Remembering Billy Graham

The day Billy Graham died I Googled his name

finding their algorithms favored an article from the

New York Times titled - Billy Graham, lost opportunities

I didn't waste my time reading it because the obvious slant
had nothing to do with hearts and souls and changed lives
but everything to do with the politics of religion in America

My wife and I got married in 1972, just out of college
and at the end of November I surrendered my life to the
Lordship of Jesus and to the infilling of His Holy Spirit

At that moment I went from being an atheist to having an assurance
deep in my heart that Jesus had not only forgiven my sins but He had
revealed Himself so real that I could never doubt what happened

It was our wedding anniversary the next year that I remember
seeing Graham on our little 13" black and white TV, preaching
to over a million people spread out before him in South Korea

His message was pretty much the same then as it was
the dozen of other times I managed to watch him preach
every man, from pauper to king, and in between, is lost without Jesus

Although the world may change, the heart of man has always been the same
the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God
but the good news is that through Jesus we can be reconciled to God.

And as always Graham told the crowd that it was not an accident
they were there that night. Whether brought by a friend or out of curiosity
the Holy Spirit had called them. Now the decision was theirs

Algorithms know nothing about faith or the presence of God
or the power of a Holy Spirit who can transform the life of any person
and who one day soon will shake this nation, one person at a time

Just as they are, without a plea, but that His blood was shed for thee
millions responded to the simple message presented by Dr. Graham
others, hearing but not responding, I would call  - lost opportunities
    

Baptized In Love

We had a wonderful testimony in church today from a woman who had felt overwhelmed and over powered by everything that had been going on in her life. She said she was addicted to drugs, confused about her sexuality, had lost all connections with family and friends, was always unhappy and had no idea how to make progress in any of those areas.

Two years ago she started taking the van that our church sends to the City Mission so that anyone that wants can attend Sunday morning service. It was during her fifth time that she said she heard God speak directly to her. It was a Sunday where part of the service was devoted to adult baptisms. The pastor said that anyone else who felt led to get baptized could head to the room behind the front stage area (there is a baptism pool set up on the stage). A pastor would talk to them first and there were plenty of towels available. She said she actually heard God tell her that now was her time.

Now I want to pause here for a moment to let you know the truth of the matter. You may have heard this a hundred times before but it becomes so much more real when it's in the context of a testimony. At the time God spoke to her this lady was still in the mire of despair, still overwhelmed by not having the ability to gain control over her sin and rebellion. BUT GOD, because of His great love for her, saw her, even in the midst of her sin, as precious and desirable to be saved.

In obedience our lady went forward, surrendered her life to the Lordship of Jesus, and went to the waters of baptism. From that moment on her life was changed and she was no longer powerless to put aside the sin and wrong behaviours of the past. A big part of it was that she now had this deep desire to be pleasing to the One who reached down to her. She told us that her life is still not perfect but that she knows she is walking on the right path and she is now constantly filled with joy.

BUT GOD. There are 46 times in Scripture where this phrased is used. Today I would like to share five of them with you. May they be an encouragement to you that whatever is going on in your life that just seems too big, no matter what it is, God is able to either change it or to change you, to what is best for you and to what gives Him the glory.

Their beauty shall be consumed in the grave . . . But God will redeem my soul from the powers of the grave, for He will rescue me. (Psalm 49: 14-15)

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

It is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yes, even the deep things of God. (1 Cor. 2: 9-10)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man, But God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape.  (1 Cor. 10:13)

We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath . . . But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love . . . even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)  Eph. 2: 3-5

Our salvation is not in the works of religion but in the grace freely given us to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. That grace will reveal His love for us and we in turn will strive to be obedient to His will because of our love for Him. We no longer need to live in fear of the unknown because we are learning to trust in His love for us.

And that my friends makes everything so much easier.