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Billy Graham: ‘Don’t Entertain The Idea Of Divorce’

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Billy Graham once said, “Don’t ever entertain the idea of separation and divorce.”

Billy Graham

In a previous preaching during one of Billy Graham’s crusades, the late evangelist preached what the Bible teaches us about marriage. He warned everyone that we should be careful whom we will spend our lives with. As a Christian single man or woman, the very first thing that we should look for in someone is not their physical traits, but their spiritual traits.

“You be careful who you go with and fall in love with. Be sure that he or she is God-fearing and loves Christ. The Scripture says, be not unequally yoked together… There must be a spiritual oneness. Three people make up a marriage, the husband, the wife, and God. Be sure that God is in your marriage.”

Wheel of Faith [@username]. Billy Graham. YouTube, photographed by Name, June 1, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnQcItuO-Do

Advice on marriage

The late Billy Graham also emphasized that marriage is only for emotionally mature people. This is a covenant that we commit to for the rest of our lives. It’s not something that we could just decide to quit anytime we want. Though we may encounter problems along the way, we still have to choose to love one another.

“God wants marriages to be permanent. Until death do us part. Many people enter the marriage vow without any idea that this is for keeps… There’ll be problems, there’ll be disagreements, but you’re to accept each other’s faults… It’s not always romantic, but we have to be together. In a relationship that God has formed, we become one flesh.”

Don’t Entertain The Idea Of Divorce

If the Lord is at the center of your marriage, then you have all that you need to overcome any trials that come your way. Never entertain thoughts of divorce; what God has joined together, no man can separate.

“Don’t ever entertain the idea of separation and divorce. If you know Christ, He can hold you together. There’s no problem that you face that cannot be solved by the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Read also: PASTOR MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS WARNS THAT MARRIAGE CAN’T MAKE A PERSON HAPPY

Reference: YouTube | Wheel of Faith
Header Image: Wheel of Faith [@username]. Billy Graham. YouTube, photographed by Name, June 1, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnQcItuO-Do

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Billy Graham Says, ‘God Never Interferes With Your Will’

by Christa
written by Christa

The late evangelist Billy Graham discussed how the Almighty God, who created the whole world, can do anything except interfere with a person’s will.

Billy Graham

Billy Graham left timeless messages about the nature of God. In one of his sermon clips, he shared about how God will never intervene in a person’s will, including their decision to follow God and be saved.

Billy first referred to Revelations 3:20 to prove his point. It says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Free Will

The great evangelist highlighted how Jesus preferred knocking on someone’s door instead of barging in. According to Billy, Jesus is knocking on the church’s door. He is knocking at the doors of families, even knocking at your door.

“Why doesn’t He just push the door open and come in and save me? He never interferes with your will,” he said.

“You have a will of your own. That’s the way He made you. He made you in His image.”

Moreover, Billy explained that God respects one’s free will and that He can only warn people of the consequences with Him. But the decision is ultimately up to the individual’s choice.

Billy explained, “You can reject Him. You can go to your grave rejecting Christ and there’s nothing God can do about it. He will do everything in His power to warn you. He will do everything in His power to bring incidents across your path to stop you. But He won’t trespass on your will.”

Billy’s message teaches us that people must choose to open God’s gift to experience the freely given salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ invitation for a relationship is extended to everyone but is only enjoyed by those who open their hearts to Him.

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Granger Smith Learns More About Jesus By Listening To Billy Graham’s Sermons Online

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

Country singer Granger Smith was at the lowest point of his life when his son died. However, in this desperate situation, he learned more about Jesus through Billy Graham’s sermons online.

Granger Smith

Acclaimed country singer Granger Smith was having a great year in 2019. It seemed like a happy family was at home because it was sold out. Until one terrible day.

“I was in the backyard with the three kids just kind of enjoying the last few moments before I head off the tour. I was playing gymnastics with my daughter and the boys were playing water gunfight,” he recalled.

When it became quiet, Granger wondered where his son, River, was.

“There he was in our pool, in the gated locked pool, in the middle, floating face down. I flipped him over and he was like a ragged doll. I panicked,” he said.

