You’re never out of God’s reach. Hear Billy Graham talk about second chances in this 1992 message from Portland, Oregon. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
I’M GOING TO SHORTEN MY MESSAGE
A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT,
BECAUSE
THERE’S A LITTLE CHILL UP HERE.
I DON’T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE IT
BUT WE HAVE IT UP HERE.
AND I KNOW THE STADIUM HAS
BEEN FILLED A LONG TIME,
AND YOU HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE
A VERY LONG TIME,
AND I’M SURE THAT
SOME OF YOU ARE TIRED.
AND SOME OF YOU HAVE
A LONG WAY TO GO HOME,
SO I’M NOT GOING TO
TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG
TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL.
I HEARD ABOUT A MAN THAT
WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK FOR
TWENTY MINUTES AND
HE SPOKE FOR THIRTY MINUTES.
AND AFTER AN HOUR HE WAS
STILL SPEAKING, AND,
THE MAN THAT INTRODUCED HIM
COULD STAND IT NO LONGER,
SO HE PICKED UP THE GAVEL
AND THREW IT AT THE SPEAKER.
[laughter]
AND IT MISSED THE SPEAKER
AND HIT A WOMAN
ON THE FRONT ROW.
SHE SAID, “HIT ME AGAIN.
“I CAN STILL HEAR HIM.”
[laughter]
THANK YOU.
NOW I WANT YOU TO
TURN WITH ME TO
THE 12th CHAPTER OF
MATTHEW’S GOSPEL.
THE 12th CHAPTER OF MATTHEW’S
GOSPEL, VERSE 38, WE BEGIN:
“THEN CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES
AND OF THE PHARISEES ANSWERED
“SAYING, MASTER, WE WOULD
SEE A SIGN FROM THEE,
“BUT HE ANSWERED,
AND SAID UNTO THEM.
“AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS
GENERATION SEEKETH AFTER
“A SIGN, AND THERE SHALL
BE NO SIGN GIVEN TO IT,
“BUT THE SIGN OF
THE PROPHET JONAH.
“FOR AS JONAH WAS THREE
DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS
“IN THE WHALE’S BELLY,
SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE
“THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS
IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.
“THE MEN OF NINEVEH
SHALL RISE IN JUDGMENT
“WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SHALL CONDEMN IT,
“BECAUSE THEY REPENTED
AT THE PREACHING OF JONAH.
“AND BEHOLD, A GREATER
THAN JONAH IS HERE.”
IN THIS PASSAGE,
THAT REFERS BACK TO
THE LITTLE BOOK OF JONAH ,
JUST FOUR CHAPTERS
IN THAT BOOK,
IT’S ONE OF THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS
IN THE BIBLE,
BUT IT IS ALSO ONE OF
THE MOST THRILLING AND
INTERESTING BOOKS
IN THE BIBLE.
AND YOU READ IT FROM
ONE END TO THE OTHER,
AND IT’S FILLED
WITH EXCITEMENT,
BUT IT’S ALSO FILLED
WITH THE GOSPEL.
HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD
TO WHEN CHRIST WOULD COME,
AND WOULD DIE ON THE CROSS.
AND SPEND THREE DAYS, AND
THREE NIGHTS, IN THE GRAVE,
AND BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
WE WERE IN FLORIDA,
JUST AFTER ANDREW CAME IN.
WE WENT DOWN TO SOUTH DADE.
WE CONDUCTED A SERVICE.
IT WAS CALLED
THE SERVICE OF HOPE,
FOR THE PEOPLE THERE.
JESSE JACKSON WAS THERE.
HE CAME AND SAT ON THE PLATFORM,
AND LED A PRAYER.
THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
HAD INVITED US.
AND WE SAW A DEVASTATION SUCH
AS WE’VE NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE.
I DON’T THINK HIROSHIMA
OR NAGASAKI IN JAPAN
SUFFERED ANYTHING WORSE
THAN WHAT YOU SEE TODAY
IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
BUT IT SEEMS THAT SO MANY
STORMS AND HURRICANES
ARE COMING UP THIS YEAR,
AND OTHERS ARE BEING FORMED
IN OTHER PLACES.
THEN WE READ ABOUT GUAM.
AND THEN THE STORM THAT HIT
FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN,
JUST THREE OR FOUR DAYS AGO,
THAT DID IN SUCH DEVASTATION
IN SOUTHERN FRANCE.
