A Touch From God (Full) — David Wilkerson

Hunger for a Closer Walk With Christ

Share with us in our pursuit for a closer walk with Jesus. I presume you wouldn't be here if you didn't want that and those who are speaking at this conference met last night and we've been broken for two or three weeks just falling before the face of the Lord.

Who are we to tell anybody how to pursue Christ? None of us are one step ahead of you in your pursuit of Christ and we wanted together together here in this city those of like heart who just hunger for more of him not a program not something that has worked in us in the flesh but just an absolute overwhelming hunger to seek him more than we've ever saw him before.

This city like the rest of the country's in turmoil there's fear on every side. New Yorkers fear the explosion of tunnels and bridges buildings and now everywhere you go there's there's just fear anxiety and it was rather bold of you to step out and say I'm not afraid I'm coming to New York anyhow we're delighted to have you here with us.

Now tomorrow is going to be a very intense day and I would advise you and I would encourage you not to miss a single service. I believe I feel sure you didn't come to site C. I've been in this we founded this church 15 years ago Times Square Church.

I've not been to the Statue of Liberty. I've not been on top of the Empire State Building and I've not been to a theater. I'm not asking you to go the way we go but I I would hope that you come to all three of these services and there'll be some time between afternoon evening service for some of you perhaps want to go to ground zero it's quite an experience to see that massive hole.

Times Square Church was one of the first groups down there we were called by the mayor's office and our church was down there with the Red Cross the very few hours after it happened the dust had settled and of the many people from Times Square Church that worked in those buildings not one of our people was lost.

God protected them. We're so sorry we're so sorry for all of those who are lost and we pray for them and our church had the pleasure of giving over a million dollars to both the police and the fire departments and we thank God for the burden he's put on our hearts and as Pastor Carter said it is so true we've come to wash your feet and we've come to learn.

There are no other programs there are no other sessions anywhere. There's only one session altogether and folks I've talked already to a number of people that are here some by mail some by telephone and some by person.

I'm overwhelmed at what I heard of the hurt and the pain so many wanting to quit the ministry. I just came the last week. I've been traveling more in ministries conferences in Moscow. Our last meeting or the next last meeting they came from all over Russia and from Siberia.

And of all those hundreds of pastors at the end the last service I said how many of you had decided that you would come to this conference of mine and you would quit the ministry. You would leave as soon as you got home.

And over 250 pastors came forward. 250 had planned to quit but God healed them and they went back with a new vision and a burden. And we trust and pray that that's what God will do for you. I want to speak to you tonight about the touch of God.

The Touch of God in a Troubled Generation

How does God touch a man's life. I'm talking not about individuals but a corporate body of men and women who rise above the turmoil rise above their hurts and they begin to hunger and thirst for God. And God does something miraculous.

And why does God choose certain men to touch them. Now when I say men I include women in this. So please don't correct me after the service. This is both men and women. Heavenly Father since your anointing on this meeting tonight you have come to touch us.

You've come to heal us. But Lord you've come also to dig deep into our hearts. Lord my heart is open to hear what will be taught and preach from this pulpit when I step down Lord I want to hear. I'm ready for reproof.

I'm ready for correction. I'm ready for edification. Whatever you have in mind. Lord I'm asking you to come down upon my heart now. You've humbled us before you. And who are we to speak. Lord to those far more educated and those who have prayed more than we have.

But they've come Lord out of a hunger. Lord speak through me tonight. Lord just speak your mind. I pray in Jesus name. God has a remedy for a world in chaos. He has a time-tested plan that he's used all through time.

He hasn't changed it. It's the same plan from the very beginning the word how does God remedy a generation hot. What does he do to correct a generation that is in chaos that is slipping out of control.

What is God's plan. He's always used man. He's used men that he has chosen. He's laid his hand upon them. He separated them and called them to himself and touched them in a special way. The God-touched man is described in Psalm 65.

For blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causes him to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy courts. Blessed is that man that is especially touched. That woman especially touched by the hand of God and the Holy Ghost causes him to draw nigh to the Lord and dwell in his courts.

