"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14.1-3
Purpose of Funerals
1. Honor a loved one
2. Comfort a family
3. Reconnect with priorities
4. To remember
a. We generally want to remember our past.
• Story-tellers of Indians, etc.
• Photo albums
• Monuments
b. We also want to be remembered – we give pictures and gifts to be remembered.
Funerals remind us of:
1. The Certainty of Death (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
2. The Shortness of life (James 4:14)
3. The Shortage of life (John 10:10)
4. The sovereignty of God and Reality of Eternity.
There is an old joke about a reprobate who died. His brother, who was connected to the underworld of crime, asked the preacher to say that his brother was a saint. The preacher protested because the man had a bad reputation in the community. The brother tried to coerce the preacher and then tried to bribe him. “If you will just say it, I will give you $1000. You don’t have to mean it, just say it!”
The preacher thought it over and in the service said, “The deceased man was a liar, a cheat, a thief, but compared to his brother he was like a saint.”
This morning no one needs to be coerced or bribed to say good things about Dennis _____________. Your presence is an incredible tribute to his character.
The bible speaks of a man named Barnabas and describes him as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and faith” in Acts 11.24.
Dennis was well-liked and liked others well
He bore the presence of God’s Spirit by many things in his life
One of the passages that he marked was Matthew 10.2-4 – a list of the 12 disciples
Genealogy lists in the Bible
Can be boring to us but each name represents a person and someone of value to God
His Obituary:
Prayer
Qualities in Dennis ___________’s Life
1. Dennis Was “Other-Centered” (A “Servant”)
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2.3-7
• With little exception, Dennis liked everyone
YOU are important to Dennis – When he was diagnosed with cancer he called family and friends to express his love and appreciation
He did not have a critical spirit towards others – WANTED to like people
It is one thing to love (action word, not an emotion)
It is another thing to like people – Good Samaritan
• Family was Key to Him
Wife/Sons/Grandchildren/Sisters/Parents – held in high regard
• Served Others
As helping his neighbor repair his sprinkler system
• Responsible
Took on financial oversight for his mother as well as her general care
Gladly accepted responsibilities for family
Even to the point of not wanting to get blood on carpet from his coughing
• Perfectionistic
As a child – he was neat and orderly – even above his sisters
Carried it into adulthood – records are organized for any situation that may be needed
• Influential
Dads are the influencers in families – Ephesians 6.4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
The winding of the extension cord in his special way has been passed from father to son – just a sample of organization; perfectionism; and INFLUENCE
• Honored Parents – Ephesians 6.1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
His mother says that in his childhood he was “mischievous”
Held her in high esteem – made sure he saw her last week; gave her monthly B-12 injection; was able to say good-bye
2. Dennis Was Busy – Ecclesiastes 9.10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;
Lawn – done in a certain way – without those pesky trees getting in the way
Cut more than once per week – usually in the heat of the day – seemed impervious to the heat (maybe because of that Superman image he imitated as a child)
Self-Sufficient – could fix anything as good as new
Persistent – did not give up
Even in retirement – busy with the RV and some travel
3. Dennis Was Hard-Working – 2 Timothy 4.6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Pain is a part of Life – lived with it, did not avoid it
Pain medication – half doses; stretched from 4 to 6 hours
Concrete Poisoning – Working concrete; rain was coming; did not have time to find his rubber boots so he worked the concrete in regular work boots – came home with concrete around his ankles – did not want to go to the doctor – used “Absorbine Jr. and a wire brush to get the concrete off of his legs; the doctor wanted to do things medically but he refused and took care of it himself with his brush and own medications
Would come home in the evenings with salt dried on his shirt from his perspiration through the day – he had worked hard all of his life
What Would Dennis Say to Us? (Underlined verses in his bible)
1. Focus Faith
On God and His Work – We are privileged to be co-workers with God
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3.5-9
1 Corinthians 11.24-25 (Lord’s Supper)
On Others
Generous Giving (for others) – 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9.6-7
To Unify (Get along)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2.1-2
To edify – Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14.26b
2. Build Your Faith
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, Romans 4.1-5
3. Be Faith-full Even in Trials
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1.12
Bad things happen to good people – Dennis had a hard illness; Jesus had a hard way
God can make good from bad – 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8.28
Don’t quit – be persistent whatever comes, exhibit faith in all circumstances
Prayer
At the Cemetery
Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His godly ones. Psalm 116.15
Valuable/costly as precious jewels or valuable art
Great price in the passing of a loved one – emotions – Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus – even though he knew what he was going to do in raising him from the dead;
Precious in:
A Special Place – No more pain; sorrow
[Puritan Preacher, Richard Baxter was dying; people would ask how he was doing and he would reply, “I am almost healed.” – There is a curing aspect in death – healed forever
Precious Reunion Coming
The world to come may seem like a mysterious place – streets of gold and other unbelievable descriptions; but it becomes more and more personal and special when loved ones go ahead of us;
