God Blog
God Blog

Approaching God One Thought At A Time

As far as the Lord is concerned, the time to stand is in the darkest moment. It is when everything seems hopeless, when there appears no way out, when God alone can deliver.
- David Wilkerson

Stacks Image 1970
David Wilkerson

Those who know and understand David Wilkerson's work recognize that his extraordinary life and calling qualify him as the greatest American pastor of the 20th Century.

From humble beginnings, his willingness and obedience fully respond to God's call of ministry and anguish transformed untold numbers of drug abusers and gang members, beginning on the hard streets of New York. His book and subsequent movie, prayer life and mission extended God's love and sanctification around the world.

Perhaps more impressive and important still, Wilkerson's unique 60 year vision and message for the need for brokenness and sanctification, prayer and service to the needy continues to shed light on the unfortunate lukewarm, if not apostate conditions, regrettably found throughout much of modern Christianity.

If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me.

- Luke 9:23 GNT


David Ray Wilkerson lived an extraordinary life to say the least. A fact attested to by the countless lives he touched and his incredible volume of work. Including his duplication of Teen Challenge's vital program across America.

Expanding his ministry globally, World Challenge Inc. was founded by Reverend David Wilkerson in 1971 and served as a corporate umbrella for his worldwide crusades, ministers' conferences, book and tract publication, video production, street evangelism, literature distribution, church planting, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and many charitable outreaches.

Founding Time Square Church in 1987, Wilkerson's sermon archive is second to none, further supported by his vast newsletter collection.

Further impressive was Wilkerson's spiritual and even prophetic insight. For example, with Times Square Church only 26 miles from ground zero at the World Trade Center, David sensed an impending calamity many weeks before September 11 and cancelled church youth rallies, conventions, and special speakers and the congregation went into a season of serious prayer.

On September 16, 2001, he preached a message entitled The Towers Have Fallen and We Missed the Message:

  • “If you are a praying, Bible believe, you know instinctively in your heart that God is trying to speak to this nation and the world through this. God is trying to send us a message. Theologians and pastors all over the country, even around the world, are saying to their congregations, ‘God had nothing to do with these calamities. God would not allow such a thing to happen.’ Because of that thinking and that preaching, we are quickly losing the message and missing what God is trying to say. We are missing it…If we turn a deaf ear to what God is loudly proclaiming, much worse is in store for us.”
Wilkerson said the attack on the United States should serve as a wake-up call. He compared our country to unrepentant Israel in the times of Isaiah the prophet:

  • “During Isaiah’s time, God used the enemies of Israel to chasten and warn them to repent. God had to use it as a last resort to bring them back to his heart—to bring back the blessing and to destroy their enemies and put up a wall of protection…because of their sin, God let the walls down.”
In a 2007 sermon entitled, "In One Hour Everything Will Change," Wilkerson continued his warnings of impending judgment by God for, among other things, violence against children and abortion. A calamity he explains would be "clearly beyond man's capacity to respond." Many aspects of which seem a match to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it's deadly and destructive ongoing Great Rest agenda, ensuring the rise of a new sociopolitical era. A rapid deterioration in global Times and Season's, now apparent to all, since its devilish introduction in 2020. See Wilkerson's sermon overview, listen or read full text.

For deeper insights into the motivations, ministries and messages of the greatest American pastor of the 20th century, the biography, "David Wilkerson" by his son Gary Wilkerson is a must read. Or listen to audio book.


David's entire life and ministry pinpoints a plethora of problems plaguing both today's society and modern Christianity. The Bible explains that given we are all telling ourselves a story, understanding Scripture takes spiritual sensitivity. All the more so when modern life is filled with pleasant distractions, not to mention unprecedented levels of temptation and deception, worldliness and sin.

For a variety of reasons, few today are interested in an honest handling of Scripture's most emphasized themes, particularly in regards to owning up to the implications of God's apparent silence and distance. Not to mention Jesus judging His church. A point well made by the late great David Wilkerson and others. Such messages as “A Call To Anguish” and “A Time To Wake Up” rank as some of the best ever preached.

“A Time To Wake Up” begins with “Today you will rarely find a message on repentance.”

