Pages: 1

Saved Or Lost?

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: robertcyders



TITANIC
SAVED OR LOST?

By Rev. William Claire Greiner

Shortly after midnight, on the morning of April 15, 1912, the largest ship in the world sank beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. More than 1500 people were carried to an unexpected death. News of the disaster flashed around the world. The unsinkable Titanic had sunk......


Click to read more:
http://www.famci.com/sermons/titanic.htm


Posted by: skywalker

Good preaching!  I really enjoyed this.  There are and have been people in my life who I've prayed for years I think maybe sometimes I've pray for their titanics to stay afloat so they feel safe and never really have a lifeboat experience.  Do you think its our place to go in prayer and ask the Lord to sink some peoples ships?  I'm seriously asking.  I realize that when we do see them going down its hard not to feel guilty for praying that they would go down. 
But there's always the life boat (Jesus) to throw to them, and their more likely to grab o­n when sinking.  To bad most of us do have to sink before reaching out for life.
I would have to make sure the Spirit was guiding me in that kind of prayer it's hard to watch those you love to suffer (their suffering here is nothing compared to the suffering in eternity). 
I ask for prayer about this because for 35 years now I've watched my mother an acoholic seem to nonchalantly walk through life leaving lives destroyed behind her but o­nly seeing bars, and drink as her loves. Yet shes been left with enough money twice now to give her pretty much freedom to carry o­n!!!???  Should I pray for a sinking ship?  My sister and I have prayed for healing and restoration, shes been into rehab and AA three times and did quit and even went to church, just long enough to get strong in her usually half dead body to start drinking again.  Please pray that no bitter roots grows in her children, and that any trace of bitterness be exposed and healed.
Sorry for going o­n so much.
skywalker




Posted by: robertcyders


Luke 22:31-32
31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded {permission} to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
(NAS)


I have often wondered about this topic of delivering one over to Satan. We need the wisdom of God in regard to this "in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes". I have posted much scripture on this topic by no means thinking that I have the full answer. I like the above scripture that quoted Jesus as he spoke to Peter "but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." I believe that we are to bless and curse not in our prayers "for love believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things". The last two passages in this post are about a brother caught up in adultery. The prescrition is given for his disobedience then I believe that the second passage deals with him again having repented of his sin and the need to restore and reaffirm the love of the body to him. I would like to hear others opinions on this topic.

Blessings, Robert Cyders...



1 Tim 1:18-2:6
18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,
19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
CHAPTER 2
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties {and} prayers, petitions {and} thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, {and} one mediator also between God and men, {the} man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony {borne} at the proper time.
(NAS)




Eph 4:21-32
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
(KJV)




Matt 18:12-22
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
(KJV)


2 Cor 10:3-8
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; )
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
(KJV)


2 Cor 13:7-11
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
(KJV)


I Jn 5:16-17
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not {leading} to death, he shall ask and {God} will for him give life to those who commit sin not {leading} to death. There is a sin {leading} to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not {leading} to death.
(NAS)




2 Tim 2:24-26
24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses {and escape} from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
(NAS)



1 Cor 5:1-13

1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
2 And you have become arrogant, and have not mourned instead, in order that the one who had done this deed might be removed from your midst.
3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 {I have decided} to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump {of dough}
7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are {in fact} unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10 I {did} not at all {mean} with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within {the church}
13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
(NAS)





2 Cor 2:1-11
1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3 And this is the very thing I wrote you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be {the joy} of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree-- in order not to say too much-- to all of you.
6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was {inflicted by} the majority,
7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort {him} lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm {your} love for him.
9 For to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 But whom you forgive anything, I {forgive} also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, {I did it} for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
(NAS)


Posted by: JeriRose12

What about all David's prayers about shattering the teethe of the wicked, etc.? Were these just put in the Bible to show David's human-
ess? I have often wondered if that means it's okay to pray bad things on people who are against us? I know, Jesus said "Bless those who curse you," so the New Law would indicate David was wrong. Any opinions on this?

I Often pray, "Lord, do owhatever it takes to reach So and So." Then, if it's bad, God will allow it to bring that person to him, without me really voicing it. I did pray recently "It says whoever adds to your Word, you will add a plague to, so add a plague to them to show them they are wrong." (Revelation 22:18). Just as there are lists of blessings I claim as mine (because I have been obedient to God), is it okay to claim the curses on those we see disobeying God (but they seem to be blessed)?

I am praying for someone right now, and really do not want to pray the wrong things. So advice would be helpful. The above scriptures are a great reminder, Robert, that the norm for Christians is to be kind and wish good on people. But it seems like disaster and desparation are the things that make us reach for God, so....


Posted by: robertcyders

JeriRose, I understand your questions.

Most of the scriptures that I have listed are written about another believer who has chosen to go astray into sin in one way or another.
It is these that I am mainly refering to.

