Why?

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham.

A little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's brand new book, Reignite. But first, here's his message, why. Take your Bibles and turn with me to John's Gospel, the sixteenth chapter. We live in an increasingly difficult, dangerous, and even terrifying world. The Apostle Paul said in the last days, perilous times will come, dangerous days. And we're seeing an increase in violence, terrorism within, nuclear weapons proliferating, rogue dictators ready to push the button, the fuse is lit.

And more and more, on our screens, on our small screens as well as the larger ones in our rooms, we are seeing violence played out. Satan is on the loose. Once again, we raise the very human question, the question that is unanswerable in many ways, but yet there are answers in God's Word that I want to share with you today as to why. Now, I can't answer all the questions and wouldn't attempt, no one has in all these generations, philosophers, theologians, pastors, preachers, Bible teachers, we've all spent a lot of time thinking about these questions and answering the question of why when there's so much tragedy and so much hurt around us.

It's an important question. Knowing that there are unanswerable questions this side of heaven, this side of eternity, we do want to know God's grace and God's help in times like these. And we admit that we can't answer everything this side of heaven because now we see through a mirror darkly. But then when we're there when we're there with a brand new perspective, we will know even as we are known. The ultimate problems of the question of sin, sorrow, and suffering is death.

That's the ultimate big question, isn't it? And when death comes in some tragic way, we can't compute this. We can't deal with it if it's a small child, if it's a senseless shooting. And let me just say that I come to you as your pastor, but I also come to you as someone who has dealt with tragic violence because many of you know my story when I was 20 years of age.

My father was tragically and senselessly beaten with a hammer, lived 10 days, never regained consciousness but he died. And our little family was face to face with evil and tragedy and the darkness and I can tell you, it rocked our world. So I'm asked those same questions that we all ask when tragedy comes, when trials come, whether it's one of the big D's of disaster or disease or depression or despair, divorce.

We've all faced these big issues but ultimately, it's about death and dying. And we're all on our way into eternity. Jesus was saying goodbye to His disciples. It was a dark night before the cross, on His way to the cross. And in John chapter 13, 14, 15, 16 He is conversing with His disciples about these ultimate questions of life and death and the senseless tragedy that was on the way, the cross of the Lord Jesus. And He said, I'm leaving you behind but I'm not leaving you as orphans, I'm not leaving you alone. He said, I'm sending the Holy Spirit, One just like Me, My very living presence, God in you. The disciples didn't know what to think, they didn't know what to say, they were asking all those questions.

Why? What? Are you talking about? Jesus explained to them that He was on a mission to save the world. And He spoke to them about God's love, no matter what happened in their lives, that God loved them, that He loved them. So in verse 30 of chapter 16 He says, Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you, this is why we believe that you came from God.

And Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? And then in verse 33 He said, I have said these things to you that in Me, there's the key, in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

What a statement! In this world you will have tribulation. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that Christians are exempt from pain, suffering, tribulation, whether it is physical disaster or illness or emotional pain or struggle. We live in a real world where we are living under the curse, if you will, and the consequences of sin and with sin comes sorrow and death, crisis and catastrophe.

And Jesus spoke very frankly with His followers then and now about our future, that our future does include darkness, it does include unanswerable questions. And we've all experienced this and yet it's my observation over the years that many of the happiest and certainly holiest believers that I've ever known have been through great tragedy in their lives, sorrows, struggles. But they have, as the Scripture says, learned to rejoice in tribulation. The word tribulation there means extreme pressure.

Tribulation in the world without, tribulation in the world within. And yet it's possible, in spite of our circumstances, even death itself, to be of good cheer, to take heart and to have hope. Jesus called us after all to pick up our cross and follow Him.

There's no easy road. He says, come and die. Live a selfless, sacrificial life.

Count the cost and whatever. Don't turn your back on Me when tough times come. That's what He was saying to His disciples earlier in this chapter. He was talking about the darkness of the cross and He said, they're going to hate you and they're going to come after you. And He said, don't give up your faith.

Whatever you do, don't give up on Me. The Apostle Paul gave that witness at the end of his life what he said, I have fought the good fight, I have run this race, and what? I have kept the faith. Christians endure I have kept the faith. Christians endure. Christians persevere and never give up. We rise up. The Apostle Paul was talking about this to the Corinthians who knew a great deal of problems and struggles in their lives.

And Paul talked about it as well in 2 Corinthians 4 verses 8 and 9. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair. There is sorrow. You cut us, we bleed.

You hurt us, we hurt. Even the Apostle Paul said, we are afflicted in every way, but we are not crushed. Perplexed? Yes. Questions we cannot answer?

For sure. But not forsaken. What do you do when you have questions you can't answer and problems that you cannot solve? You run to Jesus. That's what I did as a 20-year-old young man and preacher.

