To Be Like Jesus
The sermon emphasizes the power of the Word of God and the life and presence of Christ, encouraging listeners to live a life of transformation and holiness.
Smith Wigglesworth emphasizes the transformative power of the Word of God, which penetrates the depths of our being and purifies our souls. He highlights that through Christ's resurrection, we can experience a divine change that dethrones negativity and builds a foundation of holiness and humility. By surrendering to God, we can let go of our weaknesses and embrace the life and power of Christ within us. The sermon calls for a deep desire for God's presence, leading to a life that reflects the character of Jesus. Ultimately, it encourages believers to trust in God's ability to uphold them as they seek transformation.
Text
The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit...and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
--Hebrews 4:12
Scripture reading: Philippians 2:1-22
We have yet to see the forcefulness of the Word of God. The Word, the life, the presence, the power is in your body, in the very marrow of your bones, and absolutely everything else must be discharged. Sometimes we do not fully reflect on this wonderful truth: the Word, the life, the Christ who is the Word divides you from soul affection, from human weakness, from all depravity. The blood of Jesus can cleanse you until your soul is purified and your nature is destroyed by the nature of the living Christ.
In Christ, we have encountered divine resurrection touches. In the greatest work God ever did on the face of the earth, Christ was raised from the dead by the operation of the power of God. As the resurrection of Christ operates in our hearts, it will dethrone wrong things and will build right things. Callousness will have to change; hardness will have to disappear; all evil thoughts will have to go. In the place of these will be lowliness of mind.
What beautiful cooperation with God in thought and power and holiness! The Master "made Himself of no reputation" (Phil. 2:7). He absolutely left the glory of heaven, with all its wonder. He left it and submitted Himself to humiliation. He went down, down, down into death for one purpose only: that He might destroy the power of death, even the Devil, and deliver those people who all their lifetime have been subject to fear--deliver them from the fear of death and the Devil (Heb. 2:14-15).
How will this wonderful plan come to pass? By transformation, resurrection, thoughts of holiness, intense zeal, desire for all of God, until we live and move in the atmosphere of holiness.
Thought for today: If you will let go, God will take hold and keep you up.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of the Word of God
- A. The Word is living and powerful
- B. The Word pierces even to the division of soul and spirit
- C. The Word discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart
- II. The Life and Presence of Christ
- A. Christ is the Word
- B. Christ is the life
- C. Christ is the presence and power
- III. The Work of Christ on the Cross
- A. Christ was raised from the dead by the operation of the power of God
- B. Christ destroyed the power of death and the Devil
- C. Christ delivered people from fear of death and the Devil
- IV. The Plan of God for Transformation
- A. Transformation through resurrection and thoughts of holiness
- B. Intense zeal and desire for all of God
- C. Living and moving in the atmosphere of holiness
Key Quotes
“The Word, the life, the presence, the power is in your body, in the very marrow of your bones, and absolutely everything else must be discharged.” — Smith Wigglesworth
“In Christ, we have encountered divine resurrection touches.” — Smith Wigglesworth
“If you will let go, God will take hold and keep you up.” — Smith Wigglesworth
Application Points
- Let go of your fears and doubts, and allow God to take hold and keep you up.
- Experience the power of the Word of God in your life through transformation and resurrection.
- Live a life of holiness by desiring all of God and moving in the atmosphere of holiness.