Challenged by World Challenge

As I ate breakfast this morning, I picked up the latest letter from David Wilkerson with World Challenge.  

This is a man who I have been inspired by since I discovered his book, "The Cross and the Switchblade" when I was eleven or twelve. 

Not sure if any of you know his story...If you don't, google him, read the book I mentioned above, whatever- God has used this man in mighty ways. He is a Christian example of faithful obedience and one that must not be forgotten. 

David Wilkerson always shares good messages, but like all people, some are better than others. The one we received in the mail yesterday is one of my favorites! 

First he encouraged God's people to pray. Daily and with all their heart. Then, came the meat of the message. He paraphrased Hebrews 5:12, "By this time you ought to be teachers". 

Let that sink in!

He went on to basically describe the lives of many people. They've heard many sermons, are familiar with God's promises, have been faithfully "stirred", and blessed by God many times. He asks, "And yet how often are we quickly deflated when trial comes?". He was mostly speaking to those men and women closer to his generation. He challenged them saying that in many ways they had failed the new generation. 

I am part of that youthful generation he was speaking of. But even so, I have not been neglected. I have been brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and I too ought to be a teacher by now. 

Like the men, women, and children who traveled with Moses as the generations have passed, many of the youth do not know the Lord like many of those before them. Wilkerson did to us today what Moses did to the generation he spoke to. 

For those of us (old or young) who know God, have seen His faithfulness, have been given His promises: It is time to live like it. The learning will continue but we must not forget the purpose of our salvation. It is not to be made comfortable, but to equip us to teach others of the Lord and His great mercy. 

Let us thank God for men like David Wilkerson who trust and obey. One humble man took one step of obedience back in the 1950's and a series of obedient steps has led him to reach the World! 

"Therefore, we shall lay up these words in our heart and soul, and bind them for a sign upon hands, that they may be as frontlets between our eyes. And we shall teach them to our children, speaking of them when we sit in our houses, and when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up." 

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

To hear this sermon "By This Time You Ought To Be Teachers"  go to 

http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20090111S1.mp3

If you'd like to read the sermon, let me know and I'll get it to you!