Funeral: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Thursday, December 27, 2007
On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for the flowers and words of sympathy and your presence here today as we show our respect to Xxxxx Xxxxx.
She was Preceded in Death by:
Husband: Xxxxx, Sr.
Daughter: Xxxxx
Survived by:
Daughter: Xxxxx
Sons: Xxxxx – and his wife Judy
Xxxxx – and his wife Brenda
11 Grandchildren
3 Great Grandchildren
Brother-in-law: Xxxxx – and his wife Sandy
She was a Nurse’s Aid at Prattville Hospital and Baptist Hospital.
She retired in 1989.
She loved to Baby Sit her grandchildren
I understand she cooked some – GOOD biscuits
And she enjoyed – or should I say loved – NASCAR and WRESTLING.
I have known Xxxxx for nearly 20 years. Her son Xxxx and his family became a part of our church – not long after my family and I arrived. I preached her husbands funeral and her daughter Xxxxx funeral. There was a time when she also came to church with her son but when her health deteriorated she was no longer able to attend.
During the time she was active in church, she prayed and ask Christ to forgive her of the sin in her life and accepted Christ as her Savior. It was on that day that the name Xxxxx was written into the Book of Life.
She enjoyed a particular song that I sang and I have been asked to sing that today.
Song: Beulah Land – Pastor Newman
Job, a man that endured great trouble in life spoke of his death this way:
Job 19:25-27
5 "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26 And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!*
27 I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!
Did you notice what Job said:
27 I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!
Paul said –
• I am going to see God for myself
• I am going to see him with my own eyes
• I am just overwhelmed at the thought that I will one day see the God of this Universe
• I am overwhelmed that he will raise me up from the dead and I will live with him forever
The Psalmist David was overwhelmed also when he said:
Ps 8:4
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? KJV
Does it boggle your mind – that you will one day see God?
If NOT, You may be overwhelmed at this next comment by Paul the Apostle:
Acts 24:14-15
15 . . . there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. KJV
We will ALL be resurrected – the just and the unjust
We will ALL see God – whether we want to or not.
Bro. Newman – are there some that don’t want to see God.
I can imagine there are many that don’t want to see God
They don’t want to face God – knowing the life they have lived
Bro. Newman – what does the life you live have to do with facing God?
Scripture says at that resurrection that the books will be opened.
What books?
Rev 20:12
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. KJV
We need to think about that today. It will be too late to think about it then.
What has God recorded about you in THE BOOKS and what about the other BOOK – the BOOK OF LIFE.
The Psalmist David said:
Ps 90:9
9 . . . we spend our years as a tale that is told. KJV
That tells me that our lives are a story that God has written down in his BOOKS – and that life will be retold one day as we stand before him.
If your life were flashed over the internet
If your life were flashed over cable TV
For all the world to see – Would you be Proud or Ashamed
David was not ashamed to face God with his life.
David was looking forward to that day.
Ps 16:9-11
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.*
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead*
or allow your holy one* to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.*
He went on to say:
Ps 49:15
15 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
He will snatch me from the power of the grave.
The Gospel of John also tells us that EVERYONE will be resurrected.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. KJV
So there is a resurrection for EVERYONE
• A Resurrection of Life
o For those who have done good
• A Resurrection of Damnation
o For those who have done evil
Now the choice is yours:
Which Resurrection do you want to participate in?
Isaiah says in the Resurrection of Life
Isa 25:8
8 . . . The . . . LORD will wipe away all tears.
Matthew says in the Resurrection of Damnation
Matt 13:41-42
. . . all who do evil. 42 . . . the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Have you heard the phrase?
That’s a No Brainer!
I think the CHOICE of which Resurrection I want to be a part of
Is a No Brainer!
But Bro. Newman – How can I make sure I am a part of the Resurrection of Life?
First we come to God through Jesus Christ
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. KJV
Second is Repentance
Luke 13:3
. . . except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. KJV
Third is to Believe
Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. KJV
When you do these things, then you have this Promise!
Rom 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. KJV
1 Cor 6:14
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. KJV
This must be our prayer today!
Phil 3:10-11
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
So today – the reality of the Resurrection of the Dead if before us!
Which Resurrection will you be a part of?
I choose the Resurrection of Life!
1 Thess 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. KJV
(Prayer)
