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A Call to Anguish

A couple years ago, I discovered a short sermon of David Wilkerson speaking about
the state of the church today. Ever since, it has never been erased from my mind; it will always
be imprinted on my heart. As I watched, conviction of the state of my own spiritual life was
revived in me. Wilkerson’s passionate voice broke through my walls. As his voice rang out, I
wept over the state of the church and of my own life. Not only was I convicted, a regret of my
lack of passion for God started to emerge; a burden for the church and for God Himself started to
awaken within. 

Wilkerson stresses the problem in the church. He describes the church as the spiritual
Jerusalem comparing it to the Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days. In his time, Jerusalem was
destroyed by the Babylonians; it was obliterated, burnt with fire, and in utter ruin. Wilkerson
points out that the church has become a place of lukewarmness. The church has replaced God
with the “inventions and ministries of man and flesh.” This is true (logos); do people place God
in the center place of the their lives? Their lives are overrun by distractions. The majority of the
church is not truly in love with God as Christians should be.

He states, “And I see more of the world coming into the church and impacting the church
rather than the church impacting the world.” He points out the importance of anguish in the
church. Wilkerson states, “There was no sign of anguish! No weeping! Not a word of prayer! It’s
all ruin! Does it matter to you today, does it matter to you at all that God’s spiritual Jerusalem, 
the church is now married to the world? That there is such a coldness sweeping the land? Closer
than that, does it matter about the Jerusalem that is in our own hearts?”

He displays such passion and concern in his voice that it is motivates a desire to seek God
(pathos). I believe many who watch this message, will not only be touched but be awakened to a
revelation in God. Many also trust David Wilkerson since he is a man of God (ethos). He is the
minister and founder of the Times Square Church. God has used him to reach the youth and
gangs of New York City. Such a powerful man of God certainly brings the fear of the Lord.

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Comments

  1. JakeMarch 3, 2018 at 7:16 AM

    I would definitely agree that the world has impacted the church. The church has let people take control instead of putting God at the center. As Christians we must keep the doctrines and laws of God even when man tells us otherwise.

    ReplyDelete

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