Category: Daily Devotionals – Smith Wigglesworth

January 17

Peter…said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” — Acts 12:11

Scripture reading: Acts 12:1–17

There is a lot in an amen. I find that you can have zeal without faith. The Scripture reading shows the difference between the amen of faith and having zeal without faith.

When Peter was imprisoned by Herod, the church was in constant prayer for his release. They were even praying all night. They had zeal, but they did not have faith. Although there is much that could be commended to us from this passage, one thing is missing: faith. Young Rhoda had more faith than all the rest of them. When the knock came at the door, she ran to answer it. The moment she heard Peter‘s voice, she was so excited to share the good news that she didn‘t even unlock the gate so that Peter could come in. She ran with joy to tell those praying that Peter stood at the gate.

All the people said, “You are mad. It isn‘t so.” She insisted that she had seen Peter, but the people had no faith at all. They said, “Perhaps God has sent an angel.”

But Rhoda said, “It is Peter.” And Peter continued knocking. They went and found him at the door. They had zeal but no faith. God wants to bring us to the place where we will take hold of Him in a living way. We need to rest and always trust the plan of God.

There was such a difference between Zacharias and Mary. Zacharias definitely wanted a son, but even when the angel came and told him that he would be a father, he was full of unbelief. The angel said, “You will be mute and not able to speak…because you did not believe” (Luke 1:20). But when the angel came to Mary, she said, “Let it be to me according to your word” (v. 38). This was the beginning of the amen.

God wants us to have an inward amen, a mighty moving amen. This amen says, “It is,” because God has spoken.

Thought for today: Believe that there can be a real amen in your life.

January 16

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. — 1 Peter 2:2

Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:13–2:5

Beloved, don‘t forget that every day must be a day of advancement. If you have not made any advancement since yesterday, in a measure, you are a backslider. There is only one way for you between Calvary and glory, and it is forward. It is every day forward. It is no day back. It is advancement with God. It is cooperation with Him in the Spirit.

We must see these things, because if we live on the same plane day after day, our vision becomes stale; the principles lose their earnestness. But we must be like those who are catching the vision of the Master day by day. We must make inroads into every passion that would interfere, and we must bring everything to the slaughter that is not holy. For in these days, God wants us to know that He wishes to seat us on high.

Often the most trying times are the most beneficial to our Christian growth. Consider Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Remember Moses and the trials he faced. Beloved, if you read the Scriptures, you will never find anything about the easy times. All the glories came out of hard times.

If you are to be really reconstructed, it will be in a hard time. It won‘t be in a singing meeting, but at a time when you think all things are dried up, when you think there is no hope for you and you have passed up everything. That is the time that God makes the person. And out of the experience, we will have a story to tell about what God has done for us. When the trial is severe; when you think that no one is being tried as much as you; when the trial is so hard that you cannot sleep and you do not know what to do; “count it all joy” (James 1:2). You are in a good place when you do not know what to do; look to God for the answer.

Thought for today: It is when you are tried by fire that God purges you, takes the dross away, and brings forth pure gold.

January 15

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. — John 1:1–3

Scripture reading: Luke 6:27–49

If we are ever going to make any progress in the divine life, we will have to have a real foundation. There is no foundation except the foundation of faith for us. All our actions and all that ever will come to us that is of any importance will be because we have a Rock. If you are on the Rock, no power can move you. In any area or principle of your faith, you must have something established in you to bring it forth. There is no establishment outside God‘s Word. Everything else is sand. Everything else will break apart. If you build on anything else but the Word of God—on imaginations, sentimentality, or feelings—it will mean nothing without the foundation, and the foundation will have to be in the Word of God.

I was once going on a train to Blackpool. It is a fashionable resort, and many people go there because of the high tides and the wonderful sights they see as the ocean surges up in large, massive mountains of sea. As I traveled, I looked over and said to a builder, “Those men are building houses upon sand.”

“Oh,” he said, “you don‘t know. You are not a builder. Don‘t you know that we can pound that sand until it becomes like rock?”

I said, “Nonsense!” I saw the argument was not going to profit, so I dropped it. By and by, we reached Blackpool, where the mountainous waves come over. I saw a row of houses that had fallen flat, and drawing the attention of this man, I said, “Oh, look at those houses. See how flat they are.” He forgot our previous conversation and said, “You know here we have very large tides, and these houses, being on the sand when the floods came, fell.”

