FACING LIFE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE HAS FACED DEATH

               PSALM 23                            Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Facing life is sometimes harder than personally facing death. I have heard many say they were ready to face death but had a hard time when someone else died. By the way, for the Christian, that is normal. How do we face life when someone we love has faced death? Let me give you three Bible examples.

 

I. DAVID’S WAY FOR THE “SAFE” [2 Sam. 12:15-23]

 

1. Take Care of Your Appearance [v. 20a] helps psychologically if nothing else

 

2. Take Care of Your Spiritual Needs [v. 20b, 1 Th. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

3. Take Care of Your Physical Needs [v. 20c-23]

 

By the way- after David was comforted he was able to comfort others [like his wife in the next verse]

 

II. PAUL’S WAY FOR THE SAVED [1 Th. 4:13-18]

 

1. Be Knowledgeable [v. 13, Acts 17:23; Romans 1:13, 10:3, 11:25; 1 Co. 10:1, 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:8, 2:11]

 

2. Be Different [v. 13b, Eph. 2]

 

3. Be Expectant [v. 14-17] By the way= Paul says in the next verse that when we are comforted we can comfort others]

 

III. JESUS’ WAY FOR THE LIVING [John 11:11-33]

 

1. We Can Learn From Him [v. 11-22, Jn. 14:1-6]

 

2. We Can Listen to Him [v. 23-26, Rm. 10:17]

 

3. We Can Live for Him [v. 27-45, Philippians 1:20-21]