By Ada Balderstone.
Published in Confidence, October-December 1920.

Last November, while nursing a dear sister in the Lord, I fell from the top to the bottom of the stairs. When I got to the bottom I banged the top of my head into the wall. I felt a queer sensation in my neck and shoulder, and my arms went quite dead. I thought, “There, I have killed myself and broken my arms.” A deadly faintness was creeping over me, when something impressed me to look at my arms. I lifted my head to look, and suddenly the life came back into them, but the awful prickling sensation was terrible, and I could not bear them touching for weeks. The doctor wanted to take me to the infirmary, but I said “No,” so they made me a bed in the same room as the other sick one.

The doctor gave very little hopes of me, and said if I lived I should have to lie on my back for 18 months at least, and he did not think I should ever be able to move my head about as usual. Twice in a fortnight I was at the very gates of death. The first night I was so ill I thought I was going to live with Jesus, but I had a lovely vision of Him and He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for My glory, and that My name might be glorified throughout all the country.” The second time I nearly passed away my dear husband gave himself to the Lord. The doctor said I had fractured and dislocated the spine, and when I lifted my head up the bone had slipped partly on again and liberated the spinal cord; but I felt it was the Lord doing His own work.

For 15 weeks I lay on my back without being able to move, then the Lord permitted my nurse to leave me. A dear friend took me to her home, a Pentecostal Divine Healing Home, and I was there only a few days when we were at prayer one morning. I was sitting up in a chair, my daughter was sitting at my knee, when all at once it seemed as though someone lifted me up and put me on my feet in the center of the room, and from that day I could walk from one room to the other, but with great pain in my back, and I could only move my head a little. It hurt me very much to try to lift up my head.

Bradford. On Saturday, April 3rd, I said to my husband, “I should like to go to Bradford Convention,” and he said, “I shall not take you; people would think I was mad to take a woman in your condition.” However, I prayed to God to take all opposition out of him, and on Monday morning he seemed as eager as I was, and I said, “I believe that is where I have to go to get healed, so that God may be glorified.” So my husband got a cab to the station, also when we arrived at Bradford to take us to the Presbyterian Church, Infirmary Street.

Bro. Wigglesworth took us into a smail room. My husband then went downstairs to have some refreshment, and Bro. Wigglesworth and two sisters came to me. Bro. Wigglesworth anointed me with oil in the name of the Lord, and in five minutes I could walk about the room and move my head any way. (I felt the bone slip into place.) I climbed to a bedroom four stories high to sleep, and walked over two miles next day, and have not had any pain in my back, neck or arms since. Praise the Lord! Nothing is too hard for Him.

I may say the doctor has often said he could not understand how it was I did not die. He said, “From what you had done to yourself, by all the natural laws of medicine you ought to be a dead woman.” He has repeated many times, “It is marvelous; I cannot understand it.” But God understands. I do not think that I ever murmured at the suffering after He said it would glorify Him. It is glorious to know He is with us in pain helping us to bear it. I do praise Him for keeping me patient through it all.

I sincerely hope this testimony will be the means of helping others to trust the Lord with their bodies, as He bore our sicknesses as well as our sins on Calvary, and is all-sufficient for spirit, soul, and body.

Anyone wishing to write to me may have the names of several people who heard what the doctor said, and saw me throughout all the illness. I may also say I was healed of cancer in the body 4 years last November. I had not very long to live when Bro. Wigglesworth came over to Doncaster and laid hands on me, and I was instantly healed, and have had no more pain nor hemorrhage since. Wonderful Jesus! Five months after I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the Sign of Tongues. And all my desire is that He will use me for His glory, as I am a living testimony of His wonderful power.

Labels: 1920, Confidence, Others' testimonies

Published in Confidence, October-December 1920.

I only returned home on Saturday after a most wonderful time, in French Switzerland this time. There have been great scenes of Pentecost and spiritual revival. Truly hundreds hare been saved and not less than 1,000 healed. Some of the most wonderful miracles were wrought. One had diabetes and was so delivered that his doctor gave him a certificate to say that he was fully healed, without a trace of sugar. One man brought on a stretcher blind and paralyzed now sees and walks. A consumption case was given up by the doctor; the same doctor declared her free and told her to testify to every one, and put down on paper “Healed fully.” I could go on, but must give you more detalis some orher time.

