World Challenge Pulpit Series Newsletters

Grace and Responsibility

anthony_russo — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:21:02 -0500

I have a default system at work in me. It’s a reflex that springs into motion whenever I fall short in my walk with the Lord. I’m talking about my tendency to turn to works rather than to God’s incredible grace to reestablish my standing with him.

I believe most of us have this default system at work in us. It’s why Paul emphasizes God’s grace again and again throughout the New Testament. In letter after letter, he hammers home the sufficiency of grace for our right relationship with the Lord.

Yet this default system — the urge to turn to works to make up for our shortcomings — is constantly at work in us. It’s what moves me to preach grace so often; I preach it because I need it. At times my church thinks I’m overdoing it, because people keep saying to me, “I know I’m under grace. But what is my responsibility?” It’s a good question. In a covenant of grace — one in which God has done everything required for our salvation — what part do we play?

For many of us, the concept of grace holds no power in our daily walk. We know God has bestowed on us precious, costly gifts in his Son and the Holy Spirit; therefore, we think we shouldn’t fail or fall short. So when we do, we’re surprised. It doesn’t compute that we could still be awful sinners after all God has done for us. We picture him shaking his head in regret.

And so we convince ourselves we can do better. We re-double our efforts at prayer, at Bible reading, at getting involved in ministry. We pledge to ourselves we’ll make up for the ways we’ve fallen short. Here’s the crazy thing about this default system: We do this knowing full well our works do nothing to gain right standing with God. Do we really think more works are what God wants from us? Two hours of prayer instead of one? Does he really want us busier?

Only two things result from these efforts to save ourselves. First, we avoid facing up to our sinfulness. Second — and much worse — we rob ourselves of drinking from God’s deep well of grace. Paul faced this dilemma early on in the church. When the Christians in Galatia tried to please God through works of the law, Paul confronted them: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3:1-2). Paul was asking, “Do you really think you can improve on the cross?”

It’s easy to get confused over our responsibility to God because of two conflicting realities in our lives. The first reality is Jesus’ words to us: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

When I think of the perfect Christian life, my thoughts turn to the book of Acts. According to this amazing biblical record, our faith can move God to work miracles. Our testimony can lead the lost to a transformed life. Who among us doesn’t aspire to this? That brings up the second reality of our lives: We are imperfect. We continually, consistently, seriously fail God. What a contrast.

I listen to sermons by certain Christian leaders because I admire the ways they live for the gospel. Their stories stir me and I think, “I want to do what they’re doing.” But after the sermon is over I realize, “This stirring in me feels familiar. What does it remind me of?”

The answer is: my childhood. The church I grew up in regularly hosted preachers, evangelists and missionaries. These were heroes to me because they accomplished amazing things in God’s name. They usually ended their message by saying, “If you truly want to please God, you’ll give everything you have to go and serve him.”

Talk about exciting. I would race to the altar and pray, “Lord, make me a missionary like this person.” Later I would open my parents’ National Geographic magazine and see how people actually lived in Africa. Gradually, my prayer changed to, “Lord, don’t send me!”

Next I would hear a healing evangelist testify of the miracles she had seen God perform for suffering people. But when I prayed for my sick friends, I only caught what they had.

I’m not making light of these things. We all have a responsibility to bring hope and healing to a lost and hurting world. But when we don’t see the same results in our lives that others have, it’s easy to get discouraged. How do we reconcile these conflicting realities?

God’s grace has to cover whatever he calls us to do. See if these words describe your walk with the Lord: Burdened. Stressed. Heavy laden. Mentally drained. Physically fatigued. These are the outcomes whenever we re-double our fleshly efforts to please God. They’re clear signs that the law, not God’s grace, is in operation. Now consider these words: Obligated. Dutiful. Indebted. Guilty. Ashamed. Condemned. Do these words describe someone who has been set free?

The freedom Christ won for us on the cross isn’t just good news for the lost. It’s good news for every believer. Yet many continue to live under a cloud thinking they’re not a quality son or daughter to God. They think he loves them because he has to, not because he likes them.

The gospels tell us differently. Jesus called all twelve of the sinful, flawed, imperfect disciples to him because he wanted their friendship: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

Jesus chose to share the deep desires of the Father’s heart with these friends. He has also done that with you when you chose to follow him. So when you go to him in prayer or walk into church, his attitude isn’t, “Not you again.” The opposite is true! He wants to be with you, to sit beside you, to be your friend, because he is actually pleased with you.

