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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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Joshua Daniel preaches about the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His plans through individuals who obediently follow His Word, like Mary, Elisabeth, Joseph, and Zacharias. These individuals, both young and old, walked in the will of God, setting a high standard of faith and obedience. The sermon emphasizes the importance of obeying God's Word not for fame but as a blessing in itself, and how God looks for people, especially the youth, who obey Him at all costs. It highlights the significance of faith in families and the impact it has on generations, drawing parallels to historical figures like John Wesley's parents and the prophets Elijah and Elisha.
Young People Who Walk in the Will of God Make History
Luke 1:40-80 Mary began to realise how fortunate she was. Her entrance into Elisabeth’s home caused her to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Those who live in the Spirit react to spiritual things in an unmistakable way. Mary was a woman who was following the truth that she knew—and never expected to become great in this world. Mary grew in the ways of the Lord and the Lord noticed it. God looks out for those that obey the Word of God because God can only make use of such. When finally it came down to the hard fact of obeying the Word, Mary pleased God by obeying the Word. We must never obey the Word to become famous in this world. We must obey the Word because it is a blessing in itself. Christmas is the story of young people who lived and walked in the will of God. Young people who walk in the will of God make history. Elisabeth and Zacharias were old people who walked in all the commandments blameless. They were perfect in their old age. Mary and Elisabeth were relatives and there seemed to be a high standard of faith among these relatives. John was to baptise Jesus. John had to come from such parentage. The perfection that Elisabeth and Zacharias achieved in their old age, Mary and Joseph attained in their youth. God looks for young people who obey Him at all costs. God can only rely on such people. Manesseh was born at the time of Hezekiah’s backsliding. Manasseh ruined the nation to such an extent that no one could restore it to its original state. But the above mentioned families did reach a very high level of faith. How prophetic were Joseph’s dreams and Elisabeth’s words! In Christian history it is only when faith reached a high level that great things took place. John Wesley’s parents had a deep faith. Faith in youth is always rewarded. Luke 1:75, "In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." By gathering together like this for prayer we are helping one another to rise in faith. What kind of families were these? What kind of faith was this? It was only in the times of Elijah and Elisha that we hear of groups of prophets called the sons of prophets. Sin and death came through the first woman. Through another woman came the Son of God bringing in life and peace. Jesus grew under Mary’s care. She taught him the Word of God. Elisabeth also taught her son the Word of God to which she was perfectly obedient. Joseph and Zacharias supported the faith of these women. There was great harmony in these homes. When we read of these families we enter into a new realm. Mary remained in Elisabeth’s home for 3 months. A woman filled with the Holy Spirit cannot stay in a home unless the spiritual atmosphere is perfectly conducive. Such was Elisabeth’s home. Mary and Elisabeth did their duty to their sons. John was a martyr for truth and righteousness. He grew in the wilderness. God so arranged that John’s parents did not live to see his death. Mary lived to see the death and the resurrection of her son. She was one of those that received the Holy Spirit afresh to shake the world. Christmas comes to us year after year to remind us of the faithfulness of God and purposefulness of God in fulfilling His high plans through weak men. May God help us to know that even we, weak people, can live for His glory.
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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.