Funeral

Funeral.086

Charles Chappell, age 76, Service @ Bayview Baptist Church 4-11-2001

From the pulpit of Bayview Baptist Church, Columbia, SC

Prelude

Processional: “Rejoice In the Lord, Always”

Congregational Hymn: “Majesty”

We have gathered here today to praise God, to be a witness of our Christian faith, and to celebrate and honor the life of Mr. Charles Chappell.

Scripture: Psalm 23 (K.J.V).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names’ sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Prayer:

Solo: “How Great Thou Art”

Devotional Message: John 14:1-6

The 14th chapter of the Gospel of John has its setting in the Upper Room, where the disciples have eaten the Passover meal with Jesus.

Jesus knew exactly what the next few hours and days would bring, so He prepared His disciples to face the future without fear.

The words, “do not let your hearts be troubled…” were addressed by Jesus to all the disciples, but we can rightly include ourselves in His audience, and apply them to our own hearts and lives.

As Christians, we’re exposed to many adversities, troubles, and even sorrow and suffering sometimes on a daily basis.

What this passage teaches us is that while we cannot prevent the many adversities and losses of life, we are able to find the strength and the power with the help of the Lord to get us through them.

Jesus suggest to us that we “trust in God; and trust also in Christ.”

He was actually saying, “You have trusted God, now it’s time to trust in Me!”

One of the most amazing things that Jesus reveals to us is found in verse 2.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”

This is one of the greatest truths found anywhere in the Bible, and it implies that God dwells somewhere in a permanent place.

The word “rooms” is actually translated “mansions” and the Greek says “In the house of the Father of me abodes many there are.”

What Jesus is teaching us is that in God’s house, which is heaven, there are many mansions to live.

To me, that gives me great comfort, that I can know for sure that Jesus has already prepared a mansion in heaven for me to live.

To know that when I die I’m going to my Father’s house gives me, and I pray it gives you great comfort.

My Father’s house is where I’m always accepted and loved.

My Father’s house is where I am not a guest, but where I’m a resident.

That’s home.

How can you and I know for certain there’s a place called heaven?

Because God says there is, and I would rather have God’s Word about this than to trust anyone else.

The second great truth we learn from this passage is that Jesus will come back.

Stop and think about that for a moment.

Jesus isn’t just going to show us the way, or write out some instructions for us about how we can get to heaven; but He’s going to come back and take us by the hand and personally lead us to our Father’s house.

The Apostle Paul expanded this truth when he wrote: “for the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (I Thess. 4:16).

Charles Chappell died in the Lord, knowing Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, so that means when Christ comes again in that great Second Coming, Charles will have a head start on those who are living, because “the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Another great truth from this passage in John chapter 14 is that we will be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever.

To me, that must be what makes heaven so wonderful.

When our lives are focused upon Christ, we walk in glory with Him forever.

Oh, the death of a Christian is a wonderful thing! For death takes the Christian to a better place.

Charles Chappell is now in heaven.

A person doesn’t go to heaven to find Christ, he or she goes to Christ to find heaven!