We caught up with Will Graham this morning to talk about the final service today at the Jersey Shore Celebration—how people can pray, and how the end times controversy has impacted the weekend.
Q: How can people pray for the final service this afternoon at 3?
Pray that Christians here in the community will still have a heart for their non-believing friends, family members and neighbors–and that they would bring them. That is the most important thing–that we have a burden for other people and introduce them to the love of Jesus Christ.
We have no idea what God is going to do this afternoon, but by faith, we say ‘Thank you, Lord, for the lives that will be changed.’ His Word never returns void so we pray that God will do a great and mighty work this afternoon.
I am going to be preaching a new sermon, too, so I’m always a little nervous about that. I’ll be talking about the end times, especially in light of what’s been going on, and since we’re still here. I am going to tell the people what the end times will really look like. What are the signs of the end times?
Q: Can you elaborate on how the end times question impacted the entire weekend?
Having the Harold Camping thing this weekend, that was a big deal. The newscasters were all talking about it, about this big Christian exodus that was about to happen. Obviously, it didn’t.
When we see everything that was going on, you can tell people were really sensitive. Even people who never went to church, they were thinking, ‘Maybe I should go to church at least one time before Jesus comes. It wouldn’t hurt.’
People are spiritually inclined right now. Not saying that they are right with the Lord, but their hearts are a little more sensitive to spiritual issues. At least they are thinking about them. God has used Harold Camping in the sense of getting people to talk about spiritual things. It got people thinking and I am grateful for that.
I am sure there are people who came out because maybe they thought the end of the world was coming and they wanted to get right before God—and they never knew their life was forever going to be changed.
That’s actually been a neat part of the weekend. It’s not every day that they predict the end of the world is going to happen while you preach.
The truth is, we never know when Christ will return. It could be before I even get up to the pulpit today. That is why it is so important that we preach the Gospel and tell others about Christ.
Praying for Revival on the Jersey Shore »
