Your Will and the Will of God 1/1 Wednesday Wisdom

Wishing all of you a wonderful and God-blessed new year!

 

Taking another holiday break.  My next post will be Friday Faith (posting Thursday afternoon).

Smith Wigglesworth was not a pastor, so he did not preach seasonal sermons.  I couldn't find anything appropriate for the new year.

When your will becomes entirely the will of God, then you are clearly in the place where the Holy Ghost can make Jesus Lord in your life, Lord over your purchases, Lord over your selling, Lord over your eating and your drinking, your clothing and your choice of companionship.

His Operations 12/31 Tuesday Truth

His operations upon us may be painful but the wise saint will remember that among those whom God chastens it is he who is exercised by that chastening to whom "...it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness..."  (Hebrews 12:11).  Therefore let Him do with you what seemeth Him good, for He has His hand upon you and He will not willingly take it off till He has performed the thing He knows you need.  So if He comes with a fan, be ready for the fan.  If He comes with chastisement, be ready for chastisement.  If He comes with correction, be ready for correction.  Whatever He wills to do, let Him do it and He will bring you to the land of plenty.  Oh, it is worth the world to be under the power of the Holy Ghost! 

-- Smith Wigglesworth
 

God's Love Toward Us 12/30 Monday Meditation

I have great love for my boys in England, great love for my daughter here; but it is nothing in comparison to God's love toward us.  God's love is desirous that we should walk up and down the earth as His sons, clothed, filled, radiant, with fire beaming forth from the countenance, setting forth the power of the Spirit.
-- Smith Wigglesworth

Never Too Cold or Hot 12/27 Friday Faith

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.   I'll end the week with a rather humorous anecdote about the power of revival.  According to other accounts, this took place shortly after Wigglesworth was saved, before he began his ministry.  Wigglesworth had always had complaints about his wife's cooking.  Maybe there's a lesson here for all of us.

One day the power of God fell upon me.  I came out to the meeting and fell down before the Lord.  The people began asking, "What sin has Wigglesworth been committing?"  This went on for a fortnight [two weeks].  Every time I came to the altar God used to sweep through me with such a manifestation of my helplessness, that I would go down before God and weep right through.  Then the preacher or the leader was broken up and came alongside of me.  God made a revival begin in that.  God had broken me up and revival began through His revival in me.  Oh, it was lovely!  At last my wife said, "Since my husband had that touch, I have never been able to cook anything that he was not pleased with.  It is never too cold and never too hot."
 

Peace on Earth 12/24 Tuesday Truth

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This will be my last post until probably Friday.  I wish all of you a blessed, Christ-filled Christmas, and great, memorable times with your loved ones.
 
Hard to believe that I actually was able to find a Christmas-like quote by Wigglesworth.  This is from a Nov. 12, 1927 sermon.

It was a wonderful day when Jesus left the glory.  I can imagine all the angels and God the Father and all heaven so wonderfully stirred that day when the angels were sent to tell that wonderful story:  "Peace on earth and good will to men."  It was a glorious day when they beheld the Babe for the first time and God was looking on.  What happened after that day and until He was thirty years old I suppose it would take a big book to put it all in.  It was working up to a great climax.

Only God 12/23 Monday Meditation

Only God can make people right.  Only melted gold is minted.  Only moistened clay receives the mold.  Only softened wax receives the seal.  Only broken, contrite hearts receive the mark as the Potter turns us on His wheel.  Oh, Lord, give us that blessed state where we are perfectly and wholly made meek.

-- Smith Wigglesworth

Was Jesus Born in September? 12/21 Weekend Extra

Was Jesus born in September?

By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope

Although December 25^th is the day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord, most Bible students understand that it is not the date on which Jesus was born.  We should not be surprised that the Bible doesn’t tell us the actual date, because nowhere in the Bible are we told to remember His birth.  We are clearly told to remember His death, burial and resurrection, but not His birth.  However, celebrating Jesus’ birth is a good thing, because it brings to remembrance the sacrifice He made when He humbled himself and came to earth; when the Lord of Glory took on human flesh; when the King of kings entered into poverty.

Although the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us when Jesus was born, it does provide some “whispers” of when if might have been.  

1) It was not likely to have occurred after October because the weather in Israel turns very cold — too cold for the flocks to have been in the fields overnight.  

Luke 2:8  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

2) It’s also highly unlikely that the Romans would have issued a decree for a census in December.  It would have required travel to their city of birth and the terrain of Judea would have been difficult, or even impassable, during winter months.

 

Matthew 24:20  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

 

3) Jesus came to tabernacle (dwell) with us, so it further supports a September birth (or very early October) having taken place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

For these reasons, and more, most Bible students believe Jesus’ birth to have been in September during the Feast of Tabernacles and at a time when the sheep would have been in the fields overnight and travel in Judea would have been possible.

