You can’t be neutral about Jesus. Billy Graham explains how to be a true Christ-follower in this 1985 message from Sheffield, England. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
(applause)
I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME
TO THE SIXTH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW ,
AND JESUS IS SPEAKING,
AND HE SAYS THIS:
“NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS,
“FOR EITHER HE WILL
HATE THE ONE
“AND LOVE THE OTHER,
“OR ELSE HE WILL
“HOLD TO THE ONE AND
DESPISE THE OTHER.
“YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD
AND MATERIALISM.”
JESUS SAID THAT.
YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE UP
YOUR MIND.
NOW I FIND A PSYCHOLOGICAL
AND SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VACUUM
IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND IN EUROPE AND AMERICA
AND MANY OTHER PARTS
OF THE WORLD.
MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE NO PURPOSE FOR LIVING
AND NO MOTIVATING CHALLENGE.
AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE RESTLESS,
I FIND.
THEY WANT A CAUSE.
THEY WANT A SONG TO SING.
THEY WANT A FLAG TO FOLLOW.
AND INTO THAT TYPE
OF A SITUATION CAME HITLER.
HE FOUND GERMANY WITH MILLIONS
OF YOUNG PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED,
MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
MARCHING AND DEMONSTRATING
FOR THIS CAUSE
AND THAT CAUSE
AND INTO THAT VACUUM
CAME HITLER
AND BUILT THAT MIGHTY
MILITARY MACHINE
THAT ALMOST CONQUERED EUROPE
AND THE WORLD.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY,
THE GREAT WRITER, ONCE SAID,
“I LIVE IN A VACUUM THAT
IS AS LONELY AS A RADIO TUBE
“WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE DEAD
“AND THERE’S NO CURRENT
TO PLUG IT INTO.”
AND YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO JUST NEVER MAKE UP
THEIR MIND.
THEY NEVER MAKE
A DEFINITE DECISION.
NOW CHRIST NEVER ALLOWED US
TO BE BYSTANDERS OR SPECTATORS
WHEN IT CAME TO HIM.
THE WORD “CHRISTIAN”
ACTUALLY MEANS
A PARTISAN FOR CHRIST.
IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE
CHOSEN CHRIST
AND YOU’RE FOLLOWING CHRIST.
AND PARTISANS
ARE NEVER NEUTRAL.
AND WE SEE TODAY,
RADICAL YOUNG PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
STIRRING UP TROUBLE,
BOMBING HOTELS,
BOMBING IN AIRPLANES,
HIJACKING PLANES.
THEY’RE FOLLOWING
SOME SORT OF A CAUSE
AND A LOT OF TIMES
WE DON’T KNOW
WHAT THEIR CAUSE IS.
THEY ARE RESTLESS,
THEY WANT SOMETHING TO DO.
SOMEBODY SAID THE BEST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN
IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD
WAS TO HAVE A WAR.
MAY GOD FORBID.
BUT YOUNG PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING.
AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT WE’RE READING ABOUT
IN OUR NEWSPAPERS EVERY DAY
AND WATCHING ON TELEVISION,
THEY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE,
THEY NEVER SIT ON THE FENCE,
THEY’RE NEVER SPECTATORS,
IN THE STRUGGLES OF OUR TIMES.
THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES
TO WHATEVER THEIR CAUSE MAY BE,
AND I WANT TO ASK YOU:
ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
I MEAN A TRUE CHRISTIAN,
A REAL CHRISTIAN.
SOMEBODY ASKED AN ANGLICAN
DOWN IN LONDON
WHEN WE WERE DOWN THERE,
THEY WERE TRYING TO WITNESS
AND THEY SAID,
“ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN, SIR?”
HE SAID, “I’VE BEEN
AN ANGLICAN ALL MY LIFE
“AND NOBODY’S GOING TO MAKE
A CHRISTIAN OUT OF ME.”
[laughter]
AND DOWN IN TEXAS THEY ASKED
A MAN ON THE STREET
IN FT. WORTH, TEXAS, SAID,
“ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?”
