1 march 2018 vol 80 no 14 free on request: office@nlife ... · 1 march 2018 vol 80 no 14 free on...
TRANSCRIPT
1 March 2018 Vol 80 No 14 Free On Request: [email protected]
‘Tell the people the full message of this new life’ – Acts 5.20b www.nlife.com.au
FREE FOR YOU
ON REQUEST TO:
Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son and President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,recalls one of the most telling moments in his father’s life, and issues a challenge:
My father Billy Graham was once asked, ‘Where is Heaven?’ He replied, ‘Heaven is where Jesus is
and I am going to Him soon!’ On 21 February, at the age of 99, he departed this world into eternal life in
Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ – the Saviour of the world – whom he proclaimed for nearly
80 years. He will be missed by our family, his colleagues, faithful ministry partners, and, yes, many around
the world. But what joy he has to be welcomed by God the Father, and be reunited with my mother in
the presence of Jesus who speaks peace to eternal souls.
What about you? When you depart this world do you know with certainty where you will spend eter‐
nity? You can know this today. Jesus said, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3.16). The One
who comforts weary souls has given us this promise, ‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,
believe also in Me … I go to prepare a place for you … I will come again and receive you to Myself; that
where I am, there you may be also’ (John 14.1‐3).
BILLYGRAHAM
‘With Christ ...Better By Far’
1918–2018
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page TwoNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Two
VOLUME 80 NUMBER 14
ISSUE DATE:1 March 2018
FILE NO: NL 2018-03-01
ISSN: 1033-7903
FOUNDER:Eric J. Daley (1910-1992)
EDITOR:Rev Bob ThomasPhone: 0417 592 646Email: [email protected] Address:PO Box 457Mitcham VIC 3132
OFFICE MANAGER:Rachael VriezePhone: 0415 612 646Email: [email protected]
WEB-SITE:www.nlife.com.au
SUBSCRIPTION:Free On Request
ACCEPTANCE OFADVERTISINGDOES NOT IMPLYENDORSEMENT.
NEW LIFE RESERVESTHE RIGHT TO REJECTADVERTISING DEEMEDUNSUITABLE.
PUBLISHED BY:New Life Australia Ltd
ABN: 15 005 035 138
NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS:New Life is archived by theNational Library of Australia. It is assumed that contributorsagree with this arrangement andso are willing to be published onthis basis.
Billy Graham – I Thank My God In Every Remembrance Of HimThe Home-Call of Billy Graham, as with every believer, is a sad but joyful
and triumphant event. How greatly used of God he was to the blessing of so
many throughout the world. I was 15 years old when he held his first series of
Crusades around Australia, and now am one of the diminishing number of
'59ers, so many of whom lived the rest of their lives for Christ and preceded
Billy Graham to Glory.
This is my story: I was born and raised in middle class respectability in the
Western Suburbs of Newcastle, NSW. My parents sent me to Sunday School
from an early age, where I learnt innumerable Bible verses, choruses and
hymns. Over the years I rose through the ranks, from student to teacher to as‐
sistant superintendent, and from an early age felt called to the ministry. But I
did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
In 1959 Billy Graham came to Australia and conducted Crusades in all the
capital cities. In Newcastle we participated by going along to the old Newcastle
Stadium where we heard Dr Graham via the cutting edge technology in those
days, of landline and 35mm slides of the evangelist in various poses projected
onto a giant screen and changed every few minutes.
I went to every meeting and came into a growing conviction that he was
speaking to me, directly to me, only to me, putting his finger on my sin, calling
me to repentance for sin and trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.
Being a shy 15 year old youth utterly lacking in self‐confidence, I remained
glued to my seat every night as the evangelist made his appeal to come forward
and confess my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I went to the last
meeting in turmoil of soul, but determined to go forward when the invitation
was given.
After a particularly moving sermon, Dr Graham issued his invitation. The
choir sang: ‘Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,and that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.’ Finally, as
they sang the last verse for the second time, I plucked up all my courage and
went forward, where I was counselled for salvation by a godly old minister.
How I thank the Lord that He drew me to Himself that day, and ever since
has called me and enabled me to serve Him in various ways in His Church. So,
at the ‘59 Crusade I was converted; at the ‘69 Crusade I took a busload of boys
from Knox Grammar School where I was teaching; at the ‘79 Crusade I was a
counsellor; in 1994 my church was the venue in the southern suburbs of Mel‐
bourne for Billy Graham’s Global Mission; in 2005 I was chair of Franklin Gra‐
ham’s Festival Victoria; and every month I look forward to receiving DecisionMagazine. Yes, indeed, ‘I thank my God in every remembrance of (him).’
Every time we sing O Happy Day That Fixed My Choice On You, My Saviour AndMy God, at the Faith Factory, I share my testimony and ask the little flock to
cast their minds back to their own 'Happy Day' – or if they haven't experienced
that Day for themselves as yet, to meet with one of the ministers or elders after
the service to be helped along the way.
What about you, my friend? When was your 'Happy Day'? – Bob Thomas.
PLEASE NOTE: This issue of New Life is being posted out early asI have been invited to join the Australian delegation to Dr Graham’sfuneral on Friday 2 March. The next issue, NL 2018-03-15 might bedelayed if there are any unforeseen circumstances. – Ed.
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page ThreeNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Three
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
I once heard that Ruth said (in
CharismaNews.com) about her mar‐
riage to Billy in spite of his many
travels, ‘I would rather be married to
Billy even though I have him only
50% of the time than being married
to someone else and being with them
100% of the time!’
I was saddened to learn that the
great evangelist Billy Graham passed
away at the age of 99 on 21 February
2018. Truly God blessed this man
with a long and fruitful life! Having
read his autobiography several times
as well as other books about him, in
addition to the fact that I served as a
vice‐chair for Billy Graham's last New
York City crusade in the 2000s, I have
had the opportunity to observe how
he operated up close (having met
with his team once per month for more than a year to prepare for said NYC Crusade).
