Never One To Keep Quiet

Introduction: A Man Who Had Something to Say

On behalf of the family, I want to thank each of you for coming out today and showing your love and support to this family. And I want to say what an honor it is to stand before you today and speak on behalf of the life of Ken Lambert. Over the last three years, I have had the opportunity to build a friendship with this dear brother, and he is certainly going to be missed.

And I think it's safe to say that if you knew Brother Ken, you knew he was a man who had something to say!

There are some people who are naturally quiet. They would rather sit back, listen, and keep their opinions to themselves.

Brother Ken was not necessarily one of those people!

If he had something on his mind, you probably weren't going to have to wonder very long what it was.

If he had an opinion, he wasn't afraid to share it. If he had an idea, he wasn't afraid to pursue it. And if he thought something needed to be done, he wasn't the kind of man who was going to sit around waiting for somebody else to figure it out.

He had what they call a "can-do" attitude.

In fact, from what I've learned about him, he wasn't a man who spent much time saying, "I can't." If he didn't know how to do something, he would find a way to learn. He was an avid reader… a self-taught man.

There's something admirable about a man who refuses to let the fear of the unknown keep him from trying. And I believe that was one of the things that made Brother Ken memorable.

I was talking to Mrs. Carol this week and she shared with me that Ken went to college… but then quit after just a short time. He said he already knew everything they were trying to teach him and that they couldn’t teach him anything, so he quit, joined the military, and went to serve in Vietnam.

If you knew Ken, you would know that sounds just like him.

But as we reflect upon his life today, I don't want us to miss something far more important than his personality, his opinions, or his accomplishments.

Brother Ken was a man who knew Jesus Christ.

He came from a family with a rich heritage of Christian faith and service. Ken gave his life to the Lord as a small boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old. His mother spent years serving through the Woman's Missionary Union, even at the state level. His brother devoted his adult life to serving the Lord through music ministry. He grew up surrounded by examples of people who believed that following Jesus was something worth giving your life to.

And he modeled well throughout his life. He helped in several different ways here at the church, but his main thing was the kitchen. He loved to cook. I can tell you that his famous sausage gravy is going to be missed at the men’s breakfast!!!

But he also helped from time to time in other things as well. We are currently remodeling the baptistry area, and he showed up one morning to help with that remodel. It was the wrong morning, and nobody else was here, but he showed up to help. And he brought supplies for the remodel when he came. He had just signed up to help with Allons Bible Club, which is our Wed night program for the kids. He headed up our visitation to the BCM ministry at Tech and would prepare everything we needed for that trip. He just wanted to help however he could.

He loved his church. He loved inviting people to church. And he wasn't ashamed to tell others about Jesus. I can’t tell you how many people have visited Allons Baptist as a result of Ken just asking them to come. Some of those same people got saved. Some of those same people are currently signed up to go through our “New Member’s Class” and join this church.

And that brings me to a passage of Scripture that I believe is particularly fitting for today.

In Acts chapter 4, we find two men named Peter and John.

They had been preaching about Jesus Christ. They had proclaimed His resurrection. And because of their witness, they found themselves standing before the religious authorities.

Those authorities didn't like what Peter and John were saying.

They wanted them to be quiet.

But notice what the Bible tells us.

Acts 4:13 NKJV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:18–20 NKJV

18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

I love that final statement.

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Peter and John had encountered Jesus Christ.

They had witnessed His works. They had heard His teaching. They had seen Him crucified, and they were witnesses of His resurrection.

And because of what they knew to be true, they couldn't remain silent.

Now, I don't want to suggest that Brother Ken was Peter or John, or that his circumstances were the same as theirs.

But I do believe there's a principle in this passage that provides a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect upon his life.

And that is simply this:

The greatest testimony we can leave behind is not that people heard our voice, but that through our lives they heard about Jesus.

Today, I want us to consider three things.

I. A Boldness That Defined His Life

Acts 4:13

The Bible tells us that when the religious authorities saw the boldness of Peter and John, they marveled.

They were surprised by these men.

They recognized that Peter and John had not received the kind of formal religious education that many of their own leaders had received. Yet these men stood before them with confidence and conviction.