AND HERE, THESE PHARISEES
AND SADDUCEES
AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS
ARE LISTENING TO JESUS,
AND THEY ASK HIM FOR A SIGN.
THEY SAID, “LORD,
GIVE US A SIGN.”
“WHAT KIND OF SIGN WILL YOU
GIVE US TO SHOW THAT YOU
“ARE REALLY THE SON OF GOD?
“YOU DO THESE MIRACLES,
BUT GIVE US A REAL SIGN.”
AND JESUS SAID,
“YOU ARE AN EVIL
“AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION,
“AND YOU ARE
SEEKING FOR A SIGN.
“YOU WANT SOME BIG SHOW
“TO PROVE THAT I AM
THE SON OF GOD.
“BUT THE ONLY SIGN
YOU’RE GOING TO GET
“YOU WILL GET IN READING
THE BOOK OF JONAH .”
YEARS AGO, A FRONT-PAGE
STORY IN A NEWSPAPER SAID,
THAT A TWO-TON SHARK
HAD BEEN LASSOED
BY AN AUSTRALIAN.
THAT PROBABLY WAS
CROCODILE DUNDEE.
[laughter]
AND ALSO IN AUSTRALIA,
A MAN WAS STALKED
BY A KILLER CROCODILE
WHO CAUGHT THE MAN
AND COUGHED HIM UP
IN EIGHT PIECES.
WE MADE A MOTION PICTURE
IN AUSTRALIA ONCE,
CALLED, THE SHADOW
OF THE BOOMERANG.
AND THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL
YOUNG WOMAN THAT WAS
THE STAR OF THAT PICTURE.
AND AFTER WE LEFT SHE WENT
SWIMMING WITH HER BOYFRIEND
OUT ON ONE OF THE BEACHES.
AND SHE WAS IN ABOUT
THREE OR FOUR FEET OF WATER,
JUST WADING, AND A SHARK CAME,
AND TOOK OFF HER LEG.
AND BEFORE THEY COULD
GET ANY HELP TO HER,
SHE HAD DIED.
NOW THIS,
HAS BEEN CALLED
A FISH STORY.
BUT IT’S MORE THAN THAT.
IT’S A TRUE STORY.
IT’S THE STORY THAT JESUS
HIMSELF REFERS TO.
HE ATTESTED TO IT.
THERE ARE 300 DIFFERENT
KINDS OF SHARKS ALONE.
BUT THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY
THAT JONAH WAS SWALLOWED
BY A WHALE.
IT SAYS THAT JONAH WAS SAVED,
NOT DESTROYED,
BY A BIG FISH.
AND I BELIEVE IT BECAUSE
THE BIBLE HAS IT,
AND JESUS AUTHENTICATED IT.
WITH ALL THE THINGS
THAT ARE HAPPENING
IN THE BIOLOGICAL WORLD TODAY,
PEOPLE HAVE MUCH LESS
DIFFICULTY CREDITING
THE FACTS OF THIS STORY,
THAN THEY DID FIFTY YEARS AGO.
GOD HAD COME TO JONAH.
HE LIVED IN THE NORTHERN
PART OF ISRAEL.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN
THE FIRST VERSE OF JONAH ,
“NOW THE WORD OF THE LORD
CAME UNTO JONAH.”
THE WORD OF THE LORD
CAME UNTO JONAH.
BUT JONAH DID NOT LIKE
THE CALL THAT HE GOT.
GOD SAID, “I WANT YOU
TO GO TO NINEVEH.
“THAT GREAT WICKED CITY,
THAT’S THE CAPITAL
“OF THE MOST POWERFUL
EMPIRE IN THE WORLD.
“AND I WANT YOU TO GO
AND PREACH TO THEM.
“AND PREACH REPENTANCE,
“AND TELL THEM
IF THEY DON’T REPENT
“I AM GOING
TO DESTROY THEM.”
AND JONAH DIDN’T LIKE THAT.
HE DIDN’T LIKE THE NINEVITES.
BECAUSE THE NINEVITES WOULD
COME WITH THEIR ARMIES,
AND THEY WERE VERY CRUEL PEOPLE.
HISTORY TELL US THAT THEY
WERE AMONG THE MOST BRUTAL
PEOPLE OF ALL HISTORY.
AND THE WAY THEY TREATED
THEIR PRISONERS WAS
SOMETHING YOU HARDLY WOULD
REPEAT FROM THE PLATFORM.
IT WAS SO HORRIBLE
AND SO TERRIBLE.
