The Sting of Death
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51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 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.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Introduction
Sartens
Bivens family
Death is not a comfortable subject for most folks, I know we have several grieving at this time.
The Bible says we should “weep with those who weep”.
Every one of us has to go some way.
Someone said “It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Christians view death much differently than others do.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Testimony 125 A.D.
Around 125 A.D., a Greek by the name of Aristeides wrote to one of his friends, trying to explain the extraordinary success of the new religion, Christianity. In his letter he said, “If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they accompany his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby.”
Today in the Word, April 10, 1993
Christians actually changed the language of burial.
Later, when the Christians in Rome began to place their dead in the catacombs, they developed their own language in speaking about death. They referred to the catacombs as Koimeteria, dormitories. For a pagan, a dormitory was the room where you went to bed at night and rose in the morning. For Christians it meant more than that. You went to sleep so that you might waken again. Thus death was but a place of rest from which you would certainly rise anew.
A second example is the word Depositio. Markers with the word Depositus, (abbreviated depo, Dep or simply D) can immediately be identified as Christian. Depositio was a legal term used by lawyers, which meant giving on deposit. To the early Christians, the dead were deposited in the earth like grains of wheat to be restored in the future crops. - E.G. Lewis
They believed what God said in His Word.
What are God’s thoughts about death? His thoughts are preserved in the Bible.
Death is the penalty of sin.
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The wages of sin is death.
2. Death was postponed by an animal sacrifice.
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
When the lamb died, death was postponed.
The promise was made that the woman’s seed would crush the serpents head.
3. The sting of death was the law, which brought guilt.
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
4. Christ’s death on the cross removed the sting of death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
When the Father said, “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him,” there’s the perfection. That’s what the law could not do.
When He come and was made flesh, and anchored the stinger of death, and pulled it out where you and I can walk in the face of it; death can’t bother us. Hallelujah. It hasn’t got any stinger.
It can buzz and hum and threaten, make a bluff, but that’s all it can do. Death has no more stinger. For every believer that’s in Christ Jesus is perfected forever. 54-1203 - "The Law Having A Shadow"
5. Christ’s resurrection defeated death.
John sees Him as a conqueror on the Isle of Patmos. Feet like brass, eyes like fire. Seven stars in His hand.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And when Christ died for sin, He knocked sickness in the head and everything that went with it, even death itself. And we are not dead, but we are alive. “He that heareth My words and believeth on Him that sent Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”
He conquered death, hell, the grave. Paul said when He come to the grave, “Oh, death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He lives. 56-1207 - "Gifts"
6. When our bodies are changed, death will be swallowed up in victory.
54 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.
Don’t you fear. “I’ll fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” “Death is all swallowed up in victory.” Death can’t do nothing. One writer said, that, “The only thing that God had did to death, He put it to a buggy and harnessed it, and set it in the buggy shafts. And the only thing death can do is pull a believer in the Presence of his Maker.” 53-0405S - "Go, Tell My Disciples"
How should we view death as Christians?
There is hope (expectation) in death.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
We know this.
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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
What about those who are not serving the Lord when they die?
God is merciful.
He removed Lot from Sodom because he was Abraham’s kin.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
How did David obtain forgiveness after all he had done?
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
No wonder David would instruct all his singers at the temple to say “His mercy endures for ever”. He is a merciful God.
51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: And sheweth mercy to his anointed, Unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
When David sinned by numbering the people, He feel on the mercies of God.
David realized if He was merciful to him, He would be merciful to others.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: Neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Down to verse 15:
15 As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Noah saved his house:
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Brother Branham, you said on one of the tapes that Noah saved his household. Does this mean a mother can have the same faith for her household? And does it mean every one of the family will be saved if we believe it?
(Bro. Branham answers carefully)
You said on one of your tapes that Noah saved his household.” Why? Because they believed. That’s it, because they believed his message.
