God asks you to give Him control of your body, mind and heart—and in return, He’ll give you something better. Hear Billy Graham explain what in this 1983 sermon from Orlando, Florida
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING BY
TELEVISION ALREADY KNOW,
I SUPPOSE, THAT WE’RE
IN THE TANGERINE BOWL
IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO TALK TO
YOUNG PEOPLE PRIMARILY ON
“COUNTING THE COST.”
WHAT IT COSTS TO FOLLOW
JESUS CHRIST.
THERE’S A PRICE TO BE PAID.
AND BEGINNING AT VERSE 27
IN THE 14th OF LUKE,
WE FIND THE TEXT.
THE 14th CHAPTER
OF LUKE, BEGINNING AT 27;
“AND WHOSOEVER DOTH
NOT BEAR HIS CROSS,
“AND COME AFTER ME,
CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.
“FOR WHICH OF YOU,
INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER,
“SITTETH NOT DOWN FIRST,
AND COUNTETH THE COST,
“WHETHER HE HAS SUFFICIENT
MONEY TO FINISH IT?
“LEST HAPLY, AFTER HE
HATH LAID THE FOUNDATION,
“AND IS NOT ABLE
TO FINISH IT,
“ALL THAT BEHOLD IT
BEGIN TO MOCK HIM,
“SAYING, THIS MAN
BEGAN TO BUILD,
“AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FINISH.
“OR WHAT KING, GOING TO MAKE
WAR AGAINST ANOTHER KING,
“SITTETH NOT DOWN FIRST, AND
COUNSULTETH WHETHER HE IS ABLE
“WITH TEN THOUSAND TO MEET
HIM THAT COMETH
“AGAINST HIM WITH
TWENTY THOUSAND?
“OR ELSE, WHILE THE OTHER
IS YET A GREAT WAY OFF,
“HE SENDETH AN AMBASSADOR, AND
DESIRETH CONDITIONS OF PEACE.
“SO LIKEWISE, WHOSOEVER
HE BE OF YOU
“THAT FORSAKETH NOT
ALL THAT HE HATH,
“HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.”
NOW ALL OVER
AMERICA AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT ARE TURNING TO CHRIST.
PROBABLY MORE
YOUNG PEOPLE TURNING TO CHRIST
AT THIS MOMENT IN
THE UNITED STATES
THAN ANY OTHER TIME
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO COME TO CHRIST?
CHRIST SAID, “COUNT THE COST.”
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST
YOU MUST COUNT THE COST
OF YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND,
AND YOUR HEART.
BECAUSE HE DEMANDS THAT
HE BE LORD OF ALL THREE.
LORD OF YOUR BODY, LORD OF YOUR
MIND AND LORD OF YOUR HEART.
FIRST THE BODY.
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IN
I CORINTHIANS 9;
“I KEEP MY BODY
UNDER DISCIPLINE.”
I KEEP MY BODY UNDER.
DO YOU KEEP YOUR BODY
UNDER DISCIPLINE?
THE BIBLE IS FULL OF STORIES
OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ABLE
TO CONTROL THE PASSIONS AND
THE APPETITES OF THE BODY.
REMEMBER EVE,
OUR FIRST MOTHER?
SHE WAS TOLD NOT TO EAT OF
THE FRUIT OF A CERTAIN TREE.
AND SHE LOOKED AT THE TREE
AND SHE SAW THE FORBIDDEN
FRUIT, WHICH WAS GOOD FOR FOOD.
THAT’S THE LUST OF THE FLESH.
IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES,
THE LUST OF THE EYE.
IT WAS A TREE TO BE DESIRED,
THAT’S THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
AND BECAUSE OF HER SIN
AND ADAM’S SIN
IN YIELDING TO THE LUST OF THE
FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES,
AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE
THEY WERE DRIVEN
FROM THE GARDEN.
AND YOU AND I, AND
THE WHOLE WORLD TONIGHT
ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT.
