The Chicago Visitation of 1913
The ancient prophet as soon as cried out, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!” That cry has been echoed all down by the generations of these who have hungered for the manifestation of the presence of the dwelling God. Through the record of the church, God has rent the heavens and intervened on behalf of His people today.
The Good Chicago Visitation of 1913 was these types of a time. It was a single of the most potent visitations of divine existence that this metropolis has at any time expert.
Maria Woodworth-Etter, a nicely-acknowledged evangelist, had been invited to hold a collection of conferences at the Stone Church, located at 37Th and Indiana, starting on July 2, 1913. Posters experienced been put during the metropolis to advertise the conference. The products and services were to previous until the conclusion of July. This was a time of divine appointment for the metropolis of Chicago God hire the heavens and came down!! Scenes from the times of the Early Church started to come about at Stone Church. Phrase started to spread all over Chicago of miraculous healings, deliverance from demonic possession, conversions, and of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurring in these conferences. Advertisement was no lengthier needed!
Outstanding healings were being described. A female, who experienced been blind 15 a long time and had never ever viewed her children, was instantly healed. A paralyzed person, whose joints were ossified, could not go any limb or his head, had to be fed with a spoon, and could barely communicate, was prayed for. For 8 a long time, he endured the confines of this jail of infirmity. Sister Woodworth-Etter commanded him in the identify of Jesus to increase and walk. The ability of God fell on him. He jumped from his wheel chair, ran down the isle of the church and a 50 percent a block down the avenue. Many adopted him outside the house and waved their hats in the air yelling, “Hurrah for Jesus.” He ran back into the church and shouted praises to God. A younger female, who experienced misplaced total hearing in just one ear and was losing listening to in the second ear, arrived for prayer. She was promptly healed. Throughout just one tune support, four crippled people today ended up healed and started to wander with out the use of canes or crutches.
Term unfold during the metropolis of the miraculous intervention of God. Hundreds arrived on trolleys, buggies, and trains, when several walked. Some came from hundreds of miles away. 1200 to 1500 packed into Stone Church each individual night time. The basement was stuffed and several stood out on the street. Avenue meetings were held to accommodate them. 3 companies had been held on Sundays. No solutions have been scheduled for Saturdays so that the ministers could have a working day of relaxation. Nonetheless, some arrived on Saturdays and have been met by Christians who prayed for them. A crippled girl, not recognizing that providers had been not held on Saturdays, came on the trolley. She bought off and hobbled down the avenue to the church. A German girl achieved her at the church and knowledgeable that no solutions experienced been scheduled for Saturdays. Having said that, she invited the crippled lady to arrive into the church and she and other people would pray for her. As before long as the female walked into the church, she was instantly healed. A father traveled from Oklahoma bringing his two daughters with him. A person could not use her limbs nor discuss. The other was born deaf and dumb. Both equally have been immediately healed. One particular of the girls wept and laughed when she heard singing for the very first time in her lifestyle.
God had hire the heavens and arrived down into Chicago. Countless numbers had been healed, incredible miracles occurred multitudes had been saved, and countless numbers have been stuffed with the Holy Spirit. The conference, which was scheduled to very last for a thirty day period, lasted for 6 months. Sister Woodworth-Etter and believers dug a deep nicely of revival.
The Chicago Visitation possessed a number of outstanding traits:
1. The results of the get the job done was not because of to preaching of profound theological doctrine and distinctions. As a substitute, the Gospel was offered in its simplicity. The people ended up drawn by the manifestation of the presence and energy of God.
2. There was remarkable unity among the Christians. Denominational lines vanished. Christians from all backgrounds joined in the do the job. Terrific harmony prevailed amongst believers. Controversy was not tolerated and was absent. It was a “strife-totally free zone.”
3. Worship was in its purest form. Enjoyment and evident exhibit of expertise did not exist. Audio, singing and praise ended up to glorify God and Him only.
4. The full Entire body of Christ was concerned in ministry. Laying – on of hands was not controlled to the evangelist or pastor. People ministered to one one more.
5. Ministers and users from all denominations have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
6. A prophetic phrase was given the final night time of this 6-thirty day period long conference.
As Christians prayed all over the altar, Sister Woodworth-Etter and other people gave a potent prophecy and divine assure for the long run:
“We are not however up to the fullness of the Former Rain and that when the Latter Rain comes, it will considerably exceed something we have viewed!”
Frank Bartleman, the chronicler of the Azusa Road Awakening of 1907, when wrote, “In get to comprehend what God is going to do, we must understand what He after did.” It is very important that we examine and comprehend these “old wells of revival.” We need to comprehend the divine dynamics of these moves of God. We need to have to know the guarantees that God has built in the earlier, which will effects us in our working day. God has means of reminding His persons of that assure. In 1999, in advance of I had any knowledge of the Chicago Visitation of 1913, I experienced a dream. In the dream, I was standing with a compact team of believers in the basement of Stone Church. A pastor buddy of mine questioned us to kind a circle and provide up “pure praise and worship” to God. I looked close to and noticed quite a few, a lot of rooms crammed with clinic beds made up of the unwell. In these beds were being people suffering from a range of health problems and infirmities. Caring for them was an aged head nurse. As we commenced to worship and praise God, the nurse remaining the ill and came and joined in the worship. As the worship ongoing, I saw all of the unwell rise from their medical center beds. They were being promptly healed and came to join in the worship! I awoke from my dream. Now, 10 many years later on I comprehend the this means of the dream. The exact same factors that occurred in the Visitation of 1913 will transpire once again. Pure worship and praise will ascend unto God. The blind will see, the deaf listen to, the lame wander and the dumb will talk. Therapeutic and miracles will stream once again all through this wonderful town. God IS heading to reopen this “old well of revival” in Chicago! Why, because He promised that He would and that it will significantly exceed the Visitation of 1913!
What is our obligation in the reopening of this outdated properly of revival? Next Chronicles 7:14 offers us that essential course, “If My people today who are named by My Name, shall humble them selves and pray, request My Confront and switch from their wicked methods, I WILL Hear FROM HEAVEN AND Heal THEIR LAND.” It is time to occur thoroughly clean with God, to be straightforward about our wicked techniques and repent. As Joshua
explained to the Israelites the day just before crossing the Jordan River into the promised land, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders between you.” We would do nicely to comply with this directive!