By the time the rescuers reached River, Granger and his wife Amber had already lost the battle. Their three-year-old son had passed away.

Visions

“I had this thing that I called the ‘slideshow.’ And I had these visions that would pop into my head at any moment. It’s River in the pool. It’s the ambulances screaming down that county road. And it’s the doctor walking in saying, ‘He’s not going to make it,’” Granger said.

Granger quickly found out, though, that he couldn’t just get through his pain. He tried therapy, self-help books, and meditation to stop the slideshow. Having grown up in a Christian home, he began reading Bible devotionals. However, the visions persisted. Then, a friend suggested to Granger that smoking marijuana might help him calm down. For a while, it did.

READ | ZACH WILLIAMS: ‘IF I’VE BEEN PERFECTED IN GOD’S LOVE, WHAT AM I AFRAID OF?’

But one night on tour in Idaho, everything came to a head. Six months after River died, Granger’s band had just played two sold-out shows in a row and wanted to go to a nearby bar to party.

“I got to the bus and that’s when it hit me. When I saw the back of the bus, I thought, ‘This is the first time I’ve been drunk since it all went down.’ And as soon as I started thinking that, the slideshow popped in,” he recalled.

Granger Smith Learns More About Jesus

Granger added, “I started sobbing. I was shaking, pulled out my gun, and put the gun up to my head. That’s when I had a thought, it was outside of my own consciousness the best way I could describe it. But the thought was, ‘This is the way to rest.’ I recognized that there was an enemy speaking to me. I said, ‘Jesus, save me. Please save me.’ And the slideshow stopped.”

Granger thought of Billy Graham, so he looked for him online. He listened to more than 100 sermons over the next few weeks.

Granger played his last show on August 26, 2023. After singing for 24 years, he decided to focus on studying the Bible and sharing the love of Jesus with everyone who would listen. His family was also blessed with another child, Maverick. Granger recently finished writing a book called “Like A River,” which tells a story of loss and redemption that he hopes will bring comfort to others. Granger says that Christ gave him a new purpose and believes that we can all find healing through Him if we believe.

Reference: The 700 Club

Granger Smith’s Radical Transformation @GrangerSmithMusic

Header image: Granger Smith [The 700 Club]. YouTube, 22 November 2023, https://youtu.be/bBh3BVZyChY

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One Person Can Make a Difference
Faith

One Person Can Make a Difference

by Dr. William M. Wilson
written by Dr. William M. Wilson

One person can make a difference. You don’t have to be a vocational minister, an evangelist, or a missionary to reach the unreached in your sphere of influence. When Jesus, in Matthew 24, said “And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations,” He wasn’t limiting this charge to global ministries. Each one of us can share Jesus with someone, especially one at a time.

A compelling story illustrating this occurred in the 19th Century, a time when the internet and mass media were non-existent.

In 1855, a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball led a seventeen-year-old shoe clerk named Dwight L. Moody to Christ. D. L. Moody began a ministry that reached millions of people, and in one service, he preached and awakened the heart of a young pastor named F. B. Meyer, who then preached on college campuses. 

One of Meyer’s converts was Wilbur Chapman. After attending a D. L. Moody campaign, Chapman became 

Moody’s co-worker and hired an ex-baseball player, Billy Sunday, to be his assistant. Sunday became a great evangelist and held crusades across America, including in Charlotte, North Carolina. A group of local businessmen in Charlotte were touched by Sunday’s ministry and began praying for greater local outreach. They invited a minister by the name of Mordecai Ham to preach at a tent meeting in Charlotte in 1934. 

On November 1, 1934, during the tent meeting, a sixteen-year-old boy came forward to receive Christ. That sixteen-year-old boy was Billy Graham, who became one of the most effective evangelists of all time, seeing more than two million people respond to the invitation to receive Christ at his crusades.

And where did it all start? With a Sunday School teacher reaching one. 

Yes, when one person is saved, there is rejoicing in heaven! But a dramatic, tangible, and powerful potential on Earth is also released. I believe God is calling us to live like Jesus and focus on the ONE. And if we will focus on the one, He will unlock the multitudes.

This excerpt was taken from the brand-new book, The Power of One by Dr. Billy Wilson.