Or this man. This woman begins to dwell in the presence of God and everything about him and everything in him changes. It's a wooing of the Holy Spirit that many of you that are here now no one understand it was the wooing of the Holy Spirit that called you to prayer.

God Uses Consecrated People to Bring Revival

History proves what I've been saying to you because it's very painful to read the history of Israel the constant backsliding of God's people generation after generation getting more wicked than the other.

But what did God do all through this Bible. How did God deal with it. How did he bring reviving. How did he change everything and bring it back to his heart. The scripture says Samuel chiding Israel said when you forgot the Lord he sold you into the hand of your enemies.

And then you cried unto the Lord and said we have sinned. The Lord sent rubble and beaten Jephthah. Samuel delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side you dwelt safe. God touched men became the instruments of deliverance.

And folks I'm going to tell you God's not going to send angels down to solve our problems. He's not going to send heavenly angels or heavenly forces down. He's going to touch men. He's going to touch women.

He's going to cause them. He's going to woo them to draw nigh to him. God touched men become his instrument and have been that all through scripture. Now why does God touch certain men. Why. There's something amazing that happens when God touches a man or a woman.

It's an awesome sight. It's an awesome thing to be around these people. I am not there but I know what he's calling me to and I know the way and I want to follow him in it. See these are men not just men of destiny.

No no no. You see Saul was called just as David was called. And the scripture says that God had told Saul I had planned to give you an everlasting heritage and everlasting kingdom was to be yours. And he aborted God's plan because he went halfway.

The Call to Come Up

These were not supermen. I believe that there are two calls that God gives to every man or woman that he touches and raises up to reach a people to change things even a whole generation. There's a call to come up and there's a call to come out.

And Moses best exemplifies these two calls. And how you respond to these two calls determines the intensity of God's touch in your life. How you respond to this call to come up. The scripture says of Moses the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai on the top of the mount and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain.

And Moses went up and the people stood afar off and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. He's called out of his busyness to start an unshackled pursuit after God and to be called into his presence to become a praying man.

His own father-in-law. Jephthah chided him rebuked him kindly that he was too busy. He said be thou for the people of God. Word let others be appointed to bear the burdens of the people. In other words he said to his father-in-law why don't you shut yourself in with God.

You still be concerned for the people. You still have hands-on. But you're going to wear yourself out. You're going to wear the people that you go to God. You go to the mountain. Moses place all counseling and arbitration the hands of his associates and those who work with him.

And Moses went up unto God and went near to where God was. Folks. That's a message in itself. Moses went up unto God and he went near to where God was. See the scriptures had chosen and caused to approach to dwell in his presence.

Not every man who's called up to prayer not every man who received this inner wooing of the Holy Spirit to be a man of prayer to seek him as never before to know the times to come to the end of himself and say God is going to take more than I've been giving you.

It's going to take more time more quality time than I've been willing to give you. I can't be on my own agenda and expect to make a mark a humble mark not to be somebody but even Oh God to be a vessel an instrument that you use in these last days.

And so many people have been called to a life of prayer called to come up to the mountain. And they went so far. And every man every woman who's called to seek the face of God. Not all of them go to the mountain.

The majority go halfway up and there they stop. They don't respond to this call. How many times has God called you sir. And ma 'am. How many times is the Holy Spirit says I want to lay my hand on you.

I want you to be such a man of prayer that your life has changed. Your family knows it. God knows it. Everybody around you knows it. Every time you stand in the pulpit there's a word that touches the heart.

And he's called you out of the world and out of your business and out of your own agenda. And he's spoken to your heart. Many times has come to the mountain come away with me come up. And you see God gives that call to those that he wants to use.

And many respond. Moses were not the only man that went up the mountain. There were others called and he speaking of God said to Moses come up unto the Lord. Thou Aaron Nadab Abihu the seventy elders of Israel and worship you far off.

And Moses alone shall come near the Lord. But they shall not come nigh. Neither shall the people go up with him. You see God had a wonderful plan for all me want to take them all to the top of the mountain.

He wanted them all to come down with their sins with power over their sins and their iniquity. He wanted them to come out of his presence with that glow that Moses came out. The scriptures clear on that here's the promise that he made to Aaron and his sons.

