Excel Still More #12	  “Dealing with Death”	1 Thes. 4: 13-18

Intro:  When Jesus died he was suffering great pain; yet He maintained
	A remarkable strength, peace and composure --- He saw to 	the 	care of His mother; He quoted Scriptures; He forgave His 	enemies; with confidence He gave up His spirit to the Father.
	*  A Roman soldier keeping watch over His death was forced 	    to confess, “Surely this was the Son of God.”

A few years later, Stephen died.  Stephen was one of seven key leaders in the church at Jerusalem.  He was stoned to death --- imagine.  As he was stoned, he did not panic.  He declared for all to hear that Jesus is Lord, exalted to the right hand of the glory of God.  And then, something remarkable, Stephen emulated the death of Jesus.  He died like Jesus died.  He said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  Then he kneeled to the ground and prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”  And he died so peacefully, it was like he just fell asleep!

Paul was there.  He was a witness.  Paul never got over the way Stephen died.  Stephen’s death became a part of Paul’s testimony!  He was convinced in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus in part because of the way Stephen faced his own death!  This became for Paul an important aspect of the Christian witness, the Christian way of life… Walk.

Jesus Changes the Way we Deal with Death.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Review:  How we ought to walk and please God; and 
	    Set ourselves Apart as belonging to God (Sanctification)
		Holiness; sexual purity
		Love; Be responsible for yourself

Deal Differently with Death!
Jesus Changes the Way we Deal with Death.

Note:  Sooner or later; you will be dealing with Death and Grief.

READ
Note:  Death as Sleep is a common biblical metaphor.
•	Not unconscious; but temporary, rest, not to be feared.

t/s – This great text is often embraced as a source of eschatological 	insight. (Tonight) Do you see that its purpose is primarily 	pastoral.  Paul is writing to help new Christians deal with 	Death & Grief.

Greif is Good.  The Bible never says that we should not Grieve.
•	Healthy, helpful, necessary and appropriate.
	ILL – Doug Manning, “Don’t Take My Grief Away.”
		(We pressure people to feel better)
Vs. 13 – so that you will not grieve… (NO!)
	   So that you will not grieve as do the rest (lost)

T/S – We Grieve.  But we do grieve Differently.

Jesus Changes the Way We Deal with Death.

t/s – notice three Christian Distinctives.

Information:  When we Grieve, we KNOW some things.
Exp – Vs. 13 – Death is not a total mystery to us.
		Aynoeiv = not knowing… most people today are 					agnostic when is comes to death.

	We do not know everything, but we do have some Knowledge.
	Vs. 15 – By the Word of the Lord (Paul sites his source)
		The teaching of Jesus (Matt. 24 – Olivet Discourse)
		The OT Prophets’ Promises

1.	Bodies in ground, but spirit with the Lord.
2.	They and we are waiting for that Day!
3.	We will be Together with the Lord, Always.

ILL – When talking to people in Grief…  This is what I say…
	This Loss is Real, but it is Not final.

App – How can I be so Sure?  By the Word of the Lord; We Know!
HOPE:  When we Grieve, We have Hope.
Vs. 13 – Hope is the one essential Christian Distinctive in Greif.
		Hope = Confident Expectation  (not wishful thinking)

	Vs. 14 – FOR = Paul is about to offer the reason for our Hope
			Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again
			We have hope because Jesus conquered Death.
	
	Some cast a shadow of death on our Hope…(silly, sentimental)
•	Jesus returning on the clouds as a conquering hero with the Trumpet blast and battle cry.
•	The resurrection of the dead and the rapture of the living
•	In the clouds, meet the Lord, with our loved ones

	One Question:  Did Jesus Die and Rise Again?

	The irreducible basis of the Gospel (FF Bruce)
		If true, we have Hope.  If not, Hopeless.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I them in Him be found;
  Dressed in Hi righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the Throne.
On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand!

COMFORT:  When we Grieve, We Find Comfort
Exp – Vs. 18 – Paul reveals his ultimate concern… that the people of
		God would not be overwhelmed with Grief and Quit.
	Comfort = parakaleo = to exhort, to appeal, to encourage
•	Arm around shoulder and Hand in the Back!

App – The people of God, the Followers of Jesus are marked by
	Strength in the face of Death --- Theirs and Loved Ones.
•	The world is watching us when we greive.
	It is our opportunity to validate our faith in Gospel.
	If you believe that Jesus died and rose again…

Jesus Changes the Way we Deal with Death.
Conclusion:  You have taught me how to Deal with Death!

Many of you, have displayed a remarkable strength I nthe face of grief.  The kind of strength that comes only from the Knowledge, Hope and Comfort we find in Jesus.

Can I share a most powerful memory?

Erin Swezey was killed in a crash with a drunk driver. (Spring 2009)
•	Beautiful student at OSU.  Mother on our staff at the time and father a Deacon.
•	I visited in their home… sat at the kitchen table.

	Keith said to Dixie, “It is time for us to practice what we have 			been preaching.  Time to live out our Faith.”

This is how we ought to Walk so as to please God and set ourselves apart as His People:

	Grieve not as do the rest who have no Hope.