Billy Graham Quotes - Page 8

We live in an upside-down world, in which people hate what they should love and love what they should hate.

There are Christians who have never really learned the biblical truth of separation: separation from unclean thoughts and unclean habits.

If we have our eyes upon ourselves, our problems, and our pain, we cannot lift our eyes upward. A child looks up when he’s walking with his father, and the same should be true for the Christian.

In order to compete with God for the dominion of the world, Satan, whom Christ called “the prince of this world,” was forced to go into the “religion” business.

Nowhere in Mark 16:15—“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” [KJV] — nor in any similar Scripture did Christ command us to go only into the Western or capitalist world. Nowhere did He say to exclude the Communist world.

People reading the Bible for the first time are often surprised to discover how much human drama it contains. Almost every conceivable human dilemma and conflict is reflected in its pages.

The faithful Christian steward acknowledges that God owns all he has, and it is his responsibility to manage and dispose of his possessions in a way that is acceptable to the Lord.

It is strange that men will prepare for everything except death. We prepare for education. We prepare for business. We prepare for our careers. We prepare for marriage. We prepare for old age. We prepare for everything except the moment we are to die.

God called me many years ago to be an evangelist, and I have never regretted His leading. I love the crusades, meeting people from every country and culture all over the world. My life has been blessed by friends from every land, and challenges from every corner.

The word repentance is sadly missing today from the average pulpit. It is a very unpopular word. The first sermon Jesus ever preached was “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” [Matthew 4:17 kjv].

The Bible is primarily concerned with the story of man’s redemption as it is in Jesus Christ. If you read Scripture and miss the story of salvation, you have missed its message and its meaning.

It was God’s love which knew that men were incapable of obeying His law, and it was His love which promised a Redeemer, a Savior, who would save His people from their sins.

God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. The weaker I became, the more powerful became the preaching.

In order to get to heaven, Jesus said that you must be converted. I didn’t say it—Jesus said it!

The Bible warns that money cannot buy happiness! Money cannot buy true pleasure. Money cannot buy peace of heart. And money certainly cannot buy entrance into the kingdom of God.

Your salvation is a free gift, made possible only because God planned it . . .Christ paid for it . . . and the Holy Spirit assures you of it.

Christians are to be “the light of the world” [Matthew 5:14], illuminating the darkness caused by sin and giving guidance to a world that has lost its way.

Too many husbands and wives enter into marriage with the idea that their spouse exists for one purpose: to make them happy.

Only in heaven will we know exactly what heaven is like.

We should read the Bible expectantly, systematically, and obediently . . .The Bible can change our lives as we read it and obey its teachings every day.

When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.

Ruth once wrote, “Dear Journal, Never let a single day pass without saying an encouraging word to each child . . .‘More people fail for lack of encouragement,’ someone wrote, ‘than for any other reason.

It is Satan’s purpose to steal the seed of truth from your heart by sending distracting thoughts . . . The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is: though they both may have good and evil thoughts, Christ gives His followers strength to select the right rather than the wrong.

The cross shows the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.

The Bible does not teach that sin is completely eradicated from the Christian in this life, but it does teach that sin shall no longer reign over you.

Thousands are killed and injured every year by teenagers driving too fast or under the influence of drugs and drink . . .others are killing [themselves] with alcohol or heroin overdoses.

The fact that God is infinite makes the study of His Word a lifetime occupation.

Tragic as it is when a child fails to develop physically or mentally, even more tragic is a Christian who fails to develop spiritually.

Hardship is not our choice; but if we face it bravely, it can toughen the fiber of our souls.

The journey God has set before us isn’t a freeway; we are constantly encountering forks and junctions and crossroads. Which way will we go when we meet them? Life is filled with decisions, and we can’t avoid them.

Be sure that Satan will tempt you at your weak point, not the strong.

When that glorious day comes, sin and death will be destroyed and Satan will be banished. All the strife and hatred and suffering and death that twist and scar this world will vanish, and the Lord’s Prayer will be fulfilled: God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We should begin the day with the Bible, and as it comes to a close let the Word speak its wisdom to our souls. Let it be the Staff of Life upon which our spirit is nourished. Let it be the Sword of the Spirit which cuts away the evil of our lives and fashions us in His image and likeness.

Many children today are growing up without discipline. As they become adults and the discipline of job or family demands are placed upon them, they do not know how to cope . . .children need discipline to be useful members of society. Likewise, God’s children need discipline to be useful members of His family.

In every true conversion the will of man comes into line with the will of God.

Lying is one of the worst of all sins and can be committed by a thought, word, or deed. Anything that is intended to deceive another person is lying.

My wife has said that a bitter, sour Christianis one of Satan’s greatest trophies—and she’s right.

Only God can break down the national and racial barriers that divide men today. Only God can supply that love that we must have for our fellowman. We will never build brotherhood of man upon earth until we are believers in Christ Jesus.

Don’t let failure or disappointment cut you off from God or make you think the future is hopeless. When God closes one door, He often opens another—if we seek it.

Worship in the truest sense takes place only when our full attention is on God—on His glory, power, majesty, love and compassion.

I have walked down jungle trails in Africa where I met fellow Christians; and immediately we were brothers even though we were separated by language, race, and culture.

We must not build up ourselves at the expense of others.

Your own family circle knows whether Christ lives in you and through you.

Regardless of our cleverness, our achievements, and our gadgets, we are spiritual paupers without God.

The word departure literally means to pull up anchor and set sail. Everything that happens prior to death is a preparation for the final voyage. Death marks the beginning, not the end. It is our journey to God.

Faithfulness is produced by the Holy Spirit in a yielded Christian life.

God is in control. He may not take away trials or make detours for us, but He strengthens us through them.

Subtle persecution may happen to you in your office, school, or social gathering. You may not be “with it,” or be “one of the crowd.” No suffering that the Christian endures for Christ is ever in vain.

Both my parents had a great influence on me. I never heard my father use a profane or even a slang word. I always respected him because of his complete integrity. In his business dealings his handshake was like a contract. He was as good as his word. Of all the people I have ever known, my mother had the greatest influence on me.

When we are a comfort and encouragement to others, we are sometimes surprised at how it comes back to us many times over.

Any Christian whose interest is directed toward himself is worldly.

The [Bible’s] message is concerned with earth dwellers, their origin, the reason for their existence, the cause of their misery, and the plan of redemption for a fallen race.

For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.

Don’t be bound by the past and its failures. But don’t forget its lessons either.

A terrifying spiritual and moral tide of evil has already loosed us from our spiritual moorings. Monstrous new ideas that could easily destroy our freedoms are rushing into the vacuum.

I believe that one of the reasons for crime, perversion, and the evils of modern mankind is that we have lost belief in the certainty of God being just, holy, and righteous, and that He will judge the world.

More friction and tensions are caused in a family by tone of voice than for any other one reason.

Too many Christian TV and radio programs have been geared to please, entertain, and gain the favor of the world. The temptation is to compromise, to make the gospel more appealing and attractive.

Those who have actually experienced daily fellowship with Christ know that it surpasses all worldly activities.

It is the absence of the knowledge of God and man’s refusal to obey Him that lie at the root of every problem which besets us.