Pastor Gary Wilkerson continues our sermon series from the Gospel of John, looking at three vignettes in the life of Jesus. In each we see critical situations desperately needing a move of God. "The Sower" shows us that we reap and receive that for which we did not labor. "The Son" demonstrates that Jesus does not require conditions or coordination. And in "The Sick Man" we see that hope lost over time can be restored in a moment.
Even Jesus, as man, needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You might expect to see miracles right away, but instead Jesus was led into the wilderness and tempted by Satan. After that He preached but was despised by the people. One might start to think that the Spirit wasn't with Him, but there is a necessary step of faith required before the power of the Holy Spirit can be released. Finally we see miracles being performed—the sick healed and demons cast out. The power that Jesus had, He gave to His disciples and He gives it to us today. Receive it and step out in faith.
Pastor Gary Wilkerson shares a short evangelistic message about Paul's conversion, followed by a demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power through water baptism, prayer for salvation, prayer for healing, and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The promises of God must supersede what we see with our natural eyes. We must not abandon faith for human reasoning and carnal strategies. We are to move forward in faith and believe God’s promises are backed up with God’s power so we can lead another generation into the supernatural.
David was a man after God's heart who was living in a dark and difficult time. Our generation is also one that is growing darker, and God is raising up a people of extraordinary faith. God wants to feed His church with bread from heaven, cleanse our hearts, and equip us for spiritual warfare with the sword of His Spirit.
The Church of Jesus Christ is called to make a difference in our society. In days like this when there seems to be such little hope that righteousness will prevail, God will always have a remnant to raise up a testimony to bring glory to His Name. God will use the weakest of us to show His supernatural power. Our prayer must be God shake us, fill us and give us boldness to speak to those who don’t know you.
Satan has an aggressive agenda against the body of Christ and the family. Many are depressed, our kids are suicidal and cutting themselves, substance abuse is commonplace, etc. It is time that we as Christians, like Jesus, take a stand and declare, "Not in my house!"
Some of us have faced difficulties in the past year or the beginning of this one. They can seem to push us to the edge. The enemy wants to keep pushing until we get to the place that it seems hopeless. God has a high place for each of us and the enemy wants to cause us to fall from this place. When Jesus was faced with a situation that could push him off the cliff, he passed right through the crowd (Luke 4:30). The same spirit that lives in Jesus lives in us. Don’t be a Christian pushover! Jesus will come and interfere with these situations and difficulties in your life. He is doing this for our good to free you from the bondage of the enemy. Jesus will step in to your life and say “Its enough!” He came to destroy sin and the works of the enemy. The enemy intends evil but God in his breakthrough power intends the best for your life.
At the time of Jesus's birth, Herod was disturbed and sought to have him killed. In our generation we are starting to see a similar turn against the gospel. Sin is no longer called sin. It is even called good and glorified. Bible-believing faith-filled Christians are becoming the minority. When persecution comes, what is our response? Initially it can be anger, but in Jesus we see that we are to act in love and keep on with the ministry to which he has called us.