Death Is Not Your Defeat…But Only Under One Condition

Opening Remarks

Honor to the saints

Honor to Reverend Ralph Canty and his church for hospitality

Honor and prayers to the King Family

Wife

Children

Extended family

Thanks to New Life Apostolic Church

Introduction: I Can’t Get Use to This

It was once stated “We never adapt to death—we adapt around it.” -Unknown.

These are the words of one attempting to describe just how difficult and perhaps impossible it is to adapt to the presence and experience of death. Despite being grieved by this inevitable fate; experiencing the loss of so many; and actively participating in this reality the second we began breathing on this earth—death is never something we get used to.

There is a reason why this is the case.

Death was never supposed to be a part of the human experience. Humans were created to live. They were created to live in the presence of God and be carriers of the life God gave them through His Spirit.

In fact, humans were created to be in the presence of God eternally. And this is the true essence of life and living. The Garden of Eden was a place where God and man could commune. It was the home that God made for His dwelling with man. However, all of this changed.

From the Garden to Death: How Did We Get Here?

While in the Garden of Eden, Adam possessed three things that every human desires: prosperity, providence, and protection. He had everything you would ever need on this earth. However, he was given a commandment. Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16–17 “16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””

In Genesis 3, we find that Adam ate of the fruit. But, he did not collapse and close his eyes. However, the Bible says he died.

This demonstrates that death is not simply the departure of the body from earth. Death is the expulsion of man from the presence of God and His providence, protection, and prosperity.

Consequently, there are many individuals who are dead, because they have not made God their Savior. They are dead by the disobedience of their lives and lack of faith.

Furthermore Paul concluded this death passed to all men.

Romans 5:12 “12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

This is why we face so many struggles:

Burdens

Sickness

Death

Injustice

Suffering

Evil

We face these difficulties, because they are results of the death that is caused by sin.

Furthermore, Paul demonstrates that we close our eyes in death, because of the spiritual death that has taken place. However, he has a message of hope.

Death Is Not Your Defeat, If…

Paul’s awareness of Adam’s impact on humanity, led him to speak of a second or last Adam. This Adam reversed the curse of Adam’s death and caused us to live again!

Romans 5:6–11 “6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

If you believe in Jesus, death cannot defeat you.

I’m Ready to Go: Hebrews 2:14-15

God knew we were trapped by the fear of death, but He sent His Son in the same manner as we to conquer what we were afraid of.

Hebrews 2:14–15 “14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

Just a few weeks ago, Brother King learned of the severity of his failing health. We received the news that he was facing a new health challenge, and his testimony was “I am ready to go.” But, you can only say something like this when you are actually READY TO GO!

Brother King had made peace with his maker. And he had concluded as Paul did, “to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.”

Brothers and sisters, I am here to challenge you to get ready to go. Whether its 1 day or 100 years, today is the day to make the decision you need to know—when your time comes—you will be ready to go.