AND JONAH DIDN’T LIKE THEM.
IN FACT HE HATED THEM.
AND HE SAID,
“I’M NOT GOING TO GO, LORD.
SO HE WENT DOWN TO JOPPA,
BOUGHT HIM A TICKET,
GOT ON A SHIP TO
GO TO TARSHISH,
WHICH IS ON THE OTHER
END OF SPAIN.
AND WHILE HE WAS ON THAT SHIP,
A STORM CAME UP,
A HURRICANE CAME UP.
AND THE SAILORS
WERE FRIGHTENED.
THEY THOUGHT THEY
WERE GOING TO PERISH,
AND THEY SAID,
“THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG.”
THEY BEGAN TO PRAY
TO THEIR VARIOUS GODS.
AND THE CAPTAIN WENT DOWN
INTO THE HOLD OF THE SHIP,
AND SAW JONAH LYING
THERE ASLEEP.
AND THE CAPTAIN REALIZED
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,
BECAUSE HE HEARD THAT JONAH
WAS RUNNING FROM HIS GOD.
AND THE CAPTAIN WOKE HIM UP.
AND THE SAILORS
EVENTUALLY CAST LOTS,
AND THEY DECIDED,
ALONG WITH JONAH,
HE ADMITTED THAT HE WAS
THE ONE THAT WAS WRONG.
AND THEY SAID
“WHAT’LL WE DO WITH YOU?”
HE SAID, “THROW ME
OVER THE SIDE,
“AND WHEN I GO OUT
OVER THE SIDE,
“THE SEA WILL CALM DOWN.”
THE PSALMIST SAID, “WHITHER
SHALL I GO FROM THY SPIRIT,
“OR WHITHER SHALL I FLEE
FROM THY PRESENCE?”
JONAH COULDN’T
GET AWAY FROM GOD.
THE DEVIL WILL ALWAYS
HAVE A SHIP READY
WHEN A PERSON WANTS
TO SAIL AWAY FROM GOD.
JONAH THOUGHT
HE HAD PAID THE FARE.
AND THE SHIP’S CAPTAIN
ALSO THOUGHT THE SAME.
THEY WERE BOTH MISTAKEN.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE FARE
THAT ANYONE EVER PAYS
IS WHEN HE SAILS
AWAY FROM GOD.
THEN YOU REALLY PAY A PRICE.
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.
THE STORY IS TOLD OF AARON BURR,
WHO WAS AT PRINCETON,
AND HE WENT TO AN
EVANGELISTIC MEETING,
AND HE CAME UNDER CONVICTION
OF SIN FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND HE WENT UNDER THE STARS
AT NIGHT, AND HE SAID,
“GOD, I CAN’T STAND
THIS CONVICTION THAT
“YOU HAVE UPON ME
OF MY SIN.
“IF YOU’LL LEAVE ME ALONE,
I’LL NEVER BOTHER YOU AGAIN.”
AND FROM THAT TIME ON,
WE’RE TOLD THAT
HIS SOUL WAS DEAD.
HE TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING
TOWARD THE END OF THIS LIFE,
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.
THESE SAILORS CAST THEIR LOT,
AND IT FELL UPON JONAH,
AND JONAH CHANGES HIS MIND.
AND GOD HAD
PREPARED A BIG FISH.
THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS,
HE HAD HAD TIME TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
WHAT A TERRIBLE AGONY
HE MUST’VE BEEN IN.
THERE ARE TWO WAYS
TO MEET JUDGMENT.
RESIST, AND GO
DEEPER IN SIN,
OR TURN BACK TO GOD.
PETER WALKING ON THE WATER,
BEGAN TO LOOK AROUND,
TOOK HIS EYES OFF JESUS.
AND HE SAID, “LORD, SAVE ME.”
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE ARE
DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
YOU ARE A BODY,
BUT LIVING INSIDE YOUR BODY
IS YOUR SPIRIT, YOUR SOUL.
THAT’S THE PART OF YOU THAT
CAN HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
AND THAT’S DEAD.
AND IT CAN ONLY BE MADE ALIVE
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
WHEN YOU COME AND
REPENT OF YOUR SINS,
AND RECEIVE CHRIST AS
YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
GOD PROVIDES EVERY
MEANS TO ESCAPE.
BUT YOU ARE BOUND HAND
AND FOOT BY YOUR OWN SINS.
