Archive for Death and Dying
The following is a funeral sermon I have used when sharing about the life of a committed believer. It is based on a desire David expressed at the end of Ps 17.
THE ULTIMATE SATISFACTION
Psalm 17: 14 With Your hand from men, O LORD,
From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
1. The Joy of True Temporal Treasures
A. A filled belly of hidden treasure given by God. Love, joy, peace, etc. given to us by the Holy Spirit who fills our belly with living water.
B. The Joy of One’s Children — what a blessing for us. Children are an heritage from the Lord. We are able to build a godly legacy through them even after we are gone.
C. An inheritance for those left behind — We have the opportunity to leave a deposit in those who remain.
2. The Joy of True Eternal Treasure
A. Security of an Eternal Future with Jesus — As for me, I WILL see…
B. Seeing God — I will see Your face….
C. Salvation’s finished work — …see your face in righteousness
D. Satisfaction — The yearning and longing of the heart is ultimately fulfilled in the very presence of God. This is what we were created for. To enjoy His presence forever and to serve and glorify Him.
E. Sinlessness — …in your likeness. There will be no vestige of the curse with its sorrow any longer.
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Three Declarations That Will Change Your Life — Free Sermons
Intro– All of us are aware of the plight that Job faced. Family loss! Financial loss! Friends that turned on him! Even his wife told him to curse God and die. In Job the 19th chapter, Job chronicles his problems but then suddenly he shifts what he has to say and begins to decree his hope. That’s what a lot of us need to start doing today as well. Look at what he says:
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
I promise you that I will share with you three different DECLARATIONS with you that have the potential to change the way you live your life!
I can make such a promise because these commands I will share with you have helped me redirect the way I live my own life.
The First Declaration is:
1. STAKE YOUR CLAIM ON THE GROUND OF HOPE!
"For I know that my Redeemer lives,"
-You will either live in hope or despair.
Illus–In Anne of Green Gables, which I believe is the best family movie ever made, Little orphan Anne was storming up the stairs in exasperation. She screamed out, "I am id the depths of despair!" Her guardian. Maurilla Guthberg, replied, "Child, to despair is to turn your back on God!"
Living in despair is to live with your back turned toward God.
You will choose to look at your circumstances and turn your back on God, or you will face your circumstances knowing God will never turn His back on you. Job knew His redeemer lived and because he did, he had hope for his future.
2. ALWAYS MAGNIFY THE WORK OF REDEMPTION
"For I know that my Redeemer lives,"
-Job believed that his redeemer could redeem his situation. Everyone else thought "No way!" Job believed God would ultimately turn it all around even after if were after his death.
-God is in the salvage business.
Illus–Read about the man who made a lucrative business out of salvaging logs that everyone else thought were no good. Check it out by reading this article and visiting the following site www.logsend.com and read the history page. This is a beautiful picture of God’s heart. He takes what others think is no good and makes something out of it that everyone else wants. We are his treasures. He has transformed trash into treasure.
3. REMEMBER NOTHING CAN KEEP A GODLY MAN DOWN!
" For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Illus–The movie, The Green Mile, when they were leading the prisoners down the corridor to lock them up on death row, the guard would call out as they brought him in to death row — Dead Man Walking! Dead Man Walking! Why? Because all that was before him was the death.
When we have to stare at circumstances that are bleak and dim, or ever have to stare death in the face, we can just call out –Dead man rising! Dead man rising! Why? Because we know our Redeemer lives and in though our bodies are destroyed, in these bodies we shall see God!
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People are fascinated about Heaven and the afterlife. A great series to publicize that I have seen an effective response from is a series that covers the common questions people have about Heaven. if you will put these questions as an ad in the local paper, a brochure, the church bulletin or mail out, you will get a good response. You can cover about 3-4 questions at a time. You could invite people to write down their questions and turn them in. Your people’s interest and expectancy will increase. Here are some questions to consider and an introductory paragraph announcing the series. Improve it and use it.
(Coming this Fall!)
HEAVEN
Please pray about this exciting series of messages that our pastor is preparing to share with us this fall. The following questions as well as many others will be addressed to help us better understand what the Bible teaches about the place that we are going to spend forever.
• WILL WE KNOW EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN?
• WILL WE BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN?
• DO PEOPLE IN HEAVEN KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH?
• WHAT KIND OF BODIES WILL WE HAVE IN HEAVEN?
• WHAT AGE WILL PEOPLE APPEAR TO BE IN HEAVEN?
• WHERE IS HEAVEN?
• WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?
• WHAT IS THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH?
• DO BABIES WHO DIE GO TO HEAVEN?
• WHAT ABOUT NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES?
• WHAT ARE THE REWARDS IN HEAVEN?
• WILL A PERSON WHO COMMITS SUICIDE GO TO HEAVEN?
• WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN?
• WHO CANNOT GO TO HEAVEN?
• WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON BREATHES THEIR LAST BREATH?
• WHEN DOES THE RESURRECTION OCCUR?
• WILL EVERYONE BE JUDGED BEFORE ENTERING HEAVEN?
• WILL WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED LOST?
• IS THERE A PLACE CALLED HELL?
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