Do you ever doubt where you’ll spend eternity? See if you fit Billy Graham’s description of a true believer in this 1993 message from Columbus, Ohio. Watch more #MondayNightClassics weekly at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
NOW TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME
TO FIRST JOHN
THE FIFTH CHAPTER.
“THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN
UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE
“ON THE NAME
OF THE SON OF GOD,
“THAT YE MAY KNOW
THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
“AND THAT YE MAY BELIEVE
ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.”
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT KNOWING,
BEING ABSOLUTELY SURE,
THAT YOU KNOW CHRIST,
BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN
TO GIVE YOU ASSURANCE
THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN
AND THAT YOU’RE GOING TO HEAVEN.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN , THOUGH,
WAS WRITTEN THAT
“YOU MIGHT BELIEVE THAT JESUS
IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,
“AND THAT BELIEVING,
YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE
“THROUGH HIS NAME.”
IN OTHER WORDS,
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
WAS WRITTEN TO BRING YOU
TO CHRIST,
AND THE LITTLE JOHNS
WERE WRITTEN TO HELP YOU
TO KNOW HOW TO LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
AND TO BE SURE
THAT YOU DO KNOW CHRIST.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT GO TO CHURCH,
AND SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED,
AND SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN
CONFIRMED IN THE CHURCH,
BUT THEY DON’T HAVE
THE ASSURANCE,
THEY DON’T HAVE
THE CERTAINTY.
THEY DON’T KNOW FOR SURE
THAT CHRIST LIVES
IN THEIR HEART.
SO FIRST JOHN WAS WRITTEN
THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
IN FIRST JOHN 3:23 IT SAYS,
“AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT
“THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE
ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.”
DO YOU BELIEVE?
WELL, YOU SAY,
YES, I BELIEVE.
DO YOU REALLY?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT “BELIEVE”
MEANS IN THE BIBLE?
WHAT FAITH IS IN THE BIBLE?
IT MEANS THAT YOU PUT
YOUR TOTAL WEIGHT ON CHRIST.
IT’S THE STORY THAT I TOLD
THE OTHER NIGHT.
I’LL TELL IT AGAIN,
ABOUT THIS FELLOW
THAT CAME OVER FROM FRANCE,
AND HE ANNOUNCED THAT
HE WAS GOING TO PUT
A TIGHT ROPE ACROSS
NIAGARA RIVER AT NIAGARA FALLS
AND HE WAS GOING TO
WALK ACROSS IT.
A BIG CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER,
THE CANADIAN SIDE
AND THE AMERICAN SIDE,
AND THEY WATCHED,
AND SURE ENOUGH,
HE WALKED OVER
AND HE WALKED BACK,
AND THEY APPLAUDED.
HE DID IT TWO OR THREE TIMES,
AND THEN HE TOOK
A WHEELBARROW,
AND HE PUT 200 POUNDS
OF DIRT IN IT,
AND ROLLED IT OVER
AND ROLLED IT BACK,
AND ROLLED IT OVER
AND ROLLED IT BACK.
THEN HE ASKED,
“HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE
I CAN ROLL A MAN ACROSS?”
AND THEY SAID,
“OH, WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.”
AND SO, THERE WAS ONE MAN
IN THE FRONT ROW
THAT WAS QUITE ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT IT.
AND HE SAID, “SIR,” HE SAID,
“WOULD YOU MIND STEPPING
“IN THE WHEELBARROW
AND BEING THE FIRST MAN?”
WELL, THAT MAN WAS GONE.
[laughter]
I DON’T BLAME HIM.
[laughter]
BUT YOU SEE,
THAT’S WHAT FAITH IS.
YOU PUT YOUR TOTAL WEIGHT
IN THE WHEELBARROW.
YOU PUT YOUR TOTAL WEIGHT
ON CHRIST.
AND CHRIST IS THE ONE
THAT YOU’RE TO PUT
YOUR FAITH IN.
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH
THAT CHRIST IS…
“WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH
THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST
“IS BORN OF GOD.”
