Lord of Life

Guest (Female): Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
Jack Graham: The sheep are laying down to sleep, and what does the good shepherd do? He lays down, and he lays down at the door of the sheepfold. The shepherd, the good shepherd would literally lay down to protect the sheep.
Guest (Female): On today's PowerPoint, Dr. Graham brings a message about how Jesus is the door and the good shepherd. Now, here's Dr. Graham with his message, Lord of Life.
Jack Graham: Begin finding John, chapter 10. Jesus had enemies. While he was loved and beloved by multitudes, many rejected him. He came into his own, and his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be called the children of God, even to them who believe on his name. But many rejected Jesus, and many resisted him. And there was a public plan to ruin him. They described him, they meaning the culture, and it was a religious culture that said he was a drunk, a glutton, a demon-possessed maniac who broke the commandments of God, that he was a madman. These descriptions of Jesus were offered by religious right-wing wing nuts who were more holy than God, and they attacked Jesus relentlessly and rigorously. So what did Jesus do? Jesus fought back. In fact, he called these religious, the Pharisees and others, someone described them Pharisees in whom the milk of human kindness had curdled. Call them white-washed tombs, snakes, masked hypocrites, blind guides of the blind. And he even said, "Your daddy is the devil. Your father is the devil." He called them also thieves and robbers. It was a confrontation between Jesus and religion. And this was not a way to win friends and influence people. He was, it all culminated, of course, in a crucifixion. After Jesus was illegally arrested and tried and sentenced to the death penalty, he went to a cross voluntarily, laying down his life, but his life taken. So Jesus met confrontation in his life and ministry. There is a devil, there are demonic forces, including religious forces that are anti-God and anti-Christ. And there are, as Jesus called them, thieves that come to kill, steal, and to destroy. And so we're going to read the scripture beginning at verse 7 of John chapter 10. So Jesus again said to them, and he's talking confrontationally with the religious crowd, he said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers." And he's talking about false prophets here. He's confronting error and false prophet and religious phonyism and all the rest. And he said again in verse 9, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." And here's why Jesus came. "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them." The wolf speaks of Satan himself. He flees, that is, the hireling flees because he's a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep." "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold, and I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me." And here it is again, "I lay down my life that I might take it again." Jesus said, "I am the door to the sheepfold. I am the living door." He also went on to say, "I am the shepherd, the good shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep." So just a bit of background here. The shepherds in the ancient world would gather the flock together at night or even at noon day and build a fence, typically with rocks. And they would build a fence around the sheep, around the flock, no matter how large or small the flock may be. And building this fence, they would leave a gap or an opening where the sheep could go in and out, of course, like a rancher might build a sheepfold today or a cattle stall. But there was this fence and then this gap at the opening. And at night, when the sheep are laying down to sleep, and what does the good shepherd do? He doesn't run away because there are wolves howling and and there are people are people, thieves and robbers who could come and steal the sheep. What does he do? He lays down, and he lays down at the door of the sheepfold. At this gap, at this opening, the shepherd, the good shepherd would literally lay down to protect the sheep. This is the beautiful illustration that Jesus is giving concerning himself, that he is the door of the sheepfold, the good shepherd. I want to talk about Jesus, the Lord of life, who is the door. The door of division, the door of decision, and the door of destiny. Those three points, if you're taking notes. First, the door of division. Of course, a door not only invites people in, but it also keeps others out. A door hinges and swings both ways typically. And the the purpose of a door is to welcome people in and then close the door behind them to keep them in, or to keep the sheep in this case, or to provide an exit. And so, a door in this sense divides. A door divides and separates between those who are in the fold, the flock, the church, and those who are out. Now, Jesus said, "I am the one door of the sheepfold. I am the one who lays down my life as the good shepherd for the sheep." Now, our culture, even some in religious culture says that there are many doors into the sheepfold, into God's family, God's flock. And people want options. If they don't like plan A, they'll take plan B or plan D or C and so on. And what we hear today in the culture are words like, "What is true for you may be your truth, but that's not my truth." Now, of course, that statement doesn't really work in anything because you can't say it in terms of math. Try taking a math test and say to your teacher, "Well, I know 2 + 2 is 4, but I say it's 5, and that's my truth." No, it's not true in mathematics. The statement, the idea that your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth and we can we can substitute truth for tolerance and all the rest, it doesn't work in music. Change a note or two in a song, it corrupts the entire song, right? It doesn't work with money. You give somebody a $100 bill to buy a $10 item and they give you $50 back, I'm sure you wouldn't be happy about that. "Oh, well, that's my truth." No, it doesn't work in money. Doesn't work in medicine. I mean, just one thing wrong. In fact, I was reading some numbers just this week about how often prescriptions are misfilled, and it can make people sick, of course, if if the if the proper medicine. So it doesn't work in medicine or your diagnosis, and it doesn't work in in measurements, whether it's a foot or a yard or something else, if you're building a house, building a building. So to say, "Your truth is my truth and my truth may not be your truth," all that nonsense, just as there are absolutes in money, and in medicine, and in measurements, and in math, there is absolute truth in morality, according to the word of God. But the big problem we have in the church today is that we would rather live with compromise rather than conviction. And preach a gospel of tolerance rather than the gospel of truth, which is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "If you follow me, you will have enemies." When you think about it, this is the keeping of the second commandment, to be willing to tell people the truth in love. What is the first commandment? Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your mind, your soul, your strength," and then he said, "The second is like it, your neighbor as yourself." So people today, many people want to say, "Well, to love means I won't offend anyone." No, that's not true. If you love someone and you care about someone, you will love them enough to tell them the truth and to speak that truth with love and compassion. You would do that with your children if you love your children. But there's truth regarding morality. There is one option, and that is to be all in. All in. Jesus said, "If you follow me, you must go through one door and be all in." So you're either out or you're in, and the way you are in is via the Lord Jesus Christ.
Guest (Female): You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, Lord of Life. Did you know that you can join Dr. Graham for his daily devotion? It's a study of God's word that will help you grow in your faith, encourage you in your walk with Christ, and show you how to navigate through the challenges of life. To sign up, text Devo to 59789 and begin receiving Dr. Graham's devotional every day. Again, text Devo to 59789. Every day people are hearing the truth of Jesus Christ through PowerPoint's broadcast, podcast, and digital outreach. Some are discovering the truth of the Gospel for the very first time. Others are learning to trust God more deeply, and friends like you help make it all possible through your support. That's why this month, we want to say thanks for your gift of $10 or more by sending you Dr. Jack Graham's book, Choices. In this encouraging resource, Dr. Graham shares practical wisdom from God's word to help you make decisions with confidence, clarity, and faith. To give your gift and request your copy, text August to 59789. Please limit one per household. Again, text August to 59789. Now, let's get back to today's message, Lord of Life.
Jack Graham: Secondly, Jesus is the door of decision. The door of decision. Jesus said, look at it in verse 9, he said, "I am the door, and if anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." He says, "When you come to me, when you enter by me, you will be given eternal life. You will be saved." Now, life is a gift. Life is the gift of God, of his love and his grace. And Jesus reminds us of this. And when he describes this life, this abundant life, he describes it with sheep going in and out of the fold and the flock and into pasture. The words of Jesus, someone said, reminded them of the words that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, our founders, our framers, said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Jesus long before Jefferson said this. This abundant life. Life, liberty, flowing in and out and finding pasture, and happiness, this abundant life. Jesus describes himself in many ways, the light of the world, the bread of heaven, the resurrection and life, the way, the truth, and the life. But I am captured today by this thought that he is the door and the good shepherd. And he welcomes everyone into the family, into the flock. We want to welcome everyone who wants to come, anyone, the broken, the hurting, the helpless, the sinful, because we're all sinners. But we want to make sure that the door is wide open so that people can enter in. And Jesus was, in effect, opening the door and said, "I am the door, and it's a wide open door. If you come to me, you will find and discover this eternal life and this abundant life." This door, this salvation in Christ means that Jesus becomes the living force of our lives. What is life? What is it? Well, we know something about physical life, and we're learning more and more about it. But you know, is life in the brain? Is life in the heart? Is life in the body? That's physical life. But what about the life of the soul that lives forever? What is soul life? What is spiritual life? Because we are born without life. We were born dead in our trespasses and sins, Ephesians chapter 2. We walked according to the course of this world, according to the dominion and the power of Satan in our lives. This was us B.C., before Christ. We were dead without life. You don't need renewal, you don't need a fresh start or a new start, you need a resurrection in Christ. And Christ makes us alive. We are made alive again in Christ. So Paul was able to say in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 21, "For to me, to live is Christ." Life is Christ. You could say that life is what you are alive to. Life is what you are alive to. And when you are in Christ, you are alive in Christ. And when you think about life in Christ, that means that Christ is the source of life. That means Christ is the standard of our lives. The Apostle Paul said, "I press on to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ." It means that Jesus is the strength of my life, amen. Paul said, "I can do," same chapter, same book of Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." To say Christ is my life means that Christ is is not only the source of my life, that I have new life in him, that that he is the uh the standard of my life. My life is now in pursuit to please him. It it not only means that he is the strength of my life, but he is the satisfaction of my life. Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice." That's the song we sing because of the satisfaction that we know in Christ. He satisfies me. Don't feel sorry for me because I'm a Christian and don't get to do some of the things I don't do because of what Christ has done to change my life. I'm having a great life. I don't need substitutes or artificial stimulants or alcohol or drugs or anything else to enjoy life, to relax, to socialize, to have a great time. Why? Because Jesus is the satisfaction of my life. And not only is he the the strength of our lives and the source of our lives and and the standard of our lives and the satisfaction of our lives, but but he is the supply of our lives. This is when he promises, "You'll go in and out and find pasture." Just like the the role of the shepherd is to is to take the sheep out to find water and pasture. Jesus said the sheep will go in and out and find a flourishing and beautiful life. This is Jesus who is the door, and he said, "I've come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." And therefore, we can say, "To live is Christ." And there then we can say, "To die is gain." You know, fill in the blank for yourself. Take a test this morning. For me, to live is what? And yes, I pray that you can say, "Christ." But really, honestly, before God, ask yourself, "What is my life? What's my life all about? What am I living for?" Is it money? Is it job? Is it career? All good