Body

Devotions

GOD KNOWS — AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS

David Wilkerson

Jesus speaks of grass that is full and green today but tomorrow is cut down. He would have us remember that He gave it life and care.

“If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Luke 12:28).

We dare not think He cares less for our needs than He does for grass. He knows full well what we need, whether it is food, finances or clothes.

OUR FATHER’S GREAT PROMISE

“All these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things” (12:30).

Again Christ is reminding us, “Here is all you need to know: Your heavenly Father knows what your needs are. He has already enumerated them.”

Jesus promises, “Rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock” (12:31–32). If we will simply trust Him, our Lord will bless us with all that we need.

GOD WILL NEVER ABANDON HIS “LITTLE FLOCK”

If you are concerned for your family’s welfare in the coming days, I have good news for you: Your children are God’s children. And He cares for your loved ones more than you do. Jesus knows exactly what you all need to survive.

He knows about your need to have a roof over your head. He knows exactly what your rent bill or mortgage payment is each month. He knows about the mouths you have to feed and the amount of food in your pantry. You can trust Him fully to meet all of these needs, because He promises to do it.

THE FAVOR OF THE LORD

Gary Wilkerson

While I’m preaching this sermon at the Springs Church in Colorado Springs, a young man is preaching at Times Square Church in New York City. For a year, he was homeless, lost, hurt, broken, alcoholic.

I HATE THIS CHURCH

One Sunday morning he wandered into Times Square Church and found a seat in the back row of the highest part of the balcony. He left that service muttering, “I hate this church. I’m never coming back!” However, he did come back, and again he left saying, “I hate this church. I’m never coming back.”

But he kept coming back — a third Sunday, a fourth Sunday, a fifth Sunday, and on and on. He even counted the Sundays — 52 of them — and finally, instead of saying, “I hate this church, I’m never coming back,” he said, “I love Jesus and I need Him in my life.” This homeless young man, living on the park benches in New York City, came down to the altar and gave his life to Jesus.

REDEEMED, RESTORED, FAVORED

Subsequently, he was sent to a rehab program where it was discovered that he had a brilliant mind. After completing the rehab program, he was sent off to Bible school where he finished a four-year Bible program in two years with a 4.0 grade point average.   

Then he was sent to seminary to pursue a three-year master’s degree in theology. His brilliance continued to propel him and he finished that three-year course in 18 months. The seminary asked him to stay on and become a professor, but he replied, “No, I’m a pastor.”

Today he is on staff at Times Square Church preaching the glory of God. That is the favor of the Lord.

A CHILD’S VOICE

Carter Conlon

In the book of Luke, we see yet another time that society was in total upheaval. People were clamoring for influence and authority and the place where the testimony of God physically dwelt was being dominated by a foreign power.

I am sure there were prayer meetings and people crying out to God, for there were religious and devout people in that generation. However, while everyone had a mental picture of what the power of God should look like, suddenly something came on the scene that was not understood.

THE WHISPER IN A MANGER

Nobody expected God to show His power and give His people strength to go forward in the manner He did. In the midst of all the voices, the chanting of religionists, the power of God appeared—and it was a child’s voice! It was not the wind, the fire or an earthquake—it was a whisper in a manger. Yet, who was able to hear it?

The religious could not hear it. The movers and shakers could not hear it. The self-focused could not hear it; neither could the Romans who were intent on dominating with power. And so God went to a few shepherds in a field, broke open the veil between time and eternity, and sent angels to burst forth singing, “Glory to God in the highest! On earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (see Luke 2:13-14). In other words, “Everything you have ever longed for has come.”

BE QUIET SO YOU CAN HEAR

Those shepherds rose up and went to the manger, only to find nothing more than a baby’s whisper. It would have been a voice so still that everybody had to be quiet in order to hear it. Yet in the end, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:20).

In the natural, this would have been regarded as foolishness! But the still, small voice was the power of God being made known to man once again.

 

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. 

A WORD OF HOPE

David Wilkerson

For many months, I searched and studied the Scriptures, pleading with the Lord to give me a message of hope and encouragement for these hard times. My spirit cried out, “Lord, please speak a word to my heart for Your children, for You alone have the words of eternal life. Only You can speak a word of comfort to us in such times.”

The Holy Spirit answered my prayer, speaking the following to my heart:

“I am going to give you a single promise from my Word. And if you will commit your very life to it, this word will keep you through any and all perilous times.”

EMBRACE THE TRUTH

Beloved, I know if we will especially embrace this one verse, fully believing it, it will be a daily power-source of faith. Here is the promise the Spirit showed me:

“YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YE ASK HIM” (Matthew 6:8).

In Luke 12, Jesus enumerates the things He says our heavenly Father knows we need. In short, those needs are: food, drink and clothing.

“Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. . . . If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Luke 12:22, 28).

WE ARE NOT TO BE SURPRISED

David Wilkerson

I must ask you: As the storm rages, are you going to the Lord in prayer? If you are, then you’re gaining strength, because your mind is becoming fixed on your heavenly Father’s love. In His presence, He continually reveals His power to you and encourages you that you will make it through.

It is not God’s will that any of His children face the coming perilous times with paralyzing fear; in fact, biblical prophecy and warnings should not frighten us. Jesus’ heart on the matter is stated very plainly:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

WARNING US IN LOVE

Jesus prophesied of world events to come that sounded frightful. He spoke of wars, pestilence, earthquakes in various places. And He warned His hearers: “You are going to be afflicted, and some of you will even be killed. Iniquity will abound. False prophets and messiahs shall arise, deceiving many” (see Matthew 24:3 through 41).

Later in Matthew, Jesus explains that He forewarned of these catastrophic events so that we would believe in Him when we saw them coming to pass.

HE IS LORD OVER ALL

Jesus wasn’t trying to put a burden of fear on us. Rather, He simply doesn’t want us to be surprised when we are hit by awful storms. He doesn’t want our faith to be shipwrecked when we suddenly face incredible suffering. And most of all, He wants us to believe there is a Lord over all these awful things, a Father who is loving enough to warn us about them and keep us through them all.