Sermons By Smith Wigglesworth
Exceedingly Above All You Can Ask Or Think
Read Ephesians 3 carefully. This is a lovely chapter on Paul's mission to the Gentiles. God has grafted us (Gentiles) in. In other ages it was not made known that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, whereof he was made a minister by the effectual working of His power. This power in Paul wrought a very effectual work; it worked in him to such effect that he said he was the least of all saints; that to him was given this grace of mystery and revelation. It came forth as a living reality of a living substance indwelling him. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might be known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God."
Wisdom. This wisdom of God is only revealed in the depths of humiliation where the Holy Ghost has full charge. There alone it is that the vision comes to all His saints. We are now in the process of revelation. You must let the Holy Ghost have His perfect office. A new order of breathing. First a calculation of the mind. "I can go no further, I give myself to a new order, the manifold wisdom of God in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." Boldness brings us into a place of access, confidence, laying hold, taking all off the table and making it ours. The Holy Ghost in the human body unfolding the mystery that we might know and have the revelation according to the will of God. The flesh brought to a place of nonexistence, that in the life of this man should come out the mighty power of God to usward. Paul can get no further. He says "I bow my knees unto the Father."
Prayer. Jude also speaks of praying in the Holy Ghost. There is no natural line of thought here, not one point in particular upon which the mind can rest, but that which is predicted from the throne of glory, then the tongue, then all the divine attributes are displayed above all, exceedingly above all, that the glory of God may be revealed in the face of Jesus. Ye are His workmanship, created for His glory. God cannot display the greater glory except through those co-equal in the glory. The Holy Ghost is the ideal and brings out the very essence of heaven through the human soul. Oh, the need of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (Paul was held in the Spirit: may it be so in our case)-there is no difference; he was willing for all things, bound in the spirit-here we have the greatest liberty that can come to humanity, all the liberty of heaven open, the family in heaven and earth. I love that thought that the veil is so thin that the tie is closer than ever, Christ with them; they with us. One is on earth; what a loftiness, a reverence, a holiness! A wonderful thing is this wedlock and fellowship in the spirit-now an infinite mind of fulfilment and glory. "Are they not all ministering spirits?" Who can help us as those tried with us? As the body is so fitly framed together by the effectual working of His power, we are all one, nothing separates us, but we LOOK FOR THE APPEARING OF JESUS. He is there in the glory, they are with Him. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so shall we ever be with the Lord. We can only pray as the Holy Ghost gives utterance. Ver. 16: Here the Holy Ghost gives the highest principles through this prayer that the purposes of salvation are a continuous working and an increasing power all the time. The day that is coming will declare all things. Strengthened by the Spirit according to the riches of His glory.
Glory. What is the Glory? All the glory that ever comes is from Him. You have the glory in the measure that you have the Son of Glory in you. If you are filled with Jesus, you are filled with the glory. When we have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, there is nothing to hinder the Holy Ghost having the control of the whole being. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Faith is the production of all things. The Holy Ghost indwelling and enlarging until the whole body is filled with Christ, and we are coming there in a very remarkable way. Did the Holy Ghost ever utter a prayer that no power could answer? In John 17:21 Jesus says "That they all may be one as Thou Father art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us." What works in us through being one with Him, rooted and grounded? Perfect love, and perfect love has justice wrapped up in it, and the day is coming when THE SAINTS WILL SAY "AMEN" to the judgments of God. Justice will do it. All the wood, hay and stubble must be destroyed, but, rooted and grounded in the Word, I am a production of what God is forming and I can stay the gates of Hell and laugh in the face of calamity and say, "All things work together for good to them that love God;" rooted and grounded in love. So-and-so may leave me, but if I am grounded, it is for my good and nothing can be against me but myself. We live for the glory of God. The Lord, it is He that establisheth, strengtheneth and upholdeth, making strong that which is weak and enabling them to stand in the difficulty, and in the day of battle. God is with thee to do far exceeding above all you can ask or think.
Faith. Are we children of circumstances, or children of faith? If we are on natural lines, we are troubled at the wind blowing, as it blows it whispers fearfulness; but if you are rooted and grounded you can stand the tests, and it is only then that you prove what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and know the love of Christ. It is an addition sum to meet every missionary's needs, to display God's power, enlarging that which needs to be quickened. Breadth: the whole man seeing God is sufficient in every state. The length of things. God is in everything. Oh, the depths! But God is in the depths! The heights! God is always lifting you, and the revelation of the mind in that verse is enough for any in any circumstances to triumph, able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think, not according to the mind of Paul but according to the revelation of the Spirit. Filled unto all the fulness of God. The natural capacity when filled with simplicity has within it an enlargement of itself, but this fulness is an ideal power of God in the human soul; every part of you is enlarged by the Spirit. God is there instead of you to make you full, and you are full as your faith reaches out to the measure. "Filled unto all the fulness of God."
The power of the Lord was present to heal, fulness of power pressed out of them unto others. In Acts 1 we see a power of the Holy Ghost filling Jesus. He became lighter and lighter until HE WAS LIFTED BACK to where He was before, in the presence of God. Jesus Christ manifest in the flesh, the power of God in human form. The fulness of the Godhead bodily manifested in Jesus. John, says He was the Light of Life, increasing in fulness until wafted away entirely, in substance the fulness of God. Exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. How can it be fulfilled in me, you say? It is filled there in the glory! But it's a tremendous thing! God will have to do something! Beloved, it is not according to your mind at all, but according to the mind of God, according to the revelation of the Spirit. Above all you could ask or think! The Blood has been poured out.
The Holy Ghost has been sent down. Verily, we are not worthy, but He is worthy! It's above all you can ask! How can it be possible? God puts it in your heart! He can do it.
We have been hearing much about war loan and interest, but if vou will follow on, God will add and enlarge and enlarge and lift you all the time, adding compound interest. Five per cent! No! a thousand per cent, a million per cent! If thou wilt, if holiness is the purpose of your heart, it shall be, for God IS in His place. WiII you be in the plan according to the power that worketh, working in you. Whatever you are at any time, it will be by His effectual power, lifting, controlling, carrying you in constant rest and peace; it is according to the Power that worketh in you. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus through all ages, world without end. Amen.
- Smith Wigglesworth
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Sermons by Smith Wigglesworth