At Geneva now there is a good work, no Pentecost before. At Neuchâtel a good work; they have got the English Church, no Pentecost before. Lausanne now a strong center, only a few before. Vevey, on the Lake of Geneva, now a good work, and Aigle, not before; at Mayers also, and at Shil de Fos, a great place for watch making.

At all these places God worked wonders, and the largest halls were full of people. At my last meetings in Neuchâtel the great theater was full twice, and at a large morning meeting at Bern on August 6th I baptized in the open river 110 new converts. This will give you some idea of God’s workings. The cry is great.

The people in Sweden and Norway had me booked for September, but the cry of French Switzerland was too appealing, so I remained. I am due back in Zurich (German Switzerland) on October 30th, for one month. Then I am to have a Convention for all French Swiss in December with the leaders, so I would like your beloved wife and yourself to keep me in remembrance.

I brought back for our Missionaries over £300 again, and have £200 promised to the P.M.U. and £100 to the Congo.

God bless you.

His servant,
Smith Wigglesworth.
70 Victor Road,
Bradford.
October 5th, 1920.

Labels: 1920, Confidence

Part of an article series called, “Truths re-stated.”
Published in Confidence, October-December 1920.

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.

* * *

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.

Labels: 1920, Confidence

Presented at 70 Victor Road, Bradford, UK.
Published in Confidence, October-December 1919.

“Then said they unto Him, ‘What shall we do that we might work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God: that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.’ ” —John 6:28-29.

“This is the work of God, that ye believe.” Nothing in the world glorifies God so much as simple rest of faith in what God’s Word says. Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” He saw the way the Father did the works; it was on the ground work of knowledge, faith based upon knowledge. When I know Him, there are any amount of promises I can lay hold of, then there is no struggle, for he that asketh receiveth, he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jesus lived to manifest God’s glory in the earth, to show forth what God was like, that many sons might be brought to glory.

John the Baptist came as a forerunner, testifying beforehand to the coming revelation of the Son. The Son came, and in the power of the Holy Ghost revealed faith. The living God has chosen us in the midst of His people. The power is not of us, but of God. Yes, beloved, it is the power of another within us, Jesus the Son of God. Just in the measure we are clothed, and covered, and hidden in Him, is His inner working manifested. Jesus said, “The works that I do shall ye do also, and My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Oh, the joy of the knowledge of it! To know Him. We know if we look back how God has taken us on we love to shout “Hallelujah,” pressed out beyond measure by the Spirit, as He brings us face to face with reality, His blessed Holy Spirit dwelling in us and manifesting the works. I must know the sovereignty of His grace and the manifestation of His power. Where am I? I am in Him; He is in God. The Holy Ghost, the great Revealer of the Son. Three persons dwelling in man. The Holy Spirit is in us for revelation to manifest the Christ of God. “Therefore be it known unto you He that dwelleth in God doeth the works.” “The law of the Spirit of life having made us free from the law of sin and death.”

The Spirit working in righteousness, bringing us to the place where all unbelief is dethroned, and Christ is made the Head of the Corner. “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” It is a glorious fact, we are in God’s presence, possessed by Him; we are not our own, we are clothed with Another. What for? For the deliverance of the people. Many can testify to the day and hour when they were delivered from sickness by a supernatural power. Some would have passed away with influenza if God had not intervened, but God stepped in with a new revelation, showing us we are born from above, born by a new power, God dwelling in us superseding the old. “If ye ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Ask and receive, and your joy shall be full, if ye dare to believe. “What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” God is more anxious to answer than we are to ask. I am speaking of faith based upon knowledge.

A testimony. I was healed of appendicitis, and that because of the knowledge of it; faith based upon the knowledge of the experience of it. Where I have ministered to others God has met and answered according to His will. It is in our trust and our knowledge of the power of God—the knowledge that God will not fail us if we will only believe. “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” Jesus said unto the centurion, “Go thy way; as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee,” and the servant was healed in the self-same hour.

