Wild Donkeys — David Wilkerson

Boy Excited about Bible school Thursday night, but you understand that you can come at six o 'clock and stay and get three hours of Bible study. My goodness. And I'll tell you what you get here. What's there isn't that you're not going to get at any Bible school because I've been abolished going.

I've never heard courses like these ever and We're very very excited about it. We had over 600 enrolled the first time. I don't know what we're going to have this time. Not enrolled but coming and attending about 650 in fact between all the classes we expected to have a growing Bible school the Lord's really blessing this and changing lives.

And then Friday nights are. Powerful power-packed presence of the Lord. Prayer meeting. Very very excited about what God's doing in the prayer meetings. Hallelujah. God's been healing people. Dawn's wife had been sick.

She's back. She's the Beautiful young lady that's get back there so tapes and Bob's wife is a little tool so that chicken pox. They're improving and this wife is feeling better and Grands been healed.

She's here tonight, and and everybody God's been doing such a marvelous work. Work in touching and healing. We're just very excited about that. Let's let's pray Heavenly Father this is such an important word that you put in my heart because we see so many people struggling with sin yet.

Burdens Lord heavy heavy burdens of sin. Lord we pray that there be a deliverance tonight. Let the word come forth with unction anointing we find every Principality and power of darkness and everything that would hinder the Word of God tonight.

Lord the enemy tried all night to try to stop praises from coming. But he couldn't stop it, and he would like to stop the word, but he can't stop it more. Give us hearing ears God. Give me a freedom tonight to touch hearts send conviction Lord tonight.

Deliverance from Overpowering Lusts and Habits

Holy Ghost conviction. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Wild donkeys. Now this message tonight has to do with overpowering lusts. It has to do with those lingering habits that keep coming back. And you can't seem to get the victory over it and to tell you the truth there are many many Thousands of Christians in this city that are waging a losing battle against their lusts and against their habits.

It's driving them constantly driving them. You know there's a beloved evangelist who has just recently. We have we have heard of a burden of his heart. Confessing that for many years he struggled on a under a burden of lust and he couldn't shake it.

And I knew for a fact because he's a dear friend of mine that he didn't sleep more than three or four hours a night. I told him once in fact How do you sleep with all the heavy debts that you have millions of dollars, and he said David I don't sleep much more than three or four hours.

He'd said that a year ago and I called him just the day before this hit the newspapers and He said now David. You know why I didn't sleep. He said I prayed for hours. I wept I Grieved I felt the guilt and the burden.

I wept and I fasted and I prayed and Folks I still love the man and I believe there's forgiveness and healing. Loving with all my heart and there the battle was a losing battle for many years. Young lady wrote me a letter this week.

She went to Bible school to try to to kick her habit of drugs and while she's in habit in Bible school her roommate she discovered was lesbian and one night She was seduced and gave in and in fact became addicted to this lifestyle and live with such guilt and such shame she despaired of life itself in fact she tried to kill herself and It went into the hospital they rushed her the hospital and she was saved just in time came out angry that they brought her back she wanted to die because of the heavy load of guilt and shame that was on her back and In the process this girl married her boyfriend.

She'd lost her boyfriend. The lesbian girl married her boyfriend. She said well at least that'll break the habit at least I'm free now. But it wasn't free because the girl came back even after marriage and I can't go into all the details.

But she said mr. Looks we just kept on going right through that marriage and she said I finally gave up. But one day I went to a church and I heard a message. And God's fear get my life and her letter clothes were saying I've had victory for the last nine months God has set me free now here in Times Square Church.

On at least three occasions I've had men come to me and I believe one or two of the other pastors have heard the same thing at least three times. Men have jumped up right during the middle of the service.

I went over to 42nd Street and took in a porno movie right while we were having service got up went out. At least two of those men came back weeping broken saying brother Dave. I don't know why I did it.

I sat there hating it, but something picked me up and drove me right to it. I couldn't seem to help myself. I was driven and they came back and a few two of them fell right on their face. One said I just feel like taking my life.

I feel so dirty. I saw feel so helpless. I feel so filthy. What terrible battles losing battles are being fought? There are AIDS victims many of them to come to this church near death. Dying but still holding on to their lust for homosexuality.

