Christian Citizenship by Franklin Graham

Christian Citizenship by Franklin Graham

Although November 2012 is a long way off, we have already been inundated with political debates, commentary and scandal. As Christians, however, we are citizens of two worlds. The Apostle Paul, a Roman citizen, warned the church in Philippi about exclusively earthly expectations: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21).

Every American adult has a responsibility to vote, and to vote wisely. Christians have the additional responsibility to pray for our elected leaders and candidates. Paul wrote to Timothy, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Where is your real citizenship?

Prayer

Lord, help us to be good citizens of Your Kingdom, no matter what country we live in. Teach us to live peaceful lives that bring glory to Your Son. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Scripture quotations are taken by permission from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. From Franklin Graham: "Decision" magazine, January 2012, ©2012 BGEA.

Life Changing

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

From the Philippines:

"One of our Manila pastors was riding the city bus across town while playing the [Audio Bible] Proclaimer for all the passengers to hear. Near the end of Matthew 5, three young men got up from their seats and approached the pastor. They placed knives and loaded guns into his lap and said they did not want to rob the bus as they had planned. He shared the Gospel with the young men and they prayed to receive Christ. The young men had gotten on the bus as robbers and got off the bus as new creations in Christ!"

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Source: http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/
Faith Comes By Hearing Quarterly Newsletter
Winter 2012, Page 6 "Life Changing Testimonies"

Know God?

You may know of God, but do you really know God?
Yes, He loves you, but is there a relationship between you and God?

God tells us in His Word, the Bible, that He created the heavens and the earth. He made the plants and animals. He also made the first people, Adam and Eve. God wanted people to love and obey Him not out of complusion but out of a choice. But Adam and Eve disobeyed a command from their Creator. This disobedience is called sin.

The first man, Adam, rebelled against God's command and brought death, suffering, and separation from God into this world. We see the results all around us. All of us are Adam's descendants and we have been born with sin and have entered into this rebellion and sin. You were created by God and for God, but your sin separates you from God.

The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God. The Bible says "The wages of sin is death." but also that "God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

God does love you, and he demonstrated His love for you by sending His Son Jesus who died on the cross (the sinless Man) who paid the penalty of sin for everyone who trusts in Him. The Bible says, "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". And He offers you a relationship with God because of what He did.

Christ died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again the third day from the dead. He was seen by the twelve apostles, and after that He was seen by over five hundred people at once. After that He was seen by his step-brother James, and He was seen by Paul also who formally persecuted the followers of Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father.

God reaches out in love and freely offers forgiveness of sin, a relationship, and the gift of eternal life if we receive Him as our Savior and Lord. Because Jesus is the Creator and the way to Heaven we can look forward to eternity with Him and be free from death, pain, sickness, and suffering one day. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."

Do it today, ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Savior and Lord. The Bible says "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name."

-Repent: Turn from sin and turn to Jesus (Acts 3:19)
-Believe: Trust in the finished work of Jesus (John 3:16-17)
-Receive: Invite Jesus to come into your life (John 1:12-13)

If you want a personal relationship with God and have your sins forgiven, here is a suggested prayer...

Lord, You have promised that if I will confess my sins, You will be faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to turn from my sins, and live in a way that will please You. I thank you that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the price for my sins, and then rose from the dead. I accept Him now as my Savior, my Lord, and my friend. Thank you for giving me a new life in Christ. I surrender myself to you and thank you for loving me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Remember the words are not important but the attitude of your heart as you repent and trust in Jesus.

Have you trusted in Christ because of what you read here?
If so, please send us an email, we would love to be praying for you. Send us an E-Mail.

Now visit our "Getting Started" page for some key steps in the right direction.

You Are Free by Billy Graham

You Are Free by Billy Graham

In today's courts of justice, a lawbreaker is brought before the judge and sentenced. When we come before the Judge of the universe with our guilt, we find ourselves sentenced to death. Every one of us is under the condemnation of God because we are guilty. We have broken His law.