Our foundation must be something better than sand, and everything is sand except the Word. There isn‘t anything that will remain. We are told that heaven and earth will be melted with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10). But we are told that the Word of God will be forever, and not one jot or tittle of the Word of God will fail (Matthew 5:18). If there is anything that satisfies me, it is in knowing that “Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Another passage in Psalm 138 says, “You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (v. 2). The very establishment for me is the Word of God.

Here we have the foundation of all things, which is the Word. It is a substance; it is a power. It is more than relationship; it is personality. To every soul that enters into this privilege, it is a divine injunction to be born of this Word. What it means to us will be very important. For remember, it is “substance”; it is an “evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It brings about what you cannot see and brings forth what is not there.

God took the Word and made the world. We live in the world that was made by the Word of God, and it is inhabited by millions of people. You say it is a substance. Jesus, the Word of God, made it with the things that did not appear. And nothing has been made that has not been made by the Word (John 1:3). When we come to the truth of what that Word means, we will be able not only to build, but also to know; not only to know, but also to have. Live and operate in the fact of the Word; rest in the knowledge of the principles of the Most High.

Thought for today: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). Feast on the Word of God; discover its richness.

January 14

This is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. — 1 John 5:4

Scripture reading: 1 John 5:4–15

When I was ministering to the sick, a man came who was shriveled and weakened; his cheek bones were sticking out, his eyes sunken, and his neck all shriveled. He was just a form of a man. He whispered, for he could only speak with a weak voice, “Can you help me?”

I asked “What is it?” He said that he had had surgery to remove stomach cancer. As a result of the operation, he could not swallow.

He said, “I have tried to take some juice today, but it would not go down.” He whispered, “I have a hole in my stomach. As I pour liquid in through a tube, my stomach receives that. I have been living this way for three months.”

You could call it a shadow of life he was living. Could I help him? Look! This Book can help anybody. This Book is the essence of life. God moves as you believe. This Book is the Word of God. Could I help him? I said, “On the authority of this Word, this night you will have a big supper.”

But he said he could not eat. “Do as I tell you,” I answered.

“How can it be?”

“It is time,” I said, “to go and eat a good supper.” He went home and told his wife.

She could not understand it. She said, “You cannot eat. You
cannot swallow.”

But he whispered, “The man said I had to do it.” He became hungry and ventured, “I will try it.” His wife prepared his supper. He took a mouthful, and it went down just as easy as possible. He went on eating food until he was full. Then he and his wife had one of the best times of their lives. The next morning he was so full of joy because he had eaten again. He looked down out of curiosity to see the hole and found that God had closed it up!

But you ask, Can He do it for me? Yes, if you believe it. Let God have His way. Touch God now. Faith is the victory.

Thought for today: The Word of God is marrow to your bones. It is resurrection from every weakness; it is life from the dead.

January 13

He…gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. — Ephesians 4:11–13

Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:7–5:1

A man traveled with me from Montreal to Vancouver and then on ship to New Zealand. He was a dealer of racehorses. It seemed he could not leave me. He was frivolous and talked about races, but he could not keep up his end of the conversation. I did not struggle to keep my end up because mine is a living power. No person who has Jesus as the inward power of his body needs to tremble when Satan comes around. All he has to do is to “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13).

This man entered into a good deal of frivolity and talk of this world. Coming upon a certain island of the Fiji group, we all disembarked, and God gave me wonderful liberty in preaching. The man came back afterwards; he did not go to meet his racing and card-playing chums; instead, He came stealing back to the ship. With tears in his eyes, he said, “I am dying. I have been bitten by a snake.” His skin had turned to a dark green, and his leg was swollen. “Can you help me?” he asked.

If we only knew the power of God! If we are in a place of substance, of reality, of ideal purpose, it is not human; we are dealing with almightiness. I have a present God. I have a living faith, and the living faith is the Word. The Word is life, and the Lord is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Placing my hands upon the serpent bite, I said, “In the name of Jesus, come out!” He looked at me, and the tears came. The swelling went down before his eyes, and he was perfect in a moment.

Yes, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is what came into me when I believed. I was born of the incorruptible Word by the living virtue, life, and personality of God. I was instantly changed from nature to grace. I became a servant of God, and I became an enemy of unrighteousness.

