Category: Daily Devotionals – Smith Wigglesworth

February 1

The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. — Hebrews 4:2

Scripture reading: Psalm 119:41–50; Luke 22:15–20

The words of Jesus are life—never think they are less. If you believe them, you will feel quickened. The Word is powerful; it is full of faith. The Word of God is vital. Faith is established and made manifest as we hear the Word. Beloved, read the Word of God in quietude, and read it out loud, for “he who hears My word” (John 5:24), to him it gives life.

Listen to these words from Scripture: “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15); “The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners” (Mark 14:41). From the beginning of time, there has never been an hour like this. These words were among the greatest that Jesus ever spoke: “The hour has come.”

Time was finished and eternity had begun for every soul that was covered with the blood. Until that hour, all people lived only to die, but the moment the sacrifice was made, it was not the end but only the beginning. The soul, covered with the blood, has moved from a natural to an eternal union with the Lord. Instead of death will be the fullness of life divine.

While I was in Jerusalem, I preached many weeks outside the Damascus Gate, and God mightily blessed my ministry. It is wonderful to be in the place where God can use you. As I was leaving Jerusalem, some Jews who had heard me preach wanted to travel with me and stay at the same hotel where I was staying. When we were sitting around the table eating, they said, “What we cannot understand is that when you preach we feel such power. You move us. There is something about it; we cannot help but feel that you have something different from what we have been used to hearing. What is it?”

I replied that it was because I preached Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, for He was the Messiah, and He causes a child of His to live in the reality of a clear knowledge of Himself so that others know and feel His power. It is this knowledge that the church today needs so much.

Do not be satisfied with anything less than the knowledge of a real change in your nature, the knowledge of the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Do not be satisfied with a life that is not wholly swallowed up in God.

There are many books written about the Word, and we love clear, definite teaching on it. But go to the Book, and listen to what the Master says. You will lay a sure foundation that cannot be moved, for we are born again by the incorruptible Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). We need the simplicity, the rest of faith, that brings us to the place where we are steadfast and immovable. How wonderful the living Word of God is!

Can you not see that the Master was so interested in you that He would despise the shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:2)? The judgment hall was nothing to Him; all the rebukes and scorn could not take from Him the joy of saving you and me. His sacrificial love and joy caused Him to say, “I consider nothing too vile to endure on behalf of Wigglesworth; I count nothing too horrid to bear for Brown; My soul is on the wing to save the world!‖ How beautiful this is! How it should thrill us! He knew that death was represented in that sacred cup, yet He joyfully said, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). Take the bread, drink of the cup, and as often as you take it, remember (1 Corinthians 11:24–25). In other words, take the memory of what it means home with you; think on it, and analyze its meaning.

As we come to the time of the breaking of bread, the thought should be, “How should I partake of it?” We should be able to say, “Lord, I desire to eat it to please You, for I want my whole life to be for You!” As the stream of the new life begins to flow through your being, allow yourself to be immersed and carried on until your life becomes a ceaseless flow of the river of life. Then it will be “No longer I who live…but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Get ready for the breaking of bread and for partaking of the wine, and in doing so, remember Him.

Thought for today: We are no better than our faith.

2月1日

他们所听见的道没有益处，因为没有与听道的人们的信心结合。——希伯来书 4:2

经文阅读：诗篇 119:41–50；路加福音 22:15–20

耶稣的话就是生命——永远不要认为它们不重要。如果你相信它们，你会感到被激活。道是有力量的；它充满了信心。神的话是至关重要的。当我们听到神的话时，信心就建立并显明出来。亲爱的，在宁静中读神的话，也要大声朗读，因为“听我话的”（约翰福音 5:24），它给人生命。

听听圣经中的这些话：“我多么热切地渴望在受苦之前与你们一同吃这逾越节啊”（路加福音 22:15）；“时候到了，看哪，人子被交在罪人手里了”（马可福音 14:41）。从时间的起点起，还从未有过像这样的时刻。这些话是耶稣所说过的最重要的话之一：“时候到了。”