“A Call To Anguish” (abridged version) begins with "Folks… I’m tired of hearing about revival. I’m tired of hearing about awakenings… Of last day outpourings of the Holy Spirit… I've heard that rhetoric for 50 years… Just Rhetoric. No meaning whatsoever. I’m tired of hearing about people in the church who say that they want their unsaved loved ones saved… I’m tired of hearing people say I’m concerned about my troubled marriage when it’s just talk… Rhetoric. And I look at the whole religious scene today and all I see are the inventions and ministries of man and flesh. It’s mostly powerless. It has no impact on the world. And I see more of the world coming in and impacting the church rather than the church impacting the world. I see music taking over the house of God. I see entertainment taking over the house of God. An obsession with entertainment in God’s house, A hatred of correction and a hatred of reproof. Nobody wants to hear it any more… Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God? Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry? It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age. You don’t hear it. Anguish means extreme pain and distress. The emotion so stirred that it becomes painful. Acute deeply felt inner pain because of the conditions about you, in you, or around you… Anguish. Deep Pain. And Sorrow. Agony of God’s heart…"

And sprinkled throughout this fearfully honest sermon David further cries:

  • All true passion is born out of anguish. All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish.
  • Hear’s what God said, “I’ve heard the words of this people. They have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such a heart in them. That they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always that it might be well with them, and their children forever!”
  • “When I (Nehemiah) heard these words (regarding the ruin of Jerusalem) I set down and wept. And morned certain days and fasted. And prayed before the God of heaven.”
  • We face a similar situation except ours is many times worse.
  • Does it matter to you at all that God’s spiritual Jerusalem, the church, is now married to the world?
  • Does it matter about the Jerusalem that’s in our own hearts? The sign of ruin that is slowly draining spiritual power and passion? Blind to lukewarmness. Blind to the mixture that’s creeping in.
  • You won’t fight. You won’t labor in prayer anymore. You won’t weep before God anymore. You can sit and watch television and your family go to hell!
  • Does it really matter to you that your unsaved loved ones are dying and we’re getting closer and closer to the end?
  • Where’s the anguish. Where’s the tears. Where’s the mourning? Where’s the fasting?
  • It’s going to take more than preaching. More than a new revelation.
  • There’s going to be no renewal, no revival, no awakening until we’re willing to let Him once again break us. Folk’s it’s getting late and it’s getting serious.
This is classic Wilkerson. Anguishing over the fall of God’s people. Throughout David’s 50 year ministry he witnessed a downward spiral of spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study, sanctification and service. During the very same period in which we were given unprecedented wealth and prosperity. As in Christ’s warnings in the Rich Man and Lazarus and Good Samaritan, we’ve refused to humble ourselves over the spiritual loss both around and within. Like Laodicea we’ve been deceived into believing we’re on a cruise rather than battle ship.

It’s one thing to fight and fail and quite another to fail to fight…


James 4: Scripture's Most Relevant Chapter

Our lack of fervency and righteousness is exactly the kind of apathy and worldliness James, the half brother of Christ, warned Christians of millennia ago. He begins by identifying two underlining causes of unanswered prayer:

  • “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:1-3 NIV
James continues addressing the deeply embedded problem of worldliness within the 1st century church:

  • “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:4-5 NIV
James concludes with a prescription universally considered more objectionable than the disease:

  • “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:6-10 NIV

Diagnosis

It's been noted that the difference between medicine and poison is the dosage.  While an aspirin or two can calm a headache, taking a hundred at once can kill.  Equally crucial in treating illness is the correct diagnosis.  Should the muscles of one's left shoulder and arm ache from too much exercise, applying a topical analgesic like "deep heat" would be wise.  However, if the cause of the pain were a heart attack, misdiagnosis of the symptoms could prove fatal.

Having laid a foundation, let’s examine James’ radical treatment regiment against worldliness among early believers who faced only a fraction of today's ubiquitous and growing levels of temptation and deception. Before doing so, it's telling to note there are very few line upon line explanations and instructions in all of Scripture. The fact that James lists 14 points of adjustments in our attitude and action greatly reinforces their unique importance. The Holy Spirit uses James to identify both the two primary causes of unanswered prayer and the fact that powerlessness is a leading symptom of worldliness within the Church:

1. Don’t ask, don’t have:

  • “You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:2 NIV
The tenor of the text suggests believers were taking matters into their own hands rather than pressing in and praying through to God:

2. Ask but don’t receive, ask amiss:

  • “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3 NIV
Those attempting genuine intercession appear to have their efforts short-circuited by the pursuit of pleasure.

