Above and Beyond 4
Above and Beyond IV – Asleep in Him (1 Thess. 4:13-18) nv 8/27/06 am
OS: 1 A preacher in a small church was greatly annoyed by one of his elderly members who fell asleep during his sermons every Sunday. After the service one day, the preacher said to the old man’s grandson who always sat with his grandfather, “If you can keep the old man awake, I’ll pay you a dollar a week.” This worked for two weeks; the aged man was very alert and listened to the sermons attentively. On the third Sunday, however, there he was, up to his old tricks again, sound asleep in the pew. After the service the preacher called the boy over and said, “I am disappointed in you. Didn’t I promise you a dollar a week to keep your grandfather awake?” “Yes,” replied the boy, “but Grandpa said if I’d stop pinching him in church he’d give me five dollars.”
I. This morning our text talks about sleeping in Christ (not in church, and not as literal sleep, but death)
A. Death has been called the most democratic experience in life for we all participate in it.
1. We think death comes only to others, and we don’t like to talk about it.
B. Scripture is filled with reminders
1. James - Life is like a Vapor,
2. Hebrews – we all have that appointment once
C. Life experience reminds us
1. Just the past couple of weeks we’ve been reminded – Cathy’s Father, Wesley Johnson / Our sister Mona Targia /
2. We pray for Terri Landers who awaits this appointment in Hospice.
3. :Psalm 116:15, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
4. Isn’t it interesting that it worked out that today and next Sunday would be the days we arrive at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 5:1-11.
5. We will discover today, that we can live above and beyond even the fear of death.
II. God loves us and knows what worries us most, and He knew we would struggle with the concept of death.
A. What happens when you die? (Video – slide 2)
B. 3 Psalm 103:14-18, for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
C. God has provided us with the answers we need for everything – even when we face death itself.
III. Evidently these young Christians at Thessalonica were grieving over the death of their Christian loved ones and were unsure about their wellbeing.
A. I remember Bubba and his pouring over scripture to determine where Aunt Ruth was so he could go and see her again. – Same Questions.
B. We are intrigued with near death experiences of people – Daddy and his experience.
C. Because we belong to Jesus we have hope even in the face of death, and He doesn’t want us to be ignorant about these things – we do not grieve as the world grieves.
D. Read text – look for references to Jesus. 4 5
1. 6 Grief is natural for all people, but Christians have hope.
TS] Everything hinges on Jesus, He is the focus of our hope – Jesus has provided all we need to live above and beyond even death itself. (We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe the same is in store for us – we are in Christ)
We can live above and beyond even death because…
I. 7 Of the Certainty of God’s Word about life beyond this life.
A. Notice (15) how Paul emphasizes the nature of what he is saying, :“according to the Lord’s own word”
1. Who could tell you the complete story? Only Jesus has died and rose again. Revelation 1:18, I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
2. 8 2 Corinthians 5:1, Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
3. “The blood of Christ makes us safe, the word of God makes us sure.”
TS] So what does God say in His Word about life beyond this life?
II. 9 This Body is not me.
A. Our soul does not die with the body.
1. Define death – 10 James 2:26, As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
2. :Ecclesiastes 12:7, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
3. This body is just dirt. (kid, “I don’t believe that” – “Ever had worms? If you can have worms you must be dirt.”)
B. Where does this soul go? – Our soul goes back to the Lord.
1. (vs. 14) – He cannot bring them when He returns unless they are already with Him.
2. 11 2 Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
3. 12 Philippians 1:21-24, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
C. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
TS] 13 God knows we need certainty about death. So what does God say in His Word about life beyond this life? This body is not me…and
III. 14 Jesus Himself will return.
A. :16 – “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven.”
1. That is a promise from God that you can be absolutely confident of.
2. God always fulfills His promise.
B. The coming of Jesus was the point of reference for meeting Jesus that these early Christians focused on.
1. “We are going to meet the Lord when He returns” – they were afraid, it seems, that those who died would miss out on the return of Christ.
2. Today – “We are going to meet the Lord when we die”
3. 2 Peter 3:8-9, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
C. “The Lord Himself will come”
1. Personal nature of Jesus and our relationship with Him.
TS] 15 God wants us to be certain of these things, So what can I know about life beyond this life? This body is not me / Jesus will return…and…
IV. 16 We will see each other again.
A. When He comes either for us or with us – we will be reunited.
1. :“together with them”
2. There will be a great big family reunion on that day.
B. Will we know one another beyond life on this earth?
1. In Matthew 17, on the mount of transfiguration, the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah.
2. Discussing the coming of Jesus and comparing Adam and Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:49, And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
3. 17 1 John 3:2, Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
4. John 20:27-28, Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
5. Jesus also ate – So, we will have lots of chocolate pie in heaven.
C. I believe we will be able to know one another, and if I am wrong lets just all agree to wear name tags and we won’t have to worry about it.
18 God wants us to be certain of these things, So what can I know about life beyond this life? This body is not me / Jesus Himself will return, and we will see each other again.
Death is not an accident – it is an appointment. There is a time to be born and a time to die, but because of God’s love and compassion for us He has revealed enough for us to not grieve as the world, but to grieve in hope. The door of death simply opens the door of heaven for the believer.
Adrian Rogers writes, “For every shadow, there must be light. A shadow may frighten you, but a shadow cannot really hurt you. Death is but a shadow if you know the Lord Jesus Christ. If you keep your face toward to The Light (John 8:12), the shadow will fall behind you. You won’t even see the shadow. God doesn’t bring us to a valley to leave us there. He always brings us through.”
ILL. John Todd was a preacher back in the late 1800’s. When he was 6 years old, both of his parents died. So a kind-hearted aunt raised him until he left home to study for the ministry.
Years later, this aunt became seriously ill, & even though she was a Christian, she wrote him a letter expressing her fear of death. Here, condensed from his autobiography, is the letter he sent her in reply:
"It is now 35 years since I, as a boy of 6, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home & be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day I made the long journey to your house. I can still recall the disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your hired man, Caesar, to fetch me.
"I remember my tears & anxiety as, perched high on the back of the horse & clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey, & I became lonely & afraid. ‘Do you think she’ll go to bed before we get there?’ I asked Caesar.
"’Oh no!’ he said reassuringly, ‘She’ll stay up for you. When we get out o’ these woods, you’ll see her light shinin’ in the window.’
"Presently we did ride out into the clearing, & there, sure enough, was your light. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me - a tired & bewildered little boy. You had a fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting on the stove. After supper you took me to my new room, heard me say my prayers, & then sat beside me till I fell asleep.
"Auntie, some day soon God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the strange journey, or the messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love & a welcome awaiting, & you will be safe in God’s care."