The Holy Spirit wants us to clearly understand that we are a million times bigger than we know. Most Christians have no conception of what they are. Oh, that God would bring us into divine attractiveness by His almightiness so that all our bodies would wake up to resurrection force, to the divine, inward flow of eternal power coursing through our human frames.

God took you into His pavilion and began to clothe you and give you the gifts of the Spirit. He did this so that in that ministry, by the power of God, you would bring all the church into the perfect possession of the fullness of Christ. Oh, the wonder of it! Oh, the adaptability of His equipment!

I believe God wants something to be in you that could never be unless you cease to live for yourself. God wants you to live for Him, to live for others. But, oh, to have the touch of God! Beloved, the Holy Spirit is the Comforter. The Holy Spirit did not come to speak of Himself, but He came to unveil Him who said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The Holy Spirit came to thrill you with resurrection power, and He came so that you would be anointed with fresh oil that overflows in the splendor of His almightiness. Then right through you will come forth a river of divine anointing that will sustain you in the bitterest place. It will give life to the deadest formality and say to the weak, “Be strong,” and to them who have no might, “The Lord of Hosts is here to comfort you.” (See Isaiah 40:29; Zechariah 1:17.) Possibility is the greatest thing of your life.

Thought for today: God wants us to be like the rising of the sun, filled with the rays of heaven, all the time beaming forth the gladness of the Spirit of the Almighty.

信仰在工作中

1月13日

他…所赐的，有使徒的，有先知的，有传福音的，有牧师和教师的，为要成全圣徒，做好事工的工作…直到我们众人在真道上同归于一，认识神的儿子。——以弗所书 4:11–13

经文阅读：以弗所书 4:7–5:1

一个男人和我一起从蒙特利尔旅行到温哥华，然后乘船前往新西兰。他是一名赛马经销商。似乎他无法离开我。他轻浮，总是谈论赛马，但他无法维持对话的节奏。我并不费力去维持我的对话部分，因为我的力量是活生生的。任何一个拥有耶稣作为他体内力量的人，当撒旦出现时都不需要颤抖。他所要做的就是“站住，看耶和华的拯救”（出埃及记 14:13）。

这个人卷入了许多轻浮的行为和世俗的谈话。我们来到斐济群岛的某个岛屿时，大家都下船了，上帝赐给我在传道上的奇妙自由。那个人随后回来了；他没有去见他赛马和打牌的朋友们；相反，他偷偷地回到船上。眼中含着泪水，他说：“我快死了。我被蛇咬了。”他的皮肤已经变成深绿色，腿也肿了。“你能帮我吗？”他问道。

如果我们能知道神的能力！如果我们处在有实质、有现实、有理想目的的地方，那就不是人能做到的；我们正在处理全能。我有一个活生生的神。我有活的信心，而活的信心就是道。道就是生命，主是“昨天今天一直到永远都是一样的”（希伯来书 13:8）。当我把手放在蛇咬的地方时，我说：“奉耶稣的名，出来！”他看着我，眼泪流了下来。肿胀在他眼前消退，他瞬间就康复了。

是的，“信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据”（希伯来书 11:1）。当我相信时，信进入了我。我是藉着神永生的能力、生命和人格，由不朽的道所生。我瞬间从本性转变为恩典。我成为了神的仆人，也成为了不义的敌人。

圣灵希望我们清楚地明白，我们比自己所知道的要大一百万倍。大多数基督徒根本无法理解他们是什么。哦，但愿神借着祂的全能将我们带入神性的吸引力，使我们所有的身体都觉醒于复活的力量，觉醒于永恒力量的神圣内在流动，在我们的人类身体中奔流。

神把你带进祂的帐篷，开始给你穿上衣服，并赐给你圣灵的恩赐。祂这样做，是为了让你在那项事工中，通过神的能力，使整个教会都能完全拥有基督的丰盛。哦，多么奇妙啊！哦，祂装备的多么灵活啊！