Still sticking the dirty needle into their veins and even though it's a dirty needle even though they have AIDS and At the verge of death and still hating God, even though they know they're about to die.

There was one I told you about the drug addict that came into teen challenge. But he he reached the point of despair one day laying in his little cot. He stuck the needle his veins and pulled out a whole syringe of blood and sprayed on the ceiling HELP HELP with his own blood.

So despairing of the problem so despairing of the habit that had gripped his life. If there is not listen to me now if there's not an absolute 100 Victory over sin then this Bible is a lie. Then everything we've been doing is a hoax.

We might as well shut down the church and never believe again in the gospel. Everything we heard everything we preach if there's not 100 total victory over sin. Every lust and every habit if there's not absolute victory over it.

Then everything else that we've been doing and saying is a lie. We might as well all end it. But the truth is there are millions of believers since the cross of Jesus Christ that have experienced glorious powerful victory.

They are living above sin. They've laid down their lusts. They've laid down their habits. They got the divine ultimatum from the Lord. They heard it and they laid it down. Homosexuality Lesbianism alcoholism drug addiction every habit that you can name that have been delivered.

In fact, there are many people sitting in this church tonight all around this place here tonight. If I asked how many would stand we'd have hundreds stand here tonight that have been delivered from drugs alcohol.

Sexual habits lust of all kind and they're sitting here tonight not fighting their problem anymore. Absolutely free from it not going back playing over it anymore. You've been delivered from it. How did they get free?

Were they some special favorites of God? Did God love them any more than he loves you? Not at all now. This is such a life-and-death matter that God would not leave it foggy. He wouldn't leave it fuzzy.

This is so important to those were bound. God would make no mistake about it. He'd make it so simple that the child could understand it. He's not going to make it fuzzy that only intellectuals or theologians can figure it out.

That hit me today when I was praying about this message. God said that's not hidden. It's there. It's so a life-and-death matter. I'll make it plain and simple to anyone who hears it wants to hear it.

The Highway of Holiness and the Simplicity of Deliverance

I'm going to read to you. Don't turn there, but Isaiah 35 8 an Exalted highway shall be there. It shall be called the highway of holiness. No impure Shall walk therein and he himself the Lord shall be with them walking with them in the way.

And the simple shall not go astray. The King James says the wafering man though a fool shall not err therein. In other words the simplest person those who have just a childlike Understanding have no problem of walking on the highway of holiness if they've got open ears.

If they really want to hear what God is saying even the simplest Christian. Now if you were to sit down tonight and talk to numbers of the people in this church have been delivered from these problems.

They say how did you get free that they would name? Repentance. They would talk to you about reading their Bibles becoming so Covered with this word of God washed in the Word of God. They would talk to you about a prayer life.

They talk about the Bible study. They talk to you about witnessing. They talk to you about many things and that's fine. It's all the part of deliverance. But I want you to know that there are three things that happen In every Christian who's walking in deliverance in fact when you find a Christian fully delivered walking Completely convicted before for the Lord you'll find these three things At work in their life and it's not just three things that happen one time.

These are three ongoing Principles that keep them in the victory and I've really prayed about this and I've asked God I I had Been prepared to preach another message along the lines of getting out in and Finding your place in the body such as brother Bob and priest this morning and Jerry preached and Don.

But Saturday morning the Holy Spirit just got a hold of my heart made it clear that there'd be people in this church tonight That needed to be delivered and God really shook me and I began to seek his face.

And he began to show me very clearly. That there's a spirit. Here's here's here are the three things the Holy Spirit began to do with me about. First of all, you've got to be livered be delivered from the spirit of a wild donkey.

The spirit of wild dog. We're going to go into the Word of God now once you go to Jeremiah. Jeremiah we're going to stay a lot in Jeremiah tonight. Jeremiah the second chapter. Reading from New American Standard because it brings it up very very clear.

Jeremiah the second chapter. You did bring your Bibles didn't you I? Said you brought your Bible a man. You don't come to Times Square Church. That's a Bible. Some of you did but next time you won't will you.

Jeremiah 2 verse 21. Jeremiah 2. Yet I planted you a choice vine a completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before me? Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine. Although you wash yourself with life and use much soap the stain of your iniquity is before me declares the Lord God.

