FROM OUR ARCHIVES... THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS. AND NOW TONIGHT,
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THAT PASSAGE THAT RALPH BELL
READ TO US A MOMENT AGO. HE TALKED ABOUT THE COMFORTER, AND THAT COMES FROM
A GREEK WORD, AND I'M NOT A GREEK SCHOLAR,
PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG. I'M NOT TRYING TO SHOW OFF
HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE I KNOW BUT IT MEANS "ADVOCATE"
OR ONE WHO HELPS ALONGSIDE. THAT WORD COMFORTER. AND THAT IS WHAT THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST WAS PROMISING JUST BEFORE HE WAS TO DIE
ON THE CROSS AND BE RESURRECTED AND ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, THAT HE WAS GOING TO SEND
A COMFORTER, SOMEONE TO HELP ALONGSIDE. NOW THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE
AND SAID, "NOW CONCERNING MATTERS
PERTAINING TO THE SPIRIT, "I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT." NOW WE'VE ALL BEEN AWARE
THAT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD A MOVEMENT
CALLED THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. IT HASN'T BEEN LIMITED
JUST TO CERTAIN DENOMINATIONS. IT'S BEEN IN ALL DENOMINATIONS, WHETHER IT'S EPISCOPAL
OR ROMAN CATHOLIC, OR WHEREVER. FOR EXAMPLE,
DOWN IN SOUTHERN POLAND, WHERE THE POPE COMES FROM, WE HELD A CRUSADE DOWN THERE
IN A GREAT CATHEDRAL AND THERE WAS A GREAT
CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IN SOUTHERN POLAND, AND ACROSS THE BORDER
INTO GERMANY, WE SENSED THAT GOD WAS
WORKING IN THOSE PEOPLE IN A NEW WAY. NOW SOME PEOPLE
INTERPRET IT ONE WAY, AND SOME INTERPRET IT
ANOTHER WAY. AND SOME PEOPLE MEAN THAT
WE'RE HAVING A RENEWAL OR REVIVAL IN OUR CHURCHES
OR AMONG OUR PEOPLE AND THEY CALL THAT
CHARISMATIC, AND OTHERS MAY HAVE CERTAIN
GIFTS THAT THEY CALL EVIDENCES OF
THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT, AND SO FORTH. I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO GET INTO
ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENCES TONIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD BE
HERE ALL NIGHT AND I'D BE HERE ALL WEEK,
AND ALL MONTH, AND FOR A YEAR, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME
DIFFERENCES OF INTERPRETATION. BUT I THINK YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING,
OR THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING
OF THE PERSON AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. TIMOTHY LEARY,
THE FORMER HARVARD PROFESSOR, WAS ON A NETWORK PROGRAM
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, AND HE SAID THAT HE BELIEVED
IN THE USE OF DRUGS AS A ROUTE TO TUNE INTO GOD
AND TO TURN ON TO GOD. WELL, THE ROUTE IS
THE HOLY SPIRIT--NOT DRUGS. THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES
THAT HE'S A PERSON. HE'S NOT AN AGENT OR INFLUENCE,
HE'S GOD! AND WE'RE NEVER TO REFER
TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS "IT." NOW THERE'S SOME
MISTRANSLATIONS IN THE AUTHORIZED VERSION BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS
WHEN THIS WAS TRANSLATED, SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THEY REFERRED TO CERTAIN THINGS
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT AS IT, BECAUSE IT WAS A NEUTER, BUT HE IS NOT "SOMETHING,"
BUT HE'S "SOMEONE," AND HOLY INDICATES
THAT HE'S HOLY WITHIN HIMSELF. HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, SOME PLACES
IN THE AUTHORIZED, IT'S TRANSLATED "GHOST." AS IT WAS IN THOSE DAYS, THE WORD SPIRIT
WAS CALLED GHOST, BUT IT DIDN'T MEAN GHOST IN THE SENSE THAT WE MEAN
GHOST TODAY. SOME FILM OUT OF HOLLYWOOD
IN WHICH A GHOST COMES ALONG. THE SPIRIT IS USED
IN CONTRAST TO THAT WHICH IS FLESH
AND MATERIAL. NOW THE BIBLE TEACHES
THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CO-EQUAL WITH GOD THE FATHER
AND GOD THE SON. THERE IS A TRINITY: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON,
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN. IT'S LIKE THE LITTLE BOY THAT-,