“NOW FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE
OF THINGS HOPED FOR,
“AND A CONVICTION
OF THINGS NOT SEEN.”
REAL FAITH CARRIES WITH IT
THE IDEA OF COMMITMENT.
NOT JUST BELIEVING
WITH YOUR HEAD,
BUT A COMMITMENT
OF YOUR LIFE;
OF EVERY PHASE OF YOUR LIFE
TO CHRIST.
YOUR VOCATION,
YOUR STUDIES,
YOUR GIRLFRIEND,
YOUR BOYFRIEND.
YOUR SEX LIFE.
EVERYTHING IS COMMITTED
TO CHRIST.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS:
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE,
HAVE YOU REALLY COMMITTED
YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST
ALL THE WAY?
GET THAT SETTLED.
THEN THE SECOND QUESTION
IN THIS EXAMINATION:
A CHANGED ATTITUDE
TOWARD SIN.
FIRST JOHN 1:8 AND 10 SAYS,
“IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN
WE DECEIVE OURSELVES
“AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.”
YES, AS CHRISTIANS,
SOMETIMES WE SIN.
WE MAY SIN WITHOUT
KNOWING IT,
BECAUSE THERE ARE SINS
OF OMISSION,
SINS OF COMMISSION,
SOMEBODY YOU SHOULD
HAVE HELPED,
SOMEBODY YOU SHOULD
HAVE SMILED TO TODAY
THAT IT WOULD HAVE
ENCOURAGED THEM,
AND YOU DIDN’T DO IT.
BUT HE SAYS,
“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,
“HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST
TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS,
“AND TO CLEANSE US
FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”
IF YOU DO SIN,
THERE’S A REMEDY.
GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU
IF YOU CONFESS IT.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS,
“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
HIS SON
“CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.”
THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED
ON THE CROSS WHEN CHRIST DIED
HAS THE POWER
2,000 YEARS LATER,
TO WASH ALL YOUR SINS AWAY.
I THANK GOD THAT
HE STAYED ON THAT CROSS
AND WHEN THEY PUT THOSE NAILS
IN HIS HANDS
AND THE SPIKE
THROUGH HIS FEET,
AND THE SPEAR IN HIS SIDE,
HE STAYED THERE.
HE DIDN’T COME DOWN.
HE STAYED ON THE CROSS
BECAUSE HE LOVED YOU.
HE LOVES YOU TONIGHT.
WHOEVER YOU ARE,
WHATEVER YOU’VE DONE,
HOWEVER BAD YOU’VE BEEN,
HE LOVES YOU.
AND WHEN HE USES…
[applause]
NOW AFTER YOU HAVE COME
TO CHRIST,
WHAT SHOULD BE YOUR ATTITUDE
TOWARD SIN?
FIRST, IF YOU DO
COMMIT A SIN,
CONFESS IT IMMEDIATELY.
SECONDLY, FORSAKE IT
IMMEDIATELY WITH HIS HELP.
THIRDLY, SEEK AFTER
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.
BE SURE THAT YOU
DON’T DO THAT AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE
WILL COMMIT A SIN
AND THEN THEY COME TO GOD
AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS,
AND THEN THEY’LL GO
AND COMMIT THE SAME SIN,
COMMIT IT OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
IT MEANS YOU TURN FROM SIN.
YOU DON’T GO BACK
AND DO THAT AGAIN.
IN THE 23RD PSALM ,
DAVID SAID,
“HE RESTORES MY SOUL.”
DO YOU NEED YOUR SOUL
RESTORED TONIGHT?
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
HERE TONIGHT
THAT ARE BELIEVERS
BUT YOU NEED TO
REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE.
YOU NEED A NEW SURRENDER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT
THAT GOD IS CALLING
TO BE A MISSIONARY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT
THAT GOD IS CALLING
TO WORK IN THE CHURCH.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT
THAT GOD IS ASKING TO
SPEAK TO PEOPLE
WHERE THEY LIVE AND
WHERE THEY WORK,
TO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT CHRIST,
AND THAT’S MISSION WORK.