我相信上帝希望在你里面孕育出某种东西，而这种东西只有在你停止为自己而活时才可能出现。上帝希望你为祂而活，为他人而活。但是，啊，能感受到上帝的触摸！亲爱的，圣灵是安慰者。圣灵来的目的不是为自己说话，而是为了显明那位曾说过“你们要背起我的轭，学习我的道，因为我心里柔和谦卑，你们的灵魂必得安息”（马太福音11:29）的人。圣灵降临是为了用复活的大能震撼你，也是为了让你被恩膏，用新油膏抹，溢出祂全能的荣耀。然后，通过你，将涌出一条神圣恩膏的河流，在最苦的境地里支撑你。它会使最死板的形式获得生命，对软弱的人说：“要刚强”，对无力的人说：“万军之耶和华在此安慰你。”（参以赛亚书40:29；撒迦利亚书1:17）可能性是你生命中最伟大的事情。

今日的思考：上帝希望我们像太阳升起一样，充满天国的光辉，时时刻刻散发全能者的灵的喜乐。

January 12

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1

Scripture reading: Hebrews 11:1–10

We may be in a very low ebb of the tide, but it is good to be in a place where the tide can rise. Everything depends on our being filled with the Holy Spirit. If He can only get us in readiness for His plan to be worked out, it will be wonderful.

Everything depends on our believing God. If we are saved, it is only because God‘s Word says so. We cannot rest upon our feelings. We cannot do anything without a living faith. It is surely God Himself who comes to us in the person of His beloved Son and strengthens us so that we realize that our bodies are surrounded by His power. All things are possible for us in God.

God purposes that we might be on the earth to manifest His glory, that every time satanic power is confronted, God might be able to say of us as He did of Job, “What do you think about him?” (See Job 1:8.) The joy of the Lord can be so clearly evidenced in us that we will be filled with God and able to rebuke the Devil.

God has shown me in the night watches that everything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). God wants to bring us into harmony with His will so that we will see that if we do not believe all of the Word of God, something in us is not purely sanctified to accept the fullness of His Word. Many people put their human wisdom in the place of God, and God is not able to give the best because the human is confronting God in such a way. God is not able to get the best through us until the human will is dissolved.

People say, “I want things to be tangible. I want something to appeal to my human reasoning.” My response is that everything that you cannot see is eternal. Everything you see now will fade away and will be consumed, but what you cannot see, what is more real than you, is the substance of all things: God in the human soul, mightier than you by a million times.

Thought for today: There is nothing we can come short of if the Holy Spirit is the prime mover in our thoughts and lives, for He has a plan greater than ours.

他话语的丰富

1月12日

信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。——希伯来书 11:1

经文阅读：希伯来书 11:1–10

我们可能正处于潮水的低谷，但能处在潮水可以上涨的地方总是好事。一切都取决于我们是否被圣灵充满。如果他只是让我们为他的计划得以实现做好准备，那将是美妙的。

一切都取决于我们是否相信上帝。如果我们得救，那只是因为上帝的话语如此说。我们不能依靠自己的感受。没有活的信心，我们什么也做不了。确实，是上帝自己以他心爱的儿子的身份来到我们面前，赐予我们力量，使我们意识到我们的身体被他的能力所环绕。在上帝里，一切对我们都是可能的。

神的目的在于我们可能在世上彰显祂的荣耀，以便每当遇到撒旦的权势时，神能像对约伯所说的那样对我们说：“你怎么想他？”（见约伯记 1:8）主的喜乐可以在我们身上如此清楚地显明，以至于我们充满神，并能够斥责魔鬼。

神在夜间守望时向我显明，一切不出于信心的都是罪（罗马书 14:23）。神希望将我们带入与他旨意的和谐中，以便我们看到，如果我们不信靠神的话语的全部，那么我们内在就有某部分没有完全圣洁，无法接受他话语的丰盛。许多人把人的智慧放在神的位置上，而神无法赐下最好的，因为人在这种方式上在对抗神。在人的意志还未被消除之前，神无法通过我们获得最好的。

人们说：“我希望事情是具体的。我希望有些东西能够迎合我的人类理性。”我的回应是，你看不到的一切都是永恒的。你现在看到的一切都会消逝并被吞噬，但你看不到的、比你更真实的东西，是万物的本质：存在于人类灵魂中的上帝，比你强大百万倍。

今日思考：如果圣灵是我们思想和生活的主要推动力，那么我们没有什么可以达不到的，因为祂的计划比我们的更伟大。

January 11

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” — John 6:29

Scripture reading: Luke 9:1–11

I remember a person who had not been able to smell anything for four years. I said, “You will smell now if you believe.” She went about smelling everything and was quite excited. The next day she gave her testimony.

