Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Christians Worldwide Celebrate The Life of Billy Graham - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Franklin and Billy Graham (Wikimedia Commons)

Christians Worldwide Celebrate The Life of Billy Graham

2/21/2018 JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

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Prominent evangelist Billy Graham died Wednesday morning at 99.

As news circulated the globe, Christians took to social media to celebrate the life of one of the most influential men in the world.

When evangelist Billy Graham died Wednesday morning, Spirit-filled believers were among the first to honor one of the most influential men in modern Christianity.

Here's what they are saying:

Michael Brown, author and social commentator:

The loss of this great man of God reminds us of the role he played in the last generation. How we need more at leaders like him, known for preaching Jesus, known for personal integrity, and respected by the nation. What an amazing man, and what an incredible legacy. He leaves a great void with his passing.

Lee Grady, author and social commentator:

WE HONOR THIS MAN who so simply explained the message of the gospel to millions in his lifetime. Thank God we still have his books and recordings. His impact will last far beyond his fruitful 99 years. I'll never forget going to a Billy Graham crusade in Montgomery, Alabama, when I was a boy. My grandfather made a profession of faith in that meeting.

Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Council

Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church

Paula White, pastor of New Destiny Christian Center

Larry Tomczak, author and social commentator

When I came to faith in Jesus Christ during the Jesus Movement in the late 60s, there was one Christian leader to whom I looked and continued to look for 4 1/2 decades, Billy Graham. He was the man of God I emulated and imitated and learned from like no other. My study has so many of his books and our living room coffee table has a giant book that is a tribute to him and remains there till this day.

I was honored to have a divine appointment with Billy Graham in the lobby of the Sheraton hotel and I asked him if he had any counsel for me and 2000 young people we were reaching in the DC area every week. He took his Bible from under his arm and pointed to it and with his piercing blue eyes looked at me and smiled saying, "Stay in the book. Stay in the book!" As we all pay tribute to him and remember him, may we all do that as we pray for another Great Awakening that he longed for with us.

Jessilyn Justice @jessilynjustice is the director of online news for Charisma.

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BREAKING: Billy Graham Dies at Age 99 - CBN News

BREAKING: Billy Graham Dies at Age 99

02-21-2018

CBN News

A spokesman is reporting that evangelist Rev. Billy Graham has died at age 99.

He was at his home in North Carolina.

Graham transformed American religious life through his preaching and activism, becoming a counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history.

Spokesman Mark DeMoss says Graham, who long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments, died at his home in North Carolina on Wednesday morning.

Graham reached more than 200 million through his appearances and millions more through his pioneering use of television and radio. Unlike many traditional evangelists, he abandoned narrow fundamentalism to engage broader society.

DEVELOPING...

Native American Prophecy Eerily, Accurately Describes How God's Hand Rested on George Washington - EDDIE HYATT CHARISMA NEWS

Native American Prophecy Eerily, Accurately Describes How God's Hand Rested on George Washington

2/19/2018 EDDIE HYATT CHARISMA NEWS

"He cannot die in battle. The Great Spirit protects that man and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him the founder of a mighty nation."

These words were spoken by an old Native American chief concerning George Washington several years before the Declaration of Independence. He spoke these words as he reminisced with Washington and others about a battle, 15 years previous, when they were on opposite sides during the French and Indian Wars.

The Chief Saw God's Hand on Washington

It was the Battle of Fort Duquesne in July 1755 when 1,459 British soldiers were ambushed by a large contingent of Native American warriors who had joined the French in their fight with the British for control of the North American continent.

It proved to be one of the bloodiest days in Anglo-American history with 977 British soldiers killed or wounded. It was a day, however, when Washington's reputation for bravery began to spread throughout the land.

Washington, in his early 20s, had been recruited by the British because of his knowledge of the ways of the wilderness and the American Indians. He had acquired this knowledge in his work as a surveyor of wilderness territory.

Assigned to travel with the British General Braddock to take Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh), Washington found his advice for traveling through the wilderness and dealing with the Indians ignored by Braddock who considered him a young, upstart colonist.

But when the ambush occurred and Braddock himself was wounded, Washington took charge and organized an orderly retreat while at the same time putting his own life at risk, rescuing the many wounded and placing them in wagons. During this time, two horses were shot out from under him and his clothes were shredded with bullets.

He emerged unscathed and gave glory to God, saying, "I was saved by the miraculous care of Providence that saved me beyond human expectation." From that day, his reputation for bravery and leadership spread among both the English and the Native Americans.

The Prophecy Comes Forth

Years later, according to historian George Bancroft, Washington and a friend were exploring an area along the Ohio River when they encountered a group of Native Americans. Recognizing Washington, the natives invited the men back to their camp to meet with their chief, whom it turned out had fought on the side of the French in the Battle of Duquesne. They had a cordial visit and then the old chief, motioning toward Washington, spoke these amazing words. He said,

I am chief and ruler over all my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the Great Lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, 'Mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the redcoat tribe—he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do—himself alone is exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies.' Our rifles were leveled—rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss. 'Twas all in vain; a power far mightier than we shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him the founder of a mighty nation.

The prophecy came to pass. Several years later the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Washington was appointed commander in chief of the colonial army and led his outnumbered, outgunned troops to an amazing victory over the British through numerous providential events. He later presided over the Constitutional Convention, was unanimously elected the first president of the United States and became known as "the father of his country."

What We Must Learn from Washington

Washington was devout in his Christian faith and respectful toward the Native people and culture, but he never allowed the two to be in conflict. He was always clear in his belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and that only Christianity offered the moral and intellectual underpinnings for a successful nation.

