Another Message By Billy Graham! (Upd8 on 15/05/2010)

10/05/2010

We cannot have a merry Christmas or a happy new year when we have become slaves to the passions and vices that hound us. These things—materialism, money, artificial pleasure—are crowding Christ out of Christmas for multitudes. They are so busy with a thousand and one other things that they have no time to consider the message of the Baby of Bethlehem.

On that first Christmas, 2,000 years ago, the world experienced three phenomena:

First, The Star:
Many stars shone in the sky, but none like this one. This one shone with aura and brilliance! It was as though God had taken a lamp from the ceiling of Heaven and hung it in the dark sky over a troubled world.

Second, A New Song in the Air:
A world that had lost its song learned to sing again. With the coming of God in the flesh, hope sprang up in the hearts of people. Led by angelic beings, we can now take up the refrain, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).

And Third, Good News:
...the Good News that at last a Savior had come to save men and women from sin: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was the central theme of that first Christmas. The star, the song, the gifts, the kneeling, the joy, the hope, the excitement—all were because of Him.

God’s star promised peace to the world if we will believe and trust Him. But having rejected Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we have no peace in the world. Too often our synthetic stars bring only fear, anxiety and war.

11/05/2010

In our world today are self-proclaimed saviors, people who claim to be God’s gift to the world. How different they are from Him who “was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The Scriptures say, “There is born to you this day … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Heaven and Earth joined together! God and mankind reconciled. Hope for the hopeless, pardon for the guilty, forgiveness for the conscience-stricken, peace for those who knew no peace, Good News for those who have had nothing but bad news!

Yes, Jesus Christ can save us from despair. I have talked with many leaders, and one thing that most of them have in common is pessimism. The tensions, conflicts and seemingly insoluble problems of this world tend to make them cynical and doubtful.

We should blame ourselves for the troubles of the world. We have a spiritual disease, and that disease is called sin. Until sin is conquered, the world will not be a better place in which to live.

When people willfully reject the Prince of Peace, they pay a terrible price. A secular and materialistic society that has rejected the Prince of Peace yields to pessimism and despair. The blighting cynicism that has come as a result of our rejection of God is reflected in our literature, our art, our films, our television programs and even our pulpits.

12/05/2010

This is what the cross and the resurrection are all about. And Christmas is not Christmas without the message of the death and resurrection of Christ. This is why He was born. This was the message of the first Christmas night: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The Christmas message says that God’s grace is greater than our sin. It says that the sin question was answered at the cross. Christmas says that the cross went as deep as our needs. The cross was the cure, offered, paid for and administered by a loving God in His beloved Son.

I never come to Christmas without thinking of the thousands of people who are lonely, diseased and troubled at this time of year. Christmas is a reminder from God Himself that we are not alone. The Prophet Isaiah said that His name would be called Immanuel, which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). God revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus a reconciling love that rescues us from separation and loneliness.

At this Christmas season, in spite of all the pessimism and cynicism, in spite of all the headlines about murders, assassinations, riots, demonstrations and war, Jesus Christ is alive. He is alive to conquer despair, to impart hope, to forgive sins and to take away our loneliness. He is alive to reconcile us to God.

This Christmas, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Give Him the gift that He wants—your heart, your soul, your life. 

13/05/2010 

But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we renounce our dependence on ourselves and our own strength, and we yield ourselves to His control. As we commit our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ each day, the Spirit of God fills us and empowers us for the work God has for us.

The Spirit-filled life is the normal Christian life. It enables the evangelist to speak the Word of God with boldness. When the early Christians received threats that might have diminished their boldness, they had special prayer for a fresh in-filling. God granted their request and, once again, they “spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

My wife, Ruth, often reminded me that I should always preach from an “overflow.” I know what she meant. To be so filled with Scripture and so filled with the Holy Spirit that day or night I can give a reason for the hope that is within me, or give a Bible exposition, or give an evangelistic sermon (John 7:38-39, 1 Peter 3:15).

This Spirit-filled life was not an option for the early church; neither is it an extra for today. It is essential. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is an indispensable requirement to enable people to be “born of the Spirit.”

There is another reason for us to know the fullness and control of the Holy Spirit. We will encounter supernatural opposition. Beyond human opposition to our work, we can expect spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). The “prince of the power of the air … now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).  

14/05/2010


That’s why we cannot convert anyone. We cannot match the power of Satan, but we do have authority over him when we call on the power of God’s indwelling Spirit. The supernatural opposition we face is also one reason why one of the most important aspects of evangelism is prayer.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul clearly indicated that the evangelistic ministry is a fight, not a frolic. And he realized the need of supportive prayer by God’s people. Paul sought intercessors, prayer partners, among the Ephesian Christians who would pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. “Praying … for me,” he continued, “that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel”
(Ephesians 6:18-19).

The apostles certainly understood the Holy Spirit to be the Third Person of the Godhead—not an ethereal influence but a Person, who is an essential part of evangelism. Their evangelistic task would have been impossible without His indwelling and control.

Finally, the servant of God knows when he is not spiritually prepared to proclaim the Gospel because he has grieved the Holy Spirit by committing sin (Ephesians 4:30). Maybe bitterness has crept into his life, or envy of Christians who seem to have greater blessing. It could be jealousy concerning another evangelist who appears to be more successful. Or anger. Or unkindness. His prayer life may have suffered and his Bible reading may have been neglected.


15/05/2010


Even when that which is wrong is confessed and forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9), we may be called to walk by faith, not by feeling, as we minister. Some of our most effective service may be accomplished without a consciousness of having been successful and effective. God rewards the faith we place in the power of the Spirit to use Scripture and to bless the witness of even the weakest vessel. His Word will not return empty but will accomplish that which He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11).

Constantly, and in all humility, we need to remind ourselves that “unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1).

Is your life controlled by the Spirit of God? Or has some sin crept into your life and clogged the channels of His blessing? Turn to Christ for cleansing, and yield your life without reserve to His Lordship. Then in constant dependence upon the Holy Spirit, let Him use you for His glory to touch other lives for Christ.
The End.

Billy Graham:
Billy Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—over 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through the various ministries of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1, NIV)

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you"   (Isaiah 60:1, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD

I believe that in the coming decade God wants to exceed your expectations! He has amazing things stored up for you. He'll take you places that you've never dreamed and give you breaks that seemed impossible. His glory is rising upon His people. Things are going to fall into place so that you can accomplish what God has placed in your heart. Even the hidden dreams that you've given up on, God has not given up on. He is going to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all you could ask, think, or imagine!

Your mind may try to talk you out of it, but if you'll listen with your heart, it will resonate on the inside of you. Don't let discouragement hold you back or keep you down. It's time for you to arise. It's time for you to shine. Let that sink down into your spirit today because it's time for you to receive every spiritual blessing and move forward in the destiny He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. Thank You for choosing me and for preparing a bright future for me. I will arise and I will shine. Let everything I do bring honor to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Understanding Jesus' Sacrifice

READ | Matthew 26:36-46

Matthew 26:36-46 (New International Version)

Gethsemane

 ³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  ³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
 ⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
 ⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
 ⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
 ⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

 






Jesus journeyed into the deepest pit of despair hours before His crucifixion. In the garden of Gethsemane, He repeatedly prayed that “the cup” would pass away (Matt. 26:39). Christ was staring into a chalice of wrath and judgment that must have made His soul recoil (Is. 51:17). Mankind had filled it with the most depraved and evil deeds and thoughts they could conceive. According to Scripture, Jesus Christ did not just die for our sins; He became our sin (2 Cor. 5:21). The holy, perfect Lamb took on Himself all that was vile and dark.

Furthermore, Jesus knew the consequences of accepting mankind’s evil. God’s holiness prevented Him from being in the presence of sin. Therefore, the Father would have to separate Himself from the Son. Jesus had always enjoyed perfect oneness and relationship with God. To contemplate a wrenching rejection and separation must have been terrifying.

There was no question that Jesus would do God’s will. He would become sin and be separated from the Father, if that’s what was required to save mankind. For a while in the garden, He pleaded for another route to our redemption. However, when it was clear that the Father’s answer was “No, this is the only way,” Jesus obediently sacrificed Himself.
Jesus Christ sacrificed more than His life. He exchanged perfection for wickedness and holy union for separation. The Savior did this so we could be transformed into righteous men and women with an eternal future. No wonder all of heaven exalts Him (Rev. 5:11-14). We must do the same.

The Credibility Gap

A Message by Billy Graham (FU (COMPLETED)

Jesus Christ had a very interesting encounter with Pontius Pilate about credibility.

Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). And then Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

That question is what universities are all about—searching for truth in the realm of science, philosophy, psychology and many other disciplines. What is truth? How do we get truth? And how do we know it when we have it? The debate that is raging in America now is about truth, and it reveals somewhat of a credibility gap.

Pilate must have faced the same thing 2,000 years ago; he had a credibility gap. He asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

If you look at a Bible, it says “Holy Bible.” Why do we call it a “Holy” Bible? You can’t pick up a book that has any more hate in it, any more killing, any more wars, any more meanness, any more wickedness, any more deceit than the Bible. But it is called holy.

You know why the Bible is called holy? Because it tells the truth. The Bible tells the truth about God. The Bible tells the truth about man. The Bible tells the truth about the devil. The Bible tells the truth about its characters. If this Book had been written by men who were not under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you would never have heard about their sins and their weaknesses and their failures. But the Bible tells the truth about all of these things.




Update (04/05/2010) :

The Bible tells us that the devil himself created the first credibility gap. I believe that the devil is gathering his legions right now, all over the world, for an intensification of activity on a scale the world has never known because we are approaching the end of age. And Satanic activity is greater than it has ever been.

Jesus said a very interesting thing. He said the wheat and the tares will grow together (Matthew 13:26-30). There is a great interest today in Jesus. When you talk about the church, sometimes young people turn you off; but they don’t turn you off when you talk about Jesus. They are interested in the person of Jesus—what He taught, what He believed, what He said, what He did, how He died, how He rose from the dead, what His plan is for the future of the world.

But there is also an intensification of evil in the world. Never before have we seen such cruelty, such widespread hunger, such killings and wars. And have you ever read of so much crime—horrible crime, terrible crime—where people kill just seemingly for the joy of killing? Evil has intensified its activities. Jesus said the wheat and the tares will grow together.

The Bible teaches that behind all this evil is a real devil. There is a devil; there is a force of evil that is stirring up the evil in the hearts of people. Jesus never spared any adjectives in describing the devil; Jesus called him a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). He said the devil is the god of this world (John 14:30), the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The devil is behind all the deception and delusion that is going on in the world today.

Update (05/05/2010) :

In the second chapter of Genesis, we read about a tree of which God said, “In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Man was in a perfect paradise. No sin had ever been committed. There was no murder, no lust, no hate, no war, no poverty, no pollution. Everything was perfect, and God said, “It is all yours. You will enjoy it forever, but don’t take of that one tree.” Why? God was testing man, because God gave man the freedom of choice.

The Bible says the devil came to Adam and Eve and tempted them. He said: “You know God says that if you eat of that tree, you are going to die. But I am going to tell you something: You are not going to die; God is jealous of you. God knows that when you eat of that tree, you will be like God. Go ahead; eat of that tree. You don’t have to obey God. Listen to me” (Cf. Genesis 3:4-5).

They listened to the devil; they believed a lie instead of the truth of God. Man rebelled against God, and all the troubles and all the sufferings and all the wars of all history have come about as a result of the fact that man is in rebellion against God. The devil created the first credibility gap. And ever since that time, men have been stealing and lying and killing and hating and lusting and all the rest of it.

We can inherit physical diseases from our parents. But we also inherit a spiritual disease called sin. And behind sin, the Bible says, is the devil.

Update (06/05/2010) :

The Bible says that man believes a lie rather than the truth, and that we exchange the truth of God for the devil’s lies. For example, the Bible teaches that marital disloyalty is sin. B

Well, I want to tell you what the Bible says: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And you can never commit one sexual sin and get away with it. God will see to it that you will be caught, and you will pay for it.

Young people try drugs, alcohol and permissive sex in order to find peace and joy and happiness and purpose and meaning in their lives. But they find none of those. Why not? It is the devil’s lie. The devil is telling you a lie. He says, “You will be like gods. This is the way to pleasure, this is the way to happiness, this is the way to have a good time.” The Bible says there is pleasure in sin— “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). But then comes the kickback: “The wages of sin is death.”

Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). What is truth? Jesus said, “I am the Truth” (John 14:6). He is the ultimate Truth, and He also told the truth.

Jesus told the truth about love. The Bible says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). God loves you! The greatest love story in the universe is God’s love for man: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). And the greatest picture of love is on the cross, where Christ died in your place. That’s how much God loved you. He laid down the life of His Son. When Jesus cried, “My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), in that terrible moment Jesus suffered the agonies of hell and judgment for you. Jesus took your sins on that cross and died in your place.
 

Update (07/05/10): 

Jesus told the truth about conversion. Don’t let that word throw you. That word converted means changed. You must be converted—not to a system, not to a philosophy, not to a church. You must be converted to the Person of Jesus Christ, so that Jesus Christ is your Savior and your Lord and your Master. Has that taken place in your life?

 
Jesus said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Have you been converted? Are you sure of it? Has there been a time in your life when you repented of your sins?


Jesus said, “The truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Free from the penalty of sin; you will never have to go to hell. Free from the power of sin. And someday you can be free from the very presence of sin, because when you die and go to Heaven, there won’t be any sin there. Have you been set free?

Jesus is the Truth; the devil is the liar. You have to choose. I am going to ask you today to choose Jesus. Choose Christ and say, “I will receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Master and my Savior. I want to follow Him and serve Him.”

Eternal Life

READ | John 3:16-17

I have heard many reasons why people are uncertain about their eternal future. “I sin too much,” says one. “I don’t feel saved, Pastor,” says another. Someone else worries that she did not follow the “right procedure” to ask for forgiveness. Still others have erroneously learned from their families or churches that no one can be sure of salvation.

My response to all of these rationales is the same: If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death on the cross purchased God’s forgiveness for your sins, then you are saved. And you can be sure.

God’s promises never change. He said that those who trust in His Son would have eternal life (John 5:24). What’s more, a believer cannot be snatched from God’s hand (John 10:27-30).

The Lord loves us unconditionally. Nothing can separate a believer from God’s love (Rom. 8:35-39). Satan’s charges against us can never change how precious we are to our Father.

The Savior’s work on the cross is finished. Jesus Christ made one perfect sacrifice—His own life. In this single act, He atoned for every sinful deed, word, and thought (Heb. 9:11-12, 26). When we receive His salvation, it is ours forever.

God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins so we could live eternally in His presence. It really is that simple. Whatever your doubts, ask the Holy Spirit to confront them with biblical truth. He will quietly assure your heart that you are God’s child forever (Rom. 8:16).

God's Blessings

READ Psalm 81

Our heavenly Father delights in meeting His children's needs and fulfilling their desires. Yet many Christians walk through life with less than God's best. How can we avoid missing His blessings?

Psalm 81 provides insight. The writer refers to a time when the Israelites missed out on God's best. As we know from Exodus, the
nation gratefully praised Him for their release from bondage. But they quickly forgot and worshiped other gods, complaining about their circumstances in the wilderness. This unhealthy pattern continued throughout the Old Testament, as the people would turn to Jehovah in time of need and then drift.

Verses 8-10 reveal God's perspective: "O Israel, if you would listen to Me! Let there be no strange god among you . . . I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it."

We, too, might have needs and desires that are unmet because of disobedience.Today, most people don't worship statues, as the wayward Israelites did. Our idols are less obvious—they might include a relationship, job, hobby, or anything else we put ahead of the Lord. Even making decisions based upon what others think can be idolatry; our choices should be based upon biblical principle
and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Ask the Lord to reveal anything that hinders your receiving His best. Listen carefully, and let Him help with the areas He brings to your attention. He is ready to guide you and bless you.

A Decision to follow Jesus

READ | Luke 5:27-28
 
Scripture answers the question, Who is Jesus? Once we have that information, we must decide what to do with it. Some may desire to ignore the truth of what they have learned, but that’s actually not an option. God calls us either to accept or reject Jesus as Savior; avoidance is actually a form of rejection.
 
How, exactly, can we accept Jesus in our life? We must believe in Him. This means placing confidence in the person of Christ, knowing that His death on Calvary’s cross paid for all our sin. This is not merely an intellectual understanding; rather, it is a total surrender to Jesus as the only One who can forgive our sins, thereby bridging the gap between us and the Father. When we receive the Savior, we immediately become children of the King!
 
Believers must also follow Christ’s ways. Allowing Jesus to live out His Lordship through our lives means yielding our will and desires to His. In addition, Christians are to worship Him. We ought to be so overwhelmed by His presence that our hearts and lips overflow with adoration.
 
One last thing, of course, is that we’re to share the truth with others. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His followers to spread the good news of salvation to the entire world (Matt. 28:19-20).
 
We are blessed to have God’s Word readily available. And this benefit leaves no excuse for ignorance regarding the person of Jesus Christ. Once we know who He is, we must decide whether we will surrender our lives to Him. He longs for an intimate, personal relationship with you. Will you let Him?