A Message for Christians Who Have Bad Days — David Wilkerson

Facing Bad Days With God’s Presence

It's for Christians who have a bad day who have bad days. Though it says a message of Christians have bad days not day that bad days. That's what it says in my notes here Lord. You're going to talk to us about growing up tonight.

You know talk to us about some adult things as children. And I pray Holy Spirit that you have your mind Made known to us. But I don't have anything. Bring just your mind. I pray Holy Spirit. You touch me and anoint me.

Oh God prepare our ears to hear. Open our eyes and give us hearts to understand. Because without the Holy Spirit we can't understand a word that I say and I can't understand a word I preach fully dependent upon you.

Absolutely wholly dependent on you. So we turn it all into your hands Lord. Give me the strength. Give me your anointing. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Normal Christianity is not a matter of clear sailing.

Have you heard that if you learned that yet that? No matter how holy you may be no matter how many how righteous you may be you're going to have some bad days. In fact the holier you are sometimes the more excruciating those days are very painful.

I Want you to know I don't serve a good time God. It's only with me when things are going well, and when I'm in a bad situation. He doesn't sneak off and say well when you work it out. I'll be back. He never leaves he never forsakes.

Frail Vessels Carrying Christ’s Treasure

Paul said we have this treasure in earthen vessels. That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Now that Greek word there for earthen is frail clay. We have this treasure in frail clay.

Now frail clay. Fell at the treasure here, by the way is the knowledge of the presence of Jesus Christ. We have this great knowledge this great presence of Jesus Christ in a frail vessel and that means weak.

Easily broken and easily tempted easily broken vessels. Now we all suffer what the Bible calls infirmities. In fact Paul mentioned Timothy's often infirmities. Timothy was often sick. He is physically sick and there are many many Christians who whose bad days Have to do with their frailty there.

They have a very frail constitution. They're sick. Some of you listening to me right now you wake up in the morning and the pain is there. Some of you live with pain. Some of you have never known a day for months maybe years without pain and There are many many Christians who go through terrible days of suffering.

It's a time of infirmity. We're not speaking about that. There there are there are other infirmities that are just as difficult to have more difficult to handle and those are Infirmities of the mind. I'm not talking about mental Illness.

I'm talking about. Those things that grip our mind. You can go to bed at night feeling happy. You can go to bed all is well with you and wake up in the morning. And there's a cloud of the blaws hanging over you.

You don't know where they came from. You don't know what it is. But there's just a cloud of a gloom hanging over you. You try to figure it out. You don't know what it is. Others of you live with guilt you can't shake it it goes back somewhere.

I don't know how long. It could be a result of sin that's still in your life. And if there's sin God will let the guilt hang in until you deal with it through the power of the Holy Ghost. It's a wonderful gift of God when there is guilt because of sin.

Some of you have condemnation others have feelings of rejection. You've never been able to live with you. You get up some day and somebody said something the day before you heard something or you feel something and We say we don't live by feelings, but we live in feelings.

We have feelings and they're going to affect your outlook on life. It's the way you respond. Now I don't know what you're bad. I don't what causes your bad days when you wake up, and you just have a. I'm not talking about a bad hair day.

Is it you you just have to at the end that I have had a bad day. This this has been an awful day. This has been terrible. Some of you have to Stop maybe and think about you. I hope you have this Mother's Day.

I hope you have any good day for many. This is a very difficult day. Mother's Day is a hard day one the hardest days in the year because either your mother is gone. Maybe she died. Not being a Christian.

It could be so many many things some of you that are on drugs or come out of drug life or alcoholism and You don't remember a good day with your parents at all or your mother especially and it's a hard day.

Up for others. It's Christmas. Because they have no family. I don't. I can't describe what it is. Let me tell you what a bad day is for me for example. I don't. I've walked and wondered if other ministers Especially have the kind of day that I have my bad days happen in my study along with my Bible with my God.

Those those sometimes are I have to tell you are my most Difficult times when I opened this book and I feel so ignorant I feel so in a incapable of Comprehending and digging out the truth. I Read the stories and the messages of men to live 300 years ago some of my favorite authors are the Puritans and John Owens and sibs and Manson and all these men and I read.

