Be Inspired

One of the miracles that occurred was when Smith was travelling during war time in a car. Petrol in these times was rationed. During the trip the car conked out as the petrol had run dry and the friend’s ration of petrol had all been used up. They were 17 miles from their destination and Smith was supposed to preach. He calmly asked the friend if he had any water with him and he did. He instructed the friend to pour it into the petrol tank, which in normal circumstances would have wrecked the car. However, after several attempts at starting the car it kicked into life and they drove on to their speaking engagement. The friend had a mechanic check the tank later and he found pure petrol in the tank with no trace of any water.

He had faith in God!

Early Days & Destiny...

Smith Wigglesworth was born on June 08, 1859, in Menston, Yorkshire, England, into a poor family. His parents were John and Martha and Smith had two brothers and a sister.

If you remember William Booth started work at 13 years of age, but Smith was only 6 years old when he started working in the fields pulling turnips alongside his mother. At 7 years of age he started his second job, which was working in the mill, and he worked six days a week 6am – 6pm. Smith could not read or write.

His parents were not Christians, but his grandmother was a devout Methodist and she would take Smith to the little chapel she attended. He was born again at the age of 8 and subsequently confirmed in the Church of England, baptized in the Baptist Church and taught the Bible in the Plymouth Brethren.

A Man in the Brethren movement taught him the plumbing trade.

Smith ran a very successful plumbing business later on and could have been very wealthy, but he eventually abandoned this trade because it interfered with what God had really called him to do!

It was whilst working as a plumber in Liverpool that he saw the extreme poverty that many lived in and it moved him with compassion. He used to go through the streets and gather the children, then take them to a rented dockside shed where, out of his own earnings, he would feed and share the love of Jesus.

Polly Featherstone (1860 - 1913)...

Before Smith went to Liverpool he was in Bradford and met a young lady named Polly Featherstone.

Polly was a preacher in the Salvation Army and had come to the attention of General William Booth!

Polly was sent to another place as was the norm in the Salvation Army, but she eventually left them and was married to Smith in 1882.

They had one daughter, Alice, and four sons, Seth, Harold, Ernest and George.

Smith learned to read after he married Polly; she taught him to read the Bible. He often stated that it was the only book he ever read, and did not permit newspapers in his home, preferring the Bible to be their only reading material.

In 1913 Polly died suddenly. Smith commanded death to give her up and she came back to life only to tell him "Smith - the Lord wants me." He responded "If the Lord wants you, I will not hold you.

Ministry & Faith...

It was in 1907, following a laying-on of hands by Mary Boddy, that Smith experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

Smith’s healing ministry started when he was pressed into leading some healing meetings somewhat reluctantly and this is where it all began. Fifteen people came forward for healing and all were healed! Following this more and more doors opened up for Smith.

Wigglesworth believed that healing came through faith and thatall sickness was from the devil and everyone could be healed.

Souls, souls & more souls...

It was said that Smith made a commitment to God that he would win a soul for Christ every day and on one occasion got out of bed because he could not sleep and went and won a soul before returning to bed.

It is reported that thousands of people came to Christ through his ministry. His first convert was his own mother, Martha Wigglesworth.

Healings, healings & more healings...

Smith certainly possessed incredible faith and boldness.

It was not uncommon for him to announce in his meetings: "Every sermon that Christ preached was prefaced by a model miracle. We are going to follow His example. The first person in this large audience that stands up, whatever his or her sickness, I'll pray for that one and God will deliver him or her." And the first person to stand, even if they were the most deformed cripple, would be healed!

It has been recorded that Smith Wigglesworth raised 23 people from the dead in total, over the years of his ministry and this account amuses me the most.

“A number of people were also raised literally from the dead under Smith's ministry. Here is his own account of one occasion: "My friend said, 'She is dead.' He was scared. I have never seen a man so frightened in my life. 'What shall I do?' he asked. You may think that what I did was absurd, but I reached over into the bed and pulled her out. I carried her across the room, stood her against the wall and held her up, as she was absolutely dead. I looked into her face and said, 'In the name of Jesus I rebuke this death.' From the crown of her head to the soles of her feet her whole body began to tremble. 'In the name of Jesus, I command you to walk,' I said. I repeated, 'In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, walk!' and she walked." (Pg 59). Not only was this woman raised from the dead, but she was instantly healed from a terrible illness also. She began to testify to people of her death experience and restoration.”

He at times distributed prayer handkerchiefs that had been prayed over and when they were taken to the sick person they would be miraculously healed. Apparently one was sent to King George V.

The book of Acts talks of Peter’s shadow (5:15) and handkerchiefs that Paul had touched (19:12) healing or delivering people!

Smith himself suffered from kidney stones for many years and would often minister and see people healed whilst in excruciating pain! He refused any surgical procedure, stating that no knife would ever touch his body either in life or death and it never did.

His daughter Alice, who frequently travelled with him after Polly's death, was deaf and was never healed.

His ministry was not only confined to England. His was a worldwide ministry. Within Europe, he ministered in Denmark, France, Sweden and Switzerland. He also visited Canada and the United States several times and also ministered in Australia and New Zealand.

His ministry was based on four principles:

• First, read the Word of God.
• Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you.
• Third believe the Word of God.
• Fourth, act on the Word.

Wigglesworth continued to minister up until the time of his death on March 12, 1947.