Access to God
David Wilkerson emphasizes the transformative access we have to God through the Holy Spirit, encouraging believers to approach Him with boldness and confidence.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound access believers have to God, contrasting it with the limited access of the Old Testament temple where only the high priest could enter God's presence once a year. He highlights that through Christ, we can approach God with boldness and confidence, as He has chosen to dwell within us despite our imperfections. Wilkerson reassures that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, preparing our hearts to be God's dwelling place, and encourages us to boldly ask for the strength and grace we need. He reminds us that our holiness comes from the continual presence of the Holy Spirit, not from our own efforts. Ultimately, he calls Christians to rejoice in the fact that God is always with us, empowering us in our daily lives.
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I sought the Lord in prayer and I asked him, "What is the most important aspect of your making us your temple?" Here's what came to me: access with boldness and confidence.
Paul says of Christ, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (Ephesians 3:12).
In the Jewish temple, there was very little access to God. In fact, such access was available only to the high priest, and then only once a year. When the time came, the priest entered God's presence in the temple with fear and trembling. He knew he could be struck down for approaching the mercy seat with unforgiven sin in his heart.
Today God has emerged from that small, restricted room. And he has come directly to us in all our disgrace and corruption. He tells us, "I've come to live in you. You don't have to hide your filth and despair from me. I've chosen you because I want you and I'm about to turn your body into my home, my dwelling place, my residence.
"I'll send my Holy Spirit, who will sanctify you. He's going to clean and sweep out every room, to prepare your heart as my bride, but that's not all. I'm going to seat you right next to me and I'll urge you to come boldly to my throne, with confidence. You see, I want you to ask me for power, grace, strength, everything you need. I've brought heaven down into your souls, so you can have access to it all. You're rich, yet you don't even realize it. You're an heir to all my glory."
The sole reason your body is holy is because the Holy Ghost lives there. And it's kept holy only by his continual presence and power. You can't do it. You'd become a nervous wreck just trying to guard all the entrances. You'd get discouraged when you failed to keep out all the dust and filth that blows in. You'd get weary by running from room to room, sweeping and polishing, trying to make things look good.
Every Christian ought to rejoice in this fact: God is in you! And he is with you always, so who can be against you?
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding Access to God
- The Role of the High Priest in the Jewish Temple
- Fear and Trembling in God's Presence
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II
- God's Desire to Dwell Among Us
- The Transformation of Our Bodies into His Temple
- The Promise of the Holy Spirit
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III
- Boldness and Confidence in Prayer
- Accessing God's Power and Grace
- Recognizing Our Riches in Christ
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IV
- The Holy Spirit's Role in Sanctification
- Maintaining Holiness Through His Presence
- Rejoicing in God's Constant Presence
Key Quotes
“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” — David Wilkerson
“I've come to live in you. You don't have to hide your filth and despair from me.” — David Wilkerson
“God is in you! And he is with you always, so who can be against you?” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Approach God in prayer with confidence, knowing He desires to hear from you.
- Recognize the Holy Spirit's work in your life and allow Him to sanctify your heart.
- Celebrate the fact that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit and live in the richness of your inheritance in Christ.