These were men who were not supposed to have been in an enlightened age and knowledge is supposed to be on the increase and Here I am in in my mid -60s and and I'm reading men that were in their 40s and they are Speaking things that I've never seen or heard.

And my bad day is going into this and spending three and four days just reading and said well I don't even remember half the stuff you teach me. I Can't even remember. I've got a sieve for a mind. I have to sit sometime and plead with God and the Holy Ghost for hours and hours to get a word to bring to you.

And and I don't know how many others have you feel this way or have ever gone through that. It's a very very difficult thing to to to spend maybe four or five hours in this book. And I'm saying Lord. I'm not I'm not hearing it.

I want to hear and there's a sense that you're you're before this great Reservoir and there's so much out there. You can't reach it. You can't comprehend it. You you you know that there's such an ocean of truth.

I I have stood I Looked out my window, and I said Lord I don't care what anybody else has they could have they can have every piece of furniture. They can have my car. They can have everything I possess if you just give me truth.

Just let me understand let me see let me know you there's something so far out there. And we have known and touched so little of it. And you can't enjoy God any further than your faith. And you say God I thought I believed I've tried, and I love your word.

I'm not living in sin, but I'm so blind. I'm so ignorant. You said well brother. What can you stand here and preach every Sunday? Yes, and I tell you I go to the salt mine, and I dig. I Heard a preacher one day.

He said he was talking to another preacher boy. I got three servants today come so easy. For me it just goes Lord of course I heard him preaching. I wasn't discouraged anymore either for me that that's.

I have to Say Lord first. I pray Lord Holy Ghost is anything standing between you and me. I want it clear. I don't want anything now tell you folks. That's where you want to pray if there's anything there take it the Holy Ghost and if there he'll show you if not Just start praising the Lord don't try to invent something.

But you see the only answer I get from God is that this treasures in an earthen vessel and that the glory may be to God and he keeps us Humble this is one of the ways this is probably my thorn in the flesh one way to keep me humble.

Folks you may think that there's a pastor this church that I stand here. And I know so much about God, and it's so easy to stand and give you a message. No I Tell you honestly I I have a hard time. Memorizing the minor prophets and where they are.

Oh come on now. I get worse haggie. I Have memorized memorized. I can't memorize verses. I have a bad memory and to me. That's a bad day. That's a difficult difficult day. For a young man who called me last week.

Doubt, Spiritual Warfare, and Standing Still

He is a worst day of his life. God the young man Broken tearfully said I don't know what to do a thought hit me today, and I can't shake it. There's no God. I don't know where the thought came from but I'm shocked and I'm hurt.

I don't want to leave like this. I don't want to hurt like this. I have this fight this thing in my mind. I thought I can't shake it. There's no God. It's weeping. He said where'd it come from I? Should have said son just be still don't worry about this because this is the this is this goes back to the beginning of time.

It's the devil's number one trick with young people especially. He'll come to you my 19 year old son. He was 18 time. Gary came in years ago when he was just a teenager. I'll never forget it. I've seen he was having a rough time and I go in this room, and he's crying and I said what is it?

He's laying down. He said I want to hurt you dad, but I don't believe there's a God. Now this boy was called to preach and I and I did broke my heart at that time. I didn't have the spiritual insight that I believe God has given to me of course Gary Wrote it out because I said you're going to stand still Gary you're not going to argue with the devil.

You're not going to try to reason with them because you can't believe that there is a God through human reasoning. It's a work of faith only you can't reason God into existence. And you can't persuade your mind that there's a God through reason.

You can't get somebody's book about creation or anything up. That's not going to persuade you. I said you're going to ride out the storm and just trust Jesus the best. You know how you're going to ride it out.

This is a trick. This has been instilled in your mind by the devil himself. Don't argue with the devil don't try to do anything, but stand still and tell the storm past. If you don't move and you just stand and say God.

I'm having a problem trying to figure this out, but I'm asking your Holy Spirit to come and hold me still. I saw God hold my son still of course. He's pastoring today on fire for God and as I Just told this young man to stand still he said past.

I'm going to do just I'm going to stand still. I saw him this afternoon, and he's on fire the thought the crisis has passed his bad day is gone. Folks these bad days often happen because the devil implants thoughts in our minds.

He he can come and plant a thought In your mind that God is not faithful that God does not answer your prayer. And he can tell you how many days and weeks and months and years you prayed about something and seen nothing happen.

And he'll come at you and bombard your mind with lies about God about his faithfulness about his ability or willingness to answer prayer. You don't fight that you don't reason by it. You stand still and see the salvation of the Lord and get into this book and get your faith out of this book and look At God's history of faithfulness to the children of Israel to all of our fathers have gone by as we heard so ably this morning.

Hallelujah, I think I got a letter This past week from an assembly. God passed his wife. Her husband died four years ago. She had I think four or five children. They're all grown now married well. She said brother Dave my husband was a powerful preacher.

He loved his family. He was he was faithful to his children. And he had a heart for people. They had a problem. He said she said he had an adulterous spirit. He was an adulterer. He said we had to he had to resign four churches one affair after another with women in the churches.

And she said I can't tell you how many times I was advised to leave him. But she said pastor Dave. I have been in the word and on my face for many many years. I have been a seeker after God and I know how God hates divorce and I just Decided to hold on she said brother Wilson.

I have had bad years. She said I can only remember a few years in all those years. He died at 62 so they were married probably some 40 years and and the children are grown. And she said I can't tell you how many times I wanted to quit.

I said there's no use to this this man gets up and preaches like a house on fire. This man moves the hearts of people, but he's an adulterer. She said I hope he died in grace. She didn't even know whether the man died right, but she said I've got to testify brother Dave.

She said all my children because I had a promise the whole time every time I thought I should give in every time people would tell me that I was foolish to stay with this man and Take all of this hurt and all this abuse.

She said God made me a promise that if I would just hold on and seek his face. He would honor me in the end. He said she said brother I've got to tell you God has honored me all four of my children are married to Christians all have good jobs.

I've got grandchildren who love me. She said I am honored and revered in my church. I'm called everywhere to speak to women's groups to young wives who are abandoning their husbands at the slightest provocation.

And she said God has honored me run the bad day. It was a bad life. Good God. She said I I wanted toward the end of his famous. He said I am so blessed and So blessed. I am so fulfilled and she closes.

She said Christ is proven All sufficient for my life. The saintly Paul had bad days days of testing and one of them Took place in Macedonia. He said in Macedonia our flesh had no rest. But we were troubled on every side without we're fighting so within were fears.

It didn't say fear fears. Mark that down inside of me. Paul said no Paul was not a Superman. Paul hurt you can't tell me this man didn't hurt when churches. He found it wouldn't even talk to him and gossip about him and turned against him and tell everyone in Asia.

He said was against him. These are all churches. He founded gave his life blood. He said the more I loved the less I'd be loved. This man hurt this man had awful days. But he said I am filled with comfort.

I'm exceeding joyful in all my tribulation because God comforted those that are cast down. What is God going to do to you when you have these awful days where doubts and fears? You may even be saying things that you never thought you could say in your heart and think things about God.

What does God? Your Heavenly Father do that does he Spank you does he chase in you does he judge you because you are having these kind of trials and you're going through these most difficult times. Paul the Apostle said he Comforted he comforted those that are cast down.

God’s Comfort in Tribulation

Hallelujah. Are you sitting in this meeting tonight really cast down. You're going through something in your life. You're having a bad day or series of days just a bad season in your life. The scripture said blessed be God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforted all who Comforted us in all our tribulations.

Now I looked at the the Greek word there. He comforts all of his children in their infirmities and in their tribulation he comforts. He doesn't come to accuse. He doesn't come to whip you. He doesn't come to abuse you.

He comes to comfort you. And the word comfort used there means to draw close to call one close. It's amazing thing about our Heavenly Father when you're going through this and feeling very unspiritual and very immature in Christ.

Thinking yourself I should have learned enough. I have heard so many messages. I have been so many years walking with God. I should have passed this point. But when you come to that point of discouragement and and you're saying to especially if you've been a teacher or a preacher of the gospel and These times come the Lord says those are the times I Call you closer to myself.

Now I'm going to tell you no honesty. I Look back over my life. And I tell you from the depths of my heart the only times I have grown in the Lord have been in my difficult times. I don't grow in times.

Not to my knowledge. There's the natural growth of those have the increase of the growth of the Holy Spirit that is natural. There's always that increase. But it's that which I'm conscious of only comes.

When I've I've been in some very difficult times. I've had to be totally dependent on the Lord and I know that there's no way I can do it myself. I've had to learn to trust him. God will put us in situations where there is nothing else to do but trust.

Or to throw it all over bird overboard and harden your heart. Glory to Jesus. So although we have bad days. And they're going to be inevitable for Especially those who are new in the Lord. Listen to me, please they should become less and less frequent as the knowledge of who you are in Christ increases there should be fewer of these days and they should be less intense and There should come a time when when the enemy comes in for an hour or two that you have the resources to deal with it now.

I told you Before that when when you're going through a hard time though, God comes in by a spirit immediately. He rushes into comfort if you allow him. He's always there at the company because you're his child and he cares about you.

Childish Reactions and Spiritual Maturity

Now what we You you it may be because of frail health Doubt fear despair depression. It keeps coming more frequently and I'm telling you folks Listen closely if if these things are happening to you more frequently you're having more more of these days that you can't seem to shake it off and the depression keeps coming on and The guilt and the fear hangs on you're in need of some real spiritual help.

Because this if you allow it to continue Can turn to a hardness of heart and I want to show you some of the scripture don't help you tonight. And I hope it will bring victory to you. Paul makes it very clear that it's possible to come out of childish bondage now many of these Bad days that we get a result of our reaction to situations in our life and reacting childishly now a child pouts a child has short interest spans a Child can be laughing one minute and screaming the next and this is what we often do when we're going through a trial.

We are very childish in our reaction and those childish reactions result in depression and guilt and fear and all these other things in Spite of our tantrums. I I've had four children 11 grandchildren, and I've seen enough tantrums in my life.

I've seen a lot of childish stuff, but never in any tantrum never in any Pouting session no matter what my children went through. I never stopped loving them. I never wrote him off. I never disowned them and Sometimes we go through difficult times and we pout and we put on a on a fleshly tantrum.

God that's where you want to act. Why should I pray? I'll read this Bible and I go through it and You know we put on these little Petty tantrums. God how long how long do I have to pray before you and I don't see a sign of anything.

God you're not doing anything. That was the tantrum Moses put on. I haven't seen you call me. I haven't seen you do anything God said wait till tomorrow. You'll see what I'm going to do now listen even though We know that our Heavenly Father loves us through every childish response.

He has something better for us. He has absolutely something better forces great desire for us is that we lay hold of the knowledge of who we are in Christ and what he has provided for us. Some of you really have not yet come in To the place where you will lay hold of your inheritance.

I want you to go with me to Galatians 4 and nail it down. Galatians the fourth chapter. When talk to you about how to come out these bad days. Galatians the fourth chapter on everybody having a bad day say a man.

Oh My goodness, I don't think you heard. I I think you said a man automatically. Because you people say a man to everything I could give my age and people say a man in this church. Verse 1. Galatians 4 chapter verse 1 now I say that the heir as long as he's a child differs nothing from a servant though.

He'd be Lord of all now. Look at me, please under the Roman tradition a Child was placed in the hands of a tutor up to the years of eight years of age. The parents paid the tutor and then from 8 to 25 then the hands of a governor took care.

It's best especially the wealthy. Paul was talking about an adopt of a father wealthy man. Who's adopted a child and he's taking this adopted child to school and placed in school under tutor. He's this tutor has one student and he tutors until he's eight years of age at eight years of age.

He turns him over to a financial guardian and that guardian takes care of until he's 25 years of age and all this time. He's an heir to a fortune. But the Bible said the heir as long as he's a child different nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all.

Now let's talk about this child becoming 25 years of age coming to full old age a full age the Apostle Paul verse 6. Let's go down to verse 2 and 3. But it's under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Even so we when we were children were in bondage under the elements of the world. Now look at me. Please Paul speaking first of all about the ministry of the law. He's saying under the Old Testament under the law.

We were in school. The the believers there were in school. They were being taught. But he said there comes a time when the schooling Ends and you move in then to Taking place as an heir as a son. You're a servant right now because you are in school.

You're a servant of the tutor. You're a servant of the governor. This this boy until he's 25 years old couldn't touch his inheritance. He had no power to Control his life. He was told when to go and when to come do this do that.

He was under the law. Now that's what he's talking about first. But he's also talking about believers today in this generation us. He said when you're a child You're childish and you're thinking when you were childhood.

You have not laid hold of your inheritance. He said you're under bondage you're under bondage by legalism laws that you establish for yourself. Most of us as Christians believe that if we could just Get the victory over this one or two things most of us think we're about 98 holy.

And we got this little 2 thing. We got to deal with and God if I just get this 2 settled if I can just make you enough promises or get my teeth like the bullet if there's something I can do and get Rid of this 2 I'll be a saint.

I Will have made it said you're still under bondage. You still don't see that's. You're not a Servant you're not a slave anymore. You're Lord of all things. You own everything your father owns. Your father adopted you loved you and he put you to school.

Do you prepare you for something? He said no. No some people say well our inheritance is eternal life folks goes beyond that. God sent the Holy Ghost to give us the earnest of it the ability to tap into that wealth.

Now here on earth. Now if you're going to tell me that this inheritance is gold and silver and material blessings, that's blasphemy. That's blasphemy. Because if God did that he's planning covetousness in our heart.

And he's leading us right to hell because that's what happened when he did it in the Old Testament Jesuit wax fat and forgot God. Let you forget him by blessing you with material things only. That's not what it all God takes care of his children.

Yes, he does. He's promised you never have to beg for food. He's going to take care of all of his children, but he says if you're if you're going to stay in this childishness. Can you imagine this this son?

It's time the fullness of time came. That's when Jesus came and died on the cross the fullness of time the inheritance was made known. He got the notice his governor is tutor everything. You're an heir now, please understand that you Graduate now you go now, and you don't need a governor to tell you how to Spend money.

You don't need your governor to tell you when and where to go. No one else is taking care of this. You're coming into maturity now. Go and claim your inheritance, and he doesn't believe it. No. We're talking about a God who comes and comforts us when we have difficult times.

Now what good is it for this father to go to this 25 year old boy now? And say son everything's going to be all right, and he comforts him. That's not what God is all about not just to comfort you. When you're still in bondage.

The father is going to say son. When are you going to take your place at my side when you coming into my house? When are you going to come and lay hold of the resources folks? 95 of God's people live far beneath their privileges.

They're living beneath their privileges. I live beneath mine. You live beneath your privileges. I don't think any of us have ever really laid hold of this promise. Verse 4 but when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law.

To redeem that which were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons and because we are sons God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father verse 7 listen. Therefore thou art no more a servant.

But a son and if a son the heir of God through Christ. Would you look at look at the Galatians 3rd chapter verse 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Look at me now. If you had faith in Christ Jesus.

Come on, raise your hand. I have faith. I have a I have a child of God if you believe that Jesus Christ Is your Lord and Savior? Let me read it again folks, it's in your Bibles. No, I don't have a special edition verse 26.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. I Go back down now to chapter 4 chapters verse 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a son than an heir of God through Christ.

You're his child. You are no longer a servant. Now you serve as a volunteer, but that is not your position now that may be an occupation that you choose. But you are a son of the Living God and because you are son.

You're an heir of all that God placed in Jesus Christ. God gave all of his glory all of his power all of his Resources and put them in Jesus Christ for in him is the fullness of the Godhead bodily and he said now you're an heir to everything that is in Christ Jesus it all is yours folks.

Setting Affection on Things Above

I'm seeing something Clear and clear every day. That this world that you see around us is not the real world. This is an apparition. The real world is in the spirit. Folks Jesus doesn't live on this earth.

He's gone to the father. He's seated the right hand. He's a man in glory. He's God, but he's also a man if he walked into this building and walked on this stage. You could see him. He would have a face.

He would have ears and nose mouth. He would look just like us he's a man and he's in glory at the right hand of the father and I want to tell you something the real inheritance. The real thing that I want more than anything else is to be with him where he is.

He has seated us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and our brother. Spoke it well this afternoon about the stuff that the things that the only thing that most of this Bad days many of us have have to do with our stuff.