IF YOU’RE A MEMBER
OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
AND HAVE REBELLED
YOU CAN CONFESS IT
AND YOU CAN RECEIVE
FORGIVENESS
AND FULL RESTORATION,
AND HE RESTORES YOUR SOUL.
THAT’S A WONDERFUL THING.
AND THEN THE THIRD
QUESTION IS THIS:
DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE
TO OBEY GOD?
FIRST JOHN 2:3 SAYS,
“AND HEREBY WE KNOW
THAT WE KNOW HIM
“IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.”
GO THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND MARK UP EVERY PLACE
WHERE IT SAYS,
YOU SHOULD DO THIS,
OR, YOU SHOULD LIVE THIS WAY.
AND FIND WHERE YOU’VE FAILED.
AN INFALLIBLE SIGN
OF THE NEW BIRTH
IS THAT WE WANT
TO OBEY CHRIST.
I DON’T OBEY CHRIST
BECAUSE I’M AFRAID
NOT TO OBEY HIM.
I OBEY HIM BECAUSE I WANT TO,
I LOVE CHRIST.
I WANT TO OBEY HIS WILL.
I WANT TO DO THE THINGS
HE WANTS ME TO DO,
LIKE A DAILY DEVOTIONAL LIFE.
IT’S HARD TO HAVE
A DAILY DEVOTIONAL LIFE
BECAUSE THE DEVIL
FIGHTS YOU SO.
IF YOU OPEN THE BIBLE
AND START READING,
THE DEVIL WILL MAKE YOU SLEEPY.
OR SOMEBODY WILL COME IN
IMMEDIATELY
AND WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
OR MAYBE THERE’S A GOOD
TV PROGRAM ON
AND THE TEMPTATION IS
TO TURN THAT TV PROGRAM ON.
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TIME
TO PRAY
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TIME
TO READ THE BIBLE.
THEN FOURTHLY,
THERE’S THE SEPARATION
FROM THE WORLD.
IN FIRST JOHN 2 ,
“LOVE NOT THE WORLD,
“NEITHER THE THINGS
THAT ARE IN THE WORLD.
“IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD,
“THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
IS NOT IN HIM,
“FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD
IS THE LUST OF THE FLESH,
“THE LUST OF THE EYES,
“THE PRIDE OF LIFE,
“IS NOT OF THE FATHER,
BUT IS OF THE WORLD.”
AND IF YOU LOVE THE WORLD
MORE THAN YOU DO CHRIST,
YOU’RE NOT IN
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
AND HOW MANY OF US TONIGHT
LOVE THE WORLD?
THE DEVIL IS CALLED
THE GOD OF THIS WORLD.
HE’S CALLED THE PRINCE
AND POWER OF THE AIR.
HE HAS TREMENDOUS POWER.
THERE ARE MANY DEMONS
IN THE WORLD.
AND THOSE DEMONS ARE WORKING
WITH THE DEVIL
TO DESTROY YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
THE MOMENT YOU RECEIVE CHRIST,
THE DEVIL IS GOING TO BE
AFTER YOU.
HE’S GOING TO TEMPT YOU.
HE’LL BRING THINGS TO YOU
THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED
YOU’D BE TEMPTED TO DO.
TEMPTATION IS NOT OF GOD.
TEMPTATION COMES
FROM THE DEVIL.
AND HOW DO YOU FIGHT THE DEVIL?
HE TEMPTED JESUS.
HE CAUGHT JESUS AT A TIME
WHEN JESUS HAD NOT EATEN
OR HAD ANYTHING TO DRINK
FOR FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS
IN A WILDERNESS.
AND HE TEMPTED JESUS
THREE TIMES.
AND THEY WERE REAL
TEMPTATIONS.
AND HOW DID JESUS COMBAT HIM?
HE DIDN’T ARGUE;
HE DIDN’T DEBATE.
HE DIDN’T USE
HIS SUPERNATURAL POWER.
HE JUST QUOTED SCRIPTURE.
