“It’s not getting better.” Billy Graham said about an increasingly dangerous world 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]
NOW I WANT TO TAKE
AS OUR TEXT TONIGHT,
A PASSAGE IN
THE 12th CHAPTER OF HEBREWS.
THESE WORDS:
“AND THIS WORD,
YET ONCE MORE SIGNIFIETH
“THE REMOVING OF ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN
“AS OF THINGS THAT ARE MADE,
“BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH
CANNOT BE SHAKEN MAY REMAIN.
“WHEREFORE, WE RECEIVING
A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED
“LET US HAVE GRACE WHEREBY
WE MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY,
“WITH REVERENCE
AND GODLY FEAR,
“FOR OUR GOD IS
A CONSUMING FIRE.”
SINCE WE WERE HERE
IN THE FIFTIES,
AND THEN IN THE SIXTIES,
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
I WAS ASKING
JOE ALDRICH OF MOMENT AGO,
I SAID, “DON’T YOU ALL
STILL HAVE STREETCARS?
“IT SEEMS TO ME I’VE SEEN
ONE SINCE I’VE BEEN HERE.”
AND HE SAID, “YES,
THEY’VE JUST PUT THEM IN.”
AND I THOUGHT, “THAT’S
THE FIRST CITY I’VE BEEN TO
“IN A LONG TIME WHERE
THEY HAD STREETCARS.”
THE LAST I CAN REMEMBER,
WAS IN BUCHAREST.
THEY HAD STREETCARS,
AND IT TOOK ME BACK
TO MY BOYHOOD, AND CHILDHOOD,
WHEN WE HAD STREETCARS
IN OUR TOWN OF
CHARLOTTE,
NORTH CAROLINA.
BUT MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED
SINCE WE WERE HERE.
AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE
SENIOR CITIZENS CAN REALLY
SEE A CHANGE IN PORTLAND.
THINGS THAT YOU YOUNGER
PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
WE WERE BORN
BEFORE TELEVISION.
BEFORE FROZEN FOODS.
BEFORE ANTIBIOTICS.
BEFORE NYLONS.
BEFORE XEROX.
BEFORE CREDIT CARDS.
FOR US TIME-SHARING MEANT
TOGETHERNESS, NOT COMPUTERS.
[laughter]
AND SOFTWARE
WASN’T EVEN A WORD.
WE WERE BEFORE PANTYHOSE
AND DRIP DRY CLOTHES.
BEFORE A ICE MAKERS AND
DISHWASHERS, CHEERIE O’S,
INSTANT COFFEE,
DECAFFEINATED ANYTHING,
AND McDONALD’S HAD
NEVER BEEN HEARD OF.
AND I DON’T KNOW
HOW WE LIVED.
[laughter]
IF WE’D BEEN ASKED TO EXPLAIN
CIA, VCR, UFO, ERA,
NFL, OR JFK, WE WOULD HAVE SAID,
“THAT’S ALPHABET SOUP.”
[laughter]
WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW
OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED,
AND THE ADJUSTMENTS
WE’VE HAD TO MAKE,
TODAY’S SENIOR CITIZENS
ARE A PRETTY HARDY BUNCH.
BECAUSE WE CAME ALONG
THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
[applause]
THERE’VE BEEN GREAT
POLITICAL CHANGES.
HUNGARY.
WE WERE IN THE PEOPLE’S
STADIUM IN HUNGARY ABOUT
THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, AND
HAD THE LARGEST CROWD IN
ITS HISTORY, TO
HEAR THE GOSPEL.
115,000 PEOPLE
IN ONE SERVICE.
SOUTH AFRICA–WE’D HAVE
NEVER THOUGHT OF HAVING
AN INTEGRATED SERVICE
IN THOSE DAYS.
WE WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA.
WE DID NOT GO UNTIL
THEY GUARANTEED
WE COULD
HAVE INTEGRATION.
AND WE WENT THERE.
