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John Follette

John Wright Follette (1883 - 1966). American Bible teacher, author, and poet born in Swanton, Vermont, to French Huguenot descendants who settled in New Paltz, New York, in the 1660s. Raised Methodist, he received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1913 while studying at a Bible school in Rochester, New York, later teaching there until its closure. Ordained in 1911 by the Council of Pentecostal Ministers at Elim Tabernacle, he affiliated with the Assemblies of God in 1935. Follette taught at Southern California Bible College (now Vanguard University) and Elim Bible Institute, mentoring thousands. His books, including Golden Grain (1957) and Broken Bread, compiled posthumously, offer spiritual insights on maturity and holiness. A prolific poet, he published Smoking Flax and Other Poems (1936), blending Scripture with mystical reflections. Married with no recorded children, he ministered globally in his later years, speaking at conferences in Europe and North America. His words, “It is much easier to do something for God than to become something for God,” urged deeper faith. Follette’s teachings, preserved in over 100 articles and tapes, remain influential in Pentecostal and charismatic circles.
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John Follette preaches about the persistency of God's love in seeking humanity, from the creation to the coming of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God seeks to have a close relationship with us, desiring to dwell among us and in us, ultimately leading us back to our original purpose of glorifying Him. The love of God is relentless, always pursuing us to save, cleanse, fill, and bring us back into coordination with Him.
Love of God
The first vocation of personality is expression; it is basic. Man is to love; to live; to get out; he is made with potential powers. Out in the world, man has never found the proper avenue through which he can express himself, to really live. -- No Christ -- no essential element of Life. He came to bring Life. Oh, the persistency of the love of God in seeking; the social instinct of God! We see it in the Trinity -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There is an interchanging, reciprocating, oneness relationship among Them. We see the social God in creation; He is always after us. He is interested; He persists. Note the first question in the Bible: "Adam, where art thou?" He is still asking our lost, broken down, alienated Adam, "Oh, heart, where are you? Oh, soul, where are you?" Oh, the persistency of the love of God! In Genesis He is a seeking God, and in Revelation He is still pursuing, seeking: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..." Oh, the persistency of the heart of God in seeking! God is not defeated, even though man may fail. -- He comes and visits Abraham -- still comes to him. He comes to Moses; the longing, loving heart of God. Then He comes to the Tabernacle. The purpose of the Tabernacle in the wilderness was, as God said, "Let them make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them." (Ex. 25:8) God gets a little bit nearer; He tries to get just as near to broken humanity as He can. He desires to bring us back to our original purpose, and glorious destiny. We were made for the purpose of glorifying Him, and having communion and fellowship with Him. By and by, there is a temple -- a place where God manifests Himself. Then comes Jesus; the Son from the Father's bosom -- God manifesting Himself in the flesh. "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us." (John 1:14 ) He walks again with man on earth, and comes oh, so near! Again we see the persistency of the love of God. God, in the power of the Spirit, will come even closer to the heart, and live in the very body of the individual who will let Him. The sweet Spirit of God; the breath of God; the Third Member of the Trinity, has only your body and mine. I had to apologize to Him for it. Have you ever apologized to Him? Jesus had a body given Him: "A body Thou hast prepared for Me." But the Holy Spirit has none but ours to live in. Now it is the Body, the Church, that becomes the spiritual house of God, built of living stones. (Eph. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:5) -- It is the individual heart that is the present dwelling place of God on earth. "He dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Oh, the persistency of the love of God to come, and touch a life; to get hold of a man! The love of God comes to this poor, distorted, human being, and says, "I can save; cleanse; fill you, bring you back to coordination, and live in you, if you will let Me." Think of Him living in our bodies today! Some day the Holy Spirit will have our glorified bodies to live in!
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John Wright Follette (1883 - 1966). American Bible teacher, author, and poet born in Swanton, Vermont, to French Huguenot descendants who settled in New Paltz, New York, in the 1660s. Raised Methodist, he received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1913 while studying at a Bible school in Rochester, New York, later teaching there until its closure. Ordained in 1911 by the Council of Pentecostal Ministers at Elim Tabernacle, he affiliated with the Assemblies of God in 1935. Follette taught at Southern California Bible College (now Vanguard University) and Elim Bible Institute, mentoring thousands. His books, including Golden Grain (1957) and Broken Bread, compiled posthumously, offer spiritual insights on maturity and holiness. A prolific poet, he published Smoking Flax and Other Poems (1936), blending Scripture with mystical reflections. Married with no recorded children, he ministered globally in his later years, speaking at conferences in Europe and North America. His words, “It is much easier to do something for God than to become something for God,” urged deeper faith. Follette’s teachings, preserved in over 100 articles and tapes, remain influential in Pentecostal and charismatic circles.