(Spain) the Touch of God — David Wilkerson

And I trust that you have come to have the Holy Spirit speak to your heart. I don't like to travel. And I don't like to go to conferences unless God is doing something. We didn't bring anything to sell.

Nothing to sell. I have no suggestions on how to make your church bigger. I'm an old-fashioned preacher. I've been preaching for 50 years. So I've seen everything. I've seen every kind of so-called move of God.

One country we were in, there's a movement among young pastors. They said, we don't need to listen to the old men anymore. They don't have any new ideas. The old men have no new ideas. In fact, many of the pastors, the older pastors, were feeling as though they were pushed aside.

So I don't have any new ideas. I've got some old Bible truth that I know works. If you want to hear old-fashioned Bible truth, if you're not afraid to be convicted by the Word, if you're not afraid to be convinced by the Word, then God's going to do something in our midst.

My son has pastored longer than I have. And he brings a word from the Lord also. Usually when I go to a place, they ask me, when do you speak and when does your son speak? In other words, we want to hear you, Brother Dave.

But after he preaches the first time, they say, Gary, when are you preaching next? I had a bishop tell me, in Estonia, Brother Dave, you preach all right, but we relate more to your son. That's fine, I like that.

The Touch of God and the Coming Crisis

I want to talk to you about the touch of God. Why does God put his hand on certain men, and when I say men, I include women. Folks, we're headed for terrible times. I'm not a prophet. I never claimed to be a prophet.

I do prophesy. I'm one of many watchmen. I've been warning all through the United States. And when God speaks to my heart, I do prophesy. And what I see coming is so incredible, it's going to touch everyone in Europe, and it's going to begin in the United States.

If I stood here maybe a year ago, and prophesied that your country would be attacked by terrorists, you would not have believed it. A few years ago, before the planes knocked down our towers, terrorists tore down our high buildings.

If I just stood in my pulpit a month before, and warned about it, nobody would have believed it. And now we see it all over the world. And the time is coming when you and I as pastors, Christian workers, you're not going to be looking for new ideas.

You're not going to look for a man's plan. It's going to be a whole different story. And when this happens, and there's a madness, and there is terror, and there is fear, people are going to flock to churches, and they're going to look for a word from God.

Those planes hit our buildings on Tuesday. On Sunday, our churches were packed. Everywhere in the United States, people were weeping. And they went to church. Churches were filled to capacity. People were confused.

The first time our nation had ever been attacked. They had questions. Many going to church for the first time in their life. Six months later, the New York Times did a survey. Found fewer people going to church six months later than before the attack.

Fewer people going to church six months later than before the attack. They asked why. And I was shocked at the answers. They said the church was dead. The pastors had no word. In fact, in some churches, people standing up in the middle of the sermon said, we don't want to hear that.

Tell us what's happening. Was this God? Was it the devil? Was it just fate? Tell us why. Why were 3 ,000 people dead in a moment? Why are the symbols of our prosperity fallen to the ground? One Pentecostal pastor was preaching a series on morality.

A week before he had announced that he was going to preach on sex and the Christians. And that's what he preached that next week. His elders came to me. They flew, they took an airplane and came to see me.

Our Pentecostal pastor had no message. Hundreds of people in the church, church over 1 ,000 people. Everybody's weeping. They come hoping the word will be through the pastor. And he goes on with his series.

He preached on sex. Let me tell you what I saw. Florida and the south coast of the United States, we've had the worst hurricanes in history. Millions of people had to be evacuated. We have these super highways running north and south.

Three lanes north, three lanes south. And many of these highways. But this time, because of so many millions having to flee, all the southern routes were shut down. And all the cars went north. Trying to find a safe place.

Maybe a hotel somewhere. Maybe just a way somewhere out in the country. And I looked at the picture of these highways as far as you could see. Traffic is jammed. People can't move. And there's panic. And there's fear.

And I ask you this. I've been warning of a disaster coming that is going to literally shake the world. And when I first said it, people just shaked their head. I'm not the one really preaching it. Our homeland security is preaching it.