HE SAID, “NO, THANK GOD,
I’M A BAPTIST.”
[laughter]
THE WORD “CHRISTIAN”
WAS USED FIRST IN DERISION.
IT’S A TERM OF REPROACH.
AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE
A WRONG IDEA
OF WHAT A CHRISTIAN
IS REALLY LIKE.
THEY SAY, WELL, A CHRISTIAN
IS A PERSON WHO PRAYS.
CHRISTIANS PRAY,
BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU
A CHRISTIAN, A TRUE CHRISTIAN.
OR THEY LIVE BY
THE GOLDEN RULE:
“DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD
HAVE THEM TO DO UNTO YOU.”
THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU
A CHRISTIAN.
YOU MAY BE SINCERE.
I WATCHED A MAN
IN AN AMERICAN FOOTBALL GAME
AND THERE WERE 90,000 PEOPLE
IN THE ROSE BOWL
IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA,
AND HE CARRIED THAT BALL
DOWN THE FIELD.
THE CROWD CHEERED,
BUT HE RAN THE WRONG WAY,
AND GOT A GOAL
FOR THE OTHER TEAM
AND LOST THE GAME.
HE WAS SINCERE.
MY MOTHER WAS SINCERE
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY
AND GAVE ME WHAT SHE THOUGHT
WAS COUGH SYRUP FOR MY COLD,
AND GAVE ME IODINE,
AND SHE CALLED UP QUICKLY
THE DOCTOR,
AND THE DOCTOR SAID,
“GIVE HIM SOME CREAM.”
WELL, WE HAD A LITTLE DAIRY FARM
WITH ABOUT 60 COWS,
AND SHE ALMOST FILLED ME UP
WITH CREAM.
YOU SAY, WELL, A CHRISTIAN
IS A PERSON THAT GOES TO CHURCH.
YES, A CHRISTIAN
OUGHT TO GO TO CHURCH,
BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU
A CHRISTIAN.
YOU CAN BE BAPTIZED,
AND YOU CAN DO
ALL OF THOSE THINGS,
AND YOU CAN BE CALLED
CHRISTIAN,
BUT I’M TALKING ABOUT
A REAL, GENUINE
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHRIST.
DO YOU HAVE THAT?
OR ONE WHO KEEPS
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I’VE NEVER MET ANYBODY
THAT KEPT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I HAVEN’T KEPT THEM.
YOU HAVEN’T KEPT THEM.
DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
IN THIS STADIUM
AND EVERYBODY WATCHING,
HAS BROKEN EVERY COMMANDMENT.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
IF YOU BREAK ONE COMMANDMENT
YOU’VE BROKEN THEM ALL!
SO WE’VE BROKEN THE WHOLE
OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,
AND THAT IS CALLED SIN,
IN THE BIBLE,
AND THE BIBLE SAYS
ALL HAVE SINNED
AND COME SHORT
OF GOD’S REQUIREMENTS,
COME SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY.
NOW, FIRST, A CHRISTIAN IS
A PERSON WHO HAS MADE A CHOICE.
SECONDLY, A CHANGE HAS
TAKEN PLACE IN HIS LIFE.
AND THIRDLY,
HE’S ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE THOSE
THE THREE THINGS
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE.
FIRST, HE’S MADE A CHOICE.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE,
WE’RE ASKED TO MAKE A CHOICE.
ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN
OF EDEN MADE THE WRONG CHOICE.
THEY REBELLED AGAINST GOD.
THEY CHOSE TO BUILD A WORLD
WITHOUT GOD,
AND THEY MADE A MISTAKE,
A TERRIBLE, TRAGIC MISTAKE,
AND WE’RE PAYING FOR IT TODAY,
BECAUSE ALL THE PROBLEMS
IN THE WORLD TODAY
INCLUDING DEATH,
COMES FROM THE FACT
THAT OUR FIRST PARENTS
BROKE GOD’S LAW.
AND PASSED IT ON TO
CAIN AND ABEL, THEIR CHILDREN,
CAIN BECAME A MURDERER.
AND PASSED IT ON TO YOU AND ME.