Another came and asked, “Is it possible for God to heal my ears?” The eardrums had been removed. I said, “Only believe.” She went down into the audience in great distress; others were healed, but she could not hear. The next night she came again. She said, “I am going to believe tonight.” The glory fell. The first time she came feeling; the second time she came believing.

At one place, there was a man anointed with oil for a rupture. He came the next night and rose in the meeting saying, “This man is an impostor. He is deceiving the people. He told me last night I was healed; I am worse than ever today.” I spoke to the evil power that held the man and rebuked it, telling the man he was indeed healed. He was a stonemason. The next day, he testified to lifting heavy weights and that God had met him. “By His stripes we are healed.…And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah53:5–6). He was against the Word of God, not me.

“‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?‟ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent’” (John 6:28–29). Anything else? Yes. He took our infirmities and healed all our diseases. I myself am a marvel of healing. If I fail to glorify God, the stones will cry out. (See Luke 19:37–40.) Salvation is for all. Healing is for all. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all.

Consider yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God (Romans 6:11). By His grace you will get the victory every time. It is possible to live a holy life.

Thought for today: The Holy Spirit has the latest news from the Godhead and has designed for us the right place at the right time.

基于知识的信仰

1月11日

耶稣回答说：‘这是神的工作，就是你们信祂所差来的那一位。’——约翰福音 6:29

圣经阅读：路加福音 9:1–11

我记得有一个人已经四年闻不到任何东西。我说：“如果你相信，你现在就会闻到。”她开始闻各种东西，非常兴奋。第二天，她作了见证。

另一个人走过来问，‘上帝能治愈我的耳朵吗？’她的耳膜已经被摘除。我说，‘只要相信。’她满怀焦虑地走进人群；其他人都得到了医治，但她还是听不见。第二天晚上她又来了。她说，‘今晚我要相信。’荣耀降临了。她第一次来是凭感觉；第二次来是凭信心。

在一个地方，有一个男人因疝气而受膏。他第二天晚上来到会中站起来说：“这个人是骗子。他在欺骗人们。他昨晚告诉我我已经痊愈；今天我比以往更严重。”我对附在这个人身上的邪恶力量说话并斥责它，同时告诉这个男人他确实已经痊愈。他是一名石匠。第二天，他作证说自己能举起沉重的物体，并且神已经与他相遇。“因他受的鞭伤，我们得了医治……耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上”（以赛亚书53:5–6）。他反对的是神的话语，而不是我。

‘我们当作什么，才能行　神的工呢？’耶稣回答说：‘信　神所差来的那一位，这就是　神的工。’（约翰福音 6:28–29）还有别的吗？有。他担当了我们的软弱，医治了我们一切的疾病。我自己就是医治的奇迹。如果我未能荣耀　神，石头也要呼喊。（见路加福音 19:37–40）救恩是给所有人的。医治是给所有人的。圣灵的洗也是给所有人的。

要算自己向罪已经死了，却向神活着（罗马书 6:11）。靠着他的恩典，你每次都能得胜。过圣洁的生活是可能的。

今日的思考：圣灵掌握着来自神的最新信息，并为我们设计了在恰当时间出现在恰当的地方。

January 10

He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. — Philippians 3:21

Scripture reading: Matthew 4:16–25

I have come across several mental cases. How difficult they are naturally, but how easy for God to deal with. One lady came saying, “Just over the way there is a young man terribly afflicted, with no rest day or night.” I went with a very imperfect knowledge as to what I had to do, but in the weak places, God helps our infirmities. I rebuked the demon in the name of Jesus, and then I said, “I‘ll come again tomorrow.” The next day when I went, he was quite well and with his father in the field.

Fifty miles away, there was a fine young man, twenty-five years of age. He had lost his reason, could have no communication with his mother, and was always wandering up and down. I knew God was waiting to bless. I cast out the demon power and heard later that he had become quite well.

Thus the blessed Holy Spirit takes us on from one place to another. So many things happen; I live in heaven on earth. Do not wait for inspiration if you are in need; the Holy Spirit is available, and you can have perfect deliverance.