时间已经结束，永恒已经开始，对于每一个被血覆盖的灵魂都是如此。在那一刻之前，所有人只是活着直到死亡，但当牺牲完成的那一刻，这不是结束，而只是开始。被血覆盖的灵魂已经从自然状态转向与主的永恒联合。取而代之的不是死亡，而是神圣生命的充实。

当我在耶路撒冷时，我在大马士革门外讲道了好几个星期，上帝大大地祝福了我的事工。能在上帝可以使用你的地方真是太美妙了。当我离开耶路撒冷时，一些听过我讲道的犹太人想和我一起旅行，并住在我住的同一家酒店。当我们围坐在桌旁吃饭时，他们说：“我们不理解的是，当你讲道时，我们感受到如此大的力量。你打动了我们。这其中有某种特别的东西；我们情不自禁地觉得你所说的和我们习惯听的不同。这是什么呢？”

我回答说，这是因为我在圣灵的能力中传讲耶稣，因为祂是弥赛亚，祂使祂的子民活在对祂清晰的认识的现实中，以便其他人能够知道并感受到祂的能力。今天的教会非常需要这种认识。

不要满足于对你本性真正改变的知识有所不足，也不要满足于对圣灵内住的存在和力量的知识有所不足。不要满足于一种没有完全沉浸在神里的生活。

关于圣言有许多书籍被写出来，我们喜欢对其有清晰、明确的教导。但去读这本书，听听大师怎么说。你将奠定一个坚固不可动摇的基础，因为我们是靠着神那不朽的道重生的（彼得前书 1:23）。我们需要那简单的信心安息，使我们达到一种坚定不移的状态。神的活道是多么奇妙啊！

你难道看不出，师父对你是多么关心，以至于他甘愿轻视十字架的羞辱（希伯来书 12:2）吗？审判厅对他来说算不了什么；所有的责备和嘲笑都不能夺去他拯救你我之人的喜乐。他那牺牲的爱和喜乐使他说：“我认为为了维格尔斯沃斯没有什么苦难是不能忍受的；我觉得为了布朗没有什么可怕是不能承受的；我的灵魂正展翅要拯救世界！”这是多么美丽啊！这应当让我们心潮澎湃！他知道那圣杯中象征着死亡，然而他却喜乐地说：“我非常渴望，在我受苦之前与你们一起吃这逾越节的筵席”（路加福音 22:15）。拿起饼，喝这杯，每当你吃喝时，都要记念（哥林多前书 11:24–25）。换句话说，把它的意义记在心里；思考它，并分析其含义。

当我们来到擘饼的时候，心中应当想的是：“我该如何参与其中？”我们应当能够说：“主啊，我渴望吃这饼来取悦祢，因为我希望我的整个人生都为祢！” 当新生命的涌流开始流经你的存在时，让自己沉浸其中，被带动，直到你的生命成为不断流动的生命之河。 那时就会成真：“如今活着的不再是我，而是基督在我里面活着”（加拉太书 2:20）。预备好来参加擘饼和喝杯酒，并在这样做的时候，纪念祂。

今日思考：我们的价值不比我们的信仰更高。

January 31

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ. — 2 Corinthians 3:2–3

Scripture reading: Matthew 8:14–27

Every believer should be a living epistle of the Word, one who is read and known by all. Your very presence should bring such a witness of the Spirit that everyone with whom you come in contact will know that you are a sent one, a light in the world, a manifestation of Christ, a biblical Christian. Jesus‘ disciples had to learn that whatever He said must come to pass. Jesus said—very slowly and thoughtfully, I believe—the following:

Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, “The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’” (Luke 22:10–11)

Beloved, let me say this, there was no person in Palestine who had ever seen a man bearing a pitcher of water. It is an unknown thing. Therefore, we find Jesus beginning with a prophecy that brought that inward knowledge to them that what He said must come to pass. This is the secret of the Master‘s life: prophecy that never failed. There is no power that can change the Word of God. Jesus was working out this great thought in the hearts of His disciples so that they might know that what He said would come to pass. After Jesus had given that wonderful command to Peter and John, those disciples were walking into the city, no doubt in deep meditation, when suddenly they cried out in amazement, “Look! There he is! Just as the Master has said.”