THE SPIRIT MUST COME
AND CUT YOUR BANDS,
AND THEN YOU WILL
LEAP TO LIBERTY.
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
THIS STORY TELLS US
THE STORY OF THE CROSS.
THAT JESUS CHRIST
DIED ON THE CROSS.
THAT HE WAS BURIED.
THAT HE ROSE AGAIN.
THAT HE’S ALIVE TONIGHT.
HE’S WILLING TO COME
INTO YOUR HEART
AND CHANGE THE DIRECTION
OF YOUR LIFE,
AND GIVE YOU A PEACE
AND A JOY
THAT YOU’VE
NEVER KNOWN BEFORE.
JONAH’S GOSPEL.
“AND THE LORD SPOKE
UNTO THE FISH,
“AND IT VOMITED OUT JONAH
UPON THE DRY LAND.
“AND THE WORD OF THE LORD
CAME UNTO JONAH
“THE SECOND TIME.”
GOD GAVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
GOD SAID, “GO ON TO NINEVEH.
“SO JONAH AROSE, AND
WENT UNTO NINEVEH,
“ACCORDING TO
THE WORD OF THE LORD.
“AND HE CRIED AND SAID…”
HE BEGAN TO
SPEAK IN NINEVEH.
HE SAID, “GOD IS GOING
TO SPARE YOU
“FOR ANOTHER 40 DAYS.
“BUT REPENT, REPENT.
“JUDGMENT IS COMING.”
THIS WAS GOD SPEAKING
THROUGH HIS MESSENGER.
NOW JONAH DIDN’T
WANT TO DO IT.
HE DIDN’T FEEL
LIKE DOING IT.
BUT HE WAS DELIVERING
THE MESSAGE FROM THE LORD.
AND JONAH’S MESSAGE GAVE
NO PROMISE OF MERCY.
IT WAS A MESSAGE
OF REPENTANCE.
YET THE PEOPLE
OF NINEVEH BELIEVED HIS MESSAGE.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
THE GREATEST REVIVAL,
THE GREATEST EVANGELISTIC
CAMPAIGN IN THE HISTORY
OF THE WORLD TOOK
PLACE IN NINEVEH.
IT WAS A CITY PROBABLY
OF 600,000 PEOPLE,
LESS OR MORE, ACCORDING TO
WHICH COMMENTARY YOU READ.
AND THE WHOLE CITY, FROM
THE KING ON DOWN, REPENTED.
THE KING TOOK OFF HIS ROBES,
AND STEPPED DOWN
FROM HIS THRONE,
AND GOT DOWN IN
THE STREET, AND THE DUST,
IN SACK CLOTH AND ASHES,
AND REPENTED OF HIS SINS.
AND GOD, HAD MERCY UPON,
NOT ONLY THE KING,
BUT ALL THE PEOPLE.
AND ALL
THE PEOPLE WERE SAVED.
THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE.
WOULDN’T IT BE A WONDERFUL
THING, IF IN PORTLAND,
THE WHOLE CITY,
THE WHOLE STATE OF OREGON,
THE WHOLE OF THE NORTHWEST,
WOULD TURN TO GOD?
[applause]
THE KING IMMEDIATELY
PROCLAIMED A FAST.
AND THE PEOPLE DIDN’T EAT,
THEY DIDN’T DRINK;
THEY FASTED AND PRAYED.
THEY HAD A GREAT SPIRITUAL
RENEWAL IN NINEVEH.
“THE MEN OF NINEVEH,”
JESUS SAID,
“SHALL RISE IN THE JUDGMENT
WITH THIS GENERATION
“AND SHALL CONDEMN IT
BECAUSE THEY REPENTED
“AT THE PREACHING OF JONAH.
“BUT A GREATER THAN
JONAH IS HERE.”
IF THEY REPENTED AT
THE PREACHING OF THE JONAH,
HOW MUCH MORE
SHOULD THEY REPENT
WHEN THEY HEAR
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?
GOD IS WARNING US RIGHT NOW,
THROUGH THE SPREAD OF AIDS,
THROUGH HURRICANES, AND
EARTHQUAKES, AND VIOLENCE,
AND ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS,
THAT ARE NOW AFFECTING
THE WHOLE WORLD.
OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS,
GOD IS USING TO SPEAK TO US.
AND IF WE DON’T REPENT,
AND TURN TO HIM,
JUDGMENT WILL REALLY COME.
