Homeward Bound

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack a little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Grimm heaven first, here's the message homeward bound your Bibles to John's gospel chapter 14. John's Gospel, the 14th chapter, Jesus is in the upper room the final hours of his life on earth, and he's talking with his dearest friends. The hour was dark. It was night.

According to John chapter 13 verse 30 not only night physically but emotionally and spiritually. For those men. It was a dark hour there world was caving. Yeah, they were perplexed and disappointed in discouraged Jesus had announced that he would soon die. Satan was on the prowl in the darkness of that night seem to be oppressive to these men. One of the men would betray Christ sell his soul for 30 pieces of silver another, though he denied that he would would ultimately denied Christ simply on the premises in order to save his own skin.

All the disciples would ultimately disappear save one who stood with him at the cross and that one was John who gives us these final words, the one who laid his hand over on the chest of the Lord who the Lord love and a very unique way and he love the Lord and so he heard these words loud and clear in the upper room that evening when Jesus spoke were getting in verse one of John chapter 14 let not your hearts be troubled.

Believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many rooms are mentioned.

If it were not so, what I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. And you know the way where I am going Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you're going. How can we know the way Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except by me.

Powerful words from the upper road in the dark hour of the night and even though Jesus was facing the cross in his own spirit. According to John chapter 13 in verse 21, was troubled or agitated.

He now comforts his concerned and heartbroken disciples and the single message of this text, the single and clear word is that God heals and cures our troubled hearts with a simple child like me. Jesus said do not let your heart be troubled, which means no letting me agitate our stress or fearful. Don't allow your heart to be turbulent or trouble, because the Savior claims that we can know peace and perspective in life because he is coming for us. Jesus said, literally. Stop letting your hearts be troubled.

How so first I promise, promising us his peace. Don't let your hearts be troubled you believe in God believe also in me.

The Bible says men's days are full of trouble as the sparks fly upward. Jesus himself said in this world you will have tribulation, but he added, but be of good cheer for. I've overcome the world. Yes, we live in troubled times, and we live often with turbulent hearts. Why well, for one, just like the disciples. There is disappointment.

The disciples had expected the Messiah to deliver them from the bondage of the yoke of Roman and the oppressive power of the religion of that day in yet Jesus is now telling them that he would die and now they're disappointed. Their dreams have been destroyed. Maybe you're disappointed even in God. God didn't come through.

The way expected to come through you and answer your prayer the way you expected him to answer your prayer. You didn't do what you wanted him to do and maybe you're disappointed in God's name you're disappointed in someone in your life and your heart is broken and your life is is turbulent because of disappointment. Jesus said don't let your heart be disappointed. Don't let it be trouble, maybe because of failure. Peter and these others were recognizing how fearful they have become how how they would feel the Lord their faith was weakening and there was fears regarding the future Jesus would no longer be with them and walked away from their careers and and and and and walked away from their hose to follow Jesus and now is all going away. Maybe your trouble today and broken hearted in some way. Jesus said, I promise you peace in the midst of your store.

There's no need to be trouble. I will always be present to give you peace. He said you believe God, believe also in me. Here, of course, Jesus is claiming equality with God is saying just as you trust in God you can trust in me in the darkness we are tempted to doubt when tough times come with tempted to even give up our faith, we lose perspective when you had the experience of waking up in the night troubled about something and and and plot just keeps ticking in your watching it every hour and every moment in the night.

Seems interminable and doubts and fears and and and oppression attached to. But Jesus said in the midst of your darkness in the midst of your most difficult days believe in me. Trust in me. The simple childlike faith of trusting in God brings this amazing Jesus said come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He says in this passage, believe in me, trusting me waiting on me. I'm giving you a future that you can't possibly imagine right now but if you will just trust in me and wait on me, you can rest in me. Peter the apostle who heard these words later understood it when he wrote in first Peter 18 though you have not seen him, you love him, and though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. I've never seen Jesus with my physical eyes not yet.

I will, and so will you. If you're a believer, but I have seen it with the eyes of faith. I know him and I love him. I don't trust anybody like I trust you and is much as I love my own loved ones. I don't love anybody like I love Jesus.

Jesus is the ultimate his spirit is alive in me his power is present and therefore his peace is constant in our lives even in the most turbulent of times and so we can live every day embracing eternity. Now knowing that we have peace in the pathways of life and who can mind the journey.

If we know the journey is leaving home because we are homeward bound and that's why he adds that, therefore, a place is prepared for us. He said I go to prepare a place for you and Jesus began to speak then of the father's house there are many descriptions in the Bible of heaven is called a garden is called the country is called the city but no doubt the most heartwarming for the believer is the idea that heaven is home that this world is not our home were just passing through.

