There are many reasons people refuse to accept Christ. Hear Billy Graham’s responses to some of the most common excuses in this 1985 message from Anaheim, California. Watch more #MondayNightClassics weekly at 8 p.m. Eastern.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

NOW I WANT YOU TO TURN

WITH ME TO THE 14TH CHAPTER

OF LUKE’S GOSPEL.

THE 14TH CHAPTER

OF LUKE’S GOSPEL.

I’M GONNA SKIP THE LITTLE STORY

I WAS GONNA TELL YOU.

I’LL TELL YOU THAT

TOMORROW NIGHT

AND GO RIGHT INTO THIS MESSAGE.

THE 14TH CHAPTER

OF LUKE’S GOSPEL

BEGINNING AT VERSE 16.

NOW JESUS HAS BEEN INVITED

TO SUPPER.

SUPPER IS THE OLD ENGLISH WORD

FOR DINNER,

WHAT WE CALL DINNER,

EVENING.

FOR ME IT MEANS A STOP

AT MCDONALD’S HAMBURGER

OR SENDING SOMEONE DOWN

TO THE PIZZA HUT

TO GET ME A PIZZA,

BUT IN THOSE DAYS

IT WAS CALLED SUPPER.

AND WHEN I’M HOME,

WE CALL IT SUPPER,

BUT MY WIFE IS HERE TONIGHT

AND WE DON’T GET HOME

AS MUCH AS WE USED TO

BECAUSE WE HAVE

NO CHILDREN AT HOME.

WE HAVE TWO DOGS

AND WE GO BY AND SAY HELLO

TO THEM ONCE IN A WHILE.

[laughter]

THEY LOOK AFTER

OUR PLACE FOR US.

AND IF YOU EVER GO UP THERE,

THEY’LL LICK YOU TO DEATH

AND WAG THEIR TAIL

THEY’RE SO HAPPY TO SEE ANYBODY.

[laughter]

“THEN SAID HE UNTO THEM,

“A CERTAIN MAN MADE A GREAT

“SUPPER AND BADE MANY…”

NOW JESUS IS TELLING A STORY.

HE’S DONE SEVERAL THINGS

THAT HAVE EMBARRASSED

HIS HOST ALREADY.

HE WAS AT THE HOME

OF A PHARISEE

AND HE HEALED A MAN

ON THAT DAY,

BECAUSE IT WAS THE SABBATH DAY

AND HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO,

IN THEIR EYES.

HE SAID, “ALL RIGHT, IF YOU HAVE

“AN OX THAT FALLS IN THE DITCH,

“WOULDN’T YOU HELP HIM

“OUT OF THE DITCH “ON SABBATH?”

AND THEY DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING.

AND HE KNEW-, THEY KNEW

THAT HE HAD THEM.

AND THEN HE ALSO TOLD

ANOTHER STORY ABOUT A WEDDING.

THEN HE TELLS THIS STORY:

“A CERTAIN MAN MADE A GREAT

“SUPPER AND HE BADE MANY.”

IN OTHER WORDS,

HE INVITED MANY.

“AND SENT HIS SERVANT

“AT SUPPERTIME TO SAY TO THEM

“THAT WERE BIDDEN,

“COME, FOR ALL IS NOW READY.”

THEY USED TO SEND

THEIR INVITATIONS OUT

WEEKS IN ADVANCE,

AND THEN ON A DAY OR TWO

BEFORE THE DINNER

THEY SENT ANOTHER INVITATION,

A MORE PERSONAL

INVITATION TO COME.

AND THEY DIDN’T SIT IN CHAIRS

LIKE WE DO,

AND THEY DIDN’T HAVE

NAME TAGS AT THE TABLE–

THEY JUST CAME RUSHING IN.

SOMETIMES THEY’D TEAR

THE TABLE UP TRYING TO GET TO

THE BEST PLACE SO

THEY’D BE NEAR THE HOST OR GET

THE BEST FOOD OR THE BEST WINE.

AND THAT’S HOW THEY GOT THERE.

BUT UHM, JESUS WAS AT THIS FEAST

AND HAD BEEN INVITED.

AND HE WAS SITTING THERE

TELLING THEM A STORY

OF ANOTHER FEAST,

AND HE TOLD THIS STORY TO

ILLUSTRATE A SPIRITUAL TRUTH.

