True Believers Holding On
The church will go out in its final hour as a victorious, blood-washed church, living and dying in freedom from all bondage.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that the New Testament church was born in glory and power, filled with the Holy Spirit and unafraid of persecution. He warns that in the final hour, the church may face a falling away, but true believers will hold on and experience victory, joy, and peace amidst affliction. Wilkerson assures that God will pour out love and mercy on His people, redeeming those who have strayed. He encourages believers to remain strong in the Lord, as the church will not exit quietly but will triumphantly proclaim God's power. Ultimately, God promises to uphold His covenant of peace and mercy, ensuring that His true church will endure until the end.
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The New Testament church was born in a blaze of glory. The Holy Spirit came down upon it with fire, and the first Christians spoke with tongues and prophesied. The fear of God fell upon them and upon all who saw them, and multitudes were converted. It was a triumphant church, unafraid of Satan, irreverent toward idols, unmoved by plagues or persecution. It was a blood-washed church, living and dying in victory.
How will the church go out in its final hour? Will it go out as a fat, prosperous, self-seeking church? Will it be just a handful of true believers holding on, watching death and apostasy eat away at it like a cancer? Will the last-days church live in dread and fear as fewer overcome the world?
To be sure, there will be a falling away; there will be deceivers teaching doctrines of demons and even some of the elect will be severely tested. But the church of Jesus Christ is not going out with a whimper. It is going out victorious, with joy unspeakable, riding a river of peace. It is going out in freedom from all bondage, and every member of this true church will live and die without fear. Last-days believers will be just as strong in the Lord as the first Christians!
The church is going to experience an undeserved outpouring of love, mercy, and kindness. It will come in a time of great affliction, with anxiety on all sides. "'With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,' says the Lord, your Redeemer ... 'My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you" (Isaiah 54:8-10).
God will have an overcoming people. A merciful Father will draw his children to himself and redeem multitudes who have turned their backs on him. What he is saying to the church he is also saying to individual believers. Is that you? Are you experiencing a sudden, violent disturbance? God's promise is to all who are tossed in a storm. He has determined to close out the ages with a mighty exaltation of his name. What a display of power it will be!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Birth of the New Testament Church
- A. The Holy Spirit came down with fire
- B. The first Christians spoke with tongues and prophesied
- C. The fear of God fell upon them and multitudes were converted
- II. The Final Hour of the Church
- A. Will it be a fat, prosperous, self-seeking church?
- B. Or will it be a handful of true believers holding on?
- III. The Church's Victory in the Last Days
- A. It will live in freedom from all bondage
- B. Every member will live and die without fear
- IV. The Undeserved Outpouring of Love and Kindness
- A. It will come in a time of great affliction
- B. With anxiety on all sides
Key Quotes
“The church is going to experience an undeserved outpouring of love, mercy, and kindness.” — David Wilkerson
“God will have an overcoming people.” — David Wilkerson
“He has determined to close out the ages with a mighty exaltation of his name.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- True believers will hold on to their faith even in the face of adversity.
- The church will experience an undeserved outpouring of love, mercy, and kindness in its final hour.
- Individual believers will be drawn to God in times of affliction and experience his mercy and kindness.