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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 that despite the abundance of gospel revelation and resources available today, many believers still struggle with distress and unbelief. He asserts that the root cause of this lack of victory is not a famine of God's Word, but rather a failure to hear and obey it. Wilkerson encourages believers to stand firm on the Word that God has already given, highlighting that true faith arises from hearing and acting on God's promises. He reminds us that God is attentive to the cries of the righteous and will deliver them from their troubles. Ultimately, he calls for a response of trust, obedience, and rest in God's Word.
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I’ve Already Given You a Word
We are living in a time of the greatest gospel revelation in history. There are more preachers, more books, and more gospel-media saturation than ever. Yet there has never been more distress, affliction and troubled minds among God’s people. Pastors today design their sermons just to pick people up and help them deal with despair. There is nothing wrong with this. I preach these truths myself. Yet I believe there’s still just one reason why we see so little victory and deliverance: it is unbelief. The fact is, God has spoken with great clarity in these last days. And this is what he has said: “I’ve already given you a Word. It is finished and complete. Now, stand on it.” Let no one tell you we are experiencing a famine of God’s Word. The truth is, we’re experiencing a famine of hearing God’s Word, and of obeying it. Why? Faith is so unreasonable, but faith never comes to us by logic or reason. Paul states plainly, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This is the only way true faith will ever rise up in any believer’s heart. It comes by hearing—that is, believing, trusting and acting on—God’s Word. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry…. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles…. Many are the afflictions of the righteous…. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:15, 17, 19, 22). In just these few passages from Psalms, we are given enough of God’s Word to drive out all unbelief. I urge you now: hear it, trust it, obey it. And finally, rest in it.
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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.