                    [Times Square Church Pulpit Series]

                            Whom Do We Believe?

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By David Wilkerson
January 4, 1999
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          A sincere Christian man asked me the following question
          in a letter recently: "Whom do we believe? Over the
          years Ive read the works of many ministers who were
          convinced the end was near. Yet over and over theyve
          missed it. I realize now that some were just trying to
          sell a book. But others truly thought God was telling
          them the end was upon us.

          "So, whom do we believe? I felt back in 1980 we might
          be close to the end. But if I had withdrawn my familys
          investments at that time, we would have missed great
          opportunities. Do you think America stands at the same
          juncture now as I thought back in 1980? Or will we
          continue on as we have for many more years, possibly
          even decades?

          "I sense that you are one of the godly voices in this
          country. Thats why I read with interest each of your
          newsletters. I also have read your recent book,
          Americas Last Call. Im writing now to ask, how do we
          know if this is the end?

          "Right now, many people are basing major life decisions
          on their belief in your relationship with God. I am as
          well. Im giving this subject of a coming crisis more
          consideration than ever, because of what I believe
          about your walk with the Lord.

          "I believe the directives God gives his children should
          be very similar. In other words, if were about to
          enter a time of major chaos, with a collapsing market
          and food and medical shortages, surely God would want
          all of his children to have the same knowledge about
          this. He may direct us individually to take various
          actions, but on these major subjects we all should at
          least know the same thing. So, why dont we? And how
          will we know when God is speaking to his people?

          "I realize Im asking for more of an explanation than
          may be possible. I pray for each of us during this
          time, that we may be in Gods will."

          I have never believed Im a prophet. In fact, I tremble
          before the Lord when I hear that many wonderful
          believers like this man put great stock in what I write
          and preach. In my later years of ministry (I am now
          sixty-seven years old), I have striven to base
          everything that I say in a prophetic vein on scripture
          and not on a vision or voice.

          Still, at times I have been utterly broken before God
          about these things, crying out to him at the top of my
          voice: "Oh, Lord, Ive been preaching for twenty-five
          years that judgment is at the door. Ive been writing
          books and delivering warnings about a coming economic
          crisis for years. Yet I only see the opposite
          happening. I see America prospering and going merrily
          along its path. Our nation is killing over five
          thousand babies a week. Were sliding down into pits of
          unbelievable filth and pushing you out of every
          institution. How long, Lord?"

          I feel Im uttering the same cry of frustration that
          Jeremiah raised to God. He also spent years faithfully
          prophesying events that hadnt yet been fulfilled. He
          cried out, "O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was
          deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed:
          I am in derision daily, everyone mocketh me. For since
          I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil;
          because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto
          me, and a derision, daily" (Jeremiah 20:7-8).

          But Jeremiah could not stop warning Gods people. Even
          though his prophecies seemed to be unfounded, he kept
          prophesying. He wrote, "Then I said, I will not make
          mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his
          word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my
          bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could
          not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9).

          Beloved, I spend many hours shut in with God, and the
          Holy Spirit continually assures me Im not deceived
          about the warnings I give. Judgment eventually did fall
          on Israel, in every detail that Jeremiah had outlined.
          Yet the prophet didnt gloat about it or say Gods
          judgment was validation of his ministry. On the
          contrary, Jeremiah was filled with grief as he
          witnessed his prophetic words coming to pass.

          I feel the same fire burning in my soul that Jeremiah
          felt. And Im more convinced than ever that our nation
          is about to be cast into a devastating depression. No
          matter how high the stock market may swing, no matter
          how incredibly it might rebound, America is still on
          the brink of a mighty crash. God has "set his face"
          against this nation for its bloodshed and arrogance
          against his name, and his judgment is due!

          Yet I thank God for the many promises he has given us
          in his word to protect and bless his people in and
          through all storms. Those promises are at the heart of
          my latest book, Gods Plan to Protect His People in the
          Coming Depression.

          Gods praying people do not need to fear. Nor should we
          worry or fret. Our heavenly father has everything under
          control. Although I see his judgments coming on our
          nation, I rejoice because I know what our Lord has
          promised in his word.

          God be praised!

          I am enclosing a few of the promises of protection
          included in my book.

          Psalm 9:8-10
          He shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall
          minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The
          Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge
          in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will
          put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not
          forsaken them that seek thee.

          Psalm 12:5-7
          For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the
          needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him
          in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of
          the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace
          of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O
          Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for
          ever.

          Psalm 16:7-9
          I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my
          reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set
          the Lord always before me: because he is at my right
          hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad,
          and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in
          hope.

          Psalm 17:7-8
          Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest
          by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee
          from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the
          apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy
          wings.

          Psalm 18:19
          He brought me forth also into a large place; he
          delivered me, because he delighted in me.

          Psalm 20:6-9
          Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will
          hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength
          of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in
          horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our
          God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are
          risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord: let the king hear
          us when we call.

          Psalm 22:4-5
          Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou
          didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were
          delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not
          confounded.

          Psalm 27:5
          In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his
          pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide
          me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.

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