In The Midst Of The Storm

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the
wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,
walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they
were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But
straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not
afraid” (Matthew 14:24-27).

The disciples were so swamped, so suddenly overwhelmed, the very thought that
Jesus was nearby watching over them was absurd. One probably said, “This is the
work of Satan. The devil is out to kill us because of all those miracles we’ve
had a part in.” Another said, “Where did we go wrong? Which one of us has sin
in his life? God is mad at somebody on this boat!” Another could have asked,
“Why us? We’re doing what He said to do. We’re obedient. Why this storm all of
a sudden?”

And in the darkest hour, “Jesus went unto them.” How difficult it must have
been for Jesus to wait on the edge of the storm, loving them so much, feeling
every pain they felt, wanting so much to keep them from getting hurt, yearning
after them as a father for his children in trouble. Yet, He knew they could
never fully know or trust Him until the full fury of the storm was upon them.
He would reveal Himself only when they had reached the limit of their faith.
The boat would not have gone down, but their fear would have drowned them more
quickly than the waves beating on the ship. The fear of drowning was from
despair—not water!

“And when the disciples saw Him . . . they were troubled, saying, It is a
spirit [ghost]” (Matthew 14:26).

They did not recognize Jesus in that storm. They saw a ghost—an apparition.
The thought of Jesus being so near, so much a part of what they were going
through, did not even enter their minds.

The danger we all face is not being able to see Jesus in our troubles. Instead,
we see ghosts. In that very peak moment of fear, when the night is the blackest,
the storm is the angriest, the winds are the loudest, and the hopelessness so
overwhelming, Jesus always draws near to us to reveal Himself as the Lord of
the flood—the Savior in storms.

“The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever” (Psalm
29:10).

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/22481?src=devo-email

You Are Being Tested

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Rest assured that if you are trying to walk righteously before the Lord, you
are being tested. In fact, the deeper your walk with Christ, the more intense
your testing will be. Scripture makes this clear:

"The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. . . . Now
when they shall fall, they shall be [helped] with a little help. . . . And some
of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them
white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed"
(Daniel 11:32-35).

A great time of testing is coming upon "those of understanding." Just who are
these who will be tested? They are the righteous, those who do exploits for the
Lord, who walk with God and have the wisdom of Christ.

Right now, you may be asking, "Why am I being tested? Why is this happening to
me?"

Remember your school days? When a test in school was given, it revealed how
much you had actually learned of what you had been taught. Yet Paul spoke of a
different school, one where we are "learning Christ" and are "being taught by
Him, as the truth is in Jesus" (see Ephesians 4:20-21). If you belong to Jesus,
you are in His school. You may have thought you had graduated, but that will not
happen until you are in glory.

When I was in school, I hated "pop quizzes," unannounced tests. Yet the Lord
has told us to be ready to be tested at any time, and these tests will continue
until Jesus returns. All who love the Lord are going to go through fiery trials
and be purged of all that is not like Christ, in preparation for the wedding of
the Lamb.

David often spoke of being tested and tried: "I know also, my God, that thou
triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness" (1 Chronicles 29:17). "Thou
has proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me,
and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress"
(Psalm 17:3).

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/21373?src=devo-email

A Rod Of Iron

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

The apostle Paul writes of Christ's ascension into heaven: "And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them
in it" (Colossians 2:15). That's right! Staggering behind our Lord's triumphant
procession was the prince of darkness himself, bound in chains. And behind the
defeated devil — underneath the wheels of the heavenly hosts — were all the
powers of darkness, bound and vanquished. They were being put to an open shame
before all those who had died in faith before the cross.

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation
2:27). Jesus entered the gates carrying in His hand a scepter of righteousness,
His "rod of iron" with which He rules all nations. Then, after His triumphant
entrance, He took His rightful place on the throne in full possession of all
power, authority and dominion.

What a glorious picture! Satan is not in control. Communism is not in control.
Atheism is not in control. No, the enemies of Christ exist only by His
permission. And right now they only continue to fill up their cups of iniquity.
Jesus is in control of all things and one day, when He is ready, He will "break
them with a rod of iron; [He] shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel"
(Psalm 2:9).

Beloved, our understanding of Christ's victory over Satan and the dominion of
sin cannot be a vague, confused theology. We must know and understand that
Satan is totally defeated. He cannot hold us prisoner, and Christ has freed us
by His blood from every bondage. Now He sits on His throne with all power and
authority, offering us peace, joy and freedom.

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/20641?src=devo-email

Divine Compassion

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

 

Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. - Mark 6:34

 

Here we have a window through which we catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. Every scene of sorrow touched Him. It’s amazing to think that the heart of Christ is actually moved at the sight of human distress or need. It was this compassion that brought Christ from heaven. It was because our Father loved the lost world that He gave His Son to save the world. Does God care now if we are in suffering or in need? “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 113:13). Does Jesus still have any such compassion for human sorrow on the earth? “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15).

