That Great Getting Up Day!!

1 Thess. 4:13-18

Verse 13-But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

My brother, making a scene, trying to climb on to the casket, having to be physically carried out of the funeral home.

People who are so overcome with this hopelessness of that the grave is the end, that the grave is so final!

But for us Christians, we can have a absolute confidence and peace in our present circumstances and future circumstances. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

2 Samuel 12:19-23-When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

Verse 14-For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

The Bible uses the term “asleep” or “sleep” when referring to the passing of a believer.

Acts 7:59-60-And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Luke 23:42-43-Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The moment a Christian dies, that person’s spirit leaves the body and is immediately with the Lord.

The body sleeps, not the soul!! If you are a Christian, you will not taste death for even a second.

Before the doctor has a chance to pronounce you dead, you will be in the Lord’s presence!

Verse 15-16-For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

52% of unchurched adults say, they never wonder if they will go to heaven after they die.

The Church cemetery…If a person is thinking about were their physical body is going to be when they die, maybe we can get them to think about where their soul is going to spend eternity!

When they buy a plot, maybe it would be good to have them receive a pamphlet telling them how they can receive Jesus as their Savior.

Christians only need to rent a cemetery plot…The Rapture

Me being cremated…Been a long time since I went to sleep between Mom and Dad.

Every particle, every speck of dust, will come back together and body and soul will be reunited!

Why will the body and soul be reunited? So the world will know that there is nothing to hard for God!!! Lets see the world try to explain that away, like they have His birth, His death, His resurrection!

In Christ-Only those who had a relationship with the Lord will raise up out of the grave.

I think about that cemetery in Markley with all those babies graves and then with a shout, those bodies and souls will be reunited!!

Verse 17-18-Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

What a glorious homecoming in the air!! That has comforted me when I have stood by a love ones grave and that comfort’s me when I think about the end of this earthy life for me.