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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 obtaining a clear, definite witness from God that our sins are forgiven and under the blood, highlighting the necessity of the 'New Birth' experience. He warns against the misconception that joining a church or living a moral life is enough for salvation, stressing the need for a personal encounter with God's Spirit. Hames reminds his audience that true Christianity involves a radical transformation marked by a hatred for sin, a love for righteousness, and a genuine care for others.
Getting Properly Started
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness In himself" (1 John 5:10) The starting-point in the way of Christianity has proved to be the weal or woe point to thousands of immortal souls. Therefore, the greatest care is to be taken here. The one thing that should concern every person at this point more than anything else in the world is that he obtain a clear, definite witness from God that his many sins are all forgiven and under the blood. The Holy Scriptures not only insist that men firmly believe that they are accepted of God, but that they positively know it beyond a shadow of doubt. In 1 John 4:13, we find the following statement: "Hereby know we that we dwell in Him and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit." It is not sufficient evidence that we are saved, because we have confessed our sins, turned over a new leaf, joined the church and are living a better life. All of these things are good and commendable but will never take the place of the "New Birth." Jesus said to His moral inquirer, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). There are hundreds contenting themselves with the fact that they have joined the church and are enjoying a degree of the rest of conscience, but this is by no means to be taken for the "New Birth" or for the witness of the Spirit mentioned in our text. Many good, honest people are told to just believe that Jesus is the Son of God and join the church and they are saved, but Satan never forged a greater lie. No one is a Christian who has not received a definite witness that he is accepted of God. What saith the Scriptures on this point? "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom. 8:9). Every one who has received the "New Birth" bears the following earmarks: He has realized a definite change; he has a hatred for all sin and worldliness; he has a hearty relish for truth and righteousness, and a growing love for every man and woman in the world. If he is wanting in these fruits, his Christianity is false no matter how piously he lives or zealously he labors for the cause of Christ.
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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.