And then the Bible tells us something remarkable: "They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

Now, I want you to notice something. It wasn't simply their personality that made Peter and John remarkable. It was their relationship with Jesus Christ. Their boldness was rooted in the truth of the Gospel and their obedience to the Lord.

And I think that's an important distinction for us to understand.

Some people are naturally bold. Some are naturally quiet. Some people can walk into a room full of strangers and leave knowing everybody's name. Others would rather find a quiet corner and avoid being noticed. And there's nothing necessarily wrong with either personality.

But regardless of how God has made us, He calls every believer to live faithfully for Him.

And when I think about Brother Ken, one of the things that stands out is that he was a man who wasn't afraid to step forward.

He wasn't afraid to speak.

He wasn't afraid to try.

He wasn't afraid to learn.

He had an adventurous spirit about him.

He was constantly reading, constantly studying, and constantly looking for something new to tackle.

And if he didn't know how to accomplish something, that didn't automatically mean he wasn't going to try. He would figure it out. He was a go-getter. When something made sense, he couldn’t fathom why we just didn’t move forward and make it happen. Why wait? Why strategize? Why ponder over it and have meetings? Let’s get it done. That’s just who he was.

He was sharing with me one morning at breakfast how there are all kinds of grants out there for certain types of ministries. I said that’s awesome, we need to check into what that might look like for the church. We might want to utilize them at some point. “Might want to...”, he said. “God told us to do ministry and help those who need it. There’s free money out there to help us to do it. What are you waiting for?”

I loved his boldness. I mean that. I truly did. It kept me on my toes and challenged me in a good way!!

And as I think about that part of his life, I'm reminded of something that we desperately need in our churches today.

We need Christians who are willing… Christians who are willing to learn, willing to grow, and willing to serve.

You see, one of the greatest obstacles to serving the Lord is often not a lack of opportunity.

It's our unwillingness to step forward.

How often have we heard someone say:

"I couldn't do that."

"I wouldn't know what to say."

"I've never done anything like that before."

"I don't think I'm qualified."

And sometimes those concerns are understandable.

There are things we genuinely need to learn. There are responsibilities that require preparation and training.

But we must be careful that our lack of experience doesn't become an excuse for disobedience.

When God calls us to serve Him, our confidence must not rest merely in our own abilities.

It must rest in Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Now, Paul wasn't saying that Christ would enable him to accomplish every ambition he could imagine.

In the context of that passage, Paul was explaining that Christ strengthened him to remain faithful and content through every circumstance.

But the principle is important.

Our sufficiency is found in Christ.

And perhaps there's a lesson we can learn from Brother Ken's willingness to try.

Instead of constantly focusing on what we cannot do, perhaps we ought to spend more time asking what God would have us do.

Instead of always saying, "I can't," perhaps we ought to begin saying, "Lord, if this is what You would have me do, help me to be faithful."

Because the Christian life isn't about knowing everything.

It's about following the One who does.

And that brings us to the second thing I want us to remember.

II. A Boldness That Declared His Savior

Acts 4:18–20

When Peter and John stood before the religious authorities, they were given a very clear command.

They were told not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Think about that.

They weren't being told to stop speaking altogether.

They weren't being told that they couldn't have opinions.

They were being told to stop talking about Jesus Christ.

And their response was remarkable.

They said:

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

In other words, they could not simply ignore what they knew to be true. They had encountered the risen Savior, and they were determined to make Him known.

What a blessing it is to know that Brother Ken wasn't ashamed to speak about his Savior.

He loved inviting people to church. He loved telling others about Jesus. He understood that there was something far more important than simply having a conversation. There was an opportunity to point someone toward Christ. And I believe that's something worth celebrating today.

Because when we think about the legacy of a person's life, we often think about the things they accomplished.

We think about their career.

We think about the things they built.

We think about the hobbies they enjoyed, the places they traveled, and the people they knew.

And all of those things can be meaningful.

But there is something that carries far greater significance.

Did our lives point anyone toward Jesus Christ?

Did we take advantage of the opportunities God gave us to make Him known?

Did we care enough about the souls of others to tell them the truth?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Paul understood that the Gospel was not merely another message among many.

It was the message of salvation.

