David Wilkerson Devotions

Many servants of God are bearing heavy burdens today and God wants to remind each one, “My righteousness is near, my salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands will wait upon Me, and on My arm they will trust” (Isaiah 51:5).

God is saying, “I have already spoken the word of your deliverance — I decreed it in my covenant promises — and I have stretched forth my mighty arm to take you out of your wilderness experience. Why don’t you claim what I have decreed and walk in the light of my freedom, joy and peace?”

Satan is deceiving many in Christ’s Body, causing despair and confusion, and he is not being challenged in God’s house. Why is that? Too many sermons today focus on meeting the needs of people rather than on living a victorious life in Christ. Preachers offer how-to plans for merely getting by and totally neglect the heavenly position we have been given in Christ. The truth is, this world has always been troubled, which means God’s people have always faced an enemy who attacks from all sides. The circumstances change, but the devil remains the same.

In days past, “Jesus is coming!” was declared during almost every Sunday church meeting. Evangelists brought stirring messages about the hope of Christ’s return and there was a godly fear and expectancy in the hearts of his followers. Today, however, the coming of the Lord is seldom spoken of and, sadly, only a few righteous servants seem to yearn for his appearing.

The manger in Bethlehem speaks directly to the resurrection of Christ! He was fully human at birth — Mary’s blood nourished him in the womb — but his birth was a breaking forth of the eternal. We read: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).  The light referred to here was eternal life — resurrection from death.

As America sinks deeper into godlessness, more and more of God’s people want to go their own way. Such people do not want to be clothed by Christ in garments of righteousness; they only want to live to themselves, with no obligations or commitments. By their attitudes, they are telling the Lord, “Let me enjoy my association with you just so others will see me as good.”

God gave the prophet Jeremiah a word to speak to Israel: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words’” (Jeremiah 19:15). Jeremiah’s words so incensed the chief governor of the temple that he was bound and tortured. Yet, in spite of his suffering, Jeremiah never doubted his calling. He knew he had been given a word from God.

Matthew tells us Jesus spoke in parables: “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables … that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 13:34-35).

The entire book of Deuteronomy consists of a series of farewell messages by Moses, addressed to those who survived forty years of wilderness wandering and were destined to possess the land of promise. He reminds the new generation of the importance of obedience.

“You know your fathers’ history. They were a people called, chosen and anointed by God but they lost the vision. The Lord loved them so much that he bore them up in his arms and carried them, time after time. Yet over and over they murmured against him, grieving him.”

The apostle John was given a revelation of the glory of the exalted Christ: “A door [was] standing open in heaven. And the first voice … [said], ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:1-2).

Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Paul is telling us, in essence, “All who follow Jesus are blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, where Christ is.” What an incredible blessing.