He clearly expressed this in a 1779 meeting with chiefs from the Delaware tribe who had expressed a desire for their children to be trained in American schools. Washington responded cordially and assured the chiefs the new nation would look upon their children as their own. He then commended the chiefs for their decision and said,

You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.

For Washington, sharing the gospel with those of other religions was like sharing bread with a starving man. It was the just and righteous thing to do. This is also why he had no qualms praying in public, "Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ."

In our world of multiculturalism and religious pluralism, we need to take a lesson from Washington in this regard. Neither Islam nor secularism offer the moral and intellectual belief system for a peaceful, civil and free society. This is obvious from merely observing the nations where those doctrines hold sway.

We, therefore, must never be shy or apologetic about our Christian faith. It is what made America great in the first place; and only a revival of biblical Christianity will make America great and peaceful again.

Like Washington, we can be tolerant and respectful of those of different religions and cultures, but we do an injustice to them and ourselves when we do not stand for the truth that is in Jesus. In the words of the Old Testament prophet, we forsake our own mercies (Jon. 2:8) when we compromise our faith for political or cultural convenience.

Washington was very clear in his belief that only a Christian worldview would sustain America. Before he passed from this life, he warned the fledgling nation,

The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.

Concluding Prayer

As we remember George Washington on his birthday (Feb. 22), let us remember the prophecy of the old chief, and let it be a reminder that we are not here by accident or coincidence. God raised up George Washington and America for a divine purpose, and I am certain that purpose is not yet fulfilled.

Eight years ago I thought, perhaps, that God was finished with America as a nation. But then I experienced an unusual visitation of God, such as I had not known before or since. Over several hours, He renewed my hope that America "could" see another Great Awakening, and I clearly saw for the first time that America was birthed out of a Great Awakening and providential acts of God.

So, I ask you to join me in praying the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 85:6-7. He prayed, "Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in you? Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your deliverance."

Yes, do it once again in America, O Lord!

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, Pilgrims and Patriots, available from Amazon and his website at eddiehyatt.com. Dr. Hyatt also conducts "America Reawakening" events in which he shows how America was birthed out of a great, spiritual awakening and calls the nation to pray for a Great Reawakening. You can read more about this on his website at eddiehyatt.com/america_reawakening.html

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New Paul Movie Aims To Show Audiences 'Where Sin Abounds, Grace Abounds More' - CBN News Steve Warren

Photo Credit: paulmovie.com

New Paul Movie Aims To Show Audiences 'Where Sin Abounds, Grace Abounds More'

2-20-18 CBN News Steve Warren

A young Saul of Tarsus led the charge in wiping out Christians until his journey to Damascus was interrupted by a blinding light and a voice from heaven.

This remarkable transformation is portrayed in the new major motion picture Paul, The Apostle of Christ, opening in theaters nationwide on March 23.

There has never before been a theatrical feature film about the life of Paul. Next, to Jesus, no one played a more central role in the growth of the early church. Paul and Luke wrote a significant part of the New Testament.

The producers of this inspirational movie hope to show audiences that where sin abounds, grace abounds more.

Watch this short Persecutor to Persecuted featurette.

In the film, Paul suffers alone in a Roman prison, awaiting his execution under Emperor Nero. Mauritius, the ambitious prison prefect, can hardly see what threat this broken man poses. Once he was Saul of Tarsus, the high-ranking and brutal killer of Christians. Now his faith rattles Rome.

At great risk, Luke the Physician visits the aged Paul to comfort and tend to him—and to question, to transcribe and to smuggle out Paul's letters to the growing community of believers. Amid Nero's inhumane persecution, these men and women will spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and change the world.

Great pains were taken when the film was in production to maintain biblical accuracy, according to the producers. Using scripture as the only reference, director Andrew Hyatt has recreated the story of Paul, including the close relationship with Luke, whom at the end of Paul's life, at his own peril, traveled in and out of the prison carrying Paul's writings which we can still read today.

The movie stars Jim Caviezel (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST), James Faulkner ("Downton Abbey"), Olivier Martinez (S.W.A.T.), Joanne Whalley ("A.D. The Bible Continues") and John Lynch (THE SECRET GARDEN).

The film is produced by Affirm Films, a division of Sony Pictures.

In anticipation of the movie's release, Affirm Films is releasing "Letters from Paul." The letters are drawn directly from the apostle's epistles and are narrated by Faulkner, who portrays Paul in the film.

Beginning this weekend, CBN News will post a new "Letters of Paul" video to our Facebook page. Be sure to watch for a new video every weekend prior to the film's release.

Here's the first Letter of Paul. 1 Corinthians 13: 1 - 8

Israel Vows to Clear 4,000 Landmines From Sacred Site of Jesus' Baptism on the Jordan River - WILL MAULE/FAITHWIRE

A baptism in the Jordan River (Max Pixel)

An ancient Christian area widely thought to be the site of Jesus' baptism is to be cleared of some 4,000 landmines by Israeli military forces. Christians believe that Qasr al-Yahud, located about 10 kilometers east of Jericho, is the very spot on the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized.

The Baptism of Jesus is recorded in the gospel of Matthew:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. But John prohibited Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"

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But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.

And when Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water. And suddenly the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:13-17).

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content partners at Faithwire.

Connect with God in a deeper way as you read His Word. Select Bibles are now 50% OFF plus Free Shipping and a Free Gift. Show me the Bibles!

Encounter the Holy Spirit and develop a relationship that saturates you in His peace, love and joy. Explore the Life in the Spirit Series.

FREE GIFT! Download Pastor Bill Johnson's 40-page mini eBook, The War In Your Head, and unlock your supernatural lifestyle. CLICK HERE

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018