The Death of The Saints

    

    King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season....a time to be born, a time to die...". We celebrate the births and mourn the deaths. Yet when a saint dies, we should celebrate that death, for they have been called home. Coming home after a long journey is always cause for happy times.

~It is a time of rest; of laying aside the cares of our days.

~It is a time of peace, never to know pain, sorrow, anxiety again.

~It is a time of joy; of being received into the everlasting arms of Jesus and God.

~The death of the saints is a time of temporary sorrow, grief and mourning on our part (though it may feel as if it will last forever), for we will miss them during our lifetime here, but it is with great joy that we know that we will see them again in heaven.

~Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."

    The births that get celebrated in the kingdom of God are the new births in Christ: the adoptee into God's family through the blood of His only begotten Son, Who died on the cross to pay for our sins. For it is only through the blood that the adoption process can begin.

1. We need to believe that Jesus Christ died for us. That He conquered/overcame, death, hell and the grave when He walked out of the tomb in which He was buried.

2. We need to acknowledge our sins to God, repenting of them (turn away from them and never do them again). It's not enough to have a changed life, we need a changed heart, as well.

3. We need to ask for God's Holy Spirit to come into our lives, to make us the holy people God commands us to be. For we cannot be made holy by doing anything mere man tells us to do: it's all God.

4. We need to be baptized publicly: making a bold statement to the world that we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and now He is Lord of the one who has been baptized.

5. We need to follow the lead of The Holy Spirit of God: not just reading our Bibles every day, but studying The Word, as well. Knowing that when we understand what we have been studying, we can then apply it to our lives. Without The Holy Spirit it is impossible to live a God-filled life, a changed life. A life that is lived for Jesus must have Jesus in it.

    This is how we come into God's family. This is our adoption process. We are the lineage of Abraham: children of righteousness, people of faith and trust in God. Not only are we grafted into The Vine, but we are now in God's family tree. We are the planting of The Lord, trees of righteousness.

Believe it. Receive it. Live it.

I WILL RAISE IN LIFE TRIUMPHANT

by Mary Barker Spencer

1. The tree of life’s still standing and all who will may eat.

Come and dine is still the call. The place is Jesus' feet.

The crimson cleansing fountain yet is flowing from His side.

His holiness still beckons us to heed His humble cry.

-chorus-

I will raise in life triumphant!

I will let hosannas roll!

I will drink that Living Water that shall ever flood my soul!

I will worship crying, "Holy"!

For worthy is The Lamb

Slain from the foundation of the world

Just so I can. 2. Oh grave, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?

For the God of all creation has swallowed you to bring

My life to me immortal back with Him from Calvary.

In the valley of the shadow there’s a brilliant light for me!

-chorus-

I will raise in life triumphant!

I will let hosannas roll!

I will drink that Living Water that shall ever flood my soul!

I will worship crying, "Holy"!

For worthy is The Lamb

Slain from the foundation of the world

Just so I can.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Steadfastness

 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1476

Steadfast: firm, firm in purpose, morally fixed, securely positioned, not moving off course, not fluctuating

Colossians 1:23

If indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

If you have your Thesaurus handy, you may see there are other words describing this word 'steadfast': resolute, inflexible, unwavering, unyielding. We can also see the opposite of being steadfast: unreliable, dishonest, weak. 

This word 'steadfast' occurs three times in the New Testament. Here is 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 7:37, and again in Colossians 1:23. But when we search out it's definitions, we find other verses which help us understand what it means to be a Steadfast Warrior. 

Psalm 1:1-3

       Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

or set foot on the path of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

yielding its fruit in season,

whose leaf does not wither,

and who prospers in all he does.

While forces beyond the tree's control may uproot the tree and destroy it, the tree itself does not make that decision. Here we see that being steadfast and immovable serves a purpose: it causes the tree to prosper and be fruitful. 

Why are we pursuing the tree as a symbol of steadfastness? Because the Lord compares His people to trees. Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

PSALM 1:1

We are immovable, fixed in our purpose to glorify God with our desire to serve Him and each other in His kingdom. A Steadfast Warrior does not let him or herself be influenced by ungodly advice, nor do we walk the same paths, nor do we allow ourselves to get caught up in a crowd of mockers. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of integrity and honor. 

PSALM 1:2

We determine to set times when we read God's Word, when we pray to God, when we praise God. We set up life-changing, soul-changing, goals and stick to them, regardless of the cost. Our social life will change. Our priorities will be realigned. The world around us will not influence how we live our lives: the Spirit of God within us will. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of self-improvement, exercising our faith that it might grow and prosper. 

PSALM 1:3

A Steadfast Warrior sees people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ,  whose faith increases incrementally by seeing our the results of our faith happen; our prayers are answered: lost loved ones are found, the sick get healed, the dying restored, the dead are raised. 

Our souls prosper: Our emotional well-being glows when we stick to our faith in The Word of God; Our thoughts are centered on The Word of God; Our attitudes get changed, sometimes gradually, sometimes immediately. 

There is no confusion or doubt in a Steadfast Warrior. When questions arise, we seek answers in God's Word and in our prayer times with our God. And in these times, we wait for God's response.

Ephesians 4:14-15

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 

The Steadfast Warrior does not allow him or herself to be swayed by every argument put forth, but remains anchored to the Word of God in which we have placed our hope.  We are unwavering in our faith. 

Have you ever seen the Queen's, now the King's, guardsmen standing outside Buckingham Palace or St. James Palace? They have their orders and follow them to the letter. Always on guard, alert, appearing to stare forward at all times but aware of peripheral activity, that they may be ready to defend their royal employer. 

Consider the Sentinels at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. They serve 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for two years with strict rules that must be followed. They never relax fully while serving in this capacity. Sentinels serve with honor and are unwaveringly committed to their course. 

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

1 Peter 2:12

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

A Steadfast Warrior sets his/her mind on things above (Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.)  and pays no nevermind to the events happening here below. Yes, be aware of the times, but not allowing ourselves to be run, or controlled by the upheaval around us. Focus on Christ, Who waits at the finish line for His people to arrive, and crowns each of us as we cross over. 

Matthew 24:36-47

(42)  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

A Steadfast Warrior keeps watch for Lord's return, ever mindful of our behavior, our attitudes towards one another, our interactions with each other, the words we speak and the things we do. 

Our integrity must be upheld. We must make a decision to follow where our Christ leads us: out of the mire, through the valley of the shadow of death, up on the mountains high, across deep waters, in the fires meant to destroy us: Where He Leads Me I Will Follow. Why? Because I am a Steadfast Warrior in a spiritual war, a war in which the enemy of my soul is wily and uses every little thing to try to get me away from my post, who tries to destroy my reputation, who tries to discourage me in my walk with Christ. 

A Steadfast Warrior is always in prayer mode, alert to the devil's tactics and raising up our shields of faith to prevent his fiery darts from entering our hearts. We remain in the Word and the Word remains in us. Our souls prosper.