OR THE LITTLE GIRL, THAT WAS IN HER CLASSROOM, AND SHE WAS ABOUT
IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE AND THEY ASKED HOW MANY OF YOU
CAN EXPLAIN ELECTRICITY, AND ONE LITTLE GIRL
LIFTED UP HER HAND. AND THE TEACHER SAID,
"ALL RIGHT, "WELL, WHAT IS ELECTRICITY?" AND THE LITTLE GIRL
THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, BIT HER LIP AND SHE SAID,
"I FORGOT." AND THE TEACHER SAID,
"WELL, THAT'S TOO BAD "BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
THAT EVER KNEW." [laughter] NOW THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OMNIPOTENT. THE WORD OMNIPOTENT MEANS
ALL-POWERFUL. IN MICAH 3:8 IT SAYS "I'M FULL OF POWER
BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD." AND THEN THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME. "WHITHER SHALL I GO "FROM THY SPIRIT, "OR WHITHER SHALL I FLEE "FROM THY PRESENCE," SAID THE PSALMIST IN 139:7. YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE AND GET AWAY FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVERYWHERE. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHEN YOU HAVE A SENSE OF GUILT PUT THERE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT MANY TIMES, THAT GUILT WILL GO WITH YOU EVEN IF YOU TRAVEL TO A FARAWAY ISLAND TRYING TO GET RID OF IT. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTING YOU
OF SIN. THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS
TO JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE TRUTH. ONE YOUNG MAN REMARKED, WHO HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO
CHRIST, "TO INDUCE SPIRITUALITY
BY TAKING DRUGS "IS LIKE TRYING TO TURN ON
YOUR TV SET BY KICKING IT." AND MANY PEOPLE DO THAT. I FOUND OUT THAT
IT'LL WORK SOMETIMES. [laughter] SO THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD
ILLUSTRATION. [laughter] BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT THINK
THAT BECAUSE OF DRUGS, OR SOME TRANCE
OR SOME HYPNOTISM, THAT THEY CAN HAVE THIS SAME
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS WRONG, IT'S FALSE. YOU CANNOT! OH, YES, THERE'S MEDITATION
AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT CAN GIVE YOU A HIGH, BUT THE REAL, PERMANENT HIGH
COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HE GIVES YOU A HIGH
EVEN IN YOUR LOW MOMENTS. SOME OF YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING BY TELEVISION, HAVE BEEN CONVICTED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU NEED CHRIST. HE'S TRYING TO DRAW YOU
TONIGHT TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST WHERE THAT SIN
CAN BE FORGIVEN. AND THERE'S A TELEPHONE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN NOW THAT YOU CAN CALL AND A COUNSELOR'S STANDING BY
NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND TO HELP YOU TO MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT TO CHRIST, OR TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
WHATEVER PROBLEMS YOU MAY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE. NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
NOT ONLY CONVICTS, BUT HE GIVES NEW LIFE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
WE'RE DEAD IN SINS. DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE
A WALKING DEAD PERSON? YOU'RE DEAD TOWARD GOD? YOU'RE SPIRITUALLY DEAD,
YOUR SOUL IS DEAD, YOUR SPIRIT IS DEAD, YOUR BODY IS ALIVE,
BUT YOU'RE DEAD. THE REAL YOU IS DEAD. NOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
FOR A DEAD PERSON? HE NEEDS TO BE MADE ALIVE, AND THAT'S THE WORK
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-- TO MAKE YOU ALIVE. JESUS SAID
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, AND THAT WORD ACTUALLY MEANS
TO BE MADE BORN FROM ABOVE. BORN FROM ABOVE,
BORN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. YOU SEE, MAN WITHOUT GOD
IS DEAD. AND LIFE IS AT BEST A BORE. "EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN "HE CANNOT SEE
