You Have Been Adopted
We have been adopted by God as his children, and he wants us to know him as a heavenly Father, a father who chose us solely on love and mercy.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound truth of being adopted by God, encouraging believers to deepen their understanding of God as their heavenly Father. He highlights that intimacy with Jesus should lead to a revelation of the Father, as Jesus desires for us to know Him as He does. Wilkerson reminds us that our adoption is based solely on God's love and mercy, inviting us to respond by laying down worldly attachments and embracing our identity as children of God. The sermon calls for a deeper relationship with the Father, urging believers to recognize their status as joint-heirs with Christ.
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We who live in the New Testament age have been given a great testimony. Not only do we have the works of Jesus to consider, but also the great works of the first-century church. Add to that the two thousand years of godly people "doing greater works than these," and we get a glimpse of who our heavenly Father is.
You may say, "I know the Lord. I have an intimate relationship with him and I know who I am in Christ." Yet Jesus may be saying to you, "It's true, we have been together for so long and yet you still do not know God as your father." The purpose of intimacy with Jesus is to have a revelation of who the Father is.
God wants us to have a revelation of him as a father -- a heavenly Father! Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one" (John 17:21-22). Jesus was saying here, "You say you want to know me, and that is good, but now I want you to know my Father as I know and enjoy him."
God not only chose you, but he adopted you as his child. And his Spirit tells you to cry, "Abba" to him, saying, "You have made me a joint-heir, a brother, to Jesus. You are truly mine!"
How wonderful to know that he chose each of us to be his child solely on the basis of love and mercy. In his mercy he says to you, "I want you -- I choose you -- because I want to be a father to you."
Lay down all your worldly loves and follow him today!
Sermon Outline
- The Great Testimony of God's Love
- Intimacy with Jesus and Revelation of the Father
- God's Adoption and Joint-Heritage
- Following God's Call
- Laying down worldly loves and following Jesus
- Being a joint-heir and brother to Jesus
Key Quotes
“You have been together for so long and yet you still do not know God as your father.” — David Wilkerson
“You say you want to know me, and that is good, but now I want you to know my Father as I know and enjoy him.” — David Wilkerson
“I want you -- I choose you -- because I want to be a father to you.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should lay down our worldly loves and follow Jesus.
- God wants us to know him as a heavenly Father, a father who chose us solely on love and mercy.
- Intimacy with Jesus is essential for having a revelation of who the Father is.