I was taken to three persons, one in the care of an attendant. As I entered the room, there was a terrible din and quarreling. It was such a noise it seemed as if all the powers of hell were stirred. I had to wait for God‘s time. The Holy Spirit rose in me at the right time, and the three were delivered. That night, they were singing praises to God.

Christ is the same today. When He reigns in you, you know how to obey and how to work in conjunction with His will, His power, His light, and His life. When we have faith based on knowledge, we know He has come. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). God is with the person who dares to stand upon His Word.

Thought for today: How bountiful God is when we depend on Him! He gives us enough to spare for others.

战胜困难境况

1月10日

他甚至能够把万有都服在自己脚下。——腓立比书 3:21

圣经朗读：马太福音 4:16-25

我遇到过几位精神病患者。他们本性上多么难以应付，但对于上帝来说却是多么容易处理。有一位女士来说：“就在那边有一个年轻人受苦严重，日夜不得安宁。”我带着对自己应该做什么的非常有限的了解前往，但在软弱的地方，上帝帮助我们的无力。我奉耶稣的名斥责了那邪灵，然后我说：“我明天会再来。”第二天当我去的时候，他已经完全好了，并且和他的父亲在田里。

五十英里之外，有一个二十五岁的好青年。他失去了理智，无法与母亲交流，总是上下游荡。我知道上帝正等待赐福。我驱除了恶魔的力量，后来听说他已经完全康复。

因此，受祝福的圣灵将我们从一个地方带到另一个地方。发生了许多事情；我在地上生活在天堂。如果你有需要，不要等待灵感；圣灵是可用的，你可以得到完全的解脱。

我被带到三个人面前，其中一个由看护照料。当我走进房间时，里面一片喧嚣和争吵。噪声之大，似乎地狱的所有势力都被唤起。我必须等待上帝的时机。圣灵在适当的时候在我内心升起，这三个人都得到了释放。那天晚上，他们在向上帝唱赞美歌。

基督今天仍然是一样的。当他在你里面掌权时，你就知道如何顺从，以及如何与他的旨意、他的能力、他的光明和他的生命协作。当我们的信心建立在知识上时，我们就知道他已经来了。“圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力”（使徒行传 1:8）。上帝与那些敢于立足于他话语的人同在。

今日思考：当我们依靠上帝时，上帝是多么的丰盛！祂赐给我们足够的东西，也能分给别人。

January 9

“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” — John 6:28–29

Scripture reading: Psalm 4

I was healed of appendicitis, because of faith based on the knowledge of the experience of faith. When I have ministered to others, God has met and answered according to His will. We know that God will not fail us when we believe and trust in His power. The centurion had this faith when he said to Jesus, “Speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Jesus answered him, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.‟ And his servant was healed that same hour” (v. 13).

In one place where I was staying, a young man came in telling us that his sweetheart was dying; there was no hope. I said, “Only believe.” This was faith based on knowledge. I knew that what God had done for me He could do for her. We went to the house. Her sufferings were terrible to witness. I said, “In the name of Jesus, come out of her.” She cried, “Mother, Mother, I am well.” Then I said that the only way to make us believe it was for her to get up and dress. Soon she came down dressed. The doctor came in and examined her carefully. He said, “This is of God; this is the finger of God.” It was faith based on knowledge.

If I were to receive a check for a thousand pounds and knew only imperfectly the character of the man who sent it, I would be careful of him. I would not rely on the money until the check was honored. Jesus, on the other hand, did great works because of His knowledge of His Father. He knew He could count on the character of God. Faith begets knowledge, fellowship, and communion. If you see imperfect faith, full of doubt, a wavering condition, it always comes because of imperfect knowledge.

Thought for today: God is more eager to answer than we are to ask.

