God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding – Job 37:5

Pursuing Hearing Gods Voice

In pursuing a more active relationship with Jesus by seeking to hear and know His voice, I have determined to establish certain disciplines to give me confidence that what is coming into my spirit/mind is from God. Most critical is determining . . . 1. Is what I’m hearing consistent with the goodness, righteousness and truth of God in scripture and 2. Is it a reflection of the overall Character of Jesus – Using Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” as the core description of Jesus’ character.

My personal conviction is that, at its core, exercising all spiritual disciplines and spiritual ‘sign’ gifts involves hearing God’s voice (being instructed) in some form. Jesus declared in the Gospel of John:

• John 12:49– “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
• And in John 5:19– Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

So, if we are to trust the spoken word (rhema) that flows into our mind and spirit, we must know his voice which is best captured in the written word/scripture(logos)and consistent with the overall Character of Christ as revealed in scripture.

• Hebrews 4:12– For the word (Logos) of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Romans 10:17– So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.
• Ephesians 6:17– And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God:

If Jesus came to be our example (albeit perfect example) to follow – only doing what he saw the Father do and only saying what he heard the Father say, are we not called to be imitators of Christ? – Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma, to follow how He lived his life.–Ephesians 5:1-2

Likewise, Jesus said that those who follow him would know his voice. – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27

Who do I imitate?

I am a Christ-follower who believes that the ‘sign’ Gifts of the Spirit (miraculous healing as an example) are for today. They have been practiced by men and women of faith for centuries since Christ. Have there been abuses over the centuries? YES.

How much of what is marvelously good as God’s creation has been stolen and abused for wrong or misguided or selfish purposes? Do we throw it all out because of those who abuse what is good?

While on this journey I have checked out various ministries, and been challenged by some as to whether they are a good reflection of what I’ve come to know about the Character of Jesus – i.e. good imitations (none of us are perfect imitations). If I gauge that they fall seriously short, I move on undeterred in my belief that these gifts from God are still real and true.

Yet, I wonder if it is possible to exercise these Spiritual gifts even when those exercising the gifts are not the most consistent reflection of the Jesus found in the Gospels?

While I have come across a number of good and (what I gauge to be) biblically accurate ministries regularly experiencing signs and wonders, there have been some pastors, preachers, evangelists, healing ministries (allowing for their inevitable flawed humanity to surface) that I have decided – Well, I cannot reject that God is involved, but this is just not a ministry I will associate with.

Paul, in one of the boldest statements of faith made by any Christian says in 1 Corinthians 11:1“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”The writer of Hebrews goes on to encourage, “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”We are to not only look to Christ but look to those tangible, in-the-flesh Christians who have demonstrated to be faithful and good imitators of Christ.

The Wigglesworth Dilemma

Yet, how do we handle those in Christian ministry who I gauge do not always line up with the standard of the character of Christ? Their imitation of the Christ I see and know from scripture does not seem an accurate one? Instead of displaying the Fruit of the Spirit, I see someone who is harsh, judgmental, self-righteous, flamboyant, maybe even angry and mean – even violent! And yet God seems to be using them to draw people to Himself.

Let’s take the infamous preacher/evangelist and agent of miracles of the early 1900’s, Smith Wigglesworth (SW) and some of his practices as an example.

SW has come to be known for resorting to violence; slapping, punching and kicking those that would seek out miraculous healing from God. His life and ministry is controversial among some Christian circles today. He claimed that God would instruct him to punch, slap or kick some of the infirmed who came to him.

Many celebrate his dedication to hearing God’s voice and faithfully acting upon God’s instruction with miraculous results. But, some other Christ-followers are offended by his actions and reject him as an authentic minister of God. Based on my requirements for confirming a word from God, what would I conclude about Smith Wigglesworth? Perhaps his most infamously challenging episode is found in the following account:

The Healing GOOOOOOOAAL!

This particular episode described below, is the clearest version of various versions I have heard. This account goes as follows:

A 2-month-old baby boy was born with a defect known as spina bifida where the spine grows outside of the body. The child was being cared for in the hospital but the parents had little hope for their child’s survival. The parents stole their baby from the hospital and brought the child to a Smith Wigglesworth service and asked Smith to pray for him.

Smith held that baby in his arms and prayed to God. He then asked the Mother and Father “Will you allow me to do what the Father is telling me?” They replied “Certainly.”

Smith raised the child over his head and prayed. The Mother and Father praised God thinking Smith was lifting the child in a symbolic dedication to God. What was Smith led to do? Smith threw the baby against the wall! The baby fell to the ground as Smith then went up to the baby and kicked it like a football (Soccer Ball).

The Mother and Father were horrified by Smith’s actions. In shock, they ran over to their baby. But, they were stunned to find their baby alert and not even crying. Inspecting the baby, they realized it was totally and miraculously healed. Not a single bruise or marking was on the child and the spine was returned to a normal state.

The parents then took the baby back to the hospital so they, by print, could confirm that the baby was indeed the same child.

I’ve heard other slightly different versions of the story including describing the baby as recently died and then brought back to life.

Applaud or Appalled?

Okay, regardless of the version, it involves kicking an infant. This action divides the Christian community into two camps – those who applaud and those who are appalled.

Some Christians applaud it as an amazing example of Wigglesworth’s dedication to discerning God’s directive and acting on it. While others are completely appalled by something so contrary to their understanding of the character of Christ and the way Jesus behaved as documented in scripture.

And, based upon my disciplines for confirming God’s voice, I go to scripture. With Jesus as my example, do I see him ever being physically violent with those he sought to bring healing? Easy enough – No.

In Matthew 19:14-15 Jesus famously declared his affection for little children – “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.”Mathew records Jesus laying on of hands but I guess he must have failed to record that part about Jesus kicking kids like a football.

I must say that the life of Smith Wigglesworth created a real dilemma for me as it has for some other Christians. As I reviewed his life and ministry, I saw a man totally dedicated to God’s word and the things of God, in every other way living out the full Fruit of the Spirit. A minister of God who repeatedly confirmed that his sole purpose was to lead people into a right relationship with God and who saw thousands come to Christ through his ministry. His life and these particular aspects of his ministry challenged my notion of how God works through His people.

So, I set on a mission to take a deeper dive into the life and ministry of Smith Wigglesworth and to find the writings documenting this particular (kicking an infant) episode. I wanted to see if I could reconcile this behavior to the Christ I know and who is described in scripture and to the biblical standard I have set for hearing and acting upon God’s voice.

Next Week:The Wigglesworth Dilemma – Part II: The Search