Our homeland security, they call it. Government agency. A suitcase bomb. A suitcase, a bomb in a suitcase. What happens if people then start fleeing the cities? And you see them, as the Bible predicts, running to the hills.

And they're stopping at church after church. And they're saying, where's the pastor? And if it's on a Sunday and the people are gathering and there's terror in the land and our young people have lost all hope and overnight everything changes.

That's the world we live in now. It's not just coming from the pulpit. It's coming from those who are warning of a disaster coming that will shake the world. Where do these people go? Where will the pastors be that have been on their face before God?

And they have the word of the Lord. I'm telling you now, sir. The issue will not be some new program. I am so tired. So weary. Pastors coming from all over the world. They have to go through New York City.

They have to go to New York City. And they're coming to see a revival. But they stop in our church. Some going to Pensacola. Toronto. They're going to some big church where they're letting church grow.

They stop on the way back. This is what I hear. Here's one man from Europe and his wife. They said, we have a church in Europe, about 600 people. We've been losing people. We're down to about 400. So we took three months off.

And we've been traveling the United States for three months looking for something to motivate us to bring the growth back to our church. They had been to every revival. They had been to the Seeker Sensitive.

They went out to California. Every church that was growing. Looking for a secret. Looking for a program. And here they stand in front of me after three months. Said, we've been here three months. Been to every revival.

Every new movement. And not once did we feel the presence of God. Until this morning. Sitting in this congregation. The Spirit of God came on me. They said, Pastor Dave, what do we do? And I turned lovingly to the wife.

I said, you used to be a prayer warrior. You used to fight in prayer. Now you sit in front of a television set and waste hours. You don't pray. You don't seek God. And I turned to the pastor. I said, do you want the truth?

Do you want to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying? You used to go to your secret closet of prayer. You never went to the pulpit without a word from God. But you got away from it. You got too busy. You're not a man of prayer.

And you've lost the fire. He began to weep. They both wept. They said, Brother Wilkinson, it's true. And they said, Brother David, it's true. And I had to tell them, Brother, Sister, there's no shortcut.

There is no shortcut to the moving of God's Holy Spirit. And when I search my Bible, and I try to find out why God puts his hand on certain men, were they supermen? All of these prophets? All of these men of God?

How did God touch them? I made a study of this. And when I come to these men, this is what I hear. Every one of them. He set his heart to seek the Lord. Ezra is a scribe. One of thousands. Why would God put his hand on one scribe?

Seeking God Through Scripture, Prayer, and Obedience

The Bible says of him, he was a man with the hand of God on him. And he said, God strengthened me when he put his hand upon me. Was he destined from the womb to lead 50 ,000 people back to Jerusalem? Does God just solemnly come to him in the middle of the night and anoint him?

Does he wake up one day and he's a changed man? Listen to what the Bible says. Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord. To seek the word of the Lord and to obey it. There came a day where he said, I am going to make a decision.

A conscious decision. I am going to seek God. I'm going to be a man of the word. The same decision the disciples made. We will give ourselves to prayer and the seeking of the word of God. Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord.

And the hand of God is upon all of them. For good that seek him. This is the message he got. The hand of God is upon all who seek him. I have seen everything in 50 years. I've been through what they call I've lived to see shepherding mood.

Where a shepherd tells everybody what to do. The movement where they were vomiting demons into paper bags. Hundreds of revivals. All kinds of books. Some new concept. May I tell you the truth? A man who shuts himself in with God.

A man who makes this decision. I will be a man of prayer. And you shut everything away. And you give God quality time. And you go into this book. Not to get a sermon. But until you are so moved by it.

So given to it. You don't have to go any further than your prayer closet. A praying man doesn't have to have anybody tell him how to build his church. A man came from India. He said I came all the way from India to get a word from you.

He said give me that word. I said I have two words for you. And I said it lovingly. Here are my two words. Go home. Go home. And I said you come to me. We have 7, 8 ,000 people. And we do everything wrong.

We don't have programs. We pray. And we fast. And we seek God. And we weep for the lost. I said I don't have anything to tell you. Ezra said the hand of God is upon every man who seeks his face. You come to Jeremiah.