Available now at www.drbillywilsonbooks.com

______________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

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Billy And Ruth Graham’s House Becomes Resting Place For Reflection And Rest To Ministry Workers

by Christa
written by Christa

Billy and Ruth Graham’s original home will become a refuge for ministry workers who want to reflect, recharge, and rest.

Billy and Ruth Graham’s Home

The couple bought the house, located in Montreat, North Carolina, in the late 1940s. And there they grew their family and raised their children, Franklin, Anne, Gigi, Ned, and Ruth, to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Today, businessman Stephen L. Thomas, actor Kirk Cameron, and the Grahams’ third daughter Ruth have worked together to offer Billy’s Home Place for weary ministry workers.

They aim to continue Billy’s legacy of helping people seek the face of God. And continue to serve Him for the purpose He has called them to do.

Source: Billy Graham, Billy And Ruth In Their House,  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10156563333487505&set=pcb.10156563368617505

Billy Graham’s Legacy

Stephen explained the passion behind sharing Graham’s home with the weary workers of God. “Many fail to believe that God has a deep call on our lives; that he wants to use His people in special ways. Failure to be used by God is never because of God’s idleness towards us,” he said. “But because [of] our neglect in pursuing him.

He added, “We often believe God will take something away from us or, worse, call us to a place that we are not prepared for!”

According to their website, their goal is simple: To help everyone who steps into Billy and Ruth’s original home apply the same truths of God’s word to each of our lives. So, like Billy, we can change the world around us.”

Moreover, Billy’s Home Place hopes “to preserve the original home of Billy Graham while providing a place for missionaries and pastors to come for respite and restoration.” As such, they offer several experiences designed to refresh pastors and believers in discovering God’s will through His Word.

The place is welcome for missionaries and ministry leaders with 20 or more years of service. There will be no charge for them. But they will have to fill out the Pastoral Rest and Sabbatical Form.

Header Image: Joshua Wright, Graham’s Home In Montreat, NC, Facebook, 8 February 2023, https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10229321339442719&set=pcb.10229321374243589

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Hercules Star Recounts Powerful Encounter With The Late Billy Graham

by Christa
written by Christa

Hercules star Kevin Sorbo recently shared his powerful encounter with the late evangelist Billy Graham with CBN News’ Faithwire. “It was so moving for me; I remember it very vividly,” he said.

Hercules Star

The Christian actor has played roles in faith-based movies, “God’s Not Dead” and “Left Behind.” But the 64-year-old actor has been vital in his faith since he was young.

“I’ve been a Christian all my life,” he told the media outlet. “I grew up in a very strong Lutheran family… my parents are strong believers.”

And in his teenage years, he recalled having “an awesome pastor” who impacted the young Kevin. “We had a thing called The Room on Wednesday nights, so after basketball practice, football, whatever, … you go to The Room.”

And inside the room, they would hang out and discuss the Bible with the pastor. “That was kind of huge for me,” he shared.

Kevin Sorbo [@ksorbo]. Photo of Kevin Sorbo. Instagram, photographed by Andras Schram, 28 Oct 2018, https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpc9TTlHAdr/?hl=en

When Kevin was 13, he attended a conference where the late Billy Graham spoke. He went to listen to the anointed evangelist but unexpectedly met and talked with him.

“I remember because I did something I normally wouldn’t do,” Kevin recounted. “I was a good student… but I was never the guy to raise my hand.”

He added, “I won’t go ‘pick me, pick me’. I never did that.” However, when Graham asked participants from the 250,000 attendees, Kevin raised his hand on that day. He then cut through the crowd to get in front.

The volunteers were asked to sit down to be prayed for by Graham’s team. “All of a sudden, a hand went on my head, and I turned around, and it was the Reverend Graham.”

Kevin had a little chat with the evangelist, and he was also prayed for. The actor admitted that the moment forever struck him.

His story with Billy Graham made it inside the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Billy Graham & Me: 101 Inspiring Personal Stories from Presidents, Pastors, Performers, and Other People Who Know Him Well.”

“It’s just such an honor to be part of that,” he said.