[applause]
AND WE CAN SHOW
YOU ON FILM WHERE THE NEWSPAPERS
HAD HEADLINES SAYING,
“BILLY GRAHAM SAYS
APARTHEID IS SIN.”
AND…
[applause]
THEN THERE HAVE BEEN
GIGANTIC GEOPHYSICAL AND
ECOLOGICAL CALAMITIES
ACROSS THE WORLD.
I READ LAST SUNDAY’S EARTH WEEK
COLUMN IN THE OREGONIAN,
A DIARY OF SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED
ON THE PLANET LAST WEEK.
IT TALKED OF TROPICAL
STORMS LAST WEEK,
LIKE THE WORST HURRICANE
TO SLAM INTO HAWAII
IN THIS CENTURY.
IT CONTINUED TO REPORT
ON THE DAMAGE FROM,
HURRICANE ANDREW IN FLORIDA.
NORMAN MITSKY’S HOUSE,
WHO IS ON OUR TEAM,
LOOKED LIKE SOME GIANT HAND
HAD COME DOWN AND JUST
LIFTED THE WHOLE THING UP,
AND LIFTED EVERYTHING OUT.
WE WENT TO HOMESTEAD,
IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA,
AND MY SON, WHO
IS HERE TONIGHT,
FRANKLIN GRAHAM, HAS
AN ORGANIZATION CALLED
SAMARITAN’S PURSE,
AND THEY HAD ALREADY GOTTEN
TEN TRAILERS IN PLACE,
DOWN THERE BY THE TIME
WE GOT THERE TO SEE IT.
AND WHAT A DEVASTATION
THAT WAS.
YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT
HAPPENED IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA.
YOU CAN’T SEE IT
ON TELEVISION.
STEPHAN NELSON, MY GRANDSON
SPENT HIS FULL-TIME DOWN
THERE, WORKING, HANDING OUT
WATER AND BREAD AND THINGS
AND HE SAW
ON TOP OF ONE ROOF,
THIS SENTENCE THAT
SOMEBODY HAD WRITTEN:
“OKAY GOD, YOU GOT
OUR ATTENTION–NOW WHAT?”
[applause]
AND THE NEWSPAPER WENT ON
TO MENTION TYPHOON SYBIL,
THE TROPICAL STORMS
PAYNE AND ROSALYN.
MONSOON FLOODS WASHED AWAY
ENTIRE VILLAGES IN
NORTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN,
KILLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
THERE WERE EARTHQUAKES
IN ZAIRE AND NICARAGUA.
AND MINOR SHAKES IN MANY
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
THESE ARE JUST THE THINGS THAT
CAME OUT OF ONE NEWSPAPER.
THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION
TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES,
SUCH AS THE SUDDEN DROP IN
LEVELS OF PROTECTIVE OZONE
OVER THE ANTARCTIC,
MENTIONED IN THE COLUMN,
THAT MIGHT SIGNAL
MAJOR DAMAGE.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
AND THAT WAS JUST IN
YOUR NEWSPAPER LAST WEEK.
WE’RE LIVING A CHANGING AND
INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS WORLD.
THAT’S THE POINT
I’M TRYING TO MAKE.
IT’S NOT GETTING BETTER.
DO YOU HAVE A
PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE,
AND DOES LIFE HAVE
MEANING TO YOU?
OR IS YOUR LIFE CRACKING UP,
AND GOING ALL TO PIECES?
THE BIG QUESTION TODAY IS,
WHAT IS MEANING?
FIFTY YEARS AGO, WHEN
I STARTED PREACHING,
THE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION WAS:
WHAT IS TRUTH?
TODAY’S QUESTION IS:
WHAT IS THE POINT?
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL,
“ABOVE ALL THINGS AND
DESPERATELY WICKED.
“WHO CAN KNOW IT?”
YOUR HEART, MY HEART,
IS DECEITFUL AND
DESPERATELY WICKED.
WHO CAN KNOW IT?
WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT
AFTER A STORM HIT MIAMI,
AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA,
LIKE ANDREW,
THAT THERE’D BE LOOTERS,
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER LAST WEEK,
THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES
ARE SOARING AFTER THE HURRICANE
IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA.
WE DON’T KNOW OUR HEARTS.
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
TILL IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
ANDREW MORRIS, THE GREAT
PHILOSOPHER IN FRANCE WROTE:
“THE UNIVERSE IS
INDIFFERENT.
“WHO CREATED IT?
“WHY ARE WE ON THIS
PUNY MUD HEAP,
“SPINNING IN INFINITE SPACE?”
HE SAID, “I HAVE NOT
THE SLIGHTEST IDEA.”
AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
THAT TAKE THAT ATTITUDE.
ALBERT CAMUS,
WHO WAS THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER,
THAT EVERYBODY QUOTED,
A FEW YEARS AGO SAID,
“MAN CANNOT LIVE
WITHOUT MEANING.”
ARE YOU TRYING TO LIVE
WITHOUT MEANING IN YOUR LIFE?
NOW HERE ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT THE PHILOSOPHERS
WERE SAYING, THAT PEOPLE,
THINK ABOUT
WHEN THEY’RE ALONE.
WHEN YOU’RE ALONE,
HERE’S WHAT MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE HERE
TONIGHT THINK ABOUT.
FIRST YOU THINK ABOUT,
WILL I HAVE TO SUFFER?
MAYBE NOW, OR SOON?
I MUST STRUGGLE,
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
I MUST STRUGGLE
IN MY MARRIAGE.
I MUST STRUGGLE WITH
MY GIRLFRIEND, MY BOYFRIEND,
BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT
THINGS ARE GOING WRONG.
I MUST STRUGGLE TO MAKE
GRADES, IN SCHOOL.
I’M AT THE MERCY OF CHANCE.
I FEEL GUILTY ALL THE TIME,
AND I DON’T KNOW
WHAT I’M GUILTY OF.
I ASKED THE QUESTION,
WHEN I’M ALONE, WHO AM I?
I KNOW THAT I MUST DIE,
AND I’M AFRAID TO DIE.
I DON’T WANT TO DIE.
BUT, I KNOW I’M
GOING TO HAVE TO DIE.
EVERY PERSON IN
THIS AUDIENCE,
75 YEARS FROM
NOW WILL BE DEAD.
A SCIENTIST RECENTLY ASKED
THE QUESTION ON TELEVISION,
WHO MADE THE EARTH?
WHY IS IT HERE?
WHAT IS ITS FUTURE?
WE HAVE THE ANSWER–
WE JUST DON’T KNOW.
THEN HE SAID
AN INTERESTING THING.
PERHAPS WE’RE ALL GOING
TO HAVE TO RESTUDY
THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS.
AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT MANY
ATHEISTS ARE DOING TODAY.
THEY ARE RESTUDYING
THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS.
THE FIRST TIME I MET
MR. YELTSIN, IN THE KREMLIN,
I TALKED WITH HIM.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT
HE HAD BEEN AN ATHEIST.
BUT HE SAID, “I AM NO
LONGER AN ATHEIST.”
HE SAID, “I HAVE COME TO
BELIEVE THAT THERE’S
“SOMETHING BEYOND THIS LIFE.
“AND SOMETHING
BIGGER THAN WE ARE.”
HE SAID, “I’VE STARTED
GOING BACK TO CHURCH.”
AND HE SAID, “MY GRANDCHILDREN
ARE WEARING CROSSES AROUND
“THEIR NECKS AND I’M GLAD.”
NOW, THAT WAS
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
BEFORE THE COUP.
[applause]
T.S. ELIOT ONCE WROTE:
“WHERE IS THE WISDOM…”
THINK OF IT NOW,
“WHERE IS THE WISDOM THAT
WE HAVE LOST IN KNOWLEDGE?”
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAVE UNIVERSITIES
BY THE SCORES,
AND HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
BUT WE’VE LOST WISDOM
IN THE MIDST OF
ALL OF OUR KNOWLEDGE.