 

 

John the Baptist’s Birth Provides Insight

Additionally, the birth of John the Baptist lends credence to the belief that Jesus was born in September.  John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary and the wife of Zacharias, a priest of the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5, 8-13, 23-24). 

Luke 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

 

Luke 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.

 

Priests were divided into 24 courses and they served in the Temple for one week, beginning on the Sabbath (1 Chronicles 24:7-19)

 

We know from the Talmud and Josephus that the Temple was destroyed by Titus on August 5th, 70 AD, and the first course of priests had just taken office.  Since the course of Abijah was the eighth course (1 Chronicles 24:10),  it can be determined by counting backward that Zacharias would have ended his duties on July 13th, 3 BC.   He returned to his home and soon after Elizabeth conceived

Luke 1:23-24  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months.

 

Elizabeth hid herself for five months, uncertain about how her pregnancy would be viewed.  The Bible tells us that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her…

 

Luke 1:31  behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

 

Soon thereafter, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and stayed with her until Elizabeth’s ninth month, departing just prior to John’s birth. 

 

If John was born nine months after Zacharias completed his course (July 13, 3 BC), he would have been born in April, 2 BC.  If, perhaps, his birth occurred 280 days from July 13, 3 BC, the date would have been April 19-20, 2 BC, which was Passover that year.

We know that Elizabeth was in her sixth month when Mary conceived and went with haste to visit her.

Luke 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

 

Luke 1:39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda

 

Because Elizabeth was in her sixth month, John would have been five months older than Jesus, which would place Jesus’ birthdate in September, 2 BC —  perhaps even on the Feast of Tabernacles, since we know that Jesus came to tabernacle with us.

 

Of course, this reasoning is all very interesting, but remember that no one knows for certain the exact date of Jesus’ birth.  The details the Bible does provide makes it highly likely that Jesus was born in late September, but the actual day that we celebrate His birth is not what is important.  What really matters is that we remember and praise God for what He has clearly revealed to us — what we know to be true — that Jesus came to earth to live among us, to be both God and Man, to experience everything we experience and yet never did He sin…. and then to be obedient to the will of the Father in going to the cross and giving His life so that we can have eternal life with Him.  

As we celebrate Christmas, it’s not about the day…

it’s about the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Remember and give thanks.

 

 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: 

for great is your reward in heaven 

Matthew 5:12

- See more at: http://www.rforh.com/blog/jesus-born-september/#sthash.425kWnFk.dpuf

A Pure Atmosphere 12/20 Friday Faith

We must live in such a pure atmosphere that God will shine in and through our souls.  Oh, this uttermost salvation!  I am satisfied that as we get to know the Son of God, we will never be weak anymore, the tide will be so turned.

-- Smith Wigglesworth
 

Never Do Anything 12/19 Thursday Thoughts

Never let us do anything to lose this divine love, this close affection in our hearts that says, "Not I, but Christ, not I, but Christ!"  I want to say forget yourself and get lost in Him.  Lose all your identification in the Son of God, let Him become all in all, seek only the Lord and let Him be glorified...   God is waiting for the man that will lay all on the altar, fifty-two weeks in the year, three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, and then continue perpetually in the Holy Ghost.
-- Smith Wigglesworth 

Be Not Asleep 12/18 Wednesday Wisdom

Be not asleep concerning the deep things of God.  Have a flaming indignation against the power of Satan...  Anything that takes me from an attitude of worship, peace, and joy, of consciousness of God's presence, has a satanic source.  Greater is He that is in you.
-- Smith Wigglesworth

The Best Gifts 12/17 Tuesday Truth

But is there not a vast and appalling unconcern about possessing the gifts?  Ask of a score of saints chosen at random from almost any assembly, "Have you any of the gifts of the Spirit?" and the answer will be, "No," and given in a tone and with a manner that conveys the thought that the saint is not surprised at not having the gifts, that he doesn't expect to have any of them, and does not expect to seek for them.  Isn't this terrible when this living Word exhorts us specifically to "covet earnestly the best gifts"? ...
Oh come, let us seek Him for the best gifts, and let us strive to be wise and rightly divide the Word of truth, giving it forth in power that the church may be edified and sinners may be saved.

-- Smith Wigglesworth

The Kingdom Suffers Violence 12/16 Monday Meditation

The kingdom of heaven is within us, the Christ, the Word of God.  The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence (Matt. 11:12).  How?  Every suffering one, every paralyzed condition, if you feel distress in any way, it means that the kingdom is suffering violence at the hands of the adversary.  Could the kingdom of heaven bring weakness, disease, consumption, cancers, tumors?  The kingdom of God is within you, it is the life of Jesus, the power of the Highest, pure, holy; it has no disease or imperfection.  But Satan cometh to steal and kill and destroy.
-- Smith Wigglesworth

Flames of Fire 12/13 Friday Faith

God wants men flames of fire, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Let us live as those that have seen the King, having a resurrection touch.  We know we are sons of God as we believe His Word and stand in the truth of it.
Tongues and Interpretation:  "The Spirit of the Lord breathes upon the bones and upon the things that are not and changes them in a moment, making the weak strong, quickening that which is dead into life."

