Learn to Stand on God's Word
To truly grow in your faith, you must learn to stand on God's Word and trust in His promises, rather than relying on past emotional experiences.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of maturing in faith and learning to stand on God's Word rather than relying on emotional experiences from conversion. He compares spiritual growth to a child's journey of learning to walk, highlighting that while initial experiences are exciting, true growth requires discipline and faith. Wilkerson encourages believers to focus on God's promises and to forget past emotional highs, as true stability comes from trusting in God's Word. He reminds us that our salvation is not based on feelings but on the unwavering promises of God, which enable us to partake in His divine nature.
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Conversion experiences are often emotional because they are new and incredibly special. How marvelous to be freed from sin and bondage and launched into a whole new life in Christ.
Our early spiritual growth is like a child learning to walk. It is exciting when a baby takes his first steps and there is lots of encouragement and cheering. But soon after he begins to walk, he is no longer the center of attention, and when he begins pulling over plants and making messes all over the house, he is disciplined, albeit gently, and things are not so exciting anymore.
Your spiritual growth is similar. When you were a babe in the Lord, you felt God giving you special attention and those around you encouraged you tirelessly. However, you are not to remain a child forever. Part of the maturing process involves living by faith and you must learn to stand on God's Word.
Imagine how lost you would be if your salvation actually rested on your feelings. Paul urges us, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead" (Philippians 3:13). You are never to rely on past emotional experiences. What matters today is that you trust his promises.
"By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). Peter makes it clear that we obtain Christ's nature by appropriating God's covenant promises, and not by any other means. He does bring renewal and fresh anointing to our lives, but we are to maintain a life of faith that he will keep his promises to us.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy ... be glory and majesty" (Jude 24-25).
Sermon Outline
- The Emotional Nature of Conversion
- The Growth Process
- The Importance of Faith
- The Role of God's Promises
- Maintaining a Life of Faith
Key Quotes
“Your salvation is not to rest on your feelings, but on the promises of God.” — David Wilkerson
“We obtain Christ's nature by appropriating God's covenant promises, and not by any other means.” — David Wilkerson
“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy ... be glory and majesty” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to trust in God's promises and live by faith, rather than relying on past emotional experiences.
- Remember that your salvation is secure if you trust in God's promises and live by faith.
- Seek to obtain Christ's nature by appropriating God's covenant promises in your life.