Where on a journey, but we are homeward bound, we are on our way to heaven when you live this way Jesus that I prepare this place for you life takes on a new perspective does a John would tell us in first John 215 don't love the world, neither the things in the world for the love of the world is passing away. This world is passing away, and if you love the world, the love of the father is not in you embracing life enjoy life every minute on but don't just live this life to live for this world and its pleasures because these are all passing away. This is why Jesus said lay up treasures in heaven live today so that when you get to heaven you will have a great and the greatest reward is seen Jesus and hearing the word welcome home. My child will that's the way we to live not for this world.

It changes our perspective you're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and his message homeward bound pastor. This month we have a special gift for listeners to give a gift PowerPoint through book heaven can you tell us about this powerful resource. Unfortunately, there's so much misinformation in our culture about what heaven is like, and that many people don't even find it appealing. After all, he wants to think about spending eternity city in the heavens somewhere playing a harp on a cloud.

The biblical description of heaven is far from boring. It is really a triumphant more than that it has the power to energize you as a believer to live every day filled with hope. That's why I believe my book heaven would be such an encouragement to you in these challenging days, so please be sure to request your copy of heaven.

When you give today and I pray that it will fill you with hope and that it inspires you to live boldly for Jesus today called today and get Dr. Graham's book heaven is our thank you for your call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627 four text the word PowerPoint 259789. Now it's get back today's message homeward bound, so also went to double that maybe the reason that that where not homesick for having yelled. The apostle Paul said the live is Christ, the die is gain. He went on to say I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

He was homesick for heaven for most of us heavens are homeward is not homesick. We like life here is comfortable here. Good here, in many many ways, but you need to remember is Randy Alcorn's said he's written a fantastic book on heaven the best day he will ever live. He said the best day I will ever live is the day I die because to the park and to be with Christ is far better and that's not morbid that's not thinking about you know Windows will take about death that we do think about our hope in heaven we think about eternity and we are told in the Scriptures that we are to number our days, and then therefore apply our hearts to wisdom, but is important to remember that this life as we know it is extremely brief is passing just like that and therefore we'll just hang on the here and now but we hope all in the future.

The crisis plan for us and and if your hope is in heaven. Then the Scripture says in Romans 818 that the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us – perspective. So no matter what you're going through in your life right now this is just a blip on the radar screen of eternity. I know it can be hard.

I know they can be tough times. I know that pain is real, but this means that pain has a purpose that suffering no real now has been because we have a perspective that heaven is our home. Jesus said you believe in God believe in the I'm preparing a place for you, while Paul said the outward man the outward person is perishing. He said because of heaven because of the hope that we have in Christ. The other person is being renewed every day. The inner life is being strengthened by the power of God. So we have a new perspective we had this piece we have a purpose.

There's optimism and joy in life because our purpose is now living for him. Now I know that heaven seems far far away to most of us today.

How far is heaven. So often we can't understand what heaven it is really like an older man was talking about heaven in his life. He said when I was a little boy I would hear about heaven, and of angels sing millions of angels and golden streets in huge columns and massive spires and steeples in an and frozen. I would hear of that and of all the people who were there new none of whom I knew strange and distant place but then he said I had a little brother die and then when I began to think about heaven.

It was a place of golden streets and massive spires and temples and one little face that I knew they said as I lived my life. My wife went to heaven. Family members and friends are in heaven, I came to know Jesus as my Savior and so now is an old man when I think about heaven. I never think of golden streets, heavenly steeples, beautiful buildings, but I think of the dear loved ones and friends who were there and my safe who waits for me and welcomes me there. What makes heaven heaven is Jesus as their and the old Cora says turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in his wonderful face and the things of our will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Hebrews puts it this way since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily trips us up and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking on the Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.

He's preparing a place for us. Jesus is doing two things right now for you one he's praying for you. He ever lives to make intercession for his things and you knew that Jesus was right outside that door right there praying for you, don't you think if you know if you really know that Jesus was right over there praying for you. Could you handle anything you were going through. Just knowing that you were on his prayer list. While the distance makes no difference whether it's over there. Are there any eternity he is praying for you he is a high place in heaven interceding for us so we praying for you and anything. The next thing he's doing is preparing a place for you and and he's been working on your place for about 2000+ years now. Can you imagine how incredible is going to be so when your heart is troubled when you're agitated when you're upset when your future is uncertain apiece. As promised, don't let your heart be troubled.

Believe trust in God is a simple childlike faith that endures and and and remember that he is preparing a place for you in heaven. Our heart should already be there with one final thing. Not only this place prepared this piece that is promised by the pathway is provided.

