“Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.” (Psalm 115:16)

We don’t grieve like those without hope 

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (1 Thess. 4:14 ESV)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 ESV)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4 ESV)

Jesus is the resurrection and the life 

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” (John 11:25 ESV)

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22 ESV)

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thess. 4:14 ESV)

Jesus has the keys of death

“…I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev. 1:18)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 ESV)

Therefore…

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)

“The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Cor. 15:26)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38 ESV)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4 ESV)

Quote:

“As I go into a cemetery I like to think of the time when the dead shall rise from their graves. ... Thank God, our friends are not buried; they are only sown!” - Dwight L. Moody

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)

Reach out – speak as God commands you to speak 

“But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jer. 1:7 ESV)

Reach out - People need to hear from you

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom. 10:14 ESV)

Reach out – there are needy people everywhere 

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:35-40 ESV)

Reach out – the Holy Spirit will empower you

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

Reach out – be ready in season or out of season

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:2 ESV)

Reach out – always being prepared to make a defense 

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)

Therefore…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

 Quote:

“If you had the cure to cancer wouldn't you share it? ... You have the cure to death ... get out there and share it.” - Kirk Cameron

“For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isa. 52:12 ESV)

He will faithfully guard you against the evil one 

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3 ESV)

He will guard what you have entrusted to Him

“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12 NASB) 

Therefore…

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isa. 54:17 ESV)

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” (Psalm 138:7 ESV)

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Tim. 4:18 ESV)

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 ESV)

 God gives more grace 

The above passage tells us that God gives more grace to the humble! To those who aren’t proud. 

To receive more grace, clothe yourself with humility toward others

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5 NIV)

To receive more grace, count others as more significant than yourself 

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3 ESV)

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” (Rom. 12:10)

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Eph. 5 :21)

Therefore…

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 ESV)

“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16 ESV)

Quote:

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” - Saint Augustine 

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” (Psalm 37:3 ESV)

Jesus went about doing good

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 ESV)

Don’t grow weary in doing good 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6.9 ESV)

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” ( 2 Thess. 3:13 ESV) 

Let your light shine with your  good works

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

Do good to everyone

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10 ESV)

Therefore…

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16 ESV)

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 ESV)

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16 NLT)

 Trust in God and be blessed 

 “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” (Psalm 40:4 ESV)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 ESV)

 When afraid, trust God

 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Psalms 56:3-4 ESV)

 Trust in God’s steadfast love and rejoice

 “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5 ESV)

 Trust in God for perfect peace 

 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isa. 26:3-4 ESV)

Therefore…

 “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8 ESV)

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5 ESV)

 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5 ESV)

 Quote: 

“Trust perfected is prayer perfected. Trust looks to receive the thing asked for and gets it. Trust is not a belief that God can bless or that He will bless, but that He does bless, here and now. Trust always operates in the present tense. Hope looks toward the future. Trust looks to the present. Hope expects. Trust possesses. Trust receives what prayer acquires. So, what prayer needs, at all times, is abiding and abundant trust.” - E.M. Bounds

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 ESV)

Instantly and completely pardoned 

Yesterday, the president of the United States pardoned a man who had been a long-time prisoner. He was instantly set free. His criminal records were expunged as though they never existed. He is now a free man with a new beginning. His slate is now completely clean.

This is a picture of what happens when a person becomes “born again” as stated in the Bible in John 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:23.

A new creation

The Bible says it very clearly this way: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Declared righteous

At the moment a person becomes “born again,” God completely forgives their past! He no longer remembers their past sins as though they never happened! He then declares them to be a righteous person!

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1)

“Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:9-11)

Benefits for the righteous

There are wonderful benefits for the righteous in the form of God’s promises! Look what the Bible says about the righteous person.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’” (Psalm 92:12-15)

They will

• Flourish like a palm tree

• Grow like a cedar of Lebanon

• Be planted in the house of the Lord

• Flourish in he courts of our God

• Bear fruit in old age

• Stay fresh

• Stay green

• Proclaim great truths about the Lord:

•  "The Lord is upright”

• “He is my rock”

• “There is no wickedness in Him”

Claim the above promises for yourself!

They are for those who are saved. For those who have believed and confessed Jesus as their savior.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10)

Therefore…

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” (Eph. 1:7-8 ESV)

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NKJV)

Quote:

“God pardons like a mother, who kisses the offense into everlasting forgiveness.” - Henry Ward Beecher

 "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matt. 19:26)

Sometimes you need the impossible 

Maybe you have suffered a financial setback. Or, your doctor has given you some bad news. Or, you have lost your job or home. Everything looks completely black and you see no fix. But, God is the God of the impossible. There are many examples of it in the Bible. 

• Peter walks on the water. (Matthew 14:29)

• A donkey speaks. (Numbers 22:28)

• An Ax head floats (2 Kings 6:1-7)

• The sea parts so God’s people can walk safely through on dry land. (Exodus 14:21)

• Three young men survive in a blazing fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke on them. (Daniel 3:23)

• A man, dead for days, comes back to life. (John 11:43)

Don't limit God!

“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

“'Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?'” (Jeremiah 32:27)

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Quote:

“Our beliefs and possibilities have to be in line with the will of God. That’s how Jesus lived His life and how He taught His disciples to live (John 5:30). When our lives are lived in obedience to God’s will, nothing is impossible. Dream big — but dream biblically!” - Dr. David Jeremiah

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil. 2:5 NKJV)

To think like Christ, be transformed by the renewal of your mind

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV)

To think like Christ, fill your mind with His Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV)

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

To think like Christ, put off your old self and put on the new 

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24 ESV)

To think like Christ, imitate Him

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1-2 ESV)

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6 ESV)

“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 ESV)

To think like Christ, follow His examples

 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:13-7 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Rom. 8:29 ESV)

Quote:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – The Apostle Paul (Gal. 2:20 ESV)