THE 'DEAD' SPRANG UP SHOUTING!
Maria Woodworth-Etter's 8,000 -seat gospel tent was often too small to contain the masses that flocked to hear her preach
The first place at which we stopped was Willshire, Ohio. I was requested to hold some meetings, which I did for sixteen days. I never saw the power of God so wonderfully manifested. There had been trouble in the church for a number of years. Some of the best members had left, and the church had lost its power. I felt impressed that God was going to restore love and harmony to them.
I visited those families, and on the third day all was resolved. All who were present came to the altar and made a full consecration, and prayed for a baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. That night it came Fifteen came to the altar, crying aloud for mercy. Men and women fell and lay like dead.
I had never seen anything like this. I felt it was the work of God, but did not know how to explain it, or what to say. I was a little frightened, as I did not know what the people would think of me, as I was the leader of the meeting.
While the fear of God was on the people, and I was looking on, not knowing what to do, the Lord revealed wonderful things to me in a few moments.
"This is My slaying power. I told you I would be with you and fight your battles. It is not the wisdom of men, but the power and the wisdom of God that is needed to bring sinners from darkness to light."
Those who were lying all over the chapel as if dead, after lying about two hours, all, one after another, sprang to their feet as quick as a flash, with shining faces, and shouted all over the chapel. I never saw such strong conversions, nor heard such shouting. They seemed light as a feather.
The ministers and old saints wept and praised the Lord with a loud voice. They said it was the Pentecost power; that the Lord was visiting them in great mercy, and that there was victory coming.
It is now twelve years since that meeting. The Lord had poured out the Holy Ghost as He promised, with signs and wonders following. Many times I have stood before congrega tions of thousands, preaching or singing, when the Holy has fallen on them, and swept over, wave after wave, till the multitude would sway back and forth like the trees in a forest or grain in a storm. Many of the tall oaks would be laid prostrate over the ground,and many were converted standing,or sitting on their seats.
Many shouted, others wept with a loud voice. Other times power would sweep over the place in melting power. In a few minutes nearly everyone in the congregation, saints and sinners, would be weeping. The solemnity of death would rest upon the people; you could not see a movement or hear a sound. The people were held by the power of God. These outpourings were always followed by hundreds coming to Christ.
This article has been extracted from Revival Fires, available online from the Jesus People Shop.
Source: A Diary of Signs and Wonders, by Maria Woodworth Etter, pub. Tsula: Harrison House.
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