The Lord Cherishes His Church
God's heart is still set on saving the lost world, loving and preserving His church, and every child of His.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that God cherishes His Church and is deeply invested in the salvation of the world. He reflects on the testimonies of biblical figures like Peter and Paul, who experienced God's patience and love despite their past transgressions. Wilkerson reassures believers that God's heart remains steadfast in loving and preserving His Church, even amidst challenges and apostasies. He highlights that God's eyes are always on the righteous, ensuring that no one is left behind. Ultimately, the message is one of hope, underscoring God's unwavering commitment to His people.
Text
Job asks, "What is man, that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart on him, that You should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?" (Job 7:17-18, my italics).
Hebrews 12:1 tells us that the world is encircled by a cloud of witnesses who are with Christ in glory. What does this great cloud bear witness to -- and who is their witness meant for? They speak to our generation, by their lives and their words as recorded in Scripture. I believe they say three things to us:
They are witnesses that God's heart is still set on saving this lost world. God is still at work, pouring out his Spirit on all flesh and moving on men and women in every nation.
God's heart is still set on loving and preserving his church. Even with rampant apostasies and backslidings, the Lord cherishes his Body.
God's heart is still set on every child of his. The Lord will never leave a single servant of his behind. The Scripture tells us, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers" (1 Peter 3:12).
The apostle Peter is among this cloud of witnesses and he understands why God is so patient. He cursed Jesus, swearing he never knew him. Peter would say that God withholds his judgment on this generation, even though there are multitudes still who curse and deny him, just as he did.
The apostle Paul is also among this cloud of witnesses and he bears witness to God's unlimited love. Paul cursed the name of Christ -- he was a terrorist, hunting down God's people and dragging them off to be jailed or killed. But he did it all in ignorance. Paul would say to us that God is being patient with this present generation because there are many who sin in ignorance, just as he did. They have not yet been exposed to the gospel message.
How reassuring to know that God's eyes are ever on us and his heart is set on loving every child of his.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Cloud of Witnesses
- A. Who are they?
- B. What do they witness to?
- C. Who is their witness meant for?
- II. God's Heart for the Lost World
- A. He is still at work
- B. He is still pouring out his Spirit
- C. He is still moving on men and women
- III. God's Heart for His Church
- A. He cherishes His Body
- B. He preserves His church
- C. He loves His church
- IV. God's Heart for Every Child
- A. He will never leave a single servant behind
- B. His eyes are on the righteous
- C. His ears are open to their prayers
Key Quotes
“God's heart is still set on saving this lost world.” — David Wilkerson
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers.” — David Wilkerson
“How reassuring to know that God's eyes are ever on us and his heart is set on loving every child of his.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should be encouraged to know that God's eyes are on us and His heart is set on loving every child of His.
- We should be motivated to share the gospel message with those who have not yet been exposed to it.
- We should be grateful for God's patience and forgiveness, especially towards those who sin in ignorance.