BECAUSE ALL THE SUFFERING AND
TROUBLES IN THE WORLD TONIGHT
COME FROM THE FACT, THAT OUR
FIRST PARENTS BROKE GOD’S LAW
AND SINNED AGAINST GOD
AND PASSED THAT DISEASE
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
DOWN TO OUR GENERATION.
EVEN DEATH IS A RESULT
OF THAT SIN.
IT’S NOT JUST ANCIENT HISTORY,
IT’S MODERN AS YOU.
YOU CAN READ IT ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER EVERYDAY
THE LUST OF THE FLESH,
THE LUST OF THE EYE,
AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
HERE’S WHAT THE APOSTLE
JOHN SAYS ABOUT IT,
HE SAID, “THESE LUSTS
SHALL PASS AWAY,
“BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL
OF GOD SHALL ABIDE FOREVER.”
AND HE NAMED ALL THREE
OF THOSE LUSTS.
THEY’LL PASS AWAY.
BUT IF YOU’RE DOING THE WILL OF
GOD, YOU WILL ABIDE FOREVER.
THE LUST OF THE FLESH,
THE LUST OF THE EYE,
AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
ESAU REMEMBER, SOLD HIS
BIRTHRIGHT FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE
OR A MESS OF BEANS.
HE WAS HUNGRY.
AND ALL HE COULD THINK ABOUT
WAS SATISFYING HIS HUNGER.
JACOB WANTED HIS BIRTHRIGHT
AND HE SOLD IT.
AND IT SAYS, “HE DID EAT
AND DRINK AND ROSE UP
“AND WENT ON HIS WAY.”
AND MANY TIMES
YOU’VE DONE THE SAME THING.
ESAU THOUGHT NOTHING
OF THE MOMENT.
NOW THE YEARS CAME AND WENT AND
HE SOBBED AND WEPT BITTER TEARS
BECAUSE OF THAT ONE MOMENT
THAT HE WANTED FOOD MORE THAN
HE WANTED HIS BIRTHRIGHT.
AND HOW MANY OF US HAVE MADE
A SHIPWRECK OF OUR LIFE
IN ONE MOMENT?
JUST A MOMENT OF TIME,
JUST A COMPROMISE
HERE OR THERE
WITH OUR BODY.
AND WE’VE LIVED TO REGRET
IT A THOUSAND TIMES OVER.
OR SAMSON, THE STRONGEST
MAN IN HISTORY,
DEFEATED AN ENTIRE ARMY
WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS.
HE DEFEATED A LION IN BATTLE.
BUT ANOTHER LION,
THE LION OF HIS OWN BODY
HE COULD NOT CONTROL.
BEAUTIFUL DELILAH
LURED HIM INTO HER ARMS
AND DESTROYED HIM.
HE WAS DESTROYED BY LUST
AND THE WRONG USE OF SEX.
THEN IN OUR GENERATION
WE HAVE SOMETHING
SORT OF NEW,
NEW IN A WAY.
AND THAT IS DRUGS,
THE DRUG CULTURE.
WHEN I WAS A BOY, WE NEVER
THOUGHT OF SUCH THINGS.
WE NEVER HEARD OF THEM.
BUT TODAY,
WE HAVE THE PUSHERS
AND WE HAVE THE PEOPLE FLYING
PLANES IN LOADED WITH THEM.
AND THEY’RE DESTROYING
THE YOUTH OF OUR COUNTRY.
THEN THERE’S
THE PROBLEM OF SEX.
AND WHAT A PROBLEM THAT
IS TO YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY.
A SEX SATURATED CULTURE.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT
OF PEER PRESSURE TODAY,
THE FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES
AND TEAMMATES.
IN ESSENCE, THEY SAY
CONFORM OR GET LOST.
NO ONE ENJOYS LOSING
THEIR FRIENDS.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
“NOT THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
ARE MANIFEST, WHICH ARE THESE:
“ADULTERY, FORNICATION,
UNCLEANNESS AND LASCIVIOUSNESS.”
