Body

Devotions

Radiating Joy

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

David boldly declared, “[God is] the help of my countenance” (Psalm 42:11). When we talk about countenance, we are referring to facial expression, even body language and tone of voice. David is saying something very important here. Your face is like a billboard that advertises what is going on in your heart — all the joy or turmoil is reflected there. 

When your mind is loaded down with the cares of life, you may have a tendency to frown or even slouch. At the best, you may look preoccupied, with a furrowed brow and a sad appearance. 

I thank God for his great salvation — for redeeming us — but many of us need a Holy Ghost face-lift because our faces are giving the wrong message to the world. You need to be aware that your countenance reflects what is going on inside your heart — it is the index of your soul!

“A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed” (Ecclesiastes 8:1). I take wisdom as used in this verse to mean Jesus Christ. Indeed, the very presence of Christ in your heart has a direct impact on your face. 

Just as worry and sin can harden a person’s face so, too, can the presence of the Lord soften and brighten it. When we fully trust in God’s Word and rest in his love, our appearance will undergo a change; a quiet calm will begin to radiate from our countenance. When Hannah laid down her burden, her face was no longer etched with sorrow (see 1 Samuel 1:18). Joy radiated from her! And when Stephen stood before hostile, angry men in the Sanhedrin, they observed his face appearing as “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). Stephen stood among unbelievers with the shine of Jesus Christ — and the difference was clear to all!   

I encourage you to allow your countenance to speak of God’s faithfulness in your life today.

Stronger in Jesus

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

As God’s children go about their daily routines, moving on in their walk with Jesus, they may suddenly be hit by a storm, a wave of trouble that comes crashing down from all sides. In Psalm 107:23-26, we read about “those who go down to the sea in ships” and are tossed about by stormy winds. The sailors in this account were so frightened that they almost fainted (verse 26).

Now these men were simply going about their business when the storm came. We should note that God himself initiated the storm: “For he commands and raises the stormy wind” (verse 25). God brought the sailors to the place where they were and he raised the waves. It was all his doing!

Christians have a tendency to blame the devil or some particular sin for their challenges; in fact, it is difficult for them to realize that God has brought them into a place of struggle. But our faith can be greatly encouraged whenever we understand that while all storms of life have been ordained by God for the righteous, he has a purpose in it all. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

God is not surprised by your ordeal. In fact, it is happening because he wants to produce something in your heart — and he wants to reveal his glory to you.

When did the storm stop for the sailors in Psalm 107? When did God bring them into their desired haven? According to the psalmist, it was when they gave up all human hope and cried to the Lord for help.

He wants you to emerge from your trials stronger in character, stronger in faith, stronger in Jesus. Because he loves you!

Obtaining the Prize

Gary Wilkerson

In today’s culture, many Christians are confused about the concept of winning. But too often we do not even know how to define what a win looks like. Pastors think that in order to have a winning church they must have a larger building, an increased budget, an effective worship team, a great children’s ministry. Business people think that having more employees, enjoying increased profit, and achieving prestige in their field amounts to winning. All these things are good, of course, and in one sense, they are a win. But Paul defines winning another way and brings us to the core of God’s message, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how to obtain the prize.

“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Paul goes on to say that he does not just “beat the air” aimlessly, flailing around and running with uncertainty (9:26). He disciplines himself so that he will not become disqualified in the race. Too many Christians today are rushing around in a dozen different directions, pursuing various ministry endeavors and avenues of self-improvement. True, they might be doing many good things, but they are not really affecting the win that Paul is talking about — getting people across the finish line.

Let us choose to be as Paul. All around us are broken people, without Jesus, bound by sin and headed for an eternity without God. We must tell them the good news of Jesus Christ — that he died on the cross for them, that they can be clean and holy. Another win! Another prize!

Greater Works

Nicky Cruz

As I travel across the country speaking and evangelizing, I often tell stories that illustrate God’s work within our ministry. Stories of hardened criminals and gang leaders who come to our crusades with the intent of causing trouble, but instead find themselves convicted by the Holy Spirit and asking God for forgiveness. Other times I relate testimonies of miraculous healings — both physical and spiritual — that take place.

Almost without fail, after I share these testimonies of the Spirit’s power, people come up to me with amazement in their eyes. “I can’t believe how marvelously the Lord works in your ministry,” they tell me. “I’ve never imagined that God works in that way.”

Then come the inevitable questions: “Do you really think God works the same way today that he did in the New Testament? If so, why don’t we see him doing those things in our church?”

The answer to the first question is easy. “Of course he does,” I tell them. “Since the day I became a Christian I’ve seen no distinction between what I read about in the book of Acts and what I experience in our ministry.”

The second question gets a bit more personal, and at the risk of giving offense, I answer, “Perhaps the reason you don’t see God doing mighty works is because you don’t really believe in a mighty God. He doesn’t work miracles if he is not expected to.”

My listeners are taken aback, of course, because it is not the answer they expect but it usually gets their attention. I try to encourage them with the Word:  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 12:8). The same Holy Spirit who walked with the disciples, healing and working all kinds of miracles, is walking with us today.

Jesus has promised that anyone who believes in him will do the works that he did; in fact, he says they will do even greater works (see John 14:12). 

Nicky Cruz, internationally known evangelist and prolific author, turned to Jesus Christ from a life of violence and crime after meeting David Wilkerson in New York City in 1958. The story of his dramatic conversion was told first in The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson and then later in his own best-selling book Run, Baby, Run.

A Revelation of Jesus’ Work

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

God has promised his people a glorious rest that includes peace for the soul. Sadly, too many Christians have no concept of what it means to rest in their salvation. They do not possess the peace that all Christians have available to them in Jesus Christ, the peace that can carry them through any storm.

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, KJV).

Christ is telling us very plainly, “Don’t attempt to take on a walk with me until you are at rest in your soul.” And how do we enter into this rest Jesus is talking about? I believe the key lies in three words he spoke: Learn of me.

Jesus is not talking about mere head knowledge; he is speaking of the discipline of learning who he is and what he accomplished on the cross. He is saying, “You must understand what I have done for you in order for your soul to be at rest.”

“But I read the Bible and pray a little each day. I’m trying hard to do better.” It is not enough to try hard and make promises to God. It is all about pursuing a revelation of what Jesus did on the cross. And this takes discipline! Think about the discipline required to become a doctor, a teacher, a minister, a nurse. Any career or calling requires great study and effort and the same is true when it comes to actually serving Jesus as we should.

Purpose in your heart to apply yourself to diligently seek him! Take the time and put forth the effort to truly learn of him so that you can walk in deeper fellowship with your Savior.