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John Hames
John Hames (1880–1945) was an American preacher and evangelist whose ministry within the Pentecostal movement ignited revivals across the rural Midwest with a focus on spiritual awakening and holiness. Born in a small Indiana farming community to a devout family, Hames grew up amid economic hardship, finding faith at 17 during a tent meeting that marked his call to preach. With minimal formal education, he began his ministry in 1905, traveling by wagon to preach in small towns, often with his wife, Clara, whom he married in 1907 and with whom he raised five children. Known for his fervent sermons and prayer for healing, he drew crowds eager for a tangible experience of God’s power. Hames’s ministry peaked in the 1920s when he settled in Illinois, pastoring a growing Pentecostal congregation and launching a regional radio program, The Flame of Faith, to extend his reach. His preaching emphasized repentance, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a life set apart from worldly vices, resonating with Depression-era believers seeking hope. Though not nationally prominent, he wrote tracts like The Fire Within and mentored younger evangelists, shaping the Pentecostal landscape in his region. Retiring in 1940 due to poor health, Hames died in 1945, leaving a legacy as a humble, spirited preacher whose grassroots efforts fueled a quiet but enduring revival.
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John Hames emphasizes the importance of regulating one's conversation in alignment with biblical standards, focusing on the power of controlling one's words and maintaining a spirit of quietness and modesty. He highlights the significance of practicing the presence of God in all conversations and avoiding environments that may lead to ungodly speech and behaviors.
Beware of Jesting
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23) Among the many beautiful thoughts springing from the life of our blessed Redeemer which greatly impress the writer is this: "He was a man of few words," that is, He only spoke when it was necessary and profitable. This is one of the grandest victories that one can obtain on this side of the gates of pearl, namely, where one's spirit is so subdued and his tongue under such control that he never jests, jokes, scolds, backbites, nor uses idle talk. This is the Scriptural standard of a Christian's conversation. (Matt 12:36,37; Eph. 4:29; Eph. 5:4) In the following lines I wish to submit to the new beginner a few suggestions on how to thus regulate his conversation. 1. By prayer and faith hold on to God until He not only cleanses out all jesting and joking, but also the inward tendency to use many words. An experience where your tongue will be under such control that you can keep quiet as easily as you can speak, where you can put the brakes on your conversation with ease, anywhere, everywhere and any time. 2. "Study to be quiet," that is, be always on your guard to see, not how much, but how little you can have to say. And when in company and public gatherings, do not talk just to be considered a good entertainer. Jesus said, "By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt. 12:37). 3. The most successful way to comply with the above rule is to continually practice the presence of God, ever remembering that, "He is the head of every house, the unseen guest at every meal, and the silent listener to every conversation." 4. It would also be well to avoid mirthful gatherings, large crowds and big birthday suppers, etc., for these are strong weapons in the hands of the devil to destroy holy modesty, evenness of spirit and heavenly communion, and also tend to close our ears to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. Many times in one hour's conversation people tear down the rampart of holy modesty from around their soul which for years they had been erecting with prayer and tears.
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John Hames (1880–1945) was an American preacher and evangelist whose ministry within the Pentecostal movement ignited revivals across the rural Midwest with a focus on spiritual awakening and holiness. Born in a small Indiana farming community to a devout family, Hames grew up amid economic hardship, finding faith at 17 during a tent meeting that marked his call to preach. With minimal formal education, he began his ministry in 1905, traveling by wagon to preach in small towns, often with his wife, Clara, whom he married in 1907 and with whom he raised five children. Known for his fervent sermons and prayer for healing, he drew crowds eager for a tangible experience of God’s power. Hames’s ministry peaked in the 1920s when he settled in Illinois, pastoring a growing Pentecostal congregation and launching a regional radio program, The Flame of Faith, to extend his reach. His preaching emphasized repentance, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a life set apart from worldly vices, resonating with Depression-era believers seeking hope. Though not nationally prominent, he wrote tracts like The Fire Within and mentored younger evangelists, shaping the Pentecostal landscape in his region. Retiring in 1940 due to poor health, Hames died in 1945, leaving a legacy as a humble, spirited preacher whose grassroots efforts fueled a quiet but enduring revival.