AND SO THIS GUY SENT HIS SERVANT

AT SUPPERTIME

TO SAY TO ALL OF THEM,

“COME, FOR ALL IS NOW READY.

“AND THEY ALL WITH ONE CONSENT

“BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSE.

“THE FIRST SAID UNTO HIM,

“I’VE BOUGHT A PIECE OF GROUND

“AND I MUST NEEDS GO AND SEE IT.

“I PRAY THEE, HAVE ME EXCUSED.

“AND ANOTHER SAID,

“I’VE BOUGHT FIVE YOKE OF OXEN

“AND I GO TO PROVE THEM.

“I PRAY THEE, HAVE ME EXCUSED.

“AND ANOTHER SAID,

“I’VE MARRIED A WIFE,

“AND THEREFORE, I CANNOT COME.

“SO THAT SERVANT CAME AND

“SHOWED HIS LORD THESE THINGS.

“THEN THE MASTER

“OF THE HOUSE WAS ANGRY,

“AND SAID TO HIS SERVANT,

“GO OUT QUICKLY INTO THE STREETS

“AND LANES OF THE CITY

“AND BRING IN THE POOR

“AND THE MAIMED

“AND THE HALT AND THE BLIND.

“AND THE SERVANT SAID,

“LORD, ALL THAT’S BEEN DONE,

“JUST AS YOU’VE COMMANDED

“BUT THERE’S STILL ROOM.

“AND THE LORD SAID

“UNTO THE SERVANT,

“GO OUT INTO THE HIGHWAYS

“AND HEDGES AND COMPEL THEM

“TO COME INTO MY HOUSE

“THAT THEY MAY BE FILLED.

“FOR I SAY UNTO YOU

“THAT NONE OF THOSE,

“NONE OF THOSE

“THAT WERE INVITED

“SHALL TASTE OF MY SUPPER.”

WHILE EATING

HE USES THESE TWO STORIES

TO TELL A VERY SERIOUS TRUTH.

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE

HAVE A SPECIAL NEED

THAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT.

I READ THE OTHER DAY,

I SAW ON TELEVISION

ABOUT A BODY SCANNER,

A NEW ONE THAT THEY’VE GOT,

WHICH CAN MONITOR

MINUTE CHEMICAL CHANGES

WITHIN DISEASED CELLS

AND VIRTUALLY

AS THEY TAKE PLACE.

ALL-SEEING EYES TO GIVE

A TOTAL READOUT

OF ALL THAT AILS YOU.

NOW GOD ALSO HAS A SCANNER

AND GOD IS SCANNING YOU TONIGHT.

HE’S SCANNING YOUR HEART

AND YOUR MIND

AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR SPIRIT.

AND HE SEES THE SPIRITUAL NEED

IN YOUR LIFE.

AND JESUS WAS SAYING

THAT WE ALL HAVE SPIRITUAL NEED.

THERE’S A UNIVERSAL GUILT.

WE’RE ALL GUILTY

OF BREAKING GOD’S LAW.

THE APOSTLE PAUL

WROTE TO THE ROMANS

IN THE THIRD CHAPTER,

“NOW WE KNOW THAT WHATSOEVER

“THINGS THE LAW SAITH,

“IT SAITH TO THEM

“THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW

“THAT EVERY MOUTH

“MAY BE STOPPED

“AND ALL THE WORLD

“BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.”

NOBODY IS GOING TO BE

AT THE JUDGMENT AND SAY,

“LORD, I DIDN’T DO THAT.”

THAT SCANNER HAS BEEN SCANNING

FROM THE MOMENT YOU WERE

CONCEIVED IN YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB.

THE COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING.

THE MOTION PICTURES

HAVE BEEN TAKEN,

NOT ONLY OF YOUR DEEDS,

BUT OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

NOW, THE LAWS OF MAN

MAY CHANGE,

BUT GOD’S LAWS NEVER CHANGE.

BUT YOU SAY,

“BUT I’VE REALLY ONLY BROKEN

“ONE OR TWO OF GOD’S LAWS.”

IF YOU’VE EVEN BROKEN ONE LAW

ONE TIME

HE SAYS YOU’VE BROKEN THEM ALL.

“FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP

“THE WHOLE LAW

“AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT

“IS GUILTY OF ALL,”

WROTE JAMES IN THE SECOND

CHAPTER AND TENTH VERSE.

