最棒的基督徒生命 44

信心使徒

史密斯•維格氏維爾Smith Wigglesworth
1859 – 1947

英國佈道家維格氏維爾擁有20世紀最卓越的事工之一，他持續成為全世界相信主仍醫治與釋放之佈道家與信徒的極大鼓舞。

維格氏維爾出生在貧窮的英國約克郡，年輕時在田裡與工廠工作，後來成為一名水電工。在1882年娶妻前都是文盲，他妻子波麗用聖經教他識字，他們定意只讀聖經。

先不考慮維格氏維爾的學習背景，他以不尋常的信心觸摸世界，他的屬靈背景既豐富又多元。他八歲便重生得救，他受裝備的地方包括循道會、聖工會、普里茅斯兄弟會與救世軍。

當維格氏維爾開始傳道，很快便受到歡迎，最終離開水電工的工作。到了1907年森德蘭大復興（Sunderland Revival）時，他領受聖靈的洗與說方言的恩賜，五循節教派很快便接受他，他在英格蘭神召會（Assemblies of God）特會中分享，後來接受美國分會的認證。

維格氏維爾教導神醫治是出於人單純的信心，但他也認為許多疾病與鬼附有關。他稱癌症為『一個活躍的邪靈』，他使用一些受到爭議的方式，有時包括拍打或猛擊身體受苦之處。維格氏維爾常常將一些腹部受到邪靈攪擾的人猛擊到房間另一頭，當受到質疑時，他會說他並沒有打這個人，而是擊打在疾病背後他所看見的魔鬼。

毫無疑問，維格氏維爾的形式風格粗造又受人質疑，他認為為某人禱告超過一次是沒有信心的表現，倘若他在台上認出他已經禱告過的人，他會叫這些『毫無信心』的人下台。即便如此，結果卻讓人很難有爭議性。報章雜誌到處報導值得注意的神蹟奇事，包括死人復活。他自己的妻子波麗，便是其中一個從死裡復活的例子。

維格氏維爾的服事也去到歐洲、印度、南非、紐澳，太平洋群島國家和美國。他在每一個地方都造成轟動，吸引很多的群眾。就像許多知名的事工，也有人中傷他、不時毀謗他，這似乎只會讓群眾更多。神的盼望再次以大能運行，大過嘲諷著試圖散播的懼怕。

維格氏維爾從沒寫過書，但他有一些講道被出版。他的生命促使他人寫一些關於他激勵人心的書籍，他單純卻大有能力的信心激勵無數人，讓神的大能藉由他來觸摸他們。在他死後一年於1948年所爆發的醫治復興，一些人相信是他所撒的種。

毫無疑問，如此單純又非凡的靈魂促使一個世代相信主仍是同樣的主，就和祂當年行走在地上一樣。祂仍愛祂的子民並醫治他們。維格氏維爾很快得著一個眾所皆知的稱號─『信心使徒』。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week44, 2015)



The Apostle of Faith- The Greatest Christian Life
Week 44, 2015 
Rick Joyner 

Smith Wigglesworth
1859 – 1947

British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth had one of the most extraordinary ministries of the 20th century. He continues to be a great inspiration to evangelists and believers around the world who believe the Lord still heals and delivers.

Born into poverty in Yorkshire, England, Wigglesworth worked in the fields and factories as a youth. Ultimately, he became a plumber. Illiterate until he married Polly Featherstone in 1882, his wife used the Bible to teach him to read. They resolved it would be the only book they would read.

While not considered a man of great learning, Wigglesworth touched the world with an uncommon faith. He had a rich and varied spiritual background. Born again at eight years old, he was taught by Methodists, Anglicans, Baptists, the Plymouth Brethren, and the Salvation Army.

When Wigglesworth began to preach, he became popular fast and eventually left his job as a plumber. In 1907, during the Sunderland Revival, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. The Pentecostals quickly adopted him. He spoke at the Assemblies of God events in England, and later received credentials through the Assemblies of God in America.

Wigglesworth taught that God healed by simple faith, but he also considered many sicknesses as demonic. He called cancer “a living evil spirit.” His controversial methods sometimes involved hitting, slapping, or punching the afflicted part of the body. Wigglesworth often punched those suffering from complaints in the stomach with such force that the person was knocked across the room. When challenged, he said that he did not hit the person, but rather the devil he saw behind the sickness.

Without question, Wigglesworth had a rough and challenging style. He considered it unbelief to pray for someone more than once, and he removed people “full of unbelief” from the platform if he recognized they had already been prayed for. Even so, it was hard to argue with the results. Word of remarkable miracles spread through newspaper and magazine accounts, including reports of people being raised from the dead. His wife, Polly, was one of those brought back to life.

Wigglesworth’s ministry took him to a number of European countries, as well as India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, several Pacific Islands, and America. In every place, he became a sensation and attracted large crowds. Like any noteworthy ministry, he had detractors and was often vilified. This only seemed to grow the crowds. The hope of God moving again in power was greater than the fear the cynics sought to spread.  

Wigglesworth never wrote a book, but some of his sermons were published. His life prompted others to write inspiring books about him. His simple but powerful faith inspired multitudes, touching them by the power of God flowing through him. Some credit the great Healing Revival that broke out in 1948, the year after his death, to the seeds he had sown.

No doubt this simple but extraordinary soul compelled a generation to believe that the Lord is the same as when He walked the earth. He still loves people and heals them. Smith Wigglesworth rightly earned the title by which he became known— “The Apostle of Faith.”