Roberta and Beverly Black s Committal Service

Hebrews 4:9-11

We are gathered here today to honor the memories of a mother and daughter! Roberta and Beverly.

Family is special, no matter what life has thrown at us, family is special. This is time of memories, of good memories! I always read from Philippians 4:8......which tells us to think on the good things, sometimes we spend so much time dwelling on the bad we can’t see the good. That Scriptures states that if there be anything praiseworthy or virtuous (good) think on those things!

I heard of stories of fishing, traveling, going to singing’s.....the good things!

Life is tough and I am sure that these 2 both knew how tough life was for them, but now that labor is over!

One of the very first things that Anthony told me about his mom was that she worked all the time. Living 92 years there will be a lot of work involved in that, especially growing up in the time period she did. There is always work in your care for your family, work in working, work in battles with your health!

Hebrews 4:9–11 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

In this particular passage, the writer is speaking of the Sabbath rest on the seventh day, as God instituted for man to rest from his working! Israel was commanded to cease from all their labors and rest, not to do anything.

It was instituted for God’s people that have come out of slavery and grueling daily work. It was a full day of complete rest for the body and mind........Jesus said in Mark 2:27 “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:” .......This was for man to rest, it was made to help man not to burden them again......Hebrews 4 deals with this somewhat, but mostly making the case of Jesus being our fulfillment of all the law and the prophets and in so doing becoming our rest!

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Rest for your souls..........No one knows rest like those who are weary from their labors and those who have been burdened down......whenever you find that rest it is joyous occasion.

In Beverly’s and Roberta’s case it is an eternal rest, given to us without any works....

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Only through Jesus Christ do we find this rest! Rest for the weary!

Jesus tells a parable of a master giving His servants talents, which is a measure of something of value (gold, silver, etc.) Matthew 25:11-30....

In this parable 2 of the servants comeback with more than was given.......I want to emphasize more of what was told to them........Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

The joy of the Lord!!!!.......As I was thinking of entering into an eternal rest, this came to mind........what a glorious belief when our life ceases here, our labor ceases and we enter into joy, a joy that is eternal!

That is only through our faith in Jesus Christ, He has finished it and we can rest in Him, even now!

A rest that will eventually move us into a Heavenly rest with the Lord Himself!

2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

There is another thing that Anthony told me about his Mom......He said they took her to the Gather to celebrate her 90th birthday......he told that she loved steak and they were going to get her one that night but she wouldn’t order because it cost too much!

I would agree about those kind of good foods, folks are proud of them......but I just wanted to share something about a greater feast that is absolutely free, a free gift through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ!

It is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb for the Bride of Christ, which is His church, all those that believe!

Marriages was in 3 phases back in Biblical time....

The contract or agreement between the bride and Bridegroom

Our faith in Jesus Christ

Then, the Bridegroom would come and get the bride in a parade like fashion

The 3rd phase would be the celebration which would go on for days.

John is given a vision of this in Revelation 19:7–9 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

It is believed this will be fulfilled somewhere after the rapture of the church......but what I do know that those that have died in Jesus Christ are already feasting on the glory of God the Father and God the Son Jesus Christ!

Jesus said it this way to the disciples.....John 14:1–6 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Acts 2:28 “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

1 Corinthians 15:52–58 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Revelation 21:3–5 “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Pray..........