This is what I read. And he set his heart to seek the Lord. 30th chapter of Jeremiah. And right after he says that he speaks of a day. He made a decision. I will seek the Lord. And he saw what was coming.

And the Bible says the word of the Lord came to him. Again and again. The word of the Lord came to him. Did you hear what I said? The word of the Lord. Not an American word. Not a Portugal word. Not a Spain word.

The word of the Lord. The word from heaven. The scripture says of this man. This is the word the Lord is speaking to him. The Lord has pronounced evil against our land. The Lord has given me knowledge of it.

And I know what will happen. He showed me what is going to happen. He received a word from the Lord. Folks, we have lost a whole generation. Because we have lacked in our pulpits. A word that can convict.

A word that lovingly names sin. We have lost a whole generation. Let me talk to you for just a moment about another man. Daniel. I set my face unto the Lord God. To seek him by prayer. Seeking him by prayer and supplication.

With fasting and sacrifice. And I began to pray to the Lord. And make my confession. And suddenly the word opens up to him. Visions come to him. The word of the Lord comes to him. He is reading Jeremiah.

And he has just seen a great vision. He sees a stone coming down out of a mountain. Which is the kingdom of Christ. Wiping away all the kingdoms of the world. The great image is falling. Listen to what Daniel says.

And I Daniel alone saw the vision. The men that were with me did not see the vision. A great fear fell upon them. So they ran and hid themselves. I alone saw the vision. I alone heard the voice of his words.

And I fell on my face. Daniel does not associate with ungodly men. He walked with good men. But why is it? That this man walking among good men. Why is it said of him? I alone heard the voice. Why are others running and hiding?

Why don't they hear the voice? Why don't they have the word? Could it be this reason? They had not set their hearts. They had not made a conscious decision. When I was a very young man. I pastored a very small church in a small town.

For five years. The same congregation. I was comfortable. Very poor, not much money. But not too much was happening. We called ourselves the Pentecostal Church. We had what is termed utterances in tongues.

The people were not being saved. People did not even know anything was happening in our church. Everything was happening inside four walls. And one day I came to church. I said, God, if this is Pentecost.

Week after week. Year after year. And nothing is happening. They are happy just if I marry them and I bury them. I said, Lord, if this is Pentecost. And the same people. Claiming to have power of the Holy Ghost.

And those who are speaking in tongues. I can say with Paul. In my devotions. I speak in tongues more than you all. But I said, if this is Pentecost. I don't want it. I got so sick in my stomach. I can't live like this.

Conviction, Repentance, and the Recovery of Spiritual Power

If you read the cross and the switchblade. You know what happened next. Country preacher. 75 people. Satisfied. Young people in our town. Getting drunk. Not going to church. But there we are. Having a good time.

Talking about having the full gospel. I don't like the word full gospel. That suggests everybody else has half a gospel. I go home. After Sunday night. And do what I did every Sunday night. I said, I've worked hard today.

I have deserved some relaxation. I like cowboy movies. Where everybody shoot them up. And I'm sitting there. The Holy Spirit came on me. He said, you're watching violence. And I destroyed the whole world for that.

In the days of Noah. And you wonder why you have no power. You wonder why nothing's happening in your church. You wonder why you're so discouraged. How every Monday you want to quit. You should be in your face.

When's the last time you wept about your city? How many times did you stand in your pulpit? Tell people, go witness. And you haven't talked to anybody. And the Lord said, if you shut that down. And you come and pray.

You give me your time. You get your Bible. And you go through it. To seek me. In my word. I'll show you Pentecost. I'll show you a true Holy Ghost. And I'll change your life and I'll change this church.

Sold the television. Began to pray. There was a hillside. There was a hill. I parked my car up on top of the hill. Where my wife could see it from the house. Said, I'm going into the woods to pray. I go up there every day.

If there's an emergency, blow the horn. I'll come and pray. I began to pray. For hours. God broke my heart. God only uses men and women who have broken hearts and contrite spirits. Only uses those who seek his face.

God put his hand on me. Uneducated. Weeks and weeks. Yes, I did my work. But now I could do more than one hour under the Holy Ghost than I could all day. My wife knew I had changed. If your wife doesn't know you're changed.

