Smith Wigglesworth Apostle of Faith- JONAS CLARK

Smith Wigglesworth Apostle of Faith

Smith Wigglesworth had one of the greatest healing ministries in history. But there was a time when this great apostle of faith was reluctant to even preach. Smith Wigglesworth was a plumber from Bradford, England. While he believed in divine healing, he didn’t believe that anyone was getting healed in Bradford. So Wigglesworth took afflicted souls to nearby Leeds every Tuesday. He was confident that a group that practiced divine healing there had an anointing to break the yokes of sickness and disease. He was confident because his wife Polly was healed in Leeds. Little did he know that Bradford would soon be recognized as a place for divine healing, too, and that God would use a plumber as His chosen vessel.

It all started the day Bradford church leaders decided to attend the Keswick Convention, an annual summer reunion held to promote “practical holiness.” Smith Wigglesworth reluctantly agreed to administrate the church meetings during their absence, yet hoped to persuade someone else to preach. But everyone he asked insisted that he must do it himself. Wigglesworth did preach and although he could not remember what he said, the first man he prayed for was healed instantly. That miracle stirred the faith of at least 14 others at the meeting to believe God for healing. He prayed for each one and each one was healed.

A humble Wigglesworth was quick to announce that it was not his great faith at work that day, but God’s great hand helping him in his hour of need. Those miracles led to divine healing meetings in Bradford that continued to produce signs and wonders. Smith Wigglesworth’s healing ministry grew rapidly and moved to a new building that displayed the words “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” But it seems this great man of faith did not yet fully believe God for his own healing. When a brother with a healing ministry visited the church in Bradford, Wigglesworth invited him home for tea and his wife opened up a can of worms.

“What would you think of a man who preaches divine healing, yet he himself uses medical means every day?” Polly asked their visitor.

“I should say that man did not fully trust the Lord,” answered the brother.

After the meal Wigglesworth confessed that he had suffered from hemorrhoids since his childhood and used salts every day for relief. The trio then agreed to pray and trust God for his healing. Wigglesworth’s system functioned naturally without any medication from then on. Wigglesworth and his wife made a vow to God that day declaring: “From henceforth no medicine, no doctors, no drugs of any kind shall come into our house.” Wigglesworth was gripped by a violent pain in his side not long afterwards – a pain so violent that he was brought home to his wife. The couple prayed all night, but he grew worse instead of better. He thought this was his “home call” and reminded Polly of their agreement to send for a doctor to avoid the embarrassment of a coroner’s examination and the condemnation of outsiders if one of them was nearing death.

The doctor diagnosed Smith Wigglesworth with an advanced state of appendicitis. The only hope would be an immediate operation, but his body was too weak. The doctor left, promising to return later. While Wigglesworth lay in the bed suffering an elderly lady and a young man came to pray for him. The young man laid his hands on Wigglesworth and cried, “Come out, devil, in the name of Jesus!” Wigglesworth later testified, “To my surprise the devil came out and I felt as well as I had ever been.” He then went downstairs and told his wife that he was healed.

Later that day Wigglesworth answered an emergency call from a lady who needed a plumber. When the doctor returned to hear that Wigglesworth had gone to work he pronounced, “They will bring him back a corpse!” But upon examining Wigglesworth later, the doctor recanted and agreed that he was indeed healed. In fact, that “corpse” preached the Gospel in many parts of the world for another 40 years.

Wigglesworth was also instrumental in bringing thousands of people to salvation, baptism of the Holy Ghost and divine healing. About 20 people were raised from the dead during his ministry. Many people are fascinated by the life of Smith Wigglesworth and many books have been penned about him.