Bettye Greer Funeral

1 Thessalonians 1:1–4

1 “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

I would like to reiterate about Ms Bettye… what Paul said about the Thessalonians in verse 2:

“I am thankful for the life and the opportunity to know Ms. Bettye Greer.”

She was a very special lady to me and I know to all of you who have taken the time today to celebrate the life of this ordinary woman that was made extraordinary by her Savior Jesus Christ.

Story

Paul goes on in verse 3 by saying:

3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Folks being in Christ in not about just giving a nod to Jesus…

Being in Christ is a productive, and only a product, of God indwelling you with his Holy Spirit...and that is what invokes the change…

It’s not you saying a prayer and then trying to act Christian…it’s surrendering to the Lord through prayer, that transforms us into Christ Followers, as we are empowered by the Spirit of God.

This produces the fruit of the Spirit in a persons life which is evidenced by what Paul saw in the Thessalonians and what we have witnessed for many, many years in the life of the sweet woman that we are here celebrating today.

The work of faith…a Labor of Love…and a steadfastness of hope… in Christ.

Those saved by God do not live lives of empty belief…but active, visible, lived-out faith - which is manifested in how they love God and love people.

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Ms. Bettye didn’t just believe. She showed up. She served. She invested…She acted on what she believed.

Ms. Bettye wasn’t interested in convenient love…but kept giving and loving even when it was hard…as she always strived to put others first.

Ms. Bettye faith was not shaken by the situations of life…Trials [like the passing of Mr. Greer] were not allowed to steal her joy, because her hope was never in circumstance…it was in the Lord…

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,” 5 “because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

Folks I want you to know that the gospel and salvation is not a product of the words that you say…but the power of the Holy Spirit that God grants you to possess.

The gospel doesn’t just inform…it transforms…

And this is what Paul is saying to the Church in Thessalonica…and we are speaking over Ms Bettye this morning….

That this woman, wife, daughter, mother…didn’t just hear the gospel….She experienced it!

The work of the Lord moved passed her ears…and into her heart…God shaped her life…and that work flowed out of her life…to others…

You didn’t have to wonder what or who she believed in…

You could see it!