An instance. In one place where I was staying a young man came in telling us his sweetheart was dying; there was no hope. I said, “Only believe.” What was it? Faith based upon knowledge. I knew that what God had done for me He could do for her. We went to the house. Her sufferings were terrible to witness. I said, “In the name of Jesus come out of her.” She cried, “Mother, mother, I am well.” Then I said that the only way to make us believe it was to get up and dress. Presently she came down dressed. The doctor came in and examined her careiully. He said, “This is of God; this is the finger of God.” It was faith based upon knowledge. If I received a check for £1,000, and only knew imperfectly the character of the man that sent it, I should be careful not to reckon on it until it was honored. Jesus did great works because of His knowledge of His Father. Faith begets knowledge, fellowship, communion. If you see imperfect faith, full of doubt, a wavering condition, it always comes of imperfect knowledge. Jesus said, “ ‘Father, I know that Thou hearest Me always, but because of the people that stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou has sent Me.’ He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ ” “And God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul, so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchlefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior.

Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself? How God has cared for me these twelve years, and blessed me, giving me such a sense of His presence! When we depend upon God how bountiful He is, giving us enough and to spare for others. Lately God has enabled me to take victory on new lines, a living-in-Holy-Ghost attitude in a new way. As we meet, immediately the glory falls. The Holy Ghost has the latest news from the Godhead, and has designed for us the right place at the right time. Events happen in a remarkable way. You drop in where the need is.

There have been several mental cases lately. How difficult they are naturally, but how easy for God to deal with. One lady came, saying, “Just over the way there is a young man terribly afflicted, demented, with no rest day or night.” I went with a very imperfect knowledge as to what I had to do, but in the weak places God helps our infirmities. I rebuked the demon in the name of Jesus, then I said, “I’ll come again tomorrow.” Next day when I went he was with his father in the field and quite well.

Another case. Fifty miies away there was a fine young man, twenty-five years of age. He had lost his reason, could have no communication with his mother, and he was always wandering up and down. I knew God was waiting to bless. I cast out the demon-power, and heard long after he had become quite well. Thus the blessed Holy Spirit takes us on from one place to anoiher. So many things happen, I live in heaven on earth. Just the other day, at Coventry, God relieved the people. Thus He takes us on, and on, and on.

Do not wait for inspiration if you are in need; the Holy Ghost is here, and you can have perfect deliverance as you sit in your seats.

I was taken to three persons, one in care of an attendant. As I entered the room there was a terrible din, quarrelling, such a noise it seemed as if all the powers of hell were stirred. I had to wait God’s time. The Holy Ghost rose in me at the right time, and the three were delivered, and at night were singing praises to God. There had to be activity and testimony. Let it be known unto you this man Christ is the same today. Which man? God’s Man Who has to have the glory, power and dominion. “For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.” When He reigns in you, you know how to obey, how to work in conjunction with His will, His power, His light, His life, having faith based upon knowledge, we know He has come. “Ye shall receive power, the Holy Ghost coming upon you.” We are in the experience of it.

Sometimes a live word comes unto me, in the presence of a need, a revelation of the Spirit to my mind, “Thou shalt be loosed.” Loosed now? It looks like presumption, but God is with the man who dares to stand upon His word. I remember, for instance, a person who had not been able to smell anything for four years. I said, “You will smell now if you believe.” This stirred another who had not smelled for twenty years. I said, “You will smell tonight.” She went about smelling everything, and was quite excited. Next day she gave her testimony. Another came and asked, “Was it possible for God to heal her ears?” The drums were removed. I said, “OnIy beiieve.” She went down into the audience in great distress; others were healed but she could not hear. The next night she came again. She said, “I am going to believe tonight.” The glory fell. The first time she came feeling; the second time she came believing.

At one place there was a man anointed for rupture. He came the next night, rose in the meeting saying, “This man is an impostor; he is deceiving the people. He told me last night I was healed; I am worse than ever today.” I spoke to the evil power that held the man and rebuked it, telling the man he was indeed healed. He was a mason. Next day he testified to lifting heavy weights, and that God had met him. “By His stripes we are healed.” “He hath made to light on Him the iniquity of us all.” It was the Word of God, not me he was against.

What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus said, “This is the work of God that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.” Anything else? Yes. He took our infirmities, and healed all our diseases. I myself am a marvel of healing. If I fail to glorify God, the stones would cry out.

Salvation is for all,

Healing is for all.

Baptism of the Holy Ghost is for all.

