Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. Christ is alive. He bursts forth bodily from that grave and he lives in power and victory and that he enables us, he energizes us with the power of the resurrection so that we can live forever with him. on today's PowerPoint. Dr.
Graham brings a message about how you can live the resurrection life today.
Now here's Dr. Graham with his message. Living forever. The 11th chapter The Gospel of John. Verses 25 and 26.
Jesus said, I am. The resurrection And the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me, Shall never die. Do you Believe this.
Well, do you? Jesus is the resurrection and the life. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 10. And now he has made... All this plain to us.
By the coming of Jesus our Savior, who broke The power of death. and showed us the way. To everlasting life through the good news. He abolished death. He broke the power.
of death Hell. And the grave. He made it plain. And that's what I want to do. Today, there is a spiritual search for meaning.
There is a quest It is the age-old quest. It is the age-old question asked by Job so long ago: if a man die, Shall he live again? And that quest and that question. rings down through the centuries. It is as though God has hardwired us.
for eternity. For Ecclesiastes 3 and verse 11 says, he has set eternity. In our hearts. And so Humanity, every man, woman, boy, and girl has an instinctive, innate desire. For life beyond.
We want to know that life has meaning, that life has purpose. that we're not just blowing like dust in the wind. We want to know that we matter. We want to make our mark. in life and Yes, and a legacy for the future.
There's a great deal of talk today about legacy, and people want.
something of immortality and so some strive for immortality by by seeking to be famous and famous people can be immortal of a kind. We speak of the immortals of sport. Like a babe Ruth, for example, or we speak of the immortals in history.
Some seek to find immortality through being infamous. Like Hitler. Or Saddam Hussein, and their mark in history, their infamous mark in history has given them a kind of immortality. And now we have this thing called cryogenics. Where some are seeking immortality and life in the future by actually having their bodies frozen.
And to wait a day when disease can be conquered, and so on. But isn't it amazing we try everything by medical procedure and medical advance and scientific achievement to prolong life? But guess what? We can't prolong these bodies. They're getting older and older.
You know, the rolling stones saying, time, time, time is on my side. I saw Mick Jacker the other day. And it's not happening for it. I mean, it's like an old grandpa rocking and rolling. On my wife's birthday, she got something entitled, Boy Are We Old.
And if you didn't feel old before you came in here this morning, you're getting ready to do if you're about my age because all the baby boomers, we're all graying now. But they did a study at Bellow College in Wisconsin trying to give the faculty a mindset of the student body, the incoming freshman in 1983. And get this. The incoming freshmen in 1983, they are too young to remember. The space shuttle, that is the first one, blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS. Bottle caps have always been screw-off and plastic. They cannot fathom not having a remote control. Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave. And they never took a swim and thought about jaws.
They've never heard, where's the beef? Or I'd walk a mile for a camel, or The plane, the plane, the plane. They don't care who shot JR and have no idea who JR is. And they don't know how to use a typewriter. We are getting older.
And there are constant reminders. with the aches and pains of life that Death is surely something to be reckoned with. You know, when you're young, when you're a teenager. You think, okay. Is as soon as I can reach my 20s.
When I get to my 20s, then it's really going to be happy. When I turn 21, then life's going to be great. And then you get to your 20s. And you think, well, It's really not going for me right now, but when I get to my 30s, then when I get to my 30s, people will start taking me seriously. And you get to your 30s and you think, well, You know, it's not quite going all that I want it to right now, but when I get to my 40s, those are the earning years, and you get to your 40s and you think, Man, I wish I could be a teenager again.
There is. The aging process and then the decaying that brings on death to our physical body. Death reduces Everyone to the same rank, death is no respecter of persons. Whether you're a king or a president, A pauper or a prince, a sinner or a saint, all of us must keep that appointment. The Bible says it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.
We can break earthly appointments. We can break appointments at the office. But this is one appointment. That none of us will break. It's only once, but Once we will die.