JUDE 10 SAYS, “THESE BE THEY
WHO SEPARATE THEMSELVES
“SENSUAL AND NOT HAVING
THE SPIRIT OF GOD.”
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“FLEE FORNICATION.”
THAT’S PREMARITAL SEX.
FLEE!
THE BIBLE SAYS WE’RE TO RUN.
GET AWAY FROM THE TEMPTATION.
HE THAT COMMITTETH
FORNICATION, OR PREMARITAL SEX,
SINNETH AGAINST NOT ONLY GOD
BUT YOUR OWN BODY.
THE BIBLE WARNS,
DON’T DO IT!
ABSTAIN!
YOU SAY, WELL HOW
CAN YOU ABSTAIN IN OUR CULTURE?
WELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU,
YOU CAN’T WITHOUT CHRIST.
THERE’RE NOT VERY PEOPLE THAT
HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO SAY NO.
BUT IF YOU HAVE CHRIST
IN YOUR HEART
YOU’LL HAVE THE POWER
TO SAY NO.
“THERE HATH NO
TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU
“BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON
TO MAN, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL,
“WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU
TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT
“WHICH YOU ARE ABLE,
“BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION
MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE.”
THERE’S ALWAYS
A WAY TO ESCAPE.
GOD PROVIDES IT EVERY
TIME TO THE BELIEVER.
SO THERE’S NO EXCUSE FOR ANY
BELIEVER COMMITTING THAT SIN.
THEN THERE’S ANOTHER SIN
WE DON’T THINK MUCH ABOUT,
BUT IT’S A SIN,
THAT’S GLUTTONY.
ONE OUT OF
EVERY THREE ADULTS
IN THIS COUNTRY
IS BELIEVED TO BE OVERWEIGHT.
NOW SOME CAN’T HELP IT.
IT’S A GLANDULAR PROBLEM,
PERHAPS.
OR THEY INHERIT IT
FROM THEIR PARENTS,
IT’S IN THE GENES SOMEHOW.
BUT I DO KNOW
THAT THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT IT
A NUMBER OF TIMES.
DANIEL, IN BABYLON,
PURPOSED IN HIS HEART
THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF
WITH THE KING’S MEAT.
PHILIPPIANS 3 ,
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS,
“WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION,
WHOSE GOD IS THEIR APPETITE
“AND WHOSE GLORY
IS THEIR SHAME.”
AND HE WARNED AGAINST IT.
NOW WE HAVE THE BODY.
ARE YOU READY TO
PRESENT YOUR BODY
A LIVING SACRIFICE
TO GOD TONIGHT?
THAT’S WHAT HE DEMANDS
IF YOU’RE TO FOLLOW HIM.
IF YOU’RE TO COME TO THE CROSS
AND HAVE YOUR SINS FORGIVEN
AND FOLLOW CHRIST,
YOU MUST PRESENT YOUR BODY
A LIVING SACRIFICE TO GOD.
AND SAY, “LORD, HERE’S
MY APPETITES, HERE’S MY LUST,
“HERE’S MY BODY; MY EYES,
MY HANDS, MY FEET,
“MY PRIVATE MEMBERS;
ALL YOURS.”
THEN THE SECOND
THING IS YOUR MIND.
“BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY
EVERY THOUGHT
“TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST,”
II CORINTHIANS 10.
NOW NO AMERICAN HAS
AN IQ ABOVE 180.
ONLY A DOZEN HAVE ABOUT 180.
ONLY 3,000 HAVE 170.
5,000 – 160.
15,000 – 150.
A MILLION – 140
AND SO ON DOWN.
BUT GOD IS GOING TO HOLD
YOU ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THE MIND
HE HAS GIVEN YOU,
WHATEVER YOUR IQ.
SOMEBODY SAID, “A PENNY
FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.”
BUT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WORTH
FAR MORE THAN A PENNY
IN GOD’S SIGHT.
THE TRUE WEALTH OF YOUR LIFE
IS IN YOUR THOUGHTS.
HOW RICH ARE YOU?