I will sanctify the tabernacle the congregation of the altar. I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons to minister unto me in the office of the priest he said I want you to become ministers to me shut in with me ministry to me.

That was the call to Nadab and Abihu. He said I will make you priest unto me. To the elders he said I'll make you priest unto me a holy nation. So why were they told when they got halfway up the mountain worship me afar off.

Don't come near me. This is God speaking. You cannot come up to the top of the mount. Only Moses shall come up. One of them called everyone promised by God. They was going to touch their lives. They were going to use them in a in a high order that they would be ministers unto him.

And then halfway up the Lord says hey dad. But by who. Aaron. He's some of the elders. You're not coming. Why was Moses the only one invited to go to the top of the mountain shut in with the glory. These men didn't have their heart in it.

God knew what was brewing in their hearts. He brings them halfway up hoping that in his utter holiness in his presence. Because God appeared to them and ate with them. And they saw a sapphire path leading right into a dark cloud.

And they knew no man has seen God. But they knew he was there. You would think that you and I if we were there we would fall on our face in the presence of utter holiness and righteousness. That we would fall those things hidden in our hearts would be exposed.

We can my God have mercy. But in the presence of an almighty holy God they were unmoved in their hearts full of sin. We're totally unmoved. He brought them halfway up that he may take them all the way that he would convict them by his holiness.

Because he loved these men. He doesn't give up on his servants. He loves them. He loves them to the end. Please understand and know that God loves you. He loves me no matter what we're going through no matter what we may be enduring.

God calls you to the mountain. They may deal with you in love and in his holiness not to judge you but to give you power and authority in his name and let your face shine with his glory. They are exposed to this utter holiness as if God is saying to them brethren there's something in your heart keeping you from a full revelation.

There's a besetting sin keeping you from intimacy. You can't be intimately intimate with me unless you break. There's Aaron. He's a man whose heart is tainted with jealousy over his brother Moses. He fears man more than God.

He has a tendency toward sensuality. He stripped the people naked. Remember they dab in a by who they had the seed of lust and adultery fornication. They were hardened in their lust folks if God in his utter holiness couldn't reach them.

No preacher could ever reach them. No prophet. What a horrible place to be. They had not announced the fear of God in them the 70 elders. They're not under authority because they're thinking I'm as holy.

We're as holy and righteous as Moses. And that came out in their rebellion later. God's warning these chosen men. He's given them a mercy call. They should have been slain but instead he reveals himself to them halfway up the mountain halfway to the touch of God halfway to the fullness of his presence.

They saw the God of Israel and under his feet a pavework a sapphire stone. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand. And Moses went up into the mount of God. And he said unto the elders Terry here for us until we come back unto you now.

Evidently they had food supplies everything. And Moses says I'm going up. God's called me all the way up and I'm gonna. Will you stay here and just wait till I get back. He probably presumed he'd be there five or six days.

You see I imagine Nate Devon a by who being the first ones. After a few days saying what has happened what's happened to Moses. And you see something back there is calling them something that has attached itself to the spirit and calls them back to their adulterous ways.

And so I presume they were first. I think probably the 70 elders went next. You see if you've got sin in your heart waiting on God is the hardest thing you'd ever be called to do. And you don't want to do it.

You can't do it. Just waiting on the Lord in his presence just waiting for God to speak waiting for God to act. Because people who move in the flesh don't know how cannot wait on the Lord. And then I would imagine that Aaron probably was the last to go.

And the cry that came down from the mountain or the talk that came from the mountain. What has happened to this man Moses. And the whole camp picks it up. Remember what has happened to Moses. These two ministers and these laymen hardened and adultery and lust.

They represent those today that are into pornography into all kinds of sins aborting God's attempts to deliver them. See the call now to all of us has come up in the Lord said unto Moses come up to the mount and be there.

Come up and be there that hit me so hard. Just come up sit just be there for six days. Moses wakes quietly waiting outside the cloud of glory. And the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud and was in the cloud 40 days and 40 nights. You see a camp halfway. I presume they're gone by the sixth day. Did God call you to give yourself as a man or woman of prayer.

