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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 emphasizes that God's love is fully expressed through Jesus Christ, as stated in John 1:16. He explains that understanding this love is crucial for our daily lives, as it compels us to follow Christ's example of self-sacrifice. The sermon highlights that just as Jesus laid down His life for us, we are called to lay down our lives for others, not in martyrdom but by dying to our own selfish desires. A true Christian, who has surrendered to God, can then bring hope and life to others through the transformative power of Christ's love. This process involves a deep spiritual inventory and a willingness to be cleansed by Christ's blood.
God’s Love Is Conveyed to Us Only Through Jesus Christ
According to John, all of God’s love dwells in Jesus, He writes, “And of his fullness have all we received…” (John 1:16). How have we received the Father’s love? We’ve obtained it by being in Christ. But, you may ask, what’s so important about knowing God’s love is conveyed to us through Christ? How does this affect our everyday lives? How does God’s love impact our lives? We have to look to Christ as our example. Jesus has already told us the Father loves us in the same way he loved the Son. So, what impact did the Father’s love have on Jesus? “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…” (1 John 3:16). Here was the fruit of God’s love in Jesus: He gave of himself as a sacrifice for others. The second half of this verse tells us the purpose of God’s love in our own lives. It reads, “…and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” God’s love leads us also to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Have you ever thought about what it means to truly lay down your life for your brothers and sisters? John isn’t talking about becoming martyrs on foreign soil. He isn’t referring to being an organ donor. And he doesn’t mean we’re to take the place of some condemned criminal on death row. Christ alone made that sacrifice. No, the only kind of Christian who can bring life and hope to his brethren is a dead one. Such a servant has died to this world—to all self, pride and ambition. This “dead” Christian has allowed the Holy Ghost to take a spiritual inventory of his soul. He sees through the corruption and ungodliness in his heart. And he willingly goes to God’s altar, crying, “Lord, consume me. Take it all.” He knows that only through being cleansed by Christ’s blood can he give his life for his brethren.
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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.