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Devotions

Faithfulness in the Storm

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

Some of you reading this message are in the storm of your life.

Jesus' disciples endured pounding waves in a storm-tossed boat while their Master lay fast asleep. Finally, as the storm threatened to overwhelm the boat, they cried out to Jesus, accusing him of not caring about their fate. "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38). Jesus calmed the storm but was incredulous at his disciples' lack of faith. He asked, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (4:40).

Right now you may be facing a terrible storm in life: money problems, marriage problems, job troubles, enemies coming at you like pounding waves. A sea of trouble rages inside you, but the Lord seems to be sleeping through it all. Tell me, has your faith been sapped? Is it slowly ebbing away with each new disappointment? Perhaps you are crying out in your heart, "God, don't you care? Will you let me go down in this storm?"

It is for just such a time that Jesus spoke these awesome words: "Shall God not avenge (protect) His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8).

Note Jesus' question here: Will he find faith in his people as they endure days of darkness and oppression? In recent years I have wondered whether Jesus would ask such a question today. For decades multitudes flocked to churches. But what Jesus is really asking is, "Will the faith of these hold out when the shaking storms come?" Our troubles can be heaped so high, and the shaking of nations can come so swiftly, that some will lose hope and give up. I ask you: Will Jesus find you faithful in your hour of storm?

Unshakable Faith

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward" (Hebrews 10:35). If you are a Christian, you are in a fierce war. In fact, you're in a life-and-death battle for your faith. Satan is determined to shipwreck and destroy the faith of all of God's elect. And the stronger your faith, the greater will be his attack against it.

You see, unshakable faith in the Lord causes hell to rage. Nothing poses a greater threat to Satan's kingdom than a Christian who is immovable in faith. Why? Because it is by faith and its released power that Satan's kingdom is subdued. By faith, righteousness is born and demonic fires are quenched. God's promises are obtained and the mouths of lions are shut.

The apostle Peter came under a ferocious attack against his faith. His trust in Jesus so enraged hell that Satan asked permission to sift him to see if he would stand. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).

God has given us a powerful weapon to use against Satan's attacks on our faith. We are not to try to figure everything out. Rather, we are to set our eyes on "the great cloud of witnesses" already in glory who have made it through with their faith intact. (Hebrews 12:1).

What a picture. This verse depicts an army of victorious saints from every era, beholding us watchfully like a crowd in the bleachers. They're wearing crowns of righteousness and waving palms as they cheer us on in our race: "Run with patience! We fought to the death and didn't fall. God kept us, and our faith prevailed. The truth works: We won! We are overcomers. So you keep on. You can overcome in hard times."

An Outward Focus

Gary Wilkerson

It was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that . . . when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. . . . And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever” (Philippians 4:14-20).

As Christians, we often think about generosity; we plan generously and give generously to our family, to our spouses, to our friends, to our neighbors, and to our church and other charities. But Paul was talking about this in the context of a secret — a secret that some people don’t know about the power of generosity.

Paul was saying, “I never sought for the gift you have given to me. I have always sought the thing that I see is at work in you when you do give to me.”

Do you see the difference there? He could have said, “That $50 you gave me is going to buy me meals for three weeks. Praise God!”

I’m sure he might have been thankful for that fact, but do you know what was going through his mind? He thought, “Praise God! The gospel is working in you because you’re not self-centered anymore. You’re not living in anxiety, holding on to things for yourself. You’re not even living in division with one another. You are giving to people! You are living your life with an outward focus and doing things that you would never do if the gospel had not become rooted in your heart.”

The Secret War

Carter Conlon

The Bible clearly warns, “Today, if you can hear his voice, do not harden your heart as they did in the days of provocation” (see Hebrews 3:7-8). In other words, do not ask as Israel once did in her unbelief, “Can God furnish a table in this wilderness?” (see Psalm 78:19).

Do not question the Lord’s integrity or his commitment to you, even though you find yourself constantly battling in your mind. God told you that he would raise you up to be a testimony. He told you that he has allowed certain things in your life but that all things work together for good because you love him and are called according to his purpose.

And now the Lord is calling you to get up. He is calling you to lift your head and sing that song he has put within your heart. You are the Bride of Christ, and God stakes His reputation on keeping you and establishing a testimony of victory inside of you.

Therefore, settle it in your heart today: “He is my glory and the lifter of my head. Even though I might be depressed when I go to bed at night, he is the One who will lift my head in the morning. He is the One who will give me strength to go through another day. If God has planted a dream in my heart, it will become a reality, for he has set before me an open door that no man can close. No matter how many voices rise up against what God has spoken to me, I will not harden my heart in unbelief!”

So do not lose heart in the midst of the secret war you are fighting. Refuse to listen to the lies. Don’t give up! Rather, hear God’s voice calling you today. He will be faithful to supply all you need—strength to get through the day, courage to stand in the marketplace, faith to believe for all your needs.

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. 

Put Up Your Sword

David Wilkerson

So, you want to be a man or woman of God? If so, you are going to be served a cup of pain. You’ll weep because of something much worse than physical pain. I’m speaking of the pain of being bruised and rejected by friends; the pain of parents when children trample their hearts and become strangers to them; the pain between a husband and wife when walls are built up between them.

Oh, the turmoil that comes, the restless, sleepless nights — knowing that God is real, that you are walking in his Spirit, that you are loving Jesus with all that is in you, and yet you are forced to drink a cup of pain.

We cannot run from this cup. We cannot be fooled into thinking that following Jesus is only happiness. Scripture does say our approach to life should be to “count it all joy” (James 1:2). Yet it also says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19).

Peter tried to drive away affliction in his flesh. He wielded a sword at Gethsemane, telling Jesus, in effect, “Master, you don’t have to go through this. I’ll keep them at bay while you make your escape.” Many Christians today have the same attitude. They try to turn away afflictions, saying, “I don’t have to face this. My God is a good God!”

I believe God is faithful. But Jesus tells us we cannot run from our cup of pain. He commanded Peter, “Put up your sword. That is not my Father’s way. Live by your sword and you will die by it.” Then he stated, “Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given me?” (John 18:11).

When you trust the One who is serving you this cup — when you see his purpose behind your suffering — then you are able to drink it. Don’t be afraid, for your Father holds the cup. You are not drinking death but life!