Sermon Tone Analysis

PRAYER:

SONG:

     Today we’re here to */formally say /**good-by**/ to /**RAY MARCH*, */not/* good-by */forever/*, we will */see him again/*, but it */may be a long time/* before we */join him/* in Glory.

But we’re also */here to honor him/*, and to */show our respects/*, */but/* we can */also/* be */here to celebration Ray’s Home Coming/*.

*/Ray /*is in a */far better place/*, */free/* from all */sickness/* and */pain/*.

He is now */walking on streets of glory/* with the Lord Jesus Christ, */full of joy/*.

With those thoughts in mind I would like to read to you */3 portions of scripture/*.

The first being Ray's favorite, *PSALMS 23*.

*"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."*

And from (*John 11:25-26*) Jesus said, */“/**I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Believest thou this?*”

And again in (*John 14:1-6*) Jesus said, “*Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.*”

*/PRAYER/*:

*/SONG/*: ???

*/OBITUARY/*:

     *Born*: *March 25 1941* *in* *Winnipeg, Manitoba*.

*Died*: May 19, 2000

     *Ray**/ was /**h**a**ppily married to his wife Josie for 34 years**/.

/**Ray **/is /**survived by**/ his loving WIFE, JOSIE, his MOTHER, MARIAN, his CHILDREN, MARIAN, MICHELL, & Elaine./*

*5 grandchildren*:       *Rosealinda, Robert, Daniel, Amber, & Taylor.

*

     *2 great-grandchildren*: Anthony, & Nichols

*/SONG/*:

*/EULOGY/*:

     *Ray* (as we already said) was *born in 1941 in Canada*, & at the age of 18 years he joined the United States NAVY, where he served 4 years.

At the age of 22 he moved to California, where he met Josie & on 2~/5~/66 they were wed.

Ray was a *finished Carpenter and highly respected in his field*.

Ray was a */loving Son, Husband, Father/*, */grandfather/*, */great-grandfather /*and */friend/*.

He loved his family, children, and grandchildren very much them was a very good Father and grandfather.

He was always willing to go the extra mile for his family and friends and he was a very giving man.

His family summed up by saying he had a BIG HEART.

He loved *the Lord*, which brings me to the *most important thing**/ /*he */ever did/*, and that was to *accept Jesus Christ into his heart.*

*Ray* *made* *Jesus**/ Christ his /**personal Lord and Savior* more than 30 years ago.

*/Because of that/* *we have the assurance**/ that /**he is in heaven*.

*/SONG/*:

*/MESSAGE/*:

     *I.

*I think that one of the *hardest things* that we have to *face with the death* of a loved one, who really knew the Lord, is the *loss**/ that /**we feel*.

*/It’s /**sad and hard to say goodbye**/ /*to someone that we love.

*But* as I said earlier, *we will see them again*.

But it’s */also/* *very common*, when someone goes home to be with the Lord that we* **feel guilt*.

We think that you *could have done more* for them, *we could have expressed our love more*, or you *could have been nicer* to them, *reaching out* to them more.

But *we should not feel**/ any /**sorrow* */for them/* *or* */any /**guilt* because *they’re in a far better place*.

*A.

*Paul said in *1 Thessalonians 4:13-18* “*/But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that /**/ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up /**/together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words/*.”

*1.

/Paul says/* in these Vs that */we do not have to have sorrow/*.

*a.

/Why does he say that/*?

*b.

**1st**/ /*of all *because they are with the Lord forever*.

*i.

/We /**don’t need**/ to /**feel sorrow**/ for any one/* that has *died knowing the Lord*.

*They are with the Lord **/now and forever/*.

*2.

*The *2nd* */reason/* why we */should feel no sorrow/* is */that/* *we* will *be with them again*.

*a.

/Paul said/* in this *same V* *together we will be with the Lord*.

*b.

*For */all those that know the Lord/* */will be /**reunited*.

*B.

**Not everyone* will *go to heaven*.

*1.

*Paul said in *Ephesians 2:8-9* “*/For by grace are ye saved through faith (through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast/*.”

*a.

*And in *Romans 10:9-10* Paul said, “*/That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation/*.”

*i.

**Salvation only comes by accepting Jesus* */into your /**heart*, and *making Him**/ your personal /**Lord and Saviour*.

*ii.

**This is something that Ray did*.

*b.

**Revelation 14:13* “*/And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them/*.”

*i.

*Those that have *died* *in the Lord are blessed*.

They *rest* *from* all the *trials and tribulation* that we have on earth *and* they *enter into the joy of the Lord*.

*2.

*In *2 Corinthians 5:8* Paul said.

“*/We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord/*.”

*a.

/For the /**Christian* when the *spirit leaves the body*, they are *present with the Lord*.

*b.

**1 Thessalonians 5:23* “*/And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole /**spirit/ and /**soul/ and /**body/ be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ/*.”

*3.

/Paul said something/ about death, which is **/very comforting/*.

*a.

*Paul said in *Philippians 1 (V 21)* “*to die is gain*.”

And in (*/V 23/*) he said, “*/For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better/*:”

                                  *b.

/Paul says/ that **heaven is **FAR better*.

*4.

**2 Timothy 4:7-8* says, “*/I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing/*.”

*a.

*In (*Revelation 14:13*) It says that *those* that have *died in the Lord* *are blessed*.