Reckon yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God.

By His grace get the victory every time. It is possible to live holy.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,

He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean,

His blood avails for me.

What shall we do that we might work the works of God? “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.”

Labels: 1919, Confidence

Published in Confidence, April/June 1919.

Gen 32:24: “And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

As we look back over our spiritual career we shall always see there has been a good deal of our own day, and that the end of our day was the beginning of God’s day. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption,” and we cannot enter into the deep things of God until we are free from our own ideas and ways.

Jacob! The name means supplanter, and when Jacob came to the end of his way God had a way. How slow we are to see that there is a better day. Beloved, the glory is never so wonderful as when God has His plan and we are helpless and throw down our sword and give up our authority to another. Jacob was a great worker, and he would go through any hardship if he could have his way. In many ways he had his way, and in ignorance how gloriously God preserved him from calamity. There is a good and there is a better, but God has a best, a higher standard for us than we have yet attaIned. It is a better thing if it is God’s plan and not ours.

Jacob and his mother had a plan to secure the birthright and the blessing, and his father agreed to his going to Padan-aram, but God planned the ladder and the angels. “The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it.” “I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” What a good thing for the lad, in the midst of the changes, God obtained the right place. The planning for the birthright had not been a nice thing, but here at Bethel he found God was with him.

Many things may happen in our lives, but when the veil is lifted and we see the glory of God, His tender compassion over us all the time, to be where God is, how wonderful it is. Bethel was the place where the ladder was set up twenty-one years before. Twenty-one years of wandering and fighting and struggling. Listen to his conversation with his wives: “Your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.” To his father-in-law: “Except the God of my father had been with me, thou hadst sent me away empty. God hath seen my affliction and the labor of my hands.” Jacob had been out in the bitter frost at night watching the flocks. He was a thrifty man, a worker, a planner, a supplanter. We see the whole thing around us in the world today—supplanters. There may be a measure of blessing, but God is not first in their lives. We are out judging them, but there is a better way, better than our best—God’s way. God first! “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

But there is a way that God establisheth, and I want us to keep that way before us this morning—the way that God establisheth. In our own natural planning and way we may have much blessing, of a kind; but oh, beloved, the trials the hardships, the barrenness, the things missed which God could not give us! I realize this morning by the Holy Ghost, I realize by the anointing of the Spirit that there is a freshness, a glow, a planning in God where you can know that God is with you all the time. Can we know that God is with us all the time? Yes! Yes! Yes! I tell you there is a place to reach where all that God has for us can flow through us to a needy world all the time. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Verse 24: “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” Oh, to be left alone! Alone with God! In the context we read that several things had gone on. His wives had gone on, his children had gone on, all had gone on. His sheep and oxen had gone on, his camels and asses had gone on, all had gone on. He was alone. You will often find you are alone. Whether you like it or not, your wives will go on, your children will go on, your cattle will go on. Jacob was left alone. His wife could not make atonement for him, his children could not make atonement for him, his money was useless to help him. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” What made Jacob come to that place of loneliness, weakness, and knowledge of himself? The memory of the grace with which God had met him twenty-one years before, when he saw the ladder and the angels and heard the voice of God: “Behold I am with thee and will keep thee, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” He remembered God’s mercy and grace.

Here he was returning to meet Esau. His brother had become very rich, he was a chief, he had been blehsed abundantly in the things of this world, he had authority and power to bind all Jacob had and to take vengeance upon him. Jacob knew this. He knew also that there was only one way of deliverance. What was it? The mind of God. “No one can deliver me but God.” God had met him twenty-one years before, when he went out empty. He had come back with wives and children and goods, but he was lean in soul and impoverished in spirit. Jacob said to himself, “If I do not get a blessing from God I can never meet Esau,” and he made up his mind he would not go on until he knew that he had favor with God. Jacob was left alone, and unless we get alone with God, we shall surely perish. “God interposes where strife is at an end; the way of revelation is plain, and the Holy Ghost’s plan is so clear, that we have to say it was God after all.”

