Rsbc
Sunday Night
December 22, 2002
Subject: “ The Death of The Saint’s Of God”
Text: Isaiah 57-1-2
Intro: It is clear that the text is addressing the dying of the righteous. It is also clear that the wicked could care less about a righteous person being overtaken by death. This subject is not a pleasant one and yet we must address it.
1st. It is not pleasant because we have not yet experienced it.
2nd. It is not pleasant because of what it does to those that are overtaken by it.
3rd. It is not pleasant because of how it effects us when we loose someone we love.
4th. It is not pleasant because we love life.
5th. It is not pleasant because we will be facing an enemy.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 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.
When we look at death the way the world does no wonder we feel uncomfortable with it. I have seen in my life much suffering and much death of those I love and those you love. I try to look at this as GOD looks at.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints.
I.... “THE CLEAR FACT STATED”...VS 1 “ THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH”
When we read of the saints of GOD in the Bible dying we read it like this..Genesis 23:1‑3 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: [these were] the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
A saintly woman gone to her resting place with the LORD. Her husband joins her and we read what is said about Abraham: Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people.
One more and I will move on Moses the man of GOD: Deuteronomy 34:5‑6 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
So it is clear we will die, we will leave this earthly house to be with the LORD and no one knows when or how..and that is the grace of GOD that we don’t know.
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II... A SECOND FACT SATED”...VS 1 “ NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART”
What is meant here, no one cares. The world takes the attitude so what, GOD’S people are of little importance to this world. Great saints of GOD die every day and no one lay’s it to heart.
Why should they lay it to heart?
1st. Because the saints of the LORD are the salt of the earth: Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Salt is something that just about everyone likes, it something that we preserve with, season with. Salt was used in the meat offerings of the Old Testament. We are told in the word of GOD the following concerning our speech...
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Salt preserves this world that is the salt of the Christian and they don’t even give it any thought whatsoever. They could care less that the saint is taken out and goes to the LORD.
2nd. Because the saints of the LORD are the lights in this dark world: Matthew 5:14‑16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
A. We are light because we have the light of life in us: John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Light shines, light gives direction, light drives darkness away, light assures, light drives fears away. Light reveals, light is pleasant. All of these characteristics of light are in the child of GOD and we are in the world till we die and when we die the world is a darker place and they don’t know it...
III.... A THIRD FACT STATED IN OUR TEXT: “ THE RIGHTEOUS ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE EVIL TO COME”...VS 1
What is meant by this statement?
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When the Lord takes his children home, they are taken out of this evil world and that which is yet to come.
2 Kings 22:19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard [thee], saith the LORD. 2 Kings 22:20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
Can you imagine a world without a christian, a city without a christian what evil would be perpetrated upon the weak. Every time one is taken evil is stronger. Listen to what Micah the prophet said:
Micah 7:1‑3 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: [there is] no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. 2 The good [man] is perished out of the earth: and [there is] none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man], he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
IV... A FOURTH FACT IS ALSO STATED “ THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL ENTER INTO PEACE THEY SHALL REST...
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.
The blessedness of the righteous saint of GOD in his death...Let me show if I can why it is a blessed state to which we enter at death...
1st. It is blessed because it is a better country:
Hebrews 11:16 16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
2nd. It is blessed because it is the father’s house: John 14:1-2
3rd. It is blessed because it is paradise:
Jesus promised one of thief’s on the cross... Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom, and Jesus said today thou shalt be with me in paradise...Luke 23:43
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Paul said: 2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
4th. It is blessed because it is the everlasting kingdom: 2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
5th. It is blessed because we are going to claim our eternal inheritance...
1 Peter 1:3‑4 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
6th. It is blessed because it will a reunion with all the saints and loves ones..
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Paul promised:
I Thess 4:13-18
There is more but we must come to an end, but passing let me say it will be exemption of sufferings forever, deliverance from all evil forever, fulness of joy forever...