AND THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

THAT PEOPLE ARE DEAD.

IN EPHESIANS 2:1 IT SAYS

“AND YOU WHO WERE DEAD IN SIN.”

OUR SPIRIT, OUR SOUL

IS DEAD TOWARD GOD.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN I TIMOTHY 5

WE’RE DEAD WHILE WE LIVE.

WE’RE ALIVE PHYSICALLY,

BUT OUR SOUL, OUR SPIRIT

THAT LIVES INSIDE OF US,

THE REAL US THAT COULD HAVE

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS DEAD!

WE’RE DEAD TOWARD GOD,

AND WHEN WE’RE DEAD

TOWARD GOD,

WE’RE DEAD TOWARD EACH OTHER,

AND THAT’S THE REASON

WE HAVE WARS,

AND THAT’S THE REASON

WE HAVE TENSIONS IN THE HOME.

THAT’S THE REASON WE CAN’T

GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.

WE’RE DEAD TOWARD GOD!

AND WHEN WE’RE SEPARATED

FROM GOD,

WE’RE DEAD TOWARD EACH OTHER.

I HEARD BISHOP KALDY,

WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE LUTHERAN

WORLD FEDERATION,

WELL, HE SAID IT TO ME,

HE SAID, “THE CLOSER WE DRAW

“TO CHRIST THE CLOSER WE ARE

“TO EACH OTHER.”

AND HOW TRUE THAT IS.

WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST,

WE’RE CLOSER TO EACH OTHER.

LOOK HERE, AT ALL THE DIFFERENT

ETHNIC GROUPS HERE,

ALL THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

IN THIS SECOND TIER AROUND,

LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE GROUPS.

HERE’S THE TAIWANESE;

THERE’S THE MANDARIN,

CANTONESE…

CAN’T READ THAT ONE,

MY EYES ARE GETTING BAD.

VIETNAMESE…

JAPANESE, KOREAN.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS.

SPANISH.

THERE’S SO MANY HISPANIC PEOPLE

HERE TONIGHT THAT I EXPECT

YOU OUTNUMBER EVERYBODY.

[applause]

AND YOU’RE MAKING A WONDERFUL

CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY

BY YOUR, BY SO MANY THINGS

YOU BRING US.

AND ALL THE DIFFERENT RACES

THAT ARE HERE.

THE BLACK PEOPLE,

THE WHITE PEOPLE.

EVERYBODY ALL MIXED TOGETHER.

WE COULD BE ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

IF WE KNEW CHRIST!

[applause]

BUT YOU SEE, WE’RE SINNERS

AND WE’RE DEAD TOWARD GOD

AND WE’RE DEAD

TOWARD EACH OTHER.

AND THEN THE SCRIPTURES SAYS

WE’RE BLIND.

IN REVELATION 3,

WE READ ABOUT THIS ONE MAN,

HE SAID, “I’M RICH.

“I’M INCREASED WITH GOODS,

“AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING,

“AND KNOWEST NOT

“THAT YOU’RE WRETCHED AND

“MISERABLE AND POOR AND

“BLIND AND NAKED.”

THESE PEOPLE AT THIS CHURCH

IN REVELATION THAT JESUS

WAS WRITING TO IN ASIA MINOR,

THEY SAID,

“WE DON’T NEED ANYTHING!

“WE’VE GOT IT ALL!

“WE’RE RICH!”

JESUS SAID, “YOU’RE NOT RICH.

“YOU’RE POOR AND YOU’RE NAKED

AND YOU’RE BLIND

“AND DON’T EVEN KNOW IT,”

AND THAT’S WORSE!

THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE,

“IN WHOM THE GOD OF THIS WORLD

“HATH BLINDED THE MINDS OF THEM

“WHICH BELIEVE NOT.”

NOW THE GOD OF THIS WORLD

IN THE BIBLE IS THE DEVIL.

THERE WE COME WITH

THE DEVIL AGAIN, THE ADVERSARY.

HE’S WORKING OVERTIME.

HE BLINDS OUR MINDS.

AND I CANNOT LIFT THAT BLIND.

NO AMOUNT OF ARGUMENT,

NO AMOUNT OF DEBATE,

NO AMOUNT OF PROOF

WILL LIFT THAT VEIL

THAT HE’S PUT OVER YOUR MIND.

ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO IT.

NOW THE BIBLE CALLS

THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE

THAT PERISH.

IT’S FOOLISH.

YOU SAY, “HOW CAN YOU BE TALKING

“ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED

“2,000 YEARS AGO THAT COULD

“AFFECT ME TODAY IN MY LIFE?”

THAT’S WHAT THE DEVIL

IS GOING TO SAY TO YOU.

THAT’S WHAT HE WANTS YOU

TO BELIEVE.

HE’S GOT A VEIL OVER YOUR MIND.

AND YOUR MIND CANNOT SEE

SPIRITUAL THINGS

OR UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL THINGS

UNTIL THE SPIRIT OF GOD

COMES AND OPENS IT.

IN EPHESIANS 4:18 IT SAYS,

“HAVING OUR UNDERSTANDING

“DARKENED.”

YOU SEE, YOUR MIND HAS BEEN

AFFECTED BY SIN.

YOU CANNOT TRUST YOUR MIND.

YOU CANNOT TRUST

YOUR CONSCIENCE.

YOUR CONSCIENCE HAS BEEN,

LIKE A COMPASS THAT’S BROKEN.

YOUR CONSCIENCE IS DEAD,

OR IT’S BEEN HARDENED

TOWARD GOD.

YOU CAN’T TRUST YOUR MIND.

YOU CAN’T TRUST

YOUR CONSCIENCE.

WHAT DO YOU TRUST?

YOU TRUST CHRIST BY FAITH,

THEN HE RESENSITIZES

THE CONSCIENCE AND HE COMES

AND OPENS YOUR UNDERSTANDING

SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

AND THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

“THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.”

SO THEY WERE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

NOW WHAT ARE SOME

OF THE EXCUSES THAT

I HEAR TODAY THAT PEOPLE MAKE?

I WANT TO LIST A FEW OF THEM

THAT SOME OF YOU ARE MAKING.

FIRST, THERE’S THAT YOUNG PERSON

OR OLDER PERSON HERE THAT SAYS,

“I WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT

“BUT I’M TOO SINFUL.

“I’LL WAIT UNTIL I’M BETTER.”

AH-HA, YOU’LL NEVER GET BETTER.

YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED

UNTIL YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT

THE GRACE OF GOD.

GOD’S GRACE CAN REACH TO

THE LOWEST DEPTH.

THERE WAS A WOMAN IN SHEFFIELD

THAT CAME ONE NIGHT TO AN USHER

AFTER THE MEETING WAS OVER

IN ENGLAND

THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO

WHEN WE WERE THERE,

AND SHE SAID, “AM I TOO LATE?

“AM I TOO LATE?”

HE SAID,

“NO, YOU’RE NOT TOO LATE.

“YOU CAN FIND CHRIST RIGHT NOW.”

SHE SAID, “I DON’T MEAN TOO LATE

“AS FAR AS THE MEETING

“IS CONCERNED.

“I MEAN, I’M 72 YEARS OF AGE,

“DO YOU THINK I’VE WAITED

“TOO LONG?”

NO!

YOU CAN COME AT ANY AGE!

BUT DON’T TEMPT GOD.

GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT,

COME WHILE YOU CAN,

BECAUSE GOD MAY SPEAK TO YOU

AGAIN BUT YOU MAY NOT

HEAR HIM AGAIN.

GOD MAY GIVE YOU

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

BUT YOUR HEART MAY NOT BE

LIKE IT IS TONIGHT.

YOU SEE, GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU

TONIGHT AND SAYING,

“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,

“TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”

JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SAVE

SINNERS AND YOU CANNOT

JUSTIFY YOURSELF.

“THEREFORE BY THE DEEDS

“OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH

“BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT.”

THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO

TO SAVE YOURSELF.

THERE WAS A MAN THAT BOASTED

THAT HE WAS A SELF-MADE MAN

TO AN EVANGELIST

A CENTURY AGO

BY THE NAME OF D.L. MOODY.

AND MOODY SAID,

“THAT RELIEVES THE LORD

“OF A TERRIBLE RESPONSIBILITY.”

[laughter]

A FAMOUS PERSON SAID

THE OTHER DAY THAT SHE HAD

ARRIVED AT THE ULTIMATE

BY BECOMING A MEMBER

OF THE WHO’S WHO.