AND WE’RE ALL CAPABLE OF SIN
AND WE ALL SIN.
DAVID SAID, “IN SIN DID
MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME.”
I WAS BORN IN SIN.
WE’RE SINNERS BY CHOICE,
WE’RE SINNERS BY PRACTICE.
EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE
AFFECTS OTHERS.
MOSES, BEFORE HE DIED, SAID
TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL,
“I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH
TO RECORD THIS DAY AGAINST YOU,
“THAT I SET BEFORE YOU
LIFE AND DEATH,
“BLESSING AND CURSING,
“THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE
“AND BOTH YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN WILL LIVE.”
CHOOSE, HE SAID.
HE SAID TO THE PEOPLE
OF THAT DAY,
“YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE,”
AND A LITTLE BIT LATER,
THE NEXT MAN TO FOLLOW HIM,
WAS NAMED GENERAL JOSHUA,
AND JOSHUA THE 24TH CHAPTER,
HAD ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
BEFORE HIM AT SHECHEM,
AND HE SAID,
“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY
WHOM YOU’RE GOING TO SERVE.”
ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE GOD?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO
SERVE YOURSELF?
“CHOOSE!” HE SAID.
AND THEN HE SAID,
“AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE,
“WE’RE GOING TO
SERVE THE LORD.”
AND ELIJAH WAS A GREAT
PROPHET OF GOD.
AND HE ONCE HAD 450 PROPHETS
OF BAAL WHO WAS A HEATHEN GOD,
AND ELIJAH CAME TO ALL
THE PEOPLE AND SAID,
“HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO HALT
BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS?
“IF THE LORD BE GOD,
FOLLOW HIM!”
IF CHRIST IS WHO HE CLAIMS
TO BE, FOLLOW HIM!
BECAUSE I TELL YOU THIS,
IF CHRIST IS NOT
WHO HE CLAIMS TO BE,
WE’RE IN TROUBLE.
I DON’T SEE ANY HOPE
IN THE WORLD AT ALL.
AND THE ONLY HOPE
IS CHRIST.
YES, YOU HAVE TO
MAKE A CHOICE.
JESUS SAID, “ENTER YE IN
AT THE STRAIGHT GATE,
“FOR WIDE IS THE GATE
AND BROAD IS THE WAY
“THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION,
“AND MANY THERE BE
WHICH GO IN THEREAT,
“BUT STRAIGHT IS THE GATE
AND NARROW IS THE WAY
“WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE,
AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.”
HE SAID ONLY A FEW PEOPLE
ARE ON THE NARROW ROAD
THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN.
THE VAST MAJORITY
ARE ON A BROAD ROAD
THAT LEADS TO JUDGMENT,
DESTRUCTION AND HELL.
WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON?
IT’S WHAT YOU DO ABOUT CHRIST
THAT COUNTS,
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
CHRIST CAME TO DIE
ON THE CROSS,
AND THE CROSS
BECOMES THE DOOR,
IT BECOMES THE GATE,
AND IF WE’LL ENTER
THAT NARROW GATE OF THE CROSS
AND THE RESURRECTION,
AND SAY, “YES, LORD,
I BELIEVE,
“I TURN FROM MY SINS,
“I’M WILLING TO CHANGE
MY WAY OF LIVING,”
AND WE ENTER THE NARROW ROAD,
IT’LL BE ROCKY
AND ROUGH AND TOUGH,
BUT AT THE END IS HEAVEN,
AND WHILE ON THAT ROAD,
THERE’S A NEW RESOURCE
AND A NEW POWER
AND A NEW JOY AND A NEW LOVE
THAT GOD GIVES YOU.
NOW SECONDLY, A TRUE BELIEVER,
A TRUE CHRISTIAN,
IS A PERSON WHO HAS MADE
A CHANGE IN HIS LIFE.
AND THAT’S DONE
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE MOMENT YOU RECEIVE CHRIST,
THE SPIRIT OF GOD
COMES TO LIVE IN YOUR HEART,
AND IT SAYS IN
II CORINTHIANS,
“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN
BE IN CHRIST,
“HE’S A NEW CREATURE.
“OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY,
“BEHOLD, ALL THINGS BECOME NEW.”
YOU BECOME A NEW PERSON,
AND HE’S THE ONE THAT DOES IT.
HE PERFORMS THAT ACT
IN YOUR LIFE.
YES, A TRUE BELIEVER IS ONE IN
WHOM A CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE.
HAS A CHANGE TAKEN PLACE
IN YOUR LIFE?
YOU SEE, YOU ACT
THE WAY YOU BELIEVE.
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR,
TO CHANGE FROM A DEFEATED,
PROBLEM-ORIENTED YOUNG PERSON
DEPENDS ON, FIRST,
CHANGING YOUR MIND.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TONIGHT
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT GOD,
ABOUT CHRIST,
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
OUR PROBLEMS
AND EMOTIONAL UPSETS
AND FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR
AND GOALS
ARE ALL ROOTED IN THE WRONG
BASIC BELIEFS
ABOUT HOW TO MEET
OUR PERSONAL NEEDS IN LIFE.
OUR PROBLEMS WITH SEX
OR WITH PEER PRESSURE.
CHRIST CAN TAKE CHARGE
OF ALL OF THAT,
IF YOU’LL LET HIM.
AND THEN A TRUE BELIEVER
IS A PERSON
WHO HAS ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE.
JESUS SAID, “IF ANY MAN
WILL COME AFTER ME
“AND DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP
HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.”
IN OTHER WORDS,
YOU DENY SELF,
YOUR OWN SELFISH AMBITIONS,
YOUR OWN SELFISH,
SINFUL PLEASURES,
YOU DENY THAT,
AND THEN YOU TURN
AND TAKE UP A CROSS.
WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?
HE MEANS THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO DIE WITH HIM.
THE CROSS WAS A PLACE
OF EXECUTING CRIMINALS.
HE SAID WHEN YOU GO BACK
TO YOUR SCHOOL,
BACK TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
BACK TO YOUR WORK,
AND TELL THEM THAT YOU HAVE
RECEIVED CHRIST,
YOU MAY RECEIVE PERSECUTION.
THEY MAY LAUGH AT YOU.
THEY MAY MAKE FUN OF YOU.
YOUR PEERS AND YOUR FRIENDS
WILL MAYBE NO LONGER
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
YOU MIGHT LOSE SOME DATES.
YOU’LL HAVE TO PAY A PRICE.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE
THAT FOLLOWED JESUS,
WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT DEATH,
AND HE SAID, “I’M GOING TO DIE,”
THEY QUIT FOLLOWING HIM.
THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND
THE DEEPER MEANING OF HIS DEATH.
THEY DIDN’T REALIZE
THAT WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS,
THAT WAS THE ONLY HOPE
THEY WILL EVER HAVE
TO GET TO HEAVEN
AND TO HAVE THEIR SIN FORGIVEN.
BECAUSE WHEN HE SHED
THAT BLOOD ON THE CROSS,
THAT IS THE ONLY HOPE
THAT WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE
OR THE LIFE TO COME.
NOW I KNOW THAT
SOME YOUNG PEOPLE
IN AMERICA,
AT LEAST,
RESIST THE IDEA OF
A CHOICE OF ANY SORT.
IT’S BEEN CALLED
THE GENERATION OF
THE UNCOMMITTED.
THEY DON’T WANT TO
BE CALLED NARROW,
AND THEY DON’T WANT TO
CLOSE THEIR MINDS,
BUT JESUS CLEARLY TAUGHT
THAT THERE ARE TWO ROADS,
AND YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE
WHICH ROAD.
THERE ARE TWO MASTERS,
AND YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE
WHICH MASTER
YOU’RE GOING TO SURRENDER TO.
AND THERE ARE TWO DESTINIES:
HEAVEN OR HELL,
AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE.
BECAUSE, YOU SEE, GOD DOESN’T
MAKE THE CHOICE FOR YOU.
GOD GIVES HIS SON,
HE HELPS YOU TO MAKE THE CHOICE,
BY SENDING HIS HOLY SPIRIT
TO CONVICT YOU,
TO SPEAK TO YOU,
BUT ULTIMATELY,
YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.
HE GAVE YOU A GIFT HE DIDN’T
GIVE TO HIS OTHER CREATURES.
YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT KIND
OF LIFE YOU’RE GOING TO LIVE,
AND THERE’S NOTHING
GOD CAN DO ABOUT IT.
YOU CAN CHOOSE
WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO BELIEVE,
AND THERE’S NOTHING
GOD CAN DO ABOUT IT,
BECAUSE HE GAVE YOU
A GIFT OF FREE WILL.
YOU CAN SAY,
“I WILL” OR “I WON’T.”
“I WILL” OR “I WON’T.”
WHICH WILL IT BE FOR YOU?
“I WILL” OR “I WON’T”?
THAT’S THE DECISION
THAT YOU’LL HAVE TO MAKE.
YOU SEE, THERE’S DEATH
TO EVERY OTHER CHOICE.
YOU CANNOT TRAVEL
BOTH ROADS.
YOU DIE TO ONE ROAD
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE OTHER.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO MARRY
ONE GIRL,
YOU CANNOT ORDINARILY
MARRY ANOTHER.
I SAID “ORDINARILY.”
LIFE NEVER ALLOWS
THAT KIND OF NEUTRALITY.
JESUS DOES NOT ALLOW YOU
TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT HIM.
TRY TO BE NEUTRAL IN POLITICS,
AND YOU SOON ARE CONFRONTED
WITH THE BALLOT BOX.
BUT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT
WANT TO BE INVOLVED
IN THEIR NEIGHBOR’S PROBLEMS
AND THERE’S A TIME
WHEN YOU MUST STAND UP
AND BE COUNTED.
JESUS DEMANDS THAT YOU
DECIDE ABOUT HIM.
PILATE ASKED,
“WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS,
WHICH IS CALLED THE CHRIST?”
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
IT’LL BE “I WON’T,”
OR “I WILL.”
“I WON’T” OR “I WILL.”
PILATE WASHED HIS HANDS
AND SAID,
“I DON’T WANT ANYTHING
TO DO WITH HIM.”
YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION.
JESUS ASKED HIS DISCIPLES,
“WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I
THE SON OF MAN AM?”
AND PETER ANSWERED,
“YOU’RE CHRIST,
THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD,”
AND JESUS SAID,
“PETER, YOU’RE RIGHT!”
THEN SOME ARE RELUCTANT
TO MAKE A CHOICE FOR CHRIST
BECAUSE OF THEOLOGY
ABOUT THE BIBLE,
THEY’RE NOT SURE ABOUT GOD.
THEY’RE NOT SURE
THAT YOU CAN PROVE GOD.
NO, YOU CAN’T PROVE GOD.
YOU CAN’T PROVE
THAT GOD EXISTS.
YOU CANNOT GO TO A SCIENTIFIC
LABORATORY AND SAY,
“HERE’S GOD
IN A TEST TUBE.”
WE ACCEPT GOD BY FAITH.
EVERYTHING IN NATURE
TELLS US THERE MUST BE A GOD.
I HAVE A WATCH HERE,
IT DIDN’T JUST FLY TOGETHER.
THIS UNIVERSE THAT RUNS
IN PERFECT PRECISION,
THERE’S A SUPREME BEING
OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
WE CALL HIM GOD.
AND WHEN HELEN KELLER,
WHO WAS BLIND AND DEAF AND DUMB,
WHEN THEY FIRST COMMUNICATED
WITH HER,
THEY USED THE WORD “GOD”
AND SHE SAID, “I KNEW HIM,
BUT I DIDN’T KNOW HIS NAME.”
THERE IS A GOD,
AND THE BIBLE TELLS US
THAT HE’S A SPIRIT.
AND HE CREATED THE WORLD.
THAT HE’S FROM EVERLASTING
TO EVERLASTING.