“Does this mean that a mother can have the same faith for her household?” Yes, Sister! I can see a little mother’s heart crying for her people. “And does this mean every one of the family will be saved if we believe it?” Yes, if they will accept it. That’s right.
Remember the Philippian jailer. Believe for both you…If you’ve got enough faith for your own salvation, can’t you have that same faith that’ll work upon your people?
What is faith? It’s an unseen force. See? What is—it’s a Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings faith. See? It’s a unseen force.
(He talks about how God worked in his ministry)
(What motivates the muscle in your arm? Your spirit.)
(Samson carrying the gate. Jawbone of a mule)
Not by might or power, but by His spirit.
Therefore, It is the Spirit of the Lord. And when you’ve got Spirit of the Lord in you to believe for your own salvation, place that upon your family.
Say, “I claim them in the Name of Jesus Christ; I claim it! God, I don’t know how You’re going to make her do it, and how You’re going to make him do it, but I believe it. I believe it, Lord! Help my unbelief.” Claim it and watch what happens. It’ll do it. 64-0823M - "Questions And Answers #1"
“What must I do for my family?” Use the same faith that you’re using for yourself, for your family. Commit them to the Lord and believe with all your heart that you’re going to be saved.
Don’t let it just come on your natural thinking here, let it drop way down on the inside, that subconscious, then they’re yours. God’s give them to you when you’ve got it down here. 64-0830M - "Questions And Answers #3"
You believe for your safety, and then apply the Token for the whole family. See? You say, “How can I do that?” Claim It! If It worked on you, then you and the Word becomes one. Amen! Amen! See? See, It works for both of you. You and the Word are one, then apply It to your children, apply It to your loved ones.
Like Rahab did, she applied the token to her father, she applied it to her mother, she applied it to her brothers and sisters, and got them all in.
You apply It, say, “Lord, I’m going after my son. I’m going after my daughter. I claim her!” “Satan, you turn her loose! I’m coming after her. I apply my Token, the Holy Spirit.” “O Holy Spirit, that lives within me, catch my daughter there. I’m going to her now, with Your anointing upon me.” He’ll do it. 63-0901M - "Token"
What if they died without coming to the Lord?
How do you know they didn’t? It doesn’t take an hour or a day. Just a breath.
God is merciful.
He interprets the heart.
(Little boy praying the alphabet)
The only thing the thief on the cross ever did was say “You don’t deserve this” and “Lord, remember me”
The man on the middle cross said he could come.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
These are not the Bride. The Bride sits with Him in judgment.
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
We sit with him, and minister to Him.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
The Bride has already passed from death to life, and ministers to Him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Lexham Theological Wordbook κρίσις
κρίσις (krisis). n. fem. judgment, legal case. Refers to the process, event, or result of legal proceedings intended to evaluate punishment.
Some Pentecostals believe that if you died while speeding you would go to hell. I’ve experienced that same attitude around the Message. (roller coaster).
Your case has been dismissed. These are those who still had a case, but they were remembered for their kindness to God’s people.
But upon what grounds do they enter into life eternal? Certainly not upon the fact that they already have His life as does the bride, but they receive it because they were kind to His brethren.
He says “THEIR NAMES MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE AND NOT REMOVED.”
Now because of their love of the people of God they are recognized and saved. No doubt these served and helped the children of God. Perhaps like Nicodemus and Gamaliel they stood for the children in a time of trouble. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages (7 - The Sardisean Church Age)
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
And what about a brother that has made a mistake? Though I say he’s wrong. Sometimes he’s accused wrong when he’s not wrong. But if he is wrong, well, if we will take him to the throne of God, stand there shoulder-to-shoulder with our brother,
knowing he’s a mortal, and maybe his destination rests upon our attitude towards him, when we come back from the throne of God, we’ll realize that we’re every one guilty, and we all need help one from the other. And the best way to do is pray. 58-0301B - "The Great Commission"
Conclusion
Conclusion
Key of C
I Love That Man in the Middle
Thank You Jesus
He has Forgiven Me