I hurt so much I just had to run to Him. Frankly, I can tell you, many have said the same thing to me. I mean, you don't need a lot of answers right there. You just need Jesus. And the old psalm says, when answers aren't enough there is Jesus. You know, sometimes I think in our humanity we ask these questions and we think, if I just knew the answer, if I just knew the why or the what, then it would be better.

Not necessarily. Not necessarily because if you knew the answer to some of the big why questions in our world and in your own life, it might not be enough. It could even make things worse this side of eternity. Warren Weersby writes, This is why Jesus said, these are the things that I've said to you. So that when the trouble comes and the tribulation is on and the tragedy strikes, you'll have a word from Me. This is why it is so important that you know your Bible. You have God's Word hidden in your heart that you can turn to Him because ultimately God's Word will strengthen you.

The Bible talks about the comfort of the Scriptures, and many times I've been comforted by God's Word. Be of good cheer, I've overcome the world. There is joy in circumstances beyond our control. We can be triumphant through tears. And one reason is because we know we're living for eternity.

We're not made for just right now. We are made for God. We are born into His family, and one day we will be with Him. So we experience joy, even in trouble and sorrows. Jesus said, I have overcome the world.

How is that? He conquered sin, which is the source of all sorrow and suffering. And with conquering sin and sorrow and suffering, He conquered death and hell. It is in the resurrection, the cross and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are given victory. So in the dread of darkness, in the heat of the night, in the midst of the most profound suffering, we look to Him, to His cross, triumphant, ever triumphant because of the resurrection.

And what do we do? We become overcomers. And we are overcoming because we persevere through the pain.

We are persevering through the pain, enduring. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and today's message, Why? Bring fresh passion and joy to your faith with Dr. Graham's newest book, Reignite, an intimate account of how God led Dr. Graham through one of the darkest seasons of his life.

Whether you're facing disappointment, doubt, depression, or heartache, Reignite offers biblical insights to encourage you in your pain and help fan the flames of faith in your life. And it's our way to thank you for your gift to PowerPoint. This is the last week of this offer. So call today. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit JackGraham.org where you can shop our e-store, give a gift online, or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional. Our website again is JackGraham.org. Now let's get back to today's message, Why? Count it all joy, James says, when you fall into various trials knowing that your trials produce steadfastness or endurance. Romans 5, 3, we also rejoice in our sufferings.

How so? Because we know suffering produces perseverance. Strength. Perseverance means getting back up again. And again.

And again and again. To stand strong and to finish well at the end of life. I want to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, I have kept the faith. And yes, the faith has kept me because while we're holding onto hope, holding onto Jesus, He is holding onto us. The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord and though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him by his strong, righteous hand. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you.

I will help you. I will uphold you with my strong right hand. Our perseverance through pain enables us to overcome. Christians don't quit.

It's not always easy, but I can tell you it's worth it. Look to the Lord for your strength. He's working everything for good, your good and His glory in your life and His providence. God has a plan.

It's not, your life is not a series of random incidents and accidents. Circumstances for the Christian are His providence. And I can guarantee you because God's Word declares it that everything God allows in our lives, everything God allows in our lives, over and above it is the Word permitted.

Permitted. And in the providence of God, we understand that He is God and we are not. That we don't rule our own world, but that God Himself is ruling and reigning in our lives. And so sorrow puts us in dependence and into obedience with Him. We're trusting God's perfect plan.

That's another thing why we're overcomers. We're trusting in God's plan. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean unto your own understanding. It doesn't say don't try to have understanding, but it says don't lean in it.

Don't trust in it. Lean into the providence of God. Lean into God.

Not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. And we find at the end of the road, or the end of the broken road, a greater love than we've ever known of God.

When we walk through the valley, He is with us and we can trust in Him. And then prayer, praying with thanksgiving. There are prayers and then there are prayers. By that, you know, we pray and we should pray always and about everything and normal prayers and life is good and we're praying on, but then there comes that day when we pray desperate prayers. We're crying out to God. We're hurting and we say, oh God, oh God, help me. And He will because God hears the prayers of fervent and faithful men. The prayers of a righteous man avail much. This is pleading prayer and then we overcome by comforting others. We're told in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 3 through 4 that God is the God of all comfort. And He comforts us and with the comfort that we are comforted, we comfort others.

I tell you, because I have been comforted by God in the midst of senseless tragedy and other difficulties along the way. Deb and I, we've known tragedy. Within 18 months of our marriage, we got married as college students. We were 20. My father died three months later, was killed. Her father was diagnosed with cancer the next fall and was gone. In the first 18 months or so of our marriage, we lost both of our fathers.

