Two Punch from David Wilkerson

Two new words from David Wilkerson are below-

(1) FEAR and AWE
-David Wilkerson.

The prophets warn us that when we see God shaking the nations,
and perilous times befall us, our natural man will fear greatly.
Ezekiel asked, "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be
strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee?" (Ezekiel 22:14).

When God warned Noah of his coming judgments and told him
to build an ark, Noah was "moved with fear" (Hebrews 11:7). Even
bold, courageous David said, "My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;
and I am afraid of thy judgments" (Psalm 119:120). And when the
prophet Habakkuk saw disastrous days ahead, he cried out, "When
I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness
entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest
in the day of trouble" (Habakkuk 3:16).

Please note as you read theses passages: The fear that came
upon these godly men wasn't a fleshly fear, but a reverential awe
of the Lord. These saints weren't afraid of the enemy of their
souls but they did fear God's righteous judgments. And that's
because they understood the awesome power behind the
approaching calamities. They didn't fear the outcome of the
storm, but rather God's holiness!

Likewise, each of us will experience overwhelming fear in the
coming times of destruction and disaster. But our fear must come
from a holy reverence for the Lord, and never from a fleshly anxiety
about our fate. God despises all sinful fear in us, the fear of losing
material things, wealth, our standard of living.

All over the world, people are filled with this kind of fear, as they
see their nations' economies deteriorating. They're afraid an
economic flood will sweep away everything they've labored for
throughout their lifetime. Such is the cry of unbelievers who have
no hope. It ought not to be the cry of the godly. Indeed, if
you're a child of God, your heavenly father will not endure such
unbelief in you. Isaiah warned: "Who art thou, that thou
shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man
which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy
maker- and hast feared continually every day because of the fury
of the oppressor" (Isaiah 51:12-13). "Sanctify the Lord of hosts
himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread
[awe]" (8:13).

Let God be your fear and awe. That kind of fear leads not to death,
but to life!

(2) PRAYER in TROUBLED TIMES
-by David Wilkerson.

In perilous time like these, is the church powerless to do
anything? Are we to sit and wait for Christ to return? Or, are we
called to take drastic action of some kind? When all around us
the world is trembling, with men's hearts failing them for fear, are
we called to take up spiritual weapons and do battle with the
adversary?

The prophet Joel saw a similar day approaching Israel, one of
"thick darkness and gloom." According to Joel, the day of
darkness that was approaching Israel would be one such as never
seen in their history. The prophet cried, "Alas for the day! For the
day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty
shall it come" (Joel 1:15).

What was Joel's counsel to Israel in that dark hour? He brought
this word: "Therefore- saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with
all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with
mourning: and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn
unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who
knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind
him" (Joel 2:12-14).

As I read this passage, I am most struck by two words: "Even
now." As gross darkness fell over Israel, God appealed to his
people: "Even now, at the hour of my vengeance” when you've
pushed me out of your society, when mercy seems impossible,
when humankind has mocked my warnings, when fear and gloom
are covering the land ”even now, I urge you to come back to me. I
am slow to anger, and I have been known to hold back my
judgments for a season, as I did for Josiah. My people can pray
and petition for my mercy. But the world won't repent if you say
there is no mercy."

Do you see God's message to us in this? As his people, we can
plead in prayer and he will hear us. We can make requests of him
and know he will answer the sincere, effectual, fervent prayers of
his saints.

SOURCE - http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com

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