A Cry Is Rising
God is hearing his people's cry and responding with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to spread the gospel and transform lives.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the urgent need for a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit among God's people, akin to the events of Pentecost. He draws parallels between the cries of the faithful in Isaiah's time and the disciples in the Upper Room, both seeking God's presence and intervention in a world filled with darkness. Wilkerson encourages believers to unite in prayer, asking God to rend the heavens and come down, as they hold onto the promise of His coming. He reminds the congregation that God is actively listening to their cries and is preparing to manifest His presence in response to their faith. The sermon calls for a collective awakening and readiness to meet Jesus as He returns.
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God wants to break through to his people. As Scripture predicts, the devil has come down with great wrath, knowing his time is short. Right now, God's people need a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit; a supernatural touch even greater than the one at Pentecost. The cry that is called for today was heard in Isaiah's day: "Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! ... For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him" (Isaiah 64:1, 4).
On the Day of Pentecost, the 120 disciples gathered in the Upper Room. They had come together as one body for one purpose: the hope of seeing Jesus' promise fulfilled: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Their cry was the same as in Isaiah's day: "Lord, rend the heavens and come down. Let all opposition, human and demonic, melt at your presence, so the lost may be saved." And we know what happened! The Holy Spirit fell, with visible fire appearing on the disciples' heads. They emerged from that room forever changed and thousands of lives were transformed as a result.
Consider what God was doing in that moment. All around the world there was great darkness, yet God's focus was on 120 humble, praying saints gathered in a small, rented room. And now, today, God is preparing a people who have stirred themselves to lay hold of him. In small churches and gatherings all over the world, a cry is rising and it is getting more intense: "God, tear open the heavens and come down. Send your Holy Spirit fire and manifest your presence."
The only thing those 120 disciples in the Upper Room had to hold onto was a promise from Jesus that he would come. And he did come, with power unseen in all of history. Likewise today, all we have to hold onto is a promise from our Lord. He pledged to all who would follow him, "I appoint unto you a kingdom" (Luke 22:29).
Right now, the Lord is hearing his people's cry, all over the world. As the Spirit falls and stirs our hearts, let this be our cry also: "Behold, Jesus is coming. Let us go out to meet him!"
Sermon Outline
- The Need for a Great Outpouring
- The Cry of God's People
- The Promise of God
- The Response of God
- The Holy Spirit falls on the disciples
- The manifestation of God's presence
Key Quotes
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!” — David Wilkerson
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” — David Wilkerson
“Behold, Jesus is coming. Let us go out to meet him!” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must hold onto the promise of God and trust in his power to come and manifest his presence.
- We must cry out to God for a supernatural touch and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- We must go out and meet Jesus, who is coming with power and glory.