We had to grow up in a hurry. But I'm convinced that God prepared us in that brokenness and made something beautiful of our lives. I've known, I've faced life-threatening illness as many of you have. And in the midst of that pain and darkness, I've known the presence of God and I know how to comfort others because, because I've dealt with cancer, I can help others who have dealt, are dealing with cancer. I talk to men all the time who've been diagnosed with prostate cancer because I've had it and survived it and thank God have been healed of it, yet, yet there are others who are going through it.

I talked to a man just this week. When you've been there, when you've been through it, it could be anything. It could be addiction. You've been through addiction and you, by the grace and mercy of God, you are overcoming and therefore you are able to help others. If you've miscarried, you can help people who have walked through that lonely, dark valley or if it's depression or infertility or divorce or death or the loss of a child, the loss of a spouse.

You see what I'm saying? When you go through this, don't waste your sorrows. Don't turn inward. Get yourself healed in the presence of God and then give your life away. Teach people what God has taught you. Because all around us, people are hurting and there's common ground in crisis. No matter your socioeconomic background, your race, your education, your career, crisis, tribulations, struggles, we're all there.

It happens to all of us. When we travel to Israel, one of the things that I love to do, of course, is to see the biblical sites. We go to the empty tomb.

We go to Calvary, a place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, the Pool of Bethesda where He performed a great miracle all through Jerusalem up in the Galilee, the Sea of Galilee. I still love going and taking people. It's like unwrapping Christmas gifts with people.

It's so exciting. But one of the places that and sites that I love to go and I go every time that I'm there is to the American Colony Hotel. It's a quaint, unique, turn of the 20th century house that became a hostel that became a hotel. Here's the story. In the mid-19th century, a man by the name of Horatio Spafford and his wife experienced the tragedy of the loss of their home and business in the great Chicago fire. While Spafford was trying to rebuild his life and his business, he sent his wife and four daughters on a cruise to Europe. And in the midst of the cruise, the ship went down and with the ship, the four daughters. The wife telegraphed back, saved alone.

Spafford got on a boat as fast as he could and was on his way to pick up his wife. And it was there that the words began to form to the song that we sing and it's blessed the church. So many of the songs we sing are songs of the night. People gave them written and wrote them given in great tragedy and hurt and pain and such were these words. And so when I go to Jerusalem, I make my way to the American Colony Hotel and there posted under glass in the foyer of that hotel are the handwritten words that Spafford wrote. When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control that Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed His own blood for my soul. And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds roll back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend. Even so, it is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.

That's the answer to the why question. That's the ultimate eternal answer to every why, to every experience, to all evil. We overcome evil with good because the greatest good is God Himself. And if you ever doubt the love of God in your life, just go to Calvary. See Christ dying on the cross for you because He has carried our griefs, He has borne our sorrows on the cross. He took our sin, He took our sorrows on the cross.

And He died and He rose again. And therefore when Jesus says it, I've written, I've said these things to you that you may have peace in this world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Be strong hearted. I have overcome the world. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and today's message, Why? Chances are you've faced your share of crisis. Maybe you're even in the fight of your life right now, or maybe you're simply feeling exhausted by the busyness of life and sapped of spiritual strength. Whatever you're facing, we want to help fan the flame of faith in your life by sending you Dr. Graham's newest book, Reignite.

This personal account of how God led Dr. Graham through his own crisis will help you focus on God during difficult seasons so you can experience fresh passion and joy in Jesus. And we'll send you a copy as thanks for your gift today. This is the last week of this offer, so call today. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit JackGraham.org where you can shop our e-store, give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional.

Our website again is JackGraham.org. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today? Every one of us will face crisis in life and perhaps today it's your health or family problems or financial struggles, a career reversal, whatever it is. Remember as a believer in Christ the Lord is with you. Nothing that's going on in your life right now is a surprise to God.

He is in complete control. He is with you and the Lord knows your situation. Be encouraged that Jesus more than anyone understands exactly what you're thinking and feeling. He knows what you are going through. He's there with you, walking right beside you, living his life in you.

He knows your situation. And then the Lord affirms you in your work for him. In Revelation 3.8 Jesus said, I know your works for you have a little strength and have kept my word and have not denied my name. If you're walking in the will of God, if you're living in obedience to Christ, then he will bless and encourage you every step of the way. And finally, in Jeremiah 29.11, the Lord promises to give you and me a future and a hope. In the coming days, months and even years ahead, remember the truth that is found in Philippians 1.6. He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Right now it may seem that you may never come out from under the weight or despair or the depression that you're under. But trust what the Lord says. He will give you the strength. He will enable you to persevere.

And you will defeat every circumstance in your life to the glory of God. And that is today's Power Point. Remember when you give a gift to Power Point today, we'll send you Dr. Graham's brand new book, Reignite, as our thanks. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word Power Point to 313131. Text Power Point to 313131. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about the uniqueness of God's Word and the life it brings. That's next time on Power Point with Jack Graham. Power Point with Jack Graham is sponsored by Power Point Ministries.