In many ways, Billy Graham was the Protestant equivalent to a pope – a person with huge influence
among a cross‐section of evangelical leaders as well as diverse denominations. His ministry had a broad
reach and appealed to conservative, moderate and even some liberal Christian audiences.
He probably preached to more people than any other human being in history, won untold millions
to Christ and was responsible for founding or serving as a catalyst to launch numerous evangelical min‐
istries and organizations (for example, Christianity Today magazine and Fuller Theological Seminary, to
name a few). The following are my observations regarding ten things that made him great:
1. HE WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY.Throughout the scandal-plagued era of the 1980s, Billy was a breath of fresh air as he kept a scan‐
dal‐free public persona that never embarrassed the evangelical church. His ministry spanned nearly
eight decades with no scandal. That's an amazing accomplishment. Part of the reason for his integrity
were the safe guards he placed in his life – like never being alone with a woman who was not his wife or
family – and having a strong board he was accountable to in regard to finances and ministry.
When I was with a small group during the NYC crusade, he spoke candidly about some of his dis‐
appointments in ministry as well as some regrets (one regret was that he did not spend more time cul‐
tivating friendships among younger leaders). He was self‐aware, humble and transparent, which was
the foundation of his integrity. Truly he built his life‐foundation on character development and spiritual
formation more than on his gifts, abilities and influence.
2. HE WAS A MAN OF SIMPLICITY.Billy lived a life of simplicity – and eschewed the lavish lifestyle some of his peers lived, in spite of the
fact his ministry brought in hundreds of millions of dollars. He had a modest home, a modest salary and
lived a modest life, in spite of his significance and celebrity status.
3. HE WAS A MAN WHO SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER.Billy not only preached to the ‘down and out’ but also to the ‘up and in’ and was a pastor/friend to
virtually every President of the United States for the last four decades. He's also met with many interna‐
tional heads of state, including various leaders representing numerous religions.
4. HE WAS A MAN OF INNOVATION.Billy used the latest modes of communication available to him to get the Gospel out. (Cont. P.4)
Ten Qualities That Made Billy Graham Great
The Melbourne Cricket Ground on the final dayof the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade in Melbourne.
The record crowd has never been beaten.(Photo Credit: BGEA, Ramon Williams)
(Continued from P.3) The radio, newspapers, television of the 1940’s and 1950’s were all catalysts to help
found major ministries such as Christianity Today and Fuller Theological Seminary. Billy Graham was al‐
ways on the cutting edge of innovation regarding the release of his prophetic voice to culture as well as
discerning the needs of the evangelical Church.
5. HE WAS A MAN WHO COMMUNICATED PLAINLY TO THE PEOPLE.Billy had mass appeal with his evangelistic crusades, primarily because he had an unusual gift of
communicating the Gospel in the vernacular of the people. I have heard more eloquent, gifted preachers –
but there was no‐one who could garner a crowd with effective results like Billy.
6. HE WAS A MAN WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIS TEAM.Billy had the same team for decades, in spite of the fact that men like song leader Cliff Barrows could
have gone off on his own but did not. There was intense loyalty among his team because of the way he
honoured their input, treated them with dignity and valued them as friends. He knew he could never
fulfill his ministry without a great, loyal team around him.
7. HE WAS A MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED.Billy crafted his evangelistic messages each year based on his knowledge of current events. He had
the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other.
8. HE WAS A MAN WHO LEFT A LEGACY WITH HIS BIOLOGICAL FAMILY.It's a great joy for me to see his biological children carry on the mantle of his ministry. It was also
a great joy to see how Billy and his wife Ruth Graham remained true to each other in all the years of their
marriage, in spite of the many challenges of an intense evangelistic ministry. I once heard that Ruth said
about her marriage to Billy in spite of his many travels, ‘I would rather be married to Billy even though
I have him only 50% of the time than being married to someone else and being with them 100% of the
time!’
9. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS A STATESMAN/AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST.Billy was not only an evangelist but also a statesman who represented the evangelical Church to
popes, presidents, kings, queens, Imams and every conceivable global leader in politics and religion. In
regard to religion, he was ecumenical without compromising the truth so he could reach as many as pos‐
sible with the Gospel.
10. HE WAS A MAN WHO TRUSTED THE BIBLE AS THE WORD OF GOD.In all his years, he never lost his trust in the fidelity of Scripture in spite of the pushback from liberal
theological trends and currents. Although he kept up with contemporary culture and read broadly, he
was always primarily a man of one book: the Bible. Perhaps this was the most important reason why
God was able to raise him up and trust him with a historic, global platform.
– Joseph Mattera, Breaking Christian News
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page FourNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Four
Sydney ‘79
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page FiveNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Five
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
Billy Graham was perhaps the most significant religious figure of the
20th Century, and the organizations and the movement he helped spawn
continue to shape the 21st. During his life, Graham preached in person to
more than 100 million people and to millions more via television, satellite,
and film. Nearly 3,000,000 have responded to his invitation to ‘accept Jesus
into your heart’ at the end of his sermons. He proclaimed the Gospel to more
persons than any other preacher in history. In the process, he became ‘Amer‐
ica's Pastor,’ participating in presidential inaugurations and speaking during
national crises such as the memorial services following the Oklahoma City
bombing and the 9/11 attacks.
‘He became the friend and confidante of popes and presidents, queens
and dictators, and yet, even in his 80s, he possesses the boyish charm and unprepossessing demeanor
to communicate with the masses,’ said Columbia University historian Randall Balmer.