It’s worthwhile to notice the kind of trouble that stirred the compassion of Jesus at this time. It was because He saw the people as sheep not having a shepherd. It was not their hunger, nor their poverty, nor their sickness, but their spiritual need that so deeply touched His compassion. There were no wise, gentle, thoughtful pastors watching over their eternal needs — feeding them with heavenly bread, protecting them from the wolves of sin and lust, and leading them in right paths.

We learn here that no condition is so sad as that of spiritual neglect. A human soul in need is far more vulnerable than being in physical danger or distress. Nothing moves God’s heart so deeply as a soul exposed to the world’s problems, wandering alone in spiritual darkness and uncared for. Happy are those, old and young, who are safe in the protection of the Good Shepherd! If we have “the mind of Christ,” we also shall be moved with compassion for all souls that have no shepherd.

Related articles

• Daily Devotional | God’s Grace Is Love (thelivingwordministries.wordpress.com)
• “Never was anything like this seen in Israel” (worryisuseless.wordpress.com)
• Endure to the End (loopyloo305.com)

A Royal Coward

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, - Matthew 14:9

 

Herod called himself a king, and yet we see he was a poor slave — a fear-filled coward! He was sorry he had made the oath. His conscience was not altogether dead. He did not want to kill John. He was afraid of public opinion, which he knew would condemn him. Then he despised himself for having been caught by Herodias in her plot to have her long-cherished revenge. He was so much a slave that, although he claimed to be a king, he didn’t have the courage to refuse such a request.

True, he had made an oath, but no promise or oath is binding which requires anyone to sin. Of course, Herod was foolish to make such a reckless promise, not knowing what it would involve. After he had made it he was bound to keep it, at whatever the cost to himself, provided nothing sinful was involved. If Herodias had asked for half his kingdom, he would have been bound to grant her request. But he was under no obligation to grant any desire which required him to commit sin.

It was not the oath, however, that really influenced Herod. He just lacked the courage to do the heroic thing he ought to have done. He was afraid of the ridicule of his guests; and he was so under the power of Herodias that he dared not refuse what she demanded. In the end, it was his weakness that wrecked him. Rather than be a moral hero Herod stained his hands with the blood of a holy man.

There are some things we have no right to make rash promises about. We need to keep our word on things that are ours to control. According to the Psalm 15:4, a good man, having made a promise to do something, must do it even if the result would be to his detriment. This is the honorable thing to do. However, no promise binds anyone to give away another man’s life. This is not his to give.

Toot, please share your thoughts on“A Royal Coward”

Joy,Joy,Joy!

Bible Verse of the Day

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…

James 1:2

Joy

Joy

Joy

No I am not breaking into song…. J, just contemplating.

242 times the word joy is found in the bible in one form or another. But why?

Joy- What does it mean?

Dictionary.com defines it as

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally goodor satisfying;

keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son’s success.

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly

valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

4. a state of happiness or felicity.

The Greek word used here is Chara which means basically the same thing… Gladness, cause for occasion of joy, bringing joy.

So we know what the definition of it is, but why is it so important?

It is important because it is the key thing the enemy comes at to steal from us first. He knows better than we the power of lost joy in the lives of God’s children.  He knows that if he can steal our joy it will open up doors to him to gain access in other areas of our life.

Take this morning for example I woke up in a good mood with hope for the day.  As I set at my computer to write the BVD, joy began to be assaulted through electronics.  An hour and half lost due to issues with my computer, another 20 minutes with trying to fix phone issues.  As I attempted to figure out what was going on I lost sight of what was really going on.

These inconveniences that I gave power to began to strip away my joy and next thing you know I can feel my heart racing and head pounding with frustration that can set a tone for the day if I am not careful.

I know the enemy did not create the computer or phone issues, but he is 100% behind the message that follow… things like…

Why are things so hard?

What is the point?

God where are you?

Oh he is indeed crafty and his intent is to rob our hope and joy and to lead us to resignation, it is then he can ruin our lives and the lives of those around us.

Hold on to the joy and the hope that God is good, that He loves you, that He is engaged and working hard for good in your life.  Do not let this be robbed today.

Thanks for letting me vent about silly things that I let drive a wedge in my heart. I am back on solid ground with a proper perspective.

Have a blessed day,

Goodheart Ministries

http://goodvibes37.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/joy/

The Father’s Love

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Many people find it difficult to think of God as a loving Father. They see Him
through eyes clouded with the pain of past experiences with an ungodly father
or stepfather.

Thousands of Christians do not believe God loves them because their earthly
father abandoned, wounded, or grieved them so badly. I pray that this message
will speak not only to them but also to those of you who have not yet
discovered the depths of our heavenly Father’s love!

Many of us know the Scriptures and the theology behind God’s great love for
His children. Yet very few of us have learned to appropriate that love and we
are not enjoying the benefits of having it.

Listen to how God described Himself to Moses:

“The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in
goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin . . .” (Exodus 34:6-7).

When we are in the midst of our trials, we forget what God has said about His
own nature. Yet, if we would only believe Him in such times, we would have
great assurance in our souls. From cover to cover, the Bible speaks to us as
God’s voice, revealing to us how tender and loving He is.

