Young Dr Billy Graham
Billy Graham spoke at the 10th annual Convention of FGBMFI held in Seattle on July 6, 1962. His speech was transcribed in the Voice Magazine issue of October 1962 and it was titled “Something Is Happening!” In his 4th paragraph, page 3 he states, “And I want to say that I do need your prayer; I need prayer in my own personal life. When one is traveling as many of you do and preaches and proclaims and gives out, his own heart becomes very needy and very hungry and his soul becomes thirsty. And I need your prayers that God will give to me an infilling of His Holy Spirit, that I may have the unction and the power of the Spirit of God in the proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In John 14: 12-18 Jesus was answering Philip who had just asked Jesus to show them the Father. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
What impressed me about Billy Graham is that he was already a successful evangelist in 1962. During the 10th anniversary convention, he recognized that the FGBMFI was a new movement of lay evangelists who traveled extensively giving their testimony. He humbly asked for prayer from those men who understood the pressures of being travel weary and who relied on the power from the Holy Spirit. Wow! How refreshing to have a religious leader ask for prayer from laymen who love the Lord.
The scriptures in John 14 explain why we should pray. Jesus did not get exasperated with Philip but rather explained the reasons for prayer. We should always pray in the name of Jesus and that the Father be glorified in all we do. Jesus promised all believers the Comforter who will dwell in us so that our prayers will accomplish the works and the will of God. So, be encouraged to pray in Jesus’ name and to give your testimony of what God is doing in your life. And if you have already prayed, well,go pray some more!
Terry H. Peters, DC
04072008