信仰见证

1月9日

“我们当行什么才能做 神的工呢？”耶稣回答说：“信神所差来的那一位，这就是神的工。” — 约翰福音 6:28-29

经文阅读：诗篇 4

我因信仰而得了阑尾炎的治愈，这种信仰是建立在信仰经验的知识基础上的。当我为他人服事时，上帝按祂的旨意与他们相遇并应允我们。我们知道，当我们相信并信靠祂的能力时，上帝不会让我们失望。当百夫长对耶稣说：“只要你一句话，我的仆人就必痊愈”（马太福音 8:8）时，他就有这样的信心。耶稣回答他说：“照你所信的，给你成就吧。”其仆人就在那时痊愈了（v.13）。

在我住的一个地方，有一个年轻人进来说他的恋人快要死了；没有希望。我说：“只要相信。” 这是基于知识的信心。我知道上帝为我所做的，他也能为她做。我们去了她的家。她的痛苦让人难以忍受。我说：“奉耶稣的名，从她身上出来。”她喊道：“妈妈，妈妈，我好了。”然后我说，要让我们相信唯一的方式是她起身穿衣服。很快她穿好衣服下来了。医生进来仔细检查。他说：“这是上帝的作为，这是上帝的手指。”这就是基于知识的信心。

如果我收到一张一千英镑的支票，而对寄支票的人只是有所了解，我会对他保持谨慎。在支票兑现之前，我不会依赖这笔钱。另一方面，耶稣因为认识祂的父而行了伟大的作为。祂知道可以依靠神的品格。信心孕育知识、团契和交通。如果你看到不完全的信心，充满怀疑、摇摆不定，这总是因为知识不完全。

今日思考：上帝比我们更渴望回应我们的祈求。

January 8

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1

Scripture reading: Psalm 20

Paul related his conversion many times over, and I believe it is good to rehearse what God has done for you. I have been privileged to travel to every part of the world and have seen that God has arranged a plan for me. I said to my congregation, “The Lord is moving me to go out through the States and Canada.” When the Lord told me, I said, “Lord, You have three things to do: You have to find money for home and find money to go, and You have to give me a real change, for You know that sometimes my mind or memory is no good at all to me.”

Right away money came from all over, and I said, “It is true God is sending me. I already have fifty pounds.” My son George said, “Father, Mother‘s gone to heaven, and you are leaving us; what will we do?” I said, “George, you open the next letter.” In it was twenty-five pounds. He saw that God would provide.

I went to Liverpool, and a man said, “Here is five pounds for you.” When I was on the ship, a poorly dressed lady gave me a red sugar bag, and there were twenty-five gold coins in it. Just as I was getting on the ship, a man came and gave me a book and said, “There is a page for every day in the year.” And the Lord said to me, “Put down everything that takes place in the month.” I did so, and I had a memory like an encyclopedia. You see, I never learned geography, and God sent me all over the world to see it.

Do not fail to claim your holy position—the commanding position of faith—so that you will overcome the power of the Devil. The best time you have is when you are in the most difficult position.

Thought for today: Ask God to give you the grace to use the faith you have. God will work the miracle if you dare to stand upon the Word.

信仰的主导地位

1月8日

信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。——希伯来书 11:1

经文阅读：诗篇 20篇

保罗多次讲述他的信仰转变，我相信回顾上帝为你所做的事情是好的。我有幸旅游到世界各地，并看到上帝为我安排了一个计划。我对我的会众说：“主正在感动我去美国和加拿大各地。”当主告诉我时，我说：“主啊，你有三件事要做：你必须为家里找到钱，为出行找到钱，并且必须给我真正的改变，因为你知道有时候我的心思或记忆对我毫无帮助。”

很快钱从各地汇来，我说：“果然，上帝在差遣我。我已经有五十英镑了。”我的儿子乔治说：“父亲，母亲已经去天堂了，而你也要离开我们；我们该怎么办？”我说：“乔治，你来打开下一封信。”里面有二十五英镑。他看到上帝会提供帮助。

我去了利物浦，一个人对我说：“这是给你的五英镑。”当我在船上时，一位衣着寒酸的女士给了我一个红色糖袋，里面有二十五枚金币。正当我准备上船时，一个人走过来给了我一本书，并说：“这本书里有一整年的每日一页。”主对我说：“把这个月发生的所有事情都记下来。”我照做了，我的记忆就像百科全书一样。你看，我从未学过地理，但上帝派我去世界各地看它。

不要放弃认领你的神圣位置——信仰的指挥位置——这样你就能战胜魔鬼的力量。你最好的时光是在你处于最困难的位置时。

今日的思考：请向上帝祈求赐给你恩典，让你能够运用你所拥有的信心。如果你敢于坚守神的话语，上帝就会行奇迹。