Thomas, who was forever asking questions and I'm glad that he did. He had sincere question. So when Jesus said where I'm going. You know the way you know Thomas said wait more.

We don't know where you're going and how can we know the way I'm so glad that he asked that because then the Lord said, I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father except by me. Jesus is not a way to heaven.

The best way to heaven.

He's not someone pointing us to heaven. He said I am the way, the truth alive, then no one comes to the father or the father's house apart from me. He said don't worry about how you're going to get there.

I'm coming for you now. Personally, I'm not looking for the undertaker, I'm looking for the upper take. I believe Christ is coming in Christ is coming soon, but if he doesn't come in my lifetime. He's coming for me anyway and is coming for every believe so dad is a doorway and Christ is the door, no believers should be afraid of death over there may be fear of dying.

There's a difference you no one wants to suffer. No one wants to hurt no one wants to experience the terrorism, death, and death is described as a terror in the Bible so there may be concern.

But even there, God gives us peace does his promise.

He's given us grace, but no believers should fear death because Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. He said I am the resurrection and the life. He believes in these only be dead yet shall he live.

Some of the words of some great Christians of yesteryear talking about death. These are there dying words. August top lady who wrote rock of ages, he said, oh, what a delight. Who can fathom the joys of heaven all his life like like the brightness of his own glory, Lord Jesus, come the last words of Fanny Crosby, the great hymn writer blinded by a medical accident in her childhood. She said in her final hours. How can anyone call the dark valley. It is all a lie and love and an arm Judson great Baptist missionary.

He said I go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school. I feel so strong price.

John Wesley broke into song as he lay dying any saying I'll praise my maker while I have the old movie the famed evangelist said this earth receives heaven opens before me if this is death. It is sweet.

There is no valley here God is calling and I must go. This is my coronation day it is glorious Jesus that on the way, the truth, the life follow me all the way to the father's house, he promises peace.

He prepares a place he provides the pathway. All glory to the Lamb of God through our Savior and Redeemer. No wonder we can say I will not move my rock and my salvation listening to PowerPoint them in today's message found no matter what struggles are facing today. You have hope in the premises awaiting you in heaven.

And God calls you to share that hope with others today. That's why we want to encourage and inspire you today by sending you pastor Graham's book heaven.

This exciting book takes you straight to Scripture to help me see all that awaits you in the life to come, and how it impacts your life today to find hope for today encouraged to share that hope with others. So don't wait to request a copy. Heaven is our special thanks for your gift to help only proclaim God's word through PowerPoint. This is the last week of this offer to call today, when 800-7956 27 that's one 800-7954 67.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack M.org where you can shop RV store give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion our website again is Jack Graham.Margie pastor what you PowerPoint when Jesus said let not your heart trouble. One of the things saying to me was, don't let your heart be disciplined because Jesus knew how destructive disappointment can be. Maybe today your heart is disappointed and discouraged. Perhaps your job is getting you down, or the fact that you don't have a job is getting you down. Make your marriage is and what it could be it could be that your discouraged about the choices your children are making friend. It could be that you're really struggling and disappointed. Even with God, perhaps even answer prayer in the way you expected him to answer it.

Maybe it feels like God didn't come through for you in the way that you wanted.

So if you say the date, Jack. My heart is troubled by disappointment that I want you to stop what you're doing right now and listen very, very closely. Jesus said that no matter what you're facing, no matter what discouragement, no matter how much you may be discouraged.

Jesus said that you can trust him. You can believe him. God is in control. Maybe you need to just say it out loud right now. Jesus, I trust you.

I believe you even though I don't understand what I'm going through. I choose to trust in you. I know that you are in control of my circumstances. This situation by very life. And I promise you this simple childlike faith of trusting him will bring amazing peace. I know it's easy to focus on the negative and focus on what you don't have or what you didn't get. That's why the words we find the book of Hebrews are such a comfort when they say let us lay aside every weight.

Like the weight of disappointment and then let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. So, look no matter what you're going through today. Remember in the scope of eternity.

It's really just a blip on the radar screen. It is just a bump on the road.

I know it can be hard. I know that Bob can seem like a mountain. I know that life can be very difficult at times.

I know that pain can be real, but that pain has a purpose that suffering has meaning because we have a perspective that heaven is our home and that changes our lives every day because Jesus is on and that is today's remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint will see Dr. Graham's book heaven is our thanks. Call 1800-7954 627-1800 795467 also text the word PowerPoint 259-7891 the next PowerPoint. Dr. Graham brings a message about what you'll experience in your resurrected next time on PowerPoint PowerPoint with Jacaranda sponsored by PowerPoint ministries