Jacob was left alone. He knelt alone. The picture is so real to me. Alone! Alone! Alone! He began to think. He thought about the ladder and the angels. I think as he began to pray his tongue would cleave to the roof of his mouth. Jacob had to get rid of a lot of things. It had all been Jacob! Jacob! Jacob! He got alone with God and he knew it. If you get alone with God, what a place of revelation! Alone with God! Jacob was left alone, alone with God. We stay too long with our relations, our camels and our sheep. Jacob was left alone. It would be afternoon. Hour after hour passed. He began to feel the presence of God. But God was getting disappointed with Jacob. If ever God is disappointed with you when you tarry in his presence, it will be because you are not white-hot. If you do not get hotter, and hotter, and hotter, you disappoint God. If God is with you and you know it, be in earnest. Pray! Pray! Pray! Lay hold! “Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” If you do not, you disappoint God.

Jacob was that way. God said: you are not real enough; you are not hot enough; you are too ordinary; you are no good to me unless you are filled with zeal—white hot! He said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh. Jacob knew if God went without blessing him, Esau could not be met. If you are left alone—alone with God—and you cannot get to a place of victory, it is a terrible time. You must never let go, whatever you are seeking—fresh revelation, light on the path, some particular need—never let go. Victory is ours if we are in earnest enough. All must pass on, nothing less will please God. “Let me go, the day breaketh!” He was wrestling with equal strength. Nothing is obtained that way. You must always master that which you are wrestling with. If darkness covers you, if it is fresh revelation you need, or your mind to be relieved, always get the victory. God says you are not in earnest enough. “Oh,” you say, “the Word does not say that.” But it was God’s mind. In wrestling the strength is in the neck, chest, and thigh; the thigh is the strength of all. So God touched his thigh. That strength gone, defeat is sure. What did Jacob do? He hung on. “God means to have a people severed by the power of His power, so hold fast; He will never leave go. And if we do leave go we shall fall short.”

Jacob said, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” And God blessed him. Verse 28: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.” Now a new order is beginning, sons of God. How wonderful the change of Jacob to Israel! Israel! Victory all the time, God building all the time, God enough all the time. Power over Esau, power over the worId, power over the cattle. The cattle are nothing to him now. All is in subjection as he comes out of the great night of trial. The sun rises upon him. Oh, that God may take us on, the sun rising, God supplanting all!

What after that? Read how God blessed and honored him. Esau meets him. No fighting now—what a blessed state of grace! They kissed each other. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him.” “What about all these cattle, Jacob?” “Oh, it’s a present.” “Oh, I have plenty; I don’t want your cattle. What a joy it is to see your face again!” What a wonderful change! Who wrought it? God.

Verse 25: “When he saw that he prevailed not against Him.” Could he hold God? Can you hold God?—it is irreverent to say so—oh, yes, you can. Sincerity can hold Him, dependence can hold Him, weakness can hold Him. When you are weak, then are you strong. I’ll tell you what cannot hold Him. Self-righteousness cannot hold Him, pride cannot hold Him, assumption cannot hold Him, high-mindedness cannot hold Him; thinking you are something when you are nothing, puffed up in your imagination. Nothing but sincerity! You can hold Him in the closet, in the prayer meeting, everywhere. “If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

Can you hold Him? There may be a thought, sometimes, that He has left you. Oh, no! He does not leave Jacob, Israel. What changed his name? The wrestling? What changed his name? The holding on, the clinging, the brokenness of spirit? If you do not help me I am no good, no good for the world’s need. I am no longer salt. Jacob obtained the blessing on two lines: the favor of God, and a yieldedness of will. God’s Spirit was working in him to bring him to a place of helplessness; God co-working to bring him to Bethel, the place of victory. Jacob remembered Bethel, and through all the mischievous conditions he had kept his vow.

When we make vows and keep them, how God helps us. We must call upon God and give Him account of the promise. Verse 30: “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” How did he know? Do you know when God blesseth you, when you have victory? But twenty years afterwards the vision of the ladder and the angels! How did he know? We must have a perfect knowledge of what God has for us. He knew that he had the favor of God, and that no man could hurt him. Let us in all our seeking see we have the favor of God, walking day by day beneath an open heaven. Keeping His commandments, walking in the Spirit, tender in our hearts, lovable, appreciated by God; if so, we shall be appreciated by others and our ministry will be a blessing to those who hear. God bless you. God bless you—for Jesus’ sake.

Labels: 1919, Confidence