How can you say I'm not defiled. I've not gone after the bales. Look at your way in the valley know what you have done. You are a swift young camel entangling her ways a. What a wild donkey. Accustomed to the wilderness that sniffs the wind in her passion in the time of her heat who can turn her away.

All who seek her will not Become weary in her month. They will find her. Look at me, please. This is a very profound thing that God is saying. God is speaking to Jeremiah knees asking his people this question.

He's saying look I see you started out right and I started you out, right? I planted you as a pure vine. Everything was right when you gave your heart to me you began right you said you really wanted me.

That's what he's saying. And then he asked the question. How did you turn yourself into such a degenerate people? How did you become degenerate? How did you give yourself over to your lust? And God himself said that they started out with the love for him.

In fact, the love was so exciting. It was like a courtship. Look at Jeremiah 2 to go back to Jeremiah 2. Verse 2 chapter 2 verse 2 go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem saying thus says the Lord. I remember concerning You the devotion of your youth the love of your betrothal.

That's your courtship. You're following after me in the wilderness to a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord the first of his harvest. You said it was old you started holy. You started out with a desire for me.

I Remember the devotion of your youth the love of your betrothal. You're following after me in the wilderness. Israel was holy to the Lord the first fruits. In fact all who touched him evil came upon them.

The scripture says that's in Jeremiah 2 3. So look at me, please. We're talking about a people here now. About leaders and shepherds even God's people leaders and shepherds evangelists famous or not famous.

Who started out right in love with the Lord mightily used of God wonderfully guided by God through the dark wilderness on all sides. But God's people according to the prophet and God speaking to this prophet Jeremiah.

He said they're doing a tragic things to them. They're doing a tragic thing to themselves. Look at verse 11. Chapter 2. Verse 11. They're doing to themselves as a nation changed gods. When they were not gods, but my people have changed their glory.

There's a change coming over these people. For that which does not profit. Be appalled. Oh heavens at this and Shudder be very desolate declares the Lord for my people committed to evils. They've forsaken me the fountain of living waters to you for themselves.

Sisters broken sisters that can hold no water. Is Israel a slave or is he a homeborn servant? Why has it become a prey. The young lions now roar at him? They've roared loudly and they've made his land of waste.

The cities have been destroyed without inhabitant. Well, look look at verse 17. Have you not done this? To yourself. Now who's doing this? Have you not done this to yourself. By your forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way you look at this God's leading them.

When did they forsake the Lord right while God was leading them? You've done this to yourself. I was leading you. I had my hand on you, but you're doing something to yourself. The scriptures ads. Nope, look this way, please.

He said be appalled if you look at that word, it means be overcome with amazement. Shudder needs to tremble and can falls with horror. Be very desolate means to be overcome with disbelief. And here's the picture.

God is looking down on his people and he's speaking to the heavens. He's speaking to the chair of him and the sheriff him and all the created angels. He's creating he's talking to all the heavens and he said be appalled.

He said this this is Unbelievable what these people are doing. He said it's beyond belief. He said shudder and tremble with me. God is saved of all heaven. Shudder tremble be appalled. You know what it says.

Verse 12 be appalled. Oh heavens at this shudder and be very desolate. That word desolate there means overcome with disbelief. Shudder and tremble be amazed. He said My bride-to-be is cheating on me.

Those who once followed me with all their hearts are forsaken me. Those who once were drinking from the fountain of life. Have turned to drink the dirty waters of the Nile and they're drinking from dirty cisterns or dirty wells.

They're not wanting my precious word anymore. They've turned away from my word and they're drinking filth. Verse 17 have you not done this to yourself by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way.

Look at verse 18. But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Could you look this way please? That's the question I I asked some of you here right now that started right with the Lord.

You really loved him. You wanted to go all the way. That's what you said. That's what you told God. And the Lord comes to you by the Holy Ghost said what are you doing now on the road back to Egypt. Egypt represents the world.

Represents what you came from. What are you doing going back there? What do you do drinking that dirty water from the Nile? What's happening to why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you changing as you're doing it now?

