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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 setting our hearts on God, drawing inspiration from the life of the prophet Jeremiah, who sought the Lord and received His word. Despite being known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah delivered messages of hope and the promise of the New Covenant, filled with mercy and goodness. Wilkerson highlights the deep brokenness behind Jeremiah's prophecies, as he lamented over the impending judgment on Israel, reflecting God's own sorrow for His people. The sermon calls for a diligent and determined pursuit of God, encouraging believers to immerse themselves in His Word to receive guidance and revelation. Ultimately, it is a call to recognize the urgency of our times and to seek God wholeheartedly.
A Call to Set Our Hearts on God
Jeremiah the prophet was a man who set his heart to seek the Lord, and the Word of God came to him. Over and over we read of the prophet, “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.” Many commentators call Jeremiah the weeping prophet, and that was certainly true of him. But he also brought us the happiest, most praiseworthy gospel in all the Old Testament. After all, he foretold the coming glory of the New Covenant: “I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good” (Jeremiah 32:40). “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord” (31:14). Now, that’s good news! The New Covenant is full of mercy, grace, joy, peace and goodness. But, the history behind each of Jeremiah’s words here includes a deep brokenness. Jeremiah wrote, “O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war” (4:19). Jeremiah was weeping with holy tears that were not his own. Indeed, the prophet actually heard God speak of his own broken heart. First, the Lord warned Jeremiah that he was going to send judgment on Israel. Then he told the prophet, “I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, and for the dwelling places of the wilderness a lamentation” (9:10). The word for “lamentation” here means weeping. God himself was weeping over the judgment to come upon his people. The Lord shares with us his very mind and thoughts. We are living in life-and-death times right now and I urge you to set your heart to seek God with all diligence and determination. Then go to his Word with ever-increasing love and desire. He will be faithful to his Word and guide you into all that he wants to reveal to you.
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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.