THE LITERATURE, THE TELEVISION,
THE RADIO ARE COMPETING
FOR YOUR THOUGHTS CONSTANTLY.
THERE WAS A CLASSIFIED AD
IN A NEWSPAPER WHICH READ,
“FOR SALE: ENCYCLOPEDIA
BRITANNICA, NEVER USED.
“MY WIFE KNOWS IT ALL.”
[laughter]
NOW THE BIBLE SAYS, “TO STUDY
TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
“UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT
NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED.”
WE OUGHT TO BE STUDYING
AND READING THE BIBLE
ALL THE TIME IN ALL
OF OUR SPARE MOMENTS.
AND I’M CONVICTED SOMETIMES
WHEN I TURN THE TV ON
AND WATCHING SOME PROGRAM
THAT I CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER
AND THERE’S THE BIBLE
LYING CLOSED BESIDE MY BED
OR BESIDE MY CHAIR.
BECAUSE I KNOW IT’S WRONG
AND I HAVE TO CONFESS IT.
I’M TO STUDY CONSTANTLY ALL
MY LIFE THE WORD OF GOD.
YOU SEE, AN IDLE MIND IS
THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP.
GIVE YOUR MIND TO CHRIST.
THE SCRIPTURES SAYS,
“HE THAT RULETH HIS SPIRIT
“IS GREATER THAN
HE THAT TAKETH A CITY.”
YOUR MIND IS A HEAVEN
OR A HELL ALL THE TIME.
WHICH IS IT?
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST YOU
MUST BRING YOUR MIND TO HIM.
THERE’S A LOT IN THE SCRIPTURE
TO SAY ABOUT THE MIND.
HE’S TO BE LORD OF THE MIND.
AND PAUL WROTE TO
THE PHILIPPIANS AND SAID,
“WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE,
WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST,
“WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST,
WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE,
“WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY,
“WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE
OF GOOD REPORT,
“IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE
AND IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE
“THINK ON THESE THINGS.”
THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE
TO BE THINKING ABOUT;
PURE, LOVELY,
RIGHTEOUS, GOD.
“THOU WOULD KEEP HIM
IN PERFECT PEACE
“WHOSE MIND IS
STAYED ON THEE.”
KEEP OUR MINDS ON CHRIST.
MANY MINDS HERE TONIGHT ARE
FILLED WITH PRIDE AND ANGER
AND ENVIES, JEALOUSY, LUST.
THE REMEDY IS TO LET CHRIST
TAKE CONTROL OF THE MIND
AND BRING EVERY THOUGHT
INTO HIS CAPTIVITY.
PAUL TAUGHT, WE HAVE THE MIND
OF CHRIST AND EXHORTED,
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH
WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS.
“THOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD
THY GOD WITH ALL THY MIND.”
EVIL THOUGHTS ARE
THE SUICIDE OF THE SOUL.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF THOSE
WHO HAVE HOSTILE MINDS.
MINDS THAT ARE BLINDED.
REPROBATE MINDS,
DOUBTFUL MINDS,
CARNALLY MINDED.
OR SHAKEN IN MIND,
OR TROUBLED IN MIND,
OR DOUBLE MINDED MAN.
SOME HAVE BLOWN
THEIR MINDS ON DRUGS.
THE BIBLE PROMISES THAT
WE CAN BE TRANSFORMED
BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MIND
TONIGHT TRANSFORMED.
YOU CAN HAVE IT RENEWED.
AND SURRENDER TO CHRIST
AND THE PEACE OF GOD
WILL KEEP YOUR MIND.
HABAKKUK PROMISES,
“THEN SHALL HIS MIND CHANGE.”
THE LORD HAS ACTUALLY ASKED
YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
SEE HE DOESN’T ASK YOU
TO CHANGE YOUR HEART.
HE ASKS YOU
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
THAT’S REPENTANCE.
CHANGE YOUR MIND,
HE’LL CHANGE YOUR HEART.
