Christ’s resurrection power is keeping things alive; nothing but resurrection can displace that which is dead. He came forth. He came forth to be life and power that we might be able to loose the things that were bound, that His glory might be evidenced. There was a dear woman, her heart was bad, poor soul, her feet were swelled. When the devil gets your eyes he makes you look at death. I said, “I believe the Lord wants you to have His message.” I saw she saw death. It is a tremendous power Satan has when we haven’t our eyes on Jesus, but He is alive, and He is risen to make everything living, and His glory is alive for evermore. I thought I would show this dear woman that He has the keys and she might take the promise for a new heart (Psalm 91) and “with long life will I satisfy him.” “Oh,” she said, “it is a new word to me.” “Yes,” I said, “all revelation is new.” Three days did wonders. She had risen right into the condition of this life. She said, “It is Amen, I have a new heart, my legs are not swelled.” It is no good without it is the Amen from above. The Amen—what does it mean—“let it be.” It was Jesus who said it—it was He who was Clothed who said it—The One from heaven, the One who had won the victory, and God wants us to do it in His place.
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Oh, I remember one day stepping into a barber’s shop where I heard a man moaning pitifully, with a shade over his eyes. “What is the matter,” I asked. “Doctor says it is inflammation and will always be like this.” “In the Name of Jesus,” I cried, “I command you to go.” The man then said, “It’s done, I am free.” Where is He? I tell you He is risen. It was He that acted. Oh, to be so closely interwoven with His great Heart and it’s done.—Did it finish there? No! The man came and got saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory—it is impossible for it to be told. The Acts of the Apostles will never be finished till we get into the glory.
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Smith Wigglesworth (1859 - 1947)
Smith Wigglesworth, often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago. Without human refinement and education he was able to tap into the infinite resources of God to bring divine grace to multitudes.Thousands came to Christian faith in his meetings, hundreds were healed of serious illnesses and diseases as supernatural signs followed his ministry. A deep intimacy with his heavenly Father and an unquestioning faith in God’s Word brought spectacular results and provided an example for all true believers of the Gospel.
Smith Wigglesworth is considered one of the most influential evangelists in the early history of Pentecostalism and is also credited with helping give the movement a large religious audience.
Nominally a Methodist, he became a born again Christian at age eight. His grandmother was a devout Methodist; his parents, John and Martha, were not practicing Christians although they took young Smith to Methodist and Anglican churches on regular occasions. He was confirmed by a Bishop in the Church of England, baptized by immersion in the Baptist Church and had the grounding in Bible teaching in the Plymouth Brethren while learning the plumbing trade as an apprentice from a man in the Brethren movement.
Wigglesworth believed that healing came through faith, and he was flexible about the methods he employed. When he was forbidden to lay hands on audience members by the authorities in Sweden, he preached for a "corporate healing", by which people laid hands on themselves. He also practiced anointing with oil, and the distribution of prayer handkerchiefs (one of which was sent to King George V). Wigglesworth sometimes attributed ill-health to demons.
Reportedly, David du Plessis recounted that Wigglesworth prophesied over him that God would pour out his Spirit on the established churches, and that David du Plessis would be greatly involved in it. Later du Plessis was very much involved in the Charismatic movement.
Wigglesworth continued to minister up until the time of his death on March 12, 1947.
Smith Wigglesworth was born to a very poor family. At the age of six he had to go to work. As a consequence, he never learned to read well until he was an adult. Later he claimed he never read anything but the Bible. He became a plumber by trade.
As a minister, Wigglesworth was hardly known outside of his hometown until 1907. In 1907, he received the baptism in the Holy Ghost, which changed his life forever. It was then, at the age of 48, that God moved Wigglesworth from a small relatively unknown ministry to conducting powerful meetings throughout the world, stirring the faith of thousands to receive healing and salvation. Wigglesworth would usually conclude a sermon by praying for the sick; regardless of what text he had ministered.
Smith Wigglesworth's ministry centered on salvation for the unconverted, healing for the sick, and a call to believers to be baptized in the Holy Ghost. He was filled with God - with love, compassion, and faith.
Wigglesworth said, "To hunger and thirst after righteousness is when nothing in the world can fascinate us so much as being near to God."
On March 12, 1947, Smith Wigglesworth, in perfect health, closed his eyes and slipped into eternity, at the age of 87.