The greatest revelation the disciples ever received focused on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was the first day of the week, and the disciples were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Suddenly, Jesus appeared — in full resurrection glory — victorious over death, hell, and the devil. He showed the disciples his hands, his feet, his pierced side, and then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).
What glorious truths were coming forth — revelation upon revelation! It was almost too much for the disciples, and several of them, led by Peter, decided to go fishing (see John 21:3). Peter was having trouble taking it all in. “I can’t comprehend the cross — how will I ever understand his resurrection? After all this time I’ve spent with him, I have understood so little. Let those who are brighter go on with him. I just want to do my own thing, in my own quiet way.”
Many of us may react to spiritual things in the same way. We know the Lord has called us to go deeper with him, but we avoid the challenge. We fall back into our old ways and then feel guilty for our lethargy. We fear we will never measure up to what God wants for us so we go back to busyness — shopping sprees, hobbies, new projects. The time once spent with God in growing is wasted on some form of “fishing” and we become frivolous and indecisive.
While Peter was fishing, the Lord noticed he was catching nothing and directed him to cast his net on the opposite side — where he gathered a tremendous harvest of fish. Later, while Peter separated his catch, Jesus said to him, in essence, “Peter, if you love me, get back to where you were. Follow me; feed my sheep; stop doing your own thing. Wake up!” (see John 21:15-18).
All Jesus asks of you is that you love him. Don’t worry about measuring up and don’t allow your dry spells to bring you to despair. Rejoice in them — they are part of God’s plan to bring you into his purpose for your life.
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David Wilkerson (1931 – 2011)
Founder of Times Square Church in New York City with over 100 different languages spoken in the congregation. Wilkerson wrote many powerful books such as: The Vision and Cross and the Switchblade. His ministry was prophetic as God called him to be a watchman to the Church in North America. He gave clear messages on repentance to the Church.Wilkerson also founded Teen Challenge where there are hundreds of centres for Christ-centered drug recovery and addiction recovery. He also organized and spoke at pastors gatherings in many countries where he gave prophetic strong messages to encourage pastors and leaders.
Recommends these books by David Wilkerson:
The Vision and Beyond, Prophecies Fulfilled and Still to Come by David Wilkerson
Knowing God by Name: Names of God That Bring Hope and Healing by David Wilkerson
God's Plan to Protect His People in the Coming Depression by David Wilkerson
David Wilkerson is an American Christian evangelist, most well-known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade. He is also the founder of Times Square Church in New York, an interdenominational church.
Wilkerson is well-known for these early years of his ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in New York City in the 1950s and 1960s. He co-authored a book about his work with the New York drug addicts, The Cross and the Switchblade, which became a best-seller, selling over 50 million copies in over thirty languages since it was published in 1963. The book was included among the 100 most important Christian books of the 20th century.
For over four decades, Wilkerson's ministry has included preaching, teaching and writing. He has authored over 30 books.
David Wilkerson is the founder and president of World Challenge, Inc., a nonprofit organization incorporated on September 22, 1971. Reverend Wilkerson, the author of over thirty inspirational books, is perhaps best known for his early days of ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. His story is told in The Cross and the Switchblade, a book he co-authored which became a best-seller. (The story has been read by over 50 million people in some thirty languages and 150 countries since 1963. In 1969, a motion picture of the same title was released.)
For over four decades, Reverend Wilkerson's evangelistic ministry has included preaching, teaching and writing. Throughout that time a distinctive characteristic of his work has been his direct efforts to reach the neediest members of the population with help for both body and soul. Even now, the almost 70 year-old minister often goes out alone or sometimes with an assistant to walk through the streets of New York City, along Broadway and Eighth Avenue or down 42nd Street and nearby "Crack Alley" on 41st Street. His mission is always to seek out the lost, the disoriented, and the addicted , to tell them of the power of the risen Christ to set them free.
David Wilkerson, born in Hammond, Indiana on May 19, 1931, was married in 1953 to Gwen Carosso. The Wilkersons' two sons are ministers, and their two daughters are married to ministers. They have 11 grandchildren. The Wilkersons served small pastorates in Scottsdale and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, until Reverend Wilkerson saw a photograph in Life magazine of several New York City teenagers charged with murder. Moved with compassion he was drawn to the city in February 1959. It was at that time he began his street ministry to what one writer called "desperate, bewildered, addicted, often violent youth.