CHANGE YOUR MIND AND HE WILL
COME IN AND REGENERATE YOU
AND YOU WILL BE
A BORN AGAIN PERSON.
IT’S THE WORK OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE READ IN ACTS 26 , THAT
WHEN THEY WERE COME TO HIM,
THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS.
IT WILL CHANGE WHEN YOU HAVE
THE HUMILITY OF MIND
AND THE READINESS OF MIND,
THE WILLINGNESS OF MIND
TO GIVE YOUR WHOLE
LIFE TO CHRIST.
PAUL TOLD THE CORINTHIANS THAT
THERE MUST BE OF A WILLING MIND.
ARE YOU WILLING THAT
YOUR MIND BE SURRENDERED
TO CHRIST TONIGHT?
LET HIM CONTROL
YOUR THINKING PROCESSES.
CONTROL THE THINGS YOUR READ,
THE THINGS YOUR WATCH,
THE THINGS YOU DO.
THEN THE THIRD; THE BODY,
THE MIND, THE HEART.
THE BIBLE SAYS
IN PROVERBS 6,
THAT YOU HAVE A HEART THAT
DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS.
JEREMIAH 17 SAYS, “THE HEART
IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS
“AND DESPERATELY WICKED,
WHO CAN KNOW IT?”
I HAVE A DECEITFUL HEART,
I CAN’T TRUST MY HEART.
MY HEART WAS SICK,
‘TIL I CAME TO CHRIST.
JESUS SAID, “FOR WITHIN
OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN PROCEED
“EVIL THOUGHTS, AND ADULTERIES,
AND FORNICATIONS, AND MURDERS,
“AND THEFTS AND COVETOUSNESS,
AND WICKEDNESS, AND DECEIT,
“AND LASCIVIOUSNESS, AND
BLASPHEMY, AND PRIDE,
“AND FOOLISHNESS,
“ALL THESE EVIL THINGS,”
HE SAID, “DEFILE A MAN.”
YOU DON’T HAVE TO APPOINT
A NEW COMMITTEE TO FIND OUT
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WORLD.
IT’S THE HUMAN HEART,
AND THE HUMAN MIND,
AND THE HUMAN BODY.
IT’S MAN,
MAN IS WHAT IS WRONG.
THE HUMAN HEART IS A VOLCANO
AND THE BIBLE TEACHES
THAT IT’S FAR FROM GOD.
“THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH
UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH
“AND HONORETH ME
WITH THEIR LIPS,
“BUT THEIR HEART
IS FAR FROM ME.”
I WANT YOU TO THINK
ABOUT THAT A MOMENT.
YOU DRAW CLOSE TO CHRIST
WITH YOUR LIPS,
WITH YOUR PROFESSION,
WITH YOUR MOUTH.
BUT, YOUR HEART
IS FAR FROM HIM.
SINGING ON
SUNDAY MORNING,
“ALL HAIL THE POWER
OF JESUS’ NAME.”
AND YOU’RE THINKING
ABOUT A DEAL THAT
YOU’VE GOT ON MONDAY.
YOU SEE, YOU’RE SINGING
THE SONGS OF ZION,
BUT YOUR HEART IS STILL
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IS THAT TRUE OF YOU?
HOW MANY OF US
ARE REALLY HYPOCRITES?
IF YOU WANNA JUST CALL IT
WHAT IT REALLY IS
AND WHAT JESUS CALLED IT.
BECAUSE JESUS’ GREAT
FIGHT WAS WITH
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
OF HIS DAY.
HE DIDN’T FIGHT
WITH THE SINNERS.
HE LOVED THEM.
IT WAS WITH RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
AND I WONDER
IF HE CAME TO
CENTRAL FLORIDA TONIGHT
WHAT HE WOULD SAY.
WHO HE WOULD TALK TO.
WOULD HE TALK TO
CHURCH PEOPLE AND SAY,
OH YES, YOU GO TO CHURCH AND
YOU HAVE A LOT OF RELIGIOSITY
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE
THE REAL THING.
YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND,
YOUR HEART
DOESN’T REALLY BELONG
TO ME A HUNDRED PERCENT.
HE DEMANDS
A HUNDRED PERCENT.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT YOU
HAVE A REBELLIOUS HEART.
IN JEREMIAH 5 IT SAYS, “BUT
THIS PEOPLE HAVE A REVOLTING
“AND A REBELLIOUS HEART.
“THEY’RE REVOLTED AND GONE.”
WHEN WE READ
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
AND READ THE SERMON
ON THE MOUNT,
WE SAY, “I DON’T
WANT TO KEEP THAT.
“I CAN’T KEEP THAT.”
OF COURSE, YOU CAN’T.
NOBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE
CAN KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
IN FACT, YOU CAN’T EVEN
KEEP ONE COMMANDMENT.
NOBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE
HAS KEPT EVEN ONE COMMANDMENT.
YOU SAY, “WELL, BILLY,
I’VE NEVER COMMITTED ADULTERY.”
HAVEN’T YOU?
JESUS SAID, IF YOU
LOOK ON A WOMAN,
OR A PERSON OF THE OPPOSITE SEX,
AND HAVE LUST IN YOUR HEART,
YOU’VE ALREADY COMMITTED IT.
I’VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY.
BUT IF YOU EVER HATED OR
BEEN JEALOUS OF SOMEONE,
YOU’VE BROKEN THAT COMMANDMENT.
BUT THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
SUPPOSE YOU HAVE DONE
PRETTY WELL WITH ALL OF THEM.
IF YOU BREAK JUST
ONE COMMANDMENT,
TELL ONE LITTLE LIE,
YOU’VE BROKEN ALL
THE COMMANDMENTS.
AND TO BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS
IS THE DEFINITION OF SIN.
SIN IS A TRANSGRESSION
OF THE LAW.
AND YOU HAVE BROKEN
THE LAW OF GOD.
AND ALL OF US
HAVE TO SAY TO GOD
AS WE STAND IN FRONT
OF THE CROSS,
“I’M A SINNER.”
I HAVE TO SAY IT,
YOU HAVE TO SAY IT.
EVERYBODY HERE
HAS TO SAY IT.
I AM A SINNER.
WE’VE BROKEN GOD’S LAW.
AND THEN THE BIBLE SAYS,
YOUR HEART CAN BE HARDENED.
PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART.
NOW GOD KNOWS THE HEART.
HE KNOWS YOUR HEART.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO SIT
AND TRY TO TELL HIM
AND RATIONALIZE
THE WHOLE THING.
HE KNOWS IT ALREADY.
“SHALL NOT GOD SEARCH THIS OUT,
“FOR HE KNOWETH THE SECRETS
OF THE HEART?” PSALM 44.
HE KNOWS THE SECRETS
OF YOUR HEART.
HE KNOWS WHAT YOU’RE HIDING.
HE KNOWS THE THINGS
YOU’VE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
HE SEES ALL OF THAT.
HE KNOWS
THE HYPOCRISY OF IT ALL.
AND HE PRONOUNCES,
“I THE LORD SEARCH THE HEART.”
HE SAID, “I TRY THE HEART,”
IN JEREMIAH 17.
I SEARCH YOUR HEART.
THINK OF GOD SEARCHING
YOUR HEART TONIGHT
AND MY HEART.
WHAT DOES HE FIND THERE?
WE WOULD BE AFRAID
TO STAND BEFORE GOD
AND FACE THE JUDGMENT
WITH HIM SEARCHING OUR HEARTS
AND KNOWING OUR RECORD,
UNLESS WE HAD BEEN
TO THE CROSS
AND BEEN PROVIDED
WITH A RIGHTEOUSNESS
THAT WAS NOT OUR OWN.
THAT CHRIST PROVIDES BY
HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS
AND BY HIS RESURRECTION
FROM THE DEAD.
YES, GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART
AND HE SEARCHES YOUR HEART.
YOU CAN’T HIDE FROM HIM.