THAT WAS TWIGGY.

SHE’S IN WHO’S WHO NOW.

AND THAT’S COMMENDABLE.

BUT HAVING YOUR NAME

IN WHO’S WHO

DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU’RE

IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

AND YOU’VE GOT TO GET

IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

BEFORE YOU GET TO HEAVEN!

YOU HAVE TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS

AND RECEIVE CHRIST

AND THEN GOD WRITES YOUR NAME

IN THE BOOK OF LIFE.

YOU SEE, THERE ARE TWO SETS

OF BOOKS THAT GOD’S KEEPING.

THE FIRST SET IS JUST CALLED

THE BOOKS.

THE MOMENT YOU’RE BORN

YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN

IN THE BOOKS

AND UNDER IT IS EVERYTHING

YOU’VE EVER SAID AND DONE

AND ALL THE THINGS

OF YOUR LIFE.

AND THEN THE MOMENT

YOU RECEIVE CHRIST,

YOUR NAME IS BLOTTED OUT

OF THE BOOKS AND REWRITTEN

IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE,

AND ONLY THOSE NAMES THAT ARE

IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

ARE GOING TO BE IN HEAVEN.

THEY’RE THE ONLY ONES.

IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN

IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?

IF I WASN’T SURE TONIGHT

THAT MY NAME WAS WRITTEN

IN THE BOOK OF LIFE

YOU WOULDN’T GET ME

OUT OF ANAHEIM STADIUM

‘TIL I HAD MADE IT RIGHT,

‘TIL I WAS SURE.

YOU MAY BE THE BEST PERSON

IN TOWN.

YOU MAY BE A FINE CHURCH MEMBER

AS YOU HEARD A MOMENT AGO.

YOU MAY DO GREAT AND

WONDERFUL THINGS

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD,

BUT DEEP IN YOUR HEART,

YOU’RE NOT SURE THAT YOUR NAME

IS WRITTEN IN THAT BOOK.

AND THAT YOU’RE READY

TO MEET GOD.

AND THEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING,

“YOU’RE OVER-SIMPLIFYING IT,

“IT JUST CAN’T BE THAT SIMPLE.”

YES, IT CAN BE THAT SIMPLE

BECAUSE JESUS SAID YOU HAVE TO

BECOME AS A LITTLE CHILD.

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TOO SIMPLE.

I WAS GIVING SOME TALKS

THREE YEARS AGO

AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY,

AND THE STUDENTS PACKED

THE GREAT ST. MARY’S CHURCH

EVERY NIGHT FOR THOSE–

THEY CALLED THEM LECTURES–

AND THEN THEY HAD FIVE OTHER

BUILDINGS WIRED WITH SOUND

SO THAT THE STUDENTS COULD

COME TO OTHER PLACES

AND LISTEN AS WELL,

AND I WAS SPEAKING.

AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT

I TALKED VERY SIMPLY.

AND THEY, IN THE MEETING

THE NEXT DAY,

THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP

THAT HAD INVITED ME TO COME,

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

OF THE UNIVERSITY,

CAME TOGETHER AND THEY SAID,

“YOU KNOW, YOU’RE TALKING OVER

“THE HEADS OF THE STUDENTS.

“YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE IT

“MORE SIMPLE.”

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF:

HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT

MORE SIMPLE?

BECAUSE I’M A VERY SIMPLE MAN.

I’M NOT A GREAT DON,

I’M NOT A GREAT PROFESSOR.

I’M NOT A GREAT INTELLECTUAL

LIKE THESE PEOPLE HERE.

BUT YOU SEE, PEOPLE COME

TO CHRIST BECAUSE, YOU SEE,

YOU MAY BE A PH.D. IN CHEMISTRY,

BUT YOU MAY KNOW NOTHING

ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD

AS FAR AS REALLY KNOWING CHRIST.

SO IT HAS TO BE SIMPLE.

AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS

THAT SAY “I’M TOO YOUNG,”

OR, “I’M TOO OLD.”

YOU SEE, IF THE DEVIL CAN’T

GET YOU WHILE YOU’RE TOO YOUNG,

TO SAY YOU’RE TOO YOUNG,

HE’LL TELL YOU YOU’RE TOO OLD.

AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE

THAT SAY,

“WELL, THERE ARE TOO MANY

“HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH.”