JESUS SAID, “AND THERE SHALL
BE SIGNS, IN THE SUN,
“AND IN THE MOON, AND IN
THE STARS, AND UPON THE EARTH.
“DISTRESS OF NATIONS
WITH PERPLEXITY,”
IN LUKE 21:25.
“DISTRESS”–
THAT WORD MEANS THAT
WE’RE PRESSED FROM ALL SIDES.
AND “PERPLEXITY” MEANS,
NO WAY OUT.
IF YOU HAD GONE TO RIO, TO
THAT CONFERENCE, ON ECOLOGY–
AND HOW CAN WE
SAVE THIS PLANET–
YOU WOULD HAVE COME AWAY,
LIKE MANY OF THEM CAME AWAY;
CONFUSED, AND MIXED UP,
DISCOURAGED, AND HOPELESS.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID A
QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO,
“NO MAN ENTERING
UPON THIS OFFICE,
“COULD FAIL TO BE STAGGERED
UPON LEARNING THE HARSH
“ENORMITIES OF THE TRIALS
“THROUGH WHICH HE MUST PASS,
“IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.”
HOW RIGHT PRESIDENT
KENNEDY WAS.
HE WENT ON TO SAY, “EACH
DAY THE CRISIS MULTIPLIES.
“EACH DAY THE SOLUTION
GROWS MORE DIFFICULT.
“EACH DAY WE DRAW NEARER
THE HOUR OF MAXIMUM DANGER,
“AND TIME IS NOT OUR FRIEND.”
IN THE MIDST OF
ALL THESE CHANGES,
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS,
THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED,
AND WILL NEVER CHANGE.
THE FIRST THING THAT
HAS NEVER CHANGED,
IN ALL THESE CENTURIES–
THE NATURE OF GOD
HAS NOT CHANGED.
HE SAID, “I AM THE LORD,
I CHANGE NOT,”
MALACHI 3:6.
[applause]
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“THERE IS NO VARIABLENESS,
“NEITHER SHADOW OF
TURNING WITH GOD.”
THAT MEANS THE
BATTING OF AN EYELASH.
NOT EVEN THAT MUCH
CHANGE IN GOD,
IN ALL THESE CENTURIES.
HE’S FROM EVERLASTING
TO EVERLASTING.
HE HAD NO BEGINNING.
HE HAS NO END.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT,
BUT I ACCEPT IT.
HE’S THE ONE THING THAT
WE CAN COUNT ON, IS GOD.
HE’S UNCHANGING
IN HIS HOLINESS.
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD
ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS AND IS,
“AND IS TO COME,”
REVELATION 4:8.
GOD IS UNCHANGING
IN JUDGMENT.
IT SAYS, “THE LORD SHALL JUDGE
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
GOD IS UNCHANGING IN LOVE.
“FOR GOD COMMENDETH
HIS LOVE TOWARD US,
“IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET
SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.”
GOD LOVES YOU.
THAT’S HARD TO BELIEVE.
THAT’S HARD TO TAKE IN,
BUT GOD LOVES YOU.
AND IF YOU WERE THE ONLY
PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD,
GOD WOULD LOVE YOU,
AND HE WOULD’VE SENT
HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST,
TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR YOU.
GOD IS LOVE.
THAT’S ONE THING I WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER, WHEN WE LEAVE,
THAT WE’VE SAID.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING,
THE WORD OF GOD
HAS NOT CHANGED.
NOT ONLY THE NATURE
OF GOD HAS NOT CHANGED,
BUT THE WORD OF GOD
HAS NOT CHANGED.
THIS BIBLE IS
THE WORD OF GOD.
“THE GRASS WITHERETH,
THE FLOWER FADED,
“BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD
SHALL STAND FOREVER.”
AND WHAT YOU READ IN THIS
BOOK STANDS FOREVER.
