You are the blessed of the Lord and I want to say something on the frontend for you to remember as we go through the message.
You often hear “God does extraordinary things through ordinary people.” How many of you have heard that? It’s not true. You see, we are born ordinary. We are born with a sin nature. But ladies and gentlemen, once we are born again we go from ordinary to extraordinary. We’re in “Jesus territory”! There is nothing ordinary about you. Nothing!
Once you are born again. Once you become God’s son or daughter, you are extraordinary. That’s why God can work through you to do the extraordinary. He can’t work through a person with a sin nature and do the extraordinary. He can get some things done but not the extraordinary. It’s only for you ladies and gentlemen. Only for you. So never sell yourself short because there is nothing ordinary about you.
We’re going to spend some time on faith tonight. I know most of you have heard of Smith Wigglesworth. When I’m not reading the Bible, I’ll probably pick up something by Smith Wigglesworth. I want to share something with you from his book called “Ever Increasing Faith.”
“When I was a young man I always loved the fellowship of elderly men and was always careful to hear what they had to say. I had a friend, an old Baptist minister who was a wonderful preacher. I spent much of my time with him. One day he came to me and said, “My wife is dying.” I said, “Brother Clark, why don’t you believe God? God can raise her up if you only believe Him.”
(Notice he didn’t say why don’t you pray for her? He said “Brother Clark why don’t you believe God? When he asks that question he’s going back to who God is and what God does. God heals. )
He asked me to come to his house, and I looked for someone to go with me.
(It seems like the man’s faith is more in Smith Wigglesworth’s relationship with God than his own. The man had the same capability as Wigglesworth if he’s born again. But it is undeniable that God worked mightily through the man.)
I went to a certain rich man who was very zealous for God and spent much money in opening up rescue missions, and I asked him to go with me. He said, “Never you mind me. You go yourself, but I don’t take to this kind of business.” Then I thought of a man who could pray by the hour, Brother Nichols. When he was on his knees he could go around the world three times and come out at the same place. I asked him to go with me and said to him, “You’ll have a real chance this time. Keep at it, and quit when you’re through.’ (Some go on after they are through.)
“Brother Nichols went with me and started praying. He asked the Lord to comfort the husband in his great bereavement and prayed for the orphans and a lot more on this line. I cried, “O my God, stop this man.” But there was no stopping him and he went on praying and there was not a particle of faith in anything he uttered. He did stop at last, and I said, “Brother Clark, it’s now your turn to pray.” He started, “Lord, answer the prayer of my brother and comfort me in this great bereavement and sorrow. Prepare me to face this great trial.” I cried out, “My God, stop this man.’
(What he said next really got my attention.)
The whole atmosphere was being charged with unbelief.
(For many Christians, what these men were praying is what they’re used to hearing. But Wigglesworth says the atmosphere was being charged with unbelief.)
“I had a glass bottle full of oil and I went up to the woman and poured the whole lot on her in the name of Jesus. Suddenly Jesus appeared, standing at the foot of the bed. He smiled and vanished. The woman stood up, perfectly healed, and she is a strong woman today.”
What caught my attention when I read this were the two statements Wigglesworth made after the men prayed.
(1) “There was not a particle of faith in anything he uttered.”
(2) “The whole atmosphere was charged with unbelief.”
What was charging the atmosphere with unbelief? Words. Words can charge the atmosphere with unbelief. How many of us do this every single day? How many of us do this every day by some of the programs we watch on TV? By some of the music we listen to?
We’re charging our atmosphere with unbelief and when we do this we’re creating a place where God can’t work.
Turn with me to Matthew 12.
(35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
(36) But I say unto you, That every idle word (Every word that is not in agreement with God’s Word is idle.) that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
I want you to think about the word “treasure”. In the Greek it’s the word “storehouse”. A storehouse is where you deposit things. The good man puts things in his storehouse by the words that he speaks. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart makes deposits into his storehouse.
When you have a storehouse you put in things that you value. When we speak the Word of God we’re putting treasures in our storehouses. When we don’t speak the Word of God we’re also putting treasure in the store house. And we often put in more treasure that disagrees with God’s Word than agrees with God’s Word.