WELL, I AGREE TO THAT.

[laughter]

BUT YOU KNOW THERE ARE QUACKS

IN EVERY PROFESSION.

QUACKS AMONG DOCTORS.

I’M NEVER GONNA GO

TO A DOCTOR AGAIN

BECAUSE THEY’RE QUACKS!

GROCERY MAN WILL PUT HIS HAND

SOMETIMES ON THE SCALES,

IN THE OLD RURAL AREAS,

AND MAKE IT WEIGH MORE

THAN IT REALLY DOES.

AM I NOT GONNA BUY ANY MORE

GROCERIES BECAUSE THEY’RE

CHEATING IN IT?

MY WIFE WAS IN A RESTAURANT

SOME TIME AGO AND THEY ADDED

SOMETHING TO HER BILL

AND SHE LOOKED AT THAT BILL

AND SHE KNEW IT DIDN’T BELONG

SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE WAITRESS

AND SAID, “WHAT HAPPENED?

“I DIDN’T ORDER SOME OF

“THESE THINGS.”

SHE SAID, “I KNOW,

“BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE

“BEFORE YOU, THEY ORDERED IT

“AND THEY DIDN’T PAY FOR IT,

“WE HAD TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE.”

[laughter]

NOW MY FATHER WAS

A DAIRY FARMER.

AND WE HAD DAIRYMEN IN OUR AREA

THAT WERE ACCUSED, ALLEGEDLY,

OF PUTTING WATER IN THE MILK.

NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT

I’LL DRINK NO MORE MILK BECAUSE

THERE’S BEEN WATER IN IT?

WHAT ABOUT THE WATERMELONS?

SURE, I’M GONNA EAT

WATERMELONS.

JUST BECAUSE SOME LITTLE

SOMETHING, AND CHEESE…

YOU KNOW, THEY’VE GOT IT

FIXED NOW SO THAT YOU

CAN’T EAT ANYTHING!

[laughter]

IT’S GONNA CAUSE CANCER.

BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

“FOR WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES

“OF THE NUMBER

“OR COMPARE OURSELVES WITH SOME

“THAT COMMEND THEMSELVES,

“BUT THEY MEASURING THEMSELVES

“BY THEMSELVES

“AND COMPARING THEMSELVES

“AMONG THEMSELVES

“ARE NOT WISE.”

GOD CONDEMNS THE HYPOCRITES.

YES, BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE

FOR YOU.

NO EXCUSE FOR YOU.

NO EXCUSE FOR YOU.

BECAUSE EVERY CHURCH THAT

I HAVE EVER BEEN TO

HAS GOT SOME HYPOCRITES IN IT.

EVERY CHURCH.

IF YOU FIND A PERFECT CHURCH,

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT,

AND YOU JOIN IT,

IT’LL BECOME IMPERFECT.

[laughter]

BECAUSE WE’RE ALL IMPERFECT.

[applause]

AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE

THAT’LL SAY,

“WELL, I’LL HAVE TO GIVE UP

“TOO MUCH IF I COME TO CHRIST.”

WELL, YOU GIVE UP A GREAT DEAL

FOR OTHER THINGS

SUCH AS AN EDUCATION

OR POWER OR MONEY.

HAROLD MACMILLAN,

THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER

OF ENGLAND, ONCE SAID,

“POWER IS THE CHIEF MOTIVATION

“OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,

“AND NOT MONEY.

“WHETHER IT’S MONEY, POWER,

“SOCIAL PRESTIGE,

“YOU’LL DO MOST ANYTHING.”

GOD GAVE UP EVERYTHING HE HAD.

HE GAVE UP HIS SON FOR YOU.

WILL YOU COME TO CHRIST TONIGHT

AND SURRENDER TO HIM?

WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?

BEV SHEA WAS ONCE ASKED,

“WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GOD?”

HE SAID, “I DON’T KNOW MUCH

“ABOUT GOD BUT WHAT I DO KNOW

“HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.”

YOU SEE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW

EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BIBLE.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE

A THEOLOGIAN TO COME TO CHRIST.

JUST COME LIKE YOU ARE.

BUT THE THING THAT I WANT YOU

TO REMEMBER IS THAT THIS HOST

AT THIS BANQUET SAID,

NONE OF THOSE THAT REFUSE

MY INVITATION

ARE GOING TO TASTE OF MY FOOD.

