December 16, 2012
Morning Service

We are in the midst of another wonderful Holiday season.  On both of our holidays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we take time to reflect on how good God has been to us this past year.

 

For some it is a very happy, and joyous time, and for others it is a time of sadness. 

 

Most of us have lost loved ones at this time of year, and as we look back, we remember all the good times we shared with them, and we should.  Precious memories.  And the way we can make them precious is to help all our loved ones accept Jesus Christ as Lord, and be prepared for His return.

 

What makes it a sad time is when you think you will not see them again.  That all is over and done.  This should not happen if you are a Christian.  The Christian faith builds confidence that death is just another stepping stone in the eternal life process.

 

Jesus told Martha; 

Joh 11:21-28 KJVR  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  (22)  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 

• As Martha, we certainly don’t understand why our loved have to die, when we know God could heal them.  However, we must remember what David said while he was dying, “I go the way of all the earth.”  And if Jesus tarries, we all will taste of the first death.

NOW NOTICE HOW JESUS COMFORTS HER;

(23)  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 

• You see, all will rise again, and Martha knew this.

(24)  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 

• She had no doubt heard Jesus teach on the resurrection before.
• The first death consists of going to sleep, and then one day all will be resurrected to stand before God at the judgment.  And will hear Him say this;

Mat 25:31-46 KJVR  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  (32)  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  (33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  (35)  For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  (36)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  (37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  (38)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  (39)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  (40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

• Do you see how the Lord encourages, and instructs us to good works?  All these areas of need are still with us, and we as Christians should do our best to get involved.
• We understand that we are saved by the grace of God, and not by works, but when we accept Jesus as Lord, then we will want to get involved in these areas.

 

 

THEN NOTICE THE REPRIMAND;

 

(41)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  (42)  For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  (43)  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  (44)  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  (45)  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  (46)  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

• The Christian will enter into life eternal.  Those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death, according to Revelations 20:14.
• This is just one of many parables that the Lord teaches on this matter, but all are positive, and rewarding for the Christian.

THEN JESUS CONFIRMS TO MARTHA WHAT WE HAVE JUST SAID;

(25)  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (26)  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

THEN MARTHA CONFESSESS;

(27)  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.  (28)  And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

• Lazarus is still in the grave, but yet Martha goes away in peace, knowing that everything is alright, because Jesus said it was.

 

God wants everyone to have this confidence that everything is alright.  “THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE.”

 

So I believe that even though the flesh suffers losing loved ones, and friends, we should do our best to hold forth these Holiday seasons as a time of spreading love, and rejoicing.

 

Because;

1. Isa 9:6-7 KJVR  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
2. Luk 1:30-33 KJVR  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.  (31)  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  (32)  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  (33)  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Joh 3:16 KJVR  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

YOU WILL NOTICE IT SAYS HE SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT’S EVERYBODY.  I TRUST THAT YOU HAVE ACCEPTED THIS WONDERFUL GIFT OF JESUS CHRIST, FOR ETERNAL LIFE.

SO CHRISTIAN LET US REMEMBER WITH JOY ALL THE FOND MEMORIES WE HAVE HAD WITH THOSE DEPARTED, AND KNOW THAT ONE DAY WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN.