Matthew 7:24 New International Version (NIV)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
I am always fascinated in how God works when he takes ordinary men and makes great things out of their lives. There was once a man who lived and did just that. His name was Smith Wiggelsworth. He was born in 1859 and lived to 1947. He was a man brought up during hard times.
He had to do manual labor at the age of six to help with the family income. He worked at pulling turnips. At seven he worked at a woolen factory for twelve hours a day. Then, he eventually became a plumber into his fifties.
He came to know Christ at 16 and helped with the Salvation Army. Later in life he got married and started a small church on the side. The Holy Spirit empowered him with the gift of healing. He struggled at unworthiness at being given this gift.
Later, he went to a Pentacostal Church and prayed for about four days and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He spoke in tongues. For Smith Wigglesworth, this changed his life trajectory. He walked away from his plumbing business and stepped into ministry.
He healed people out of wheelchairs, helped the blind to see, cancer was destroyed, and it is confirmed that be brought 14 people back from the dead. He went from being a plumber to an Apostle of Faith.
Smith Wigglesworth based his ministry on 4 key principles.
- Read the Word of God.
- Consume the Word of God until It Consumes You.
- Believe the Word of God.
- Act on the Word of God.
You might be asking today, “Why are you telling this story?”
I want you to see the importance of God’s Word. God’s Word brings wisdom.
Jesus is still in the discipleship business of using everyday, ordinary men.
Strength and Courage
Michael