And he says in verse 37, depending on the treasure that you are putting in to the storehouse, you will be justified or condemned. The Amplified Bible says “For by your words you will be justified and acquitted and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.”
Turn to Proverbs 18.
(20) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
I want you to notice how this is phrased. “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.” It doesn’t say the fruit the man “puts into his mouth” but the fruit “of his mouth”. The words “satisfied” and “filled” are the same Hebrew word.
What if we read verse 20 like this: “A man’s belly shall be FILLED with the fruit of his mouth, and with the increase of his lips shall he be SATISFIED.”
Now look at the very next verse.
(:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
What communicates to me as I read this verse is this: when we speak words that disagree with the Word of God we are slowly poisoning ourselves. And the result of that poisoning is going to be death. It’s going to be death to all of the promises God has for us. It’s going to be death to our living the life God wants us to live. It’s going to be death to our fulfilling the call God has on our lives.
Words are very, very important. In these two verses there is an undeniable truth: Whatever we speak is going to produce fruit. Always. No exceptions.
Remember Smith Wigglesworth said “The whole atmosphere was being charged with unbelief.” And we know that this happened as a result of words.
What does “he Atmosphere of Unbelief” look like?
Turn with me to Mark 5.
(21) And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
22) And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
(23) And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
(24) And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
During this time the woman with the issue of blood approaches Jesus and touches the hem of his garment and is made whole. And Jesus tells her that her faith has made her whole and to go in piece. Let’s pick the record up in verse 35.
(35) While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Can you say atmosphere of unbelief? Remember the woman with the issue of blood has just touched Jesus’ clothes and was made whole. Do you think there was an atmosphere of faith there? Now Jairus’ folks arrive. What do they bring with them? An atmosphere of unbelief – “Thy daughter is dead. Leave the master alone.” They bring the atmosphere of unbelief with them. Do you here what I am saying?
(36) As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Jesus heard what Jairus’ folks said and ignored it. Why? He carried and atmosphere of faith. Are you catching on to what I’m saying? It’s no different than when Jesus says “My peace I leave with thee.” In other words, my peace is yours to take wherever you go. Your “atmosphere of faith” is yours to take with you wherever you go! Or, you can decide to take an atmosphere of unbelief everywhere you go.
(37) And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
(38) And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
In that culture, you had people who would come for no other reason than to cry because of the family’s loss. It was what they did. There was no genuineness in what they were doing.
(39) And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
(40) And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
The phrase “put out” is a combination of two Greek words – ekballo, which means to eject, drive out or expel. It’s translated “cast out” 45 times.
Jesus drove out those who had an atmosphere of unbelief. When you have unbelief in your life, you have to drive it out. Unbelief will hang around unless you make it leave. Unbelief will set up a room with a microwave and an easy chair and a flat screen TV until you drive it out.
(41) And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
(42) And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
(43) And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Now turn to Mark 9
(14) And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
(15) And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
(16) And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
This is the story of the man who had a son that was possessed by a devil. He had brought his sons to the disciples but they could not deliver him. Jump down to verse 20.
(20) And they brought him unto him: and when he (the spirit) saw him (Jesus), straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Why did the spirit do this to the boy? He was trying to create an atmosphere of unbelief so Jesus couldn’t cast him out. So many times we make decisions based on what we see rather than what the Word of God says. We decide what we believe by what we see. This devil was trying to see what Jesus was made of.
(21) And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
(22) And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
(23) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Let me paint a picture for you. Jesus has just asked father how long this has been going on and father says since he was a child. The father takes his atmosphere of unbelief and says to Jesus “If you can do anything help us.”
Jesus stops. This the picture I have. Jesus stops and looks at the father and says “If I can do anything? Seriously? If I can do anything? Let me tell you how this works. If you have faith all things are possible to you.”
“If” is one of those words that is strong when it comes to unbelief. If. If. If.
And so the father says to Jesus “If you can do anything.” He asks this question after seeking Jesus out. He asks this question after finding Jesus – for sole purpose of delivering his son. But he sees the disciples first. So he says to Jesus, your disciples couldn’t do anything but if you can please help us.”