[applause]
IT’S A THRILLING THING
TO TAKE UP THIS BOOK,
AND KNOW THAT YOU’RE READING
SOMETHING INSPIRED BY GOD.
AND IT’S HIS MESSAGE
TO THE HUMAN RACE.
HE TELLS US WHERE
WE CAME FROM.
HE TELLS US WE’RE GOING.
HE TELLS US HOW
TO LIVE EVERY DAY.
THE THIRD THING
THAT HASN’T CHANGED–
HUMAN NATURE HAS NOT CHANGED.
JEREMIAH THE PROPHET SAID,
AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO,
“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL
ABOVE ALL THINGS
“AND DESPERATELY WICKED,
WHO CAN KNOW IT?”
“ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME
SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”
YOU’RE A SINNER.
I’M A SINNER.
SIN MEANS THAT I’VE
BROKEN GOD’S LAWS.
I’VE BROKEN
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE BROKEN ONE
COMMANDMENT, ONE TIME,
YOU’RE GUILTY OF ALL.
HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A LIE?
HAVE YOU EVER HAD
LUST IN YOUR HEART?
THEN YOU’RE GUILTY.
WE’RE GUILTY BEFORE GOD.
AND BECAUSE WE’RE GUILTY,
WE’RE UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.
DEATH IN THIS LIFE, AND
DEATH IN THE LIFE TO COME.
THE WAY OF SALVATION
HAS NOT CHANGED.
IN ALL THESE CENTURIES
THE WAY OF SALVATION
IS STILL THE SAME.
“NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION
IN ANY OTHER,
“FOR THERE’S NONE OTHER
NAME UNTO HEAVEN,
“GIVEN AMONG MEN,
WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED,”
IN ACTS 4:12.
JOHN 14:6 SAYS, “I AM THE WAY,
THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.
“NO MAN COMETH TO
THE FATHER BUT BY ME.”
IN THE LAST GENERATION,
THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
WAS THROUGH CHRIST.
IN THIS GENERATION,
THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
WILL BE THROUGH CHRIST.
THE ONLY ONE IN HISTORY,
OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN,
“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON
HATH EVERLASTING LIFE,
“AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT
THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE
“BUT THE WRATH OF GOD
ABIDETH ON HIM.”
THINK OF IT.
THE WRATH OF GOD
ABIDES ON YOU NOW .
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT
WRATH CAN BE TURNED AWAY
IS BY THE CROSS.
WHEN JESUS CHRIST TOOK
YOUR SINS ON THE CROSS,
GOD COULD NO LONGER
SEE YOUR SINS,
BECAUSE YOUR SINS WERE BURIED
IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.
AND GOD CANNOT EVEN
REMEMBER YOUR SINS.
THINK OF IT.
GOD CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER.
HE HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN
THE TAPE RECORDER OFF,
AND ERASE IT.
AND GOD CANNOT
REMEMBER YOUR SINS,
WHEN YOU COME TO
CHRIST AT THE CROSS,
BY FAITH AND REPENTANCE.
YES, GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE.
THE WORD OF GOD
WILL NEVER CHANGE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE,
IF YOU’RE TO GO TO HEAVEN.
IF YOU’RE TO HAVE
A NEW LIFE HERE,
AND HAVE PURPOSE AND
MEANING IN YOUR LIFE,
YOU HAVE TO CHANGE.
THE FIRST THING YOU
HAVE TO DO IS REPENT.
“REPENT YE THEREFORE
AND BE CONVERTED
“THAT YOUR SINS MAY
BE BLOTTED OUT,”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS.
THE SECOND THING
IS TO BELIEVE.
AND THAT WORD BELIEVE
MEANS TO COMMIT.
THAT’S THE MARRIAGE
VOW THAT WE TAKE.
IT’S NOT JUST
GETTING MARRIED,
IT’S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.
MY WIFE IS HERE TONIGHT…
AND SHE…
[applause]
AND UH…
WE’VE HAD DIFFERENCES,
LIKE EVERY NORMAL COUPLE.
