The Power to Face the Impossible
David Wilkerson emphasizes the daunting mission of spreading the gospel and the empowerment provided by the Holy Spirit to fulfill it.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost, which extends to all believers today. He highlights the daunting task given to the early disciples, who were ordinary individuals tasked with preaching the gospel in a world dominated by powerful empires and false beliefs. Despite their feelings of inadequacy, Jesus assured them of the Holy Spirit's empowering presence to fulfill this mission. Wilkerson encourages modern believers to embrace this same challenge, trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide and empower them to accomplish the seemingly impossible. The call to action remains: to preach the good news and demonstrate the power of the risen Savior.
Text
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Christ said, "I came into this world for one reason -- to reach and save lost souls!" Yet this was not the mission of Jesus only; he also made it our mission. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature'" (Mark 16:15).
Jesus was speaking here to a small band of believers -- about 120 people -- who had gathered in the Upper Room. Think about what an impossible task he laid before them. At that time, Rome ruled the world and Jesus was commanding his followers, "Go to Rome and tell proud, egotistical Caesar there can be no king before me. I rule over all creation! And go to Athens, where paganism rules, and preach that I am the only way. Go everywhere that philosophies, ancient religions, false gods and superstitions rule -- and preach my cross and resurrection.
"On top of this, go to foreign nations, live with the people and study their languages. Lay hands on the sick, cast out devils, proclaim the good news. Preach the power and victory of the risen savior!"
This was an extraordinary challenge. Remember, Jesus was talking to ordinary, insignificant, uneducated men and women. He was placing the very future of his Church on their shoulders. I imagine that little group of believers felt overwhelmed, wondering how the Lord expected them to fulfill this impossible mission.
Our challenge today is just as daunting. The Bible tells us that each succeeding generation grows worse and worse and that is not hard to see. But Jesus' words to his helpless disciples apply to us today: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Offer yourself to the Holy Spirit right now and trust in his guidance and power to do the miraculous through you!
Sermon Outline
-
I
- The mission of Jesus to save the lost
- The call to action for believers
- The significance of preaching the gospel
-
II
- The context of Jesus' command
- The challenges faced by early disciples
- The overwhelming nature of the task
-
III
- The relevance of Jesus' message today
- The promise of the Holy Spirit
- Empowerment for the mission
-
IV
- The importance of faith in fulfilling the mission
- Trusting in God's guidance
- The call to action for modern believers
Key Quotes
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — David Wilkerson
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” — David Wilkerson
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize the importance of your role in sharing the gospel.
- Trust in the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength in your mission.
- Embrace the challenges of faith as opportunities for growth and impact.