Sermon 1563 ‘Dying Well’. 15th Jan 2012
Overview:
Introduction:
A). As many of you know my Father passed away 2 weeks ago & last Thursday was his funeral in Colchester where he lived / very powerful time & we honoured him.
1). Seems like he passed away in his sleep / many commented ‘that’s a good way to do die’ / preach on Dying well
Text: Eccl 3:1-2 (Everything Has Its Time).
1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
I). Definitely Dying.
A). Wether we realise it or not, every one of us is definitely dying.
1). We are born on a certain day & we will die on a certain day / daily we are moving towards that day.
2). Time: idea of Kairos – time is a line (time line) we are progressing along that line towards a conclusion.
3). Every day we live, every month that passes, every year that passes we are closer to the day of our death!
a). Every Day 150k people die / internet death clock.
B). Text: A time for every purpose, times to be born (last few years we have had many babies born to parents in our
congregation (2009: 9 girls were born) / lots of baby dedications.
1). But text goes on to say there will be times of death / times when people will be dying / lots of funerals.
2). Every year a popular media report is to list the names of famous people who died in the previous year.
3). Colonel Gaddaffi (Libyan Leader) / Kim jong il (North Korea) / Osama bin laden / Gary speed (Wales manager) / Socrates (Brazilian world cup captain) / Mohammed Bouazziz (Tunisian protester who set himself on fire – Arab spring) / Christopher Hitchins (famous atheist) / Heavy D (rapper) / Joe Frazier former (boxer) / Steve jobs (apple) / Amy Wine house /Randy Macho man savage (WWF) / Dave Wilkerson (preacher) / Elisabeth Taylor (actress – Alexis ) / Nate Dogg (rapper)
4). Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
a). One day our names will be added to a list of people who have died / cycle of life.
II). Deciding how you will Die.
A). Ti every one of us will either die badly or die well / not talking about the actual event of death….
1). Ex: Dad - died at table – passed away in his sleep / reading his bible.
a). Some die suddenly in accidents
2). When I speak about dying well, speaking about the life leading up to your death.
a). Dying well, means living life well.
b). Song: You cannot live wrong & expect to die right.
3). Look at a headstone you will see DOB & DOD separated by a dash (sort line) / represents your life / how you
lived it / the choices & decisions you made for good or for bad /
4). Eccl 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment & the day of death than the day of one’s birth
a). How? / why? / Because of the decisions you make /
B). We celebrate births & mourn deaths / ti we should celebrate births, but celebrate deaths even more / because a baby born
hasn’t done anything / a person who dies could have lived a life that had a positive impact of others.
1). A bank in Binghamton, New York, had some flowers sent to a competitor who had recently moved into a new
building. There was a mix up at the flower shop, and the card sent with the arrangement read, "With our deepest
sympathy." The florist, who was greatly embarrassed, apologized. But he was even more embarrassed when he
realized that the card intended for the bank was attached to a floral arrangement sent to a funeral home in honor
f the dead person the card read, "Congratulations on you new location!"
2). 1st Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
3). NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
C). Knowing that death comes to us all, should cause us to live our lives in light of eternity.
1). James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
2). Gen 25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
a). NAS - Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
3). 2nd Tim 4:7 The AP is coming to the end of his life / he looks back / he reflects & this is what he says
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.
D). Problem with many people, believers non-believers alike is that we don’t really like to talk or think about dying!
1). Death is a taboo subject / sounds morbid / some people are even quite superstitious about it – bad luck!
2). Afraid to face up to something we know WILL happen & when it does we behave in a way that shows
Surprise & shock.
a) Woody Allen. "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."
3). Ti many people, especially those of a certain age may not talk about it, but they are thinking about it.
a). Ex: My dad had a will prepared for years / 2009 made alterations / he was thinking about it.
E). I am convinced that one of the greatest motivators to living a godly life is based upon our decision to die well.
1). Is Jesus no1 in your life? / are you living for Jesus / are you living for this world or the world to come?
III). Destiny after dying
A). Tb is very clear that 1 day (unless rapture 1st) we will all die / step into eternal life either in heaven or in hell
Look on My Dear Friends as You Pass By
As You are Now, So Once Was I.
As I am Now, You Soon Must Be.
Prepare Yourselves to Follow Me.
To follow you is not my intent
Until I am sure which way you went.
1). Death is not the end, it is merely a transition from one life to another.
a). It is as if 1 door closes & another door opens.
B). Tb Speaks of 3 states of life
1). The Physical life this is the physical functions of life
a). Gen 2:7 & the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground & breathed into his nostrils & man became a living being.
2). The Spiritual life is our relationship with God
a). Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
3). Eternal speaks of our eternal existence; this is the highest quality of life
a). John 17:3 & this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God & Jesus Christ whom you have sent
b). John 6:47 Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life
Read Dad’s Eulogy – if you was to die right now, what would your eulogy say?
1). Mark 8:36 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world & loses his own soul
Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints
Heb 9:27 & it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the Judgement
1st Cor 15:53-57
