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You're Changing
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
This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing spiritual decline and the subtle changes that can lead believers away from God. It challenges listeners to examine their hearts, repent, and seek a deeper relationship with God, urging them to prioritize spiritual fervor over worldly distractions. The message calls for a return to genuine passion for God, a burden for the lost, and a commitment to fervent prayer and seeking God's face.
Sermon Transcription
I'm going to lower my voice so you won't think I'm angry. Tell me now, how many churches have you visited recently? How many churches do you know, where when you walk in the Holy Ghost is so strong that every one of your sins are brought up before your face? The loving grace of God? How many churches have you been to lately where you hear a word comes forth that so burns in your soul, you know it comes from heaven, you know it comes from the heart of God? I hope you hear it here. The truth of the matter is, in all honesty, there are numbers among us that are changing and they don't know it. You've lost your fight. You see, when you read the book of Joshua, it's almost a book of failure because they lost their heart, they lost the fight. You see, when spirits of blindness comes birth, you recognize it. It's the last recognized thing that happens to the child of God. If I, as a pastor, knew you personally and I was watching your life and as one of the pastors of this church, I come to you and say, I love you, but I have to tell you the truth. You're changing. You're not what you were. Something in the world has gotten in your heart. I don't know if it's television. I don't know what it is that has your heart, but I see changes in you. I don't see the brokenness. I don't see the compassion you had once for your family. I don't see concern for your unsafe loved ones. You're changing. Little by little, something's happening to you. Will it bring you to your knees? When the ruin that you are not even aware of is suddenly brought before your eyes? Did you just let that go in one and out the other? When a pastor tells you right now, Hey, I don't know who you are, but the Holy Ghost is speaking through me. You're changing. Little by little, you're losing the love of God, the love of Christ. Little by little, these things are making inroads. Folks, why do you think your pastors cry out against television? Do you think we get any pleasure out of the flesh? There's no pleasure in somebody coming and saying, I heard your message and I threw away my television. That doesn't give me any pleasure. It doesn't give any pastor pleasure. We have given it to you because we watch for your soul. Does it really matter to you that your unsaved loved ones are dying and we're getting closer and closer to the end? Does it really concern you? They could die and go to hell. Even though you're a lover of Christ? Where's the mourning? Where's the fasting? I'm talking about the body of Jesus Christ in general. You're changing. Where's the getting up in the middle of the night? Where's the confessing? I'm tired of hearing about people in the church who say they want their unsaved loved ones saved. I'm tired of hearing people say I'm concerned about my troubled marriage. Where does this talk? For we obey not His voice. Away with all of our how-to conferences because they accomplish nothing. It's how to cope. How to build a bigger church. How to reach the lost. How to improve your people skills. And how to impact the world in this computer time. It's flesh. You're changing. If you are expecting somebody else to be an instrument to win your family or to do this work, you're mistaken. You're changing. You either walk away and go back to your passivity and say I'm just going to be an ordinary Christian and there's no such thing. Or you begin to seek His face. You allow Him to melt and break you. You go down deep in the soul and say, Oh God, I can't do this on my own. But I'm not going to let my kids go to hell. I'm not going to let my husband, my wife. Oh God, I'm not going to live in this death. I'm not going to live in this lukewarmness and this coldness anymore. God, change me. And when you get desperate before God, you set your heart to seek Him. You allow God to lead you into this place beyond fleeting emotion. You say, God, I'm going to set my heart. Oh God, this is my burden.
You're Changing
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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.