The Devil's Lies About Hope
The church is called to turn to God in prayer and show the world His mercy, rather than believing the devil's lies that there is no hope.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that in perilous times, God's people are called to take action rather than succumb to despair. He draws on the prophet Joel's message, urging believers to turn to God with all their hearts, seeking His mercy and grace amidst darkness. Wilkerson reassures the church that despite the devil's lies about hopelessness, there is always hope and a call to prayer. He encourages Christians to reject worldly distractions and instead focus on spiritual warfare and intercession. The message is clear: even in the darkest times, God invites His people to return to Him and seek His mercy.
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What can God's people do to move the heart of the Lord in these perilous times? Is the church powerless to do anything? Are we to sit and wait for Christ's return or are we called to take drastic action of some kind? When all around us the world is trembling, with men's hearts failing them for fear, are we called to take up spiritual weapons and do battle with the adversary? Surely Christ's followers have a role in these dark times, but what are we supposed to do? Are we to fall in line with the rest of the world, grabbing for our piece of the pie? No, never!
During the time of the prophet Joel, a day of darkness approached Israel such as had never been seen in history. The prophet even cried, "Alas for the Day! For the day of the Lord is at hand" (Joel 1:15). Joel's counsel to Israel in that dark house was, "'Now, therefore,' says the Lord, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning ... Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness'" (Joel 2:12-13).
Here was God's call to the church: "Don't be discouraged or give in to despair. You are not to believe the devil's lies that there is no hope." Instead, according to Joel, the people's cry to the Lord was to be, "Lord, stop this reproach on your name. Don't let your church be mocked any longer." And the Lord replied, "Even now, when you have pushed me out of your society and mercy seems impossible, when humankind has mocked my warnings and fear and gloom are covering the land -- even now, I urge you to come back to me and show the world my mercy."
Satan wants the church to think there is no hope but God comes to us through this word from Joel: "There is hope and mercy -- even now. I am kind and slow to anger and now is the time for you to turn to me in prayer." It is time to turn to the Lord in prayer as never before!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Church's Role in Dark Times
- A. We are called to take drastic action
- B. We must not fall in line with the world
- II. The Devil's Lies About Hope
- A. There is no hope
- B. God is not gracious and merciful
- III. God's Call to the Church
- A. Turn to Me with all your heart
- B. Return to the Lord your God
- IV. The Lord's Response to the Church
- A. Come back to Me and show the world My mercy
- B. I urge you to come back to Me in prayer
Key Quotes
“Don't be discouraged or give in to despair. You are not to believe the devil's lies that there is no hope.” — David Wilkerson
“Even now, I urge you to come back to me and show the world my mercy.” — David Wilkerson
“There is hope and mercy -- even now. I am kind and slow to anger and now is the time for you to turn to me in prayer.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must not give in to despair and believe the devil's lies that there is no hope.
- We must turn to God in prayer and show the world His mercy.
- We must take drastic action and not fall in line with the world.