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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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David Wilkerson preaches about the significance of Jesus as our High Priest, drawing parallels between the Old Testament practices of atonement and Christ's ultimate sacrifice. He explains how the high priest's annual entry into the Holy of Holies, with the blood of a bullock, symbolizes Jesus' death and ascension, where He intercedes for us before the Father. Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus has taken our debts and sins, represented as sealed notes, and paid them in full with His blood, freeing us from the claims of the devil and eternal damnation. This act of atonement illustrates the depth of God's love and the completeness of our redemption through Christ. Ultimately, believers can rejoice knowing that their sins are forgiven and their debts are cleared.
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Paid in Full
Once a year, the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for Israel's sins. After sanctifying himself — bathing (purifying) himself thoroughly — he took with him the blood of a bullock and a golden censer (or cup) held by three chains. The priest then removed some coals from the altar, put them in the censer, took a handful of incense and went into the Holy of Holies. Inside the Holy of Holies was an ark. Atop it was the mercy seat and on either side of the seat were two golden cherubim, whose wings spread over it. The mercy seat represented the very presence of God where the Lord sat on His throne. The high priest took the handful of incense and threw it on the fire in the censer. Suddenly, a beautiful aroma filled the tabernacle. The priest waved the censer in front of the ark until the mercy seat was enshrouded in a cloud of aromatic, sweet incense. Beloved, this is a perfect illustration of what Jesus has done for us and is doing right now. First, it signifies Jesus' death and ascension to the heavenly Father as our High Priest. Second, this scene of atonement further signifies the time when Jesus began to pray for us, interceding to the Father on our behalf. The initial work of Jesus' intercession was the sprinkling of His blood on every bond and debt we owed. A bond is "a sealed note of debt or obligation that is binding upon the debtor and his heirs." The devil once laid claim to you because you were dead in trespasses and sins. There must be a cavern somewhere in the bowels of hell containing a mountain of records that are due, including your note and mine. The notes read, "You must pay with your life — and the price is eternal damnation." But Jesus was given the keys to hell's vault! Our High Priest went down to the very pits into that place of records and opened up the vault. He began flipping through the records and pulled out our notes — all the bonds, debts and obligations of those who believe in Him and who will yet believe. Jesus gathered all those notes and took them to glory. There, in the presence of the Father, He sprinkled His blood over them, announcing, "These debts are paid in full by My own blood."
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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.