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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 unwavering nature of God's promises, asserting that they are sealed with an oath and cannot be broken. He encourages believers to actively lean on God's Word and trust in His promises, even when they do not receive direct communication from Him. Wilkerson illustrates this trust through the example of David, who, despite not seeing the fulfillment of God's words, confidently rested on the promise of salvation for his house. The sermon highlights that true intimacy with God comes from surrendering our need to understand everything and simply relying on His faithfulness. Ultimately, Wilkerson reassures that God's promises are sufficient for all our needs, allowing us to face life's challenges with confidence.
Scriptures
His Promise Is All I Need
God seals all His promises with an oath and we have the “legal” right to stand on them. God cannot back away from any of His promises or He would not be God. So we can hold to each promise and say, "Lord, I'm going to stand on what You have said.” You may say, "Wait a minute. Do you mean we're not supposed to commune with the Lord?" I do not mean that at all. But the fact is, our communion with God is not restricted to worship, praise or prayer. We commune with Him by actively leaning on His written, revealed Word and our communion with Him also includes trusting Him. The Holy Spirit "speaks" mostly by leading us to pertinent Scripture passages, showing us God's mind on any matter and telling us what steps to take. Why should He speak with an inner voice when we will not "hear" His revealed, written voice? God does not have to tell us everything or reveal all His plans to us. In fact, we can have intimacy with God simply by giving up our efforts to figure out His voice. This kind of intimacy says, "Lord, even if I never hear another word from You, You still give me everything I need. I know You love me. Your Word has come to me and I am going to rest in that." David is an example of this kind of trust. As this godly man lay on his deathbed, he said: "Although my house be not so with God . . ." (2 Samuel 23:5). In other words: "I have not yet seen the fulfillment of all the words the Lord has given me, yet I have been given a promise that my house will not fall." David had no prophet standing nearby, telling him these things. He had no dream, no vision, no inner voice speaking to him. Instead, as he faced eternity, he said, "God gave me a covenant promise in His Word. And I'll go into eternity standing on that promise." David went on in the same verse: "For this is all my salvation, and all my desire." He was saying, in essence, "I can face death now because His promise is all I need." We may fail in our discernment, our hearing, our decisions, but we can rejoice in our God, who is our strength. We must simply yield, stand still and see His salvation!
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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.