The LORD's Day September 23, 2007

When A Believer Dies

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

Three people associated with our congregation went to be with the LORD this week. Tuesday, Lucy and I were praying with Anka, hours before she left for Romania. Her dad had died and she was going there to be with her family. Late Wednesday Night Judy Mucci, Dr and Mrs. Mucci’ daughter went to be with the LORD. Her funeral will be this week in Pittsburgh. Friday morning early the phone rang with the news of Eloise’s going to be with Jesus. I read this passage to her family that morning. She had told me a number of times in the rehab, as she was getting ready for her prosthesis that she was going to surprise me one Sunday and walk into church. The skeptic would say, “See that never happened.” I would say, “Something more far more wonderful than that is happening ” She is walking around heaven this morning and without an artificial limb. She is with the One who died for her.
Yesterday morning early around 5am the LORD drew me to this message for today. I was prepared to speak on Proverbs 1. After I had finished it I received a phone my Dad had a serious fall and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. This morning bleeding on his brain has spread... He is in the LORD’s Hands. We will leave right after church this morning.
We are to use this truth in this passage regularly and in special times (like at the death of a loved one) when we need it.
Encourage each other with these words...

to call to one's side, call for, summon, to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, comfort, instruction.
to admonish,
to beg, beseech
to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort,
to be comforted
to instruct, teachAs believers we have the ultimate comfort for life and death. Jesus has sent us the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth (His Spirit) to be with us forever. He has given us the Promise of His Return and with that the Promise of the resurrection for all who died believing on Him. The video tape from 1986 this week. We need this truth. We need this truth this morning.

1. We need this truth as we face the loss of a loved one.
We have memories the LORD gave us and God has told us in His Word that the memory of the righteous will be a blessing. That is a blessing but that does not take the place of the loss. However this section of scripture contains promises for us specifically for the loss and grief we feel. It is a love letter from God’s heart to ours about the grand reunion coming up.
We are told in Psalm 34.18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. and in Psalm 147.3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Human loss through death is unlike any other experience we will ever go through. A premature death (like the Muccis are facing today), one out of order, is even worse. Healing can only really come through the LORD’s touch and His Word and after that we have only the scars.
There is a loneliness in grief. Life does go on and we feel the world should stop, at least for a while, to acknowledge our loss. But it does not. It is akin to the closing scene in the classic movie starring Gary Cooper called Pride of the Yankees. Lou Geherig’s Story... where they have pre game festivities honoring him because he can no longer play the game he loved due to illness. As he walks off the field and into the dugout and down the hall to the clubhouse, you hear the umpire yell out, “Play Ball ”. Life goes on. Grief is something we face by and large alone with Jesus. We feel it is not right for the world to continue because our world has come crashing down. It seems almost disrespectful for it to continue. Seeing people laugh doesn’t seem right. There seems to be an emptiness in it.
Facing a loved one’s death- the death of someone we loved and who loved us is one of the most difficult things to do. But one day all these things will be done away with. Death will be swallowed up in victory That is the point of this passage. That is the ultimate comfort
We need to quote and share this passage more than we are doing. When someone is facing the loss of a loved one we need to put this passage into practice. When we are facing the loss of a loved one we need to hear this from others. It doesn’t change the fact of death; it does put it in perspective.
I know this passage has helped me this week. I know it is helping family members. We will read it after Eloise’s funeral here on Thursday Morning out at Calverton.
God comforts us with the truth of His Word, the ministry of His Holy Spirit and through His people, the Church of Jesus Christ.

2. We need this truth as we face our own mortality.
We need this truth because we are so often being told aging is a bummer and we should do all we can to avoid it What utter nonsense That is living in denial not to mention that people make themselves look foolish as well.
It can be depressing to get old or it can be wonderful. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Often we do it without this promise close at hand and embedded in our heart. Listen to Paul’s words in Romans 13.11-12 ... Understanding the present time...our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed... the day is almost here. The Day of Jesus’ Return or the day when we will meet Him after we finish our life here. I have trouble sometimes waiting for that time. I called on the LORD to come several times this week. Maranatha is in my heart this morning! It is going to be wonderful- far beyond words.
2 Corinthians 4.16 - Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last long ... But the joys to come will last forever
The truth is, unless Jesus comes first, we will die one day. There is an end coming for all of us. When we think of that there should be a sense of urgency-
I want to finish well. I want to hit the finish line in full stride. I want to be more like Jesus.

