An Illustrated Sermon
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes Jesus as the ultimate revelation of the heavenly Father through His works and teachings.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that every action and word of Jesus was intended to reveal the nature of the heavenly Father, showcasing His love, mercy, and grace. Jesus consistently pointed to the Father, asserting that His works were a direct expression of God's character, urging people to recognize their true heavenly lineage rather than relying solely on their earthly heritage. He confronted the religious leaders' misunderstanding and emphasized the importance of having a personal revelation of the Father to avoid a lifeless faith. Wilkerson highlights that without this understanding, people would be left with a hollow religion devoid of hope and direction.
Text
Everything Jesus did and said was meant to say, "This is my Father at work. This is what He is like." Everything from turning the water into wine to the raising of the dead was an illustrated sermon meant to reveal the heavenly Father.
"I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him" (John 8:28-29).
In other words: "I have spoken freely all through this land. When I walked the streets of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Judea, I told you time after time that everything I do is of the Father. If only you had opened your eyes and ears and accepted My word, I would have shown Him to you."
The religious leaders claimed, "Abraham was our father." And when Jesus said, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30), they became so indignant that they called Him a devil and picked up stones to kill Him.
Jesus answered them: "You say I am a blasphemer, yet would you stone the very one whom the Father Himself has chosen to send into this world? I don't seek My own glory. I honor My Father. I know Him and I keep His sayings, because He and I are one.
"If you won't take My word for it, just look at the works I am doing. At least believe that these things are an expression of the Father. I came here to tell you -- and to show you -- that Abraham is not your father alone. You have a heavenly Father" (see John 10: 31-38).
This was important to Jesus. He knew that His time on earth was short and He knew that if the people did not have a revelation of the heavenly Father -- His love, His mercy, His grace -- they would be left with a dead religion, dead forefathers, nothing alive to lay hold of. They would have no sense of direction, no hope, no vision.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the concept of Jesus as an illustrated sermon
- Examples of Jesus' miracles as revelations of the Father
- Importance of recognizing the Father's work through Jesus
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II
- Jesus' declaration of unity with the Father
- Reactions of the religious leaders
- The significance of Jesus' claims
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III
- The call to believe in the works of Jesus
- Understanding the heavenly Father beyond earthly lineage
- The urgency of revelation before Jesus' departure
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IV
- The consequences of a dead religion
- The necessity of a living relationship with the Father
- Hope and vision found in the Father's love
Key Quotes
“I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” — David Wilkerson
“If you won't take My word for it, just look at the works I am doing.” — David Wilkerson
“You have a heavenly Father.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Seek a personal relationship with the heavenly Father to experience His love and grace.
- Recognize the significance of Jesus' actions as reflections of God's character.
- Avoid the pitfalls of a dead religion by embracing a living faith in God.