The Blink Generation
The 'blink generation' is a time when people make major decisions quickly, often without consulting God, leading to disasters and chaos in life.
David Wilkerson addresses the phenomenon of the 'blink generation,' where Christians make hasty decisions without seeking God's guidance, often relying on their instincts rather than prayer. He emphasizes that many believers have shifted from a practice of consulting God and seeking counsel to making impulsive choices, which can lead to confusion and disaster. Wilkerson urges the church to return to a mindset of prayerful consideration before making significant decisions, highlighting the importance of waiting for God's direction rather than rushing into choices. He warns that this trend affects not only individuals but also church leaders who may implement changes without seeking divine wisdom. Ultimately, he calls for a revival of seeking God's voice in our lives to avoid the pitfalls of 'blink decisions.'
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Many Christians read the Bible regularly, believing it is God's living, revealed Word for their lives. Over and over in the pages of Scripture, they read about generations who heard the voice of God. They read of God speaking to his people again and again, with this phrase repeated time after time: "And God said..." Yet many of these same Christians live as though God doesn't speak to his people today.
An entire generation of believers has come to make decisions completely on their own, without praying or consulting God's Word. Many simply decide what they want to do, and then ask God to validate it. They move ahead forcefully, their only prayer being, "Lord, if this is not your will, then stop me"
We are now living in a time referred to as the "blink generation." People are making major decisions in the blink of an eye. A best-selling book has been written on this concept, titled Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. The theory is, "Trust your instincts. Blink-of-the-eye decisions prove to be the best."
Think about all the hurried-up "blink language" we hear every day: "This is an offer of the century. You can make a bundle overnight. But you have only a short window of opportunity. Get on it now!" The driving spirit behind it all is, "Blink, blink, blink!"
Such thinking has begun to infect the church, affecting the decisions made not just by "blink Christians" but by "blink ministers." Scores of bewildered parishioners have written to us telling the same story: "Our pastor came back from a church-growth conference and immediately announced, 'As of today, everything changes.' He decided we would become one of the popular trend churches overnight! He didn't even ask us to pray about it...we're all confused."
Just a few years ago, the watchword among Christians was, "Did you pray about this matter? Have you sought the Lord concerning it? Are your brothers and sisters surrounding you in prayer? Have you received godly counsel?" I ask you, has this been your practice? In the past year, how many important decisions have you made where you honestly took the matter to God and prayed sincerely? Or, how many of those decisions did you make "in the blink of an eye"? The reason God wants full control of our lives is to save us from disasters--which is exactly where most of our "blink decisions" end up.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of the Blink Generation
- The Consequences of Blink Decisions
- The Importance of Seeking God's Will
- The Need for a Change in Our Approach
- Returning to a biblical mindset of seeking God's will
- Making decisions with prayer and godly counsel
Key Quotes
“We are now living in a time referred to as the 'blink generation.' People are making major decisions in the blink of an eye.” — David Wilkerson
“The reason God wants full control of our lives is to save us from disasters--which is exactly where most of our 'blink decisions' end up.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to seek God's will in your decision-making.
- Surrender to God's control and sovereignty in your life.
- Return to a biblical mindset of seeking God's guidance and wisdom in decision-making.