Posted on 07/31/2013 7:19:07 AM PDT by xzins
Billy Graham
At my age, there are a lot of things that health and strength no longer permit me to do. Sometimes when Franklin is visiting, I jokingly offer him this advice: “Don’t get old!” But there are still many things I can do, and one of them is pray. I’ve been praying fervently that we might have a fresh spiritual awakening in America.
If ever there was a time this country needed the intervention of God, it is now. We can and should pray for America as a whole, but remember that when God sets out to change a nation, He begins by changing people. It starts with individuals. The more I pray, the more deeply I feel that My Hope America is the right outreach for this country today.
I am already hearing reports about the people who have given their hearts to Christ this summer during the early phases of this outreach, and it thrills me.
In November, the month I turn 95, we will have a new My Hope America video/TV special available across the country—several wonderful, real-life stories of people whose lives were transformed by Jesus Christ interwoven with a message from my heart about the healing power of the gospel. I’m already at work on this.
Along with all the encouraging visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren this summer, I’ve had a video camera crew helping me tape, from my home, the things I feel strongly that God is leading me to say to America. Please pray that God will work in the completion of this program and that He will use it in a mighty way.
You can invite people you know to watch the program with you in November. Ask God to touch their hearts as they watch. Thousands and thousands of believers in every part of the country are preparing to do that.
Who do you know—loved ones, friends, co-workers—who need to understand and experience the life-changing power of the gospel? Are you praying faithfully for them right now, specific people you long to see transformed now and for eternity?
God longs to see them transformed as well, and He invites you to partner with Him as He seeks to draw them to Himself. If you want to see someone’s heart healed and eternal future secured, you must be praying.
A Christian may feel unsure at times of how best to do that. God understands. The Bible says, “We do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:26, NASB). That means when we intentionally and faithfully lift the names of our lost friends and loved ones to the throne room of heaven, it is the Holy Spirit who is pleading, mourning and praying through us. In this way, we become actual partners with God—“workers together with Him” (2 Cor. 6:1, NKJV)—and our efforts are raised from the low plane of doubt and hesitancy to the high plane of creativity with God.
As a co-laborer with God, you need not be anxious about how to make it all work. You cannot draw anyone to Christ, but God can: “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out’” (Ezek. 34:11). Ask Him to do that.
Make sure your pastor knows about My Hope America—already more than 16,000 churches in all 50 states have signed up to participate. Meanwhile, I encourage you to sign up right now as an individual. Plan to go through a My Hope America training session at a church in your area, or take the easy online training at home (you’ll need about three hours total, spread out at your own pace). There is no fee or cost.
This is a huge undertaking, but we strongly believe the outreach and all needed materials should remain free of charge to those who participate. We are trusting God for the financial resources, and we are asking Him to lay it on your heart to help with a generous and sacrificial gift for My Hope America.
Most of all, we ask for your prayers and participation so that the hope of the gospel can touch not only people across the nation, but people you personally know and care about. The Bible says, “Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). Join me in asking God to give people that thirst.
See "Hondurans Believe Their Nation Can Be Saved in a Day" at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3049399/posts
I have been praying for years, now more intently.
You know, with all the distractions in today’s world, sometimes it’s just good to get back to basics. Thanks for this post, Chaplain.
Check out the Honduran thread:
The thing I admire most about Billy Graham is that he is constantly preaching Jesus Christ, crucified, as our only hope and salvation. He keeps his eyes focused on the prize, and I truly believe that is where God would have us look, too. It is so easy to be distracted by the static.
I’m doing the “Explicit Gospel” study by Matt Chandler (daughter’s pastor at college) with my family right now. He’s right in line with your observation about Billy Graham.
jagusafr
That is magnificent!
My personal preference is to dwell on Christ risen, but it is undeniably true that Step 1 must come before Step 2, especially as part of God’s perfect plan.
It’s just that this article, for whatever reason, hit my spiritual ‘reset’ button. I’m grateful for the post.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
Thanks for this ping. We can never pray too much! :)
That is on the hearts of many believers I know.
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