Memorial Service for Kamden - Oct. 7, 2000
Prelude music – Tiffany McCartney on the piano
Opening Prayer – Pastor Mike
Special music – Ashley McCartney “Amazing Grace” on the Sax!
Music/singing – Tiffany and Pastor Mike
· Amazing Grace
· Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
· What A Friend We Have In Jesus
· Jesus Loves the little children
Bio on Kamden:
Born on September 20, 2000 and died on Sept. 20,2000
Size _________________________________________
Scriptures revealing the heart of God toward children:
NIV Mark 10:13-16
3. People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
16. And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Again the arms of the Lord have opened to a child whom He has clasped to Himself in tender love. He was instructed us to ‘let the little children come to him’ not to’ hinder them’. The going of this one so dear to our hearts that it has brought heaven nearer to us all.
The Lord is pleased that Kamden is with Him. The Father the Shepherd of the little lambs has taken him home for eternity.
Prayer: We therefore commit Kamden to you Lord. But Lord we miss him! Help us to see what he is currently seeing and let us gain peace to let Him go.
NIV Revelation 7:16-17
16. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
17. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
He is in the presence of God dwelling with him in His city where there are no more tears. Scripture also tells us in revelations other things about this Holy city:
Rev. 21:23,24 “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings on the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
Rev. 22:4,5 “ They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
In Revelation 21 and 22 we learn about the residents of the Holy City. Revelation 21;10 states, “And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”
Moore makes this observation that I would like to expand on today,
“In the verses that follow (Revelation 21 and 22), John describes the unique characteristics of that holy city. Now, the promise of Revelation is that, if you’re a believer (i.e. in the language of Revelation, you have had your “robe washed in the blood of the Lamb”), you will someday inhabit that holy heavenly city in the New Heaven!”
T.S.- Lets take a few moments today and explore this Holy city and learn what it is like and what Kamden has the pleasure of partaking of.
I. God’s Glow in the Holy city – I believe Kamden is saying right now WOW what a show!
a. Revelation 21, 22 - Gives us a glimpse of what happens when God shows up and glows in a city.
1. The Holy city’s first characteristic is God dwells in it (21:3).
a. God – Yes – Dwells, resides, lives, in this city LITERALLY!
2. In this city crying is done away with as God wipes away all the pain and sorrow and hurt. (21:4)
a. Kamden does not have to experience this.
b. In other words there is joy, happiness, contentment!
c. That is what he is enjoying right now.
3. In this city there is No death – only life - life with no crying, no pain. Death is no longer a concern only life!
a. What is a city like when God glows and sits on the throne in a city? There is no death, no pain, no sorrow! Kamden will never have to experience anymore pain.
4. In this holy city there is a new way of doing things – the old is dead and gone – It means:
a. This city is not like the worlds - driven by pride, by greed, by people treading on top of others to get to the top, by people doing there own thing at the cost of someone else life or feelings.
b. No this city is run with Love in absolute control. (21:4-10).
i. Reflect on I Cor. 13 “The Love chapter!”
NIV 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10. but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
c. In this city God makes everything new- there are no ghettos, no crack houses, no houses of ill repute, no exploitation of people and resources, no thieves stealing – no it’s ALL NEW!
d. It’s all fresh and beautiful!
e. There is a new government!
5. In this city there is a spring of everlasting life. Many have looked for the fountain of youth so they could live forever. Here it is friends it’s in the New Jerusalem (21:6).
a. The great blessing is, there is no cost to drink of its life giving water.
b. Kamden discovered the fountain of life
6. In this city according to Rev. 21:11 “It shone with the Glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.”
a. Friend the holy city was illuminated with the presence of God. There as beautiful colorful majestic view of GOD! It is absolutely breath taking. PAUSE AND LET HIS SPIRIT GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE!!!!
b. Remember Kamden is experiencing this right now!
c. The walls and foundations glittered and beam with the brilliant colors of beauty. The gates are white washed pearls. The streets are paved in GOLD (21:11-21)! WOW what a show.