For no unexplainable reason they gave themselves over to the passions of a prostitute. Look at verse 20. Verse 20. The passions of a prostitute. For long ago. It says I broke it if you look there. It says you and in the original Hebrew Helen Sparrow it says you for long ago.

You broke your yoke you tore off your bonds. But you said I will not serve for on every high hill and under every green tree. You've lain down as a harlot. That's the prostitute. Listen to me. God is saying Yes.

What you've got to get this, please. Can you turn this way? God. God is saying to this people. Yes. I do put a yoke on my people are going to walk with me. I Do give the bonds of commandment. I do this so the devil can enslave you.

These are promises are these are commandments. These are yokes that are like they're easy and they're meant for your protection. Yes, I make demands upon those who walk with me that run counter to their own lust.

Yes, I insist that you renounce forever your sensual lusts and your evil cravings. I demand crucifixion of all flesh. I demand mortification of everything. It's unlike me. Yes, I demand it. That's the Word of God not a care what any preacher tells you.

Otherwise, that's these are the commandments of the Lord. But you said I will not serve God with this stricture. I will not serve God so you broke through this yoke. You tore off all these commandments these bonds and you said I will not serve like that.

I Can't serve God like that. I can't be under that kind of bondage. He said now. You have run your you're that wild donkey. You were corralled by my Holy Spirit and I had a yoke on you and you were plowing a fruitful vibe.

You were plowing a fruitful row, but you didn't like the yoke of the Lord. You didn't want this and you talked about freedom. You talked about wanting to be free. So you just went out like a wild donkey in the wilderness and this people want to hold on to their sin.

And yet they don't want to give up on God. Look at chapter 3 verse 1. God said if a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man. Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted.

But you are you are a harlot with many lovers yet. You turn to me declares the Lord. But you are A harlot with many lovers yet. You turn to me the scripture says I want to show you that the delusion that these people were under.

And he's talking about God's people here. Listen to delusions. First of all, we are free to roam. Look at chapter 231 chapter 231. Oh Generation heed the Word of the Lord. Have I've been a wilderness to Israel or a land of thick darkness.

Why do my people say we are free to roam? We will come no more to thee. Again, I ask you to look this way as soon as you read the scripture then look right back up. I'd like to look you right in the eye, even though I can't see you.

Those bright lights. There's a preaching in a gospel in the country today about Christian freedom. We've got Christians all of American drinking now. They call it freedom to drink. It's our freedom in the spirit.

We're not bound anymore. That's the spirit of the wild donkey. This says I I will not serve like this. I don't want to yoke upon me and Everywhere we go now we see people a Little more inching further further into the world allowing things that five years ago would have made them blush.

And now they're doing everything in the spirit of the wild donkeys upon them the second delusion. Is that God can be forgotten days without number? But I can always go back to me to always be there waiting for me after all.

Isn't that what the prodigal son did he got up and went back but folks? He was not a perpetual prodigal and we've got perpetual prodigal. So say well, I can forget God days on in effect. That's what the scripture said.

My people have forgotten me days without number. They go their own way. They do their own thing and answer. Well, he's always there waiting. I don't always go back to the older. That's what the prodigal story is all about.

They say no, it's not. The prodigal son came to the end himself. He went back to his father's house and he never left it as far as I know. And then the third delusion is this well, it just came upon me this sin this lust.

Homosexuals that came on me when I was just a child. I hear homosexuals saying I remember when I was two years old having this lost. Well, that's foolishness. Absolute foolishness. There's nothing in the scripture to back that up whatsoever.

Look at your Jeremiah 235. Yet you say I am innocent Judy his angers turned away from me. Behold. I will enter into judgment with you because you said I have not sinned. I'm not responsible. This came on me when I was a boy.

This came on me and I couldn't help it. And you know, the problem is we've got Christians crying rivers of tears and they're making this excuse. In fact the Mount Malachi the Prophet said you cover my altar with your tears and yet you cheat on your wives.

You come and cover the altar with tears you think because you cry and cry and cry you can go back out and do what you please. And they cry rivers of tears. People live in sin often especially those that in the ministry become very sympathetic to others because they Feel this grief of their own sin their own weakness and they often excuse sin in others but it doesn't work with God you can't and there are a lot of people who are living in sin who feel that God's Appeased if they you've got a lot of service.

