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Top 10 Billy Graham Quotes with Commentary

Top 10 Billy Graham Quotes with Commentary

Last updated on: September 2, 2013 at 2:38 pm by Jack Wellman

Top 10 Billy Graham Quotes with Commentary 2013-09-02T14:38:19-05:00 Jack Wellman

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Billy Graham may be one of the most famous evangelists in the last century, if not more. Read some of his most famous quotes that reveal the heart of a man after God’s own heart.

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.

This is spot on. Truly, we brought nothing into this world and we can bring nothing with us into the Kingdom (1 Tim 6:7). Our health is something to lose but even that makes us more dependent upon God but when character is lost, so is our witness. I know a few Christians who have never once shared the gospel and when I asked them why, they said that they are too much like their lost co-workers and feel unworthy to witness. Character lost is a lost opportunity to witness to the lost.

The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

I have spoken with so many Christians who are wondering what the will of God is for their lives. It is clear that God provides for or sends provisions for that which is His will. If God does not provide for what you desire to do, then perhaps it is time to re-examine what you believe God’s will is for your life. Clearly we do know that the will of God is our sanctification, to share the good news with the lost, and to glorify Christ (Rom 12:1-2). That takes no provision but a willingly obedient heart.

The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

This is so true. Instead of the original intent of the Constitution, secularists today want to make it freedom from religion instead of freedom of religion, but they have taken it one step further; the seek the abolition of religion. It is okay to take the Qur’an or Koran to school or have it in the school library, but no, not the Bible. It is acceptable to teach it in schools, read it or write a report on it but one boy that wrote a report on the Bible got an “F” from his teacher. It will get worse my friends.

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.

No one will ever achieve perfection in this life but we are to be striving to become more holy all the time and it actually takes a lifetime and so sanctification is a process that doesn’t end until our last breath is breathed out. Paul said as much when he wrote “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5). You are not alone in this struggle against the flesh so it’s important to remember when Christians don’t feel like they are making enough progress that is a good sign. It shows you have conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit. Paul also struggled with this which you can read about in Romans chapter 7.

Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.

I didn’t really understand why no one wanted to come to my pity party. I invited all to come but I was the only one who showed up. I sense it was because they knew it was a self-proclaimed pity party but one day I saw a man who looked to be having his own pity party. I went to share the gospel with him and when I left him, I had no idea of knowing whether this man would repent and trust in Christ or not. The thought of this man…indeed any man or woman…would face a Christ-less eternity made me weep. This is why “Jesus wept” I believe (John 11:35). He knew that the majority of those in Judea would reject His message of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. My pity party tears were pathetic because they focused on self but my tears for this man’s eternity were showing my heart was in alignment with God’s.

They asked her (Ruth Graham) did she ever think about divorce and she said, ‘No, I’ve never thought of divorce in all these 35 years of marriage, but,’ she said, ‘I did think of murder a few times.

This is so good. Every marriage has conflict. Any married couple that says that they have never argued may not have the right definition of arguing. Mrs. Graham’s honesty is refreshing. Who among us can’t sympathize with her but I do admire that their marriage survived for so many years. Maybe Paul wrote in 1 Cor 7:5a that couples should never “deprive one another” because he understood that some may use denying sex as a way of getting back at their mate during an argument. This is a dangerous tactic because Satan could use this to tempt the one being denied (1 Cor 7:5c).

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spine of others are often stiffened.

This is especially true when you are doing door-to-door evangelism or street witnessing. I have a brother in Christ who is more courageous in proclaiming the gospel when there is someone else with him. I too am more emboldened when I tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ and there is someone with me. When there is an injustice in society, the same thing applies. When one man or woman stands up for what is right and someone else joins them, it seems like others may join in. When no one does, it is likely that they were to speak up but were afraid. Paul ask the church at Ephesus to pray for him so “that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph 6:19-20).

For more Billy Graham quotes check out one of these articles:

http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/billy-graham-quotes-22-great-sayings/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/40328.Billy_Graham

A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.

If there is one thing that destroys churches, families, and friendships it is gossip. Slandering a person when they are not there is like assassinating their character. The true test of character isn’t that you don’t pass on the gossip, but that you stop it in its tracks and rebuke the tattle teller. I have been guilty of this even though I knew better (1 Tim 5:13).

God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.

This became clear to me some years ago when I lost a good paying job. When the federal office I worked for relocated, I found something even better. I would not have found this better job unless I had first lost what I thought was best. God’s ways and mine are very different but experience has proven that His way is always best (Rom 11:33).

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

When is the time that our plants, shrubs, and trees grow the fastest? Is it right after a good rain and the sun comes out? Is it when the soil has just been fertilized? Is it after the plants or trees have just been pruned to spur new growth? No, it is none of these. Interestingly, trees and shrubs grow fastest during the times of fierce winds brought about by strong storms. For example a tree’s fastest growth period is during times of strong winds. So too does adversity create growth in a Christian. We never grow as much during the calm periods in life as we do in the storms so we should “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Rom 5:3-4).

Conclusion

If you have another famous quote by Billy Graham, please include it. One thing for sure is that if you have not yet repented of your sins, confessed them to God, come to understand the sinfulness of your sins , and seen your need of a Savior, then you will face an eternity separated from God where there is no second opportunity to be saved. This realization is what motivated Mr. Graham. If Christ returns before you make your decision, it is too late. Humble yourself before God today and put your trust in the Savior or you will hear horrific words from Jesus someday

Article by Pastor Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design

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