He is ready to forgive at all times. “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to
forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).

He is patient with us, full of tenderness and mercy. “Great are Your tender
mercies, O Lord” (Psalm 119:156). “The Lord is gracious and full of
compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy” (Psalm 145:8).

When you go to the Lord in prayer and worship, be very careful what kind of
image of God you take into His presence! You must be fully convinced of His
love for you and believe that He is all He says He is!

His Billows

Image by beest via Flickr

By: L. B. Cowman

 

“All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. 42:7).

They are HIS billows, whether they go o’er us,

Hiding His face in smothering spray and foam;

Or smooth and sparkling, spread a path before us,

And to our haven bear us safely home.

They are HIS billows, whether for our succor

He walks across them, stilling all our fear;

Or to our cry there comes no aid nor answer,

And in the lonely silence none is near.

They are HIS billows, whether we are toiling

Through tempest-driven waves that never cease,

While deep to deep with clamor loud is calling;

Or at His word they hush themselves in peace.

They are HIS billows, whether He divides them,

Making us walk dryshod where seas had flowed;

Or lets tumultuous breakers surge about us,

Rushing unchecked across our only road.

They are HIS billows, and He brings us through them;

So He has promised, so His love will do.

Keeping and leading, guiding and upholding,

To His sure harbor, He will bring us through.

–Annie Johnson Flint

***

Stand up in the place where the dear Lord has put you, and there do your best. God gives us trial tests. He puts life before us as an antagonist face to face. Out of the buffeting of a serious conflict we are expected to grow strong. The tree that grows where tempests toss its boughs and bend its trunk often almost to breaking, is often more firmly rooted than the tree than the tree which grows in the sequestered valley where no storm ever brings stress or strain. The same is true of life. The grandest character is grown in hardship. –Selected

Why God Answered David’s Prayer!

Image by CatDancing via Flickr

By David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

David tells us why God answered his prayer: “He also brought me out into a
broad [large] place; He delivered me because He delighted in me” (Psalm
18:19, NKJV).

Delight here means “to take pleasure or joy.” David was saying, “I bring
pleasure to God. He delivered me simply because He takes pleasure in me!”
And, beloved, He takes pleasure in you and me, as well!

You see, we who trust in the Lord are His holy Zion, His holy remnant. Remnant
means, simply, “those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” They are
those who have been called out of a lazy Christendom and are totally devoted to
Jesus.

To the chosen of Zion, God says: “You shall also be a crown of glory in the
hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no
longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but
you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land Beulah, for
the Lord delights in you” (Isaiah 62:3-4, NKJV).

Why does God come to my rescue, so willing to deliver me? It is because He
delights in me! I am a pleasure to Him and He enjoys my friendship!

A precious young man told me: “I have never been convinced that I have truly
been accepted by the Lord. I seldom feel good enough for God—like I just do
not measure up. I keep trying to appease Him by doing something good for
others.”

So many Christians feels this way! Over the years I have known many older
Christians who never had assurance in the Lord. They felt unworthy, unclean,
unloved. They never believed they were a delight to the heart of God, so they
were always trying to work out something in their lives to please Him. If they
failed in one area, they did three things in another area to try to make God
happy.

Beloved, this can never be! When you come to Jesus, you cannot make up anything
to Him. No, He makes it all up to you because that is who He is! He says, “So
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the
crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army
which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25, NKJV).

No matter what your failure or shortcoming, God makes it all up to you!

Does God See What I’m Going Through-Does He Care?

David Wilkerson Today

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011] 

God asks, “Do you truly believe that I see exactly what you are enduring
right now?” Perhaps as you read this, you are going through something that
calls for Him to act on your behalf. The very nature of your problem demands an
answer.

Beloved, do you believe God monitors your every move, as a father does his
infant child? Do you know in your heart He is interpreting every thought you
think? Do you believe He is at work—bottling every tear, hearing every sigh,
hovering over you, loving and caring for you?

The Bible describes Him as doing just that!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their
cry . . . . The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of
all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15, 17, NKJV).

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles
16:9, NKJV).

Do you believe God is absolutely, totally aware of your every thought, grief,
pain, trial, financial burden, family problem—and that He wants to see you
through them all?

The psalmist tells us, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities
those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13, NKJV).

The Hebrew word for pity here means “to fondle, to cuddle, love, be
compassionate.” Scripture is saying the Lord cuddles in His arms those who
fear Him. God puts His arms around you, He strokes your cheeks, He holds you.
He says, “I know your thoughts, your concerns, every battle you face and I
care!” No matter what you are going through, no matter how you feel, the Lord
sees it all! He feels the very feelings of your infirmities. He knows every move
you make—all you say and do.

God is not mad at you right now. No! He is thinking precious, cuddly, loving
thoughts about you. He knows the way you feel—and He cares! He is saying,
“Yes, you are going through a great trial; you are being tempted and tossed.
But you are My child and I will never allow the enemy to ensnare you. I am
going to bring you through!”