EVERY TIME SATAN CAME
WITH HIS TEMPTATION,
JESUS QUOTED A PASSAGE
FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT,
A SCRIPTURE VERSE.
AND THAT’S THE REASON
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT
TO MEMORIZE
ALL THE SCRIPTURE YOU CAN.
I’VE REACHED THE AGE
WHERE IT’S HARD
TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE.
I WISH I’D MEMORIZED
10,000 TIMES MORE
THAN I DID
WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
WHILE YOU’RE YOUNG,
WHILE YOU’RE IN SCHOOL
AND AFTER YOU LEAVE SCHOOL,
THOSE EARLY YEARS,
YOU CAN RETAIN SCRIPTURE.
YOU SEE, YOU TAKE
A SCRIPTURE VERSE
AND MEMORIZE IT,
AND THAT’LL STAY WITH YOU
ALL YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU REPEAT IT
WEEK AFTER WEEK
AND WEEK AFTER WEEK,
IT’S YOURS FOR LIFE.
AND WHEN THE DEVIL COMES
WITH HIS TEMPTATION,
YOU’RE THERE
WITH THE SWORD,
BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE
IS CALLED
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
AND THAT’S YOUR ARMOR
THAT YOU USE TO FIGHT SATAN
WHEN HE COMES.
ARE YOU SEPARATED
FROM THE WORLD?
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“AND THE WORLD PASSES AWAY,
“AND THE LUST THEREOF,
“BUT HE THAT DOETH
THE WILL OF GOD
“SHALL ABIDE FOREVER.”
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I FACE
SOME SITUATION,
SHALL I WATCH
THIS TV PROGRAM?
SHALL I GO TO THIS FILM?
SHALL I DO THIS PARTICULAR
THING THAT’S IN THE WORLD?
AND THERE’S A DOUBT
IN MY MIND
AS TO WHETHER I SHOULD DO IT
OR NOT DO IT,
THERE ARE CERTAIN QUESTIONS
ONE CAN ASK YOURSELF.
FIRST, I ASK MYSELF:
DOES IT VIOLATE
ANY PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURE?
THE THING I’M THINKING
ABOUT DOING–
DOES IT VIOLATE
ANY PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURE?
SECONDLY, DOES IT TAKE
THE KEEN EDGE
OFF MY CHRISTIAN LIFE?
I’M NOT KEEN FOR GOD
AFTER SEEING THAT
AS I WAS BEFORE I SAW IT.
THIRDLY, CAN I ASK
GOD’S BLESSING ON IT?
AND THEN I ASK MYSELF
THE FOURTH QUESTION:
IS IT A STUMBLING BLOCK
TO OTHERS?
IF SOMEONE ELSE
WHO WAS A BELIEVER
SAW ME DOING THIS THING,
SAYING THAT THING,
LOSING MY TEMPER,
WHATEVER…
IS THAT GOING TO BE
A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THEM?
AND THEN THE FIFTH QUESTION
I ASK MYSELF IS:
DO I LOVE…
OTHER CHRISTIANS
OF ALL DENOMINATIONS?
DO I LOVE OTHER PEOPLE?
DO I LOVE THE POOR
ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
HELPING THEM IN THEIR POVERTY?
DO I LOVE THE PEOPLE
IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT
COLOR SKIN?
DO I REALLY LOVE THEM?
OR DO I JUST PUT IT ON?
IS THIS JUST AN ACT
THAT I PUT ON?
IS IT A REAL LOVE AFFAIR
WITH PEOPLE,
NO MATTER WHAT
THEIR BACKGROUND MAY BE?
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
“WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN
PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE
“BECAUSE WE LOVE.”
“HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER
ABIDETH IN DEATH.”
MANY CHILDREN OF GOD
WHO DO NOT WALK WITH CHRIST
THINK THAT OTHER THINGS
ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE
THAN WALKING WITH CHRIST,
AND ASKING OURSELVES
SUCH QUESTIONS AS THIS.
HOW CAN WE LIVE
IN THE PRESENT SOCIETY
AND BE SEPARATED
FROM THE WORLD
THAT IS RUN BY THE DEVIL?