Now, suppose you are sitting in the death house awaiting the carrying out of your sentence. You deserve it, and you know you deserve it. What you did, you did with your eyes open, and you are facing execution. But suppose someone comes and volunteers to take your place. And suppose the prison guard opens the door of your cell and escorts you into the warden's office and there you are told, "You are free." You find it hard to believe. "What do you mean, I am free?" And you are told, "Someone else took your punishment. Someone took your judgment. Someone has already died in your place, and you are free."

I am glad to tell you that is just what has happened. On the cross of Calvary, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Jesus died on the cross in my place and in your place, and now we can be free. Now we can know we are going to Heaven, not on the basis of our good works, our morality, our decency or the money that we give. We are going to Heaven only on the merit of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place on the cross and took the sentence of the law upon Himself, so that "by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Prayer

Lord, help us to see that there is nothing we can do to free ourselves from sin and its judgment. Thank You that Jesus took our sin on Himself so that we could come to You in righteousness. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Scripture quotation is taken by permission from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers, Nashville, Tenn. From Billy Graham: "Decision" magazine, January 2012, ©1971 BGEA.

Tim Tebow (part 2)

"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

Talkin’ about Tebow brings a lot of 

opportunity for good conversations…

for part 1 click here "Look up 3:16"

Take the 5 Minute Challenge

Take the 5 minute challenge and commit  5 minutes a week to pray for each country on the World Watch List.



Here’s how it works:

• Each week we will send you an email highlighting a featured country.
• Explore that country on our website, learn about the people, and discover ways to pray
• Learn about the current events of that country.
• Then, join with your church or small group to pray for that country.

By the end of 2012, we will have prayed for all 50 countries on the World Watch List.

Take the 5 Minute Challenge

1. North Korea
2. Afghanistan
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Somalia
5. Iran
6. Maldives
7. Uzbekistan
8. Yemen
9. Iraq
10. Pakistan
11. Eritrea
12. Laos
13. Northern Nigeria

14. Mauritania
15. Egypt
16. Sudan
17. Bhutan
18. Turkmenistan
19. Vietnam
20. Chechnya
21. China
22. Qatar
23. Algeria
24. Comoros
25. Azerbaijan
26. Libya

27. Oman
28. Brunei
29. Morocco
30. Kuwait
31. Turkey
32. India
33. Burma (Myanmar)
34. Tajikistan
35. Tunisia
36. Syria
37. United Arab Emirates
38. Ethiopia
39. Djibouti

40. Jordan
41. Cuba
42. Belarus
43. Indonesia
44. Palestinian Territories
45. Kazakhstan
46. Bahrain
47. Colombia
48. Kyrgyzstan
49. Bangladesh
50. Malaysia

Take the 5 Minute Challenge

Why Won’t They Listen? - Audio Download

Wonder why people don’t listen any more when you present the gospel? Using clear illustrations and irresistible logic, Ken Ham shows that the answer is to begin at the beginning . . . in Genesis!

Download - Available only until January 16, 2012.

The Power of Creation Evangelism

John 3:16? Look it up

John 3:16? http://lookup316.com

John 3:16 is part of the culture of football. We occasionally see it on signs in end zones after field goals and extra point attempts; on players' tape and tattoos; and Tim Tebow was famous for writing it in his eye black. And yet, many fans don't know what it means. They have yet to be touched by the hope it offers - the immediate relevance it has to their lives.

The original goal of LookUp 316 was to air a national commercial during Super Bowl XLV on February 6th, 2011. When the organization took this idea to Fox Sports, host network of last year's Super Bowl, they rejected the commercial on the basis that it contained "religious doctrine." Yet commercials for beer and domain names using soft porn were accepted by Fox Sports.  But the rejected ad encourages viewers to consider their source of ultimate hope and purpose. 

Why Is Reading the Bible So Important? - Answers in Genesis

FIND OUT.... Why Is Reading the Bible So Important? - Answers in Genesis

A Blast from the Past of Calvay Chapel

Chuck Smith was one of the few pastors who welcomed in the hippies who after coming to faith, eventually became known as Jesus people, and thus allowed for the dramatic future growth of Calvary Chapel.

The Jesus Movement

In 1965 Pastor Chuck Smith started his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Beginning with a mere 25 people, he saw God bless his simple, yet consistent style of teaching straight through the Bible.