Nobody else is going to know it. Went to church one Sunday. Trembling like a leaf. And I stood in front of the people. And I felt so sad. I had robbed those people. Because, you see, I was giving them little sermonettes.

Just writing something off. Half-hearted. I felt sad. Because, you see, I had been walking the streets of our little town. Sitting and talking to young people. And they started coming to the church. And I thought, God, five years.

This Sunday. I couldn't stand up. I just felt prostrate. Weeping and crying. You see, I had been going out in the woods and prophesying to the trees. Because there was such a hunger to see God move. Pastor, is that what you want to see?

You want to come to your church. With your knees trembling. And the Spirit of God all over you. And you know there's no controversy between you and God. And you have a clear conscience. You haven't been sitting in front of the internet watching pornography.

You're not cheating on your wife. You've been shut in with God. You're not trying to be some big man. You're not just trying to build a big church. But you know that everything is Jesus now. Your satisfaction is not coming because the church is full.

You're satisfied now because you know Him. And the Word of God is opening up to you. And you're speaking now with something else. You know you've come from the presence of God. And suddenly everybody in the church knows Him.

They're hearing from heaven. They're hearing from a broken man. And I speak to you now. Some of you that love Jesus so much. And you want God to move so much. But you're weary. There's a weariness. Malachi, he said to the priesthood.

He said, you have grown weary in the way. You see, it doesn't serve. It doesn't pay now to serve. I see nothing happening. And there's a weariness. And he said, you cover the altar with your tears. But there's treachery in your heart towards your wife.

You weep and you cry. But you still have treachery in your heart. Then he said, you are wearing me. Because you're not standing in the pulpit. And you're preaching a message of compromise. Because of your own battle.

I can say that. Malachi says that to me. He says it to all of us. I went home after that experience. And I told my wife, I don't know what's happening to me. I don't know what's going on. But I know. There's more than I've ever seen.

The Call to Reach the Lost and Persevere in God’s Plan

Something's coming alive in me. That week, I went into my study, my office. I opened a magazine. A picture of seven boys in New York City who murdered a boy in a wheelchair. And the Holy Spirit spoke.

He said, this is why I broke you. You set your heart to seek me. Now I'm going to show you how I can use you. Go to New York. And try to reach those boys. That was the beginning. Has it been easy? No.

It's a lifetime battle. Because we get so busy. And we live off an anointing we got way back. And we don't get desperate for that new touch. You see, we can abort the plan of God. Some of you have been touched by God.

God really touched you. God had such a plan. He had for Saul. He said, I had intended an everlasting kingdom for you. But Saul aborted the plan of God. By allowing a root of jealousy in his spirit. I think of the day when he stands before God.

And I think of the day when I stand before the Lord. Is the Lord going to show Saul what he had in mind? Would God have shown him a picture of a gentle, loving, respected king? Who had nurtured David.

And together they built a kingdom to the glory of God. David his servant. Nations at his feet. Respected around the world. I wonder if God will show him, this is what I had in mind for you. Not seeking a witch in your last days.

I don't want to stand before him one day. And have him show me a plan. And say, David, this is what I had in mind. See, I'm 73 years old now. At my age. I've set my heart again. I will never retire. I'm telling you.

I have had to set my heart more so than when I started. Because I see what's coming. And I know there are going to have to be voices. I don't care how old you are. Or how young you may be. Where are the prophets in Spain?

I'm not talking about these people going around just giving words to everybody. We meet those discouraged people all over the world. Men and women who had some so-called prophet say something 10 years ago.

Oh, you're going to win many souls. You're going to have a great impact on the kingdom. And they come to us like the young man did. He has about 75 people. He has a prison ministry. For the last 10, 15 years.

He's doing a good work. But that prophecy has never been fulfilled. He comes to our meeting. Discouraged, ready to quit. Pastor Gary prayed with him. And he suddenly saw how he had wasted so much. And had been seeking the wrong things.

But there are true prophets. There are men God wants to raise up in this land. He takes the weak things of the world. The things that are so unknown. The foolish things of the world. He can take a pastor of a little church.