THE KINGDOM OF GOD." HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN? HAS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU? WE'VE GOT THAT EXPRESSION BORN AGAIN,
BORN AGAIN, BORN AGAIN, AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING
A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF IT. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
"I'M A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN," OR "HE'S A BORN AGAIN
CHRISTIAN," I'M NOT SO SURE BUT WHAT IT
HASN'T BECOME A PHRASE THAT REALLY DOESN'T MEAN
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN BIBLICALLY ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN. AND BACK WHEN MR. CARTER
WAS PRESIDENT AND RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, THEY CALLED HIM
A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, AND HE CERTAINLY WAS
A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, BUT THEN THEY BEGAN TO USE
THAT WORD "BORN AGAIN" DESCRIBING AUTOMOBILES. AND THEY HAD AN AD
ON TELEVISION, SAID, "THIS IS A BORN AGAIN
AUTOMOBILE," AND THEN THEY SAID
THIS WAS BORN AGAIN AND THAT WAS BORN AGAIN UNTIL IT BECAME A PHRASE THAT
WAS USED OUT OF ITS CONTEXT. IT MEANS BORN FROM ABOVE, AND JESUS SAID IT
TO A RELIGIOUS LEADER, A PERSON WHO'S MORE RELIGIOUS
THAN MOST ANYONE HERE TONIGHT. NICODEMUS,
A PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, AND HE SAID, "YOU NEED TO BE
BORN AGAIN, NICODEMUS." "AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT
WITHIN YOU "AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK
IN MY STATUES "AND YOU SHALL KEEP
MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM," GOD SAYS THROUGH EZEKIEL. "HE DWELLETH WITH YOU
AND SHALL BE IN YOU," JESUS SAID
IN THIS 14TH CHAPTER OF JOHN. "KNOW YE NOT THAT
YOU'RE THE TEMPLE OF GOD "AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD
DWELLETH IN YOU?" THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO
LIVE WITHIN YOU, AND WHEN YOU RECEIVE
CHRIST TONIGHT, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL
COME TO LIVE IN YOU, TO HELP YOU LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU. HE ALSO EMPOWERS US
FOR SERVICE. "BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER "AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST
IS COME UPON YOU "AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES
UNTO ME." POWER, SUPERNATURAL POWER. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU,
AND I'M NOT GOING TO BOAST, I SAY IT WITH ALL HUMILITY, I BELIEVE THAT MY PREACHING, AND I'M NOT A GREAT PREACHER, BY PREACHING STANDARDS. IF YOU TOOK A GROUP
OF THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS AND THEY STUDIED MY PREACHING, THEY WOULDN'T PUT ME
AS A GREAT PREACHER. BUT I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS
GIVEN ME POWER IN PREACHING, AND THERE'S THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN YOU LIFT UP JESUS CHRIST,
AND WHEN YOU PRESENT HIM, THERE'S A POWER THERE. THERE'S A POWER IN THE CROSS. THERE'S A BUILT IN POWER
IN THE GOSPEL. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND THEN HE PRODUCES
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. WHEN YOU RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST, YOU WANT TO BE A PERSON
OF LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE AND LONG-SUFFERING
AND GENTLENESS AND GOODNESS AND FAITH AND MEEKNESS
AND TEMPERANCE AND SELF-CONTROL. THAT'S PRODUCED BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT. THOSE ARE ATTRIBUTES
OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. LOVE, JOY, LONG-SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS,
FAITH, MEEKNESS AND SELF-CONTROL,
HE HAD IT ALL. YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH YOU. YOU CANNOT NOT, OF YOURSELF,
LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. YOU'LL BE A TOTAL FLOP
AND FAILURE. IT HAS TO BE THE HOLY SPIRIT
LIVING IT THROUGH YOU, AND PRODUCING IT IN YOU,
AND HE WILL DO THAT. YOU SEE, IF YOU TAKE UP ROMANS ,
