By Robert Jeffress Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong. --Job 34:10  Admittedly, it is difficult to reconcile God’s absolute control over His creation with His inherent goodness. If we accept the existence of God and the reality of evil, then we must conclude that a God who would allow tragedies is either evil or impotent. Yet neither conclusion is a viable alternative. The Bible attests to the goodness of God, who is defined by His love for righteousness and hatred of evil in verses such as “Good and upright is the Lord” (Psalm 25:8); “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8); and “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Even apart from the Bible, the world is filled with evidence of a benevolent Creator. Yes, natural disasters kill people, but most of the time, rivers stay in their banks and the tectonic plates do not shift. Farmers periodically struggle with droughts, but usually sufficient rains come to protect their livelihood and provide our food. We read of crimes committed against people, forgetting the reason they are reported is that such crimes are the exception rather than the rule. The outpouring of financial support and volunteering to help victims of natural disasters and … [Read more...]

By Robert Jeffress There is no other name under Heaven … by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12 Jesus’ teaching that He provides the only way to Heaven should be enough to settle the issue of exclusivity, since He is the only religious leader who conquered death. However, the New Testament writers affirmed Jesus’ declaration that faith in Him is the only means to escape eternal death. Devout followers of Judaism embraced Christianity and proclaimed that faith in Christ was the only path to salvation. The apostle Paul was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5) whose zeal for his Jewish faith led him to devote his life to stamping out the “heresy” of Christianity. But while on his way to arrest Christians in Damascus, Paul encountered the resurrected Jesus (Acts 9) and was converted and transformed. Similarly, Peter was a devout Jew until he became a disciple of Jesus Christ. After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, Peter was willing to experience imprisonment, beatings, and ultimately execution for his faith in Christ. On one occasion, the Jewish leaders arrested Peter for preaching that Jesus was the Messiah and healing a lame man by invoking the name of Jesus. “By what power, or in what name, have you done … [Read more...]

By Jack Graham Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)…Acts 4:36 When people think about you, what are some characteristics that you believe come to their mind? If we’re really honest, you and I do care about our reputation. But the message we often hear today is, “Don’t worry what people think about you, just be yourself.” And while it’s okay to be rejected by others for the right reasons, there are many who believe they have a license to have a bad reputation because they’re just ‘being their self’. But did you know that God cares about your reputation? Proverbs 22:1 says “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” And Luke 2:52 makes it a point to say that Jesus increased “in favor with God and man.” Joseph was such an encourager that his friends began to call him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” So how are you known among your peers? When they think of you, are there impressions generally positive or negative? Gaining and keeping a good reputation takes time and effort. You have to invest relationally in people and be intentional in being someone whom they consider trustworthy. But that … [Read more...]

By Mike Huckabee It’s morning in America. The sun is shining, the birds are singing. But wait, how is that possible? Donald Trump is President-elect! We were assured that if that happened, the sky would blacken, there would be mass hysteria and the planet would immediately be immolated in a fiery, nuclear ball of death! Or something like that. Maybe I’ve been reading too much HuffPo. Instead, the sun somehow seems to be shining more brightly and the birds singing a bit more sweetly. Or perhaps it just seems that way to me. Just as I have been predicting for months, Donald Trump not only won, he scored a much bigger victory than even most supporters imagined. He gave a remarkably magnanimous and statesmanlike acceptance speech (see it at the link if you weren’t up late enough to watch history being made live). He also didn’t destroy the GOP down-ticket, as panicky Republicans feared (the only Republicans who got shellacked were turncoats who distanced themselves from Trump). The GOP held on to both the House and Senate, which means Trump should have a much easier time cutting deals for long-blocked, desperately-needed legislation, like repealing and replacing Obamacare. And he can appoint judges who respect the … [Read more...]

By Steve Horn Everybody knows what tomorrow is. Do you know what today is? Today (November 7) Billy Graham turns 98 years old. In 1953 he wrote a book he titled, Peace with God. In that book Graham wrote, “Until you actually possess true peace with God, no one can describe its wonder to you.” Colossians gives us a good word about peace as we go to the voting booth tomorrow. “And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.” As believers in Christ, we can and should have peace. Think about four truths we discover in this one verse. • Real peace comes through the message about Christ. This thought about peace begins with the words, “And let the peace of the Messiah.” The route to peace is very specific. Jesus spoke about this peace just before His death. He told His disciples. “I have told you these things that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” These things refer to the place called Heaven that He has prepared, the power of prayer that He invites us to, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit that He promised, and the specific plan that He gave us to go to Him. He said, “I am … [Read more...]

By Anne Graham Lotz As I write this, we are in the midst of a busy election season. Every news cycle brings us information on the various candidates vying for local and state positions, plus the highest office in America. We are told what she said, what he said, and what they said. Following the news, the pundits pick apart and spin what has been said so that facts are intertwined with opinions in a dizzying cycle. By the time many of you read this, the election will be just a few days away, leading to even more commentary and spin. I do believe this November’s American election may be one of the most critical in our nation’s history. God willing, I will have exercised my privilege and voted. But I also know with certainty that “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Our hope is not in man. Our hope is in the Lord. Read Psalm 43 I. WE LOOK TO HIM Psalm 43:1-2 Our Rescuer: Psalm 43:1 What does the psalmist ask God to rescue him from? How is our situation today similar to that of the psalmist? How and why was Lot rescued from the wicked city of Sodom and God’s subsequent judgment? See Genesis … [Read more...]

By Franklin Graham Does prayer work? You betcha. The Bible tells us that “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). Jesus also tells us to “keep asking” and gives us an example in a parable in Luke chapter 18 of a widow who repeatedly went to a judge asking for justice, and finally the judge responded because of her persistence. Our pleas and our petitions do make a difference. I have gone to all 50 states this year, and tens of thousands people have joined me in their capitals to pray for the future of this nation. It is imperative that we continue to pray. As we approach November 8—and beyond—we need to “cry out to God day and night” (Luke 18:7). The evening of November 7, on my father Billy Graham's 98th birthday and just before Election Day, will you join me and others across the country in praying? I will be LIVE on Facebook at 9:00 PM ET, so don’t miss it. Let’s bow together and again ask for God’s help. We need Him. Will you be there? Franklin Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. … [Read more...]

God’s Word is a stabilizer in our lives. Within its pages we find comfort, strength, and guidance for every situation in life. But if we choose to live without the Bible, we won’t have the assurance of God’s promises to help us through hard times. These are some of the most difficult days we have ever faced in our country. We’ve lost our oneness, stability, strength, and care for one another. Now our nation is suffering from uncertainty, uneasiness, conflict, and distrust. If ever we needed to rely on the Scripture, it’s today. Such times should lead us to cry out to God, asking Him for the wisdom, courage, and obedience to do what’s right. David was familiar with difficult situations, and through them all, he learned to trust the Lord. When he faced Goliath, his confidence was not in himself but in the faithfulness of his God. And when King Saul became jealous of David and tried on several occasions to kill him, David fled for his life, hiding out in the wilderness. Psalm 11 gives us a glimpse into David’s heart at a time when his world was falling apart. His main question is found in verse 3. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” When everything is crumbling beneath us, we must remember … [Read more...]