Deliverance From Sodom
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes the need for personal deliverance from sin through faith in God's promises and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Sodom represents the wickedness within our own hearts rather than just external cities. He explains that we are all born with a sinful nature, but God offers us deliverance through His powerful promises. By embracing these promises, we can escape the corruption of the world and experience true joy in Christ. Wilkerson encourages believers to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse their hearts and to actively seek God's holiness. He calls for a heartfelt prayer of repentance and surrender to God's transformative power.
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Most of us think of Sodom as a type of modern-day wicked city such as San Francisco, New York or New Orleans. But the truth is, we need only to look at our own hearts to find Sodom. We are all born with a Sodomite nature--a heart that is exceedingly wicked, full of every evil thing. "Yea, in your heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth" (Psalm 58:2)
I believe the following passage reveals how God delivers us out of Sodom:
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4).
God comes to us in our deluded, bound condition with powerful promises of full and complete deliverance. He says, "I pledge to deliver you and keep you from iniquity. I will give you a heart to obey Me, so now let My promises lay hold of you."
What a wonderful, freeing truth. We are led out of our sin as we lay hold of God's promises. Think about it for a moment. Peter says the believers he was addressing in this epistle had "escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (verse 4). How did these Christians escape sin? They were given divine power--life and godliness--through their faith in God's promises.
Beloved, your Father wants you to know fullness of joy in Christ. That joy will break out only as you are freed from the power of sin. So, allow the Holy Spirit to go into the womb of your lusts and remove everything that is unlike Christ. Pray to the Lord right now:
"Oh, Father, I agree with You about my sin. The stench of my compromise has reached into heaven and I know it has to go immediately. Lord, I receive Your loving, divine ultimatum and I lay everything down before You. Set fire to everything wicked in me and let Your promises take hold of my heart. Lead me to the mountain of Your holiness."
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding the nature of Sodom
- Recognizing Sodom in our own hearts
- The wickedness of human nature
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II
- God's promises for deliverance
- The role of divine power
- Escaping corruption through faith
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III
- The importance of joy in Christ
- The process of being freed from sin
- The Holy Spirit's work in our lives
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IV
- The necessity of repentance
- Laying down our sins
- Embracing God's holiness
Key Quotes
“We are all born with a Sodomite nature--a heart that is exceedingly wicked, full of every evil thing.” — David Wilkerson
“God comes to us in our deluded, bound condition with powerful promises of full and complete deliverance.” — David Wilkerson
“Set fire to everything wicked in me and let Your promises take hold of my heart.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Reflect on the areas in your life that resemble Sodom and seek God's help for deliverance.
- Embrace the promises of God as a source of strength and power to overcome sin.
- Commit to a lifestyle of repentance, allowing the Holy Spirit to purify your heart.