Billy Graham was born in 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina, attended (briefly) Bob Jones College,
graduating from Florida Bible Institute near Tampa, and Wheaton College in Illinois. He was ordained a
minister in the Southern Baptist Church (1939) and pastored a small church in suburban Chicago and
preached on a weekly radio program. In 1946 he became the first full‐time staff member of Youth for
Christ and launched his evangelistic campaigns. For four years (1948–1952) he also served as president
of Northwestern Schools in Minneapolis. His 1949 evangelistic tent meetings in Los Angeles brought
him to national attention, and his 1957 New York meetings, which filled Madison Square Garden for four
months, established him as a major presence on the American religious scene.
Graham appeared regularly on the lists of ‘most admired’ people. Between 1950 and 1990 Graham
won a spot on the Gallup Organization's Most Admired List more often than any other American. LadiesHome Journal once ranked him second only to God in the category of ‘achievements in religion.’ He re‐
ceived both the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1983) and the Congressional Gold Medal (1996). Sher‐
wood Wirt, who for 17 years edited the Graham organization's Decision magazine, described one Scottish
minister who made this observation about Graham: ‘My first impression of the man at close quarters
was not of his good looks but of his goodness; not of his extraordinary range of commitments, but of his
own committedness to his Lord and Master. To be with him even for a short time is to get a sense of a
single‐minded man; it shames one and shakes one as no amount of ability and cleverness can do.’
Graham was a model of integrity. Despite scandals and missteps that toppled other leaders and min‐
isters, including Graham's friend Richard Nixon and a succession of televangelists, in six decades of min‐
istry, no‐one ever leveled a serious accusation of misconduct against him. That's not to say he wasn't
seriously criticized. Some liberals and intellectuals called his message ‘simplistic.’ Some fundamentalists
considered him ‘compromised’ for co‐operating with mainline groups and the National Council of
Churches.
His moderate anti-segregationist stance during the Civil Rights era drew fire from both sides:white segregationists were furious when he invited the ‘agitator’ Martin Luther King Jr to pray at the
1957 New York City Crusade; civil rights activists accused him of cowardice for not joining them on
protest marches and getting arrested for the cause.
In 1982, when he visited the Soviet Union, agreeing to preach the Gospel at the invitation of the gov‐
ernment, he touched off a firestorm of criticism. Despite having met with The Siberian Seven, Pentecostal
dissidents who were seeking political asylum, Graham was quoted as saying he ‘had not personally seen
any evidence of religious persecution.’ Some called him a ‘traitor.’ But he insisted he would go anywhere
to preach as long as there were no restrictions on his freedom to proclaim the Gospel. He returned claim‐
ing he saw the hand of God working in the Soviet Union. He was fiercely attacked for being naïve and ‘a
tool of the Soviet propaganda machine.’
(Continued On Page 6)
The Significance Of Billy Graham– Christianity Today’s Tribute:
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page SixNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Six
(Continued From Page Five)By 1990, however, after the fall of the Soviet Union, his prescience was vindicated when then‐Presi‐
dent George H.W. Bush said to the National Religious Broadcasters, ‘Eight years ago, one of the Lord's
great ambassadors, Rev Billy Graham, went to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union and, upon returning,
spoke of a movement there toward more religious freedom. And perhaps he saw it before many of us be‐
cause it takes a man of God to sense the early movement of the hand of God.’
Perhaps Graham's lasting legacy was his ability to present the Gospel in the idiom of the culture.He did this brilliantly, making innovative use of emerging technologies – radio, television, magazines,
books, a newspaper column, motion pictures, satellite broadcasts, Internet – to spread his message.
In the 1990s he re-engineered the formula for his ‘crusades’ (later called ‘missions’ out of deference
to Muslims and others offended by the connotation). His standard youth night was revolutionized into a
Concert For The Next Generation, with Christian rock, rap, and hip‐hop artists headlining the event, fol‐
lowed by Graham preaching. This format drew record numbers of young people who cheered the bands
and then, amazingly, listened carefully to the octogenarian evangelist.
In addition, he helped launch numerous influential organizations, including Youth for Christ (he
was the first full‐time staff member of this entrepreneurial and innovative organization), the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, and Christianity Today. The ripple effect of his shaping influence extends to
such schools as Wheaton College in Illinois, Gordon‐Conwell Divinity School in Massachusetts, North‐
Western College in Minnesota, and Fuller Seminary in California. His encouragement and support helped
develop the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Greater Europe Mission, TransWorld Radio,
World Vision, World Relief, and the National Association of Evangelicals.
Billy Graham brought the global Christian community together through international conventions:
a 1966 Congress on World Evangelism in Berlin, the 1974 International Congress on World Evangeliza‐
tion in Lausanne, Switzerland, and three huge conferences in Amsterdam for itinerant evangelists in
1983, 1986, and 2000, which drew nearly 24,000 working evangelists from 200 countries.
In many ways, Billy Graham both formed and embodied the evangelical movement. Theologian J.
I. Packer attributes the evangelical ‘convergence’ to Graham. ‘Up to 1940, it was every institution for
itself. There wasn't anything unitive about the situation. There were little outposts of resistance trying
to keep their end up in face of the liberal juggernaut. Increasingly, from the 1950’s onward, evangelicals
came together behind Billy Graham and the things he stood for and was committed to. It continues that
way to the present,’ Packer says.
For many, however, William Franklin Graham won't be remembered for these accomplishments.He'll always be ‘Billy,’ as he preferred to be called. He titled his autobiography Just As I Am, a reflection of
his humble spirit, taken from the hymn sung most often when he invited people to come forward and
receive God's love. And for millions, his humility before the Almighty encouraged them to approach with
that same spirit.
