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David Wilkerson

David Wilkerson (1931 - 2011). American Pentecostal pastor, evangelist, and author born in Hammond, Indiana. Raised in a family of preachers, he was baptized with the Holy Spirit at eight and began preaching at 14. Ordained in 1952 after studying at Central Bible College, he pastored small churches in Pennsylvania. In 1958, moved by a Life Magazine article about New York gang violence, he started a street ministry, founding Teen Challenge to help addicts and troubled youth. His book "The Cross and the Switchblade," co-authored in 1962, became a bestseller, chronicling his work with gang members like Nicky Cruz. In 1987, he founded Times Square Church in New York City, serving a diverse congregation until his death. Wilkerson wrote over 30 books, including "The Vision," and was known for bold prophecies and a focus on holiness. Married to Gwen since 1953, they had four children. He died in a car accident in Texas. His ministry emphasized compassion for the lost and reliance on God. Wilkerson’s work transformed countless lives globally. His legacy endures through Teen Challenge and Times Square Church.
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Sermon Summary
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound nature of trust in God, illustrating it as an active leap of faith rather than mere resignation to circumstances. He contrasts true trust, which involves a confident surrender to God's will, with a passive acceptance of trials that lacks genuine faith. Wilkerson encourages believers to recognize that God is not merely a responder to life's challenges but the initiator of their paths, assuring them that He has a divine plan and purpose for their lives. He reassures the congregation that God is intimately aware of their struggles and is in control of every situation they face. Ultimately, Wilkerson calls for a trusting heart that looks to God with confidence and assurance.
Teetering on Hopelessness
Over and over, David testified, “In the Lord I put my trust” (Psalm 11:1). The Hebrew root-word for trust suggests “to fling oneself off a precipice." That is, to be like a child who hears his father say, “Jump!” and who confidently obeys, throwing himself off the edge and into his father’s arms. That is one aspect of trust. In fact, you may be in that place even now — on the edge, teetering, wanting to fling yourself off into the arms of Jesus. You may have resigned yourself to your situation and called it trust, but that is no more than numbness. Trust is much more than passive resignation. It is active belief. Many of us limit our trust to a rescue operation as if to say to the Lord, “I trust you to come and put out all my fires, save me from all my troubles, and deliver me out of all my trials. I know you will be there, Lord, when I need you.” In doing this, we think our faith is stretched and pleasing to God. We don’t realize that we are crediting the devil with being the causer and the Lord as the reactor. This viewpoint makes God seem like he simply reacts to all the devil’s well-laid plans. But our God never reacts — he initiates! The trusting heart says, “All my steps are ordered by the Lord, and he is my loving Father. He permits suffering, temptation and trial but never more than I can bear, for he always makes a way of escape. He has an eternal plan and purpose for me. He has numbered every hair on my head. He knows when I sit, stand or lie down. I am the apple of his eye! He is my Lord — not only of my life, but over every event and situation touching my life.” Dearly beloved, that is trust! Look to him today with a trusting heart and be assured that — without a doubt — God has everything under control.
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David Wilkerson (1931 - 2011). American Pentecostal pastor, evangelist, and author born in Hammond, Indiana. Raised in a family of preachers, he was baptized with the Holy Spirit at eight and began preaching at 14. Ordained in 1952 after studying at Central Bible College, he pastored small churches in Pennsylvania. In 1958, moved by a Life Magazine article about New York gang violence, he started a street ministry, founding Teen Challenge to help addicts and troubled youth. His book "The Cross and the Switchblade," co-authored in 1962, became a bestseller, chronicling his work with gang members like Nicky Cruz. In 1987, he founded Times Square Church in New York City, serving a diverse congregation until his death. Wilkerson wrote over 30 books, including "The Vision," and was known for bold prophecies and a focus on holiness. Married to Gwen since 1953, they had four children. He died in a car accident in Texas. His ministry emphasized compassion for the lost and reliance on God. Wilkerson’s work transformed countless lives globally. His legacy endures through Teen Challenge and Times Square Church.