In Deeper Experiences, James Lawson explores the spiritual lives of the most famous Christians of all ages. He begins with a brief sketch of Old Testament saints, moves to the New Testament & than touches on the post-apostolic era before centering on specific characters from Savonarola (1452-1498) to the present (1911). What Lawson found was that no matter how different the individuals were or what the various nuances of their beliefs were they all had one thing in common—the baptism, filling or gift of the Holy Spirit. Now, they called this baptism different things—entire sanctification, perfect love, holiness (Methodist); full assurance of faith, life of faith (Presbyterian); entire consecration (Congregationalist & Baptist); living in the spirit, over-coming power (Quaker); death to self-life, pure love (Catholic & Greek). (pg. 
But the effect of being filled with power from on high is the same throughout. These deeper experiences went beyond ‘behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’ to ‘he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit & fire.’ In other words, there is a dimension of spiritual power to be entered into after salvation. It is an undeniable reality that from New Testament times on the Christian church has practiced laying hands on believers to pray for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. “It is unquestionably a relic of the early Christian custom of imposing hands & praying that converts might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (pg. 13) In fact, Lawson shows that the early practice of confirmation was in reality the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The usual order in the early church was 1st conversion, then baptism, then the laying on of hands in prayer to receive the Holy Spirit. (pg. 45) See Hebrews 6:2 for the foundational principle of laying on of hands. See the case of the Samaritan disciples (Acts 6), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9) & the Ephesian disciples (Acts 19) to observe the practice of laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit. “The early Christian church believed in & prayed for the filling of the Holy Spirit, & this was the secret of its power. It lived in the Spirit, walked in the Spirit, prayed in the Spirit, & sang in the Spirit.” (pg. 46) Lawson gives countless examples from the post-apostolic fathers of their firm belief that being filled with the Holy Spirit was a later, separate & distinct work from that of one’s salvation or regeneration. It is a thirst for this 2nd work—this filling of the Holy Spirit that Lawson is trying to awaken in us. And he calls forth the testimony of the most famous disciples of the Lord to urge us to seek His power. Here are a few examples-
Savonarola: (1452-1498) His preaching career began when Luther was born. Even though he was steeped in Roman Catholicism he was far advanced than his contemporaries & was greatly admired by the reformers. His preaching had little affect but he continued in his devotions—in prayer waiting on God, mediating upon & studying the scriptures, yearning for God to speak to him & He did. Savonarola had a vision of the calamities waiting to fall upon the church & sensed God charging him to declare this to his people. So, he began to preach with unusual anointing & power. His preaching was like the claps of thunder & his denunciation of sin was with the Spirit’s conviction. His sermons however, aroused the anger of many—corrupt church & government officials. In 1498, the Pope had him burned at the stake in the public square of Florence where he ministered. He also had a prophetic gift & foretold many important events.
Madam Guyon: (1648-1717) Madam Guyon of Paris, France had everything in this world—beauty, riches & intellect. After she was saved at age 20 a man explained to her that God did not merely desire forgiven heart, but a holy heart. He insisted that it was not sufficient just to escape hell, but that God demanded the subjection of our evil natures, absolute purity & the highest of Christian perfection. That very day she resolved anew to be wholly the Lord’s. It is impossible to serve the God & the world. So, she forsook the world & the things that charmed her most—dress, fashion, riches, pride. The Lord began to remove her idles. Her beauty greatly suffered from a severe case of small-pox. But Guyon rejoiced that God had humbled her. Secondly, the Lord took her youngest son whom she was most attached to. But she saw the hand of the Lord in all of her afflictions humbling, purifying & growing her. She entered a 7 year season of no feelings or comfort in her devotions—no life or enjoyment. Yet, she persevered & God restored them. But she learned to live above feelings & to walk by faith. Through this she began to experience not just the gifts but the actual giver, God himself. She did not just know peace, but the God of peace. She was so filled with spiritual power that hungry Christians all over France began to follower her teachings & hunger for a deeper walk with God. So many were renouncing worldliness & sinfulness that resistance was stirred up against Guyon. She ended up in the dungeon of the Bastille & finally banished to Blois. Her main teaching: The real crucifixion of the self life & absolute resignation to the will of God.
Fenelon: (1651-1715) Fenelon was greatly influenced by Madam Guyon. After meeting her, she prayed for him continually for 8 days that God would do a deeper work in him. He had an amazing intellect & thus as the Archbishop of Cambray, in France he gave credibility to the insights of Madam Guyon.
George Fox: (1624-) Fox is the founder of the small denomination of Christians called the Friends or Quakers. A poor uneducated shoemaker turned England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales ablaze for God. Fox rejected the nominal Christianity that surrounded him. The church was dead & formal. When the church drifts into formalism the world drifts into infidelity. A formal church gives birth to an unbelieving world. (pg. 121) Fox searched in vain for pastors who were holy & completely possessed with spiritual depth, insight & authority. The Lord revealed many things to Fox: 1) An Oxford or Cambridge education did not qualify or fit a man for the Christian ministry. 2) The Lord did not dwell in buildings but in people. 3) Complete spiritual victory or perfection was possible. Fox preached & prophesied as a man who had authority. In their gathering, they would silently pray & wait for the Holy Spirit to move them to speak, sing or pray. Fox’s preaching emphasized holiness of heart & life & tried to shift the focus away from outward forms & ceremonies.