AND JESUS IS TEACHING,

JESUS IS TEACHING THAT IF YOU

REFUSE THE OFFER OF MERCY

AND GRACE AND LOVE OF GOD

IN CHRIST AT THE CROSS

AND WHERE HE ROSE AGAIN

FROM THE DEAD–

IF YOU REFUSE IT,

THERE’S NO MORE HOPE FOR YOU.

“NONE OF THESE WHICH ARE BIDDEN

“SHALL TASTE OF MY SUPPER.”

THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

AND ONCE DWIGHT L. MOODY

WAS INVITED TO SPEAK

TO 5,000 ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS

IN ENGLAND.

AND WHEN HE FINISHED…

ONE FELLOW STOOD UP

IN THE REAR AND SAID,

“I DON’T BELIEVE

“A WORD YOU SAY!”

AND MOODY SAID, “ALL RIGHT,

“LET’S FIND OUT SOMETHING HERE.”

HE SAID,

“I WANT EVERY ONE OF YOU

“TO SAY ‘I WILL’ OR ‘I WON’T.’

“I WON’T RECEIVE CHRIST,

“OR, I WILL RECEIVE HIM.

“I WON’T OR I WILL;

“I WON’T OR I WILL.”

SO ONE MAN GOT UP AND SAID,

“MR. MOODY, TODAY I WILL

“RECEIVE CHRIST INTO MY HEART.

“I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

“I’M A GOOD ANGLICAN BUT I’M NOT

“SURE I REALLY KNOW CHRIST.”

ANOTHER ONE GOT UP AND SAID,

“I WON’T.”

ANOTHER ONE SAID, “I WILL.”

I WON’T, I WILL, I WON’T,

I WILL, I WON’T

‘TIL HE HAD GONE THROUGH

THAT WHOLE 5,000 CROWD.

WHICH ARE YOU SAYING TONIGHT?

YOU’VE GOT TO SAY SOMETHING.

YOU CAN’T BE NEUTRAL BECAUSE

GOD WON’T LET YOU BE NEUTRAL.

YOU’VE GOT TO DECIDE

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

JESUS SAID THERE’S A NARROW

GATE THAT LEADS TO A NARROW ROAD

THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.

HE SAID THERE’S A BROAD ROAD

THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

AND HELL.

WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON TONIGHT?

AND WHICHEVER ROAD YOU’RE ON

IS YOUR OWN DECISION.

CHRIST HAS PROVIDED THE WAY

TO THE NARROW ROAD

THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING

TO DO ABOUT IT?

WILL YOU SAY, “I WILL”?

IT’S A MATTER OF YOUR WILL

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED

AND YOU STAND BEFORE

THE MINISTER, HE DOESN’T SAY,

DO YOU LOVE THIS WOMAN?

YOU’VE ALREADY DECIDED THAT.

WILL YOU HAVE THIS WOMAN?

YOU’VE DECIDED THAT.

HE ASKS FOR YOU TO SAY,

“I WILL.”

I’M ASKING YOU TONIGHT

TO SAY TO CHRIST,

“I WILL RECEIVE YOU

“INTO MY HEART.”

WELL, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

YOU HAVE TO REPENT OF SIN.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU SAY,

“LORD, I’M A SINNER, I’M SORRY.

“I’M WILLING TO CHANGE

“MY WAY OF LIVING.

“I’M WILLING FOR YOU TO COME

“AND HELP CHANGE ME

“LIKE YOU DID MIKE.”

AND THEN YOU MUST

RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH.

THAT MEANS YOU PUT

YOUR CONFIDENCE IN HIM.

YOU PUT YOUR COMMITMENT IN HIM.

YOU’RE COMMITTED TO HIM

FOR LIFE AND FOREVER.

AND NO OTHER GODS

WILL BE THERE BUT HIM.

AND HE’S GOING TO BE FIRST

IN YOUR LIFE FROM NOW ON.

IF YOU HAVE A DOUBT ABOUT

YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST,

YOU COME AND SETTLE IT TONIGHT.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO

SOMETHING THAT WE’VE SEEN

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DO.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME

AND STAND IN THE OUTFIELD

OUT HERE, AND SAY TONIGHT,

“I OPEN MY HEART TO CHRIST.

