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Devotions

The Famine Brought on by Unforgiveness

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a way of life, meant to bring us into every blessing in Christ. “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

According to Jesus, forgiveness is not a matter of picking or choosing whom we would forgive. We cannot say, “You’ve hurt me too much to forgive.” Christ tells us, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (5:46).

No matter who your grudge is against, if you hold onto it, it will lead to bitterness that poisons every aspect of your life. Unforgiveness brings on spiritual famine, weakness, and a loss of faith that afflicts everyone in your circle.

Forgiveness transforms lives, causing the windows of heaven to open. It fills our cup of spiritual blessing to the brim with abundant peace, joy and rest in the Holy Ghost. Jesus’ teaching on this subject is very specific, and if you want to move in the wonderful realm of blessing, then heed his words.

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). Make no mistake! God is not making a bargain with us here, saying, “Because you have forgiven others, I will forgive you.” Rather, Jesus is saying, “Full confession of sin requires that you forgive others. True repentance means confessing and forsaking every grudge, crucifying every trace of bitterness toward others.”

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you ... For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:37-38). This goes hand in hand with his Beatitude from the same sermon: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). He wants you to forgive others so that you can move into the blessings and joy of sonship.

The Heart of a Shepherd

Gary Wilkerson

Most of my life I had a rather distorted concept of shepherds. When I heard Bible stories about the shepherd David, I pictured him sitting on a rock, playing his harp and watching the sheep as they quietly grazed around him. But I got a completely different picture of shepherds when I observed them firsthand in Romania a few years ago. These hard-working men were constantly searching for places with fresh grass to eat and water to drink. They were up early in the morning, leading the sheep and tending to their needs, and returned after a full day of wandering, usually working at least fourteen-hour days.

David is a perfect example of a shepherd-warrior — one who could fight, nurture and sing at the same time. The heart of a shepherd is unselfish, willing to give up his own life for his sheep. Also, the heart of a shepherd is protective and sacrificial. Often enemy prey threatens the sheep and the shepherd must be on alert at all times. David told King Saul when he was wanting to fight the giant Goliath: “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth” (1 Samuel 17:34-35).

This is definitely not a shepherd who was taking long naps in the afternoon sun, strumming on his harp and taking it easy. No, he was alert and ready to do battle. And David was an amazing warrior. He went from victory to victory with a singing heart.

God does not make us just warriors, he also makes us worshippers. He causes us to sing regardless of what the enemy throws at us. David had a song when the lions came at him and when bears threatened him because he knew how to encourage himself in the Lord. He sang: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want … He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:1-3).

Do You Desire to Be Used of God?

Carter Conlon

These are times when somebody, or perhaps many people, become aware of God’s willingness to restore and heal. They understand his willingness to take us, not in our strength, but in our weakness. After all, the Scriptures do not tell us to come to the throne of God when we are strong; rather, we are to come when we are weak. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The moment of spiritual awakening occurs when people begin to hear the Lord speaking: “I know your shepherds have led their people into powerlessness, having created a religious system around them to help prop up their error. And I know people have sinned and forgotten my ways, but I am still willing, one more time, to be merciful.”

God is calling out to men and women he wants to use for his glory. Remember, it does not take a multitude of people to change a nation. It does not take a hundred people to change your neighborhood — it takes only one who believes that God is willing to show mercy. However, if nobody steps forward, people who could have been spared will be lost. 

If you desire to be used of God in this hour, you must be willing to step forward in faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Trust God for the ability to accomplish all he has called you to do. Even though you may feel like you have little to offer, bring what you have and believe that he will take it and change your generation. “I sought for a man!” (see Ezekiel 22:30) — God is looking for that one who will step out in boldness and be that voice that declares God’s mercy.

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.

A Warning Against a Watered-Down Gospel

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

The one great concern of our heavenly Father is that no “other gospel” will take us away from the cross of Jesus Christ. Many Christians have had their faith shipwrecked because they were given a flattering word years ago, perhaps something like this: “You’re going to have a great ministry and win thousands of souls to the Lord,” and not one word of it came to pass. Now those sheep are totally discouraged, their faith on the ash heap.

If you are going to receive a word from the Lord, let it be from Scripture. Better yet, let it be from your precious time spent in the prayer closet with Jesus. Let your closest godly friends test that word with you to confirm it; otherwise, if you allow anything to get in the way of the true gospel, you will end up in despair.

Paul was concerned about a dangerous invasion against Christ’s church when he told the Ephesians: “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30). The Greek word for “perverse” here means obstinate persistence in promoting an error.

Paul was warning, “Some of you in authority will rise up and bring in a distorted gospel, introducing a corruption of the pure gospel.” How could this possibly happen among the leaders of this church? Notice, Paul was not referring to wolves or robbers of widows. No, he was referring to ministers who cower and shrink back from preaching the whole counsel of God — those who present a watered-down gospel, a half-gospel, only a part of God’s Word.

It is the responsibility of every believer to be sure you are sitting under the teaching of a good shepherd, one who preaches the whole, uncompromised Word of God.  Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). This means that the minister of God will lay down all his pride and fear of man to feed his flock God’s pure Word. Be certain you settle for nothing less.

Ignorant of the Power of God’s Spirit

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

We can often possess something valuable without fully appreciating its worth or significance. The story is told of a farmer who worked his small farm his entire life, tilling the rocky soil year after year. At his death, the farm was passed down to his son who continued plowing the ground — but the son found a gold-streaked nugget in the soil. The land was full of gold and he instantly became a wealthy man. Yet that wealth was lost on his father, even though it was on the land his whole life.

So it is with the Holy Spirit. Many of us live in ignorance of what we have, of the power that resides in us. Some Christians live their entire lives thinking they have the Holy Spirit, yet they have not truly received him in fullness and power. He is not accomplishing in them the eternal work he was sent to do.

Some believers seek the Holy Spirit only when they are in trouble and want him to manifest his power. They hope he will come down and sweep away their problems. But Peter says that is not the truth about the Spirit. According to him, we have the treasure within us: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

At the Jordan River, John the Baptist told the Pharisees, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know” (John 1:26). Those religious leaders saw Jesus in the flesh, and they heard him speak, but they had no understanding of who he was. They did not know about his power and glory. Likewise, Jesus asked his own disciple, Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?” (John 14:9).

How long have you testified that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit? Has he been with you many years and yet you really don’t know him? He is the One who brings us through hard times with a testimony of joyful endurance. Our greatest witness to the world is being a Christian who has cast his every burden on the Holy Spirit.