Read: Read: Can The Theory Of Evolution SurviveCan The Theory Of Evolution SurviveThe Attack Of Science? The Attack Of Science? by David Holden at
www.defenceofthefaith.org
TURN BACK THE BATTLE: TURN BACK THE BATTLE: Isaiah Speaks To ChristiansIsaiah Speaks To ChristiansToday.Today.With persecution escalating globally, Elizabeth Kendal calls us to revisit the prophecy of
Isaiah,For purchasing options, visit:www.turnbackthebattle.com
On Sunday evening 18 February local Christians gathered in Kizlyar's Russian Orthodox church to usher in
the Eastern Orthodox Lent. The Sunday mass was the culmination of a week‐long traditional pre‐Lenten festival
known as Maslenitsa. Then, terror struck. Father Pavel explains: 'We had finished the mass and were beginning
to leave the church. A bearded man ran towards the church shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘Allah is greatest’) and killed
four people. He was carrying a rifle and a knife.' To prevent the gunman getting inside, church members shut and
barricaded the door. Police then shot the gunman dead. A fifth woman later died in hospital. A further four people
were wounded, one seriously, including at least two policemen and one or two more Christian women. The gunman
has been identified as Khalil Khalilov (22), a local Muslim from the Tarumovsky District of Dagestan.
Islamic State claimed responsibility, identifying the gunman by his alleged 'nom de guerre', Khalil al‐Dagestani
and describing him as a 'soldier of the caliphate'. In a video subsequently released by pro‐IS media, a man alleged
to be the gunman appears dressed in what seems to be the same black vest and camouflage pants, his rifle and
knife on display. Sitting cross‐legged beside an IS flag, the masked man swears an oath of allegiance to IS.
Kizlyar, where the attack occurred, is located in Dagestan, a majority‐Muslim republic in the volatile North
Caucasus region of southern Russia. Whilst Dagestan is 90% Muslim, Kizlyar – a town of some 50,000 people, lo‐
cated 170km northwest of Dagestan's capital, Makhachkala, near the border with Chechnya ‐ is around 40% ethnic
Russian. In recent years multitudes of Chechnya's and Dagestan's unemployed and increasingly radicalised Muslim
youths have travelled to Mesopotamia (Syria‐Iraq) to engage in jihad. Known collectively as 'Chechens', jihadists
from the North Caucuses are known for being especially fierce and highly skilled, many having been trained by
former‐Soviet military personnel. According to a recent study, some 3,400 'Chechens' have fought with jihadist
groups in Mesopotamia; of these, an estimated 400 have returned.
The North Caucasus region has long been a hive of jihadist activity. For decades, Russia has sought to pacify
the region by delegating power to local authorities who are loyal to Moscow. This strategy has largely worked in
Chechnya where, despite human rights abuses, overall security has improved and economic development has ad‐
vanced. However, the strategy has failed in more ethnically diverse Dagestan where clan rivalries predominate
over nationalism. In an effort to 'decriminalise' the republic and rein in its debt (caused mostly by embezzlement
and fraud) Moscow has intervened, replacing clan heads with outsiders. Naturally, Dagestanis are split, with some
protesting about the intervention and others living in hope that it will ultimately work to improve security and
enable development. One analyst comments that,
since 5 February, Dagestan has come to resemble 'a
disturbed anthill'. Doubtless, purged officials, crimi‐
nals and all who had profited from systemic corrup‐
tion will furiously resist the intervention and be bent
on revenge.
As journalist Anton Orech notes, lawless, out‐of‐
control Dagestan has long been home to Russia's
'main Islamist cells' and the source of 'the biggest
stream of people to ISIS'. This is unsurprising, for it
is well known that jihadist groups thrive in corrupt
and lawless regions. Therefore, we should expect
that jihadists too will furiously resist Moscow's in‐
tervention and seek to undermine it. It is quite pos‐
sible that the terror attack on the RO church in
Kizlyar was as much an attack on Moscow as on the
Christian presence in Dagestan. It may also have
been an attempt to trigger religious conflict around
which IS could rally trans‐national jihadists. Ten‐
sions are boiling and terror attacks may well escalate
in direct proportion to Moscow's success at cleaning
up the republic.
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page SevenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Seven
MATTERS FOR PRAYER:MATTERS FOR PRAYER:
DAGESTAN (RUSSIA): Terror Strikes As Tension Boils
Elizabeth Kendal is the author of Turn Back The Battle: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today (DerorBooks, Melbourne, Australia, Dec 2012) which offers a Biblical response to persecution and ex-istential threat; and After Saturday Comes Sunday: Understanding The Christian Crisis In TheMiddle East (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, OR, USA, June 2016). See www.ElizabethKendal.com
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:• The new administration installed in Dagestan; in par‐
ticular for: Vladimir Vasilyev (68), the eminently qual‐
ified ethnic‐Kazakh native Muscovite appointed by
President Putin on 3 October to serve as Acting Head
of Dagestan until elections can be held; Artem Vasilyev
(39), the young former Minister of Economy of
Tatarstan appointed by Vasilyev on 7 February to serve
as Prime Minister over Dagestan's new government.
• May God be pleased to use the new administration to
bring peace, justice, development and security to
Dagestan so that the Gospel will advance and God will
be glorified (see 1Timothy 2.1‐4); may resistance be
minimal and may the way of the wicked come to ruin
(Psalm 146.9).
• The Church in Dagestan – Orthodox, Catholic and
Protestant – comprised of ethnic Russians and Muslim
converts; in particular that: the Lord will pour out His
grace on the church in Kizlyar, to bring comfort and
peace to those who grieve and are fearful.
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page EightNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Eight
Billy’s Last PrayerThis was Billy Graham's final prayer for the world on His
99th Birthday: ‘Go to your knees and pray until you and God
have become intimate friends. I cannot describe to you the
joy and the peace He gives as a result of the daily routine
that you have.’
