Full Sermon - A Call to Anguish

You must listen to this sermon by David Wilkerson.

Psalm 77:1-15
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

Be Thyself My Treasure

Faithful Shepherd, feed me
In the pastures green;
Faithful Shepherd, lead me
Where Thy steps are seen.

Hold me fast and guide me
 In the narrow way;
 So,with Thee beside me,
 I shall never stray.

Daily bring me nearer
To the heavenly shore;
 May my faith grow clearer.
May I love Thee more!

Hallow every pleasure,
Every gift and pain;
Be Thyself my Treasure.
Though none else I gain. Amen.

I am Thine Inheritance

Lord, let me be consumed with Thee, so that for me to live is Christ.

Why Do Ye also Transgress the Commandment of God by Your Tradition?

In Matthew chapter 15, we find the direct contrast between the Pharisee and the lover of God. The Pharisees loved commands, both those of man and those of God. They looked to the law for their righteousness and believed that external obedience to this mixture of law and tradition was equivalent to the worship of God. Yet Christ showed that this was not worship for by it they not only made void the commands of God, but it showed that they loved their tradition and not God.

The true believer views Christ, and not tradition or law, as the source of his righteousness. Therefore, he does not equate law keeping as worship. Rather, his worship and love of God produces obedience. Obedience simply flows from the focus on God. The believer then will not seek to make void the commands of the one from whom he draws his righteousness and life.

Because the Christian is drawing his righteousness from Christ, he recognizes that in and of himself he is not righteous. He does not contribute in any way to his righteous standing before God. In every area of obedience, he must view himself as an unprofitable servent because he has only done that which he was commanded. The Christian then realizes that his place and standing is only the result of God's mercy and grace. This understanding results in mercy and grace being shown to those who are around him. The Pharisees knew nothing of mercy and grace for their righteousness came from their own work, and not from Christ. They exalted the law as the source of righteousness and as the law showed no mercy, they could show no mercy.

My friend, upon which side do you fall? Do you condemn a man because he violates the traditions of man? Do you know nothing of mercy and grace and then show no mercy? Mercy rejoices against judgment and those who show no mercy will receive no mercy

Abomination in the Sight of God

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Why then will you continue to hold yourself up as a good person? Why will you keep the facade of being a true Christian while inwardly you walk in darkness? In that day when all secrets will be know, shall it be worth it to you? How long O ye simple ones will ye love simplicity? Are not the words of our Lord clear? Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

It is not worth it my friend, to uphold your facade of righteousness and live a pseudo Christian life. Only radicals can be Christs disciples. Only radicals can go to heaven. Only radicals will hear Christ say, well done, thou good and faithful servant. Only radicals will shine as the stars of heaven. Only radicals will look upon the return of Christ with joy. Only radicals will reap life everlasting.

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

So my friend, are you abomination in the sight of God, or are you a radical follower of Jesus Christ? Remember, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

God's Wrath is Coming... Are You Ready?

Saving faith is the desperate thrust of a helpless soul upon the arms of an almighty Savior. Are you doing what Jesus, who speaks the words of the Father, are you doing what He says? Seek first the kingdom of God! Are you taking every step necessary to stop feeding your lust? In God’s Name, Why? Why? Why? Why will you sit through another service and sit by a sign post that points you away from hell and the wrath of God and points you to heaven and life and forgiveness, and hug death to your breast?! Oh the madness! You are a vile, filthy, helpless, hell deserving, wretched Son or Daughter of Adam. You know nothing of true repentance and therefore of true and saving faith. Or you occasionally have a little whimper in your closet when your conscience gets so active you can’t live with it and you whimper and ask God for a little help and then you go right back with your hand and your eyeball firmly attached. Oh yes, once in a while you take a dull parry knife and scratch your hand and occasionally you scratch around your eyeballs, but you haven’t begun to cut off and pluck out.

You had better listen to the words of Jesus, “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter, but he that does the will of my father in heaven.” If ye by the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye shall live. If you live after the flesh, you’ll die! The cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regard to a few of our ethical and religious values. The cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self to Christ. And if the cross has not done that, YOU’RE NOT A CHRISTIAN! My Friend face it, young rogue, you’re not a Christian until the cross has radically disrupted the very center and citadel of your life! And brought you from a life of commitment to serve self, whether its religious self, moral self, proud self, covetous self, lustful self, prideful self, unforgiving self, lazy self… It doesn’t matter! What are the focal points of the reign of your self? If you’ve gone to the cross in union with Christ, it’s been shattered!

I want you in that day, when you stand with me before the Judge of the world, to have him say, “Come, be blessed.” I don’t want to look at you standing there saying, “Lord, Lord! Lord, Lord! I named you in earth, I named you before the elders, I named you before the church, I named you in prayer meeting, I named you in witness! And now, Lord, Lord! Did I not this and did I not that?” I don’t want to hear Him say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you, you worker of iniquity.” You never were made a doer of the will of God. You learned enough, and you learned what to say properly enough, to be accepted for what you professed yourself to be on earth, and now the day of judgment is come and the truth is now to be know.

- Preacher Al Martin

The Purpose of Giving

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Every man as he purposeth in his heart so let him give; not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work...Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

From this text we see that the purpose behind giving is thankfulness on the part of recipients to God. God is praised when men give to others. God here also says that He will cause those who give bountifully to reap bountifully. Why is this? That we having sufficiency will have the means to abound to every good work.

There is then in this two blessings for the giver. The first is that his needs are met. The second is that he has the means to do more and more good works. For those good works which a man does for the glory of God, he receives rewards; thus with continued blessings for continued giving comes continually increasing rewards. As in the parable of the talents, to those who have done much for the kingdom, more will be given, but to those who have not, even that which they hath shall be taken away.

The Glory of God - Francis Chan

The Gospel in 6 Minutes

Apartment Walk Through

Short video clip (not very high quality) showing my apartment.

Design in Nature - NPR/The State of Things

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." 

Click here to listen: "Design in Nature"

Why do you spend your wages on that which does not satisfy?

Isaiah 55:1-2, 6-12 NKJV

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance...Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

Principles Will not Fix Your Marriage

"Principles will not fix your marriage. Christ alone is the healer...Jesus is either in our midst, or He is not. Jesus is either the healer, or He is not. Reforming marriage requires more than just a few principles, a weekend getaway, and some flowers...It requires more than this. It requires Christ to be at the center of your life, husband...There is an inseparable connection: Christian marriage and the gospel are tied in a bond that cannot be broken. Why? Because marriage is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church and Jesus is the only one who can heal married couples so that they can live together as heirs of the grace of life... [Peter] offers Jesus Christ to us as the only Savior and Lord of marriage...Let me tell you something. God doesn't heal marriage, Jesus doesn't heal marriage, so you can have a better marriage. He heals marriages so that He can show that there is a King in Zion and to give a testimony to the watching eyes of the world that he is the healer of His people, a Savior, not of words, not of platitudes, but of power, ready to save and heal all who earnestly confess their sins, face their diseased conditions and look to Him as their only Judge, their only lawgiver, their only King and say, 'Lord, You alone can save me.'" Chris Strevel - Christ the Lord and Savior of Marriage 

And ye my flock are men, and I am your God

Ezekiel 34:11-31

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment....And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace...; there shall be showers of blessing...they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them...Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

A little joy...

I have my very own shower. Getting there has been a back-breaking (literally) project, but I have it now and for that I am profoundly thankful to the Lord.

(The shower head is currently removed.)

Plenty of floor room.

That spot looked like this on Monday: