Healing Afflictions
David Wilkerson teaches that afflictions can be a means of spiritual growth and a reminder of our dependence on God, and that we can cast all our cares on Him.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the transformative power of afflictions in his sermon 'Healing Afflictions,' asserting that such challenges can lead us closer to God's Word and deepen our faith. He reflects on his own experiences of pain, recognizing that afflictions can serve as a reminder of our dependence on God and can ultimately be a source of healing. Wilkerson argues that pain should not be viewed as purely negative, as it has historically produced great men of faith. He encourages believers to cast their cares upon God, acknowledging that every blessing comes with its own set of challenges. The sermon highlights the importance of embracing both afflictions and blessings as integral parts of spiritual growth.
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"Before I was afflicted I went astray: BUT NOW have I kept thy word" (Psalm 119:67).
I believe in healing. I believe in affliction. I believe in "healing afflictions." Any affliction that keeps me from going astray--that drives me deeper into his Word--is healing. God's most gracious healing force spiritually and physically can be afflictions.
To suggest that pain and affliction are of the devil is to suggest that David was driven by the devil to seek God's Word. I have suffered great pain. I have called on God for deliverance and I believe him for complete healing. Yet, while I go on believing, I continue to thank God for the present condition and let it serve to remind me how dependent on him I really am. With David I can say, "It is good for me" (Psalm 119:71).
Pain and affliction are not to be despised as coming from the devil. Such burdens have produced great men of faith and insight.
"Casting ALL your care upon him..." (1 Peter 5:7).
Paul spoke of the "cares" of the churches that were thrust upon him (see 2 Corinthians 11:28). Every newborn church was another "care" on his shoulders. Growth, expansion, lengthening of stakes always involve new cares. The man God uses must have broad shoulders. He dare not shrink under the challenge of numerous cares and responsibilities. Every new step of faith God leads me to take has brought with it numerous new cares and problems. God knows just how many cares he can trust us with. It is not that he seeks to break us--in health or strength; it is only that willing laborers are few and the harvest is so great. Cares are taken from those who refuse them and given as gifts to those who are not afraid of them. Forget the load of cares you carry--can we not cast them all on him?
Every new blessing is related to a family of cares. They cannot be divorced. You cannot learn to live with the blessing until you learn to live with the cares.
Sermon Outline
- I. Afflictions as a Means of Spiritual Growth
- A. Afflictions can drive us deeper into God's Word
- B. Afflictions can remind us of our dependence on God
- II. The Importance of Casting Cares
- A. Cares are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of God's trust
- B. Cares can be a gift from God, not a burden
- III. The Relationship Between Blessings and Cares
- A. Every new blessing is related to a family of cares
- B. We cannot learn to live with the blessing until we learn to live with the cares
Key Quotes
“'Before I was afflicted I went astray: BUT NOW have I kept thy word' (Psalm 119:67).” — David Wilkerson
“'Casting ALL your care upon him...' (1 Peter 5:7).” — David Wilkerson
“'It is good for me' (Psalm 119:71).” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should not despise afflictions as coming from the devil, but rather see them as a means of spiritual growth and a reminder of our dependence on God.
- We can cast all our cares on God, trusting in His ability to handle them.
- Every new blessing is related to a family of cares, and we cannot learn to live with the blessing until we learn to live with the cares.