BECAUSE THE PENALTY
FOR A SINFUL HEART
IS DEATH AND JUDGMENT AND HELL.
AND THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES
WE HAVE THE EXPRESSION,
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
HAS YOUR HEART BEEN
UNDER THE BLOOD OF CHRIST?
HAS IT BEEN CLEANSED
BY THE BLOOD?
YOU SEE, THE WORD BLOOD CARRIES
WITH IT THE IDEA OF LIFE.
WHEN YOU TAKE BLOOD OUT,
YOU TAKE THE LIFE AWAY.
AND THE BLOOD MEANS LIFE.
CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE
ON THE CROSS FOR YOU.
HE TOOK YOUR SINS, YOUR PENALTY,
YOUR JUDGMENT, YOUR HELL
ON THE CROSS
IN YOUR PLACE.
SO THAT NOW YOU COME AND STAND
AT THE CROSS IN ALL SINCERITY
AND GIVE HIM YOUR BODY,
AND YOUR MIND, AND YOUR HEART.
AND HE FORGIVES
ALL THE PAST.
HE JUSTIFIES YOU
JUST AS THOUGH
YOU’D NEVER COMMITTED
A SINGLE SIN.
AND HE GIVES YOU
A NEW HEART,
A NEW DESIRE,
A NEW JOY,
A NEW PEACE,
AND A CERTAINTY
THAT IF YOU DIED
YOU’D GO TO HEAVEN.
AND HE WRITES YOUR NAME
IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.
NOW THE BIBLE SAYS
THAT GOD PREPARES YOUR HEART.
“THE PREPARATION OF THE HEART
IN MAN IS FROM THE LORD,”
IN PROVERBS 16.
THE BIBLE SAYS IN ACTS 16,
“WHOSE HEART,” CONCERNING LYDIA,
“WHOSE HEART THE LORD
HATH OPENED.”
GOD WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART.
EZEKIEL 36:26, SAYS, “A
NEW HEART ALSO WILL I GIVE YOU.”
JESUS SAID, “EXCEPT A MAN
BE BORN FROM ABOVE
“HE CANNOT SEE
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
YOU CAN BE BORN FROM ABOVE
AND RECEIVE A NEW HEART,
AND A NEW NATURE.
“A GOOD MAN OUT OF
THE GOOD TREASURES OF THE HEART
“BRINGETH FORTH GOOD THINGS,”
SAYS THE SCRIPTURE.
HAVEN’T YOU SEEN SHOPS THAT
WERE DIRTY AND SHABBY AND DRAB.
AND THEY WERE SOLD,
OR MAYBE A RESTAURANT,
AND IT HAS A BIG SIGN
OUTSIDE THAT SAYS,
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT?
THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST.
YOU GET UNDER
NEW MANAGEMENT.
YOU NO LONGER MANAGE
YOUR OWN LIFE.
GOD MANAGES IT.
CHRIST MANAGES IT.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN HELPS
YOU TO MANAGE YOUR LIFE.
HE REDECORATES IT.
HE MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE.
“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN
CHRIST HE’S A NEW CREATION.”
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST,
YOU MUST COME WITH
YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND,
AND YOUR HEART.
WOULD YOU DO THAT TONIGHT?
YOU KNOW YOU NEED IT.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS,
“HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART
“BEING OFTEN REPROVED
“SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.”
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME.
“TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”
DON’T WAIT, THERE’S NO PROMISE
OF TOMORROW IN THE BIBLE.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME
PUBLICLY IN JUST A MOMENT
AND STAND IN FRONT OF THIS
PLATFORM QUIETLY AND REVERENTLY,
FOR JUST A FEW MOMENTS.
AND I WILL SAY A WORD TO YOU,
WE’LL HAVE A PRAYER.
THEN YOU CAN GO BACK
AND JOIN YOUR FRIENDS.
WE’LL GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE
BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
AND YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING BY TELEVISION,
PICK UP THAT TELEPHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER
THAT’S ON THE SCREEN
RIGHT NOW.
