Resting in God's Love
We must reciprocate God's love with a love that's total, undivided, requiring all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and find rest in his love to experience true intimacy with the Father.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the necessity of reciprocating God's unmerited love by giving our whole hearts to Him. He explains that no one can earn God's love, as it is freely given, and that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in revealing our need for salvation. The sermon highlights the joy and contentment found in a relationship with God, as expressed by David in Psalms, and underscores that access to the Father comes solely through Jesus Christ. Wilkerson encourages believers to find true intimacy with God, which leads to a life filled with His glory.
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God says to us, "My son, give me your heart" (Proverbs 23:26). His love demands that we reciprocate, that we return to him a love that's total, undivided, requiring all our heart, soul, mind and strength. However, the Lord tells us in no uncertain terms, "You can't earn my love. The love I give to you is unmerited." John writes, "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
No one wakes up one day and decides to walk away from sin and follow Jesus. No, the Holy Spirit of God reaches down into the wilderness of our lives, shows us our lost state and makes us miserable in our sin. Our Father sent us his Word to show us truth, sent his Spirit to convict us, and then came after us himself. He did it all for us!
David expresses a rest in his love for God when he writes, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You" (Psalm 73:25). The heart that loves the Lord ceases completely from looking elsewhere for comfort. Rather, it finds full contentment in him. God's lovingkindness is better than life itself.
Such a heart also rejoices in its love for God. When a child of God knows how much his Father loves him, it puts a delight in his soul. Our love for the Father must be conveyed through his Son. Jesus says, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). It is by Christ alone that we are accepted by the Father and have access to him.
God placed all his goodness, love, mercy and glory in his son and he sent Jesus to manifest and reveal that glory to us. Thus, Christ comes to us as the express image of our loving Father. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9).
When you find true intimacy with the Father, you'll be able to walk in his glory -- all the days of your life!
Sermon Outline
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God's Love Demands a Response
- We must reciprocate God's love with a love that's total, undivided, requiring all our heart, soul, mind, and strength
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We Can't Earn God's Love
- God's love is unmerited and given to us freely
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The Holy Spirit Convicts Us of Sin
- The Holy Spirit shows us our lost state and makes us miserable in our sin
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Resting in God's Love
- A heart that loves the Lord ceases from looking elsewhere for comfort and finds full contentment in him
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Our Love for God Must be Conveyed Through Christ
- Jesus is the only way to access the Father and experience his love
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Christ Manifests God's Glory
- Christ comes to us as the express image of our loving Father, revealing his goodness, love, mercy, and glory
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True Intimacy with the Father
- When we find true intimacy with the Father, we'll be able to walk in his glory all the days of our life
Key Quotes
“My son, give me your heart” — David Wilkerson
“We love Him because He first loved us” — David Wilkerson
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must reciprocate God's love with a love that's total, undivided, requiring all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- We can experience true intimacy with the Father by finding rest in his love and walking in his glory.
- Christ is the only way to access the Father and experience his love, and he manifests God's glory to us.