I have had a few friends that lost a loved one in the past year. I read deep in the bible to find something encouraging and comforting to say. I decided to write a sermon on it. My sermon is called: reflections on the loss of a loved one Introduction: 1. the loss of a loved one is a difficult burden to bear. A. Only those who die young and before others escape this burden B. All others will bear this burden at some point in their life. 2. Lord certainty knows our grief... A, he wept when as he saw those weeping over the loss of a loved one. John 11: 33-35; 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. B. he sought to be prepare his own disciples for when they would lose him. John 14; 1-3; “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 3. Indeed God can be a wonderful source of comfort... A. here and now. 2 Corinth.1: 1-3:Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise to the God of All Comfort 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, B. Hereafter; Rev 21:4 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 4. in the death of my uncle; A. I found God to be the God of all comfort. B. Indeed, I found that he provides many avenues of comfort. ( As I reflect on my uncles passing, I found myself thankful for his many comforts. Perhaps you might find my thoughts helpful should you find yourself losing a loved one...) 1. SOURCES OF COMFORT DEFINED. A. Hope in Christ. 1. As Christians, we grieve, but not as those with no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4; 13 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. 2. In Christ--we have the hope of resurrection and reunion; 1 Thessalonians 4; 14-17; 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lords own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 3. This hope is a wonderful source of comfort. 1 Thessalonians 4: 18;18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. B. Precious memories: 1. Memories can be a source of comfort. Philippians 1: 3; I thank my God every time I remember you. 2. Especially when they involve ones faithful service to Christ. Philippians 1:4-5; 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 3. Such memories add to the confidence of our hope. Philippians 1:6;being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. I was comforted to have an uncle who was a faithful Christian. C. Love of Family, brothers and sisters in Christ, outside friends. 1. One way that God comforts us is through other people 2. Who comfort us with comfort they have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1: 4. 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 3. In times of loss and suffering, it often brings out the best in people -- I was comforted by many expressions of love and kindness from others D., The Word of God. 1. The Word of God is a source of peace and strength. Psalms 119:165 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 1: 1-3; 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers 2. 2. If such was true of the Law, how much more the words of Jesus and His apostles! I was comforted by Gods words of peace, love and hope. E. PRAYER 1. Prayer is likewise a source of peace and strength. Philippians 4:6-7; 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2. It is an avenue in which to find grace and help in time of need. Heb 4: 14-16; 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need 3. Many people wrote to tell me that I was in their prayers -- I was comforted by both personal and public prayers, offered by so many F. Songs. 1. 1. Songs of joy, faith, and hope were sung at the funeral 2. Later, a congregation devoted an entire service to song in memory of my uncle. 3. 3. With hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs, singing both praises God and edifies one another. Ephesians 5: 19; 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Colossians 3:16; 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. -- I was comforted (and moved most, providing an outlet for my grief) by songs of hope and faith that we have in Christ [With so many sources of comfort, I found the loss of my uncle to be a reminder of how richly blessed I am, and how kind God has been to me. Yet I am aware that not all enjoy such blessings during the time of their loss. Which leads me to say a few words about the following...] II. SOURCES OF COMFORT DEVELOPED A. HOPE IN CHRIST 1. Our wonderful hope is for those who are faithful to Christ till death--- Revelation 2:10; 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 2. If we desire to have this hope, and to leave it as a legacy for those left behind, we must be faithful servants of Christ -- Do not wait until it is too late; you will only add to the grief of your loved ones B. PRECIOUS MEMORIES... 1. Now is the time to be making memories 2. Especially memories of your faithful service to God, your kindness to others, etc. -- What kind of memories have you been creating lately? C. LOVE OF FAMILY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FRIENDS... 1. Loving relationships take time to develop 2. Dont think only of family, you might outlive all of yours; remember brethren and friends -- What kind of relationships with people are you developing now? D. THE WORD OF GOD... 1. It also takes time to become familiar with the Word of God 2. To learn where to turn to find comfort, peace, and strength -- Are you familiarizing yourself with the Bible so it can help you in your grief? E. PRAYER... 1. Prayer is of value only if we are right relationship with God. 1 Peter 3:12; 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 2. Prayer is comforting only if we are already close to God -- Are you drawing closer to God by frequently talking to Him in prayer? F. SONGS... 1. Like the Word of God, songs comfort us when they are familiar to us 2. When weve had time to reflect, to understand what we are singing about -- Do you sing spiritual songs enough to find comfort in them now? CONCLUSION: 1. The death of a loved one has been made easier to bear because of Gods grace... a. Jesus died to deliver us from the fear of death: Hebrews 2: 14-15; 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. b. The death of a righteous person is precious in Gods sight-- Psalms 116: 15; 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. c. The loved one has finally gone home; if we remain faithful, the separation will be temporary 2. The blessings that God affords His children in time of death are so many... a. But they must be received and acted upon b. We must act now to benefit from them in the future Are you preparing for the reality of death? Are you doing things today that will make the death-day of your loved ones (and your own) easier to bear, even a cause for celebration...? I hope you find this sermon more comforting after you lost a loved one, I hope and pray this will bring you encouragement, I am sorry for everyone who has lost some one to close to you. My heart is with you.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:13:05 +0000
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