- Home
- Speakers
- Jack Hayford
- Rivers Of Pentecost
Jack Hayford
Jack Hayford (June 25, 1934 – January 8, 2023) was an American preacher, author, and Pentecostal leader whose calling from God transformed worship and ministry within the Church of the Foursquare Gospel and beyond for over six decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, to Jack Hayford Sr., a former military officer turned switchman, and Anita Dolores Farnsworth, a Bible teacher, he faced life-threatening illness as an infant and polio at age four, both miraculously healed through prayer, igniting his lifelong passion for God’s power. He graduated from L.I.F.E. Bible College in 1956 and earned a second bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1970, grounding his ministry in practical theology. Hayford’s calling from God was affirmed in 1969 when he became pastor of First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys—later The Church on the Way—growing it from 18 members to over 10,000 by the 1980s, serving until 1999 with a brief return after his successor’s death in 2003. Ordained in 1956, he preached a balanced gospel, emphasizing the Holy Spirit’s vitality, notably through his hymn “Majesty” (1978) and over 600 songs, alongside founding The King’s University in 1997 and serving as Foursquare president (2004–2009). His sermons and over 50 books, like Worship His Majesty, called believers to Spirit-filled living and unity across denominations. Married twice—first to Anna Marie Smith in 1954, with four children (Rebecca, Jack III, Mark, Christa), until her death in 2017, then to Valerie Lemire in 2018—he passed away at age 88 in Los Angeles, California.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
Jack Hayford preaches about the powerful imagery of rivers of living water flowing from believers as promised by Jesus and fulfilled on Pentecost. He emphasizes the need for a continuous flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives, praying for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit to bring restoration, healing, and inspiration. Hayford urges for a deepening of our spiritual lives, removing any obstacles that hinder the flow of the Spirit and promoting unity among believers to form a strong, interconnected body. He encourages being a pure channel of God's life and truth in a world seeking supernatural experiences, ultimately desiring to reflect the wholeness of Jesus to others.
Rivers of Pentecost
In describing the Holy Spirit’s coming, Jesus specifically said, "Rivers of living water shall flow from the inner being of all those who believe me" (John 7:37-38, paraphrase). On Pentecost, what Joel had prophesied, Peter preached: "God has poured out His Spirit—a stream of restoring, healing power is released to mankind!" (Joel 2, Acts 2, paraphrase). Just recently, I knelt in prayer, moved to ask God, concerning these "rivers of Pentecost": Lord, flow forth fresh watercourses of Holy Spirit fullness and power in my life. Let the flow bear me forward. I don’t want to become a stagnant pool of former blessing, but a rising river of fresh inspiration. Let the rivers run deep. I don’t want to be shallow in any part of my life. Let the sandbar of carnal obstruction in my nature be furrowed out by the force o f the stream. Let me learn to flow together with other believers, as streams become tributaries to a larger river. Let any smallness become lost in my surrender to Your Spirit’s blending me with all those who love You in truth. Let me move in the unity of Jesus’ life and love. Let me be a channel. In a world where the blind and the bound seek "spirit channels" to touch the realm of the supernatural, and thereby only become more confused, let me be a pure channel of Holy Spirit life and truth. Let me bring the wholeness of who You really are, in Jesus’ name. Come, Holy Spirit... as rivers of living water.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
Jack Hayford (June 25, 1934 – January 8, 2023) was an American preacher, author, and Pentecostal leader whose calling from God transformed worship and ministry within the Church of the Foursquare Gospel and beyond for over six decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, to Jack Hayford Sr., a former military officer turned switchman, and Anita Dolores Farnsworth, a Bible teacher, he faced life-threatening illness as an infant and polio at age four, both miraculously healed through prayer, igniting his lifelong passion for God’s power. He graduated from L.I.F.E. Bible College in 1956 and earned a second bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1970, grounding his ministry in practical theology. Hayford’s calling from God was affirmed in 1969 when he became pastor of First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys—later The Church on the Way—growing it from 18 members to over 10,000 by the 1980s, serving until 1999 with a brief return after his successor’s death in 2003. Ordained in 1956, he preached a balanced gospel, emphasizing the Holy Spirit’s vitality, notably through his hymn “Majesty” (1978) and over 600 songs, alongside founding The King’s University in 1997 and serving as Foursquare president (2004–2009). His sermons and over 50 books, like Worship His Majesty, called believers to Spirit-filled living and unity across denominations. Married twice—first to Anna Marie Smith in 1954, with four children (Rebecca, Jack III, Mark, Christa), until her death in 2017, then to Valerie Lemire in 2018—he passed away at age 88 in Los Angeles, California.