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER, THAT'S A CHAPTER OF DEFEAT. BUT THEN YOU PICK UP
THE NEXT CHAPTER, ROMANS 8, AND YOU'LL FIND THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS MENTIONED EIGHT TIMES, AND IT'S A CHAPTER
OF VICTORY. YOU CAN HAVE VICTORY
IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE'RE TOLD TO WALK
IN THE SPIRIT. BUT THE BIBLE ALSO TEACHES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
OPENS AND SHUTS DOORS. AND I FOUND THAT TRUE
IN OUR MINISTRY, THAT HE OPENS SOME DOORS,
HE CLOSES OTHERS. AND ONE OF THE GREATEST TASKS
THAT WE HAVE IS DECIDING WHERE TO GO, WHICH CITY TO GO TO NEXT BECAUSE WE HAVE INVITATIONS FROM
MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. AND WHERE SHOULD WE GO NEXT? WHERE SHOULD WE PUT
OUR EMPHASIS? AND THEN AS WE SEE
ALL THESE COMPUTERS COMING, AND WE SEE NEW CHANNELS
OPENING UP ON TELEVISION, AND WE SEE NEW MEDIUMS
OF COMMUNICATION OPENING UP, WE ASK OURSELVES
JUST HOW CAN WE USE THIS EFFECTIVELY FOR SPREADING
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. AND THIS IS WHERE
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN TO HELP US AND TO LEAD US
AND TO GUIDE AND DIRECT US, AND WE CONSTANTLY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND ON OUR KNEES ABOUT IT. "FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
SHALL TEACH YOU "IN THE SAME HOUR
WHAT YOU OUGHT TO SAY." HE COMES TO TEACH US
AND TO GUIDE US, AND TO OPEN AND
SHUT THE DOORS. AND THEN HE MAGNIFIES
AND GLORIFIES AND EXALTS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF. IF YOU FIND A PERSON
COMING ALONG SAYING, "THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE HOLY SPIRIT, "THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE HOLY SPIRIT, "THE HOLY SPIRIT," NEVER TALKING ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST, YOU CAN KNOW THAT THAT MAN
IS NOT SPEAKING FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT EXALTS CHRIST! HE EXALTS
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE DID NOT COME
TO TALK OF HIMSELF. AND THEN HE FILLS US. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE,
BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT." AND THAT MEANS
TO BE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. YOU HAVE TO BE EMPTIED
OF YOUR SELFISHNESS AND YOUR OWN DESIRES
AND YOUR OWN GRATIFICATIONS SO YOU CAN BE FILLED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THAT'S A COMMAND! BE FILLED WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT! ARE YOU FILLED WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT? YOU CAN BE, BY FAITH, YOU CAN SAY, "ALL THE,
EVERY KNOWN SIN IN MY LIFE "HAS BEEN FORGIVEN,
I'VE CONFESSED EVERY KNOWN SIN. "BY FAITH I BELIEVE I'M FILLED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT." BUT ALSO YOU CAN SIN
AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE WORST OF
ALL SINS ARE THE SINS AGAINST
THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU CAN
ANGER THE SPIRIT. AS I PICK UP THE BIBLE, I DO DISCOVER THE WRATH
OF THE SPIRIT. THE TRANSLATION
FROM THE SEPTUAGINT AS WE READ IN PSALM
HOW OFTEN THEN REBELLED AND GRIEVED HIM IN THE DESERT, THE TRANSLATION IS "THEY DISOBEYED AND MADE ANGRY
THE SPIRIT OF GOD." THEY REBELLED AND ANGERED
HIS HOLY SPIRIT, THEREFORE HE TURNED
TO BE THEIR ENEMY AND HIMSELF
FOUGHT AGAINST THEM. WOULDN'T IT BE TERRIBLE
TO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS YOUR ENEMY BECAUSE
YOU'D ANGERED HIM? THE WORD "GRIEVE" MEANS TO
MAKE VERY ANGRY. AND I WOULD URGE EVERY ONE
OF YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL LEST YOU ROUSE THE WRATH
OF THE SPIRIT. "MY SPIRIT SHALL NOT ALWAYS
STRIVE WITH MAN," GOD SAID WAY BACK IN
GENESIS 6 , IN THE DAYS OF NOAH. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD
CEASED STRIVING AND THE FLOOD CAME
AND THE WORLD WAS DESTROYED EXCEPT FOR EIGHT PEOPLE. THE HOLY SPIRIT
CAN BE LIED AGAINST. IN ACTS 5 , ANANIAS
