The Harvest of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to reach the lost and speak a convicting word, and we must ask the Lord to move on others with conviction and prepare our hearts with a timely word.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is given not based on our works but through our faith in God. He highlights that true believers are empowered by the Spirit to feel compassion for the lost and to be instruments of God's will in their communities. Wilkerson encourages prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance to reach those who are under conviction and to share the Gospel with a heart burdened for others. He reminds us that the call to evangelism often starts with those closest to us, urging us to seek God's direction and trust in His miraculous power. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit to lead us in our mission to reach the lost.
Text
"He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:5).
Paul says that God measures out the Holy Ghost to us and He does so not according to our works, but according to our faith in Him.
Jesus is the only person who ever had the Holy Spirit without measure. Yet there have been many men and women throughout history who were given a great measure of the Spirit. Such believers have always known they do not have to strive to weep over a lost, broken world, because the Holy Ghost does the weeping in them.
Our part is to pray: "Holy Ghost, You know everyone in my circle of influence who is under conviction because You are the one who convicts them. You see every tear that falls in the quiet of the night and You know everyone who is desperate and crying for help. I am Your instrument. Fill me with Your burden and lead me to those You have prepared."
God wants to empower us for one reason -- to get us into the streets, filled with His Word and led by His Spirit. He wants us to be able to speak a piercing, convicting word that has the unmistakable fire of the Spirit!
Does something stir in your soul over the lost? Are you burdened for those in your circle of influence? Or do you focus endlessly on your own needs? If you don't know Christ's heart and have His burden, you can never expect to be used of Him.
For many Christians, the work of eternity may not be in a faraway land but will center on family, friends and coworkers. The requirements, however, are just the same. To reach the lost, we must ask the Lord to move on them with conviction and to prepare our hearts with a timely word.
Fast and pray and then ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to those He has convicted and prepared to hear His Word. Then trust in His guidance and power to do the miraculous!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Holy Spirit's Ministry
- A. The Holy Spirit works miracles among believers
- B. The Holy Spirit is given according to faith, not works
- II. The Measure of the Spirit
- A. Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure
- B. Believers can have a great measure of the Spirit
- III. Our Part in Receiving the Spirit
- A. Pray for the Holy Spirit's burden and guidance
- B. Ask the Lord to move on the lost with conviction
- IV. Empowerment for Ministry
- A. God wants to empower us to reach the lost
- B. We must ask the Lord to prepare our hearts and move on others
Key Quotes
“He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” — David Wilkerson
“God wants to empower us for one reason -- to get us into the streets, filled with His Word and led by His Spirit.” — David Wilkerson
“If you don't know Christ's heart and have His burden, you can never expect to be used of Him.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Ask the Lord to move on the lost with conviction and prepare your heart with a timely word.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit's burden and guidance to reach the lost.
- Trust in the Lord's guidance and power to do the miraculous.