Did God cause you to draw nine to him at one time. You said yes. Well how long did it last. Did it last. A week two weeks six months. How did it last. And you were camped halfway. And God had something on the mountain for you.

And something called you back. Busyness something of the world. Come up and be there. Salma said on thee do I wait all the day. They that wait on the Lord so we knew their strength. They shall not be ashamed who wait upon you.

You'll never be ashamed if you wait upon me. He said. This is the man. This is a woman said I'll not settle for anything less than face-to-face intimacy with my God. I'll settle for nothing else but answer that call to go to the mountain to be in his glory.

I don't care how the rest of the world goes. I don't care what the new fad is. I don't care what new thing has come down the turnpike. As for me I hunger for God. And I'm going all the way. I'm going to seek his face not going to wait on the Lord.

The Call to Come Out of Defilement

And secondly there's a call to come out. Exodus 33 7. And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp a far off from the camp. And he called it the tabernacle. The congregation. It came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord went out of the tabernacle went out to the tabernacle the congregation.

This was not the wilderness tabernacle that had not been constructed as yet. This was Moses. He called it the tent of meeting this. It was his prayer closet. His prayer tent. This is where he prayed. You see God's presence had been lifted from the camp.

There were such idolatry and such lust and sensuality or such idolatry in the camp. God left. God left. His presence was lifted. The fiery cloud was lifted. The pillar was gone. God left. Folks I've been in churches occasionally when I've been on vacation or have been off for Sunday and I've been to church.

And I say this kindly how many times I've walked in and within five minutes you know God is gone. The presence of the Lord is not there. And then when the pastor gets up you know there's nothing but death.

And folks there's nothing more tragic. There's nothing worse to be in what is called God's house. And the presence of Jesus is not there. He's gone he's left. I have about 700 ,000 people on our mailing list.

And we received thousands of thousands of letters from all the nation. And the number one complaint the number one by the thousands. As today I hate to get up Sunday morning. I hate to go to my church all denominations because there's no life who feel the Holy Ghost.

The teenagers don't want to go. There's nothing there after 9 -11 the churches in New York for six months were packed. People poured into the churches. And now in fact just about a month ago a poll was taken in the New York Times said that now it was after after five months.

I believe it was after 9 -11 church attendance as lower than it was before the blast. And they asked people why they quit going. They said we went. And there was nothing there that would give us any reason to want to go back.

Nothing there. Nothing. And Moses tries to pray in this atmosphere where there's defilement. The camp was defiled and God said Moses I'm not going to hear you. You see God had told Moses I'll give you another congregation.

And folks a lot of pastors would take that new congregation that they're so fed up with where they're at. Not this man he doesn't want another country. He doesn't want to move to another congregation said no this is these are your people.

I'm not going to leave them. I'm a shepherd. And he said they're defiled. But what do I do. The Lord said you get out of the place of defilement. You go out in the wilderness. You get out to a clean place now.

Moses was not unclean but he represents what God is demanding of us. If we want to be touched if we want his power and his authority. If we want spiritual authority. The true spiritual authority where Christ speaks to us in his word comes plainly with convicting power.

He said you have to come out. Can you imagine the people willing to go on. What a scene of death. When God leaves a congregation. You see Moses cried out God. The only thing makes us difference is your presence.

If we don't have that we're just like the rest of the heathen around us. Folks what do you have in your church. I don't care what the program is. Okay. What new thing you bring in. I don't care how you try.

I've been in some of these dead churches and folks no matter how loud they sing no matter how they try to work it up it's death. And the louder they sing the deader it becomes because he can't be worked up in the flesh.

Yeah it doesn't work. This is what we pray at times for a church. How many times. Every. In fact every time I go in the service every time I go and sit in my seat I cry out in my soul in my heart. Oh God if we don't have your presence today we don't have church.

And God if you ever lift your hand from this place I would rather you shut the doors close the doors and sell the building. Because we have nothing to offer people without your presence nothing. God was gone and he refused to come back into the camp because was defiled.

God said they're stiff-necked. They're worthy to be destroyed. Moses intercedes in the camp. And after much crying God said to Moses now go lead the people into the place of which I've spoken. My angels who go before you.