Today Calvary Chapel has grown to over 1,500 churches worldwide. With a genuine heart for the lost, Pastor Chuck made room in his ministry for a generation of hippies, surfers, and drug addicts. This generated a stirring of the Holy Spirit, which spread from the California coast to the Atlantic and beyond. This movement was instrumental in bringing thousands of young people to Jesus Christ during the 60s and 70s in what was known as the Jesus People Movement.

As God expanded his ministry, Pastor Chuck's visionary leadership saw the birth of other ministries such as The Word for Today, a publishing/radio broadcasting ministry which is heard worldwide. A noted speaker and the author of over 25 books, Pastor Chuck can be heard daily on television, radio, and webcasts throughout the world.

TV Concert 1973

Classic with Greg Laurie
Run Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
MUSIC

The Next Generation ‘Another Wave is our Only Hope’

First Generation

In the midst of the counterculture revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, the “Jesus People Movement” changed the course of lives and history. It was a time when everything was questioned, but through this exciting period, the impact of God’s Word gave a generation solid truth to rely on.

Ad for exciting celebration in Anaheim

The father of that movement was Chuck Smith, a Southern California pastor. This extraordinary revival stands as a watershed of evangelical history when, under Chuck Smith’s guidance, a generation of hippies were brought to Christ. Thousands would gather nightly in “The Big Tent” erected on the corner of Fairview and Sunflower where the cities of Santa Ana and Costa Mesa overlap to hear the Gospel preached by this gentle man.

But besides the many hippie converts, it also saw the birth of modern-day worship and praise music.

A baptism at Pirate's Cove

Another unique part of the revival was the huge mass baptisms that took place at Pirate’s Cove in nearby Corona del Mar where hundreds of the newly-converted hippies would gather to be baptized by Pastor Chuck and his ministry team.

Love Song in those early days

There is an exciting new documentary “Riptide” which reviews what transpired through the “Jesus Movement” and then surveys its worldwide impact. “Riptide” also looks forward to the challenges and opportunities facing the Church to remain relevant without any compromise to mission or doctrine. 

‘Another Wave is our Only Hope’

With the current challenges and opportunities facing the Church in general to remain relevant Calvary Chapel now more than ever needs to remain Biblical without any compromise to mission or doctrine. Many Christians and churches will never reproduce themselves because they take their faith and legacy with them to the grave. The church was intended to reproduce disciples and fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples.

Next Generation

          "Those that have been privileged to see that work of God usually remain true. It's the next generation, somehow there is a failure to adequately communicate to the next generation the marvelous things of God." Chuck Smith, Joshua 17-24 — Through the Bible (C2000 Series) , (http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/chuck_smith_c2000/Jos/Jos017.html)

          "I think that discipleship is a very important part of the ministry when God has blessed and used a person in the ministry. I think that if they are wise, will always be looking towards the next generation.

          I have a very keen interest in young people, in young people who have those God-given abilities, anointings upon their lives. I like to invest time with them, because they are going to be carrying on when we're carried off. And I'm concerned that the work of God go on." Chuck Smith, Acts 16 — Through the Bible (C2000 Series), (http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/chuck_smith_c2000/Act/Act016.html)

          "And it is glorious to see how that God has worked here in a very fabulous way. Through the teaching of the Word and all, God has blessed us abundantly. But the byproduct is that over two hundred churches across the United States have sprung out of this church. And now many of the churches that have sprung out of this church have become strong and churches are springing out of them. 

          So, we not only have son and daughter type of churches, but we have grandson/granddaughter type of churches; churches that have spun off from churches that have spun off. And as time goes on and the Lord continues to work, we will probably even go into the next generation of spin-offs as the Word of God works mightily in the hearts of the people around the country." Chuck Smith, Acts 18-19 — Through the Bible (C2000 Series), (http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/chuck_smith_c2000/Act/Act018.html)

Caution / Warnings

          "There are those who say that Emergent movement has some good points, but so does a porcupine. You are better off if you don't get too close!" - Pastor Chuck Smith, 2006

Listen to this message titled "Holiness" by Steve Mays given at the 1996 Pastor's Conference "Laying a Firm Foundation". He does a great job talking about looking unto God and not to Pastor Chuck Smith.