And then There is an accounting. of our lives. God did not make us to die. We were made to live. But when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, the infectious disease of sin.
and the consequences and the curse of sin brought death upon the world. For in Adam all die, and death was passed to all men. And so all are destined to die. The young, the old, and the in-between. The latest statistics indicate that one out of one persons died.
So, I think we admit that, admit it, though, we dread it. To some degree. And certainly, if you don't have a personal relationship with Christ, there are certain fears. And questions about death. But the big question about death is what's on the other side?
What's next? Or do we just cease to exist?
Some have the idea that when we die, that's it. It's over. and like animals. We are no more. But the Bible is very clear on this subject.
That when God breathed into us the breath of life, we became living souls made in the image of God. And just as God's life and breath is in us, we can no more cease to exist than God Himself could cease to exist. We became living souls. We have immortality within us.
So then the question is, well, where will we spend eternity? What is on the other side? Are we all going in the same direction? Are we all going to the same place? Does everyone go to heaven?
Well, Christians Those who have a personal relationship Would Jesus Christ go to heaven? I didn't say everyone who's a member of the church. or everyone who claims to be a Christian. But genuine bona fide believers Followers of Jesus Christ, that one who, knowing that Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day and believes and receives Jesus, a settlement is made. Christ gives us his life.
And we have eternal life the moment we believe. We don't wait to get it. We have eternal life now, the forgiveness of sins. And therefore, we know we're certain. That when death comes, We will spend eternity with him because he lives, we will live also.
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message. Living forever. We are excited to share that we have a new way to connect. We've just launched a brand new texting service designed to keep you connected with everything happening here at PowerPoint. You'll be the first to know about upcoming events, special announcements, and truly enriching content.
To join, start a new text conversation by texting CONNECT to 59789. Again, text CONNECT to 59789. Are you feeling tired, frustrated, and spiritually dry? Maybe you're wondering if there's more to your walk with Jesus than just trying harder. there is.
That's the encouraging truth Pastor Jack Graham shares in his book, Powering Up. Powering Up will show you how to walk in boldness, joy, and supernatural strength as you live fully connected to God's power through the Holy Spirit. This resource is our thanks for your gift of $10 or more to help PowerPoint share the gospel around the world.
So text now to request your copy. Text the word POWER to 59789. That's POWER to 59789.
Now, let's get back to today's message. Living forever. But there's another side. The same Bible that tells us there is a heaven. And the believers in Jesus, followers of Jesus, go to heaven.
Tells us that There is a hell.
Now I'm about to tell you What a lot of preachers won't tell you. They'll shake. And bank. And Slither And slide. But I'm going to tell you.
Right up front. The Bible says There is a hell. It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.
Now hell is a word that we throw around quite a bit today. In fact, You know, people use the word hell so much we barely know what it means. You say, oh, surely there's not a hell. Jesus is loving. And yes, because he is loving.
Love incarnate. Because he loves you so much. Did you know that more than any other person in the Bible, Jesus talked about hell and judgment? He even talked about hellfire. He talked about hell being a place of outer darkness and separation and isolation and punishment and pain forever and ever and ever.
And Jesus talked about it honestly because he doesn't want any person to spend eternity separated from him in that horrible place called hell. He loves you so much that he took your hell and your judgment and your pain upon the cross. Your punishment, he paid the price so that you would never have to spend eternity, not one second in eternity, separated from him in hell. God is not willing that any should perish. But that all would come to repentance.
Hell is darkness and death forever. But because of the resurrection, because Jesus broke out of that tomb, conquering sin, death, and yes, hell, we can go to heaven and we can spend eternity with Him. God sent His only Son who lived in humility and grace and love. He spoke with power and authority. And he offered life to all who believe, and yet those who would not believe put him on the cross, and he died, but he rose again.
And when we receive Jesus as Savior, the risen Savior, we are forgiven. and we are set free. from the power of sin and death.