AND SAPPHIRA, "THOU HAS NOT LIED UNTO MEN, "BUT UNTO GOD,"
SAID PETER. THEY ACTED A LIE. THEY PRETENDED TO BE
WHAT THEY WERE NOT. THEY WERE HYPOCRITES. AND THEY ACTED OUT A LIE. THE HOLY SPIRIT
CAN BE TEMPTED. "HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE
AGREED TOGETHER "TO TEMPT THE SPIRIT
OF THE LORD?" MANY TIMES SINNERS SAY
"WELL, IF GOD IS GOD, "LET HIM STRIKE ME DEAD." THERE WAS A FELLOW YEARS AGO, DOWN IN TAMPA, FLORIDA
WHERE I WAS, AND HE STOOD OUT THERE
WITH A WATCH, AND HE SAID, "ALL RIGHT,"
(HE WAS AN ATHEIST) HE SAID, "IF GOD IS GOD, "I'M GONNA GIVE HIM
ONE MINUTE "AND LET HIM STRIKE ME DEAD." NOTHING HAPPENED. AND SOME OLD BROTHER
ON THE FRONT ROW SAID, "YOU CANNOT EXHAUST
THE PATIENCE OF GOD "IN ONE MINUTE." [laughter] BUT IT IS LIKE THE STORY
OF THE OLD EAGLE THAT I HEARD ABOUT
ON AN ICEBERG ON NIAGARA RIVER, AND HE HAD LANDED THERE
TO EAT ON THE CARCASS OF A SHEEP. AND UH, AS HE WAS
FLOATING DOWN, HE WAS GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER TO THE FALLS, AND AS HE GOT CLOSER
TO THE FALLS, SOMEBODY FROM THE SHORE
YELLED OFF AND SAID, "WATCH OUT, OLD EAGLE!
WATCH OUT! "YOU'RE NEAR THE FALLS!" BUT THE EAGLE
THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, "WITH MY STRONG WINGS, "I CAN GET UP OFF THIS
IN A SECOND." BUT JUST AS HE CAME
TO THE FALLS, AND HE LIFTED THOSE WINGS, HE FOUND THAT HIS FEET
WERE FROZEN IN THE ICE, AND HE COULDN'T, AND HE WENT SCREAMING
OVER THE FALLS. YOU CAN TEMPT GOD. "THOU SHALL NOT TEMPT
THE LORD THY GOD." YOU CAN WAIT TOO LONG. YOU CAN TEMPT GOD TOO LONG. AND THE DAY OR THE TIME
WILL COME WHEN IT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE. AND THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT
CAN BE RESISTED. "YE DO ALWAYS RESIST
THE HOLY SPIRIT, "AS YOUR FATHERS DID,
SO DO YE." YOU CAN RESIST
THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND SOME OF YOU TONIGHT
KNOW THAT YOU NEED CHRIST, BUT YOU'VE BEEN RESISTING
THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT'S A SIN AGAINST
THE SPIRIT. A SOLEMN THING
TO RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU DETECT HIS VOICE, AND YET YOU DELIBERATELY
DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S A DANGEROUS THING. "HE THAT DESPISED MOSES' LAW
DIED WITHOUT MERCY "UNDER TWO OR THREE WITNESSES, "OF HOW MUCH SORER
PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, "SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY "WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT
THE SON OF GOD "AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD
OF THE COVENANT "WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED,
AN UNHOLY THING, "AND HAVE DONE DESPITE "UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?" RESISTING THE HOLY SPIRIT. TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE CHRIST
INTO YOUR HEART AND TO MAKE SURE OF
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS
"BECAUSE THERE IS WRATH "BEWARE LEST HE TAKE THEE AWAY
WITH HIS STROKE "WHEN A GREAT RANSOM
CANNOT DELIVER THEE." MY SPIRIT SHALL NOT
ALWAYS STRIVE. THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU GO BEYOND
A CERTAIN POINT AND YOUR HEART GETS SO HARD THAT EVEN IF THE HOLY SPIRIT
SPEAKS TO YOU, YOU CAN NO LONGER HEAR. THAT'S THE REASON
THE BIBLE SAYS COME TO CHRIST IN YOUR YOUTH, BEFORE THE EVIL DAYS
COME NOT. WHEN YOUR HEART IS TENDER,
COME TO CHRIST. ANYTIME YOU HEAR THE VOICE
OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD SAYING COME, YOU BETTER COME,
THEN AND NOW. YOU MAY NEVER HAVE
THAT MOMENT AGAIN. "HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART,
BEING OFTEN REPROVED, "SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY." A FRIEND OF OURS
THIS MORNING WAS DRIVING, AND HE CAME UP OVER A HILL,
AND HE WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY, AND HE HAD HIS WIFE
AND HIS DAUGHTER WITH HIM, AND A MAN WHO WASN'T FAMILIAR
WITH THAT PARTICULAR TERRITORY AND HE CAME OVER THE HILL AND HE HIT THE SIDE
