Let Go of Your Pride and Be Filled With the Holy Ghost!
The Holy Ghost brings a red hot, consuming love for Jesus that convicts us of sin and empowers us to conform to Christ's Word.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Ghost, illustrating how His presence can shake lives and churches, as seen at Pentecost. He highlights the necessity of letting go of pride to fully embrace the Holy Spirit's baptism, which ignites a passionate love for Jesus. Wilkerson questions why many believers experience spiritual highs and lows, suggesting that it stems from not inviting the Holy Ghost to take control. He explains that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and empowers believers to live in accordance with God's Word, providing true comfort. Ultimately, he warns that the Holy Ghost may be unwelcome in some churches due to misconceptions about His nature.
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In both the Old and New Testaments, the Holy Ghost fell upon people in the most unusual ways! He shook buildings. People's tongues began to praise him--in new tongues. The Holy Ghost took full control!
At Pentecost he came with a mighty, rushing wind! Fire fell! When the Holy Ghost comes down, things get shaken up (see Acts 2:4 and 4:11).
John the Baptist preached, "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Luke 3:16).
Beloved, the Bible makes it very clear: When Jesus comes to you, he desires to baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire! The Holy Ghost brings fire--a red hot, consuming love for Jesus. Why are so many believers hot one minute and then cold the next, never totally yielded, never sold out? Is it because they refuse to let Jesus baptize them with the Holy Ghost?
"When [the Holy Ghost] is come, he will reprove...of sin" (John 16:8). Could it be that these believers are not convicted because the Holy Ghost has not yet been invited to take his rightful place in them? He is God's plumb line. Anything that does not measure up to Christ, he reveals--and he convicts us and empowers us to conform to his Word! Truly he becomes our Comforter in this, because as he convicts us of sin, he empowers us to forsake it. That is true comfort!
The Holy Ghost will never make you do anything stupid. But he may come upon you in such a way that sinners may think you are drunk! He is not welcome in many churches because he is thought to be too noisy, too upsetting, too unpredictable!
Sermon Outline
- The Power of the Holy Ghost
- The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
- The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conviction and Comfort
- The Unwelcome Nature of the Holy Ghost
- Perceived as too noisy, too upsetting, too unpredictable
- The Holy Ghost as our Comforter
Key Quotes
“When the Holy Ghost comes down, things get shaken up.” — David Wilkerson
“The Holy Ghost brings fire--a red hot, consuming love for Jesus.” — David Wilkerson
“He is not welcome in many churches because he is thought to be too noisy, too upsetting, too unpredictable!” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must invite the Holy Ghost to take his rightful place in us, allowing him to convict us of sin and empower us to conform to Christ's Word.
- The Holy Ghost will never make us do anything stupid, but he may come upon us in unexpected ways.
- We should not be afraid of the Holy Ghost, but rather welcome him as our Comforter and empowerer.