We're afraid of losing stuff. We buy a house so it has a garage so we can store our stuff. You ever try to move stuff stuff stuff everywhere is stuff and we're afraid of losing stuff. He said such affection on things above the Holy Ghost comes down to draw us out of this world and Bring us into our position.

The spiritual position that he's put us with Christ in a heavenly place. Above the things of this world folks when you begin to draw closer to Jesus. You're getting further and further away from the things of this world you're getting away.

There's no such thing in a man who had who is spiritually minded who's moving out of this world. You know, I I hear I've heard preachers use a cliche Mockingly. Oh, he's so heavenly minded. He's no spiritual good.

I mean, he's so spiritually mighty. He's no earthly good. You ever heard that he's so spiritually minded. He's no earthly good. What a foolish statement. What absolute foolishness? The only way you're Ever prepared to be living on this earth.

God's way is to be spiritually minded. There's no other way you can survive With the days that are coming. I was yesterday in the one of the newspapers. It said Lifeboat practice on Wall Street. They're they're practicing what they call lifeboat.

Training now How to bail out in the ugly crisis that's coming the whole page. It's the most incredible thing I've seen far beyond anything. I've been prophesying and preaching and I see all these things coming.

But you know something the more you obey what the Lord said set your affection on things above. Not on the things of the world the less this news means to you. The less these reports mean to you. They have no meaning whatsoever after a while.

They have no meaning folks. I was walking down a country road this past week and just praying and and That scripture came to me life is just a vapor. Just a vapor. And it's gone and we're worrying about our bad days.

God’s Provision and Affectionate Love

What God wants you to do if you have a bad day first of all. You're going to be convinced that he's a heavenly father and you may stay sit here that today and say brother I just can't help it. I I am not Spiritually mature enough to deal with this but my bad day has to do with the fact that I I have a bad Situation of my job that causes stress and I get sick.

Yesterday's newspaper said 41 of all Americans now are sick daily because of stress on their jobs. Almost 50 are physically sick because of the stress on their job now. I want you to know my God has all the resources now.

These are spiritual resources that he they're all according the riches of God in Christ Jesus. There's the riches of his wisdom. We heard about there's a risk the wisdom of his knowledge the wisdom of his grace and didn't he say my God shall supply all your need.

According to the riches of God in Christ Jesus. That tells me that a loving heavenly father. I believe that God works with his children on the premise of affection. You cannot make it in these last days unless you know.

You won't make it through your bad days unless you're absolutely convinced that he affectionately loves you. There's an affection in his heart. We've been hearing that all day. This keeps me more than anything else I know beyond a shadow of a doubt he loves me.

I am so convinced that I literally he when I'm in prayer and. And he said if you draw near to me, I'll draw near to you. I just keep drawing near and worship and praise. I've literally felt his arms around me.

You heard my son stand here. He said you may laugh but he said I had Jesus kiss me on the cheek. My son just loved Jesus all his heart and he said I'm just I was loving on Jesus and he he said Jesus plan.

Yes, he said was a spiritual experience. But it was it was just like Embracing getting so close to his heart. Folks, that's what's going to take in these last days. But first of all, I'm telling you Be absolutely confident that he's affectionately Loving you.

He has a great affection in his heart. He's not mad at you. But he is concerned about all of these things now in Greek the word I Want to show this to you my God should supply all your need. This is Philippians 419.

All your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I'm going to close in just a minute. That word there need means to handle all business all that is lacking all that's necessary. He didn't promise you to fulfill all your dreams.

He didn't promise to fulfill all of your wants. You know, I want this. I want that. Best thing God can do is knock all that out of us and purify our desires. And he said I he didn't even say needs. He said I'm going to supply all your need.

Singular not plural. I'm going to supply all your need because it's one it's single. It's Christ. It is Jesus. Because he alone Satisfies. Bill Gates is the richest man in the world so many billions. He can't count them now most almost literally but every Billionaire, if you just hold on long enough and listen, they'll talk to you about Nothing they have.

Bringing them any joy or any satisfaction whatsoever. There's no joy in it. What so ever. Howard Hughes one of the billionaires who died died with eight-inch fingernails. Died with not a friend or eight people at his funeral.