First the Blade
© 2019 by Larry Nevenhoven
Introduction
I have always been intrigued by the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, a Pentecostal pioneer. He has touched millions of believers with his exploits and teaching.
Wigglesworth (1859 – 1947) was born into a poor family in Yorkshire, England. As a child, he worked in the fields pulling turnips and working in the mills rather than attending schools. As a teenager, a man taught Wigglesworth the plumbing trade, which he worked at until he became a full-time evangelist.
After his marriage in 1882, his wife Polly eventually taught him how to read when he was twenty-seven years old. He made up his mind from that point forward to read little else but the Bible.
Many of his Christians peers referred to Wigglesworth as the Apostle of Faith. Their reasoning was based on his successful world-wide ministry that saw tens of thousands of people saved, thousands healed and hundreds of thousands taught to walk closer to the Lord. Numerous accounts even testify that Wigglesworth raised at least fourteen people from the dead.
Wigglesworth’s quotes still inspire Christians today:
“Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.”
“It is better to live ready than to get ready!”
“There is nothing our God cannot do. He will do everything if you dare to believe.”
“Some read their Bibles in Hebrew, some in Greek; I like to read mine in the Holy Ghost.”
“A man is in a great place when he has no one to turn to but God.”
“God wants us so badly that He has made the condition as simple as He possibly could: only believe.”
“There is something about believing God that will cause Him to pass over a million people to get to you.”
“If you seek nothing but the will of God, He will always put you in the right place at the right time.”
Once, Smith Wigglesworth was talking with some Bible school students when one asked, “How can I be like you?”
“First the blade, then the ear and after that the full corn in the ear,” Wigglesworth replied.
Wigglesworth used Mark 4:28 to underline an important point to the young man. He wanted the student to understand it takes time and proper preparation for a new believer to grow in his spiritual walk with the Lord. It’s not an overnight happening!
My hope in writing this book is to encourage Christians – young and old – to take the time to build a proper foundation for their spiritual journeys with the Lord.
(Continued in Part 2)
Larry Who 
This is just so good and important! Blessings and thanks, Mr. Larry!
Debbie,
Thanks. God bless you.
Love those quotes, thank you!
Yvette,
Me too. God bless you.