AND SOMEONE ASKED HER, “HAD
SHE EVER THOUGHT OF DIVORCE?”
SHE SAID, “NO, BUT I
HAVE THOUGHT OF MURDER.”
[applause]
I DON’T KNOW WHERE
SHE’S SITTING…
BUT SOME TIME I’M GOING TO
ASK HER TO EXPLAIN THAT.
BUT WE HAVE
A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE,
AND WE HAVE
A WONDERFUL FAMILY,
AND ALL OF THEM
KNOW THE LORD,
FOR WHICH WE GIVE
THANKS TO GOD.
[applause]
NOW I WANT TO ASK YOU–
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?
YOU SEE, CHRIST DIED FOR YOU.
AND ON THAT CROSS, GOD LAID
ON HIM THE SINS OF US ALL.
WE DESERVED HELL.
WE DESERVED JUDGMENT.
WE DESERVED TO PAY
THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS,
BUT JESUS TOOK THEM
VOLUNTARILY ON THE CROSS.
AND ON THAT CROSS,
HE HAD THE CAPACITY,
BECAUSE HE WAS THE GOD MAN,
TO SEE YOU SITTING HERE TONIGHT.
HE LOOKED AHEAD, THESE
THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND,
HE COULD SEE YOU,
AND HE KNEW YOU.
AND HE KNEW ALL ABOUT YOU,
AND HE LOVED YOU.
AND HE IS WILLING
TO FORGIVE YOU,
AND GIVE YOU PURPOSE
AND MEANING IN YOUR LIFE
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
YOUR LIFE HAS TO CHANGE.
“BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM,
“TO THEM GAVE HE POWER
TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD,
“EVEN TO THEM THAT
BELIEVE ON HIS NAME.”
HAVE YOU COME TO CHRIST?
HAS THERE BEEN A TIME
WHEN YOU RECEIVED HIM
AS YOUR LORD AND YOUR SAVIOR.
AND SAID, “LORD, WITH YOUR HELP,
I WANT TO FOLLOW YOU.
“I’M GOING TO READ THE BIBLE.
“AND I’M GOING TO PRAY.
“AND I’M GOING TO BE AS
FAITHFUL TO YOU AS I CAN.
“I CAN’T LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ALONE.
“I’M A FAILURE.”
BILLY GRAHAM CANNOT
LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
I’VE TRIED.
I CAN’T DO IT.
BUT WITH THE HELP
OF THE WORD OF GOD,
AND THE HELP OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT,
I CAN LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
BUT HE LIVES IT THROUGH ME.
HE PRODUCES THE
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT,
WHICH IS LOVE AND
JOY AND PEACE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
SUPERNATURALLY PRODUCED IN YOU,
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
WHEN YOU RECEIVE CHRIST.
SOME PEOPLE SAY,
“I’M TRYING TO HOLD ON.”
YOU DON’T NEED TO HOLD ON.
HE HOLDS YOU!
JUST TURN LOOSE, AND LET
HIM COME INTO YOUR HEART.
[applause]
HOW MANY OF US,
WE’VE BEEN BAPTIZED.
WE GO TO CHURCH ONCE IN
A WHILE, MAYBE EVERY SUNDAY.
BUT DEEP IN YOUR HEART
THERE’S A DOUBT
THAT YOU KNOW CHRIST.
YOU’RE NOT SURE THAT IF YOU
DIED AT THIS MOMENT
YOU’D GO TO HEAVEN.
YOU WANT TO BE SURE.
YOU WANT TO BE CERTAIN.
YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN,
AND YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT
PURPOSE AND MEANING
THAT GOD CAN GIVE TO YOU.
ARE YOU WILLING TO CHANGE
YOUR WAY OF LIVING?
THAT’S REPENTANCE,
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND,
TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION
OF YOUR LIFE.
AND YOU CAN’T
REPENT BY YOURSELF.
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS
TO HELP YOU DO THAT.
