Ephesians 4:118, and the Christian celebration of the biblical feasts. It was during this period that he was given many instructions on how to pattern churches after New Testament Scripture—and also when he received many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that he would impart to others during his ministry.9 But it was Stevens’ fourth dramatic experience with the Lord, in 1962, that truly thrust him into the realization of his divine calling. This appearing of the Lord established his ministry as an apostle.10
Sections
Founder of The Living Word Fellowship
Citations
1. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Chandler Hall For All Occasions—Watts: The Living Word, 1979. 79071101R
2. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, A Chronicle of How this Walk with God Began: The Living Word, 1999. 99021203R
3. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Faith, Obedience, and Your Destiny: The Living Word, 2006. 2006-0819-4R
4. Stevens, John Robert: “The Tabernacle Experience”, This Week, Vol. XII, No. 41, p. 1: Copyright © 1981 by The Living Word.*
5. Stevens, John Robert: “Bearing the Present Reproach”, This Week, September 23, 1979: The Living Word, 1979. 79071113R
6. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, A Review of the Spiritual Events of 1955: The Living Word, 1995. 97090403R
7. Stevens, John Robert: School of the Prophets, Series 2, The Gifts of the Spirit: John Robert Stevens, 1975.
8. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Purposes of the Ministries: The Living Word, 1976. RN02B019R
9. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, A Review of the Spiritual Events of 1955: The Living Word, 1995. 97090403R
10. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Sensitivity: The Sin Against the Body: John Robert Stevens, 1976. 74030303R
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