When I was in Jerusalem, I was preaching on Mount Olivet, and as I looked down to my right I saw where the two ways met, where the donkey was tied. I could see the Dead Sea, and while I was preaching, I saw at least 150 women going down with pitchers and then carrying them back on their heads, full of water. But I did not see one man. However, Jesus said that it had to be a man, and so it was, for no one could change His word.

Some have said to me that He had it all arranged for a man to carry a pitcher of water. I want to tell you that God does not have to arrange with mortals to carry out His plans. God has the power to hear the cry of some poor needy child of His who may be suffering in England, Africa, China, or anywhere else, saying, “O God, You know my need.” And in New York, Germany, California, or some other place, there is a disciple of His on his knees, and the Lord will say to him, “Send help to that brother or sister, and do not delay.” And the help comes. He did not need to arrange for a man to help Him out by carrying a pitcher of water. He works according to His Word, and Jesus said a man would carry water.

What did those disciples do as they saw the man? Did they go forward to meet him? No, they waited for the man, and when he came up, they probably walked alongside of him without a word until he was about to enter the house. Then I can hear one saying to him, “Please, sir, the Master wants the guest chamber!” “The guest chamber? Why, I was preparing it all day yesterday but did not know whom it was for.” With man things are impossible, but God is the unfolder of the mysteries of life and holds the universe in the hollow of His hand. What we need to know now is that “the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty” (Zephaniah 3:17 KJV), and
He works according to His Word.

Thought for today: We need a faith that leaps into the will of God and says, “Amen!”

1月31日

你们就像写在我们心里的信，被众人所认识、所阅读；显然，你们是基督的信。——哥林多后书 3:2-3

经文阅读：马太福音 8:14–27

每一位信徒都应该成为上帝话语的活信札，成为所有人都能读懂和认识的人。你的存在本身就应当带来圣灵的见证，使你接触的每一个人都能知道你是被差来的，是世界的光，是基督的显现，是一位符合圣经的基督徒。

耶稣的门徒必须明白，无论他所说的，最终都会成就。我相信，耶稣非常缓慢而深思熟虑地说了以下话：

看哪，你们进了城的时候，会遇见一个提着水罐的人；跟随他进入他所进的房子。然后你要对那房子的主人说：“老师对你说：‘我与我的门徒在哪里吃逾越节的客房呢？’” (路加福音 22:10–11)

亲爱的，让我说一句话，当时巴勒斯坦没有一个人见过有人提着水罐。这是一个未知的事情。因此，我们看到耶稣以一段预言为开端，将那种内在的知识带给他们，让他们知道他所说的话必将应验。这就是主生命的奥秘：从未失效的预言。没有任何力量可以改变神的话语。耶稣正在弟子的心中实现这个伟大的思想，让他们明白他所说的话必将实现。当耶稣把那个奇妙的命令交给彼得和约翰之后，那些门徒走进城里，无疑在深深沉思，这时他们突然惊讶地喊道：“看啊！他在那里！就像师傅所说的那样。”

当我在耶路撒冷时，我正在橄榄山布道，当我向右下方望去时，我看到了两条路交汇的地方，那儿系着一头驴。我能看到死海，当我布道时，我看见至少有150名妇女提着水罐下去，然后又满载水罐顶在头上回来。但我确实做了没有见到一个人。然而，耶稣说必须是一个男人，于是确实如此，因为没有人能够改变他的话。

有人对我说，上帝已经安排好，让一个人去提水。我想告诉你，上帝不需要与凡人商量来执行祂的计划。上帝有能力倾听祂那些贫穷、需要帮助的孩子的呼声，无论他们是在英国、非洲、中国，还是其他任何地方，说道：“上帝啊，您知道我的需要。”在纽约、德国、加利福尼亚或其他某个地方，有祂的门徒跪下祈祷，主会对他说：“去援助那位弟兄或姐妹，不要拖延。”援助就会到来。祂不需要安排某个人帮祂提水。祂按照自己的话语行事，而耶稣说过，将有人成为提水的人。