HOW CAN WE?
ONLY WITH THE HELP OF CHRIST.
AND THEN, SIXTHLY,
IF YOU REALLY DO KNOW CHRIST,
YOU DO NOT PRACTICE SIN.
FIRST JOHN 5:18,
“WE KNOW THAT WHOSEVER
IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT,
“BUT HE THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF GOD
KEEPETH HIMSELF
“AND THAT WICKED ONE
TOUCHETH HIM NOT.”
THE DEVIL CAN’T TOUCH HIM.
YOU SAY, BUT IT SAYS,
“SINS NOT.”
THAT WORD ACTUALLY MEANS,
DOESN’T PRACTICE SIN.
YOU MAY MAKE A MISTAKE
AND YOU MAY YIELD
FOR A MOMENT,
AND YOU MAY FALL ONE TIME,
OR TWO TIMES, OR TEN TIMES,
OR TWENTY TIMES,
OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE…
BUT YOU WON’T PRACTICE SIN.
YOU WON’T DO IT OVER AND
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU’LL CONFESS IT
AND FORSAKE IT AND GIVE IT UP,
AND SAY, “LORD, HELP ME,
I’M SO WEAK.
“I NEED YOUR HELP
TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE.”
AND THEN SEVENTHLY,
THERE’S THE WITNESS
OF THE SPIRIT.
IF YOU REALLY KNOW CHRIST,
YOU WILL KNOW IT
BECAUSE THERE’LL BE A WITNESS
OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR HEART.
“THE SPIRIT HIMSELF
BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT
“THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN
OF GOD.”
HOW DO I KNOW?
NOT ONLY THE WORD OF GOD
TELLS ME,
NOT ONLY MY LIFE TELLS ME
THAT I KNOW GOD,
BUT…
IT’S LIKE THE LITTLE BOY
THAT WAS FLYING HIS KITE
AND THE KITE HAD GOTTEN
OUT OF SIGHT,
LIKE THESE LOW CLOUDS
OVER HERE TODAY.
AND THE TOP OF THE TOWERS,
THE TELEVISION TOWERS,
YOU COULDN’T SEE
THE VERY TOP
BECAUSE THE CLOUDS
WERE SO LOW.
AND THIS BOY’S KITE
HAD DISAPPEARED.
IT HAD GOTTEN SO HIGH,
BUT HE WAS HOLDING ON.
HE COULDN’T SEE IT.
AND SOMEBODY SAID,
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
HE SAID,
“I’M FLYING A KITE.”
THEY SAID,
“WE DON’T SEE A KITE.
“HOW DO YOU KNOW
IT’S UP THERE?”
“OH,” HE SAID,
“I FEEL THE TUG OF IT.”
AND WHEN YOU COME
TO KNOW CHRIST,
YOU FEEL THE TUG OF CHRIST
IN YOUR HEART,
AND YOU KNOW THAT HE LIVES
IN YOUR HEART.
DO YOU FEEL THAT TUG
IN YOUR HEART?
DO YOU?
DO YOU?
IF YOU’RE NOT ABSOLUTELY SURE
THAT CHRIST LIVES
IN YOUR HEART
AND YOU’RE TOTALLY
COMMITTED TO HIM,
YOU CAN MAKE THIS THE MOMENT
IN WHICH A GREAT TRANSFORMATION
TAKES PLACE IN YOUR LIFE.
KNOW, AND YOU WILL HAVE
A POWER THAT YOU DON’T HAVE.
YOU SEE, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
YIELDING TOTALLY,
NOT TO YOURSELF
AND NOT TO YOUR FRIENDS,
NOT TO MATERIAL THINGS,
BUT YIELDING TO CHRIST.
A YIELDED MIND MAKES
AN INTELLIGENT CHRISTIAN.
NOW, SECONDLY,
A YIELDED SEX LIFE
MAKES A DYNAMIC CHRISTIAN.
YES, THERE’S NOTHING
WRONG WITH SEX.
GOD GAVE IT TO US.
IT’S ONE OF HIS GREAT
GIFTS TO US.
