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 Our faithful Lord called Billy Graham home to heaven! He has had an influence on all of our lives. For over 11 years it was my privilege to sing and lead the music internationally for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Of all the men I have met, I believe Mr. Graham had the greatest influence on my life. One of the interesting things that I'll never forget happened during the South American crusade held in Argentina. It was never covered by the media, yet it speaks to the testimony of Mr. Graham. The actual crusade was held at the River Plate Stadium in Bueno Aires, where crowds of over 62,000 people attended each night. In addition, the crusade was aired simultaneously all across South America, by satellite hookup, where more than 5 million people watched. The Graham Association pre-produced videos of my singing in Spanish and English, and these videos were inserted into the actual crusade feed that was sent via satellite to the various countries. However, that year the Argentinian, beloved football team unexpectedly went to the finals. They needed the stadium for the final football game. The stadium had been reserved by the Billy Graham team for months and everything was already all set up. The platform was in place, the cameras, sound, everything was set for the first day of the crusade. It was the talk all over the country about how they needed that stadium for their game. Through prayer and consideration, Billy Graham gave up the stadium for the first night of the crusade to the soccer team. Hundreds of people worked all night and into the next day to transform the stadium back so the Argentinian team could play football. This response to their need made the Argentinian people so appreciate Billy Graham! As we traveled through-out Buenos Aires, the cab drivers, hotel clerks, and people talking on the street all spoke of how wonderful Billy Graham was to give up the stadium for that special night for their team. This opened hearts to be receptive to the gospel during the subsequent nights in that same stadium. The Buenos Aires crusade turned out to be the largest event Mr. Graham had held in his 50 years of public ministry.  Right before the San Juan, Puerto Rico crusade, we had a staff rally for about 550-600 of the workers. I lead the music and sang right before Mr. Graham spoke. After the meeting, Mr. Graham sought me out. He told me how the Holy Spirit welled up inside him as he listened to the music. Billy Graham was humble and had a way of making you feel like a king in his presence. He was an inspiration and affirmation of the ministry to which God called me over 45 years ago.
Billy Graham was called to serve his resurrected Lord when he was just a teenager. God called him and he never looked back. Mr. Graham willingly had the desire to listen to the Holy Spirit and be faithful to what God called him to do. What an inspiration to continue the work He began in us and finish it until we are with our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever! Praise our faithful God.
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 As a child of God we will face and encounter adversity. We live our entire lives in spiritual warfare. John 16:33 says: "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world". And right before this part of the verse the Bible says: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace". We may not gain the victory over problems or difficulty, but He has won the victory. It's all about God!
The strain and difficulty in the midst of adversity is what gives us strength if we trust in Him." We must strive to remain true to Him. When you face the strain you WILL gain the strength to carry on. Adversity was never designed to "please you" but was designed to "develop you". Warfare doesn't end when your enemy runs out of energy. As Derek, my brother in Christ quotes: It ends when God births enough change in you so what entered through a weakness can exit through a strength. Remember, warfare only takes place in the areas next in line for change. In His peace, David I almost picked up the phone today to call my mother. It's hard to remember that she's now in heaven. I always used to call her and say..."yeah Mom." And she would answer, "Oh, David it's you." She knew me just by the sound of my voice. I will always remember that. When I was a child I would often cry because I felt sorry for all the things my mother had to endure. Mom was a gentle and quiet woman and never complained about her lot in life...yet I knew that she faced lots of adversities. My mom married against the wishes of her parents when she was very young. She married my