当那些门徒看到那个人时，他们做了什么？他们上前去迎接他了吗？没有，他们等着那个人，当他走近时，他们大概默默地陪他走了一段路，直到他快要进屋时。我听到有人对他说：“请，先生，主人需要客房！”“客房？为什么，我昨天整天都在准备，却不知道是给谁的。”在人的眼里，一切似乎不可能，但上帝是揭示生命奥秘的主，并将宇宙掌握在手中。我们现在需要知道的是，“耶和华你的神在你中间是大有能力的”（西番雅书 3:17 KJV），祂按自己的话语行事。

今日思考：我们需要一种信心，能够跳入神的旨意中，并说：“阿门！”

January 30

This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. — 1 Corinthians 11:25

Scripture reading: Luke 22:7–39

No service is so wonderful to me as the service of partaking in the Lord‘s Supper, the Holy Communion. I would love to see the saints gather together at every meeting in order to remember Christ‘s death, His resurrection, and His ascension. What a thought that Jesus Himself instituted this glorious memorial for us. Oh, that God would let us see that it is “as often” as we do it. It is not weekly, not monthly, not quarterly, but “as often” as we do it. What a blessed remembrance it is to know that He took away our sins.

I am sure that every Christian has a great desire to do something for Jesus, and what He wants us to do is to keep in remembrance the cross, the grave, the Resurrection, and the Ascension; the memory of these four events will always bring us into a place of great blessing. You do not need, however, to continually live on the cross, or even in remembrance of the cross, but what you need to remember about the cross is, “It is finished” (John 19:30). You do not need to live in the grave, but only keep in remembrance that “He is risen” (Matthew 28:6) out of the grave and that we are to be seated “with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

The institution of the Lord‘s Supper is one of those settings in Scripture, a time in the history of our Lord Jesus Christ, when the mystery of the glories of Christ was being unveiled. As the Master walked on this earth, the multitudes would gather with eagerness and longing in their hearts to hear the words that dropped from His gracious lips. But there were also those who had missed the vision. They saw the Christ, heard His words, but those wonderful words were like idle tales to them.

When we miss the vision and do not come into the fullness of the ministry of the Spirit, there is a reason. Beloved, there is a deadness in us that must have the resurrection touch. Today we have the unveiled truth, for the dispensation of the Holy Spirit has come to unfold the fullness of redemption so that we might be clothed with power. What brings us into the state where God can pour His blessing upon us is a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). We need to examine ourselves to see what state we are in, whether we are just religious or whether we are truly in Christ.

The human spirit, when perfectly united with the Holy Spirit, has but one place, and that is death, death, and deeper death. In this place, the human spirit will cease to desire to have its own way, and instead of “My will,” the cry of the heart will be, “May Your will, O Lord, be done in me.”

Thought for today: Jesus is interceding for us to keep us right, holy, ready, mighty, and filled with Himself so that we might bring the fragrance of heaven to the world‘s needs.

1月30日

这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是纪念我。——哥林多前书 11:25

经文阅读：路加福音 22:7–39

没有哪一种敬拜服务能像参与主的晚餐——圣餐——那样令我感到美妙。我真希望每次聚会时，圣徒们都能聚集在一起，纪念基督的死、祂的复活和升天。多么美好的思想啊，是耶稣自己为我们设立了这荣耀的纪念。哦，愿上帝让我们明白这应当“经常”举行，而非每周，每月或每季度，而是“每当我们纪念”时。知道祂除去了我们的罪，这是一种多么福气的纪念啊。

我确信每一个基督徒都非常渴望为耶稣做一些事情，而祂希望我们做的，是常常纪念十字架、坟墓、复活和升天；这四件事的记忆总会带领我们进入大大的祝福之中。然而，你不需要持续活在十字架上，甚至不需要持续记住十字架，但你需要记住的是十字架上那一句话：“成了”（约翰福音 19:30）。你也不需要活在坟墓里，只需要记住“祂已经复活了”（马太福音 28:6），并且我们将与祂一同坐在荣耀里（歌罗西书 3:4）。

主的晚餐的设立是圣经中其中一个场景，是我们主耶稣基督历史中的一个时刻，当时基督荣耀的奥秘正在被揭示。当大师在世行走时，众人怀着热切和渴望的心聚集，要听从他恩典的嘴唇中流出的言语。但也有那些错过异象的人。他们看见了基督，听见了他说的话，但那些美妙的话语对他们来说就像无关紧要的故事。

当我们错过异象，未能进入圣灵事工的丰盛时，这是有原因的。亲爱的，我们内心有一种死寂，必须经历复活的触摸。今天我们有了揭开的真理，因为圣灵的管治时代已经来临，要显明救赎的丰盛，以便我们能够披戴能力。使我们能够进入神倾注祝福的状态的是谦卑的心灵和痛悔的心（诗篇 51:17）。我们需要审视自己，看看我们处于什么状态，是仅仅有宗教行为，还是确实在基督里。

当人的灵与圣灵完全联合时，它只有一个归宿，那就是死亡，死亡，更深的死亡。在这个境地中，人的灵将不再渴望按自己的意愿行事，而心中的呼喊将不是“我的意愿”，而是“主啊，愿你的旨意在我身上成就。”

今日思考：耶稣为我们代求，使我们得以保持正确、圣洁、预备好、充满能力，并充满祂自己，好让我们将天堂的气息带给世上的需要。

January 29

If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:23–24

Scripture reading: Matthew 5:13–26

When I was in Switzerland, the Lord was graciously working and healing many of the people. I was staying with Brother Reuss of Goldiwil, and two policemen were sent to arrest me. The charge was that I was healing the people without a license. Mr. Reuss said to them, “I am sorry that he is not here just now; he is holding a meeting about two miles away, but before you arrest him I would like to show you something.”

Brother Reuss took these two policemen down to one of the lower parts of that district, to a house with which they were familiar, for they had often gone to that place to arrest a certain woman who was constantly an inmate of the prison because of continually being engaged in drunken brawls. He took them to this woman and said to them, “This is one of the many cases of blessing that have come through the ministry of the man you have come to arrest. This woman came to our meeting in a drunken condition. Her body was broken, for she was ruptured in two places. While she was drunk, the evangelist laid his hands on her and asked God to heal her and deliver her.”

The woman joined in, “Yes, and God saved me, and I have not tasted a drop of liquor since.”

The policemen had a warrant for my arrest, but they said with disgust, “Let the doctors do this kind of thing.” They turned and went away, and that was the last we heard from them.

We have a Jesus who heals the brokenhearted, who lets the captives go free (Isaiah 61:1), who saves the very worst. Do you dare spurn this glorious Gospel of God for spirit, soul, and body? Do you dare spurn this grace? I realize that this full Gospel has in great measure been hidden, this Gospel that brings liberty, this Gospel that brings souls out of bondage, this Gospel that brings perfect health to the body, this Gospel of entire salvation. Listen again to the words of Him who left heaven to bring us this great salvation: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed’…he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23). Whatever he says!

I realize that God can never bless us when we are being hardhearted, critical, or unforgiving. These things will hinder faith quicker than anything. I remember being at a meeting where there were some people waiting for the baptism and seeking to be cleansed, for the moment a person is cleansed the Spirit will fall. There was one man with red eyes who was weeping bitterly. He said to me, “I will have to leave. It is no good my staying unless I change things. I have written a letter to my brother-in-law and filled it with hard words, and this thing must first be straightened out.” He went home and told his wife, “I‘m going to write a letter to your brother and ask him to forgive me for writing to him the way I did.”

“You fool!” she said.

“Never mind,” he replied, “this thing is between God and me, and it has got to be cleared away.” He wrote the letter, came again to the meeting, and immediately God filled him with the Spirit.

I believe a great many people want to be healed, but they are harboring things in their hearts that are like a blight. Let these things go. Forgive, and the Lord will forgive you. There are many good people, people who mean well, but they have no power to do anything for God. Some little thing came in their hearts years ago, and their faith has been paralyzed ever since. Bring everything to the light. God will sweep it all away if you will let Him. Let the precious blood of Christ cleanse you from all sin. If you will only believe, God will meet you and bring into your lives the sunshine of His love.