Now this is the imperative of the Christian message. We want everyone that we can to go to heaven with us. We want to share the love of Christ because we've been radically changed. by the risen Savior, the risen Redeemer.
Sometime in life we play the game what if? What if such and such were true? What if such and such happened? What if, what if? The Apostle Paul.
on one occasion. Talked about what if. He said, What if Jesus It's not alive. What if Jesus is not risen? He asked and answered that question.
Because the entire Foundation of our faith rests upon the resurrection. And then he went on to say that everything we preach, everything that we say, everything that we believe about Jesus, about our faith. is meaningless and empty if Christ is not risen. What would we have without a risen Savior? Oh, we would have the teachings of Jesus.
We would have stories of his miracles. We would have a murder and perhaps a martyrdom on a Roman cross. But we would not have a savior, we would not have a redeemer, and we would not have salvation. We would not have a living faith, but we would have a dead faith. We would still be in our sins.
If Christ The apostle said in 1 Corinthians 15 is not risen, then we are still in our Since If he is still in the grave, we are still in our sins. And one day we will stand before a holy God. And give an account for every one of our sins. And we will be guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty of them all. If Christ is not risen.
It is the resurrection. That sets the Christian faith apart from all the world religions. Separate from religion, it sets separates Jesus from religious teachers and supposed messiahs and would-be saviors. The resurrection is what makes our message and our mission unique. The resurrection proves the statement that Jesus made that I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by me.
For Jesus alone abolished death and the power of it by rising from the dead. And the greatest news the world has ever heard is that Jesus Christ is alive. I have a preacher friend. whose little daughter was dying of leukemia. As a matter of fact, she died on Easter a number of years ago.
And several days before her death, She asked her preacher, Daddy, Daddy. When will the Leukemia. Go away. And her daddy said, honey, we're doing everything that we can. The doctors are doing everything that they can.
We're going to do everything we can to get you well. And then the little girl said, well, daddy. Have you asked God? When the leukemia will go away. Sure, honey.
Of course we've asked God many times. hundreds of times. Thousands of times. The little girl looked at her daddy, her preacher daddy, and said, Well, daddy, What did God say? How would you have responded?
I'm not even sure how this particular man responded. But I do know. What God has said. To a dying little girl. to a family in tragedy.
to someone who is suffering. To a world that is broken, I know what God has said. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live. That is what God has said.
I'm so thankful that. When we speak with people. Whether they're living or dying, that we speak of a living Savior. I tell you, if I could not bring that message. If I didn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I would quit the ministry today.
I would never open this book and preach again if Jesus is still in the grave. What would I say? What could I possibly say to a dying person, to a dying generation? What message would we have? if Jesus is not alive.
But because he is alive. We bring the message of hope. I'm so thankful that we have a future and a hope. That resurrection is not just a nice little story. It's not something that you can believe or not believe depending upon what church you go to.
And the minute you try to begin spiritualizing or demythologizing the resurrection, you have ripped the core and the character out of the Christian message. Christ is alive. He bursts forth bodily from that grave and he lives in power and victory. And then he enables us, he energizes us with the power of the resurrection so that we can live forever. with him.
Imagine the disciples on that dark day after Jesus had died. They were all huddled together in a room.
Some had scattered, couldn't even find them. They were locked down in fear. Everything they believed seemed to be gone. Their hopes were dashed. Their dreams were gone.
But then something happened.
Something happened that changed these cowardly men into courageous and bold witnesses for Christ.
Something happened that revolutionized their lives.
Something happened that caused these men, fishermen and tax collectors and ragnauts, all of them. Into dynamic and powerful witnesses, so that they turned the whole world upside down. What on earth happened to those men? I'll tell you exactly what happened. They met the living, risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
And when you meet him, he will change your heart and change the world around you. Jesus is so much more than a God of choice. He is king of kings. And Lord of Lords, because he and he alone is risen from the dead. Muhammad is dead.