AND THERE’S SOMEBODY
THERE THAT WILL ANSWER.
AND IF YOU CALL SEVERAL TIMES
AND IT’S BUSY, KEEP CALLING.
THEY’LL BE THERE ALL EVENING.
AND MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
BY TELEPHONE RIGHT NOW.
YES, I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.
COME AND STAND HERE.
AND BY SO COMING
YOU’RE SAYING,
I GIVE MY MIND, MY BODY,
MY HEART TO CHRIST.
I WANT HIM TO BE FIRST
IN MY LIFE FROM NOW ON.
I WANT THERE TO BE
A SIGN OVER ME SAYING,
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN.
AND I WANNA BE SURE OF IT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
DO IT IN A FEW MOMENTS.
THIS IS GOD’S MOMENT FOR YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS YOU CAN
CHOOSE CHRIST OR CHAOS,
SATAN OR THE SAVIOR,
LIFE OR DEATH.
TONIGHT I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
AND ALL YOUR MIND,
AND PRESENT YOUR BODY.
YOU MENTALLY ACCEPT
THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED
AND ROSE AGAIN FOR YOU.
IN YOUR HEART,
YOU ASK HIM TO COME IN
AND BE YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD.
AND WITH YOUR BODY
YOU COME FORWARD
AND PRESENT YOURSELF IN PERSON.
WILL YOU DO THAT TONIGHT?
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU RIGHT
NOW TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT
ALL OVER THIS STADIUM RIGHT NOW.
AND SAY, THAT’S WHAT
I WANT TO DO.
I WANT CHRIST IN MY HEART
AND WHEN I LEAVE HERE TONIGHT
I WANT TO BE A NEW PERSON.
I WANT CHRIST TO WALK
WITH ME AND TO BE WITH ME.
I GIVE HIM MY HEART,
MY MIND, AND MY BODY,
WITHOUT RESERVATION TONIGHT.
YOUNG MAN, YOUNG WOMAN,
FATHER, MOTHER,
YOU MAY BE THE OLDER GENERATION
OR THE YOUNGER GENERATION
BUT YOU NEED CHRIST.
YOU GET UP AND COME RIGHT NOW.
I’M GOING TO ASK THAT NO ONE
LEAVE, NO ONE LEAVE THE STADIUM.
PEOPLE LEAVING THE STADIUM
CAN DISTURB MANY PEOPLE.
JUST GET UP AND COME QUICKLY.
HUNDREDS OF YOU.
♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
♪ BUT THAT THY BLOOD
WAS SHED FOR ME ♪
♪ AND THAT THOU BIDST ME
COME TO THEE ♪
♪ OH LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
AS YOU CAN SEE
MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ARE MAKING THEIR COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST TONIGHT
HERE AT THE TANGERINE BOWL.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SAME
COMMITMENT YOURSELF.
SIMPLY CALL THE NUMBER
ON THE SCREEN.
TRAINED COUNSELORS
ARE STANDING BY
TO HELP AND PRAY WITH YOU.
IF THE LINES ARE BUSY,
WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN
AND CALL LATER.
OUR COUNSELORS WILL BE THERE
AS LONG AS THE PHONE CALLS
KEEP COMING IN.
GOD BLESS YOU.
♪ CAN CLEANSE EACH SPOT ♪
♪ OH LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME. ♪
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION CAN SEE
THAT HERE IN THE TANGERINE
BOWL IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA,
SCORES AND EVEN HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO CHRIST
AS THEY HAVE EACH NIGHT
THIS PAST WEEK.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT
WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
QUIETLY IN YOUR HEART
AND MIND YOU CAN PRESENT
YOUR BODY, AND YOUR HEART,
AND YOUR MIND TO CHRIST.
IF YOU WILL,
PICK UP THE TELEPHONE
AND CALL SOMEONE.
ON THAT SCREEN,
YOU’LL SEE A TELEPHONE NUMBER,
AND TALK TO SOMEONE.
GOD HELP YOU TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT.
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.
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.