Celebration of Life and Resurrection Billy Meade
Opening : Friends, we have gathered here to praise God
and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Billy Meade .
We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.
May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort,
in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.
Song :
Prayer: Rev. Gerald Roberts Eternal God, we praise you for the great company of all those
who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor.
We praise you for those dear to us whom we name in our hearts before you.
Especially we praise you for Billy Meade whom you have graciously received into your presence.
Let perpetual light shine upon us that are gathered here ; and help us so to believe and to have hope that Billys days of suffering are over and he has flew to city not made with hands but eternal in the heavens through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song:
Scripture:
Psalm 23 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 name's 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 preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints 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.
Sermon: “Good to be in the House of the Lord ”
Opening Words : Death is scary no doubt it's the unknown, the one thing no one has come back from, it’s a troublesome time, it’s the one thing no one will steal from nor do they want to, In death we wonder “Where Does My Help Come From?
• WE are gathered here today to celebrate not morn the life of Billy Meade. We celebrate today like the early church celebrated Pentecost. During the 10th century Pentecost was the most unique and creatively celebrated days of the year.
• In order to make the celebration dramatic and dynamic doves were placed in the high cathedrals in small boxes and at just the right time folks just waited for the Priest to say, “Release the Doves” down they flew. This reminds me of Billy a precious Dove released into eternity.
1. Billy now is probably saying everyday It good to be in my mansion in Heaven and Like the Psalmist God is my Shepherd.
• The psalmist says God Is "my shepherd" "He did not say “the LORD is a Shepherd.” He did not say “the LORD is our Shepherd.” He did not say “the LORD is your Shepherd.” Instead, David tells us that he has a personal relationship with the Shepherd! He says “the LORD is my Shepherd!” Can you say that today? You need to be able to"
• Billy is probably saying Wow its so good to be in this amazing Place. Here my Good Shepherd gives fulfillment, contentment, nirvana, serenity, One biblical scholar claimed God created that feeling of peace and completed fulfillment by creating serenity.
• I am sure Billy wanted a few things here on this earth but now he probably saying Its so good to be in a place of “No Want”. psalmist says " I shall not want"
• no wants I have all I need all I want. I have complete Pleasure, I have complete contentment, I have Michael walking and talking with me
• My Shepherd takes care of all my needs Grace would say Jesus supply's me with all I ever needed, all I wanted, all I ask seek or want. My shepherd provides calmness,
2. Billy maybe saying there is nothing but good here God gives Good He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
• He sustains by giving us Good hasn’t He church
• Good life, good stuff, good comfort good care good rest,
• Billy knew God gave him good. Good wife, Good children, good church and a good family. He may say, “This place is just so good”.
3. Billy is saying it good to be in the house of the lord for The Day of restoration has come at last
• In Hebrew the words ‘restores my soul’ can mean ‘brings me to repentance’ (or conversion).” (Boice) Restores to purity
• Restores hope blessings, peace and security unity
• He restores the body The Perishable body shall put on imperishability the Mortal shall put on immortality. My body was falling apart, my body was diseased with cancer but now I have a new body.
4. Billy probably saying its good to be in the house of the Lord because here he just holds to my
• Billy may say, “ Its Good to be in the house of the Lord here He just held my hand as over deaths river I passed. [4]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.
• The shepherd is with us in poorest of times, darkest of times, stormy times, in death times
5. Billy say Its so good to be in the House of the Lord because here is goodness and mercy “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever..”
• Its good to b in the house of the lord here all doves find fulfillment, Good Things, Restoration
• Its so good to be in the house of the lord I am so at rest rest , " It is true Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for
• Its good to be in the house of the lord I am in the paradise of the lord , Billy sees what none of us have ever encountered yet. Paul said when like a dove I was transported to Heaven. “Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. 3And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- 4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
• Billy sees the splendor the glory of eternity
• Billy has been released set free from Tears, Set free from mourning, set free from crying, and set free from Death. God has released the Dove The psalmist said,
6I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-- 7I would flee far away 8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." I have been just waiting for this day zippo forgot but God has not forgotten
