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Arthur Vess
Arthur Vess, born circa 1895, died circa 1970, was an American preacher and author whose ministry within the Holiness movement emphasized sanctification, holy living, and bold scriptural preaching during the mid-20th century. Likely born in the rural South—possibly Tennessee or a neighboring state, given the Holiness movement’s strong foothold there—Vess emerged as a voice for uncompromising faith, though precise details of his early life, such as exact birth date and family background, remain elusive due to limited documentation. His work suggests a modest upbringing, steeped in evangelical Christianity, leading him to a calling as an itinerant preacher and writer focused on equipping believers and ministers alike. Vess’ ministry centered on delivering practical, no-nonsense sermons and writings, many preserved through platforms like RaptureReady.com and oChristian.com, including titles such as How To Preach And Teach Holiness and Youth’s Three Great Choices. He pastored and preached across Holiness churches, advocating for a life of prayer, discipline, and separation from worldly compromise—themes evident in his exhortations to preachers to “live what they preach” and maintain “secret contact with God” for effective ministry. His booklets, like The Bible on the Tongues Doctrine, tackled contentious issues within Pentecostalism, reflecting his engagement with theological debates of his era.
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Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of preaching from a place of personal experience rather than mere experimentation, highlighting the need for spiritual knowledge proven in the laboratory of one's heart. He stresses the necessity of being sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost before sharing this message with others, drawing from the example of the early Disciples who waited for empowerment. Vess encourages a deep, personal conviction of one's own sanctification to avoid weakness, compromise, and hypocrisy, and to stand boldly against opposition. He shares anecdotes of ministers experiencing revival after seeking sanctification, illustrating the transformative power of a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit.
We Must Preach It Experientially
We must preach it experientially, not experimental, but as something proved by experience.[This distinction drawn between "experiential" and "experimental" here is not altogether welltaken, for the word "experimental" can mean "that which is known by experience" as well as "thatwhich involves an experiment or a test." While some may prefer the word "experiential" applied to spiritual knowledge, the word "experimental," used by many of the older writers, mayalso be used to denote the same thing. See the Oxford Dictionary -- DVM] It must be proved byspiritual science in the laboratory of your own heart. You cannot give to others something whichyou do not have yourself. If the early Disciples had to "tarry until they were endued with powerfrom on high," we must do the same. You must KNOW that you have been and are still sanctified,or there will be a lameness in your own message like the one in your own soul. How long has itbeen since someone was sanctified under your own ministry? If it costs days, friends, positions,and shallow professions to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have been cleansed fromcarnality and filled with the Holy Ghost, "all the fullness of God." This will make your stepssteady, and you can offer to others what you are more certain of and more conscious of thananything else in this world. This will save you from cowardice, weak knees, compromise andhypocrisy, and make you holy, valiant and fearless in the face of every foe. It will make you themost loved and hated person in all your community round about. A. J. Gordon said, "My ministry was fruitless for 20 years, until I went into my study andshut the door, and told God that I would never come out until He baptized me with the HolyGhost." The mighty baptism came, and revivals followed him around the world. At our Iowa campsome years ago, a leading minister who fell at the altar to be sanctified, said to the evangelist that"I had lost the blessing, and because of the inconsistencies of others, I had wondered if there wassuch a thing as sanctification, but when I heard you preach it, I felt that you had it, and that I couldhave it." About seven preachers got sanctified in that camp, and revivals spread all over theconference after the camp. "Lord, send a revival and let it begin in me."
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Arthur Vess, born circa 1895, died circa 1970, was an American preacher and author whose ministry within the Holiness movement emphasized sanctification, holy living, and bold scriptural preaching during the mid-20th century. Likely born in the rural South—possibly Tennessee or a neighboring state, given the Holiness movement’s strong foothold there—Vess emerged as a voice for uncompromising faith, though precise details of his early life, such as exact birth date and family background, remain elusive due to limited documentation. His work suggests a modest upbringing, steeped in evangelical Christianity, leading him to a calling as an itinerant preacher and writer focused on equipping believers and ministers alike. Vess’ ministry centered on delivering practical, no-nonsense sermons and writings, many preserved through platforms like RaptureReady.com and oChristian.com, including titles such as How To Preach And Teach Holiness and Youth’s Three Great Choices. He pastored and preached across Holiness churches, advocating for a life of prayer, discipline, and separation from worldly compromise—themes evident in his exhortations to preachers to “live what they preach” and maintain “secret contact with God” for effective ministry. His booklets, like The Bible on the Tongues Doctrine, tackled contentious issues within Pentecostalism, reflecting his engagement with theological debates of his era.