OF THEIR CAR, AND BY THE TIME
SHE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE WAS DEAD, NEVER DREAMING THIS MORNING
WHEN THEY GOT UP, A HAPPY, LITTLE FAMILY, THAT SHE WOULD BE GONE
BEFORE NOON. HOW QUICKLY IT ALL HAPPENS. COME WHEN YOU CAN. COME TO CHRIST
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE. YOU HAVE THAT TONIGHT. "HE THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED, "SHALL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY." "BOAST NOT THYSELF
OF TOMORROW "FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT
WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH." WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL BE
ALIVE TOMORROW. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT
IF YOU'RE ALIVE YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE
LIKE THIS. COME WHILE YOU CAN. YOU'RE VOTING TONIGHT. EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE
GONNA CAST A VOTE. THIS IS ELECTION DAY. YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE
EITHER FOR JESUS CHRIST, OR YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE
FOR THE DEVIL. JESUS WITH YOU, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU. YOU SAY, "WHAT DO
I HAVE TO DO?" THREE THINGS. FIRST, YOU MUST
REPENT OF SIN, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS TO
HELP YOU IN YOUR REPENTING. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS BY FAITH YOU RECEIVE
JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED FOR YOU
ON THE CROSS BY FAITH AS YOUR SAVIOR
AND LORD AND MASTER. AND THEN THIRDLY, YOU ARE WILLING TO OBEY HIM
IN ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HE'LL SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT
AND TEACH YOU OUT OF HIS WORD. YOU MUST BE WILLING
TO SAY YES TO ALL THAT. YOU MUST BE WILLING TO TURN
YOUR LIFE OVER TO HIM AND HE BECOMES THE MASTER, HE BECOMES THE PILOT
OF YOUR BOAT, OR THE CAPTAIN
OF YOUR AIRLINE, OF YOUR AIRLINER. YOU'RE LIKE A PLANE
GOING THROUGH THE SKY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE BOMB WILL COME, THE DESTRUCTION WILL COME, UNLESS YOU LET JESUS
IN THE COCKPIT, AND BECOME THE PILOT. HE KNOWS ALL THE INSTRUMENTS. HE'S BEEN OVER THE ROUTE BEFORE, HE KNOWS ALL THE DANGERS. YOU TURN YOUR LIFE
OVER TO HIM. HE'LL HELP YOU
IN YOUR MARRIAGE, AS YOU HEARD JONI AND KEN
A MOMENT AGO TELL SO BEAUTIFULLY. TURN YOUR LIFE OVER TO HIM AS MASTER AND LORD AND SAVIOR. IF YOU HAVE A DOUBT
OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD TONIGHT,
YOU MAKE SURE. OR YOU MIGHT BE LIKE
THAT PRIEST, YOU MAY BE IN THE CHURCH, BUT NOT SURE OF
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. MAKE SURE TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK HUNDREDS
OF YOU TO DO WHAT WE'VE SEEN HUNDREDS EVERY NIGHT DO
HERE IN SACRAMENTO. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GET UP
OUT OF YOUR SEAT RIGHT NOW AND COME AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THIS PLATFORM SYMBOLICALLY AND SAY, "I DO WANT
TO RECEIVE HIM, "I DO WANT TO KNOW
THAT MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN, "THAT I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE,
THAT I'M READY TO MEET GOD." WHY DO I ASK YOU TO COME? BECAUSE EVERY PERSON
JESUS CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
HE CALLED IN PUBLIC. EVERY PERSON,
THINK OF IT, IN PUBLIC. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
COMING FORWARD OPENLY. LIKE WHEN I GOT MARRIED, I GOT MARRIED
IN FRONT OF WITNESSES. YOU COME TO CHRIST
IN FRONT OF WITNESSES AND GIVE YOUR LIFE TO HIM. IF THERE'S A DOUBT IN YOUR HEART
ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, YOU COME AND SETTLE IT TONIGHT. HUNDREDS OF YOU, THOUSANDS OF YOU,
THAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO. THE HOLY SPIRIT-- DO NOT RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT. DO NOT SAY NO TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
TONIGHT. YOU COME. HE'S DRAWING YOU