So you find them running all the time. They're busy busy busy doing something for God all the time. They're trying to quiet the conscience trying to make a deal with God. Now this is the spirit of the wild donkey and it's got to be broken.

Jeremiah 224 once you look at it again. Jeremiah 224 a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness that sniffs the wind in her passage in the time of her heat. Who can turn her away? No, I have look at me, but I have no trouble using biblical terms.

The Bible here is talking about a donkey with heat. I heated passion. And what a vivid picture of a Christian who still ruled by a secret passion in the time of her heat who can stop her. Read it again.

In the time of her heat who can turn her away. All who seek her will not become weary in her month. They will find her and you know what that's saying. What this thing comes upon you and you start chasing after you follow that heat of passion it comes on you suddenly.

The Bible said those who are looking for you won't even have to chase you. They're going to find you. They won't have to run and become weary. They've been waiting for you. They've been waiting for that moment to hit.

This wild donkey spirit it happened to an Episcopal priest in Texas who came to see me once. Weeping very well known at the time in the charismatic movement. They said David when I was in seminary I got involved in homosexuality and I fought it all through seminar and I thought I had the victory and I got married.

He said it would come upon me out of nowhere after two years. Suddenly that passion would hit me and I would fight it. Until I couldn't fight it anymore and I'd get up and go to the nearest bus station and make a connection with anybody.

They go back to my pulpit. And he came to see me because just the Sunday before he was standing in his large church. And he was preaching when that spirit of the wild donkey hit him and that heat came.

And it hit him so over one it just came all over him. He closed the meeting down as quickly as he could rather the nearest bus station and connected with a filthy man off the street. Found out of course the man never did have victory in his life.

Had never had the victory. All he did was try to suppress the passion. Never had had victory his whole lifetime. In fact to my knowledge He's not in America now, but to my knowledge he never did get the victory every time I saw him after that even though I prayed with him.

He'd avoid me. That spirit of the wild donkey strikes those who are living in secret affairs. Here's a man who's in love with someone else. He's married or she's married and they're having an affair. And suddenly the Spirit of the Lord begins to deal.

And he or she says that the the lover no more. That's it. God's going to judge us if we go on like this. God's exposing sin everywhere now, and we're going to be next if it goes on. We're going to lose everything.

This is it. That's it. Goodbye forever. Until the time of the month comes the heat of the passion and the spirit of wild donkey. Strikes again, and then suddenly he runs out of the house. He calls her.

They fall into each other's arms, and they're at it again. Forget exposure forget the judgment of God. Nothing who can stop her when she's in heat. The Bible says. Who can stop driven by this lust? And then comes the shame and the hopelessness.

Jeremiah 2 25 and 26 look at it. Keep your feet from being unshod your throat from thirst, but you said it's hopeless. No, I've loved strangers. And after them I will walk and how many times I've heard it and there are some of you here listening to me right now.

You've already come to this place to say it's no use. I've tried everything. I Just can't give this up. It's been with me so long. I can't give it up. It's hopeless. You know what it says. No. It's just what you said.

It's hopeless. No, I've loved strangers and after them I'm going to walk. Look at verse. Yes, that's verse 25. The verse that Jeremiah 3 look at Jeremiah 3. Turn over to Jeremiah 3 verse 25. Here's what happens.

The spirit of wild donkey strikes. Goes back to the lust. And then let us slide down verse 25 3 20, but let us slide down in our shame. Let our humiliation cover us for we have sinned. Yes, the Lord our God win our fathers since our youth even to this day and we've not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.

The Hardened Heart and the Divine Ultimatum

All right. Look at me, please. Here's the turning point. If you don't get this I can't and you won't be able to hear the rest of the message. Here's the turning point when you've given in to your sin and that wild donkey spirits driven you back to your lust.

Whatever it may be. You you you're going to do one of two things you either harden your heart. Give yourself over to this hardness. In fact, Jeremiah 3 3 is where you come to therefore the showers have been withheld.

And there's been no spring rain and you've had a heartless forehead. You refuse to be ashamed. A Heartless forehead is a hard heart. In fact, you'll find it in Romans called given over to your sin. You'll give yourself over to your sin.

