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Calling on God - Part 3
Joshua Daniel

Joshua Daniel (1928 - 2014). Indian evangelist and president of Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship International, born in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, to N. Daniel, a mathematics teacher turned revivalist. Saved at 15, he began preaching at 16 to students in Madras, earning a Master’s in English Literature from Madras University. Joining his father’s ministry in 1954, he led Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship from 1963, headquartered in Chennai, growing it to hundreds of centers across India, Cyprus, Guyana, and London. Known as the “boy revivalist,” he authored Faith Is the Victory and delivered thousands of sermons, aired on TV and radio in multiple languages, focusing on salvation and revival. Married to Lily, they had three children, including John, who succeeded him. His annual retreats at Beulah Gardens drew 7,000-9,000, emphasizing prayer and holiness. Daniel’s ministry, marked by tentmaker missionaries, impacted millions despite later critiques of family-centric leadership.
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Sermon Summary
This sermon reflects on the impossibility of atheism in light of the faith of great men like Sir Isaac Newton and other scientists who followed the Lord Jesus. It emphasizes the need to grow in faith and not rely on superstitious devotion to earthly leaders, contrasting it with the deep devotion of Elisha to Elijah. The speaker acknowledges his own shortcomings in faith and the importance of supplying faith to those around us.
Sermon Transcription
So he said, Atheism in the light of all this is impossible. That's what Sir Isaac Newton said. There have been so many scientists who have followed the Lord Jesus. Of course there were those coffers who scoffed at them. But their names endure in the annals of science. Now what shall we do of our small shrinking faith? You know, when any great man of God departs, people say, Who is going to take the place of this man? When my father died, I was a very young man. And people wondered what would happen to the whole world. The work at that time was perhaps one hundredth of what it is today. Or less. But my father walked with God. And people knew the works of faith around my father. And it was true that I was a spiritual pygmy. I still not consider myself a dwarf. Oh, that I could grow much more in faith. I fault myself severely. I am without any excuse whatever. Today, when I see we are not supplying enough faith to those around us. I see a very deep failure. So we see in the life of Elijah. Elisha. When Elijah died, or he said, I am going now. What did Elijah say? I will go with you. And so Elijah tried hard to dissuade him. Look at the second chapter of the second king. And the fourth word. And Elijah said unto him, Elijah. I pray. Elisha. Say fourth verse, read it properly. Pray, I pray you. For the Lord has sent me to Jericho. As the Lord liveth, and as my soul liveth, I will not leave you. No, this is not just what you call guru bhakti. A kind of superstitious faith in a leader. You know in this country, and in the east, there is a lot of superstitious faith. Oh, this is some great man. Great teacher. I must love, I must worship him. Now there are so many people who follow earthly leaders. What will they get? Nothing. But, here we see a devotion which is different. Now this leader, Elijah, had no earthly possessions. Some of the gurus from the east, from India, go to America. And some of them have so many Rolls Royces. 16, 17. Listen, I am not mean minded. All over the world there is a mean mind today. It does not bother me if they have 700 Rolls Royces. My school friends, you know one of them who played cricket with me, when I went to his palatial place, we had a gleaming Rolls Royce right there. Now that was almost 70 years ago. No, I did not say I don't have a Rolls Royce. Legend.
Calling on God - Part 3
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Joshua Daniel (1928 - 2014). Indian evangelist and president of Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship International, born in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, to N. Daniel, a mathematics teacher turned revivalist. Saved at 15, he began preaching at 16 to students in Madras, earning a Master’s in English Literature from Madras University. Joining his father’s ministry in 1954, he led Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship from 1963, headquartered in Chennai, growing it to hundreds of centers across India, Cyprus, Guyana, and London. Known as the “boy revivalist,” he authored Faith Is the Victory and delivered thousands of sermons, aired on TV and radio in multiple languages, focusing on salvation and revival. Married to Lily, they had three children, including John, who succeeded him. His annual retreats at Beulah Gardens drew 7,000-9,000, emphasizing prayer and holiness. Daniel’s ministry, marked by tentmaker missionaries, impacted millions despite later critiques of family-centric leadership.