The Enemy on Every Side
David Wilkerson emphasizes the need for a great awakening, where believers receive a fresh revelation of their calling, inheritance, and the power of God.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the pervasive deception of Satan within the Church, leading to despair and confusion among believers. He critiques the focus of many sermons on merely meeting people's needs instead of encouraging a victorious life in Christ. Wilkerson calls for a 'great awakening' among Christians, urging them to seek a deeper revelation of their identity and inheritance in Christ, as Paul describes in Ephesians. He reminds believers that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to them, and true awakening occurs when they accept their place in Him. Ultimately, the message is a call to recognize and challenge the enemy that attacks from all sides.
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Satan is deceiving many in Christ's Body, causing despair and confusion, and he is not being challenged in God's house. Why is that? Too many sermons today focus on meeting the needs of people rather than on living a victorious life in Christ. Preachers offer how-to plans for merely getting by and totally neglect the heavenly position we have been given in Christ. The truth is, this world has always been troubled, which means God's people have always faced an enemy who attacks from all sides. The circumstances change, but the devil remains the same.
The Body of Christ needs "a great awakening" ... a revelation and enlightenment. Paul speaks of this: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:17-19).
Paul was telling the Ephesians, "I pray that God will give you a fresh revelation and open your eyes to the calling he has given you. And I'm also asking him to give you a new understanding about your inheritance, the riches in Christ that belong to you. God wants to unleash a mighty power in you -- the same power that was in Jesus."
According to Paul, "[God's] mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places" is the same "exceeding greatness of His power" that we who believe possess (see Ephesians 1:19-20).
Beloved, this power-life is not a fantasy or some theological illusion. It is a provision made possible to us through the cross of Christ, and your personal "awakening" comes the day you look at your life, look up to him, and cry out, "Jesus, I accept what you have done for me and I claim my place in you."
Sermon Outline
- The Enemy on Every Side
- The Devil Remains the Same
- God's People Need a Great Awakening
- The Power-Life is a Provision Made Possible through the Cross of Christ
Key Quotes
“The truth is, this world has always been troubled, which means God's people have always faced an enemy who attacks from all sides.” — David Wilkerson
“I pray that God will give you a fresh revelation and open your eyes to the calling he has given you.” — David Wilkerson
“God wants to unleash a mighty power in you -- the same power that was in Jesus.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize that Satan is deceiving many Christians and causing them to focus on meeting their needs rather than living a victorious life in Christ.
- Pray for a fresh revelation and enlightenment to understand your calling, inheritance, and the power of God.
- Claim your place in Christ by accepting what He has done for you and crying out to Him.