Dan Bailey Funeral 1 John 5:20

Today, we get to gather together to remember a friend and to celebrate the object of His faith, Jesus

I. Knowing Dan

I first came to know Dan, along with Mrs. Bea during my first tour of duty here at FBC Wetumpka

I knew him then as a hard worker in the church who faithfully served in all sorts of capacities, from choir member to kitchen help!

I knew him as a leader who was a source of wisdom and guidance in difficult decisions

I knew him as someone who was deeply invested in the health of the church, who stayed engaged during some hard days, when controversy was present and faithfulness was hard

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve gotten to know him in a fresh way, as the leader of the Bailey Bunch!

One of the girls shared this with her siblings this week about Dan:

Our dad loved each one of us in a different but special way. We all know we were so lucky to call him our daddy. Hopefully, we can take all that love, support, and strength he gave us to walk on our paths in life. We will never forget him, and we will never be alone. We will always have each other. We are the Bailey Bunch, brought together by love! ❤️

This family was a blended family before we even used that terminology

However, the love of Dan and Bea comes shining through when you see them all together

I’ve never heard the kids talking about being his or hers, they were all just a part of one family

That love is a testimony to Dan!

Recently, the kids were sharing with me how excited Dan was to see all of the ways that the church had come alive during the last few years

I’m very grateful for my small part in that, but I don’t think we need to overlook the part that Dan and so many others played

They were committed when commitment was difficult and they did the practical things necessary to walk with the church through internal and external strife

They were committed to hard conversations and to practical effort, from tarping roofs to negotiating with insurance companies

But perhaps most importantly of all, they were committed to prayer!

There is a picture floating through the slideshow of 10 men, gathered to pray

When the church was shut down during COVID and we couldn’t have meetings of more than 10, these men began to meet on a weekly basis to pray for our church

I believe that God has honored and continues to honor the prayers of faithful men!

Five young college students were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed C.H. Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, “Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?” They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn’t want to offend the stranger, so they consented.

The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, “This is our heating plant.” Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.

II. Knowing Jesus

Where did this character come from in Dan’s life? He knew something. He knew someone!

In Dan’s Bible, the kids found a verse underlined, 1 John 5:20 and I want to share it with you today

There are 3 truths that we can rest in:

Jesus makes it possible for us to know God, by giving us understanding: Jesus changes what we believe

Because we are in Christ, we are found in God: Jesus changes our relationship to God

In Him, we have eternal life: Jesus gives us an eternal hope!

Before John shares those 3 truths, he makes an important statement: “And we know”

Dan’s Bible had a few amendments!

Dan had written underneath in black pen, “Live by this verse”

At another time, Dan wrote in the margin, “My verse”

Later he crossed out the “we” and changed it to “I”

That little pronoun changes everything:

“And I know that the Son of God has come”

Do you know Him?

Are you in Him?

Do you have eternal life?