IN GENESIS 6,
SPEAKING OF NOAH’S DAY,
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“MY SPIRIT SHALL NOT ALWAYS
“STRIVE WITH MAN.
“YET HIS DAYS SHALL
BE 120 YEARS.”
GOD SAID, “I’LL GIVE YOU
120 YEARS TO REPENT.
“IF YOU DON’T REPENT, YOU’RE
ALL GOING TO BE DESTROYED.”
THEN AT THE LAST, WHEN NOAH
WAS READY TO GO INTO THE ARK,
GOD SAID, “I’LL GIVE ‘EM
SEVEN MORE DAYS.
“AND THEN THAT’S IT.”
GOD’S GRACE IS
GREATER THAN OUR SINS.
NINEVEH HEARD
BUT ONE PREACHER.
HOW MANY PREACHERS
HAVE YOU HEARD?
HOW MANY CHRISTIAN
TELEVISION
AND RADIO PROGRAMS
HAVE YOU LISTENED TO?
HOW MANY CHURCH SERVICES
HAVE YOU BEEN TO?
HOW MANY BIBLES
ARE IN YOUR HOME?
NINEVEH HAD ONLY
A SINGLE WARNING,
A SINGLE SERVICE,
AND THE WHOLE CITY,
TURNED TO GOD.
NOW JONAH WAS NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
HE DIDN’T WANT TO SEE
THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH SAVED.
JONAH HAD A VERY
WEAK MOMENT,
NOT NECESSARILY A WEAK MAN,
BUT A WEAK MOMENT DOES
NOT PROVE THAT IT’S A WEAK MAN.
MANY OF US HAVE HAD
OUR WEAK MOMENTS.
AND MANY OF US HAVE DONE
SOMETHING WE SHOULDN’T
HAVE DONE IN A WEAK MOMENT.
BUT IF YOU REPENT
IMMEDIATELY,
AND SAY, “OH LORD, I’M SORRY.
“PLEASE HELP ME NOT
TO DO THAT AGAIN,”
HE’LL FORGIVE YOU.
AND SO JONAH WENT OUT
TO THE EAST OF THE CITY,
AND DECIDED TO TAKE HIS
CAMPER AND GO REST OUT THERE
AND JUST LOOK
DOWN ON THE CITY.
HE WAS UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.
HE WANTED TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE.
HE WANTED TO SEE IF
THIS REVIVAL LASTED.
HE WANTED TO SEE IF THIS
EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN LASTED.
HE DIDN’T BELIEVE IT WOULD,
BECAUSE HE DIDN’T HAVE
ANY CONFIDENCE IN
THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH AT ALL.
HE DIDN’T HAVE
CONFIDENCE EVEN IN GOD,
THAT GOD COULD DO THIS.
BUT GOD PREPARED A GOURD
TO GROW OVER HIM
TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE WIND
AND THE BURNING SUN.
AND JONAH BECAME SO
ATTACHED TO THAT GOURD
THAT HE ALMOST FELL
IN LOVE WITH IT.
HE LOVED THAT GOURD,
WHICH PROTECTED HIM,
MORE THAN HE DID GOD.
AND GOD SAID, “IF YOU LOVE
YOUR GOURD UPON WHICH
“YOU HAVE EXPENDED NEITHER
TIME NOR LABOR,
“HOW IS IT THAT YOU DO NOT
UNDERSTAND MY LOVE
“TOWARD NINEVEH WHICH
I HAVE PLANTED?
“TO WHICH I’VE GIVEN
YEARS OF ATTENTION,
“AND UPON WHICH I HAVE BESTOWED
THE LABORS OF EVERLASTING LOVE.”
THIS IS THE GROUND OF
GOD’S GRACE TOWARD US.
HE MADE YOU TO BE BORN.
HE PUT TIME AND EFFORT
THROUGH YOUR FAMILY,
AS BUCK TOLD US
A FEW MINUTES AGO.
HE POURED OUT HIS LOVE.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“BUT GOD COMMENDS HIS LOVE
“TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE
WE ARE YET SINNERS,
“CHRIST DIED FOR US.”
THE THINGS WE GET OUT OF
THIS LITTLE BOOK OF JONAH .
GOD HAS A CONCERN FOR YOU.
GOD IS POWERFUL, AND CAN
USE THE FORCES OF NATURE
TO WAKE YOU UP, AND TO
BRING YOU TO THE KINGDOM.
ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, 1929,
GEORGIA TECH PLAYED
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE ROSE BOWL.