7. This city had no temple – no church buildings - because God along with the lamb resided there literally. You could see them, touch them, speak to them, hear them, and smell their sweet presence (21:22,23) Kamden is right now enjoying the presence of God.
a. 21:23 states, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb its lamp.”
b. In the city - God flows and glows and all can see the light.
c. In this city a resident is one who has a personal relationship with the Lord God almighty.
i. It’s personal and intimate! It’s not philosophical its real!
d. I discover that a resident of this city walks in the light because of God’s presence – they see by God’s illuminating presence. There is no need of natural light because God’s supernatural light is everywhere guiding the way around in the city.
e. Jesus told us in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
f. John tells us in I John 1:5 “…God is light in Him there is no darkness…”
g. The Psalmist wrote of the Lord (Psalms 119:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
8. In this city we told in verses 24-26 that the kings will honor and praise the Lord. Yes even the leaders and the whole nation will proclaim the Lord the king and bring him glory.
a. In this city everyone even the President and Congress type people will honor God. There will be no separation of Church and State. They are one because you cannot have good government without the Lord Almighty.
9. The city will never close its gates again. All will be able to enter into the presence of the Lord. There will be no night.
a. In Other words night represents evil it will be banished forever! There will only be LIGHT!
b. In this city the residents will worship God alone.
c. They will not worship themselves only HIM!
10. In the Holy city the residents will be holy and righteous. There will be no evil or unclean individuals. There will be no deception only truth. It will be full of residents who are written in the Lambs book of life.
a. There will be no disgusting practices. No child abusers, no rapists, no violence, no crime, no murderers, no liars, no self-centered individuals, there will be only people who are blessings to each other.
11. In this city there will be mass production of great fruit. The resident there will receive fruit from the tree of life that will bring healing to everyone. The pains of the past will be completely healed. The diseases and sickness’ of life will be gone (Rev.22:1,2).
a. The residents of this city will receive fresh fruit all the time! They will be satisfied like never before!
b. The fruit of Spirit will be manifested in the lives of the residents: Galatians 5:22-23
i. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control.”
12. In this city there will be no curses only blessings as God’s people worship and Praise the Lord. The residents of this city will serve the Lord (Rev. 22:3,4).
a. Because the curse is gone once again we will see his face like Adam and Eve.
b. No more separation because of the curse.
c. We will be united with Lord forever!
13. In the city of Light where God’s glow -flows -and shows we will reign with Him forever and ever.
Conclusion: We have been illuminated this afternoon by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Kamden’s short burst of life made this all possible. I believe he is in Heaven right now enjoying all that has been described. But I am also sure that he wants you all to know how to get to where he is. One day if your heart is right you will be able to sit down and play with him and talk with him. It will be a glorious day! I am looking forward to getting to know my nephew Kamden in Heaven. I am also going to share how his life and death impacted all these lives here today.
We have a challenge before us if we desire to be residents of this Holy City so we can see Jesus and Kamden. Where one day we will experience the fullness of God’s glow – flowing – and glowing in all his majesty. It will be the greatest show on earth and all the universe. It’s a show I do not want to miss. I want to be there on the front row praising God with Kamden .
The questions I propose to you today are:
“Do you reflect the characteristic of one who will be a resident of this city?”
“Are you preparing now to enter into the Holy City?”
“Are you ready now to enter the Holy city?”
” Do you illuminate the presence of God’s glow in your life”?
“ Do people see it and say where are you from and where are you going”?
“Do I you want to see Kamden again?”
Altar Call: If you are one who wants to enter then you need a ticket - Jesus Christ is the ticket! Kamden used him and so can you!
It’s an easy ticket to get do three things:
1. Acknowledge that you’re a sinner and ask God to forgive you of you sins.
2. Ask Jesus to become the Lord of your life and you give up your life to him.
3. Turn away from sin and selfish ways and follow the Lord with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength.
Maybe you have once asked Jesus into your life but recently you decided to leave His path and light and choose you own path and light. It’s easy you want your ticket back into Heaven for all eternity. Say your sorry and ask God to restore you and then jump back on his illuminated path that leads to the Holy City and get ready to be blessed.
Closing Prayer – Prayer for comfort and expectation for the day we meet the Lord!
Invitation to lunch following!
Postlude Music - Tiffany