And get him so involved. In prayer. Seeking the Lord. Send a fire in that church. In Puerto Rico. The superintendent of the Assemblies of God. She said there's a little woman in her 80s. She's over 80 years old.

But she's a woman of prayer. And when we have a troubled church. We send her. She's up in the mountains now. In a little church that's just dying. It's on fire. People are coming from everywhere. All she does is seek God.

Which is a simple message. But it's right from the throne of God. Over 80 years old. I'm speaking now. To just a few hearing ears. It may be somebody who hears this on tape. And I'm speaking in the spirit.

Somebody's hearing it. God is going to lay his hand upon you. God is going to lay his hand upon you. And he's going to make you miserable. I call it the Holy Ghost Miserables. He'll make you so sick and tired.

Until there's something inside of you. It says, Lord, if this is all there is. If this is all there is to the ministry. I don't want it. God speaks to you. He says, come. I'm going to close in just a few minutes.

A Fresh Touch for Leaders and the Nation

But here's the problem that Gary and I have. We feel God has sent us. God is speaking to us. First of all, to be men of prayer. Seeking his face. And to provoke people. To motivate people. To get back to God.

Back to seeking God. Not just meditation. But heart broken seeking God. And somebody's hearing it. Maybe four, maybe five. But God's going to do something. He's going to raise up some voices. I think of those in authority.

I think of some men and some women here now. God has put you in a circle. You minister to ministers. Or you have some influence. I grieve. Over what I've seen. In leadership. I must say it with love. Brokenness.

Who am I to tell you? Who am I? To tell you. Anything about your spiritual condition. But I meet leaders of men. Who haven't had a new word from God in years. Just dealing with problems. I overhear some bishops and leaders.

I'm in one room and I overhear them talking. Hey brother, you going to preach that same sermon in Joni? You've been preaching for five years? Folks, what I see coming. Is going to shake this nation. But it's going to be the greatest time for evangelism.

There'll never be a time when hearts are more open. And what will you be doing? And where will you be in the Lord? And what will you be hearing? You have a fresh word? A fresh touch? Can you say God's hand is on me?

When the Spirit comes to a meeting like this. I don't know what to say or do. But all week long. I say to God. You have to move. Holy Spirit you have to do something. You have to start tonight. You have to break through.

For the sake of this country. It can't be just another meeting. It can't be just another conference. God said I'm tired of your solemn assemblies. Give me your heart. I feel God's weeping inside. Over his service that he loves so much.

How he loves you. How he's been trying to break through. Jeremiah said. He heard God's weeping. He's not only touched the feelings of our infirmities. He grieves when he knows his Spirit. Is knocking and calling.

And this nation. That once had such fire. Such powerful preaching. Yes it was not a big group. That had touched Europe. Once again. Holy Spirit's knocking. And he's calling. Some are hearing it. They're going to answer it.

Because already you know by the Spirit. I'm only telling you. What the Holy Spirit's already been speaking to you about. I'm here now. Just blowing on a spark. That God already put in your heart. You stand.

Friends. I am so weak in my knees. It's hard to stand here. Because I know the Holy Spirit's speaking. Saying tonight. Tonight. Come. Let me touch you. And change you. Please don't come. Unless there's something of the Spirit.

If you would like to go. To the seats on both sides. And just find a place of prayer. Maybe a husband and wife. Say honey let's just go find a place together. And let's ask God to give us a fresh touch.

You can just slip some place over here quietly. Over in all the empty seats over there. Or you can just be seated where you're at. And just lean forward. And make it a place of prayer right where you're at.

A Prayer for the Holy Spirit’s Fresh Anointing

Let's turn this into a prayer meeting. Can we lift our hands to the Lord? Can we ask the Holy Spirit. To come once again. With a freshness and anointing. That only the Holy Spirit can send. Holy Spirit come again.

Come to this nation. Come to our churches. Come to our pastors. And our evangelists. Come to our congregations. Come to me oh Holy Spirit. That I may hear again from where I am. A clear fresh word. To seek you with all the heart.

Oh God let it be. Hallelujah.