Tag: hope

#DavidWilkerson – Are You Walking in #Purity of #Heart! Must Hear Like 👍 & Subscribe – @Ahava Jerusalem #DavidWilkerson #healing #home #family #parents #children #sermon #JesusChrist #God #Faith #Hope #Love #sermon #God #Jesus #Christian #Future #newyork #US #people #ahavajerusalem More sermons on http://ahavajerusalem.orgChrist loves his church. He gave his life for it, and said the gates of hell won’t prevail against it. Jesus himself is the foundation stone of this church. And Scripture tells us his glory and wisdom dwell in it. At Pentecost, he sent his Holy Spirit to establish the church. And he has gifted it with anointed servants — pastors, teachers, apostles, prophets and evangelists — for the purpose of building it up.It’s clear the Lord desires to bless his church. So, why does Revelation 2 present such a fearsome picture of Christ, when he appears to his people? John writes that Jesus comes to the church with flaming eyes and a thundering voice:“In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow: and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” (Revelation 1:13-16).Now, Revelation is the summation of God’s Word. It describes the end of all things. And here is the first image of Christ we see in this book. Why does Jesus appear so foreboding here? And why does he speak so piercingly to his church? John writes that Christ’s words are as sharp as swords, cutting down to the marrow. Remember, this was the apostle who leaned his head on Jesus’ bosom. But now he finds himself on his face: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead” (1:17).The Lord himself explains his awesome appearance: “All the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (2:23). The fact is, Christ loves his church. And that’s the very reason he comes to search it. He comes to correct his people in love, to purify them.First of all, Jesus tells John not to be afraid. “He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last” (1:17). Then Christ says, in essence, “I want everyone in my church to know I’ve come to search their inner man. And I do it with eyes of fire and a thunder that shakes the soul. I won’t mince words — what I have to say will both pierce and heal. But I won’t allow any child of mine to continue in apathy or blindness. My eyes and mouth will pierce through every facade.”Christ saw something in his church. And he instructed John to write down his words and send them to the seven “angels” of the churches. This refers to his ministers, calling them the stars in his hands (see 1:16). He’s telling John, “I love these servants. I’ve called and anointed them. And now you’re to deliver my words to them.”As a pastor myself, I have to wonder: what must it have been like to open such a letter from John? “Unto the pastor of the church in New York: Thus saith the Lord, concerning your congregation…” Now imagine what those seven ministers felt.…………..@ahavajerusalem #ahavajerusalem http://ahavajerusalem.comAbout David Wilkerson David Wilkerson was the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He was called to New York in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade. In 1987, David Wilkerson returned to “the crossroads of the world” to establish Times Square Church. As a pastor of the church, he faithfully led this congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous living and complete reliance on God. David Wilkerson had a strong burden to encourage and strengthen pastors throughout the world. From 1999 to 2008, he traveled around the globe holding conferences for Christian ministers.