Christ Came With an Invitation and a Warning
Jesus' departure from the old temple marks the beginning of a new thing, and God is soon going to shake things up in the church to raise up true shepherds and a renewed focus on Christ and the Word.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus extended an invitation to all, including the marginalized, to find healing and forgiveness under His protection, yet many, particularly the religious leaders, rejected this offer. He warns that just as God cast off the old works in the Old Testament, He would do the same with those who reject His grace today, leaving them desolate. Jesus declared that His glory would no longer reside in the old temple, as He was establishing a new church filled with born-again believers. Wilkerson challenges the current state of the church, questioning whether it truly reflects Christ and meets the spiritual needs of the people. He encourages those feeling spiritually hungry to remain hopeful, as God will soon raise up true shepherds to lead His flock.
Text
Jesus stood in the temple and invited everyone to come under his merciful wings of protection. He called out to the blind, the sick, the leprous, the poor, the lost, everyone to come and find healing and forgiveness. But the religious crowd refused his offer. So Christ testified of them, "Ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37).
As I read this, a question arises: Here in the New Testament, would God dispose of an old work the same way he did in the Old? Would he cast off that which rejected his offers of grace, mercy and awakening?
Yes, he would. Jesus answered those who rejected him by saying, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matthew 23:38). He told them, "This temple is now your house, not mine. I'm leaving it. And I leave what you wasted and deserted."
He then added, "I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (23:39). He was declaring to them, "My glory is no longer in this old work."
Think of it. Here stood mercy and grace Incarnate, saying, "This old thing isn't mine anymore." Then Jesus moved on to Pentecost, to the beginning of a new thing. He was about to raise up a new church, not a replica of the old. And he would make it brand-new from the foundation up. It would be a church of new priests and people, all born again in him.
Let me ask you: Is what you see going on in the church today representative of who Jesus is? Is what we're seeing truly the church triumphant, the spotless bride of Christ? Does it reveal to a lost world the very nature of God? Is this the best that God's Spirit can produce in these last days?
Have you found a church where Christ is truly present and the Word is faithfully preached? How very thankful you should be. Perhaps you are among the multitudes who can't find a church that has life. I hear their cry, "I cannot find a church that is meeting my spiritual hunger. Too much entertainment--too much self--too much dryness."
Take heart--God is soon going to shake things up in unbelievable ways. In that awesome shaking of all things, God will raise up true shepherds who will feed hungering sheep.
Sermon Outline
- I. Invitation and Warning
- A. Jesus' invitation to all to come under his protection
- B. The religious crowd's refusal of his offer
- C. Christ's testimony against them
- II. The Old Work vs. The New
- A. Jesus' departure from the old temple
- B. The beginning of a new thing at Pentecost
- C. The new church, born again in Christ
- III. The Church Today
- A. Is it representative of who Jesus is?
- B. Is it the church triumphant, the spotless bride of Christ?
- C. Does it reveal the nature of God to a lost world?
Key Quotes
“Ye would not!” — David Wilkerson
“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” — David Wilkerson
“My glory is no longer in this old work” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Reflect on whether your church truly represents Christ and the Word, and if not, seek out a church that does.
- Be patient and trust that God is working to raise up true shepherds and a renewed focus on Christ and the Word.
- Seek out a church that prioritizes faithful preaching and Christ's presence, even if it means leaving a familiar but dry church.