father who looked good outwardly, yet inside was a very different person and my mother soon realized that she had made a serious mistake. Bill (my dad) became involved in astrology and then turned to give his life and all our money to a dangerous cult. He moved our family several times and eventually we ended up living in a valley, outside of a little town, north of Colorado Springs that was run by this cult. There my mother was left alone to raise 4 little boys. She had no running water, so she had to hike up the hill by our little dwelling, to an artesian well that ran down the mountain, just to fetch water for all our needs. She was stuck in a small, cement block, makeshift house while my dad was off worshiping in a strange, temple/church. It was while in Colorado that Mom's two sisters, who had become believers, sent her a little record player and some Christian, children's records. Mom played those little Christian songs over and over for us. That was the first time we started to sing with our Mom and it wasn't long till we were singing in 4 part harmony. It was also the time when, through those Christian songs, our mother began to recognize her need for the Savior. Through the workings of many prayers, we were able to leave Colorado and Mom was able to break away from the cult. She realized that there was no condemnation in Christ...just forgiveness and a chance to start anew. She became a believer herself and raised by that time 5 little boys all on her own. Mom and our two aunts raised us up in the best Christian environment they could provide. They prayed for godly men to come along side and teach us what a man's role in God's world should be. We were blessed with the newly formed "Camp Forest Springs" This camp helped guide us in our Christian walk and provided us with many hours of hard work and many great days as campers. And...Mom and my aunts never, ever let us miss church at Spirit Baptist Church in Spirit, Wisconsin! For many years, every Sunday, WE were the special music! It was at this little church that I first felt God calling me to sing and preach the gospel! Now when I think of Mom, I find that I'm still sad and often feel like crying. I still feel sorry...but this time it isn't for my mother, because she's now where she longed to be, with Christ in heaven. No, this time I feel sorry for myself, because I miss her and I always will. The following video was filmed in conjunction with Camp Forest Springs for the David Kobish music ministry of "UnderHisWings", as well as the ministry of the camp. It's my Mother's story. Yesterday I was speaking with a younger couple. What a blessing to hear of their intent to live apart and remain pure until they are married. Just that morning I was reading in Psalm 119 how God promises purity to those who live according to His Word. Verse 10: "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you".
I thank God that the Holy Spirit talks to us through His Living Word! We will stay pure and right in His sight as we seek Him with all our heart and keep His commandments. In His Peace, David  Last week my mother turned 96 years old! Linda and I hosted a birthday party for her at the long term health care facility in Wisconsin. We had all of our children and grandchildren there numbering 20 people to help her celebrate. Besides this, 45-50 of her friends also attended. What a joy it was to see so many people honor our mother! Many people who have been encouraged by her walk in her steadfast faith in Jesus.
I'm so thankful for our mother, who raised five boys on our little 84 acre farm in North Central Wisconsin. Exodus says we are to "Honor your father and your mother..." Not only must we honor her, but we must respect and obey her. Living now in a society where respect, honor and obedience to authority is broken down to almost nothingness, the Word gives us the Truth. My mother always taught us the Truth, because she knows and loves the Truth. God says in Proverbs that we are ..."not to despise our mother when she is old". We are to "Buy Truth and do not Sell it". In other words, we are to obtain the Truth at all costs and then never relinquish it at any price. I thank God for my mother who taught me to get the Truth from God's Word and always hold on to it - no matter what!! In His Peace, David Just yesterday I was talking with a lady whom we've know from our past. This lady professes to be a believer, but attends a church where the Bible is twisted and distorted and false doctrine is preached. Even the pastor of this church is willfully living in perversion. When asked about why she attends this church...her answer? "We have to love and accept and be tolerant of everyone and their beliefs".
