How Do We Develop Trust in God?
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of faith, prayer, and obedience in developing trust in God amidst life's challenges.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that to develop trust in God and enter His rest, we must renounce our own efforts and rely solely on faith. He explains that true rest comes when we cease from our works and trust in God's faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances. Developing this trust involves seeking the Lord through prayer, meditation on His Word, and obedience, which are acts of faith rather than mere works. Wilkerson warns that spiritual warfare is inevitable, and we must be prepared by building up our spiritual resources through diligent seeking of God. Ultimately, our strength in trials comes from the Holy Spirit, who equips us for the battles we face.
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To enter into God's rest, we must renounce our own efforts. Faith alone admits us into this perfect rest: "For we who have believed do enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:3). Simply put, we are to set our hearts to believe that God is faithful to deliver us in every circumstance, no matter how impossible it may seem.
"For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (4:10). When we are at rest in Christ, we no longer try to put on a brave face in times of trouble. We don't pump up some phony acceptance of our crisis and we don't worry that we might cave in to fear and begin questioning God's love. In short, our "works mentality" ceases and we simply trust the Lord.
How do we develop such trust? We seek the Lord in prayer, meditate on his Word, and walk in obedience. You may object, "But these are all works." I disagree. They are all acts of faith. As we observe these disciplines, we are trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, building up a reservoir of strength for our time of need. We may not feel God's strengthening going on inside us, or feel his power being built up in us. But when our next trial comes, these heavenly resources will become manifest in us. In fact, this is the foremost reason I seek the Lord diligently -- fasting, praying, studying, looking to obey his commandments through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As long as you are serving the Lord, the devil will never give you rest. You will face intense warfare, surprise attacks, and in spite of all your past victories, you will always need heaven's resources to help you endure.
Determine to be a soldier who is fully prepared for the battlefield. When the enemy suddenly comes at you, you are going to need all available ammunition. You will want to have reserves to draw on; you will have won the battle on your knees before God, prior to the conflict.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding God's Rest
- The Role of Faith
- Ceasing from Our Works
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II
- Developing Trust in God
- The Importance of Prayer
- Meditation on God's Word
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III
- Walking in Obedience
- Recognizing Spiritual Warfare
- Preparing for Trials
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IV
- Building Heavenly Resources
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
- Victory Through Faith
Key Quotes
“For we who have believed do enter that rest.” — David Wilkerson
“He who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” — David Wilkerson
“You will want to have reserves to draw on; you will have won the battle on your knees before God.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Dedicate time each day to prayer and meditation on God's Word.
- Prepare spiritually for trials by building a strong foundation of faith.
- Recognize that spiritual warfare is a reality and seek God's resources in advance.