He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God, he lives a righteous life. He's celebrating Job, a human being. III. by Timothy George 2 . There is pain, loss, brokenness and death in all of our lives. Im going to teach you how to be happy about everything. Forever, you're going to learn joy of the increase of His kingdom, there will be no end. So on July 27, I did not preach the funeral I dreaded. You have servants who are owned by the master and are accountable to him. Sermon Matthew 25:14-30 Trust, Not Fear. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Our lives here on Earth are an extended interview for our heavenly position. Quite frankly, lost people, people who are dead in their transgressions and sins, they have no good works. In all this, she used that which God gave her to multiply Gods gifts to her in order that she might do the will of God! Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. The Bible also tells us that rewards are given to us by grace, dear friends, we cannot demand them, and we know we don't deserve them. D. It should be as personal as possible. It's all over the world, salvation by works. So, we might immediately try to distance ourselves from that drive to be praised, that drive for glory. Second, Eloise is fully aware of what is happening to her in Paradise right now. He's anticipating it. Let's look at the first one: praise from God. Those who are Christians in name only do not have this blessed hope. Denomination: As Jesus said in Matthew 12:33, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit." How did you like that one? If God would not leave his Son in the grave, he will not abandon those who trusted in his Son. Well done, good and faithful servant, you've been faithful to a few things, now I'm going to put you in charge of many things. The implication of this is just staggering, friends. Of so many things, so many rich blessings. I think it's because inside each one of us is a yearning for glory and recognition, for honor and praise. It's what you get after Judgment Day. MAT. As Napoleon was talking with the captain of the Bellerophon, the ship that would carry him to his exile, he was in a pensive and somewhat ironic mood. You don't tell anybody, you weep for somebody that's lost, God sees it, He knows, and He will reward you. . Note: The reward for both the one with 5 and the one with 2 is the same! Our good works are generally motivated by pride and self-focus, I feel good about myself, and I look good to others when I do good works, like the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. They must be used for the glory of God. And after that, and then you may have your dinner.? Put oil on your head and wash your face. What it does, can you do all that? It's like God got carried away, like He's on a horse riding it, says Isn't this awesome? In our mourning of her passing, let us be comforted by the Word of God: sorrow, crying, or pain for everything will, be made new just as God intended for it to, I Thessalonians 4:13-14: Dont mourn as the, world does, for we do so with hope of the. A FUNERAL SERMON. "Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Funerals: For the Care of Souls (Lexham Ministry Guides) Regular price: $12.99 Preaching Hope in Darkness: Help for Pastors in Addressing Suicide from the Pulpit Regular price: $16.99 The Hardest Sermons You'll Ever Have to Preach: Help from Trusted Preachers for Tragic Times Regular price: $15.99 Create an account Goodbye competition. If you know anything about God and His holy perfection and about yourself and the nature of your works, that should stagger you back on your heels, that He would reward anything you ever did. This sermon is Chapter 8 of A Minister's Treasury of Funeral and Memorial Messages by Jim Henry, former pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando, Florida. Joy is a powerful word in the happiness family, it is the most powerful happiness word, I think. Often, preachers see these funerals as a mere duty every clergyman simply must do. If Jesus weeps at the loss of a friend, we should, too. IV. Look to Christ, not to your own works. God is measuring our accountability with what we're doing with what He's given us now. Funeral Sermon: God's Breath Suffocates Death. I want to celebrate my joy over your good work together, let's do it together. She criticized the way funerals were done in America, including cosmetic excrescences and high expenses stemming from the greed . 4. I was watching an interview recently with Pete Sampras. Including words or songs from others in your funeral sermon can be "meaning-making.". Secondly, it's not becoming. Even as we rejoice, however, let us not forget that Lent is still not over. The second is greater responsibility from God, and the third is joy in God. When Jesus comes to reign. What does he do? The horse, what I made. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you." James says, "Show me your faith without deeds, I'll show you my faith by what I do." Just as the converted thief went to be with Christ, so the spirit of Eloise Roop entered into Paradise to be with Christ the moment she died. Do you want to know what true ownership is? Matthew 7:16-20, "By their fruit, you will recognize them. Look at verse 21 again, his master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little. Youre auditioning right now for your heavenly position. Well done, you good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over little. That is his praise for the deeds done, for the actual work done, so the character of the servant and the work are both focus of praise. Jesus said to the converted thief, who was dying on the cross next to Him, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). Flee away that glory day! His own Funeral Sermon "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep." Acts xiii. Rest from thy loved employ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy master's joy." 2 The voice at midnight came, He started up to hear; A mortal arrow pierced his frame; He fell, but felt no fear. How can you believe, Jesus said, If you accept praise from one another and yet you make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? Back at the beginning of the sermon, I said that Napoleon said people are motivated by a yearning for praise and honor, God made that. We may not wait . He says later,"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." What Jesus did was great, it was infinite. Dr. Hymers e-mail is rlhymersjr@sbcglobal.net. III. W hen Jessica Mitford first published The American Way of Death in 1963, she unleashed a broadside against the entire funeral industry in this country. But when Christ returns, she will come down to this earth with Him in her resurrected body, walking and leaping and praising God in Christs 1,000-year earthly kingdom! He says to the sheep, to the righteous, to the redeemed,"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. But when they came into the region of Lycaonia, they continued to preach the gospel (14:7). See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Friends, if you hear me saying, we don't need to be doing that, you have missed it. Whoever didn't put it to work and gain. For most of us, that means there is still a lot of work to do in repenting of sins and in making a good unburdening confession, in engaging in self-denial, and in going out . Sorrow and sighing shall flee away, Do you see where they live way up high, where the Eries are, way up high up in the rocky crag and how it sees its food from afar. What is God doing? II. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away! Rarely is it longer than an hour. All of it taken away. All of these wonderful things will be experienced by Eloise Roop. 2. I think it's going to be detailed praise from God for each good work done, every good work you do, every time you give to the needy, and don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. These sermon manuscripts and videos now go out to about 1,500,000 computers in over 221 countries every year at www.sermonsfortheworld.com. If you're here today and you're lost, if you don't know Jesus, and the rest of the sermon is going to be about rewards, just know this, if you stand before God on Judgment Day without Christ as your Savior, you will have no rewards, there will be none, nothing but wrath and anger for sin. They will tag us as believers in Jesus Christ. Mrs. ********* was given a certain amount of talents. Two Journeysexists to help Christians make progress in the two journeys of the Christian life, the internal journey of sanctification and the external journey of gospel advancement. So, we have to be told over and over again, we are never going to be justified or vindicated or forgiven for our sins by any good thing we can do. The new heaven, the new earth will be bustling, it will be a busy, productive, fascinating place in which there's growth and increase and development and authority structures and responsibility. If you don't have any increase, what you were entrusted is taken away. Funeral Sermon Ecclesiastes 3:11 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A . I will do whatever I can to maximize my heavenly happiness. And then to the goats, He will say, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. : The Supernatural Life of a Christian (Matthew Sermon 14 of 151), Heart Righteousness or Hypocrisy: Good Deeds Sifted (Matthew Sermon 15 of 151), The Lord Teaches Us to Pray: The Lord's Prayer, Part 1 (Matthew Sermon 16 of 151), The Lord Teaches Us to Pray: The Lord's Prayer, Part 2 (Matthew Sermon 17 of 151), Storing Up Heavenly Treasure: Jesus Protects Us From Loss (Matthew Sermon 18 of 151), Trusting Your Heavenly Father: Jesus Protects Us From Anxiety (Matthew Sermon 19 of 151), Eye Surgery for Eye Surgeons: Jesus and Judging (Matthew Sermon 20 of 151), Spiritual Beggars Satisfied: Jesus Teaches Us to Ask and Act (Matthew Sermon 21 of 151), The Narrow Gate: Jesus Commands Us to Enter the Kingdom (Matthew Sermon 22 of 151), False Prophets, False Professions (Matthew Sermon 23 of 151), Built Wisely Is Built to Last: Jesus Prepares Us For Judgment Day (Matthew Sermon 24 of 151), The Supernatural Healing Ministry of Jesus (Matthew Sermon 25 of 151), Counting the Cost of Following Christ (Matthew Sermon 26 of 151), What Kind of Man is This? Good and faithful Christians like Eloise will descend with Christ to rule and reign over the earth for 1,000 years. Second, Eloise is fully aware of what is happening to her in Paradise right now. Now by way of review, you've known the reading of the parable of the talents is rich and full. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Watch our worship service. For we must all [who are true Christians] appear before the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10). Psalm 116:15. Every time you go into your room and close the door and pray for a missionary, a brother and sister in Christ, somebody sick, somebody struggling, a marriage is struggling. The only comfort some funeral sermons bring is when they are over! Therefore, the famous assessment in Isaiah of good works done by an unbeliever. As we remember Miriam Smith, Tom Jacobs, and Bro. Many times, actually in Scripture, God with unbridled joy, just celebrates something he's made, he talks about its attributes and its nature. When I began my preparation I found almost no funeral sermons in print. Thirdly, He says it would actually be unjust for him not to reward us. He's going to say, Look at the New Jerusalem I made. But not so fast, dear friends. Read full chapter. He identifies them based on their works. Praise can be given to a created being without it being worship. I want to talk about the doctrine of Christian rewards. May 25, 2022. As soon as he won, he turned and looked right to his father, and he climbs up over and around and through people to get up there and embrace him. Now, let's look at verse 21, and what I'm going to do with verse 21 is tell you what rewards you'll get. A sermon of encouragement LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my brothers and sister, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Then, with a contented sigh, the person would "slip away" - entirely unafraid. 7) One of the best things you can do for yourself, pastor, is to drop in on funeral services being conducted by other ministers whom you know and respect. II Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith. He reflected back over his amazing military career and the immense sacrifices that soldiers had made to win him an empire, and he uttered some famous words, "A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon." An unregenerate person cannot improve his or her status in God's sight one fraction of an inch by his good works. I baptized her in 1989 and was her pastor for 29 years. John 12:26, says, Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, there, my servant also will be. A faithful servant courageously keeps on proclaiming the gospel in spite of persecution. The glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. This sounds like the kings of the earth are bringing glory into the New Jerusalem, to say more than this is to indulge freely in speculation. The clear statements make it obvious. Like Paul, in his vision, Eloise was caught up to the third heavenup into paradise (II Corinthians 12:2, 4). You too could have this wonderful hope for the future. First, the true Christians spirit goes immediately into the presence of Christ when they die, Luke 23:43; Romans 8:34, II Corinthians 12:2, 4. missionaries throughout the world, especially the Third World, where there are few if any Good works cannot pay for our sinfulness, only faith in the blood of Jesus Christ can. I dont know if I can say "I did everything God wanted me to do today". 22 . It is the consummation of the very thing that we should have been seeking all along. What do you say to the servant when he comes in from the field? (Matthew Sermon 27 of 151), Christ's Absolute Power Over Demons (Matthew Sermon 28 of 151), Christ's Power on Earth to Forgive Sins (Matthew Sermon 29 of 151), The "Friend of Sinners" Saves a Tax Collector (Matthew Sermon 30 of 151). At his funeral countless numbers of his co-workers all told the same story - this man loved Jesus and loved people. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. He is a joyful being. Here is the funeral poem: On a sheer peak of joy we meet; Below us hums the abyss; Death either way allures our feet If we take one step amiss. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. Eloise was the church pianist and later she was the church organist. Then finally, there is accountability. She died at 3:04 PM on December 13, 2017 at the age of 71. You will learn both things to avoid and practices to emulate. seminaries or Bible schools. I want you to look at this new Earth. Dr. John R. Rice said it well in the song Mr. Griffith sang before this sermon. He had led armies of over 600,000 men, he had won battles in Egypt and throughout Europe, and at one point controlled most of continental Europe. God is not an idolater, He's no flatterer, He only gives his praise wisely and perfectly. He won it seven times, but this one was different because his father was there to see it for the first time. The gospel must be preached clearly in the sermon. And recognize that Jesus is not only your Savior; He is also your Lord (see Luke 6:46 ). Forever. the funeral sermon? Then He rewards us for doing it. Speaking at a funeral or memorial service is a somber moment. It's of the essence of the life that God has implanted in our hearts, in our souls. We can't say it too often, why? There would be no rewards, but thanks be to God by his sovereign grace, He can make bad trees like you and me good and get some good fruit out of us. IV. Some of you may be thinking, "Well, then what difference does it make if Im going to be just as happy with other people's achievements " Don't think like that. from our church, are copyrighted and can only be used by permission. He speaks of wrestling, boxing, running, winning the race, winning the prize, and winning crowns. To finish strong is to have a concentrated life. I go to prepare a place for you. Is it wrong to yearn for praise from Jesus? However, all of Dr. Hymers video messages, and all other sermons on video Eloise was sick with cancer before she died. When we see Jesus, it will be the most important words we may hear. Rev. He is very zealous that you learn to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret and your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you. Jesus died on the Cross to pay the full penalty for your sin. To another 1 sack of treasure. Whenever Jesus came to a funeral in the gospels, it stopped being a funeral. "There is no one who does good, not even one,"[Romans 3:12]. To miss one is to miss a part of life's full recipe. We're going to be judged by our works, assessed by them. I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of all I get." I should be giving Him praise and glory and honor. 