You may think, “How could that be? Nothing I see in my life could possibly be pleasing to the Lord.” That’s why Scripture tells us, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). It’s impossible for anyone to live according to the law for very long. We may keep telling ourselves, “I’ll get it right tomorrow. I just have to reenergize myself ” — but we can’t maintain it. Eventually we’re overcome by an impossible burden, and we come to the end of ourselves.

As the “end” of the law, Christ is its very fulfillment — meaning he has made right all that the law would correct. And Jesus is the one waiting for us at the end of all our self-efforts. Only in him do we find true freedom — not in any “works” we seek to accomplish.

Now let me ask you: Do the following words appeal to you? Life. Joy. Delight. Boldness. Liberty. Unselfconsciousness. Can you imagine having this kind of enjoyment in your service to Christ? How can you obtain such empowering joy?

It doesn’t come through works of righteousness. We don’t have the power to be righteous on our own. We may do our best, strive our hardest and offer all sincerely to God, but it still amounts to no more than filthy rags. Freedom comes through Christ’s righteousness alone. When his righteousness becomes ours, we are set free from striving. And his Spirit is in us, freeing us from the law of sin and guilt and making all things new.

That freedom is everything. It means liberty to carry out the godly responsibilities he calls us to do. Suddenly we are able to witness with abandon. We have a boldness not of our own making. Grace flows through us rather than a deadly, binding legalism.

There is only one way to walk in the freedom and joy Christ has won for us: by accepting his gift of righteousness. Doing this means embracing grace, not works. It doesn’t mean shirking our responsibilities; on the contrary, it’s the only way to take on real responsibility — by coming under the covering of his grace. We can’t accomplish anything in his name otherwise!

Isaiah prophesied, “They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations” (Isaiah 61:4). Isaiah’s listeners couldn’t fathom the kind of freedom and exploits he was describing here. For generations God’s people had been crushed under the law, devastated by its burden.

The same was true for the people of Jesus’ day. They were hard on themselves, accepting the legalistic burdens placed on them by religious leaders. That’s why Christ’s words were so revolutionary when he quoted directly from Isaiah to announce his ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).

Jesus knew what the gift of grace would do: It would set us free completely. And his message wasn’t just for the unsaved. When he spoke of setting captives free, he was speaking to believers: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Today we are just as hard on ourselves as the people of Jesus’ day were. We think of grace as being soft, easy, getting a pass. But grace is the mightiest power you will ever see at work in your life. It’s also the only power that brings real fruit to your walk with God — your prayer life, your witness, your good deeds in his name. Only as we enter fully into God’s grace will his church be stirred and empowered to walk in the glorious works he has set before us.

After reading this, are you still striving to be perfect? There’s only one entrance to the path of perfection: through the gate of grace. You are already perfect in God’s eyes, through the righteousness of his Son, Jesus Christ. Now, here is your responsibility: Stop striving.

Your efforts only send you backward, not forward. They cause you to miss God’s grace completely — grace that brings freedom, joy and power to do all that God has called you to do. The fact is, you’re going to need grace upon grace as you go forward with Jesus. So now is not the time to re-double your efforts. It is time to trust that Christ has provided all the grace you need — at every step — to walk in the unique calling he has for you.

Jesus has called you to friendship, not to increase your efforts for salvation. It is up to you to walk in the freedom he has provided by his grace. Life, joy, delight, boldness — all of these are yours as you enter the fullness of his amazing work for you on the cross. May his grace reign in your life, for he has made you perfect in him! Amen.

How to Be Faithful to God

anthony_russo — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:09:37 -0500

We continue to pray for you, and we trust we are serving you well by bringing you words of conviction and encouragement. Over the past forty years we have sent out nearly 700 messages to hungry hearts. We rejoice over the reports we receive that “these messages came just at the right time, almost as if they were written for me personally in this very time of need.” That is the work of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can feed us and minister to our needs right on time.

Thank you once again for your prayers and continued support. Take a look at the enclosed missions report. We are grateful to the Lord he is enabling us to serve churches that serve the poor. Souls are being saved, lives are being changed and communities are being touched. You are a vital part of making these ministries happen, so read and rejoice— God is on the move.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson

Why We Can’t Afford to Be Normal

anthony_russo — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:41:12 -0500

In this issue of our newsletter we take a look at the church that Jesus loves. At times we in his body are broken and in need of revival. But the bottom-line truth is that Jesus loves his bride and is working in and through her with his great power. His church will not go out with a whimper but will become the bride he desires, without spot or wrinkle.