IN THAT GAME, A PLAYER
RECOVERED A FUMBLE.
BUT BECAME CONFUSED,
AND RAN THE WRONG WAY.
A TEAMMATE TACKLED HIM,
JUST BEFORE THE,
HE SCORED A TOUCHDOWN
AGAINST HIS OWN TEAM.
AT HALF TIME, ALL THE PLAYERS
WENT INTO THE DRESSING ROOM,
AND SAT DOWN, WONDERING
WHAT THE COACH WOULD SAY.
THIS YOUNG MAN
SAT BY HIMSELF,
PUT A TOWEL OVER HIS HEAD,
AND CRIED LIKE A BABY.
WHEN THE TEAM WAS READY TO
GO BACK ON THE FIELD FOR
THE SECOND HALF, THE COACH
STUNNED THE TEAM WHEN
HE ANNOUNCED, THAT THE SAME
PLAYERS WHO STARTED
THE FIRST HALF WOULD
START THE SECOND.
ALL THE PLAYERS LEFT
THE DRESSING ROOM
EXCEPT THIS YOUNG MAN;
HE WOULDN’T BUDGE.
THE COACH LOOK BACK,
AND CALLED HIM AGAIN,
AND SAW HIS CHEEKS WERE WET,
WITH A STRONG MAN’S TEARS.
AND HE SAID, “COACH,
I CAN’T DO IT.
“I’VE RUINED YOU.
“I’VE RUINED AND DISGRACED
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
“I’VE RUINED MYSELF.
“I COULDN’T FACE THAT CROWD
IN THE STADIUM AGAIN.”
THEN THE COACH PUT HIS HAND
ON HIS SHOULDER AND SAID,
“ROY, GET UP AND GO BACK.
“THE GAME IS ONLY HALF OVER.”
WHEN I READ THAT STORY,
DEEP INSIDE,
I SAID, “WHAT A COACH.”
WHEN I READ
THE STORY OF JONAH,
AND THE STORIES OF THOUSANDS
LIKE HIM, I SAY,
“WHAT A GOD, THAT WOULD
GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.”
AND FOR SOME OF YOU, HE’S
GIVING YOU OTHER CHANCE TONIGHT,
TO GIVE YOUR HEART
AND YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST,
AND TO MAKE SURE IF YOU DIED
YOU’D GO TO HEAVEN.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GET UP
OUT OF YOUR SEAT RIGHT NOW.
AND COME AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THIS PLATFORM
AND SAY BY COMING,
“I OPEN MY HEART AND
GIVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST.”
MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN BAPTIZED
OR CONFIRMED AND YOU’RE A GOOD
MEMBER OF THE CHURCH, BUT
DEEP INSIDE YOU’RE NOT SURE.
YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN HOW
YOU STAND BEFORE GOD,
AND YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN
THAT YOU HAVE REPENTED,
OR THAT YOU’VE REALLY,
BY FAITH,
RECEIVED HIM AS LORD
AND SAVIOR.
HE OFFERS HIS MERCY,
AND HIS LOVE,
AND HIS GRACE
TO YOU TONIGHT.
AND HE SAYS, “I LOVE YOU.”
AND I’M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO COME.
YOU SAY, “WHY DO YOU ASK
PEOPLE TO COME PUBLICLY?”
EVERY PERSON THAT JESUS CALLED,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY,
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
EVERY PERSON THAT
CAME TO CHRIST
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
WAS PUBLIC.
HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME
“BEFORE MEN, I’LL NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU
“BEFORE MY FATHER,
WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
YOU GET UP AND COME,
RIGHT NOW.
FROM UP IN THE TOP GALLERY,
ALL THE WAY AROUND,
AND IF YOU’RE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION
IN THE OTHER PLACES,
IN THE OTHER STADIUM,
GET UP AND GO IN
FRONT OF YOUR SCREEN,
AS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
BEGINNING TO COME HERE.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT.
PRAY FOR THE PERSON
TO THE RIGHT OF YOU,
AND LEFT OF YOU.
FRONT OF YOU,
AND BACK OF YOU.
PERHAPS NO ONE EVER
PRAYED FOR THEM BEFORE,
THAT THEY WOULD
FIND THE SAVIOR.
YOU PRAY FOR THEM.
LET’S HAVE THIS WHOLE
AUDIENCE IN SILENT PRAYER,
PRAYING THAT GOD WILL DO
A MIGHTY WORK HERE TONIGHT
IN THE HEARTS
OF MANY PEOPLE.
AS MANY PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
ON THE WAY, YOU COME.
FROM UP ON THE TOP ROW,
IT’LL TAKE YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE
TO COME, SO START NOW.
IF YOU’RE WITH
FRIENDS OR RELATIVES,
YOU CAN BRING YOUR
FRIEND WITH YOU,
OR THEY’LL WAIT ON YOU.
OR IF YOU’RE IN A BUS,
THEY’LL WAIT.
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME,
I’M GOING TO HAVE A PRAYER
WITH YOU AND SAY A WORD TO YOU,
AND GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE
TO HELP YOU IN
YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
YOU GET UP AND
COME RIGHT NOW,
WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT
ARE ALREADY COMING.
YOU IN THE OTHER PLACES THAT
ARE WATCHING BY TELEVISION,
CANNOT SEE WHAT WE SEE HERE,
AS HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE ARE COMING,
TO MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST TONIGHT.
AND YOU CAN COME, IN YOUR
STADIUM, IN YOUR PLACE,
THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION.
YOU MAY BE IN THE CHOIR,
AND GOD HAS SPOKEN
TO YOU THESE NIGHTS.
AND YOU’VE BEEN HAVING
A STRUGGLE INSIDE,
AS TO WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
DON’T WAIT ANY LONGER.
YOU MAY WAIT TOO LONG.
MAKE IT TONIGHT.
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME;
“TODAY IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION.”
YOU COME.
I’M GOING TO ASK THAT PEOPLE
NOT LEAVE THE STADIUM AT
THIS HOLY MOMENT, BECAUSE IT
KEEPS OTHERS FROM COMING.
JUST GET UP AND COME.
THERE’S A LITTLE VOICE INSIDE,
THAT SAYS, YOU OUGHT TO COME.
THAT’S THE VOICE
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
YOU COME.
AS HUNDREDS ARE RESPONDING TO
MR. GRAHAM’S INVITATION
TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST,
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SAME
COMMITMENT
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
JUST PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL THE NUMBER
YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
SPECIAL FRIENDS ARE WAITING
TO TALK WITH YOU
AND PRAY WITH YOU ABOUT
THIS MOST IMPORTANT DECISION.
♪ WAS SHED FOR ME ♪
♪ AND THAT THOU BIDST ME,
COME TO THEE ♪
♪ OH, LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
♪ JUST AS I AM… ♪
JUST AS HUNDREDS HERE HAVE
RESPONDED TO THE INVITATION
TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST,
YOU CAN TOO,
WHEREVER YOU ARE.
JUST CALL THE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
SPECIAL FRIENDS WANT TO HELP YOU
WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION
YOU COULD EVER MAKE.
SO DON’T WAIT,
CALL NOW!
♪ TO THEE WHOSE BLOOD
CAN CLEANSE EACH SPOT ♪
♪ OH, LAMB OF GOD, I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
THERE’S STILL TIME TO MAKE
THAT IMPORTANT DECISION
CALL THE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN.
SOMEONE IS WAITING TO PRAY
AND TALK WITH YOU.
PLEASE DON’T PUT IT OFF.
CALL RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER
WITH MY FATHER,
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST,
WHY DON’T YOU CALL
THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.
THERE WILL BE SOMEONE THERE TO
TALK WITH YOU, PRAY WITH YOU AND
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND REMEMBER,
GOD LOVES YOU!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST,
PLEASE CALL US RIGHT NOW,
TOLL FREE AT
1-877-772-4559.
THAT’S 1-877-772-4559.
OR YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT:
BILLY GRAHAM
1 BILLY GRAHAM PARKWAY
DEPARTMENT C
CHARLOTTE, NC 28201
OR YOU CAN CONTACT US ON THE WEB
24/7 AT PEACEWITHGOD.TV.
WE’LL GET THE SAME HELPS TO YOU
THAT WE GIVE TO EVERYONE
WHO RESPONDS AT THE INVITATION.
ON BEHALF OF
FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND
THE BILLY GRAHAM
EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
(Billy Graham)
THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY,
ONLY ONE HOPE.
♪ HEAR THE SOUND OF
A BRAND NEW DAY ♪
♪ WITNESS THE STORY
THAT NEVER FA-A-ADES ♪
♪ COME, COME WITH ME ♪
♪ TO THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY ♪