Jesus impressed the fact upon His disciples while He was here on earth that we would all stand before Him one day. There will be a time of giving account of our lives. There will be a separation of the righteous and unrighteous. This Truth sobers us. We need to think soberly about our own mortality. But we should not be morbid or think about it alone without the whole truth. D.L. Moody said, “One day you will pick up the paper and read Dwight L. Moody has died. Don’t you believe it For on that day I shall be more alive than I have ever been ”

3. We need this truth for daily living.
Coping with life itself can wear a soul out Facing the loss of a loved one is exhasting We need to be renewed everyday, especially in this time we are living in “Outwardly we are wasting away... inwardly we are being renewed day by day - II Corinthians 4.16

What a great renewal is our hope and trust in the LORD’s Word and this His own word. This comfort and encouragement is exhortation. We need to be exhorted, to be spurred on, to be told the truth each day.

Our faith is a daily faith. The thought of it being confined to Sunday is ridiculous. We come together to worship but serving the LORD takes place in the other 6 days.

We need to consider the possibility of going into eternity each and every day. This has a purifying effect on our lives. It keeps life in perspective and is has benefits whether it happens today or not.

If we go on living a full span of years then we need this truth to remind us we are looking for a Savior from heaven. But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3.20)

Think with me about the “there” for a moment... the seat of order of things eternal.. The place Jesus told us He was going to prepare. That which is perfect where God dwells with cherubs and seraphim and the souls of those who have died in the LORD. The place where there is no more death, sorrow, pain or tears. That is where we belong.
4. We need this truth as a tool to use to help those who are grieving.

What a golden opportunity we have to show Christ’s love. What an awesome responsibility The church knows how to help its own in their grief. God has given us this direction here. There is no grieving group or counselor that can help like the Church does. The comfort in loss is that Jesus is with us.

I believe when we fall short it is often because we are not comfortable.
It also may be selfish. C.S. Lewis wrote about this. In his journals following his wife’s death, that were published into a book, A Grief Observed, he tells about meeting couples and feeling them say to themselves, “One day one of us will be like him.” He felt avoided due to the fact that people his age didn’t want to think about this happening to them one day. Many avoid talking about death or dealing with it because of this. But God’s Word stands and is very plain. We are to comfort each other.
Encourage=
to call to one's side, call for, summon, to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
to admonish, to beg, beseech
to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort, to be comforted to instruct, teach

5. We need this truth to keep our hearts filled with hope.
To be comforted ...
This, like so many other truths in God’s Word, works in a reciprocal manner. We comfort and as we do we are comforted. We encourage and we are encouraged. Now this should not be our motive, that would be selfish. It is a benefit of obedience. Our hearts should be set on comforting others. When we do this we will be comforted. I was always blessed on my visits to Eloise. I’ll miss her and them.

We need to keep this truth in our heart because we need to be filled with hope. I do hope there will be reforms in our nation spiritually. I so desire to see the values I grew up with once again n the lives of the people called Americans. If this does not occur I will be still be filled with hope- Christ in you the Hope of Glory

We cannot live according to the flesh and expect to reap the Spirit. We cannot live for this world and then expect to be filled with the hope of eternity. It doesn’t work that way. We will be filled with what our hearts are set on. If we set our hearts on heaven our hearts will be filled with the hope of heaven. Likewise anyone who hopes in this world will be disappointed.

As followers of Jesus we have been given this instruction, admonition in God’s Word: I Thessalonians 4.13-18
Let us encourage each other and all the more as we see the day of Christ’s coming approaching.
_______________________________

The LORD’s Day
September 23, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
When a Believer Dies I Thessalonians 4.13-18

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 1-2
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday &Thursday Bible Study will not meet this week
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
Prayer Meeting- 6pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until next month. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last week. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing chemotherapy beginning tomorrow. Remember Robert, her husband and Jonathan, her son as well as Katharina. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family...
Eloise went to be with the LORD this week. arrangements are at
Boyd Claude R Caratozzolo Funeral Home 1785 Deer Park Avenue Deer Park on Wednesday Evening at 7pm. The funeral will be here at the church on Thursday Morning at 10am with the burial to follow at Calverton.
Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito has a severe infection and is in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly scheduled for a mastectomy this Tuesday. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems,coming home. Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad., Larry Mancini, Sr. with bleeding on the brain in Neurological Intensive Care following a fall yesterday. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire. Judy Mucci went to be with the LORD late Wednesday night. Please remember her and Dr. And Mrs. Mucci this week in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition. Mary Von Fricken was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She has had pacemaker problems as well. Anka’s family - her dad went to be with the LORD this week in Romania. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and has been wearing an event monitor for this week to record them. Good Shepherd Nursery School -let’s remember the staff and students in prayer as well as the children of our fellowship in this first month of school.
*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*