Today, Kevin is one of the actors in the film industry who aims to produce positive and faith-filled movies.

 

Header image: Kevin Sorbo [@ksorbo]. Kevin Sorbo and Ryan Gosling. Instagram, 5 Feb 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpc9TTlHAdr/?hl=en

Reference: FaithWire

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Queen Elizabeth And The Late Billy Graham Enjoyed Bible Studies Together

by Christa
written by Christa

The former Queen Elizabeth and the late Billy Graham once shared “great bible studies together.”

Queen Elizabeth and Billy Graham

In an interview with ABC News Live, Franklin Graham revealed how his father, evangelist Billy Graham, would enjoy talking about the Bible with the queen whenever he would come to London.

“She was faithful and steadfast in her faith in God. She honored the Lord Jesus Christ. And she wasn’t afraid to live her faith,” Franklin said.

“Every time they were together, she would want to talk about Scripture,” he added. “And if my father had preached, she would ask more detail about his message and what made him want to preach that sermon versus another one and so forth. And they had great … Bible studies together.”

Billy Graham and the Queen Elizabeth

The great evangelist recalled the time he preached at Windsor Castle on Sunday and told the queen how he almost picked the story of the disabled man in John 5. The queen exclaimed that he should have because it was one of her favorite stories.

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at 96 years old. As the world mourned the United Kingdom’s loss, many honored her memory for being a faith-filled monarch.

She boldly declared Jesus Christ as the role model of her life. In one of her speeches during Christmas in 2017, she said, “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life.”

And according to Franklin, it was the love of the Word of God that connected Billy and the queen. “The personal connection was God and His Word, and that’s what brought them together. And that was what they had in common was God’s Word. And she had a love for the Word of God. My father had a love for the Word of God.”

Now, the two lovers of God are enjoying His Presence today.

Reference: Christian Headlines

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Billy Graham’s Grandson Shares What It’s Like To Live Life With The Iconic Evangelist

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Billy Graham’s grandson, Will Graham, shares what it is like to live life with the iconic American evangelist.

Billy Graham’s grandson

Will Graham is the son of Rev. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). In a recent interview with CBN’s Faithwire, being a grandson of the iconic evangelist is just normal life. Though it is not common for many, it is the reality that is familiar to him.

“I know it’s not normal for everyone else,” he laughed. “Not everyone has a famous grandfather or a father. But for me, it was all normal. We grew up very normal.”

Photo Courtesy: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Will Graham

He recalled how he grew up on a farm in North Carolina together with the cows, horses, dogs, cats, and pigs. As a child, he didn’t realize how famous his grandfather was because of how simple they lived their lives. Until he left his home to study at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. That’s when he realized how famous their family is.

“I’d been to his crusades; I knew he was one of the most famous people in America,” Will Graham said of his grandad. “But something hit me at Liberty. … I remember a guy knocked on my dorm room. I opened it up and said, ‘Hello,’ and he just looked at me and he was looking behind me. And it started getting to me, like, ‘Alright, dude. What’s going on here?’ And I said, ‘Can I help you?’ And he said, ‘I’m looking for Billy Graham’s grandson.’ … ‘Well, I’m him. What do you want?’ He was like, ‘I’m just looking at your room. I wanna see what Billy Graham’s grandson’s room looks like.’”

Legacy

That weird and funny experience is just one of the many experiences he had that is far from his normal life. Yet, he is very grateful for his granddad and for the legacy he has left behind.

“That’s where it started to have an impact when I saw how big, how influential my grandfather was,” he recalled. “When you’re reading textbooks, and he’s in them — that’s kind of weird. But I’m very grateful for my grandaddy. He left such a great legacy behind.”

Will followed the footsteps of his grandfather and his dad and responded to the calling of the Lord. He is now the vice president of the BGEA and the executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC.

Read also: BISHOP PROTECTS CONGREGATION AS SHOOTING TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE CHURCH RIGHT AFTER SERVICE 

Grow closer to God daily by getting exclusive video teachings on God Today!  

