In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spiritual desperation and the need for believers to be vigilant in protecting the church from false teachings. He warns that after his departure, there will be vicious wolves who will try to lead the disciples astray. The speaker also highlights the significance of the cross and the thirst for God, stating that desperation is a hunger that consumes and dominates. He concludes by referencing the story of Nehemiah, who wept and fasted in prayer for the broken walls of Jerusalem, emphasizing the need for repentance and seeking God's forgiveness.

Now King David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat. Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king and cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom that my lord the king may keep warm. When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain, and she came softly and uncovered his feet and laid herself down. It happened at midnight that the man was afraid and turned himself, and behold a woman lay at his feet. He said, Who are you? She answered, I am Ruth, your handmaid. Spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for him. It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you. He said to them, Why were you looking for me? Did not you know that I must be in my father's house? They did not understand the saying which he spoke to them, and he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Shislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. They said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates are burned with fire. It happened when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days, and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, and said, I beg you, Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments. Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which you commanded your servant Moses. They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt and set Jesus on them. As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way. As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered them, I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out. When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, If you, even you had known today the things which belong to your peace, but now they are hidden from your eyes, for the days will come on you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn't know the time of your visitation. There's nothing casual, my friend, about the cross. It was Jesus himself who said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they'll be filled. Jesus himself who said, If anyone thirsts, let him come after me, let him come to me and drink. Desperation is a hunger so intense that it is all-consuming and dominating. A hunger so powerful that it says to an angel, even though it's exhausted and bone-tired, I want you to go, to be blessed. God is seeking a hunger that will not let go because it cannot let go. A hunger that cannot quit because to quit is to die. That is God's hunger. That is spiritual desperation. That is the key to revival. I wonder, my friend, are you willing to get blessed? Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. When he had spoken these things, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. They all wept a lot and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more.