A Place of Rest
David Wilkerson encourages believers to enter a place of total trust in God's Word, a continuous confidence that God is with us and will see us through to the end.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the call from heaven for believers to find their rest in Christ, urging them to detach from worldly distractions and materialism. He highlights the importance of faithfulness, reminding us that Jesus was faithful to God, and encourages Christians to hold steadfast to their confidence in Him. As trials and battles intensify, believers must recognize the lies of the enemy, who targets those striving to enter God's rest. Wilkerson reassures that there remains a rest for the people of God, which is achieved through total trust in His Word. He calls for a personal encounter with God, where the Holy Spirit can provide strength and peace to weary souls.
Text
"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house" (Hebrews 3:1-2).
The book of Hebrews offers a strong, vital word to all who are "partakers of the heavenly calling." This means that you hear heaven calling you. Even now heaven is calling for a people who are free from the materialism and foolishness of this world -- Christians who wake up each morning and hear Jesus calling them to himself. They look at all that surrounds them and cry inwardly, "Jesus, my heart is not here, my future is not here. Nothing in this world satisfies me. You alone, Jesus, are my life."
"[Jesus] was faithful to Him who appointed Him" (Hebrews 3:2). Faithfulness means simply believing that God will keep his Word to us. In this sense, we are to "hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end" (Hebrews 3:14).
Over time, as your trials increase and the battles grow more intense, you may become weary. Daily, you have an enemy who is out to destroy you; he is a liar and a seducer. Jesus said, "The devil ... does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him ... he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44).
Satan doesn't waste his time lying to sinners; they are already held prisoner by his deception. No, he lies to those believers whose hearts are set on the Lord. In fact, Satan uses his most subtle, convincing lies against those who are determined to enter God's provided rest.
"There remains therefore a rest for the people of God ... Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:9, 11). "Resting in God" means to enter a place of total trust in His Word. It is a place of faith, a continuous confidence that God is with us, that He cannot fail, and that he will see us through to the end.
Spend time with your Father today and let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart and strengthen you. Find rest for your weary soul with a total surrender to God.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Heavenly Calling
- A. Recognizing the call of heaven
- B. Distinguishing between earthly and heavenly priorities
- II. The Faithfulness of Christ
- A. Believing God's Word
- B. Holding fast to our confidence
- III. The Enemy's Tactics
- A. Satan's deception of believers
- B. The importance of discerning truth
- IV. Entering God's Rest
- A. Total trust in God's Word
- B. Continuous confidence in God's presence
Key Quotes
“'[Jesus] was faithful to Him who appointed Him' (Hebrews 3:2).” — David Wilkerson
“'Resting in God' means to enter a place of total trust in His Word.” — David Wilkerson
“'Spend time with your Father today and let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart and strengthen you.'” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Spend time with your Father today and let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart and strengthen you.
- Find rest for your weary soul with a total surrender to God.
- Hold fast to your confidence in God's Word and trust in His presence with you.