A Venture In Faith

Documentary: Calvary Chapel Story

Run Time: 2 hours, 1 minute 

A Lifetime of Impact‏

If you didn't get a chance to hear Pastor Greg's historic interview with Pastor Chuck Smith at Harvest Orange County in-person, on the radio, or live online tonight, for a limited time you can now watch the complete, uncut event by clicking here or here. It's a special time with a man who has been used mightily by God to impact an entire generation.

Please join with us in praying for Chuck as he continues to fight lung cancer—specifically for God's peace, wisdom, and blessing on Chuck and his family.

A Very Special Night with Pastors Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie! Pastor Chuck will be at Harvest OC on Thursday, January 5th!

This Thursday: A Very Special Night with Pastor Chuck Smith
Source: harvest.org

Rarely does a man come along that impacts an entire generation. This Thursday, Greg Laurie interviews Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel.

This Thursday night, January 5, Pastor Greg interviews pastor, mentor, and long-time friend, Chuck Smith.

Through this interview-style conversation, we will learn more about who Pastor Chuck is on a personal level, his thoughts for the future in light of his recent diagnosis of cancer, and his message to the world.

The interview will take place at Harvest Orange County at 7:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) and will be live-streamed to Harvest Riverside. As usual, the event will be webcast live.

Dennis Agajanian will be the guest musician and the Harvest Worship Band will perform a set of simple and worshipful songs from the Jesus Movement of the '60s and '70s.

Listen to the audio announcement for this event. This interview will be carried live on KWVE, and other select radio stations across the country. Review stations listed by clicking here.

You may have heard that Pastor Chuck Smith has lung cancer. Let’s be praying that God will give him peace in the middle of this storm and wisdom to the doctors and all those involved. We need to hold up this man of God in prayer and ask the Lord to give wisdom and guidance to the medical team that will be attending to him.

Are you a lukewarm Christian?

I'm not saying that you are, but every now and then God challenges me with this question and it always draws me closer to Him. May it do the same with you.
Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world.
What Jesus wants to change in us as much as anything is the deceptive playing of the middle, trying to please both the world and Jesus.

The Lukewarm Church - Revelation 3:14-22

  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

The Laodiceans were lukewarm because they trusted in materialism. They thought they were rich and secure, but Jesus said they were "poor, blind, and naked."

The cure for the lukewarm church: (1) chastening, (2) to be zealous for God and to repent, (3) to open their hearts to God.

Has there been a greater curse upon the earth than empty religion? Is there any soul harder to reach than the one who has just enough of Jesus to think they have enough? The church of Laodicea exemplifies empty religion, and tax collectors and harlots were more open to Jesus than the scribes and Pharisees. Judas was lukewarm, following Jesus enough to be considered a disciple, but not giving his heart over to Jesus in fullness. We need to make our life following Jesus, not just a hobby or an occasional activity.

Read the Bible, and Read the Bible in Context...

"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education." President Theodore Roosevelt

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man." President Abraham Lincoln

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." President George Washington

"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed." Founding Father, Patrick Henry

Bible Resources

 

Bible Study
    How to do an Inductive Bible Study - 2Believe Ministries
    Online Bible & Study Materials - Blue Letter Bible
    PC Bible & Study Materials - e-Sword
    Bible Notes and Outlines - J. Vernon McGee
    Bible Summary / Survey - Got Questions Ministry

Bible Reading
    Questions about the Bible - Got Questions Ministry
    Daily Bible Reading Plans (6 Plans) - Blue Letter Bible
    Daily Bible Reading Program - Blue Letter Bible
    Helping You Read The Bible (13 Plans) - BiblePlan
    Bible Reading Plans (3 Plans) - NavPress

Audio/Video & Podcasts
    Free Online Audio Bible - Blue Letter Bible
    Free Online Audio Bible - Bible.is - Faith Comes By Hearing
    Free Audio Bible Download - Faith Comes By Hearing
    "Scripture Songs" by Sherri Youngward - Blue Letter Bible
    View Online Podcasts