About 15 years ago I was working in a print shop at the age of 23. I had a new supervisor that had decided that he was going to make my life there a living hell and lead through intimidation and fear. I needed the Job and I had been married for only a short time. This man's name was David. He would give me a task to do and look at his watch and tell me that I had only a certain amount of time to complete the task of which would normally take much longer. I was afraid for my job and this would go on daily. Rather than do what my flesh wanted to do (gripe and complain) I spent my time on the night shift praying for him.
I remembered the passage that the bible says about blessing and not cursing those who persecute me. I would go to the area of his desk and without anyone else knowing that I was doing it I would sweep, dump trash, clean his area, and all in a spirit of prayer for him. God changed my heart towards him before David changed his actions towards me.
Eventually he befriended me and we were at peace. Later on I found out that he was a practicing Mormon and he knew that I was a Christian.
At this time of his life he was trying deprately with his wife to have another child. There were many complications, miscarriages, and much sorrow. I remember praying "Father change David's heart towards me or change my heart.

More on this topic of blessings or curses anyone?
This is a good thread...


Blessings, Robert Cyders...

Rom 12:14
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
(NKJ)

Luke 6:27-28
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
(KJV)

Luke 6:35-36
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
(KJV)


Rom 12:17-21
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(KJV)

James 5:13-20
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
(KJV)


Posted by: mothersheart

Why do you think those prayers of David were included in the Bible? I am not asking so I can pray this way. I have just always wondered about it.


Posted by: JeriRose12

I am sorry to say mothersheart did not post the above reply. she was using my computer earlier and I forgot to log her out before I posted. I was going to delete that but I did not know her passwrod so as to log her in and get back to the post. I thought I had deleted it, but I did it wrong. Anyway, I was just cruious what you all had to say about David's prayers about bad things happening to the wicked.


Posted by: robertcyders

JeriRose, I will attempt to address your question about King David and his heart's attitude towards his enemies. David reponded much like you or I would respond if someone were pursuing us to take our life. Yes I feel that we get a real honest picture of his humanity, and his total reliance and trust in God to deliver him from harm. Yet in all of David's trouble he still was called a man after Gods own heart.

Now let's read the passage from Luke Chapter 9 verse 51-56. You will see the disciples who have now spent most of the time of Jesus ministry learning firsthand from him about how to walk by faith. Soon Jesus is to go the Jerusalem to be delivered up on calvary. There was preparations made ahead of time for Jesus to spend the night in Samaria and the people would not receive Him. This really made the disciples angry the reponse that they made was "Lord, do you wish us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them like Elijah did?" Read on and you will see Jesus response. These men had firsthand relationships with the Son of God and yet still acted out in the flesh. You see they had not yet received the Holy Spirit and were not controlled by the indwelling Spirit of God. In the same way King David though he had the anointing of God upon him he did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling him. We have the the Holy Spirit indwelling our hearts. Therefore we can apply our faith to situations with an attitude of both love and compassion when we pray for others. When you mix love and compassion this is where the miraculous takes place in the lives of those whom we pray for.

Luke 9
51Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up [to heaven], He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem.
52And He sent messengers before Him; and they reached and entered a Samaritan village to make [things] ready for Him;
53But [the people] would not welcome or receive or accept Him, because His face was [set as if He was] going to Jerusalem.
54And when His disciples James and John observed this, they said, Lord, do You wish us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, [19] even as Elijah did ? [II Kings 1:9-16.]
55But He turned and rebuked and severely censured them. [20] He said, You do not know of what sort of spirit you are,
56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them [21] [from the penalty of eternal death]. And they journeyed on to another village.


Look at the response of Jesus to what they wanted His approval for in the destuction of these people. They were rebuked for wanting to bring a curse of death and destruction upon these people. Jesus came to save mankind and not to destroy. When we pray a curse on someone by what spirit are we doing it? Even Jesus said, "You do not know of what sort of spirit you are."
When we pray for others we need to check the motive of our heart in regard to them. Is our heart towards them a heart of love, and are we seeking their best? Do we when praying for someone believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things? Do we take into account a wrong suffered that has produced bitterness within our hearts towards this person?

Why would we want to give someone over to the devil anyhow? He's a thief with only a program to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus said "I have come that they might have life and that more abundantly." My choice is to give others over to Jesus. It is the goodness of God that leads us to turn to him and repent(Romans 2:4). When people truely understand from the heart what Jesus has done for them in His lovingkindness (covenant love) they cannot resist the urge to run into His arms and receive Him. The scripture states that faith worketh through love(Galations 5:6).

So you might ask, how should I pray for others especially someone who is difficult and a challenge to my faith? I would suggest looking at the first chapter of every epistle to the church. You can place the name of that beloved one within the scripture and pray as there is no limit to what God can do as faith and love are in action. Praying this way can also increase your faith for this individual. I will give two examples of this...

The scripture passage:
Ephesians 1:
16do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding[3] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

My prayer:
Father I do not cease to give thanks for Jeri, making mention of her in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to Jeri the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of her understanding being enlightened; that she may know what is the hope of your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward her as she believes, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.