I will send an angel. I'll drive out your enemies. I'll bring you into the land of milk and honey. But I'm not go up in the midst of thee. I read that had to go over and over it. You're telling these people I'll send an angel.

You go ahead. I'll give you victories. You go ahead in the land. Go. Take your houses take your land get your automobiles get all the material things you are. Go go go. But I'm gonna go with you. Go ahead.

Any gospel you want. I love you said I'm not destroy you. But I'm not going to go with you. And Moses knew the risk that would be involved in that. They would always be open the attack of the enemy. They should go ahead.

And many in that camp were willing to go on. But chef honestly believe that there are men today who could run a seat be CEO of any great corporation. They're brilliant men. They know how to do it. I heard a man say that once faster.

And all the people around us said that that man can do without the Holy Ghost words to that effect very intelligent but consistent. If you're going to do it in the flesh. If you're going to stay in a place of defilement I'm not going with you now.

That makes me tremble. You may not be a pastor. You may be a layperson from Times Square Church or wherever you're from. And you're in here tonight. If you're in a place of defilement God says I'm not going with you.

I'll woo you. I'll call you. But you're gonna have to leave the camp. You're gonna leave your defilement behind. You're gonna have to get out in a clean place. And Moses picks up his tent. God says no use praying.

Don't intercede don't do it because there's defilement. I don't care how many tears you shed sir. I've been there and I've seen his mercy when God was dealing with something in my life. You can shed a river of tears.

You can make him a thousand promises. But until you allow the Holy Spirit by his covenant to come and give you a revelation of how he can empower you to be delivered. Until you want to be free. And you get out of that place of defilement and you get to a clean place in Christ.

You cry and pray all you want. You may see miracles. You can cast out devils and you can heal the sick. You can build great buildings and institutions. And God not being a bit of God said I'm not going with you.

That makes me tremble frightens me. I read and reread that go move on fight win battles. You know I believe there's some churches where if God showed up if God sent a prophet if God sent someone with a message ringing from the throne of God and there's a loving message dealt with sin.

There are some great churches where the majority of the congregation would leave because they're satisfied satisfied to go on without his presence. Here's what God's calling for. Here's a man who will not give up on his people.

Here's a man who won't quit. Here's a man who's not going to run. Here's a man who's willing to weep for his people. But here's a man says oh God. And I know you can't move in this situation. There's got to be something you do in my heart and it's something God wants to do in every heart here tonight.

Repentance, Holiness, and Spiritual Authority

I don't care if it's gossip that we've been guilty of and I know what that's like. I have been dealt with that for a long long time and God has been dealing with me to never ever repeat in case I'll repeat something and have to make it right.

I don't have to totem pole sin. I don't have to put my finger on it. But the Holy Ghost does tonight while you're here in his presence he put his finger on it. And he's called some of you here to deliver you.

He's here to say to you lovingly I know the battle and the struggle you go through but as long as that defilement is there and as long as you're in this area this this place of defilement I can't walk with you.

I can convict you be there. The Holy Spirit would deal with you. I'm not chastise you. I'll protect you. It's not some local beat you. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna touch your child. I'm not going to touch your wife.

I'm not gonna I'm not going to send judgment at this point. But God says you're gonna miss. You're gonna miss the only thing that really matters walking in my presence. Having my presence with you in your house.

Having my presence when you walk the street. Having my presence when you stand in the pulpit. Moses goes out to a place that's clean out of defilement. And it came to pass as Moses entered into the tabernacle he's out in a clean place.

Now the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of his tent. And the Lord talked with Moses and the Lord speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks unto his friend Aaron and the priesthood to become defiled.

The people were defiled. God was prepared if he had to to do away with the whole scene. But one man one man says no God whatever it takes. And to tell a man is going to take. Tell Moses a man meek a man shut in with God in so many wonderful seasons saying there's more Moses.

I ask more of you. And folks the more I pray the more I hear the Holy Spirit say David is going to take more than you have been willing to give at this point because of the times going to take more of your time you're going to have to deal with every area of your life.

