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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 significance of Jesus as our eternal High Priest, drawing parallels between the Old Testament high priest's annual atonement ritual and Christ's ultimate sacrifice. He explains how the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with incense and blood to reconcile the people with God, symbolizing the prayers and intercession of Christ. Wilkerson highlights that Jesus, through His own blood, entered the true Holy of Holies, securing eternal redemption for believers. This act of sprinkling His blood represents the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of God's acceptance. The sermon reassures that just as the Israelites had confidence in their high priest, we too can have faith in Jesus' redemptive work.
Scriptures
Our High Priest
In the Old Testament, once each year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, which means "reconcilation." This act was meant to wipe away the people's sins so they could be reconciled and have communion again with the heavenly Father. The priest carried into the Holy of Holies a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals of fire from the altar, and a container of blood from a slain ox. Within the Holy of Holies was an ark that had the mercy seat on top of it where God "sat" — it was His very presence. After cleansing himself in an elaborate ceremony, the priest went inside the Holy of Holies with great reverence and fear. He dropped the incense into the fire, causing an aroma and smoke to ascend. This represented the prayers of Christ interceding for His people. Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat. "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times" (Leviticus 16:14). When the blood was sprinkled on God's seat, forgiveness of all sins was accomplished and all past sins were covered. When the high priest came out, the people knew God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were pardoned. Israel never doubted it! Beloved, we too have a High Priest — Jesus, our Lord, our High Priest for all time. Jesus took His own blood to the true mercy seat — into God's presence, the Holy of Holies — and presented it for the remission of all sins, of all believers, for all time. Scriptures says of this act: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus took His own blood into heaven for us and it is not reserved there simply as a memorial. It is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith.
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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.