James continues by castigating the dualism of believers as “adulterous people” who attempt to befriend both God and the world:

3. World vs. God:

  • “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? James 4:4 NIV
4. Enemy of God:

  • “Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:4-5 NIV
Next James offers a brief respite of solace. While the encouragement is genuine, it’s as conditional as all the free gifts and promises of God:

5. Gives more grace:

  • “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 NIV
This begs two questions. What exactly is grace and to whom does God give “more grace.” To those unmoved and thus failing to follow this prescription, or those humble enough to work through James 4 to be moved to full and lasting obedience?


Prescription

Finally James, and ultimately the Holy Spirit whom we have been so greatly offending, get to the heart of matter:

6: Submit to God:

  • “Submit yourselves, then, to God.” James 4:7 NIV
This first command, directed towards believers, is somewhat perplexing, if not perturbing. As Christians are we not already submitted to God? Clearly the quality or our submission is wanting.

7. Resist the devil:

  • “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV
Millions hope that simple belief in Christ is already resistance enough. Here as elsewhere, Scripture points out that this is far from the case. To their peril, billions fail to give the devil his due, failing to take spiritual warfare seriously. This verse also suggest that worldliness is a principal weapon in Satan’s arsenal.

8. Come near:

  • “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8 NIV
It’s often noted we are all telling ourselves a story. The question is how honest is our narrative compared to Omnity’s? Rather than grieving the Spirit of grace, diligently drawing near is a prerequisite to reestablishing an authentic connection with God.

9. Wash your hands:

  • “Wash your hands, you sinners,” James 4:8 NIV
Targeting our actions, this imperative implies habitual sins of both omission and commission.

10. Purify your hearts:

  • “and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” James 4:8 NIV
Identifying divided thoughts and allegiances, we are commanded to purify our hearts of spiritual adultery through four additional steps of radical repentance. Note: We highly recommend Keith Green’s updated version of Charles Finney’s one page handout entitled, “Breaking Up The Fallow Ground.”

11. Grieve, mourn and wail:

  • “Grieve, mourn and wail,” James 4:9 NIV
Clear enough but as David Wilkerson pointed out, who does this? Long gone are the days of even converts anguishing at the altar to pray through to Biblical salvation, much less leaders and laity.

12. Laughter to mourning:

  • “Change your laughter to mourning,” James 4:9 NIV
Again clear enough and again, what church much less denomination does this?” The context of this entire passage thus far is corporate. For example “adulterous people” bespeaks of plurality. As with the disease so too the cure. The Holy Spirit is calling for individual and congregational, denominations and the whole of Christendom to respond with pre-revival repentance in realistic hope of nothing short of a New Pentecost. Yet among thousands, if not millions of modern church services, who has seen the like? To the contrary, quick to assume salvation we continue to exchange presumption for faith in fellowship and song.

13. Joy to gloom:

  • “and your joy to gloom.” James 4:9 NIV
While joy is a fruit of the Spirit, inappropriate joy is anything but. Here again James points out that like a modern Laodicea, the spiritual story we are telling ourselves leaves much to be desired.

14. Humble yourselves:

  • “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:6-10 NIV
Once having honestly realized and fully responded to the distasteful truth of our bad behavior, James assures that God will reward our extreme and ongoing efforts.



COVID-19

The repentance formula found in James 4 (J4) clearly emphasizes both the necessity for and correct form of the Prayer of Anguish (POA), borrowed in part from David Wilkerson's Call To Anguish. Having done so for millennia it does so still. In fact, given the chapter's opening verses describing and condemning the worldliness of 1st century Christians, whom were pre-school sinners compared to we their 21st century counterparts, the passage's relevance is growing exponentially.

Case in point. I've frequently referenced and linked to David Wilkerson's abridged version of a Call To Anguish. Even going so far as providing the partial transcript from above long ago in the GB article Habakkuk's Complaint. I've also referenced J4's step by step analysis in GB's companion article Worldliness.

That said, the full length article on the Prayer of Anguish was written during the first week of April 2020 as much of the world, and the U.S. in particular, are literally in lock down during the COVID-19 crises.

The true origin and nature, impact and aftermath of C-19 is unknown. Its current and future ramifications on healthcare and economies, families and societies has yet to be seen. What should be clear to Prophetic Christians is the full extent of the crises/opportunity such a previously unprecedented circumstance affords. This includes:

1. Reflection: Global non essential business shutdowns, shelter in place ordinances and social distancing mandates all but force moments of pause. Such a global, real time pandemic, provides ample opportunity to ponder a variety of often overlooked issues. First and foremost, that while in the developed nations we posses a quality of lifestyle rivaling that of mythological gods, we are yet fearfully and wonderfully made. And for all our pomp will die as do dogs. Thus everyone clearly has a critical need to both know and please our Creator and Savior.