AND HE SAID, “I AM THE LORD,
I CHANGE NOT.”
BUT GOD ALSO SAYS
THAT HE’S A GOD OF LOVE.
HE LOVES YOU.
HE’S INTERESTED IN YOU.
HE HAS THE HAIRS
OF YOUR HEAD NUMBERED.
HE LOVES YOU WITH
AN EVERLASTING LOVE,
AND HE WANTS TO FORGIVE YOU.
HE WANTS TO COME INTO
YOUR LIFE AND INTO YOUR HOME,
AND INTO YOUR WORK,
AND INTO ALL YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
AND HELP YOU.
HE WANTS TO BE THE PILOT
OF YOUR PLANE.
HE WANTS TO BE THE PILOT
OF YOUR BOAT,
OR THE DRIVER OF YOUR CAR.
THE CAR OF LIFE.
AND THEN THERE’S SOME
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WILL
RAISE THE QUESTION
ABOUT THE BIBLE.
CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?
JOB SAID, “I’VE ESTEEMED
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH
“MORE THAN MY NECESSARY FOOD.”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN
BY INSPIRATION OF GOD.”
GOD INSPIRED THE BIBLE.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE.
YOU CAN ASK ME QUESTIONS
IN THE BIBLE
THAT I CANNOT ANSWER.
I ACCEPT IT BY FAITH
AS THE WORD OF GOD.
AND IT’S CHANGED MY LIFE.
AND IT FEEDS MY SOUL.
EVERY TIME I READ THE BIBLE,
ANY PART OF THE BIBLE,
I DON’T CARE
WHERE I OPEN UP,
IT SPEAKS TO ME.
IT’S A LIVING BOOK.
IT’S NOT LIKE
A HISTORY BOOK.
IT’S NOT A BOOK
OF SCIENCE.
IT’S A BOOK ABOUT FAITH.
IT’S A BOOK ABOUT GOD.
IT’S NOT JUST A BOOK
ON PHILOSOPHY.
IT’S NOT A BOOK
JUST ON RELIGION.
IT’S A LIVING BOOK
THAT SPEAKS TO YOU
AS YOU READ IT.
THERE’S A SUPERNATURAL POWER
IN READING THAT BOOK.
AND THEN THERE ARE
SOME YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT TALK ABOUT CONVERSION,
AND THEY THINK OF CONVERSION
AS SOME DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE
IN WHICH THEY HEAR BELLS
OR THEY SEE THE LIGHTNING FLASH
OR THEY HEAR THE THUNDER,
OR MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAS TO HAPPEN TO THEM.
I REMEMBER THE NIGHT
THAT I CAME.
I CAME IN A,
THE CROWD WAS
MUCH SMALLER THAN THIS.
BUT I CAME FORWARD,
AND STOOD THERE.
I ALMOST TURNED AROUND
AND WENT BACK,
BECAUSE I WONDERED,
WHAT IN THE WORLD
AM I DOING DOWN HERE?
ALL MY SCHOOL FRIENDS
LOOKING ON.
I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO
KID ME THE NEXT DAY,
AND I KNEW THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO LAUGH AT ME.
BUT I STOOD THERE,
BECAUSE I DEEPLY WANTED CHRIST.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
I’M SURE MY PASTOR
WAS SHOCKED.
HE THOUGHT I WAS ONE OF
HIS BEST YOUNG MEMBERS.
I WAS VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE’S SOCIETY
OF THE CHURCH.
BUT I KNEW I REALLY DIDN’T
KNOW CHRIST.
I DIDN’T HAVE ANY PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
SO I STOOD THERE,
AND THE LADY STANDING
NEXT TO ME WAS CRYING.
I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE CRYING.
I DIDN’T FEEL MUCH AT ALL.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG.
THERE’S NOTHING HAPPENING
TO ME.
BUT IT DID HAPPEN.