I'm just so thankful that our Lord was not tolerant of my sin. He convicted me to the point where I saw my own sin and I came to Jesus for forgiveness and love. However, He would NEVER accept for me to go on sinning and pretend that that's just the way it is. He is a God of not only love and forgiveness, but a God of Truth and Justice. Sin has no place with God. We can only be with God if we give Him our sin and ask for forgiveness of those sins AND go on in obedience with Him. So many people go along with the worlds sinful and perverted views of life. I was reading, just this morning from First John chapter one. Many people in John's time were falling into views of God that fit their own selfish desires. Even people in the church were in danger of accepting false doctrine. The verse that stands out is 1 John 1:5,7, "If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son cleanses us from all sin." Ravi Zacharias said in a recent speech, "When the Truth does not serve your purposes...all of a sudden the Truth doesn't matter." He quoted Aldous Huxley who said, "I want this world not to have meaning, because a meaningless world frees me to my own political and erotical pursuits." I thank God every day for His truth, mercy, grace, love and forgiveness. I also thank Him for His conviction. God hates sin so much that He gave His life for the redemption of our sin. Sin is of the world. "do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' (1 John 2:15) It's God's desire that you realize your sin and repent of your sin and ask Him for forgiveness. He promises He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we, by faith believe with all our heart what He's done for us. What a joy it is to be His child and follow Him...in TRUTH! In His peace, David  It was an honor to be of encouragement and inspiration to the people at Wycliffe Associates in Orlando Florida. When I was a young boy growing up in North Central Wisconsin, I heard about this ministry and ever since it has been dear to my heart. What a blessing to hear of the many languages Wycliffe has translated God’s Word into.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). All of us who belong to our Lord, Jesus Christ have taken a step of faith in Him. He prods us through His living Word. Hundreds of thousands of people have heard God’s message in their own language through the faithful efforts of the staff at Wycliffe. Hope you’re checking out the weekly radio spot on this website! In His Peace, David The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of people at a concert in Orlando, FL. One man said, “This was just for me tonight!” Many others expressed how God had spoken to them in their needs. We are already talking about a return visit next year at Wycliffe Headquarters.
Remember that God is at work within each one of us who know Him. The trials we have make us stronger when we trust Him. Yes, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The Word says in 1 Peter 1: 6 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. So, be exceedingly glad and exuberantly jubilant. This kind of joy is not based on temporal circumstances, BUT comes from the unchanging, eternal relationship with God. Trust Him! "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Last month a man approached me after I was done singing and speaking. At first it seemed as though he had everything together in life. He had a great job and his family was doing well in terms of health and daily routine. But, the more we talked, I sensed anxiety and discontent in his spirit. He told me that he didn't know why he wasn't really happy even though his job was great, he had no money worries, he loved his wife and he was very involved in church work. What was missing? As we continued to talk, he told me that he felt like he trusted in his own efforts more than he trusted in God. Sometimes we seem to function well because we're doing good works, speaking the right words and we are exhibiting good morals. All this is good, BUT if we don't have faith, we cannot please Him. Faith frees us from the love of this world. It frees us from what we think of as "success" in the world. It liberates from the bondage that drives us to "always get ahead." It can be tempting to substitute "religious activity" and "good works" for faith in God. We may be walking by sight rather than by faith. Hebrews 11:1 states, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith helps us realize and remember that we have a more wonderful inheritance in Christ, Jesus. It encourages us to know His Will and follow His direction. It gives us the conviction to endure through every temptation the world throws at us...because we remember His promises and we stand firm in His Truth. God has made available the gift of faith if we willfully accept it. When we do and when we exercise that faith in day to day living, we will then please HIm. He made us to glorify Him and the only way to please our Almight God is to totally rely on Him - BY FAITH.  -CD - I am well along in the new CD project. As I have the resources, I continue to record in Nashville and Minneapolis. this new project is three-fourths finished and should be out late spring. RADIO SPOTS - I'm also recording radio spots. A new and different two minute radio spot will be featured every week at www.underhiswings.org. I'm thankful for my wife, Linda, who is involved with me on this project. She works at finding stories and helping in the editing process. I apply a spiritual application to the story, record it and then send it to my friend, Matt, who very artistically applies sound effects and music to the spot. A prayer request: Please pray that as we finish this project, we will be able to put these spots on radio stations across the country. Please continue to uplift me in prayer as I travel extensively, singing and telling the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He IS the answer! David Koblish  |
AuthorDAVID KOBLISH Archives
February 2018
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