In 1958 David Wilkerson served as a pastor of a small Pentecostal church in Pennsylvania. Opening an edition of Life magazine, he saw a photograph of seven teenagers who were members of gangs in New York City. Wilkerson felt the Holy Spirit drawing him to preach the love of Christ to them. On arriving in New York, he went quickly to the place where the teenagers were in court. Wilkerson entered the courtroom and asked the judge for permission to speak to them, but the judge threw him out. This action did not stop him from sharing the love of Jesus to addicts and gang members in New York. Soon Wilkerson started Teen Challenge, a Christian recovery program. Years later, he wrote a book, "The Cross and the Switchblade," which became a movie in 1970 starring Pat Boone.
Why do I mention him? In 1986 David Wilkerson said to his church: “I see a plaque coming on the world, and the bars, churches, and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York and shake it like it has never been shaken. This plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.”
Is that this time? Whether it is or not, I have no idea. The issue is that God is drawing His people to seek His face and get into the Word. The Holy Spirit draws us to praise Him as never before. We have never known real worship, but we shall. And for those who don't know Christ? God will not only raise the man of God in the pulpit but also His children, to share the Grace of Jesus with a world suffering and dying.
From years ago, I remember a friend telling me that she had heard an evangelist say that one day there would be a great move of the Holy Spirit in Alabama. Is that this time? Could this be the third Great Awakening of which Wilkerson prophesized? I don’t know. But I do know the Holy Spirit always draws us with the Grace of Calvary. Christians can't fear when we know His Grace. We must share the peace that only Christ offers with those who have no hope.
Now is the time to search within our own lives and allow the Holy Spirit to convince us of what we need to change. Now is the time for prayer and praise and the Word. Allow Him to prepare you for such a time as this. “That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news’” (Romans 10:15, NLT)!
Share the Grace of Jesus. Bring the hope and peace of His Good News to a terrified world.
© 2020 Lynn Lacher
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