Thought for today: Always be in tune with God, and then the music will come out as sweetly as possible.

1月29日

你献上礼物到坛前的时候，若在那里想起你的弟兄对你有怨，就把礼物留在坛前，先去与弟兄和好，然后来献礼物。——马太福音 5:23-24

经文阅读：马太福音 5:13–26

当我在瑞士时，主恩典地工作并医治了许多人。我住在戈尔迪维尔的鲁斯弟兄家里，有两名警察被派来逮捕我。指控是我在没有执照的情况下医治人们。鲁斯先生对他们说：“很抱歉，他现在不在这里；他在大约两英里外开会，但在你们逮捕他之前，我想先给你们看点东西。”

鲁斯兄弟带着这两名警察下到该区的一个下层地段，去了一所他们熟悉的房子，因为他们经常到那儿去抓一个女人，这个女人因不断参与醉酒争斗而经常入狱。他们找到了这个女人，鲁斯兄弟对他们说：“这是你们来逮捕的人通过事工所带来的许多祝福案例之一。这个女人曾在醉酒状态下来到我们的聚会。她的身体受伤严重，因为她有两处破裂。在她醉酒的时候，这位传道士按手在她身上，并祈求上帝医治她、拯救她。”

那女人也加入了说：“是的，上帝救了我，从那时起我一滴酒都没喝过。”

警察有逮捕我的令状，但他们满脸厌恶地说：“让医生来做这种事情吧。”他们转身离开了，这是我们最后一次听到他们的消息。

我们有一位耶稣，医治伤心的人，使被囚的人得自由（以赛亚书 61:1），拯救最糟糕的人。你敢轻视这荣耀的神的福音，为了灵、魂和身体吗？你敢轻视这恩典吗？我明白，这完整的福音在很大程度上一直被隐藏，这福音带来自由，这福音将灵魂从捆锁中释放，这福音带来身体的完全健康，这全然的救赎福音。请再次聆听那位离开天堂为我们带来这一伟大救恩的主说的话：“我实在告诉你们，无论谁对这座山说：‘你挪开……’，他所说的，必定成就”（马可福音 11:23）。他所说的一定成就！

我意识到，当我们心硬、爱批评或不宽恕时，上帝是永远不会祝福我们的。这些事情比任何事都更快阻碍信心。我记得有一次在一个聚会中，有些人正在等待洗礼并渴望被洁净，当一个人被洁净的那一刻，圣灵就会降临。有一个男人红着眼睛在痛哭。他对我说：“我得离开。如果我不改变一些事情，我留下来也没有用。我给我的小舅子写了一封信，信里满是苛刻的话，这件事必须先解决。” 他回到家对妻子说：“我要给你哥哥写封信，请他原谅我之前写信给他时的态度。”

“你这个傻瓜！”她说道。

“没关系，”他回答道，“这件事是我和上帝之间的事，必须得解决掉。”他写了信，又来参加聚会，立刻上帝就用圣灵充满了他。

我相信很多人都希望得到医治，但他们心中怀有一些像枯萎的东西。放下这些东西吧。原谅，他就会原谅你。有许多好人，他们意图良好，但却没有力量为上帝做任何事。多年前有些小事情进入了他们的心中，从那时起，他们的信心就已瘫痪。把一切带到光明中。如果你允许，上帝会一扫而空。让基督宝血洗净你的一切罪。如果你肯相信，上帝会与你相会，把他爱的阳光带入你的生命中。

今日感悟：永远与上帝保持和谐，那么音乐就会尽可能甜美地流露出来。

January 28

Whoever…does not doubt in his heart,but believes…, he will have whatever he says. — Mark 11:23

Scripture reading: James 1:2–15

Imagine a young man and woman who have fallen in love. In a short while, there is a strong love for each other. What is a heart of love? It is a heart of faith. Faith and love are kin. In the measure that the young man and young woman love one another, they are true. One may go North and the other South, but because of their love, they will be faithful to one another.