Let me deal with every area of your life. So there's no defilement. Because if I can find a man out of the place of defilement in a clean place with a heart broken to seek me with all his heart I'll send a cloud I'll send a pillar and I'll send the glory.

And I'll talk face-to-face with you. Hallelujah came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle. The congregation which was outside camp. You see when when a man steps out and he begins to give God everything his life begins to seek him with all his heart.

His heart's clean. Nothing. He's going to attract like kind people. You're gonna attract every holy godly people. Folks it's the issue today is not being able to pack out of church. You can get a semi-christian rock group and fill any building.

You see it's not just filling. It's not just having a lot of people in the seats. The young man told me recent young pastor said God's been so dealing with me. I really thought God wanted me to pastor a much larger congregation.

But he said now when I see the hurts among my people and I see how God's been gracious to me he said now I'm asking God to give me a loving church. I want to be a loving man to me now it doesn't because my heart is set to seek him with all that's in me.

You say that's Old Testament. What does that have to do with the New Testament times in which we're living. No you're not that you're the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy.

A Prophetic Warning and a Call to Humility

For the temple of God is holy. Which temple you are. The folks I'm closing with this. I'm saying this is not normal Christianity anymore. Not in these times not when we have our president and key leaders in our country saying we're going to live from now on under the gun.

We're going to live from now on under this. And you see people everywhere looking seeking for a church seeking for a word from God. When 9 -11 hit for two months prior to that God broke through in Times Square Church with warning after warning.

We didn't know where it was going to strike. We all the pastors were slain different nights just slain weeping and broken before God confessing opening our hearts to whatever he said. And Holy Ghost would come down at Times Square Church in total silence.

You couldn't move. You couldn't sing. You couldn't worship. Total silence one night for over half hour just sitting and service after service. And Pastor Carter and Pastor Neal and and all of our pastors.

Pastor Patrick we were just saying what's God doing. What do we do. We do. But you see God was warning. He was speaking prophetic words came prepare our hearts. And you see when it came the next few Sundays when people came to Times Square Church and would boast is only in the Lord in true humility.

Before God there was a word the towers have fallen. We've not learned our lesson. And Pastor Carter and Pastor Neal and Pastor Patrick it was a word from the Lord. People didn't have to ask what happened.

God spoke because he called us go to the mount. God's not asking you to wait six days. He's not asking you for 40 days and 40 nights fasting. He's asking you to come up and come out. God wants to take you deeper and further than you've ever been no matter how he's blessed you up to now see nothing compared to what he has in store for you.

The Final Appeal to Seek God's Presence

Truly humble yourself. That's the cry of my heart. Will you stand. I wonder how many there are in in this service tonight and say Pastor David I know God's calling me up. I know he's calling me out. And I want to yield to the Holy Spirit.

Folks we have no place here to give an invitation. And that's not what God's put on our hearts. Folks I have not arrived that the word I preached tonight. He's worked in my spirit and my soul. He wants to work it into your heart before you leave this conference.

We would hope that you'd be so spiritually motivated by the Holy Ghost to seek. I would hope that you go to your hotel even and spend some time with it. Say oh God I want to leave this conference to follow what you've already told me to do.

And I went so far I turned back. And that's what I'm gonna pray about right now. I wonder how many and I can't even see your hands but God can. How many of you have to say tonight in the honest confession before the Lord.

I want to go all the way to the mountain and I haven't gone all the way like I want to. And I need his touch tonight. And I want God's presence in my life. I want the presence of Christ. Raise both hands to the Lord.

Now what I pray. Just lift both hands. Come on all over the congregation and up in the balcony wherever you may be Holy Spirit. I pray right now that in your most kind and loving way your tender heartedness.

That you would deal with me first and deal with every here in this building tonight. That you would call us out of ourself out of our busyness. Lord the sin is busyness where we can't seem to find the time we can't make it and it's getting shorter and shorter.

Our time with you is becoming less and less when all God we should whatever it takes whatever the cost we say. Oh God they hold in my heart. God come. Lord I pray for everyone within the sound of my voice struggling with something that this common surprised them something they didn't ask for something they didn't expect.