Homosexuals pop coming out of the closet. You'll come out of the closet. You won't care anymore. I Had a I had a pastor tell me that he watched his wife drive away down out the driveway with a man in the church.

Even though he stood there weeping and the two children stood there weeping. She walked right on out. She didn't care about the children. She didn't care about anything else because she was driven now by her lust.

And that's the turning point you do that or you'll cry out. Oh God break this spirit in me once and for all the wild donkey spirit of lust exist. Because there's no fear of God in them. There is no fear of God in them.

I want you to go to Jeremiah 2 19. Jeremiah 2 19. Now we're going to find out why. People are still bound and can't seem to get free. Jeremiah 2 19. Your own wickedness will correct you and your apostasies will reprove you.

No, therefore and see that it's evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God and. The dread of me is not in you declares the Lord God of hosts. Do you understand that he said your witness your wickedness going to catch up with you?

Your path this is they're going to reprove you and that's called the divine ultimatum. Listen to me. There's not a man or woman who walks with God. Honestly are trying to walk with God honestly who if you continue in your sin.

There comes a day when you get I call it the divine ultimatum. When God comes to you and says, all right, I've been patient with you. I've been loving with you. I've covered your tracks. I've done everything to help you.

I We've counseled with many many who went on and Then God comes one day and says that's it. That's it. And he makes you know. I've talked to. I've talked to two evangelists who said well Dave you're right.

I heard you preach that they were in my audience when they when they heard that divine ultimatum. I Heard it years ago in my life. And it wasn't adultery. But there was a spirit and God was saying you continue like that David and it's all I'll take my anointing from you.

And I knew that if I didn't have victory in my life on this one thing. I Knew it. God says I'll take my hand from you. I can't continue with you and I knew God made me know. And I thank God for that day he put his fear in my heart.

By the fear of the Lord people depart from iniquity. The scripture says Go look at Jeremiah. Go to Jeremiah 5 verse 21. Hear this all foolish and senseless people who have eyes, but see not ears, but hear not.

Do you not fear me? Declares the Lord. Do you not tremble in my presence? Skip down to verse 23, but this people is a stubborn rebellious heart. They've turned aside departed. They do not say in their heart.

Let us now fear the Lord our God. They don't say let us fear the Lord our God. All right, I want you to go to Jeremiah 32. Jeremiah 32. We're staying a lot in Jeremiah tonight, but I want the word to come like a hammer and just reveal to us Jeremiah 32 verse 40.

Just one person wants you to see Jeremiah 32 verse 40. You tremble at the Word of God and I will make verse 40. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good.

I will put the fear of me in their hearts. So what? So that they will not turn away from me. They'll not go to their sins. They're not trying to wake me. I will put my fear in them so that they will not be turned away from me.

Now I'm going to read to you another verse. Don't go there, but I'm reading Isaiah 8 13 and 14. God shall be your fear. He shall be your dread. Then he shall become your sanctuary. He'll become your sanctuary.

He'll protect you. He'll bring you in to a place of protection. What's the fear of God? It's fully grips your heart. Now the dread of God. As I see it is based on two fears. Now folks, I have these two fears in me and I don't ever want these two fears to ever leave me.

I want them till Jesus comes into my dying day. I'm going to go over these two fears with you. And this is really the heart of my message first of all, there's the fear of missing heaven the fear of missing heaven.

The Fear of Missing Heaven and Losing Christ’s Presence

Now there's been all kinds of tapes and records and talks about visions of heaven people claimed to have died and gone to heaven. They've seen it or people had visions and they come back and they talk about the white boulevards the angelic choirs.

Most of them talk about mansions and gold streets. I heard one talk about gold flowers. Who wants a gold flower? I think it's a happy horrible everything gold. I'd rather smell it. I'd rather touch it.

I'd rather be alive. Gold flowers, huh? I've never I've never had much time for any of that because to me heaven can only be explained in two words with him with him. That's that that's the only Definition of heaven as far as I'm concerned.

Jesus prayed father. I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am in order that they may behold my glory. That's heaven to be with him to behold his glory. Now when I speak of the fear of missing heaven, I speak to the fear of not spending eternity with Jesus.