It is the same when there is a deep love toward the Lord Jesus Christ. In this new life into which God has brought us, Paul told us that we “have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that [we] may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead” (Romans 7:4). God brings us into a place of perfect love and perfect faith. A person who is born of God is brought into a loyalty to the Lord Jesus that shrinks from anything impure. You see the purity of a man and woman when there is a deep natural affection between them; they disdain the very thought of either of them being untrue. In the same way, in the measure that a person has faith in Jesus, he is pure.

We cannot doubt in our hearts. As we read His Word and believe the promises that He has so graciously given to us, we are made partakers of His very essence and life. The Lord is made a Bridegroom to us, and we are His bride. His words to us are spirit and life (John 6:63), transforming us and changing us, expelling what is natural and bringing in what is divine.

It is impossible to comprehend the love of God as we think in human terms. We must have a revelation from the Spirit of God. It was the love of God that brought Jesus, and it is this same love that helps you and me to believe. God will be your strength in every weakness. You who need His touch, remember that He loves you. If you are helpless or sick, look to the God of all grace, whose very essence is love, who delights to give liberally all life and strength and power that you need.

Thought for today: As we have heart fellowship with our Lord, our faith cannot be daunted.

January 27

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” — Mark 9:23

Scripture reading: Mark 9:1–29

We have a wonderful God, a God whose ways are “past finding out” (Romans 11:33) and whose grace and power are limitless.

I was in Belfast one day and saw one of the brothers of the assembly. He said to me, “Wigglesworth, I am troubled. I have had a good deal of sorrow during the past five months. I had a woman in my church who could always pray the blessing of heaven down on our meetings. She is an old woman, but her presence is always an inspiration. Five months ago she fell and broke her leg. The doctors put it into a cast, but when they removed the cast, the bones were not properly set, and she fell and broke the leg again.”

He took me to her house, and there was a woman lying in a bed on the right-hand side of the room. I said to her, “Well, what about it now?”

She said, “They have sent me home incurable. The doctors say that I am so old that my bones won‘t knit. There is no strength in my bones. They could not do anything for me, and they say I will have to lie in bed for the rest of my life.”

I said to her, “Can you believe God?”

She replied, “Yes, ever since I heard that you had come to Belfast, my faith has been quickened. If you will pray, I will believe. I know there is no power on earth that can make the bones of my leg knit, but I know that nothing impossible with God.”

I said, “Do you believe He will meet you now?”

She answered, “I do.”

It is grand to see people believe God. God knew all about this leg and that it was broken in two places. I said to the woman, “When I pray, something will happen.”

Her husband was sitting there; he had been in his chair for four years and could not walk a step. He called out, “I don‘t believe. I won‘t believe. You will never get me to believe.”

I said, “All right,” and laid my hands on his wife in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The moment hands were laid upon her, she cried out, “I‘m healed.”

I said, “I‘m not going to assist you to rise. God will do it all.” She arose and walked up and down the room, praising God.

The old man was amazed at what had happened to his wife, and he cried out, “Make me walk, make me walk.”

I said to him, “You old sinner, repent.”

He cried out, “Lord, You know I believe.”

I don‘t think he meant what he said; anyhow the Lord was full of compassion. If He marked our sins, where would any of us be? If we will meet the conditions, God will always meet us if we believe all things are possible.

I laid my hands on him, and the power went right through the old man‘s body. For the first time in four years, those legs received power to carry his body. He walked up and down and in and out of the room. He said, “Oh, what great things God has done for us tonight!”

Did you believe before you were saved? So many people want to be saved, but they want to feel saved first. There never was a man who felt saved before he believed. God‘s plan is always the following: if you will believe, you will see the glory of God (John 11:40). I believe God wants to bring us all to a definite place of unswerving faith and confidence in Himself.

In our text from Mark, Jesus uses the illustration of a mountain. Why does He say a mountain? If faith can remove a mountain, it can remove anything. The plan of God is so marvelous that if you will only believe, all things are possible (Mark 9:23).

Thought for today: Desire God, and you will have desires from God.