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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 importance of leaving our battles in God's hands, reminding us that He is the one who makes wars cease, as stated in Psalms 46:9. He explains that the struggles within our souls are ultimately God's battles, and He desires to bring us into a place of peace and abundant life, free from the consuming nature of our fears and failures. Wilkerson encourages believers to identify with Christ's death and resurrection, understanding that true life comes from surrendering to God. He concludes with the assurance that we can trust our future to Christ, urging us to be still and recognize His sovereignty.
Leave the Battle in God's Hands
“He makes wars cease” (Psalm 46:9). What welcome news to the child of God who is shattered and torn by warfare. The battle in our soul is his battle, and he alone can end it. Our loving Father will not permit the flesh or the devil to bully us into defeat. The Hebrew word for war used by David in Psalm 46:9 is milchamah, which means “to feed on, consume, devour, eat, overcome.” It is from a root word that suggests food or bread for a beast. It usage here is simply marvelous, a cause for great rejoicing. It means that God is going to stop the enemy from consuming us, from devouring us. The good news of the gospel is that we serve a God of absolute love — a God of mercies who desires to bring his beloved ones into a place above all turmoil. God’s ultimate goal for all his children is abundant life. He never intended for us to go through life focused on our sins and failures. But we cannot take our place, seated with Christ in the heavenlies, until we are fully identified with his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit has put within us a knowledge that we can never truly live until we die. We have a date with death, a destiny relating to the cross of Christ. Take a look at where you are, with all your fears, emptiness, loneliness, failures, and compromising. You have come up far short of what you know an overcoming Christian should be. Yet you know God’s Word speaks clearly of victory, of rest and peace, of freedom from sin’s dominion. After the Word tells us that it is God who makes wars to cease, we see this added: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). How thoroughly consistent is the Word of God! He makes wars to cease and until he finishes his work, we are to cease our own efforts and leave it in his hands. How amazing to know that we can trust our future and restoration into the hands of Christ, our Lord and Savior. “Be still” today and let this truth bring peace to your soul.
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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.