'well Done, Good and Faithful Servant', a Sermon, Preached After the Funeral of J.W. Even if there were a system whereby, we could pay for our good works through our sins, through our good works, you would empty out your pockets on Judgment Day and find you didn't have a single one. Sitting in on a service where I knew no one except the minister is how I came away with one . Aren't you glad? We know this because God says He will do it for his servants who's serving by faith, He says it multiple times. Without faith, he says, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. You've got to believe in rewards to be pleasing to God. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Well done, you good and faithful servant. That's praise of the servant's character, he's good and faithful. However, though we may not be justified by good works, the Bible teaches, and this is hard for Christian to understand, but the Bible teaches it, we will be assessed by our works. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. No, a man's a Jew if he's one inwardly. All their work for the United Way and for UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity and Walk for Hunger and cerebral palsy and all of that, all our righteous acts are like filthy rags in the sight of God. The Napoleonic Wars resulted in the deaths of perhaps as many as six million human beings. Can we all say that? The Parable of the Talents 22 The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. To hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," from Jesus, first make sure you are saved. Intro: The passage opens with Jesus leaving the Gentile cities of Tyre and Sidon headed back to Galilee. Let them leave with a sense that Christ is the hope of . They do it, says Paul, to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. I'm going to put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master." James tells us how the mechanism works. These sermon manuscripts are not copyrighted. You're going to learn more joy after 1000 years than you knew in the first 1000 years. We're all enjoying Jesus, just kneeling at His feet. It affects the way you live. Isn't it beautiful? Now, thirty-five years and almost 500 funerals later, I have put together this volume of brief funeral messages. The occasion is very serious and many there are thinking of eternal things who have not done so in quiet a while. and went to the most spectacularly beautiful place I've ever seen in my life, the Karakoram mountains, 20,000 feet high, plus the incredibly beautiful Hunza Valley, less than a day's ride from there. I felt like I had a big cork tied to my chest, you just couldn't sink, and I just picture a buoyant swim in a sea of joy, friends. One church I previously served also had such a service, but the Anglican rector always took that, and so . The sermon manuscripts are not copyrighted, so preachers can use them without our permission. But we also know from the world around us / the struggles and the conflicts / the pre-determined attitudes and fixed mind-sets / which do not uphold those Now, I know that no hope can be given in some cases, for we are called upon to preach the funeral of the worst sinner as well as the best saint. The third reward is an experience of joy. He will make no mistakes, his praise will not puff you up, it will not go to your head, it will not corrupt you. Is it wrong to yearn for that? Wow. To one servant he gave 5 talents - that was 5 sacks of treasure. The kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Note: Ephesians 2:8-10: Works do not save us, but we are created in Christ to do them. That gold medal is a symbol of a lot of self-sacrifice of some extraordinary skill, and at the key moments when the time came to perform, winning that race or that contest and winning that gold medal. Actually, God makes three very strong statements about rewards, all of them found in the Book of Hebrews. These words are - "Well done, good and faithful servant." Imagine if the factory that made the gold medals for the Beijing games happened to make a few extra and you could buy one at cost, 500 or 600, and then you could probably wear it to work, show all your friends. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. We came to this strange mountain lake that was incredibly salty. Take that one talent away from him and give it to the one who has the five talents. Justice Scalia on Funeral Sermons. Come and share your master's happiness!'. From talking to you and in the short time that I have known her, I believe she invested those talents very faithfully in her service for the Lord. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). If this is all there was to life it would seem like an . Funeral Sermons May Be the Greatest Opportunity to Influence I personally believe that people in attendance at a funeral tend to remember more of what is shared because they are listening more intently. Lame men shall leap as an hart, for then It says in Ephesians that we should find out what pleases the Lord. Isn't it fantastic? He's going to walk with you and he's going to teach you how to feel joy, and not only that, but he's going to teach you joy in his other children. Introduction. In Luke 19 says, The king sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, each person getting the same one mina, to find out what they had gained with it. First of all, God's happy with what you did, just in the context that He gives the five talents and says, "I want you to know how happy I am with the talents, what you did. Include poetry and music. A JOYFUL FUNERAL SERMON by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. I want to learn from God how to do general happiness for the rest of my life, I want to have eternal pleasures at His right hand. Our works will identify us, dear friends, not save us. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations (Revelation 2:26). Well done, good, and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Each receives the same invitation: "You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. If you are not yet converted I'm telling you to repent by turning away from your sins. We see this principle also in the parable of The Sheep and the Goats. XXV. We have good stewardship on display with the one who had received the five talents; he goes at once, no procrastination, focuses on the talents and he gains five more. This sermon is useful when speaking at a memorial service for an unexpected passing. Think about these words in Revelation 21, the city, the New Jerusalem, 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. Come and share your master's happiness" We serve God faithfully week in, week out. Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . Look at what I've made. Remember that picture of Jim Craig with the American flag around his shoulders, scanning the crowds, and you could see, you could read his lips. And every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "Here I am God to talk to you about me. If you could see me now, Im walking streets of gold, if you could see me now, Im standing tall and whole, if you could see me now youd see the pains erased, if you could see me now youd know Id seen His face. You're going to be busy. What is man that you're mindful of him? What kind of world is it we're heading toward? John 5,"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out. Whoever does not have increase. Baptist. You may telephone him at (818)352-0452. There are great chapters on this at the end of Job. IT is remarkable that David should say, in the sixteenth Psalm, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption," and yet that Paul should say concerning him, when preaching at Antioch, that he "saw corruption . Well done." But . Or will we hear the other words? Invested in the kingdom, God can multiply, A. The idea is powerful, the more faithful we were in this world, the more responsibility we're going to have in the next. The second aspect of joy is God's joy in general. I preached the funeral that I could preach for a Rahab, or a Ruth, or the thief on the cross. 4. Paul says if you do that, you're not really a Jew. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, the death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done." Thats on page 1135 of the Scofield Study Bible. 33. If these sermons bless you send an e-mail to Dr. Hymers and tell him, but always include what country you are writing from. I'd like 100 cups of cold-water rewards. Try, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. Amen. The Bible goes way beyond this though, on the issue of good works, not just identifying whether you're going to heaven or hell. Emotions ride high, and one must be careful and compassionate when delivering the message. I. Hope in death and dyingin Christ: evangelisticfuneral sermon for preachers. But the one with the one talent, he goes off and he hides his master's money in the ground. For me, John Wilde was one of those people. Click on Sermon Manuscripts.. Goodbye arrogance. Jesus said. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? And concerning fasting, be sure that no one knows that you're fasting. The first thing we must know, and we can't say it too often, we must know that we can never be justified by our good works. What's amazing is that praise from God is going to last forever. This is a man that had thrown the world into turmoil for 20 years. Third, Eloise, and all true Christians, will appear before Christ to receive rewards, II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:21; I Corinthians 15:58; Luke 19:12-26, Revelation 2:26; 5:10. I saw such strong similarities between the story of Dorcas and Elaine's story. Can you do that? What is it then you're storing up in heaven? Verse 31 tells us that they went to " Decapolis ". XXV. There are six characters we play out in life. To the first two servants Jesus said, "Well DONE! It is to the glory of God for you to be a spiritual athlete and go after joy. He might say, "Do you realize what this individual did, this Martyr, this missionary, this evangelist, this Pastor, this servant? Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in WELL DOING: for in due season we shall reap, .read more The master comes back and settles accounts with these servants. His master notes the character and praises him for what kind of a servant he is. You've been weaned off praise from men, and you are focused on one thing, "I want God to praise me". WELL DONE! If you find these resources helpful, please prayerfully consider donating as the Lord leads you. A funeral service is an event unlike any other. Praise from God. "Serve the LORD with gladness!" Paul then describes the kind of life that leads to eternal life. And here we are at a funeral this morning, mourning the loss of a loved one, someone we know and love. It does to me, but it is true. The cup of cold-water reward. God says, "I'm going to teach you joy that you havent known before. That's genuine ownership. In 1 Corinthians 4:5, what we get is praise from God. Do you think of what you can do with this to enhance your earthly situation, or are you thinking like a steward saying, Lord, what do you want me to do with this money?.