Stand Up and Fight the Battle
David Wilkerson emphasizes the necessity of training and active engagement in spiritual warfare for Christians in these last days.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the need for Christians to be true warriors, highlighting that many who claim to be prayer warriors lack the necessary training and readiness to confront spiritual battles. He explains that God is currently preparing a remnant of believers through crisis training, equipping them to fight against the powers of hell in these last days. Drawing parallels to Jacob's struggle with the Angel, Wilkerson encourages believers to invest their full strength in prayer and spiritual discipline to prevail. He warns against complacency, urging Christians to actively seek God's blessings and engage in the fight against the devil. Ultimately, he calls for a rise in faith and action, reminding believers that they have the strength of God to claim His promises.
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How many Christians call themselves warriors but have never been tested or trained? We hear about the many prayer warriors in this nation. But the sad truth is, the vast majority of them have never been trained -- they're not ready to fight. Many true believers refuse to fight the devil or do battle against his kingdom.
When God does find a believer with a hunger and a desire for his blessing, he puts him into the ring to learn to fight. The Lord is going to need well-trained warriors who will prevail over all the powers of hell in his last hour of warfare.
Right now God is doing a quick work in his remnant -- it's called crisis training. These tested saints in this training are becoming the captains of his last-day army. God is putting Holy Ghost fight in them and he is bringing forth warriors who are tested and tried, because they've wrestled with God, just as Jacob did (see Genesis 32:24-32).
This kind of training calls for physical discipline as well as spiritual. Jacob threw his whole body into the battle, all his human ability. A fighting spirit had risen up in him and, Scripture says, "He struggled with the Angel and prevailed" (Hosea 12:4). This verse has great meaning for all who want to prevail in prayer. It says Jacob prevailed and won the battle. If you're going to prevail in these last days, you're going to have to put all your strength into it.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him" (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Many Christians expect God to somehow save their family, reconcile relationships, do miracles, all at no cost to them. They just want to rest in their rocking chair and "believe God for it all." But this matter of prevailing in prayer --- "breaking through" to God, getting answers and seeing results -- is going to cost your flesh something.
God wants you to lay hold of Him because He loves you. He wants you to claim all his blessings. Rise up in faith and lay hold of His promises. Stand up and fight. You have his strength so use it!
Sermon Outline
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I
- The call to be warriors in Christ
- The need for training and testing
- The importance of spiritual discipline
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II
- Crisis training in the last days
- Becoming captains of God's army
- Wrestling with God for strength
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III
- The cost of prevailing in prayer
- The necessity of active faith
- Claiming God's promises and blessings
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IV
- The role of vigilance against the devil
- Resisting temptation and evil
- Using God's strength to fight
Key Quotes
“God is putting Holy Ghost fight in them and he is bringing forth warriors who are tested and tried.” — David Wilkerson
“If you're going to prevail in these last days, you're going to have to put all your strength into it.” — David Wilkerson
“Rise up in faith and lay hold of His promises.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Commit to regular prayer and spiritual training to strengthen your faith.
- Be vigilant against the devil's temptations and actively resist them.
- Take hold of God's promises and step out in faith to claim His blessings.