Billy
Graham's 8 Marks of a True Church
Billy Graham
·
The Church Eternal
Wake Up and Take Charge: Ephesians
Wake Up and Take Charge: Ephesians
·
The church is in turmoil today. Why is this?
The church—the body of Christ—will
never fail; however, when “churches” turn away from God’s Word to chase after
the worldly system, they stumble and fall.
What is the true church?
·
The church belongs to Jesus Christ. He founded the church. He is the great
cornerstone and the foundation upon which it is built (Ephesians 2:20).
The church does not belong to pastors or congregations but to
Christ alone. It is His dwelling place on earth, through the lives of His
followers. We have no right to bring worldly ways into His church.
·
Jesus died for the church and is over
the church. “He is the head of the body, the
church . . . that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
If we were to examine church programs
today, would Christ really be preeminent?
Believers should reflect Christ in
every way. What a responsibility. What a privilege!
·
The church is to be built up in His
Word. Many churches now
mold their programs around the community— not the Word of God. Church bulletins
often reflect this by announcing grand programs and activities with little to
no emphasis on God’s Word.
The Lord did not design the church to
cater to people’s wishes—the Lord breathed life into the church to learn,
proclaim, and live out His truths.
We are to build one another up in the
Word of God (Jude 20).
·
The church is to fellowship together. When Jesus birthed the church,
believers submitted to the teaching of the apostles—the inspired Word of God.
They also joined in fellowship
together, prayed together, and shared the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42).
For them, this fellowship was a taste
of Heaven on earth.
·
The church’s message is Jesus Christ
crucified, risen, and coming again. As people observed their witness for
Christ, they shouted,
“These . . . have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
Is the church today making that kind of
impact? Or has it become complacent like the church at Laodicea, whom the Lord
rebuked by saying, “You are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:16)?
·
The church’s mission is to make Jesus
Christ known. Making Christ
known is not a command exclusively given to preachers.
I believe one of the greatest
priorities of the church is to mobilize the laity to do the work of proclaiming
the Gospel. Why? God has His people everywhere.
Living the Word of God is what draws
people to Christ, but instead, we are using clever gimmicks.
We are to be witnesses for Him wherever
we are, whatever we are doing.
·
The church must be prepared to endure
persecution. We are told to be
prepared—to wear the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness,
pull on the boots that will carry the Gospel, and take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of
the Spirit (the Word of God), which represents Christ’s entire message.
And we are to keep in mind that this
battle is not ours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15).
·
The church is the bride of Christ. That glorious day is coming when we
will be caught up in the air with our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
The bride of Christ is the triumphant
and eternal church, which will be gathered to His side and reign with Him
forever.
The angels will sing, instruments will
resound; God’s people will praise and worship the Redeemer.
What a day that will be for the church
eternal! To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. (Ephesians 3:21)
God
never calls us to do something for Him that He does not empower us to do if we
are willing to do the work and time. Please, take the time to get to know God
in an intimate way.
As
your relationship with Him grows, you move up in rank and are assigned harder
missions. Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s love to a lost, dying world.
Your
mission, if you should choose to accept it, is waiting for you!
Open
your ears and your heart to the Lord and be excited about your new future
serving Him in truth and spirit.
Would
you want God to change your life?
God has made it
possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.
Serve Him.
Wait
on Him.
And
expect … for He is able to do much much more than you can ask or imagine.
Settle
that sin issue ...
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner
and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to
turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and
help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son,
Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and
hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become
the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank
You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy
Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I
promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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“War Song”
“War Song”
Robert Gay
lyrics
We have a weapon of warfare
The praises of God in our mouth
We have the Sword of the Spirit,
The word of truth. The word of God.
For no weapon formed
Against us will prosper.
For the battle is the LORD’s
And He’ll not fail.
We will go forth
And praise the name of Jesus.
And execute His vengeance
On the powers of the air.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
For no weapon formed
Against us will prosper.
For the battle is the LORD’s
And He’ll not fail.
We will go forth
And praise the name of Jesus.
And execute His vengeance
On the powers of the air.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
a shout of Victory
(WOOO)
a shout of Victory
a shout of Victory
His name
Will be praised.
Billy Graham, the world-renowned preacher, evangelist, and author, has
delivered the Gospel message to more people face-to-face than anyone in history
and has ministered on every continent of the world, in more than 185 countries.
Millions have read his inspirational classics, including “Angels,” “Peace with
God,” “The Holy Spirit,” “Hope for the Troubled Heart,” and “How to be Born
Again,” “The Journey,” “Nearing Home,” and “The Reason for My Hope.”
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