The scripture passage:
Colossians 1:
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood,[3] the forgiveness of sins.


My prayer:
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, I do not cease to pray for Jeri, and to ask that she may be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that Jeri may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; that Jeri would be strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified Jeri to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the light. For you have delivered Jeri from the power of darkness and conveyed her into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom she has redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.


Blessings, Robert Cyders...



Other foundational scriptures:

Matt 5
43You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;
44But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven;


1 Cor 13
4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Galatians 5
22But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [ that can bring a charge].


Romans 2:4
are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repent ( to change your mind and inner man to accept God's will)?


Posted by: JeriRose12

Thanks, Robert. This gave me a great idea how to pray over some people who have strayed from the Lord. I want to read those passages with their names in them, because this is what I want for them! Thank
you for taking alll the time to post so many scriptures; I know, from my own postings, it takes time. I really like the fact that you are a man of the Word. With all the stuff going on lately, I have really had to dig into the Word. I take William Booth's phrase "Go for souls and go for the worst," and say, "Pray for souls, pray for the worst!" I am an interces-
sor and believe God for some peoples others might give up on. Some-
times in those cases, it's hard to know what to pray. I stick to "What-
ever it takes to reach them, Lord!" then he can choose if a Titanic expereince is needed. I always use, "You are not willing that any should perish," the ultimate statement to me of His mercey and grace.


Posted by: robertcyders

I take William Booth's phrase "Go for souls and go for the worst," and say, "Pray for souls, pray for the worst!" .... I always use, "You are not willing that any should perish," the ultimate statement to me of His mercy and grace. ---JerriRose



JeriRose, I can relate to praying for those who are in real need. There are many out there as well in the world and in the body of Christ in dire need and we would not even know it by outward appearance or expression, but the Spirit of God knows who they are.... I like the passage where the prostitute was wiping the feet of Jesus with her tears. The Savior said he who is forgiven much loves much... It is those who come out of the deepest of pits that reach for the highest of hights in the love and mercy of God. I read something today that blessed me of someone who looked for the worst case and ministered to this one beloved of the Lord...He reminds me a lot of our beloved Jerry Gaffney...

Blessings, Robert Cyders...

Smith Wigglesworth: A Man of Love


Smith Wigglesworth's unaltering love of the Lord increased with every passing day. To him, the Lord was everything that made for real life. As a result he could love his fellow men with the same passion that he loved the Lord.

The way he portrayed this love, however, was misunderstood at times by observers. During certain times of ministry, Wigglesworth faced opposition from these observers. Wigglesworth viewed this not as a personal criticism but rather a criticism of the work of God.

He maintained that any attack upon the work of God originated with the Devil. James Salter told me of one such incident that occurred as he was accompanying Wigglesworth in his ministry.

Often in his meetings Wigglesworth would say, "I want the person with the worst case of sickness in this place to stand up."

"Not having the faith of my father-in-law," Salter related, "I was often fearful."

At one particular meeting that Salter described, Wigglesworth gave the usual invitation as soon as he came to the platform. Sitting between two other ladies on the front row was a woman who was desperately ill.

The two ladies had almost carried her into the place and were supporting her as they sat there. At the invitation, these two friends struggled to get the woman on her feet.

Wigglesworth said, "Bring her here."

With difficulty they managed to get her to the platform.

Instead of praying for her as everyone expected him to do, Wigglesworth, in his broad Yorkshire dialect, told them, "Let go of her. Let her stand by herself." When the ladies did as he said, the woman crashed to the floor.

Wigglesworth was unmoved. "Pick her up," he told them.

They did as he said, and again he ordered them to let her stand alone. Reluctantly they complied and once more the poor woman fell down with a thud.

"Pick her up," Wigglesworth said. Again, they did as he told them.

By this time some people in the congregation were becoming hostile, but Wigglesworth paid no attention.

"Let go of her," he said to the two ladies, but this time they would not.

"You callous brute!" A man in the congregation cried out. Wigglesworth looked right at the man and said, "You mind your own business. I know my business."

Turning to the two women, he repeated his command: "Let go of her and let her stand by herself. Do as I say!"

With trepidation they did so, but this time the woman did not fall. There on the platform beside her lay a big cancer, which had come away from her.

"I think Wigglesworth adequately proved his point," Salter told me.

In such cases, Wigglesworth was invariably right. He knew his God well enough to know that beyond all doubt, God would not fail him in a situation like that.

When he told that congregation, "I know my business," he was on the hot line - in touch with the throne room. I knew Wigglesworth well enough to know that he was not angry with the man who hurled abuse at him. He was angry at the Devil!

Wigglesworth was sorry for the man. I also know that he would not have shown the slightest sign of elation when God vindicated him to the embarrassment of the man.

Wigglesworth loved people; but when the work of God was being attacked, he would vehemently defend it, no matter where the attack came from.


Source: Smith Wigglesworth by Albert Hibbert
Harrison House Publishers