Smith Wigglesworth a renowned Pentecostal Evangelist spoke often about spiritual authority, teaching that it comes from faith in God’s Word and the finished work of Christ, not from human position, title, or personality. He believed authority was something every believer could walk in when they fully trusted what God had said.
Wigglesworth taught that Jesus Christ has all authority, and that believers share in that authority because they are in Christ. He frequently pointed to verses like Luke 10:19 to show that authority over the enemy is already given, not something Christians must beg God for. In his view, many believers live powerless lives because they ask God to do what He has already authorized them to stand in by faith.
He emphasized that authority is exercised through speaking and acting on God’s Word. Wigglesworth was known for saying that believers must not pray timid prayers filled with doubt, but instead boldly declare what God has promised. He often taught that faith does not reason or debate with circumstances; it commands in the name of Jesus.
At the same time, Wigglesworth made it clear that spiritual authority is inseparable from submission to God. He warned that authority cannot operate through pride or self-will. True authority flows from obedience, holiness, and a life yielded to the Holy Spirit. Any attempt to use authority apart from God’s Word, he believed, was dangerous and ineffective.
In simple terms, Smith Wigglesworth taught that authority is not about controlling people, but about standing firmly on God’s Word, resisting the devil, and enforcing the victory Christ already won. For him, authority was the believer’s responsibility to act in faith, knowing that heaven stands behind the Word God has spoken.
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