Are You a Witness in Your City?
God uses ordinary people filled with the Holy Spirit to change things in an evil day, and we can be those people by seeking him in prayer and going forth with faith and power.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that God transforms cities not through supernatural events or judgment, but by using ordinary people filled with the Holy Spirit. He calls believers to seek God earnestly in prayer, preparing themselves to be His witnesses. Instead of being passive and gazing at glory, Christians are urged to take action and engage in spiritual warfare with faith and power. The sermon highlights the importance of being usable by God and the impact of a bold witness, which can lead to either repentance or anger. Ultimately, believers are encouraged to spread the light of Jesus in their communities.
Text
We often expect God to move in one of two ways: either by sending a supernatural outpouring of his Holy Spirit to sweep multitudes into his kingdom, or by sending judgment to bring people to their knees or even destroy them. But, beloved, that is not God's method of changing things in an evil day. His way of rebuilding ruins has always been to use ordinary men and women whom he has touched. And he does this by filling them with his Holy Spirit and sending them into the warfare with great faith and power! "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4).
You are God's witness to your city! He uses laypeople who get alone with him, seek him in prayer, rend their hearts and then go forth full of the Holy Spirit, faith and power. If God has not been using you, it may be because you have not been usable. That happens when believers get "caught up in gazing at the glory" instead of preparing to be used.
The disciples basked in the glory when Jesus was taken up into heaven. They could have stood there forever, enjoying the warm glow, but the angel of the Lord lovingly rebuked them: "Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? (Acts 1:11). There was a lot of preparation needed and tasks to be completed. "They returned to Jerusalem ... went up into the upper room ... [and] all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:12-14).
When you emerge from seeking God, you can stand with boldness before fellow workers, family, anyone, and your witness will evoke one of two reactions: genuine repentance or anger you. Either way, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will speak a word that "cuts to the heart."
Go forth in the power of the Holy Ghost, bringing the light of Jesus everywhere you go.
Sermon Outline
- God's Method of Changing Things
- Being a Witness in Your City
- Preparing to be Used
- Standing with Boldness
- Emerge from seeking God with boldness
- Speak a word that cuts to the heart
- Going forth with faith and power
Key Quotes
“His way of rebuilding ruins has always been to use ordinary men and women whom he has touched.” — David Wilkerson
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit” — David Wilkerson
“Go forth in the power of the Holy Ghost, bringing the light of Jesus everywhere you go.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Seek God in prayer and prepare to be used by him.
- Don't get caught up in gazing at the glory, but instead focus on completing tasks and being a witness in your city.
- Emerge from seeking God with boldness and speak a word that cuts to the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.