TO THE CROSS. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT. AND AFTER YOU'VE ALL COME,
I'M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU
AND GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE THAT YOU CAN TAKE HOME AND
HELP YOU IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU DO THIS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT YOU COME, AND AFTER YOU'VE COME YOU CAN GO BACK AND JOIN
YOUR FRIENDS, THEY'LL WAIT. IF YOU'VE COME IN A BUS
OR WITH A GROUP, THEY'LL WAIT. BUT COME AND MAKE THIS,
AND SETTLE THIS TONIGHT. DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE. THERE MAY NOT BE
ANY OTHER TIME FOR YOU. TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT. YOUNG OR OLD,
MAN OR WOMAN, CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, JEWISH,
WHATEVER YOUR BACKGROUND, THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR YOU. YOU GET UP AND COME. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU,
NOW, FROM EVERYWHERE. WAY BACK HERE,
AND OVER THERE. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT PEOPLE
NOT LEAVE THE SERVICE AT THIS HOLY MOMENT. IT DISTURBS SO MANY PEOPLE. BUT YOU COME, QUICKLY. YOU MAY BE IN THE CHOIR,
GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU, YOU GET UP AND COME. ♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪ THE NUMBER ON
YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN IS A NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL
FOR SPIRITUAL HELP AND COUNSEL. PLEASE WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN. IF THE LINE IS BUSY, WAIT A FEW MOMENTS
AND CALL AGAIN. PEOPLE WILL BE THERE
TO HELP YOU AS LONG AS THE CALLS
KEEP COMING IN. ♪ BIDST ME
COME TO THEE ♪ ♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪ ♪ I COME ♪ YOU THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING
BY TELEVISION, CAN SEE THAT HERE
IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN COMING TO MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST TONIGHT, DRAWN, WE BELIEVE,
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO PICK UP YOUR TELEPHONE AND CALL THE NUMBER THAT
YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, AND MAKE THAT COMMITMENT
OVER THE TELEPHONE. IF IT'S BUSY,
CALL BACK AGAIN, AND AGAIN. THE COUNSELORS WILL BE THERE
ALL EVENING. MAY GOD HELP YOU
TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, AND BE SURE AND GO TO CHURCH
NEXT SUNDAY. GOD BLESS YOU. YOU CAN MAKE
THAT SAME COMMITMENT RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. JUST PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL THE NUMBER YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN. SPECIAL FRIENDS ARE WAITING
TO TALK WITH YOU AND PRAY WITH YOU ABOUT THIS MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION. ♪ SIGHT, RICHES,
HEALING OF THE MIND ♪ ♪ YEA, ALL I NEED,
IN THEE TO FIND ♪ ♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME, I COME ♪ ♪ ♪ JUST AS I AM
THOU WILT RECEIVE ♪ ♪ WILT WELCOME, PARDON,
CLEANSE, RELIEVE ♪ ♪ BECAUSE THY PROMISE
I BELIEVE... ♪ AGAIN THIS EVENING, AS YOU CAN SEE
ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN, MANY ARE MAKING THEIR COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST. IT IS ALSO A TIME OF COMMITMENT
FOR YOU. WE'D LIKE TO HELP YOU. AS MR. GRAHAM HAS JUST TOLD YOU, THE SAME HELPS WE'RE GIVING
THESE TONIGHT HE WILL SEND TO YOU IF YOU WOULD JUST WRITE
FOR THEM. 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. JESUS CHRIST PROMISED THAT HE IS GOING TO RETURN
TO THE EARTH. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, JESUS CHRIST IS GOING
TO KEEP THAT PROMISE. ARE YOU READY? THE HOPE OF THE COMING OF CHRIST
OUGHT TO MAKE US WALK AS DISCIPLES OF
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE TO BE SALT. AND WE ARE TO BE LIGHT
IN THE WORLD AND WE ARE TO WORK
AS THOUGH CHRIST MAY NOT COME
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. BUT WE ARE TO LIVE AS THOUGH
HE MAY COME TONIGHT.
