'A Sad Funeral Service'



"A Sad Funeral Service"

Ecclesiastes 8:8-13

INTRO. The Scripture tells us there are two appointments which all men must face: Death and the Judgment. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebs. 9:27). None of us like to think of or contemplate our death. But it is something that will strike all of us if the LORD tarries. "Death is an offer we can't refuse."-Robert M. Fine (1) Death is a busy worker, and funerals are no uncommon sight. Each one in this room has been touched by death or else will be touched by death in the near future!

Some funerals are definitely more sorrowful than others because of the character of the life one has lived. Revelation 14:13 says, "Blessed are the dead that die which die in the LORD.." What a joy it is to die with the knowledge that one is ready to meet the LORD! But oh what sorrow to those who die unprepared to meet God! Someone has said, "the saddest thing from birth to sod is a dying man who has not God." (2) It is better for a person to have never been born, than to leave this life not born-again!

I want to speak on this subject today, "A Sad Funeral Service" One of the hardest things any preacher will ever do is to preside at the funeral service of a lost person. Why? Because when death comes to a person without Christ all opportunities to receive Christ are gone forever! Oh, how sad! Oh, how sorrowful! Not only does the death of a lost person bring us tears and sorrow, but it also breaks God's heart also. In Ezekiel 33:11 we read, "As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die...?" In Ecclesiates 8:8-13, we read of "A Sad Funeral Service." Why is it so sad? Because the person described is a lost person. Notice that this person had a FORM OF WORSHIP (vlOa). This person had, as 2 Timothy 3:5 describes, "a form of godliness, but denying the power there of.." But there was a FALTERING IN THE DAY OF DEATH (vvs. 11-13). All the person's good deeds could not save him! Nor could he prolong his days. Job 14:4-5 tells us, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing? Not one. See his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." And all that was left of this person at his death was a FADED MEMORY (vlOb).

I want us to look at THREE THINGS present at this "Sad Funeral

Service":

(1) A Sorrowful Minister

A. Because of desires not fulfilled

Romans 9:3; 10:1

*Lost friend, my heart's desire for you today is that you might be saved. Nothing breaks the heart of a preacher of the Gospel more than to see people resist the call of God and leave this place lost! why?:

1) Because Of The Brevity of Life (Proverbs 27:1; James

4:14).

2) Because Of The Certainty of Death (2 Samuel 14:14).

3) Because Of The Reality of Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

B. Because of duty not forsaken (1 Corinthians 9:16). Lost friend, I want you to know that as long as I'm here. I am going to warn you about your lost condition and encourage you to receive Christ as your Savior! Why?:

1) Because I Love You!

2) Because God Has Called Me to Do so!

3) Because I Want To Spend Eternity With You!

C. Because of deceit not failing (James 1:15). Lost friend, if you leave this life without Christ it will be because of the deceit of sin! Jesus Christ is the Truth. He came to give you life (John 8:32). Satan is a liar, a deceiver. He came to rob men of their souls (John 10:10). If you remain lost Satan through the deceitfulness of sin will rob you of your soul and yours will be a sad funeral!

(2) A Silenced Congregation

*Why a silenced congregation?:

A. Because death is a chilling experience. “Ninety-five percent of the people who died today expected to live a lot longer."-Albert M. Wells, Jr. (3)

1. They See The Face Of The Sinner (vlOb).

Job 21:13-15--“They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?"

Job 21:17-18; 20--"How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! And how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty."

2. They Have The Feelings Of the Sinner. What a loss to the dead person's soul! (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Forever separated from the face of Almighty God! Words cannot adequately expression the sorrow of this condition!

B. There Is A Horrible Realization (vvs. 12-13). What tragedy without the LORD! What sorrow! (Hebrews 9:27)

Psalm 9:17

C. There Is A Lack Of Consolation. What possible consolation can be given to those who suffer the loss of a lost father, mother, sister, brother, or child? What words can suffice?

(3) A Suffering Sinner

A. A Body Here-The Soul There (In Hell). It is said of the rich man in Luke 16:22b-23, “The rich man also died, and was buried; And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments. . ..” Lost friend, the moment you draw your last breath and your soul leaves this body, you will be in hell in torments! We will have a funeral service for you, for your body, and oh what a sad funeral it will be. Because as you body lies in that casket, your soul will be in torment in the flames of hell!

B. The Burden Here-The Belief There. Lost friend, the Christ you rejected in this life will be real to you in hell! You will believe in Him and would give anything to have Him as your LORD and Savior! And oh what burden you will have for your lost friends and family members (Luke 16:27-31)!

C. The Victor Here-The Battle There. Lost friend, Christ died for you! He was victorious over death, hell, and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:55-57), but that will mean nothing to you in hell! All you have to look forward to is an eternity of separation from God and suffering in Hell's flames!

CLOSING: The next service you may attend may be in a box. Are you ready to

meet God? The next destination you face may be death? Are you

ready to die? What a sorrow to die without Jesus! What a Sad

funeral! But this very instant you can be saved and freed from that

terrible fear! Will you accept Jesus today?

NOTES: 1. Albert H. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. Pg. 54.

2. Wells. Pg. 55.

3. Wells. Pg. 55.

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