AND THEN YOU COME BY FAITH,
AND FAITH MEANS COMMITMENT.
WHEN I STEPPED
ON THIS PLATFORM LAST NIGHT,
I HAD NEVER BEEN ON
THIS PLATFORM BEFORE.
I DIDN’T GET DOWN AND
EXAMINE IT TO SEE
IF IT WOULD HOLD ME UP.
I ACCEPTED BY FAITH THAT
THE CARPENTERS THAT BUILT IT,
BUILT IT TO HOLD A MAN.
AND BY FAITH YOU RECEIVE
CHRIST IN THE SAME WAY.
YOU TOTALLY COMMIT YOURSELF.
YOU SAY, “LORD, I’M NOT
TRUSTING ANYTHING ELSE
“TO SAVE MY SOUL
EXCEPT JESUS.
“I COMMIT MYSELF TO HIM.”
YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE
LOOKING FOR A CAUSE.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
A FLAG TO FOLLOW.
THEY’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
TO REALLY BELIEVE IN.
PEOPLE ARE MIXED UP.
THEY’RE CONFUSED.
THEY DON’T KNOW
WHAT TO THINK.
THEY’RE JUST ANGRY.
AND MANY PEOPLE THINK,
CAN WE HOLD TOGETHER
AS A SOCIETY?
COME TO CHRIST.
HE WILL MEET ALL
OF THOSE LONGINGS,
AND ALL THOSE NEEDS,
AND GIVE YOU A NEW LIFE.
HE CAN COME INTO
YOUR FAMILY.
HE CAN COME
INTO THAT OFFICE
WHERE YOU’VE BEEN
HAVING TROUBLE.
HE CAN COME INTO
YOUR SCHOOL ROOM.
HE CAN COME INTO EVERY
PHASE OF YOUR LIFE,
AND MAKE YOU A NEW PERSON.
HE CAN MAKE THOSE ENDS MEET.
HE CAN HELP YOU
MEET THOSE PAYMENTS.
HE CAN HELP YOU IN
LOOKING FOR A JOB.
HE CAN GIVE YOU
TOTAL ASSURANCE,
THAT YOUR SINS ARE GONE AND
THAT GOD WILL NEVER HOLD
YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM AGAIN.
THERE ARE FORGIVEN.
AND HE RECEIVES YOU
WITH OPEN ARMS.
AND HE WILL DO IT TONIGHT,
IF YOU’LL LET HIM.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
SOMETHING WE SAW HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE DO LAST NIGHT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
AND COME AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THIS PLATFORM.
AND SAY BY COMING,
“I WANT CHRIST TO
COME INTO MY HEART.
“I WANT HIM TO
TAKE ALL OF ME.
“I SURRENDER MY LIFE TO HIM.”
AND I SAY, “LORD JESUS, I AM
WILLING TO REPENT OF MY SINS,
“AND TURN BY FAITH TO YOU.
“AND PUT MY TOTAL CONFIDENCE,
AND MY TOTAL FAITH IN YOU.”
HE DIED ON THE CROSS AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR YOU.
AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN COME AND
TAKE A STAND HERE FOR HIM.
HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME
“PUBLICLY, BEFORE MEN,
I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU
“BEFORE MY FATHER
WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
THAT’S THE REASON I ASK
PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD.
EVERY PERSON JESUS CALLED
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY.
EVERY ONE.
YOU LOOK AND SEE.
THERE WAS ONE, NICODEMUS,
CAME BY NIGHT.
BUT THOSE THAT MADE
THEIR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST,
CAME PUBLICLY.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO COME, PUBLICLY,
AND RECEIVE HIM AS YOUR LORD
AND YOUR SAVIOR
AND YOUR MASTER.
YOU COME RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON 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 ♪
♪ JUST AS I AM,
AND WAITING NOT… ♪
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 THIS MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION YOU CAN EVER MAKE.
SO DON’T WAIT.
CALL NOW.
♪ …CAN CLEANSE EACH SPOT ♪
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.