[CBN News] On his 99th birthday back in November, world
famous evangelist Billy Graham released a video encourag‐
ing people to seek God with their whole lives. It turned out
to be his final public prayer for the world.
‘I've been praying that we might have a spiritual awak-ening,’ Graham said. ‘I think that becomes possible only as
individuals surrender their lives afresh and anew to Christ.’
He also shared advice about how people can truly live the
Christian life. ‘First, we must do everything we can to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Live a life in which
we love one another, we help one another, and we live according to His Word as Jesus lived. The Holy
Spirit is the One who helps us live that new lifestyle. It's one of love, gentleness, and patience and all of
these things that are the fruits of the Spirit,’ he added.
Graham stressed the importance of reading the Bible every day. ‘You read his Word every day, the
Bible. I know it's very difficult but you need to start somewhere and I suggest you start with the Gospel
of Luke in the New Testament and in the Old Testament start with the first verse – “In the Beginning,
God”.’
Dr Graham pointed out that intimacy with God is essential, and this must be achieved through prayer.
‘Go to your knees and pray until you and God have become intimate friends,’ he said. ‘I cannot describe
to you the joy and the peace He gives as a result of the daily routine that you have.’
– Breaking Christian News
Dr Graham at prayer.Photo Credit: Ramon Williams,
Worldwide Photos.
Ramon A Wi l l iamsRamon A Wi l l iams– Wor ldwide Pho tos –– Wor ldwide Pho tos –
WANT TO SEE MORE?New Life can only publish a small selection
of photos, but you can see more of thoseattributed to Worldwide Photos by contacting
Ramon Williams,e-mail: [email protected]
VISITING MELBOURNE?You’re welcome at The Faith Factory:
ST KILDA: Cnr Alma Rd/Barkly St. Every Sunday 11am & 7pm;Living Stones Korean Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday 1pm;
BALACLAVA: Cnr Hotham St/Denman Rd. Every Sunday 9.30am.MINISTER: Rev Bob Thomas 0417 592 646
You’re Welcome At The Faith Factory– A Friendly, Caring, Bible-Believing Christian Fellowship –
And Inspiring Talkwww.96three.com.auPhone: 03 5241 6550Email: [email protected]
WHO CAN WHO CAN YOUYOU INVITE TO SIGN UP FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW LIFE?INVITE TO SIGN UP FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW LIFE?
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page NineNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Nine
Time For A Change – With Jesus, The Game ChangerTwo hundred churches across Australia have
begun a Jesus The Game Changer campaign. Churches
from every state and territory representing many de‐
nominations are involved. Jesus The Game Changer is
a documentary series looking at how the life and
teaching of Jesus changed the world and why it mat‐
ters. It is also being shown on global TV cable net‐
works.
Karl Faase CEO of Olivetree Media, the producer of
Jesus The Game Changer says they are pleased broad‐
casters have taken it on. But he says the ultimate goal
is to have churches use it to influence their commu‐
nity with the message of Jesus.
An added bonus for the production team was the new Jesus The Game Changer song written by Aus‐
tralia’s leading Christian children’s artist, Colin Buchanan, who features in the video series. The campaign
will run over the six weeks leading up to Easter. – Olivetree Media
FAITH NEWS FAITH NEWS ...... With Stan HuntWith Stan Hunt
Long Ride Ends For Broncos’ ChaplainThe Brisbane Broncos rugby league team chaplain
is stepping down after 20 years service. Bill Hunter,
who also leads a ‘sports church’ in Brisbane, says
the chaplaincy has been a dream role, but he says
that it’s time to make way for a new face and a fresh
approach. Bill was involved supporting players,
staff and coaches. A long‐distance runner and fit‐
ness fanatic, Bill has credibility with the players
and was able to encourage them on and off the
field. Bill says he never prayed for them to win, only
that God would protect them and help them to play
their best. Bill will continue to lead the church and
will also train young leaders from Papua New
Guinea through the Salvation Army’s Hope And AFuture program. Warren Crank has been appointed
to take Bill Hunter’s place at the Broncos.
– The Salvation ArmyA Sweet Message For EasterHundreds of thousands of chocolate eggs with a
Bible story inside are combating a decline in
knowledge about Easter, according to Church of
England bishop Julian Henderson. The bishop is
backing a campaign by the Meaningful Chocolate
Company to distribute more than a quarter of a mil‐
lion eggs containing the Easter message. This
comes after research revealed that more than half
the UK population do not associate Easter with
Jesus Christ. David Marshall, from The Meaningful
Chocolate Company says it is quite a surprise to
discover that nearly 60% of under 24 year olds do
not connect Jesus with Easter. The company hopes
to reach more than a million people with the Easter
message. – Christian TodayEncouragement For Hurting WomenA new audio Bible, designed for hurting women, is
being created, by the non‐profit organisation
Courage For Life. The Courage For Life Women'sAudio Bible will be offered free of charge in the US
to women in local at‐risk facilities, such as home‐
less shelters, jails and domestic violence safe
houses. It is the first audio Bible, from Genesis to
Revelation, recorded for women by women, and
will be available through a specially created app. It
is being read from the New Living Bible and in‐
cludes commentary by Courage For Life founder
and Bible teacher Ann White. After more than a
year of research, negotiations, and fundraising, the
audio Bible is set to begin production on 26 March.
