Brown's Daily Word 6-1-07

Praise the Lord for the first Friday of June, 2007. We are just a week away from the NYPENN Franklin Graham Festival to be held at the Binghamton University Event Center from Friday, June 8 through Sunday, June 10. We are all wired up and ready for a great moving of the Lord's Spirit through the entire region. The Festival services will be held on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Billy Graham Museum was opened yesterday in Charlotte, NC, just four miles from the farm house where Billy Graham was born and raised. All the (living) former US presidents were present at the opening ceremony, which was telecast live. The Lord has used one man, Billy Graham, to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to millions around the world.
My life as a young college student was challenged and changed through the ministry of Billy Graham. My ministry was blessed later through the Ministry of Dr. Graham. I have been privileged to attend 7 Billy Graham Crusades and eight Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism. The first Billy Graham School of Evangelism I attended was in 1972, which was held in New Delhi, India. I was a graduate student in Bangalore at the time. This event was led by Dr. Akbar Haque, one of Billy Graham's associates. Dr Akbar Haque was a Moslem Convert. He was a scholar and an evangelist. It is wonderful to know that Lord Jesus can use one person that is fully dedicated to Him. The Lord used Billy Graham in the 20th century to bring the Gospel to millions.
The Lord used John Wesley in the 18th century to bring the Gospel to the millions. John Wesley was born in a parsonage. His parents were Samuel and Susanna Wesley. Samuel Wesley was a clergyman in the Church of England. John Wesley, one of the 19 children, was rescued from a burning house. He felt deeply and strongly that the reason he was saved from the burning house was that the Lord had an eternal purpose for him. John Wesley himself had a Pentecost experience on May 24, 1738 . (3 days after Whitsunday/Pentecost)Well discipled in his upbringing, thoroughly converted in his convictions, commitment, mind, double professor of Greek & logic at Lincoln College, Oxford,he had been an ordained Anglican clergyman for many years. He went as a missionary to America to work with the Indians but stirred up all kinds of trouble, lawsuits. These, together with a complete lack of fruitfulness, made him so despondent that he was forced to return to England. He wrote, "I went to America to convert the Indians; but, oh, who shall convert me?¡¨ One good thing was- he met Moravian Missionaries. People with the Holy Spirit power in their lives. Wesley's story continues (round about Pentecost) He writes in his journal,"In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Alders gate Street, where one was reading Luther¡¦s preface to the epistle of the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith- I felt my heart strangely warmed. I FELT I DID trust Christ, Christ alone, for my salvation- and an assurance was given me that He HAD taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.¡¨Overnight his preaching and effectiveness changed. He was baptised and anointed afresh with the Holy Spirit. He was propelled and was galvanized. He entered in journal:-April 17th 1739 we called on God to confirm His word¡¨- and people sank to their knees as they found Christ!Traveled 250,000 miles. 40,000 sermons. Hundreds of thousands saved. The Methodist Movement moved to America. The Circuit Rider preachers proclaimed the Gospel of Holiness throu out the land. The Gospel did spread like a wild fire. The nation was transformed. The lives were changed.George Whitfield's diary,: ’Mon 1st Jan 1739. Had a love-feast with our brethren and spent the whole night in close prayer, psalms and thanksgiving. God supported me without sleep.’ About 3 in the morning it seemed like the day of Pentecost had come again. Wesley recorded in his journal ’ the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from awe and amazement at the presence of His majesty, we broke out with one voice "we praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord"’Listen to Wesley's journal: while I was preaching at New gate on these words." He that believeth has everlasting life". I was insensibly led, without any previous design, to declare strongly and explicitly, that God willeth all men to be saved¡¦ (1 tim 2:4)¡K and that if this were true He would bear witness to His word¡¦. Immediately one, then another, and another sunk to the earth; they dropped on every side as thunderstruck¡¨Wesley's journal: Today our Lord answered for Himself. For while I was enforcing these words, ¡¥be still and know that I am God. He began to bare His arm- not in a close room, neither in private, but in the open air before more than 2000 witnesses. In less than an hour seven persons, wholly unknown to me till that time, were rejoicing and singing and with all their might giving thanks to the God of their salvation¡K later¡K we met at Fetter Lane to humble ourselves before God. In that hour we found God with us as at the first. Some fell prostrate upon the ground. Others burst out as with one consent, into loud praise and thanksgiving.Phil 2:2 if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Friends- we need the Holy Spirit.- YOU need the Holy Spirit. I need Him. We all need Him.The poet William Blake wrote a poem about Pentecost. Part of the poem says: Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named. Unless the Heart catch fire, God will not be loved. Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known.
In Christ,
Brown


Pray for Sunita, who is traveling to Capetown, South Africa and Congo. She is flying from Washington DC tomorrow on a work assignment. She will be there for a week, returning on June 9. She has to make two more trips in addition to this one before her wedding on the First of September. Please pray that the Lord would keep her safe and strong in His care and bless her ministry in Africa, bringing forth much fruit.
Please pray for our television outreach tonight at 7 p.m. on Channel 4. I am sharing about how the Lord is at work in my life as He is healing me and restoring me. I have seen another BIG MIRACLE in my life. A BIG THANK YOU TO JESUS OUR LORD.