Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus
David Wilkerson emphasizes that true redemption and righteousness come solely through the blood of Jesus, encouraging believers to reject self-righteousness and embrace God's grace.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the power of being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, contrasting the struggle of striving for righteousness in our own strength with the true righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. He encourages believers to stop listening to the lies of the devil and to boldly declare their redemption and freedom from sin. Wilkerson reminds us that our victories are not achieved through our efforts but through the grace and sacrifice of Jesus, who qualifies us to worship and serve God. He calls for a shift from self-reliance to reliance on Christ's righteousness, celebrating the freedom that comes from being redeemed.
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"I haven't yet attained -- my flesh still resists the Spirit -- but I am redeemed by my Savior's blood and I'm going to sing and shout praises to my God."
Does this sound like what you pray each morning? Probably not. Most likely, you start your day by finding ways to continue striving. You bite the bullet, promising God you will never return to your old ways.
When you win an occasional victory, you feel good about it. You tell yourself, "I did it! I knew if I would just put my heart and mind to it, I would get the victory." The tendency is to feel so proud about what you've done that you go around judging others who aren't victorious.
When I was younger, whenever I needed a victory over something, I would tell myself, "I'm going to do this if it kills me." A month would go by and I would think, "Those covetous thoughts are gone now. I'm free!" But it always proved to be only a partial victory. That is when discouragement would set in. I would cry, "Oh, God, I've begged you to deliver me, but You haven't. This thing is still in me." And I would blame God.
The fact was, I was so busy striving in my flesh to be righteous that I lost my understanding of true righteousness -- the only righteousness the Father accepts. Only Jesus Christ stands righteous before God and when we stand before the Father, He accepts us only through Christ -- through His righteousness and victory.
"What must I do?" you ask. Well, first, do not listen to the devil's lies. Second, get up on your spiritual feet and start giving praise to the Lord. Declare boldly, "By my faith in the blood of Jesus, I receive the righteousness of Christ. He has made me fit and qualified to worship and serve my Lord!"
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14). Redemption simply means "set free." We have been set free by Jesus' precious blood. We have the right to stand against every accusation and say, "I'm not buying that, devil. You've accused me for the last time. My Bible says I'm redeemed because I believe in what Jesus did for me at the cross. I confess my sins to Him and I am redeemed -- free!"
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding our struggle with sin
- The illusion of self-righteousness
- The danger of pride in victories
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II
- The importance of recognizing true righteousness
- Jesus Christ as our only righteousness
- Accepting God's acceptance through Christ
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III
- Rejecting the lies of the enemy
- The power of praise and declaration
- Living in the freedom of redemption
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IV
- The meaning of redemption
- Standing firm against accusations
- Confessing sins and embracing freedom
Key Quotes
“I am redeemed by my Savior's blood and I'm going to sing and shout praises to my God.” — David Wilkerson
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” — David Wilkerson
“My Bible says I'm redeemed because I believe in what Jesus did for me at the cross.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Start each day by declaring your faith in the blood of Jesus for your righteousness.
- Reject the lies of the enemy and remind yourself of your identity in Christ.
- Practice gratitude and praise as a way to reinforce your freedom from sin.