2. Discernment: Christians are commanded to correctly discern everything. Jesus warned, "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.." Truth itself must be spiritually discerned. This includes the primary and secondary religious lessons C-19 offers:


During the C-19 crises, the final point above is the crux of the matter. And as such, provides the global pandemic's most salient lesson. Simply put, the inability to robustly and routinely miraculously heal the sick, within our own ranks, much less as an extremely powerful evangelical tool, means three things:


1. Dishonest Doctrine: Cessationist (half the Protestant church) are clearly accurate in regards to Churchianity's lack of genuine spiritual gifts. Yet they are equally adamant in their incorrect doctrines regarding miraculous signs and wonders having timed out with the apostles and/or the canonization of Scripture. A crucial error, to be developed more fully when discussing James 5. Tragically, an exemplary example of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."

Charismatics (half the Protestant church) are by and large more accurate in their understanding of the Bible's constant reinforcement regarding the centrality of spiritual gifts. Yet current doctrine and practice grossly over-exaggerates our capabilities, glossing over a glaring lack of spiritual giftedness. A tendency also addressed in greater detail by coming comments on James 5. Regrettably, a classic case of "cooking the books."


2. Powerlessness: For obvious and opposite reasons, the dishonest doctrine on both sides of the aisle not only justifies each side's errors, but results in pandemic powerlessness. A anemic condition all the more acute given such entrenched positioning all but guarantees the vast majority of both cessationists and charismatics failure to even recognizing and admit, much less with brokenness and confession repent, of our nearly universal and continual grieving of the Holy Spirit. In this and a myriad of other vital matters.


3. Prophetic Christians: An honest appraisal of the shameful stalemate described above leaves little hope. Interestingly, David Wilkerson is attributed by Dr. Mike Evans with an 1986 prophecy reminiscent of the current C-19 crises:

  • “I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world."
Does this seemingly prophetic word bode true? Perhaps. Yet consider a more infamous quote by Charles Finney, father of the Second Great Awakening and perhaps the most powerful Christian to walk the Earth since the apostles:

  • “If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”
Finney's critic of church leadership seems overly harsh. Yet it’s impossible that with scores of Christian sects proclaiming droves of different beliefs, today's denominations present the whole Gospel. Or in majority of cases, anything close. Thus to a lessor or greater degree, most if not all, are at odds with Scripture’s ultimate Author. If the Bible is authentically the Word of God, then in regards to doctrine and practice, might even well intended errors of omission and/or addition, prove hazardous? Are we discerning among the many Christs the One true? Particularly in regards to Christ's harsher commands? Have we rightly identified the conditionality of Scripture's thousands of wonderful promises? If we believe, teach and/or obey half the gospel, does it matter which half? And even should our doctrines and lifestyles be closer to correct, what of the pandemic of nearly universal powerlessness?

Consider for a moment a beloved verse oft quoted by Christian leadership regarding the goal of their own ministries:

  • "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. " 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NIV
Simple enough, yet completing the passage complicates things considerably:

  • " I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power." 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NIV

So how well do our sheltering in place and shuttered churches, social distancing and masks compare to Paul's, "demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power." Our current circumstance begs a simple question. Will we rise to the challenge of Biblical truth? And will we do so together? Scriptural truth is not a consensus. Yet, like an immense boulder, it may well take all of our collective resources and skills to fully uncover it. Doing so today, as always, requires deep and abiding brokenness and repentance. As Jesus warned the leadership of His day, "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." On this point it would seem Jesus, James and David Wilkerson agree:

  • "There’s going to be no renewal, no revival, no awakening until we’re willing to let Him once again break us. Folk’s it’s getting late and it’s getting serious."
Yet still we wait…

We wait… unaware as Satan's angelic rebellion, having marred the very history of eternity, overflows onto Earth forever reshaping our own.

We wait… while our sins, of unprecedented quantity and quality, reach Heaven. Filling Creation's Supreme Court with damning testimony against fallen mankind and Churchianity alike. Providing Satan unprecedented witness for accusation against us.

We wait… unconcerned as the 1960's sexual revolution continues to create a planetary deluge of immorality and gender confusion, with modern Christianity either joining in or largely looking the other way.