things if not abused. Is my life in pleasure? Is that my life? Is my life family? Obviously, a good thing. But here's the problem. If you live for anything but for Jesus, when that goes away, you got nothing. When the money's gone, when the family leaves, when friends leave, when the party's over, when the pleasure is gone, if you're living for these things, you really can't say, "To die is gain." To die would be lost to live for those things. But to live for Jesus, this is life. And in this life, there is satisfaction. And one more thing, there is security. John chapter 10, and we'll look at verses 22 to 30. At that time, when the feast of dedication took place in Jerusalem, it was winter. And Jesus was walking in the temple in the colonnade of Solomon, that's the outer court. And so the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you're the Christ, tell us plainly." Now, he'd been telling them plainly, and he said, "Jesus answered, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me.'" "But you do not believe because you're not among my sheep." And watch this. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give to them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." Jesus is telling us who he is, that he is God. And that I hear my my sheep hear my voice and they follow me. And when they follow me, they're in the Father's hand, and they will never perish. Christ is our security. You don't ever have to wonder or worry, will I be unsaved? Can I somehow be snatched away or lose my salvation? Never taught in the Bible. It start right here if this was the only verse. That we are eternally secure, that we are forever his. We are kept by the power of God. Peter tells us, uh, look at 1 Peter 1:3-5. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his great mercy. He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead." "To an inheritance, watch this, that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." That means he's going to keep you all the way into eternity. You say, "Well, couldn't the devil snatch me from the Father's hand?" Come on. First of all, don't you know if he could, he would? But no man can pluck them from my Father's hand. No man, no devil of hell, no demon of hell. So we are secure in Christ. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. He is our shepherd, and our shepherd will lead us home even though we went through dark valleys. He says, "You will not fear, for I am with you." And he said, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." And that's Psalm 23, and that's the abundant life that Jesus promised. So, three doors. Do you remember them? A door of division. A door lets people in and shuts others out. A door of not only decision, but also a door of destiny, because your destiny is in God's hand.
Guest (Female): You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, Lord of Life. Let me remind you about an encouraging resource Dr. Jack Graham created to help you navigate life with biblical wisdom. It's his book Choices, which comes as our thanks for your gift of $10 or more. When you give today to support the outreach of PowerPoint Ministries, you'll help share biblical truth and the life-changing hope of Jesus with people around the world through broadcast, podcast, and digital ministry. To give your gift and request your copy, text August to 59789. So that everyone has a chance to take advantage of this limited offer, please limit to one per household. Again, text August to 59789. Did you know that you can join Dr. Graham for his daily devotion? It's a study of God's word that will help you grow in your faith, encourage you in your walk with Christ, and show you how to navigate through the challenges of life. To sign up, text Devo to 59789 and begin receiving Dr. Graham's devotional every day. Again, text Devo, D-E-V-O, to 59789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?
Jack Graham: When you think of the abundant life, I think of the Apostle Paul. Though he was imprisoned and threatened with his very life for preaching the gospel, he lived with confidence, he lived with calmness, he lived a no-fear kind of life. In fact, he was able to say, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." He said, "Heads, I win, tails, I win. If I live, I'm going to live in the power of Jesus Christ, and that's great. If I die, I'm going to go straight to heaven and be with him, and that is greater still. I'm going to preach Christ," he said, "and if you kill me, I'm going to go be with him. So in life or in death, it's all about Jesus." I think of the occasion when Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi, and at midnight, the scripture says in the book of Acts, chapter 16, that they began singing and praising the Lord. Now, that is abundant life. When you know the joy of the Lord even in the most difficult and even dangerous circumstances. You know, Jesus didn't say, "I've come that you might have a bland, boring life." He said, "I've come that you might have a full and overflowing life." And this life is yours, believer. You can have an abundant life, and you can have it today. But listen, here's the key. You must be willing to say, "Lord, I empty my life of self. I empty my life of sin by confession and your forgiveness, and I ask you to fill me. Take command, take control of my life. Today, Lord Jesus, wear me like a suit. I want to be your hands, your eyes, your feet, your love reaching out to people." Surrender your complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and then experience that abundant life to the fullest. You'll be so glad you did. It's the only way to live.
Guest (Female): And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember, when you give a gift of $10 or more, we will send you Dr. Graham's book, Choices. Just text August to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how Jesus has power over Satan and his demon army. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.