© 19 Colin Melbourne, Transcribed and annotated from The Pentecostal Evangel 1923
When Christ Becomes Real
At one time, I belonged to a class who believed that they had received the Baptism in the Spirit without the speaking in tongues.
There are many folk like that today, but if you can go with them to a prayer meeting, you will find them asking the Lord again, and again, to baptize them in the Spirit.
Why all this asking if they really have received the Baptism?
I have never heard anyone who has received the Baptism in the Holy Ghost after the original pattern, asking the Lord to give them the Holy Ghost.
They know of a surety that He has come.
Paralyzed 20 years
I was once travelling from Belgium to England. As I landed, I received a request to stop at a place between Harwich and Colchester.
The people were delighted that God had sent me, and told me of a special case they wanted me to pray for.
They said, “We have a brother here who believes in the Lord, and he is paralyzed from his loins downward. He cannot stand on his legs, and he has been twenty years in this condition.”
They took me to this man, and as I saw him there in his chair, I put the question to him,
“What is the greatest desire in your heart?”
He said, “Oh, if I could only receive the Holy Ghost!”
I was somewhat surprised at this answer, and I laid my hands on his head and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
Instantly the power of God fell upon him, and he began breathing very heavily. He rolled off the chair, and there he lay like a bag of potatoes, utterly helpless.
I like anything God does. I like to watch God working.
There he was with his great fat body, and his head was working just as though it was on a swivel. Then to our joy he began speaking in tongues.
I had my eyes on every bit of him, and as I saw the condition of his legs I said, “Those legs can never carry that body.” Then I looked up and said, “Lord, tell me what to do.”
The Holy Ghost is the executive of Jesus Christ and the Father.
If you want to know the mind of God you must have the Holy Ghost to bring God’s latest thought to you, and to tell you what to do.
The Lord said to me, “Command him in My Name to walk.”
But I missed it, of course. I said to the people there, “Let’s see if we can lift him up.”
But we could not lift him, he was like a ton weight.
I cried, “Oh Lord, forgive me.” I repented of doing the wrong thing, and then the Lord said to me again, “Command him to walk.”
I said to him, “Arise in the Name of Jesus.”
His legs were immediately strengthened.
Did he walk?
He ran all around!
A month after this he walked ten miles and back.
He has a Pentecostal work now.
When the power of God is present, things will happen.
There is more for us all yet, praise the Lord!
This is only the beginning.
So far we have only touched the fringe of things.
There is much more for us if we will but yield to God.
Do you want to receive the Spirit?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mtt. 7:11 KJV
I am a father, and I want to give my boys the very best.
We human fathers are but finite, but our Heavenly Father is infinite. There is no limit to the power and blessing He has laid up for them that love Him.
Be filled with the Spirit!
Smith Wigglesworth
END
Back to the start… Smith Wigglesworth on: Ye Shall Receive Power
Preached at Springfield Assembly of God in 1922
© 19 Colin Melbourne, Transcribed and annotated from The Pentecostal Evangel 1923
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