And Jesus says “If I can do anything?” We need to understand that when Jesus says “If I can do anything?” it’s like he’s telling the father “I know what I can do because if you have faith you will be able to do what I am about to do for your son.”
We must have the same attitude. “If I can do anything? Are you kidding me? If I can do anything? The Bible says that if you have faith you can move mountains. Let me show you.” How many of us have the backbone to do that? We are people who don’t like to be embarrassed. We don’t want to tell someone what the Bible says and then we can’t follow through. So we stay silent.
(24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
If you’re taking notes write down Hebrews 3:12-4:12. I encourage you to read it in light of this message. It talks about the children of Israel who were not able to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. Let’s turn to it. I want you to see a couple of things.
In chapter 3 verse 12 it says “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
Earlier in the chapter we see where the children of Israel had hardened their hearts to the things of God. When you have hardened hearts you will have unbelief. The easiest way to get rid of unbelief is to soften your heart with the Word. Saturate your life with the Word. It’s the easiest way of getting rid of unbelief. Unbelief causes us to leave God and everything he has for us. It causes us to walk away.
Jump down to verse 17.
(17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
(18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
(19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
I like the way the Amplified Bible renders the last part of this verse: “unbelief had shut the door.”
Now let’s talk about an “atmosphere of faith”
Look at Mark 2.
(1) And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
(2) And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
Can you say atmosphere of faith ladies and gentlemen? Jesus is in the house! People had flocked to see him!
(3) And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
These men also had an atmosphere of faith.
(4) And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
In those days houses had outside stairs. Can you see these men walking up those stairs carrying their friend? This is a house they don’t own. It belongs to somebody else! Houses back then had roofs that were made of tile and dirt. These men are digging through someone else’s roof! Do you see the atmosphere of faith ladies and gentlemen?
Get the picture. Jesus is teaching and they hear what’s going happening on the roof and to the roof. I can dirt and dust falling on Jesus and he stops to spit it out. He’s wiping his eyes and then he looks up and as he does he sees these men lowering his friend into Jesus’ presence.
(5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
What does Jesus say when he saw their faith? James says faith without works is dead. Jesus saw the great length these men were willing to go to their friend to Jesus for healing.
(6) But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
(7) Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
What you’re going to find in religion ladies and gentlemen is an atmosphere of unbelief. Instead of being joyous that Jesus has forgiven the man his sins they complain and ask what right does He have to do that?
(8) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
(9) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
(10) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
(11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Look in Acts 14.
(8) And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
(9) The same heard Paul speak: (Faith comes by what ladies and gentlemen? It comes when we hear the Word of God spoken.) who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
(10) Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
An example of an atmosphere of faith.
Now turn to Matthew 9.
(27) And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
Did these men have an atmosphere of faith? Think about it this way. An atmosphere of faith is simply expecting to receive what you ask for.
(28) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
(29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
(30) And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
(31) But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
One more passage. James 5.
(13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
(15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
The “prayer of faith”. We read Smith Wigglesworth’s account of Brother Nichols and Brother Clark praying. But what did say? There was not one particle of faith in what they were praying.
The Body of Christ. We pray all the time but it’s not prayers of faith. If they were we would see some things happening! We pray all the time. We think that when we pray we have done our duty. We think we have done what we’re supposed to do. If a person has prayed for you and you are in the same condition after the prayer, ladies and gentlemen, that was not a prayer of faith.
Our prayers are supposed to be filled with faith. But if you are living a life on the line – being in unbelief sometimes and being in faith at other times – you are living in unbelief.
So I have a question for you tonight. Are you building an “atmosphere of faith” or an “atmosphere of unbelief”? Are you nurturing an “atmosphere of faith” or an “atmosphere of unbelief”?
I think we know what we should be doing. But ladies and gentlemen, if that’s not what you’re doing then let this be the night that you start nurturing an atmosphere of faith in your life. Let this be the night that you start putting away the particles of unbelief in your life by the words you speak. Let the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart be pleasing to the Lord, be pleasing to your Heavenly Father.
Everyone please stand.