Read God’s Word For You Today directly from your phone. Download the Daily Word app now on Google Play and Appstore

Reference: Faithwire

 

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Billy Graham’s Last Message To America And The World – Before He Died

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Seldom can we find a Christian leader whose impact can be felt by the whole world. Not to mention, a leader whose wisdom was sought after by many US Presidents.

In the 20th Century, Billy Graham was considered one of the most influential Christian leaders globally. His passion and zeal to share the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ brough thousands of people to Christ. Due to his passionate commitment to preach the Good News to the ends of the earth, he was involved with many ministries including broadcasting on both television and radio. According to Wikipedia, Billy preached to live audiences of 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various crusade meetings, including BMS World Mission and Global Mission.

Rev Graham’s obedience to God led him to people of different backgrounds and he boldly shared the Gospel with them. But have you wondered why Billy had such a strong desire to proclaim the Kingdom of God? It was because he deeply understood what the Cross meant and why Jesus died for people.

Billy, when he was 95-years-old, delivered his last message to America and the world. Until the very end of his life, he talked about Jesus’ significance in our lives.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the only message that changes people’s lives. Knowing the true meaning why Jesus died on the Cross—not the Cross that hangs on a wall nor the cross hanging around someone’s neck.

Billy knew that preaching the Gospel is offensive but still, he wanted to give people a chance to repent and come to God without watering down the truth of God’s Word.

“The Cross is offensive because it directly confronts the evil that dominates so much of this world. It’s offensive to people because it doesn’t suggest, it demands a new lifestyle,” Billy said.

However, it doesn’t end there, for the confrontation of sin reveals God who is willing to forgive all our sins.

Billy concludes that we are all objects of God’s mighty love, to the point that He gave only Son to die upon a Cross in our place. We deserve Hell and judgment, but Jesus took that all in our place so we could come to Him.

We will forever remember Billy Graham’s legacy to the world. Praise God for his life!

https://youtu.be/b4TMuee7Ir8

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Ruth Graham
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Ruth Graham Opens Up On Forgiving Her Father Billy Graham

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

In an interview with Ruth Graham, the daughter of Billy Graham, she revealed how unforgiveness took place in her life until the Holy Spirit opened her eyes that brought her freedom. She then learned to forgive herself, her well-known father, Billy Graham, and her mother.

Ruth Graham

The late Billy Graham’s daughter, Ruth Graham admitted that their family had dysfunctional issues just like everybody else.

In a new book, Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself, she wrote, Ruth shared her journey towards freedom from unforgiveness.

The well-known evangelist’s daughter grew up in an environment where there were always many people around. For that reason, she never experienced what it felt like to be just with her dad. As a result, she grew up having this feeling of abandonment as a little girl. Her father also traveled a lot, so when he came home, he was tired, preoccupied, or preparing for the next event. So, he didn’t have much quality time with his children.

Ruth was a quiet and introverted daughter, and back then, she longed for quality time with her father. But through the years, Ruth kept it all to herself.

Forgiveness

“I wrote this book because I’ve struggled with forgiveness,” she said.

Further, Ruth also shared about the heartbreak she experienced with her first husband. She grew up with honorable men, and it never occurred in her 18-year marriage that her husband was unfaithful to her. Although they tried to work it out through counseling and did everything they could, it never worked. She felt she couldn’t do it anymore. And God promised her that the latter would be greater than the former and make all things new in her life.

“Those promises fit my thinking. God was doing a new thing in me. I was gonna be different than I was before. So, I had to look at it through God’s eyes and not my own,” Ruth recalled.

Ruth Graham on Forgiving Her Famous Father - Billy Graham

It was a hard time for her children, and it made her angry. So, they divorced, and shortly after, her husband died. But after his death, she was able to come into a place of forgiveness.

“I forgive you. And, God, would You tell him that I have forgiven him?” she thought.

She felt insecure, with feelings of inadequacy, and even went through four failed marriages. One day, a friend told her how she might have abandonment issues, which might be the root of her father’s relationship with her. She then realized the core issue of her life. It was the pain when she felt abandoned as a little girl. Since then, slowly but surely, she became free. She learned to forgive herself, her dad, and her mom as well.

Reference: 100huntley

Read Also: 15-Year Drug Addiction Defeated After Woman Chose Jesus

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