DEEP IN MY HEART
WHEN I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT,
WE LIVED ON A FARM
IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
AND I LOOKED OUT
OVER THE MOONLIT FIELDS
AND INTO THE WOODS BEYOND,
AND I GOT ON MY KNEES
BESIDE THE BED,
AND I LOOKED UP AT THAT MOON
FOR A LONG TIME,
AND I SAID, “O GOD,
I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
“WHAT I’VE DONE TONIGHT,
“AND I CERTAINLY
DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT YOU,
“BUT WHAT LITTLE I DO KNOW,
“PLEASE COME INTO MY HEART
TONIGHT AND CHANGE ME,
“AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON.”
FROM THAT MOMENT ON,
I STARTED BEING DIFFERENT.
I WAS HEADED IN
A NEW DIRECTION.
I DIDN’T HAVE ANYBODY
TO FOLLOW ME UP.
I DIDN’T HAVE ANYBODY
TO TALK TO ME,
AND I DIDN’T KNOW HOW
TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT
WHAT I’D DONE,
BUT I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS DIFFERENT.
I WAS TURNED AROUND,
I WAS CHANGED.
THAT’S WHAT CONVERSION MEANS.
IT MEANS TO CHANGE,
TO TURN AROUND.
I’M GOING THIS WAY,
AND I TURN
AND I START THIS WAY.
THEN SOME PEOPLE SAY,
“WELL, I DON’T WANT TO
GO TO CHURCH.”
THEY REFUSE CHRIST
BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH.
AND SOME PEOPLE SAY,
“WELL, THE CHURCH
IS FULL OF HYPOCRITES.”
WELL, THERE ARE HYPOCRITES
IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE,
I’LL TELL YOU.
THE CHURCH IS NOT
A SOCIETY OF SAINTS.
THE CHURCH IS FOR SINNERS
SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
AND THE ONE REQUIREMENT
FOR MEMBERSHIP
IN THE TRUE BODY OF CHRIST
IS THAT YOU’RE UNWORTHY
TO BE A MEMBER.
I’M NOT WORTHY TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I’M NOT WORTHY
TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
WHERE I’M A MEMBER.
CHRIST HIMSELF
FOUNDED THE CHURCH,
AND ITS PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY
GOD BY WORSHIP.
YOU SEE, WE GO TO CHURCH
TO WORSHIP HIM.
WE GO TO CHURCH
FOR THE FELLOWSHIP.
“WHERE TWO OR THREE
ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME,
“THERE AM I IN THE MIDST.”
THE CHURCH IS FOR
STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH.
YOU TAKE ONE LIVE COAL
AND PUT IT ASIDE,
AND IT’LL DIE.
BUT PUT IT WITH OTHERS,
AND IT’LL LIVE.
THE CHURCH IS AN INFLUENCE
FOR GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE CHURCH IS FOR THE PURPOSE
OF WITNESS AND SERVICE.
BUT I THINK THE MAIN REASON
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
DON’T COME TO CHRIST
IS BECAUSE
THEY DON’T
WANT TO PAY THE PRICE.
AND HE WILL NOT COMPROMISE.
HE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE.
YOU EITHER COME BY REPENTANCE
AND FAITH,
OR YOU DON’T COME AT ALL.
AND A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
DON’T WANT TO PAY
THAT KIND OF PRICE.
IF YOU WANT AN EDUCATION,
YOU’LL PAY MOST ANYTHING
TO GET IT.
IF YOU WANT WEALTH,
YOU’LL GIVE UP ALL SORTS
OF OTHER THINGS TO GET MONEY.
BUT JESUS SAID,
EVEN ALL THOSE THINGS…
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY
AND THE LUST THEREOF,
“BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL
OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.”
JESUS SAID, “WHAT SHALL IT
PROFIT A MAN
“IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD
AND LOSES HIS OWN SOUL.”
SUPPOSE YOU HAD ALL THE WEALTH
IN THE WHOLE WORLD,
AND LOST YOUR SOUL.
WOULD IT BE WORTH IT?
NO.
YOU SEE, YOUR SOUL
IS THAT PART OF YOU
THAT LIVES IN YOUR BODY
AND IT’S GOING TO LIVE FOREVER,
AND THE DECISION THAT MANY
OF YOU MAKE RIGHT HERE TONIGHT
OR ON THE SATELLITE
PLACES TONIGHT,
WILL DECIDE ABOUT
YOUR SOUL’S ETERNAL DESTINY.
NOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
PUT IT OFF.
“BEHOLD, NOW IS
THE ACCEPTED TIME,
“TODAY IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION,” THE BIBLE SAYS.
“HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART,
BEING OFTEN REPROVED,
“SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.”
YOU SAY,
“WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?”
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SAY,
“GOD, I’M A SINNER.”
THAT’S REPENTANCE.
TURN FROM SIN,
CHANGE YOUR MIND.
THAT’S REPENTANCE.
THEN FAITH IS WHERE YOU TOTALLY
COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST.
YOU PUT HIM FIRST
FROM NOW ON.
DOWN IN CORNWALL
ON TUESDAY NIGHT
A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL
GAVE HER HEART TO CHRIST,
WE WERE TOLD THIS WEEK.
AND THEN THE NEXT NIGHT,
SHE FOUND HER COUNSELOR
AND SAID, “I WANT TO GIVE YOU
A CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
“I’M GOING BACK
TO LIVE WITH MY PARENTS.
“THEY CAME HERE TONIGHT
AND WE WERE RECONCILED.”
SHE WAS A RUNAWAY.
AN 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SAID
SHE HAD TURNED AWAY FROM GOD
AT THE AGE OF ELEVEN
WHEN HER MOTHER DIED,
AND AS SHE RESPONDED
TO THE INVITATION RIGHT HERE,
ON THIS PITCH,
SHE SAID, “I KNOW I CANNOT
GO ON ANY FURTHER IN MY LIFE
“WITHOUT JESUS.
“I’M SORRY THAT I’VE BEEN
REJECTING HIM FOR SO LONG.”
A YOUNG MAN RECOVERING
FROM A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
IN WHICH HE NEARLY DIED
SAW THE MISSION SHEFFIELD
POSTERS AND THOUGHT,
“I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT GOD,
“BUT I THINK I’LL GO AND HEAR
WHAT THIS MAN HAS TO SAY,”
AND HE DID,
AND HE ACCEPTED CHRIST
AND HE MADE THIS STATEMENT.
HE SAID, “I ALMOST DIED
WITHOUT FAITH.”
BECAUSE IN THAT ACCIDENT
HE CAME CLOSE TO DEATH.
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
HUNDREDS OF YOU,
AS WE’VE SEEN THOUSANDS
THIS WEEK HERE.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT
AND COME AND STAND
IN FRONT OF THE PLATFORM,
HERE IN THE CENTER
AND ALL AROUND,
AND AS YOU COME,
YOU’RE SAYING,
“I WANT CHRIST IN MY HEART.
“I WANT HIM TO
TAKE OVER MY LIFE.
“I’M TURNING MY LIFE
OVER TO HIM.
“I’M NOT SURE.”
YOU MAY GO TO CHURCH,
YOU MAY NOT GO TO CHURCH.
YOU MAY BE
A GOOD CHURCH MEMBER,
YOU MAY NOT BE.
I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT YOU, BUT GOD KNOWS,
AND YOU NEED HIM,
AND YOU MAY NEVER HAVE ANOTHER
MOMENT LIKE THIS
AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT
BEFORE GOD.
YOU GET UP AND COME.
♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN
IS A NUMBER
THAT YOU CAN CALL
FOR SPIRITUAL HELP AND
COUNSELING.
AND AS THESE MANY HERE
AT THE STADIUM
ARE MAKING THEIR DECISION
FOR CHRIST,
YOU MAKE THAT CALL RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE STANDING BY
READY TO TALK TO YOU.
♪ AND THAT THOU BIDST ME ♪
♪ COME TO THEE ♪
♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
YOU CAN PICK UP
YOUR TELEPHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER
ON THE SCREEN.
MAY GOD HELP YOU TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT TONIGHT
WITH THESE MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE COMING HERE
IN YORKSHIRE, SHEFFIELD,
ENGLAND.
♪
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 ♪