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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 being rooted and grounded in God's love, urging believers to truly understand and experience the depth of Christ's love for them. He highlights that many Christians may know about God's love intellectually but have not fully grasped its transformative power in their hearts. Wilkerson encourages believers to build their lives on the foundation of God's love, which is essential for a fulfilling Christian walk. He calls for the Holy Spirit's help in comprehending this profound truth, enabling believers to live in the fullness of God's love.
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Rooted and Grounded in Love
“Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2). The apostle Paul was urging the Ephesians here, “Jesus truly loves you, so walk as one who is greatly loved by God!” Many Christian believers have known about God’s love since childhood when they sang a favorite children’s chorus: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Others may have theological knowledge of God’s love because they heard sermons about it and even memorized Scriptures. But they have never understood, deep down, the love that God has for them nor experienced the peace that such understanding brings to the heart. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19). Rooted and grounded here means “to build under you a deep and stable foundation of knowing and understanding the love of God to you.” In other words, the knowledge of God’s love to you is the foundational truth upon which all other truths must build! God wants you to be able to seize the truth of his love and make it the foundation of your Christian walk. He wants you to put out your spiritual hands and say, “I’m going to lay hold of this truth and appropriate it in my life.” May the Holy Spirit enable you to comprehend the truth of Christ’s love for you — today!
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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.