Friday we had a rained out show. We made a whopping 45 dollars before the rain came and stayed most of the day. We went back to the R.V. and Mark took a nap.
I read a 1950 book on Billy Graham. It was about his revivals during the 50's that were incredible. He is a humble man that would not take the credit for successful revivals. He gave credit to God. He stated that there was three reasons God gave a great harvest.
The first was prayer .
The second was the power of the Holy Spirit
Third was the power of the Word of God.
I admit I skimmed the parts about the people effected during this time, because I did not recognize most of the names. The book included six of his sermons and they are all just as relevant today as 60 years ago... maybe even more. These are the sermon titles with a brief review. Please excuse any errors that I made. Nothing I type can hold a candle to reading these sermons or even better, having been in these services in the 1950's
Sermon 1..We need a Revival
"I think that we are living in a time in world history when God is giving us a desperate choice, a choice of either revival or judgement. There are no other alternatives......God almighty is going to bring Judgement ..unless people repent and believe.....unless God sends an old-fashion, heaven-sent, Holy Ghost revival."
How desperately we need a revival. Think, for a moment, of some of the dreadful things happening throughout the western world." He spoke of war, crime, materialism, paganism and humanism; and the decline of moral standard. He mentioned several societies in history that fell. He warned that if we did not repent and turn to Jesus, judgement was about to fall... Read 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Conditions for Revival:
1- realize the need for and the desire to have revival
2- repentance
3- pray
4- faith
Sermon 2...The Home God Honors
"The first institution ever established was the home. Before the church, before the school, before the government, God established the home.....A nation is only as strong as her homes.... When the home begins to disintegrate, then our society is on the way out. Turn to God's Word and see the responsibility of each member of the family".....To raise a family in this godless age is a tremendous and fearful responsibility before God. You ought to not take it lightly....Let your children see Christ in your life"
Sermon 3..How to be filled with the Spirit
Scripture says, Be filled with the Spirit. That is not optional-that is a command. Galatians 5:22,23 - The fruit of the Spirit are...love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness(gentleness) and long suffering. This can be a controversial subject. But he stayed away from controversy and stated that The power of the Holy Spirit is the greatest need of the church today and is available. Then, he gave steps.
The first step is cleansing from sin through confession two types of sins
sins of omission - such as ingratitude, not loving God,neglecting the word, unbelief (not believing God), neglecting prayer, not attending church and lack of passion for lost souls.
and
sins of commission-such as worldliness,pride,envy,a bitter spirit, holding a grudge, slander and gossiping, lying, cheating, hypocrisy, robbing God, temper, malice. All these things God says have to be confessed; put away and given up for good.
. The next step is consecration which is surrendering, yielding all to God...........
God says you are indwelt right now by the Spirit if you are a Christian. By faith you received Jesus and by faith you receive the fullness of the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Spirit, gives you boldness to witness, is producing the fruit of the Spirit in your life and always exalts and magnifies Jesus in your life.
Sermon 4..Prepare to meet Thy God
"I am persuaded that time is short....this thing happening in the world today should drive America to repentance of sin and to faith in Jesus Christ..We must prepare for life with all of it's problems. Christ is the one and only answer to all the problems and issues and difficulties of life. We face a number of problems today, sin, bad habits, boredom and. fear. Fear of war, of failure, of growing old ..and of death. .I ask you, ,are you prepared to die? ...Scripture says," It is appointed unto man once to die"....Prepare to meet God at death. Repent and believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Sermon 5 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Pilot gave the mob a choice
You have to make a choice
Barabas or Christ
pleasure or Christ
amusement or Christ
popularity or Christ
money or Christ
Whatever is keeping you from the Kingdom of God...
and if you refuse to make the choice ..in that very act you have already made the choice
.
Jesus died on the cross on Calvary. People where afraid, discouraged, without hope.
But when Sunday came, the message came,"HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN"
The Bible says it and history declares it. We need no other proof than the word of the Almighty God
God said it and we believe it by faith.
What his resurrection means to us...........
1) Jesus is who He claim to be - Deity
2)God raised Him, proving that He accepted His atoning work. We are saved by His blood through faith.
3)There is power for living a victorious life
4)guarantees that our bodies are going to raise from the grave and we will be given new bodies
Sermon 6.. Judgement
Scripture found in Hebrews , "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgement
The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword
4 Judgements described
1) Judgement of sin on the cross at Calvary where our Lord Jesus Christ died as a substitute for our sins and declared. "It is finished"
2) Judge yourself...confess and repent and renounce sin just as soon as you realize you have done wrong
3)Judgement seat of Christ for works and rewards
Works can never be the grounds for our salvation. You start working for Jesus with the motive of love after you are saved by grace. The judgement seat of Christ is were we receive our rewards for being faithful where God put you, with the gifts He gave you.. When we see Jesus, we will lay any crowns we receive at His feet declaring He alone is worthy.
4)Great White Throne Judgement
No christian will appear at the Great White Throne Judgement
The books of God are opened and the dead are judged out of those things written in the book.
The only thing that will send any one to hell is rejecting Jesus Christ
The Question on Judgement day will be...What did you do with Jesus?
God knows that you have a chance right now to accept His Son as savior.
What are you going to do with it?
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