And his [Jesus’] name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(Acts 3:16)
Smith Wigglesworth learned of a man in Wales known as Lazarus. He had worked by day in the tin mines and preached at night until he wore himself out physically. He contracted TB, and became bedfast for seven years.
Once as Wigglesworth was in Wales preaching, the Lord said to him, “I want you to go raise up Lazarus.” Wigglesworth found other believers and went to Lazarus’ house. They surrounded his bed and repeated the Name of Jesus until the power of God fell.
Wigglesworth then said to the man, “There’s your healing.”
Lazarus began to speak faintly, so Wigglesworth drew closer to hear his words. The man said, “I’ve been bitter.” You see, he once had believed in divine healing. Someone had anointed him with oil, but it didn’t work. He was mad at God because he thought God hadn’t healed him.
Wigglesworth told him to repent and God would forgive him. Lazarus began to cry, “God, forgive me for my bitterness. Healing is real and it’s mine. I receive it.”
Lazarus got himself out of bed, dressed, and walked down the steps into the living room. That night, he gave his testimony in an open-air meeting.
What impressed me was that they just gathered around the man’s bed and repeated the Name of Jesus. I think it has never dawned on us the power that is in that Name.
Some people say, “Healing and miracles have been done away with. They are not for us today.” Well, in light of Acts 3:16, that’s tantamount to saying, “The Name of Jesus has been done away with and doesn’t belong to the Church today. Faith in that Name is non-existent!”
But, thank God, the Name of Jesus does belong to us today!
Confession:
I am made strong and whole through faith in Jesus’ Name. Just as faith in Jesus’ Name raised Lazarus up, faith in Jesus’ Name will raise me up!
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications
Rev. Hagin served in Christian ministry for nearly 70 years and was known as the "father of the modern faith movement." His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that show God's power and truth working in his life and the lives of others.
Rev. Hagin was born on Aug. 20, 1917, in McKinney, Texas, a son of the late Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin.
Rev. Hagin was sickly as a child, suffering from a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease. He was not expected to live and became bedfast at age 15. In April 1933 during a dramatic conversion experience, he reported dying three times in 10 minutes, each time seeing the horrors of hell and then returning to life.
In August of 1934, Rev. Hagin was miraculously healed, raised off a deathbed by the power of God and the revelation of faith in God's Word. Two years later, he preached his first sermon as pastor of a small community church in Roland, Texas.
In 1937, Rev. Hagin was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began ministering in Pentecostal churches. During the next 12 years he pastored five churches in Texas: in the cities of Tom Bean, Farmersville (twice), Talco, Greggton, and Van. In 1949, he began an itinerant ministry as a Bible teacher and evangelist.
During the next 14 years, Jesus appeared to Rev. Hagin eight times in visions that changed the course of his ministry. In 1966, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he opened a ministry office. That same year, he taught for the first time on radio—on KSKY in Dallas. In 1967, he began a regular radio broadcast that continues today as Faith Seminar of the Air. Teaching by his son, Rev. Kenneth W. Hagin, is also heard on the program.
In 1968, Rev. Hagin published the first issues of The Word of Faith magazine, which now has a monthly circulation of more than 250,000. The publishing outreach he founded, Faith Library Publications, has circulated more than 65 million copies of books by Rev. Hagin, Rev. Hagin Jr., and several other authors worldwide. Faith Library Publications also has produced more than 9 million audio teaching tapes and CDs.
Other outreaches of Kenneth Hagin Ministries include RHEMA Praise, a weekly television broadcast hosted by Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Hagin; RHEMA Correspondence Bible School; RHEMA Alumni Association; RHEMA Ministerial Association International; RHEMA Supportive Ministries Association; the RHEMA Prayer and Healing Center; and a prison ministry.
In 1974, Rev. Hagin founded RHEMA Bible Training Center USA and in 1976 moved the school and ministry offices to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where they remain. To date, RHEMA Bible Training Center USA has 23,000 alumni, and RHEMA Bible Training Centers have opened in 13 other nations: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, and Thailand. Together, the 14 schools have more than 28,000 graduates worldwide.
RHEMA Bible Church, pastored by Rev. Hagin Jr., began holding services in October of 1985 on the RHEMA campus in Broken Arrow and has since grown to become a thriving congregation with more than 8,000 members.
Rev. Hagin's daughter and son-in-law, Pat Harrison and the late Doyle "Buddy" Harrison, founded Harrison House Publishers in 1975 and Faith Christian Fellowship International Church in 1977. Both organizations are based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Until shortly before his death in September 2003, Rev. Hagin continued to travel and teach throughout the United States and into Canada conducting All Faiths' Crusades and other special meetings.