– Christian Newswire
Jesus SHALLSHALL Reign!More than 700,000 people from 3,300 churches in 68 countries joined in the 2018 Global
Hymn Sing on 25 February. Churches from different traditions and languages sang Isaac
Watts’ classic hymn Jesus Shall Reign as an expression of their commitment to the mission
of Jesus Christ. The use of the hymn was inspired by Scottish Olympic athlete Eric Liddell,
who was the focus of the award‐winning film Chariots Of Fire. When he was leaving Edin‐
burgh as a missionary to China he was asked to comment and instead of making a statement he sang:
'Jesus shall reign where'er the sun/ does his successive journeys run;/ His Kingdom stretch from shore
to shore/ till moons shall wax and wane no more.' – Christian Today
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page TenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Ten
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
Why Lausanne? Connecting Influencers And Ideas For Global Mission‘Why Lausanne’ is Billy Graham’s opening plenary address given at the First Interna-tional Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974. The fulltext can be found at wwwlausanne.orgThe Planning Committee has invited participants from every possible nation and
nearly every evangelical denomination and para‐church organisation in the world. Never
before have so many representatives of so many evangelical Christian churches in so many
nations and from so many tribal and language groups gathered to worship, pray, and plan
together for world evangelization. This Lausanne Congress is also significant because rep‐
resentatives are here from older churches that have witnessed and evangelized for cen‐
turies, and younger churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who have taken up the torch
and are sending missionaries to other nations as well. It is a new day for world evangeliza‐
tion when the whole church can go into much of the world.
The evangelistic cutting edge of the church of Jesus Christ worldwide is here to seek how we can work to‐
gether to fulfill Christ’s last commission as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Therefore, I have come to Lausanne
with great hope, even as you have. We have met at a time marked by signposts of both promise and danger. Prom‐
ise – in that God is at work in a remarkable way. Never have so many people been so open to the Gospel.
It is true that old traditional denominations with theologically liberal tendencies are declining, yet it is in‐
teresting to note the more evangelical denominations are showing steady growth. Evangelical theological semi‐
naries and Bible schools are overflowing and the more liberal schools are seeing a dramatic drop in enrollment.
At the same time scores of para‐church evangelistic organizations are flourishing as never before.
One reporter states that East European students are looking wistfully over their shoulder to Moses and to
Christ for a reason to live. In these days, God is giving His people an opportunity for worldwide witness – perhaps
a last chance! But with the promise, there are many dangers. As we meet here, world problems press upon us. In‐
flation is sweeping the world; but even worse, the world stands on the very brink of famine. Droughts, floods, and
other calamities have destroyed, or drastically diminished grain stocks in Africa, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh,
and Pakistan. (Continued On Page 11)
Arrange your visit at:www.creationresearch.net/museums
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page ElevenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Eleven
(Continued From Page 10)Millions of people have a mood of deep pessimism. Men’s hearts are indeed failing them for fear as our Lord
predicted. Absence of a fear of God, loss of moral absolutes, sin accepted and glorified, breakdown in the home,
disregard for authority, lawlessness, anxiety, hatred, and despair – these are signs of a culture in decay. We are
witnessing societies in trauma, shaken by war, scandals, inflation, surfeited and bored with materialism, turned
off by lifeless religion.
Thousands are turning to perversions, the occult, with its Satan worship, mind control, astrology, and various
ploys of the devil to lure men to turn from the truth. It is right that we look for answers and solutions but we must
look in the right place, and that place is the Lord Jesus Christ who can bring spiritual renewal and liberation.
We meet at a time when the world longs for reassurance, peace, hope, and purpose. Isaiah the prophet said
centuries ago, ‘And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto wizards that
peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God?’ (Isaiah 8.19). Most of us hold the view of Scripture
that teaches that as we approach the end of history things will get worse – that our Lord predicted in Matthew 24,
false prophets, earthquakes, famines, wars, betrayals, moral permissiveness, persecution, apostasy, would precede
His return. We know the whole world will not be converted to Christ – the whole world is not going to become
permanently peaceful, but our Lord did promise, ‘And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world
for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’
God is calling out a people for his name – a Christian community in the midst of the ruins of man’s sins, a bride
from all races, tongues, and nations for the coming bridegroom. It is an exciting and thrilling time to be witnesses
to this Gospel. However, 64 years ago, the delegates to the historic Edinburgh Conference left Edinburgh with an
overwhelming optimism about the future of evangelism, missions, and its impact on what was already being called
‘The Christian Century’. They never dreamed they were less than four years from the devastation of World War l
and only thirty years away from World War II. But we here at this Congress have an unparalleled opportunity as
the world may be standing at the very brink of Armageddon.
Let us unite in proclaiming Jesus Christ as God and only Saviour and persuading men to become His disciples
at this fateful hour. It is my prayer that we will return from Lausanne to carry the Gospel of Christ throughout the
world. (Continued On Page 12)
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
PRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAMPRAISE THE LORD FOR BILLY GRAHAM
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page TwelveNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Twelve
(Continued From Page 11)This Congress stands in the tradition of manymovements of evangelism throughout the his‐
tory of the church. From the time of the early
apostles to the present, evangelism has been the
lifeblood of the church. When the Spirit fell on
the church at Pentecost, 120 believers soon be‐
came 3,000, then 5,000. And so the fire of Christ
spread throughout the Roman Empire to Britain,
France, Germany, and Spain, into the Caucasus,
into India, and to the islands of the sea. This Con‐
gress is the most recent link in a long chain of
evangelism conferences stretching back into the
last century, which Latourette called ‘the great century of missionary advance’. At that time, sparked by thousands
of young people, the Student Volunteer Movement set as its goal ‘the evangelization of the world in this generation’.
It is one of the tragedies of the missionary movement that today, over 60 years after Edinburgh, many Christians
not only doubt that the goal is possible but even question whether it is desirable.
The missionary and evangelistic movements of the last century were based on the authority of the Scriptures
as the Word of God. Because these people were biblically oriented, they had a definite view of salvation. They took
seriously what the Bible says about man’s lostness and his need for redemption. They also believed strongly in
‘conversion’, convinced that by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, men could be forgiven and changed.