“I’VE GOT EXCUSES,

“BUT THEY’RE ONLY EXCUSES.”

AND SOME OF THE EXCUSES WILL BE

THAT YOU’RE TOO FAR AWAY,

IT’LL TAKE TOO LONG.

YES, FROM THAT TOP DECK UP THERE

IT TAKES ABOUT 6 OR 7 MINUTES,

SO START NOW.

NOW WHY DO I ASK YOU TO

COME FORWARD PUBLICLY?

BECAUSE EVERY PERSON JESUS

CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

HE CALLED PUBLICLY!

HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING

“TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME PUBLICLY

“BEFORE MEN,

“I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU

“BEFORE GOD MY FATHER.”

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME

PUBLICLY AND OPENLY.

GOING TO ASK THAT NO ONE

LEAVE THE STADIUM NOW.

THIS IS THE HOLY MOMENT

OF THIS SERVICE.

DON’T LEAVE.

AND IF YOU’RE UP

IN THAT UPPER DECK,

GO DOWN AND AROUND.

AND IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS

OR RELATIVES, OR IN A BUS,

THEY’LL WAIT.

AND AFTER YOU’VE COME,

I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU

AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU

AND GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE

THAT’LL HELP YOU

IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

IT WON’T TAKE LONG,

BUT EVEN IF IT DOES TAKE LONG,

COME ANYWAY.

FROM ALL OVER,

WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK,

OR WHOEVER YOU ARE.

YOU MAY BE A MEMBER

OF THE CHOIR AND YOU’VE BEEN

HERE SEVERAL NIGHTS AND GOD

HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH YOU.

AND MANY OF YOU

ARE IN THE CHURCH

BUT GOD HAS BEEN

SPEAKING TO YOU

AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED

TO COME AND MAKE

THIS COMMITMENT TO CHRIST.

THERE ARE EXCUSES, OH, YES.

THE DEVIL IS GIVING YOU

SOME NEW ONES RIGHT NOW.

YOU GET UP AND COME.

WE’RE GOING TO WAIT.

THERE’S HUNDREDS THAT ARE

ALREADY ON THE WAY.

YOU JOIN THEM.

♪ JUST AS I AM ♪

♪ WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪

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.

♪ COME TO THEE ♪

♪ O LAMB OF GOD ♪

♪ I COME, I COME ♪

YOU THAT ARE WATCHING

BY TELEVISION CAN SEE

THIS GREAT ANAHEIM STADIUM

HERE IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA,

ALMOST FILLED TO CAPACITY.

ONE OF THE GREAT STADIUMS

OF AMERICA,

AND NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

WE’VE SEEN HUNDREDS,

IN FACT, EVERY NIGHT WE’VE SEEN

NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE A NIGHT

COMING TO CHRIST.

YOU CAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT

WHERE YOU ARE

WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE

COMING FORWARD HERE.

YOU CAN SAY YES TO CHRIST

RIGHT NOW.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO IT.

[applause]

YOU CAN PICK UP THE TELEPHONE

AND CALL THE PERSON

ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

CALL THAT NUMBER

THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

GOD HELP YOU TO MAKE THAT

GREAT LIFE’S COMMITMENT TO HIM

THAT’LL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.

AND BE SURE AND GO TO CHURCH

NEXT SUNDAY.

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.

OH THOU, WHOSE STILLNESS DROWNS
EARTH’S TOTAL NOISE.

ITS GRATING SOUNDS

PROGRESS

TRAFFIC

VOICE

FLUTTERINGS OF MY FRUSTRATION.

MUTTERINGS, AGITATION

THE SCREAMING SILENCES

WITHOUT, WITHIN,

THE DIN OF QUESTIONS CLAMORING
FOR THEIR WHY AND HOW?

NOW!

THE RUMBLINGS OF
MAN’S DISCONTENT…

ERRUPTING HATE, VIOLENCE.

WAR’S DISTANT THUNDER
ROLLING NEAR AND

EVERYWHERE THE CRIES OF FEAR
THAT PARALYZES AS IT GRIPS.

AND NEAR AT HAND
A FAUCET DRIPS.

OH THOU, WHOSE STILLNESS DROWNS
EARTH’S TOTAL NOISE,

ONLY IN THEE IS STILLNESS FOUND

AND I REJOICE.