Sometimes when I say to a friend, "Hey, have you ever heard of Smith Wigglesworth?", I usually get the same answer, "Who?" I heard about this man back when I was in college and ever since I have been blown away by his testimony. He was born in Menston, Yorkshire, England 1859 and died in 1947. Among many other miracles that happened as a result of his ministry, he supposedly raised 14 people from the dead. On one example, he went to attend the wake of a man who had been dead three days. He attended the wake with a particular goal in mind. He went straight in to where the body was, told everyone to get out, grabbed this man's body out of the coffin and slammed him up against the wall a few times. Telling the man to "live!" According to testimony of people there, this man's spirit reentered his body and he walked out of the funeral home with Mr. Wigglesworth. Goal accomplished. That is just one of the many stories surrounding this man. In fact, in 2011, a building project was underway to honor him with a museum in Manningham, England, to remember his legacy. http://news.bbc.co.uk/…/religion…/newsid_9382000/9382480.stm
Mr. Wigglesworth, a plumber with a special measure of faith, was noted to be really rough in his method of healing, but, it would seem, by his fruit, that he tried to minister and heal like Jesus. Typically, we tend to associate the act of "raising people from the dead" to Jesus alone, but Jesus even said, "...you will do the things I have done and more." John 14:12-14. In fact, in our time, there are many testimonies of people being raised from the dead. We just live in an era where the truth is really suppressed or we find it hard to believe.
It takes a special kind of ministry and faith to operate in a capacity like that. But if God wants to choose to use you in a particular ministry are you going to step up despite the consequences? It may not be raising the dead but will you obey despite other people's opinion of what you are doing? Do you have the faith to do what He asks you to do according to His Word? This is why I was inspired to make this digital painting. To remind me that He can use me for greater works. Something to think about.