Buddha is dead. But Jesus lives and he lives forever. And you could know him personally. For the living Christ today stands at the door of your heart and he knocks. And he says, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.
And in this moment, I want to invite you to invite Jesus, the Lord of life. Who is standing at your heart's door to come into your life to be your Savior? To forgive your sin, to make you a brand new person, to radically change and revolutionize your life by the power. of His living presence in you. You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message.
Living forever. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers you to love when it's hard. Forgive when it hurts and persevere when you're worn out. He equips you to live with joy, peace, and boldness no matter what circumstances you face. In his insightful book Powering Up, Peter Pastor Jack Graham shares how you can live the life God intends for you.
We want to send you a copy of Powering Up as a thanks for your gift of $10 or more. To request your copy of Powering Up, just text Power to 59789. We are incredibly excited to share that we have a new way to connect with PowerPoint. We've just launched a brand new texting service designed to keep you connected with everything happening here. Imagine getting all the latest news, inspiring devotionals, and helpful reminders for the Bible in the Year podcast, all delivered right to your phone.
You'll be the first to know about upcoming events, special announcements, and truly enriching content. To join, start a new text conversation by texting Connect to 59-789. You'll receive a reply back, and that will add you to our text group. Just text Connect to 59-789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?
You know, there are really no guarantees in life. Except one. and that is that all of us will one day die and step out into eternity. Many people think that when you die, you just die and that's it. But it's not it.
It's not the end. There is an eternity, and we will all stand before God one day. That's why the Bible says prepare. to meet your God. The question that every one of us must answer is, will I spend eternity with Christ in heaven, or eternity apart from Christ in hell?
So let me ask you, Have you answered that question where? Will I spend eternity?
Some people would say, Well, you know, I've lived a good life and God's going to let me into heaven. I never will forget asking a man one day, when you stand before God and He should ask you, Why should I let you into heaven, what would you say? and this man very arrogantly said, Well, if anyone deserves to be there, I guess I would. But the fact is, no matter how good you may live or how bad you may live, your works don't get you to heaven or keep you from heaven. The Bible says that our righteousness, the very best that we can do, is like filthy rags.
We are not saved by doing good, being good, even being very good. There are other people who think that only bad people go to hell. But I'm here to tell you that there are some moral people in hell. There are some good people in hell. There are some religious people in hell.
In fact, a whole lot of them. It is one of Satan's biggest lies to tell people that only bad people go to hell. And one of the biggest needs for so many is to see their need of a Savior, that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And if even there is one sin in our life, that sin would keep us from a relationship with God.
Some people think, well, if I go to church, if I pray, If I say my prayers, if I do the right things, if I give money to the church, then maybe when I stand before God, the Lord will say, come into heaven.
Well Jesus said on that day, many will say, Lord, Lord, did we not do many wonderful things in your name? Did we not cast out demons? Did we not heal the sick? But I will say to you, depart from me, I never knew you. You see, living a good life, doing a lot of good things, that does not guarantee a person a heavenly reward.
The only way to guarantee your place in heaven is to trust in the One who made it possible for you to go to heaven. And that One, the only One, is Jesus, who is the risen Redeemer, the Savior of the world. Only Jesus died on the cross for you. Only Jesus rose again.
So invite him into your life. Put your trust in him and him alone. Stop trusting in your good deeds, your good works, your good life. Or stop thinking that you're so bad that he cannot save you. He will come.
come into your life if you will invite it. And when you invite Christ into your life, then begin growing in your faith. by reading your Bible. pray, worshiping with people at your church and sharing your faith. When you do this, you will begin living an eternal life today, and that life is fulfilling, and yes, is forever.
And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift of $10 or more to PowerPoint? We'll send you Dr. Graham's book, Powering Up as Our Thanks. Just text the word Power to 59-789.
And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how you can reflect Christ with your words. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