IT’S FOR OUR ENJOYMENT.
IT’S FOR,
TO KEEP THE RACE GOING.
AND WE’RE TO ENJOY SEX,
BUT WITHIN THE BONDS
OF MATRIMONY.
SEX IS FOR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
AND THE FULFILLMENT
OF MARRIED LOVE.
ALL THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS
WE’RE TRYING TO USE SEX FOR
ARE MERELY UNSOLVED
SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS
WHICH ONLY CHRIST
CAN SOLVE.
[applause]
AND THEN A YIELDED BODY
MAKES A USEFUL CHRISTIAN.
IN ROMANS 6 IT SAYS,
“LIKEWISE RECKON YOURSELVES
TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN
“BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD THROUGH
JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
“LET NOT SIN THEREFORE
REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY…”
DON’T LET SIN CONTROL YOU.
“…THAT YOU SHOULD OBEY IT
AND THE LUST THEREOF,
“NEITHER YIELD YE YOUR MEMBERS
“AS INSTRUMENTS
OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN,
“BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD
AS THOSE THAT ARE
“ALIVE FROM THE DEAD,
“AND YOUR MEMBERS AS
INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
“I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE
BRETHREN BY THE MERCIES OF GOD
“THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR BODIES
A LIVING SACRIFICE
“ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD.”
OUR BODIES BELONG TO GOD.
OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW A YIELDED HEART
MAKES A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
INDICATES THAT
27 MILLION AMERICANS ARE
AFFLICTED WITH HEART DISEASE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE
THE SPIRITUAL DISEASE
OF THE HEART.
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT
IN PROVERBS 12
THE DECEIT THAT’S
IN THE HEART.
PROVERBS 14:
MAN IS A BACKSLIDER IN HEART.
PROVERBS 18:
THE HEART OF MAN IS HAUGHTY.
PROVERBS 22:
SIN IS BOUND UP IN THE HEART.
MAN’S REAL HEART PROBLEM
IS SPIRITUAL.
THAT’S THE REASON YOU NEED TO
COME TO THE CROSS.
TO FIND FORGIVENESS,
TO FIND A NEW LIFE.
AND HE SAYS HE’LL GIVE YOU
A NEW HEART.
AND TURN YOU COMPLETELY AROUND.
AND THEN LASTLY,
A YIELDED WILL
MAKES A FORCEFUL AND
A DETERMINED CHRISTIAN.
A YIELDED WILL.
YOU SEE,
THERE ARE THREE LITTLE MEN
THAT LIVE INSIDE OF
ALL OF US.
THERE’S THE MIND.
THERE’S THE EMOTION.
AND THERE’S THE WILL.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“WHOSOEVER WILL
LET HIM COME.”
IT DOESN’T SAY
“WHOSOEVER ACHIEVES,”
OR “WHOEVER UNDERSTANDS,”
OR “WHOSOEVER DESERVES IT,”
BUT IT SAYS “WHOSOEVER WILL.”
THE DOOR TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IS OPEN TO EVERY PERSON
HERE TONIGHT.
TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE.
TO LIVE A GLORIOUS LIFE
IN WHICH YOU KNOW YOUR DESTINY
AND YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE
AND MEANING.
I READ ABOUT,
SOME YEARS AGO,
THEY HAD A GREAT MEETING
IN ENGLAND OF FACTORY WORKERS
AND DWIGHT L. MOODY
WAS SPEAKING TO THEM,
AND HE CLOSED BY SAYING,
“I’M OFFERING YOU JESUS CHRIST,
“CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS
AND WHO ROSE AGAIN FOR YOU.
“I’M OFFERING YOU CHRIST
“AND I WANT YOU TO STAND UP
AND SAY
“I WILL OR I WON’T.
“I WILL RECEIVE HIM,
OR I WON’T RECEIVE HIM.”
AND A MAN STOOD
HESITATINGLY UP
AND HE SAID,
“I WILL.”
ANOTHER ONE SAID,
“I WON’T.”
ANOTHER ONE SAID,
“I WILL.”