They believed that evangelism was not an option but an imperative. They were convinced that the primary mission
of the church is to declare the good news of Jesus Christ. They were preoccupied with obedience not obstacles.
But somehow, as time went on, many of these movements lost their zeal. Why?
Evangelism always faces two dangers. First, there are external barriers to effective evangelism. Many of these
we will be examining at this Congress. The dangers experienced did not dampen their zeal. True evangelism thrives
on dangers. I believe, however, an even greater danger comes from within missionary and evangelistic agencies –
the internal danger. The reason that the great missionary movements of the 19th Century were able to make a
lasting impact on the world was because internally they were strong. They knew what they believed and they de‐
termined to proclaim it to the world. We need to pray for that kind of faith and urgency today.
But they gradually lost their strength. How? In the 19th Century there was little disagreement about ‘the mes‐
sage’ of evangelism. Holding to a high view of Scripture, Christians preached the unique Gospel of Christ to a lost
humanity. In a series of conferences Christians sought to examine and reaffirm the evangelistic task of the church.
But theological changes were subtly infiltrating Christian youth movements, causing some to weaken their ties to
orthodox faith. The authority of evangelism began to shift from the Scriptures to the organized church. They fo‐
cused attention on the materialistic salvation of the community rather than the individual. This became known
as the ‘social gospel’. Emphasis turned to man ‘in this world’, rather than ‘in this and the next world’. It is my hope
and prayer that Lausanne 1974 will take us back theologically, though not politically or sociologically, to the visions
and concepts of those great conferences in the early part of this century. In more recent times the world church
has floundered. It has lost much of the vision and zeal of those days, for three primary reasons: the loss of the au‐
thority of the message of the Gospel; the preoccupation with social and political problems and the equal pre‐oc‐
cupation with organizational unity.
This is a Congress of World Evangelization. Now we are enthusiastic about all the many things churches prop‐
erly do, from worship to social concern. But our calling is to a specific sector of the church’s responsibility – evan‐
gelism. We believe our point of view has not been adequately represented at some of the other world church
gatherings. Therefore, we are met to pray, talk, plan and – please God – to advance the work of evangelism. This is
a conference of evangelicals. The participants were asked to come because you are evangelical – concerned with
evangelism and missions. We stand firmly in the evangelical tradition of biblical faith.
This Congress convenes as one body, obeying one Lord, facing one world, with one task. We should not stress
older and younger churches. We see the church as one. Some churches are older, some are younger. Cultures and
circumstances differ, but our mission is the same, our spiritual resources are the same – one body, one Lord, one
task. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, we come to the task of evangelism as one church, one
body, one company of the redeemed, proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ. We assemble not as strangers, but as mem‐
bers of the household of God, to find out more perfectly his will for evangelism in our critical time. Certainly we
have some doctrinal differences. We have cultural and political differences, but we are one in the Spirit. We shout
with one voice, ‘Jesus alone saves.’ We have one task—to proclaim the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
NEW LIFE ADVERTISINGNEW LIFE ADVERTISING
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page ThirteenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Thirteen
Glorious Things – A Protestant’s Guide
To London
• Revised! • Updated! • Illustrated! • Now Available As An e-Book!Glorious Things will help visitors to London arrive well prepared to make the most of their time there.
The guided tours will take you to places like Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral,but Glorious Things will take you to important sites linked to our Protestant heritage.
COST: $10 for the PDF version, with the right to print two hard copies.PAYMENT OPTIONS:
1. Cheque for $10 payable to New Life Australia. Mail to: PO Box 457, Mitcham Vic 3132.(Please include a letter with your name and email address so that we can email the PDF to you.)
2. Direct deposit $10 to Bank: Westpac; A/c name: New Life Australia LtdBSB: 033-112; A/c No: 16-8239 (Please also notify us by email).
Elizabeth Kendal’s New Book ...War! Destruction! Violent Persecution! Martyrdom! Forced Displacement!
For hundreds of thousands of now destitute Christian families, this is the new reality.Yet contrary to all appearances, God is at work in the Middle East.
‘Kendal’s book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing onauthoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet.
– Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News.For more information go to: www.ElizabethKendal.com
We’re Count ing On YOU!We’re Count ing On YOU!
YOURYOURDonat ions Keep Us Go ing!Donat ions Keep Us Go ing!Through the generous donations of members of the New Life family,
New Life is now available free on request by email to everyone, everywhere,who wants to receive it.
PLEASE CONSIDERPLEASE CONSIDERMAKING A DONATION:MAKING A DONATION:
• By Cheque To: New Life, PO Box 457, Mitcham 3132 Vic.• By Direct Deposit To: Account Name: New Life Australia Ltd.
Bank: Westpac. BSB: 033-112. Account Number: 16-8239.(Please email [email protected] when you direct deposit).
• From Our Web Site: (www.nlife.com.au)using the Make A Donation button.
Through many dangers, toils and snares … Having faced court charges, opposi‐
tion and riots, Paul now faces a natural catastrophe. Paul and his companions join
a ship sailing to Italy, under the oversight of the centurion, Julius. It was late in the
sailing season and becoming dangerous to travel (v 9). Paul warns about the dan‐
ger awaiting them, but is disregarded (v 10). Instead, Julius listens to the owner
of the ship and sails on.
A great storm hits and the ship takes a violent battering. Luke the eyewit‐
ness, says, ‘we finally gave up all hope of being saved’ (v 20). Paul now takes the
lead. God has spoken to him directly in 18.20 and 23.11. Now, an angel appears
to him (v 23). Paul’s words are hazy on the detail, but he confidently reassures
all those on board that the ship will run aground (v 26) and that none will be
lost. They must stay with the ship in order to be saved (v 31).
