The Greatest Danger
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus in our trials and trusting him during life's storms.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that the greatest danger we face is failing to see Jesus in our troubles, often mistaking Him for ghosts in our darkest moments. He recounts the story of Jesus sending His disciples into a storm, where they struggled to recognize Him amidst their fear. Wilkerson highlights that Jesus is always present, even when we feel abandoned, and He desires our trust during life's storms. The key lesson is to maintain confidence and cheer, knowing that Jesus is with us, even in our trials.
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The greatest danger we all face is not being able to see Jesus in our troubles--instead we see ghosts. In that peak moment of fear when the night is the blackest and the storm is the angriest, Jesus always draws near to us, to reveal himself as the Lord of the flood, the Savior in storms. "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever" (Psalm 29:10).
In Matthew 14, Jesus ordered his disciples into a boat that was headed for a storm. The Bible says he constrained them to get into a ship. It was headed for troubled waters; it would be tossed about like a bobbing cork. Where was Jesus? He was up in the mountains overlooking the sea; he was there, praying for them not to fail in the test he knew they must go through.
You would think that at least one disciple would have recognized what was happening and said, "Look friends, Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us. He sent us on this mission; we are in the center of his will. He said the steps of a righteous man are ordered by himself. Look again. That's our Lord! He is right here! We've never once been out of his sight."
But not one disciple recognized him. They did not expect him to be in their storm. Never, ever did they expect him to be with them, or even near them, in a storm! But he did come, walking on the water.
There was only one lesson to be learned, only one. It was a simple lesson, not some deep, mystical, earth-shattering one. Jesus simply wanted to be trusted as their Lord, in every storm of life. He simply wanted them to maintain their cheer and confidence, even in the blackest hours of trial. That's all.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the greatest danger we face
- Understanding our perception of Jesus in troubles
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II
- The storm as a test of faith
- Jesus' presence during trials
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III
- The disciples' failure to recognize Jesus
- The importance of faith in difficult times
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IV
- Jesus' desire for trust in storms
- Maintaining cheer and confidence
Key Quotes
“The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.” — David Wilkerson
“He simply wanted to be trusted as their Lord, in every storm of life.” — David Wilkerson
“They did not expect him to be in their storm.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize that Jesus is always present, even in our darkest moments.
- Trust in the Lord's plan and maintain confidence during trials.
- Encourage others to see Jesus in their storms and support them in faith.