-- Smith Wigglesworth

Called to be Saints 12/12 Thursday Thoughts

Saved, called to be saints, called with a holy calling, holy, pure, Godlike, sons with power.  It is a long time now since it was settled and death abolished.  Death has no more power; mortality is a hindrance; sin has no more dominion; you reign in Christ, you appropriate His finished work.  Don't groan and travail for a week if you are in need, only believe.  Don't fight to get some special thing, only believe.  It is according to your faith.  God blesses you with faith.  Have faith in God.  If you are free in God, believe, and it shall be.

-- Smith Wigglesworth

Perfect Yieldedness 12/11 Wednesday Wisdom

The Holy Ghost is coming to take out a church and a perfect bride; He must find in us perfect yieldedness, every desire subjected to Him.  He has come to reveal Christ in us, that the glorious flow of the life of God may outflow, rivers of living water to the thirsty land.
"...if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."  (Romans 8:10)

-- Smith Wigglesworth 

A Tremendous Word 12/10 Tuesday Truth

God's Word is a tremendous Word, a productive Word, producing what it is -- power.  Producing God-likeness.  We get to heaven through the Word of God, we have peace through the blood of His cross.  Redemption is ours through the knowledge of the Word.  I am saved because God's Word says so... If I am baptized with the Holy Spirit it is because Jesus said, "Ye shall receive power, the Holy Ghost coming upon you."  We must all have one idea -- to be filled with the Holy Ghost, to be filled with God.

-- Smith Wigglesworth

Abundant Life 12/9 Monday Meditation

God has a plan for us in this life of the Spirit, this abundant life.  Jesus came that we might have life.  Satan comes to steal and kill and destroy, but God has for us abundance, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, abundant measure.  God filling us with His own personality, presence, making us salt and light and giving us revelation of Himself.  God with us in all circumstances and afflictions, persecutions, in every trial, girding us with truth.  Christ the initiative, the Triune God in control, our every thought, word, action must be in line with Him, with no weakness or failure.  Our God is a God of might, light, revelation, preparing us for heaven.  Our life is hid with Christ in God; when He Who is our life shall be manifested, we also shall appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3,4).
-- Smith Wigglesworth

Just the Same 12/6 Friday Faith

Satan will make the pain and weakness so distracting that it will always bring down your mind to where the pain is.  Anything that takes me from an attitude of worship is of Satan; if only a finger or a toothache, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me.  Oh, again the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them.Just the same, just the same,
He is just the same today.
Praise the Lord.  Amen.

-- Smith Wigglesworth
 

Kingdom of God is Within You 12/5 Thurs. Thoughts

Beloved, the kingdom of heaven is within you.  The kingdom of heaven is the life of Jesus, the power of the Highest; no disease, no imperfection.  It is as holy as God is.  Satan comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy.  Every ailment is of satanic origin; there is no purification in disease...  There may be some here still asleep concerning the deep things of God.  I want God to give you a revelation, an awakening, an audacity, a flowing indignation against he powers of Satan.

  -- Smith Wigglesworth

They might be giants, but ... 12/4 Wednesday Wisdom

I come across men who might be giants in faith, leaders who might subdue kingdoms, but they go down because they allow Satan to dethrone their better knowledge of the power of God...  Jesus answered and said to them, "...Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel  preached to them"  (Matthew 11:4,5).
  -- Smith Wigglesworth

Called to a Higher Plane 12/3 Tuesday Truth

This ordinary man Stephen became mighty under the Holy Ghost anointing, until he stands supreme, in many ways, among the apostles -- "And Stephen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people."  As we go deeper in God, He enlarges our conception and places before us a wide-open door; and I am not surprised that this man, chosen to "serve tables," was afterwards called to a higher plane.  "What do you mean?" you may ask.  "Did he 'quit' this service?"  "No! but he was 'lost' in the power of God."  He lost sight of everything in the natural, and steadfastly fixed his gaze upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and he was transformed into a "shining light" in the Kingdom of God."

  -- Smith Wigglesworth 

Cry Aloud! 12/2 Monday Meditation

Beloved, if there is anything in your life that in any way resists the power of the Holy Ghost and the entrance of His Word into your heart and life, drop on your knees and CRY ALOUD for mercy!   When the Spirit of God is "brooding" over your heart's door, do not resist Him, but open your heart to the touch of God.
-- Smith Wigglesworth