© 22 Colin Melbourne
Peculiar People
Q: What makes the most difference between Spirit-filled believers, why are some exceptional?
A: Wonderful question, keep going that way, and the Lord will be able to use you more and more.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:13-14 KJV
Without doubt, the most exceptional believer England has produced in modern times was Smith Wigglesworth, who teaches us the key; Have Confidence in Christ. He preached this message of August 1914, just seven years after he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
Here’s a taster to encourage you to get the full transcript and absorb this jewel of truth, which begins;
The Confidence that we have in Him:
In 1 John 5:14-15, I read a very wonderful word.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
It is necessary that we find our bearings in this Word.
Wigglesworth then explains with perfect clarity how to activate this promise in your life.
He speaks with authority that can only be gained from walking with the Living God.
We pay particular attention because the man speaking was as ordinary as us, and God kept His word to him as Smith put it into practice; healing miracles, signs, and wonders resulted that no man could gain-say.
Young T.L. Osborn returned in 1948 from India a heart-broken, failed, missionary. He and his wife, Daisy, decided to seek advice from preachers whose ministry was validated with God’s miracle power.
Their first choice was to hear Smith Wigglesworth preach, but Smith died that same year.
You can learn the lessons T.L. so desperately sought by absorbing the vivid ministry of Wigglesworth through these sermon transcripts.
<< The Complete Teachings of Smith Wigglesworth: A wonderful book of Smith Wigglesworth sermons transcribed by James Salter (his son-in-law, and missionary in the African Congo). Full sermon transcripts in this massive inspirational collection. It makes a perfect daily devotional alongside your Bible.
An advantage of having them written to read, instead of listening to him preach, is that you can pause after each phrase and contemplate the meaning it encompasses.
Let me give you a further example; Smith preached these words in 1914 concerning Christ at Lazarus’ tomb;
I tell you what makes us lose the confidence, is disobedience to God and His laws.
Jesus said it was because of them that stood around that He prayed; but He knew that he heard Him always. And because He knew that His Father heard Him always, He knew that the dead could come forth.
There are times when there seems to be a stone wall in front of us, as black as midnight, and there is nothing left but confidence in God.
There is no feeling.
What you must do is to have a fidelity and confidence to believe that He will not fail, and cannot fail.
We shall never get anywhere if we depend upon our feelings.
There’s something a thousand times better than feelings, and it is the naked word of God.
There is a divine revelation within you, that came in when you were born from above, and this is real faith.
You would have been blessed to have been in the room when SW spoke those words, but as you meditate on each phrase, God will reveal deep truths to your heart, in a way you would not have had time to receive if you were present when they were preached.
If T.L. had sought advice from Wigglesworth, he would have instantly found the key in the phrase;
What you must do is to have a fidelity and confidence to believe that He will not fail, and cannot fail.
Ask Jesus to show you what Smith meant, and He will.
The Complete Teachings of Smith Wigglesworth
© 22 Colin Melbourne
You may also wish to read;
Maria Woodworth-Etter Biography