When Peter and the disciples saw what took place at Pentecost, Peter immediately stood up and declared, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel … ‘I will pour out My Spirit in those days’” (Acts 2:16, 18). Likewise, we are able to see in Scripture what the Holy Spirit is doing in these last days — indeed, in this late hour.
The prophet Malachi offers a two-fold prophecy: First, he speaks to the ungodly, materialistic, secular, pleasure-mad world. And second, he speaks to those who love and fear the Lord.
Malachi warned the godless nations, “Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble” (Malachi 4:1). If ever there was a day like a burning oven, when everything the world over is “hot” — economically, socially, spiritually — it is today. This great nation is slowly pushing God completely out of our courts, our schools, our society, saying, “We are the greatest, mightiest, wealthiest nation on earth, and we have achieved it all on our own.”
Such arrogance! But beneath all the bravado is an underlying fear and gloom. Even God’s people tremble at what they see. However, Malachi had a second prophecy for those who fear the Lord, the overcoming church, a message of gladness and hope. Christians will experience collateral damage from the coming day of “burning.” That cannot be helped. But God has sent a word that will keep his people through the hard times.
We are told that “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (4:2). In the darkest hour, when things look hopeless, Jesus is going to rise in greater revelation than at any time in history. And the world is going to witness his saving and keeping power in all its glory. Jesus Christ will rise up and he will shine as a healing Sun, brighter than in all past generations, and God’s people will experience a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit — with signs, wonders, and miracles (see Acts 4:29-30).
Encourage yourself in the Lord today and thank him for his anointing on 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.