We wait… as the world is soaked in the innocent blood of over 2 billion, through clinical and contraceptive abortion. Eight to ten times Earth's entire population in Christ's day! A global slaughter of Jesus' "least brothers" of such magnitude that we may well be aborting our prayers and worship, if not very salvation.

We wait… while the specter of marital strife and divorce wreaks havoc with tens, if not hundreds of millions of marriages and families. With little or no appropriate prayer on their behalf.

We wait… as the ravenous beasts of poverty and famine, violence and war relentlessly consume the lives of billions.

We wait… unmoved as unparalleled levels of worldliness and addiction enslave family and friends, neighbors and billions across our planet.

We wait… unconcerned as the times and seasons in which live clearly reveal the stage is set for Revelation's prophetic warnings of catastrophic events. Up to and including the quickly approaching reign of the Antichrist and global installment of the Mark of the Beast.

We wait… while God's judgment against all the above and more looms large on the horizon. Gathering in ferocity and momentum.

A question is posed by our continued and corporate response, or lack thereof. Does unwillingness to face and engage difficult Spiritual truth reduce or increase our risk? Many Biblical passages address this concern. Not the lease of which, when Jesus was asked to comment on some troubling headlines during His day:

  • "Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:1-5 NIV
Notice Jesus doesn't offer false comfort by simply distinguishing between various forms of natural suffering and evil. Nor does Christ assure all is well with their souls. Instead, He harmonizes with dozens of passages throughout the Old and New Testaments warning that we are all in need of deep and abiding repentance. As in keeping with an infamous passage from Jeremiah:

  • "Everyone’s after the dishonest dollar, little people and big people alike. Prophets and priests and everyone in between twist words and doctor truth. My people are broken—shattered!—and they put on Band-Aids, Saying, ‘It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.’ But things are not ‘just fine’! Do you suppose they are embarrassed over this outrage? No, they have no shame. They don’t even know how to blush. There’s no hope for them. They’ve hit bottom and there’s no getting up. As far as I’m concerned, they’re finished.” God has spoken." Jeremiah 6:13-15 MSG
Or as Søren Kierkegaard, the prodigious Christian author and first existentialist philosopher so eloquently noted in the 1800's:

  • "The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament."
Rest assured, both the sins of society and the false doctrines of Churchianity have multiplied exponentially since Kierkegaard's day.

Against the backdrop of such stark reality, rather than assembling by the millions to confess our apathy and doubt, issues with God and sin, we pursue amusement and pleasure, worldliness and wealth. We twist doctrine and theology, build bigger sanctuaries and campuses, filled with better programs and technology. We substitute accurate Bible study and strategic daily prayer with inappropriate worship and superficial fellowship, yet refuse God's command to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. Thus, for all our good intentions, Scripture warns we are ostensibly building our lives and churches on sifting sand, rather than facing our glaring need of genuine brokenness and lasting repentance:

  • “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” Matthew 7:24-27 MSG
Simply put, we are woefully unprepared to adequately face the many current and future challenges at our doorstep. What little hope remains might be summarized in two remote possibilities. The first is that at least some faction of modern Christianity will come to their senses, face the truth of our critical situation, and take the difficult steps prescribed in James 4. The second is far more likely, yet still a long-shot. That at least some fraction of Prophetic Christians might come to our senses, face the truth of our critical situation, and take the difficult steps prescribed in James 4.

Prophetic Christians are exceptionally honest and studious Bible students and intercessors, grasping much of both the context and content of Scripture. Such men and women seek God in faith, reasoning that He's said what He means and means what He's said. They're persuaded "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Both in His mercy and love, as well as harsh words and judgment of His church. Possessed of deep and abiding repentance, they labor for revival in the hope and fear of God. Understanding both the love and "terror of the Lord" they endeavor to persuade others to choose eternal life rather than death. Knowing they too are sinners, they treat others as they would be treated: firm, fair, factual and friendly. They compel the lost, including apathetic and disobedient Christians, to come into the Kingdom by first speaking the truth in love. Should compassion fail, they spend themselves and their lives trying to pull lost humanity from the fire.

Yet even with such recommendations, few if any are ready and willing to "pray through" the Prayer of Anguish commanded in James 4. Rather, like iron mixed with clay, while in many ways nearer the Lord than others in understanding and service, when it comes to true power evangelism and discipleship, we find ourselves all but off-line.

We also often find ourselves lacking in one or more areas of radical discipleship. Thus short circuiting our attempts of being capable of praying the kind of effective, fervent and righteous prayers that avail much.



David Wilkerson