ANOTHER ONE SAID,
“I WON’T.”
ANOTHER ONE SAID,
“I WILL.”
ANOTHER ONE SAID,
“I WON’T.”
AND THE AUDIENCE
WAS DIVIDED.
ABOUT HALF SAID,
“I WILL FOLLOW CHRIST.
“I WILL SERVE HIM,
I WILL SURRENDER TO HIM.”
BUT ANOTHER HALF SAID,
“I WON’T.”
WHICH WOULD YOU BE?
WHICH GROUP WOULD YOU BE IN?
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
WHEN YOUR WILL RESPONDS,
IT CAN ALSO SAY, “I WON’T.”
WHICH ARE YOU
GOING TO SAY TONIGHT?
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO SAY TONIGHT, “I WILL.”
I WILL, TO THE BEST
OF MY KNOWLEDGE,
RECEIVE CHRIST INTO MY HEART,
AND I WANT TO LIVE
THE KIND OF LIFE
YOU’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
I DON’T HAVE THE STRENGTH,
I DON’T THE ENERGY,
I DON’T HAVE…
I JUST FEEL THAT
I CAN’T DO IT,
BUT I’M WILLING TO START,
AND I’M WILLING TO SAY TONIGHT,
I WILL, WITH GOD’S HELP,
YIELD MY LIFE TO CHRIST
AS SAVIOR AND LORD
AND MASTER.
AND HE MAY SPEAK TO YOU
ABOUT SERVING HIM
IN SOME OTHER PART
OF THE WORLD.
MY OLDEST SON, FRANKLIN,
JUST CAME BACK FROM SUDAN.
HE SAID HE SAW SUFFERING
ON A SCALE
THAT HE’D NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE
IN HIS TRAVELS IN THE WORLD.
WHAT GOD COULD DO
WITH SOME OF YOU PEOPLE
IN PLACES LIKE THAT.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY
TONIGHT–
“I WILL,” OR “I WON’T.”
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT.
ALL OF YOU THAT WILL SAY,
“I WILL,”
I WANT YOU TO GET UP
OUT OF YOUR SEAT
AND COME AND STAND HERE
IN FRONT,
AS WE’VE SEEN EVERY NIGHT,
AND SAY, “TONIGHT I WILL
OPEN MY HEART TO CHRIST.
“I WILL RECEIVE HIM.
“I WILL SURRENDER TO HIM.
“I WANT TO KNOW THAT
I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.
“I WANT TO KNOW THAT
I’M LIVING FOR CHRIST.
“I WANT TO SERVE HIM.”
IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS
OR RELATIVES,
THEY’LL WAIT ON YOU.
WHY DO I ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD
PUBLICLY LIKE THIS?
BECAUSE JESUS SAID,
“IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING
TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME BEFORE MEN,
“I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU
BEFORE MY FATHER
“WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT
COMING FORWARD
AND STANDING PUBLICLY
THAT PLEASES CHRIST,
AND HELPS YOU TO MEAN IT.
IF YOU’RE IN THE CHOIR,
YOU COME.
IF YOU’RE
A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER,
OR IF YOU’RE EVEN
A PASTOR OF A CHURCH,
AND YOU’RE NOT SURE
HOW YOU STAND BEFORE GOD,
YOU GET UP AND COME.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.
♪ JUST AS I AM
THOUGH TOSSED ABOUT ♪
♪ WITH MANY A CONFLICT,
MANY A DOUBT ♪
♪ FIGHTINGS WITHIN
AND FEARS WITHOUT ♪
♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
♪♪
AS HUNDREDS HERE
IN THE ARENA 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.
DON’T WAIT–
PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL 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.
It’s Anne,
she’s in trouble.
If you don’t take it to the edge
every chance you get,
you’re dead already, baby.
I was in trouble
and I didn’t know what to do.
(slap)
“Ow!”
(Nazi)
Where are the Jews?
I knew that I could
take on the world.
It’s like you’re in a dream,
but not really a dream,
this is reality.
I don’t really believe
in all this but
I know something crazy
is happening right now.