I have been to sixty nations and have met with thousands of pastors, and I am convinced the vast majority love God and are working to see a church that brings pleasure to his heart. Are you attending a local church? Are you praying for that body? Are you encouraging your pastor? Are you involved in praying for and supporting churches around the world? I hope what you read in these pages stirs your heart to pray for the church—and, if necessary, restores your love for Christ’s body.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson

The Future

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:20:50 -0500

Dear Friends,

This month’s newsletter has a crucial and encouraging message by my father that is previously unpublished. We’ve also included a special report of our missions endeavors during the most recent quarter. We trust and pray you are blessed by both the message and the exciting report of gospel impact through World Challenge Missions. Thank you especially for taking the time to read and pray over these endeavors that we’re involved in around the world.

Since last month, we have received an overwhelming response from you on the prayer cards we sent with the recent newsletter. We’re honored to be able to pray over each and every one of your needs, and we believe God will be glorified through your answered prayers.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson

Lose the Ship, Save the People

anthony_russo — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:28:31 -0500

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

We all face storms in life. Often our hopes and dreams can quickly be dashed on the rocks. But one thing in always true and will bring us great comfort. God’s promises are never dashed or destroyed. His promises are yes and amen. You can rest and live with confidence and great peace knowing that God has everything under control.

When our hopes and dreams do hit the rock and all seems broken, Jesus invites us to get our eyes off the broken pieces, off the storm and off the rocks. He welcomes us to look to him.

As unemployment remains high, and family life is stress by this high speed world, and it seems even our faith is being battered we can stand upright, head held high to the heavens and a song in our heart as we know the end of the story. He will protect, provide and see us through every storm. Take a moment to read this months missions update. Many in the world are facing situations that we can’t begin to imagine but we can begin to say yes to help them in their time of need.

Don’t forget we pray for you daily. Each one of you means a great deal to us and we do not take it for granted that we are here to serve you.

A Perfect Heart

anthony_russo — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:43:35 -0600

As we approach our second year of ministry since the passing of my father, David Wilkerson, I want to take a moment to thank you for all your prayers and encouragement. Together with you, we continue to spread the uncompromised gospel and bring Christ’s mercy to the poorest of the poor. We pray you’ll continue to be challenged, encouraged and inspired by these Pulpit Series Newsletters and mission reports.

By God’s grace we have not had to decrease our mission endeavors at World Challenge. Orphans are given shelter, hungry children are fed and the Word of God is spread.

We trust you are blessed, and we are glad to play a small role in your life through this newsletter.

We’ve enclosed a card for your prayer requests. We’d be honored to join together in agreement for your needs and requests. Simply fill out the card and return in the envelope provided.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson

Show Us Your Glory

anthony_russo — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:47:22 -0600

Are you experiencing a spiritually dry time, maybe even a famine? Do you find yourself famished in your finances, your marriage, your family relationships? In times of famine, resources are scarce, hope is dim and discouragement can overwhelm us.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 26 there was a famine in the land “besides the former famine.” Wow—back-to-back famines. What could God’s people do? We find an example in the very same chapter: Isaac sowed in the land. How strange that Isaac would plant seed in dry, desolate earth. Clearly he did so in faith. The outcome? Verse 12: “...and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.”

Don’t be afraid to sow faith, love and resources even when things look bleak. Sow kindness to a spouse who is difficult, sow patience to your troubled teen, sow generously to your church and to missions, sow prayer to God even when your faith is famished. Believe God that in 2013 you will “reap in the same year a hundredfold.”

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson

Peace of Mind in These Troubled Times

anthony_russo — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:58:47 -0600

Will you please join us in prayer for our nation as the new year begins? Our schoolchildren need a wall of protection and our cities are filled with crime and violence. It seems a demonic horde has been unleashed. Yet we know that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord raises up a standard against him.

I invite you to unite with us during a special time of prayer and fasting during January. Our staff at World Challenge and the church where I pastor, The Springs Church, will pray and fast for 21 days, from January 6 through 27. We welcome you to send us any prayer requests you have. So many people are facing difficult times, financial stress, teenagers in trouble, marriage under duress. The needs are incalculable, but the power of God is vastly superior to all our needs. We stand together with you believing that even as the storms rage around us, God is on the move and that this could be the greatest year of your life.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson