Victory over grief

Victory

We have journey over many different things that faith in Jesus Christ can help us to have victory over.

Remember Jesus came to give us life, life full (abundantly) (Jn10:10)

John 10:10 NASB95

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Victory over sin

Victory over anxiety

Victory over boredom

Victory over depression

Victory over despair

Victory over discontent

Victory over fear

So, having cover those we know where the victory comes from

1 John 5:4–5 GNB

4 because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. 5 Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Do you think we can go through life avoiding grief?

So, this morning we are going to look at understanding grief and overcoming grief

Understanding Grief

Do you think that grief is always surrounded by death?

Oftentimes we may associate grief with death, and yes that is true we do grieve when someone dies.

American Heritage Dictionary: Deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement.

Synonyms: sorrow, sadness, mournfulness and gloom

C.S. Lewis said: “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” from his book (a grief observed)

Give illustrations, personal, regarding grief (Susan, loss of marriage, Tabby’s parents, etc.)

Why like fear? - makes us think that we will never get through it, or makes us think of our own mortality, and outside of Christ we can be filled with fear about it.

Jesus grieved because of people and the loss of someone special (Jn11:32-35)

jN11:32-33 “32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,”

Jn11:34-35 “34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.”

Paul grieved for his countrymen (Rom9:1-2; Rom10:1)

Rom9:1-2 “1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.”

Not all grief is wrong, in fact is can be a very healthy thing, it is an important part of the healing process. Healing from a traumatic loss or concern.

Have you ever had grief for someone, not when they died, but when they left (consider Act20:36-38)?

Grief can be a problem picture here

Grief can make one useless for service

We were created for good works (Eph2:10)

We are to serve one another (Mt20:28)

And we are to be zealous for good works (Tit2:14)

Unhealthy grief can keep you in isolation, depression filled with anxiety even fear.

Grief can make one unable to comfort others

Comfort with the comfort give to us (2Cor1:3-5)

Grief can create non-existent (psychosomatic) illnesses

Stomach, head, ect. issues, that come from grief, anxiety, depression and fear for they are all related.

It is an emotion distress and it does take a toll on the body and cannot be ignored, but we cannot allow it to be debilitating.

Overcoming grief by faith

Take a minute and think about things in your life that you have overcome?

Have you had to overcome grief, if so, how did you do it?

Faith (strong conviction) is a victory in overcoming fear.

Not just faith, but faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus even experienced grief (Jn11:35)

Because Jesus grieved, He could understand and able to come to our aid (Heb2:17-18)

Hebrews 2:17–18 NASB95

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Jesus taught about faith is a victory by:

Having faith in Him (Jn14:1-3)

Keeping His commandments and resting in His love (Jn15:10-11)

John 15:10 NASB95

10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:11 NASB95

11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

So that we may have joy and peace (Jn16:24, 33; Php4:6-7) and have it full.

Jn16:24 “24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

Jn16:33 “33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

And by His promises (Jn14:2-3; 1The4:13-17)

Turn with me to 1The4:13

1The4:13-14 “13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

1The4:15-16 “15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1The4:17 “17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

Because of His resurrection He has promised us our final resurrection too. The one beyond our original resurrection through baptism.

Grief, don’t do it alone

By faith (strong conviction) God has given us victory through His Son, His word, His promises, His Spirit and His people.

By obedient faith we were made a part of the family (see Mt12:46-50)

Turn and read Mt12:46-50, but focus on (v.50)

Matthew 12:50 NASB95

50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Family that is the family of God, the church (1Tim3:15)

1Tim3:15 “15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

Whereas we are all brothers and sisters (Mk10:29-30)

Mark 10:29 NASB95

29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,

mk10:30

Mark 10:30 NASB95

30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

As a family, as brothers and sisters, as the church we can help one another.

Weeping with those who weep (Rom12:15)

Sharing in each others sufferings (1Cor12:25-26)

Carrying each others burdens, including grief (Gal6:2)

Galatians 6:2 NASB95

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Don’t do it alone picture here

We were created to be in fellowship with one another

We were placed into the church to be the church and we cannot do that alone.

Don’t think you need to handle grief on your own. Faith (strong conviction) in Jesus Christ can and will give you victory. Sometimes that victory comes from the church, the fellowship, experience, hope, comfort from one another.

Jesus did not intend for us to bear our grief alone.

For us to have true, lasting victory we must start with faith, trust in Jesus Christ.

Invitation slide here

(Song) (prayer)