Luke tells us the exact number of people on board – 276 (v 37) and records that the ship is
wrecked (v 41). All on board are kept safe (vv 43,44).
There is a parallel and a contrast between these events and the experience of Jonah. Jonah is disobe‐
dient of God, but Paul is obedient to the Word of God. Jonah escapes to sea, but Paul takes to sea. Jonah
knows the only hope is for him to leave the ship and the others on board reluctantly throw him in to the
sea. In contrast, Paul knows the only hope is for all to stay on board – his companions are reluctant to do
so and try to abandon ship (v 30). We see a parallel in that ultimately, the compliance of Jonah’s and
Paul’s fellow travellers ensures their safety in both cases.
No raging tempest can thwart God’s plan – not even the mur‐
derous intent of the soldiers (v 42), thwarted by Julius (v 43).
As the events unfold, Julius’ leadership recedes as Paul’s be‐
comes more dominant.
John Newton began his career as a sailor on board his father’s
merchant ship in these same waters of the Mediterranean. On
10 May 1748, he captained a slave ship struck by a great storm
off the coast of Africa. He later wrote of this experience in the hymn Amazing Grace, perhaps recalling
Paul’s experience in Acts 27: Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come:’tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page FourteenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Fourteen
ACTS ACTS –– A JOURNEY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTHA JOURNEY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH –– DAVID COOKDAVID COOK
Don’t Jump Ship (ACTS 27)
FOR REFLECTION:In what ways does Acts 27.25 reveal
the key to Paul’s steadfastness?
Compare and contrast Paul’s de‐
meanour with that of the sailors and
the soldiers on board the ship.
Content taken from 'ACTS –To The Ends Of The Earth' by David Cook, published by 10Publishing, used with permission.
M a t t h ew 8 . 1 3M a t t h ew 8 . 1 3Yo u r f a i t h wo r k s.Yo u r f a i t h wo r k s.
Words Of Wisdom:
SEEN ON FACEBOOK:
‘Faith is nurtured and nourished asit ponders God's being and rejoicesin His attributes. This is what itmeans to live by faith.The faithful Christian is the trustingChristian. The faithful Christian isthe Christian who obeys God evenwhen their circumstances seem tobe all against them.’
– Ian Hamilton
BOOKS WORTH READINGBOOKS WORTH READING
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page FifteenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Fifteen
THE PURITANS DAY BY DAY, Compiled by H. J. Horn, Edinburgh: TheBanner Of Truth Trust, 2016. ISBN 978-1-84871-7076-7The Puritans often get bad press! They have the reputation (quite undeserved)
of being harsh, joyless and the preachers of interminable sermons and the writers
of ponderous tomes. Yet they also had a way with words, for they knew the Scrip‐
tures and they knew the human heart, and that combination makes for wise and
memorable sayings – such as recorded in this book, which provides 6‐8 pithy quo‐
tations for every day of the year (including February 29). It is, therefore, a kind of
17th Century version of the Proverbs Of Solomon, full of wisdom and insight.
The compiler of this treasury of pearls of wisdom is the Rev H.J. Horn, who re‐
tired from pastoral work in England in 1935. This book was originally published in
1928 as The Puritan Remembrancer. Over many years he had amassed this store
from his reading of devotional literature, especially by those nicknamed Puritans.
These men of God knew the ways of God, even when those ways were strange to
human ways of thinking, such as when God uses an unworthy instrument in His
work, as observed by Thomas Watson (someone frequently quoted in this book),
‘God can make a straight stroke with a crooked stick’. William Gurnall provides en‐
couragement to believers in times of general apostasy, saying ‘News may come that
truth is sick, but never that it is dead’. Likewise, John Flavel writes (almost 400 years
ago, be it noted), ‘O be not too quick to bury the church before she is dead’.
The Puritans were those who stood for and proclaimed God’s truth. The Gospel
will triumph and overcome all opponents, as John Calvin says, ‘The Gospel is an
anvil that has broken many a hammer, and will break many hammers yet’.
William Secker encourages a thankful spirit, with these words: ‘He enjoys much
who is thankful for a little’. The Puritans knew how to give wise counsel, ‘It is not a
sin to be angry, but hard not to sin when we are angry’ (John Trapp). Warning
against vain worship, Thomas Goodwin advises, ‘God is most exalted with fewest
words’.
The Puritans had a striking way of presenting an old truth, such as when
Thomas Watson says, ‘The two Testaments are the two lips by which God hath spo‐
ken to us’. God knows the right time to answer our prayers and bless, as Thomas
Boston states, ‘God does not keep our time, because it is not the due time’. In other
words, God knows best!
Mr Horn sets an example of what all preachers should be doing in collecting
useful quotes for sermons and pastoral work, but also the gathering of well‐crafted
sayings will train the preacher to be able to frame his own pithy sayings and mem‐
orable expressions that will stick in the memory of his hearers. A lot of the value is
in the very exercise of collecting such quotes, for the process of doing so, will help
to refine the collector’s taste and will assist in turning an average preacher into a
wordsmith. This book would also be a delightful and practical gift to any Christian
to keep with their Bible to be used daily.
– Greg Goswell
‘Thisbookwould bea delight-ful andpracticalgift toanyChristianto keepwiththeirBible tobe useddaily.’
‘A preacher who does not preach the Bible is like a comedian who isn’tfunny – what’s the point? ... Once you move away from the eternal Gospelyou inevitably end up with nothing to say to the times.As G.K. Chesterton opined – “If you marry the spirit of this age you endup a widow in the next”.’’ – David A. Robertson, ‘The Wee Flea’.
NEW LIFE ADVERTISINGNEW LIFE ADVERTISING
NEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page SixteenNEW LIFE – 1 March 2018 – Page Sixteen