And I believe that's why Brother Ken's willingness to talk about Jesus is so important.

You see, inviting someone to church is a wonderful thing, but the ultimate goal isn't simply to get someone into a church building.

The goal is for them to hear about Jesus Christ.

The goal is for them to understand that they are sinners in need of a Savior.

The goal is for them to hear that Jesus died for their sins, was buried, and rose again.

The goal is for them to repent and place their faith in Him.

Because a church cannot save anybody.

A pastor cannot save anybody.

A good family cannot save anybody.

Only Jesus Christ can save.

And I think there's a challenge here for every Christian in this room.

We live in a world where people are willing to talk about just about anything.

We talk about politics.

We talk about sports.

We talk about the economy.

We talk about the weather.

And sometimes we can get pretty passionate about those conversations!

We can spend an hour telling somebody what we think about the latest controversy.

But when was the last time we spent five minutes telling somebody about Jesus?

When was the last time we invited someone to church?

When was the last time we asked somebody about their relationship with the Lord?

When was the last time we shared the Gospel with someone who needed to hear it?

I don't ask those questions to make anyone feel guilty.

I ask them because I believe the life we're remembering today should challenge us.

Here was a man who was willing to speak.

And what a wonderful thing that he was willing to speak about Christ.

Mrs. Carol shared with me the other day how she found out that Ken kept up with several people from his past… people he went to school with, people he worked with, and so on. He kept tabs on them, maintained relationships with them, and was an encouragement to them.

And I wonder how many conversations he had throughout his life that we'll never know about.

How many people heard an invitation?

How many people heard a word of encouragement?

How many people were reminded of Jesus because this man was willing to open his mouth?

We may never know the full impact of those conversations on this side of eternity.

But God knows.

And perhaps one of the greatest ways we could honor Brother Ken's memory would be to follow his example in that area.

To become more intentional about sharing Jesus.

Because there is a world full of people who desperately need to hear the Gospel.

And God has placed us here to be witnesses for Him.

But that brings us to the final thought I want to share today.

III. A Boldness That Challenges Us Today

Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 12:1–2

In Hebrews chapter 11, we find what many people call the great Hall of Faith.

It's a chapter filled with examples of men and women who trusted God.

We read about Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and many others.

These were people who lived in different generations, faced different circumstances, and encountered different challenges.

But they shared something in common.

They trusted God.

And their faith influenced the way they lived.

In Hebrews 11:4, speaking specifically about Abel and his offering, the Bible says:

Hebrews 11:4 NKJV

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Think about that statement.

Abel had been dead for generations.

Yet the testimony of his faith continued to speak.

His earthly life had ended, but the biblical account of his faith still instructed those who came after him.

And while our circumstances are different, I believe there's a meaningful principle here for us today.

A faithful testimony can continue influencing others long after our earthly lives have ended.

Today, Brother Ken's earthly voice has fallen silent, but the memories of his life remain.

His family will remember the man they loved.

His friends will remember the conversations they shared.

His church family will remember his presence, his personality, and his willingness to invite others to worship.

And hopefully, all of us will remember something even greater.

We'll remember his love for Jesus Christ.

But I want us to consider an important question.

What are we going to do with the testimony he leaves behind?

Will we simply remember him fondly?

Will we tell a few stories, smile at a few memories, and then go back to life as usual?

Or will we allow his example to challenge us?

Will we become more willing to serve?

Will we become more intentional about reaching others?

Will we become more courageous about speaking of Christ?

You see, Hebrews chapter 11 leads directly into Hebrews chapter 12.

And after recounting the faith of those who came before us, the writer says in Hebrews 12:1–2

Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

I want you to notice where the passage directs our attention.

It doesn't tell us to spend our lives merely admiring the faithful people who have gone before us.

It tells us to run the race set before us. And most importantly, it tells us to look unto Jesus.

That's the key.

Our hope rests in how great a Savior Jesus Christ is.

And that's where our hope must rest as well.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8–9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Salvation is not something we earn.

It's not something we inherit from our parents.

It's not something we receive simply by joining a church.

It is the gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

And that's the hope that makes a Christian funeral different.

We certainly grieve.

We miss those we love.

We feel the pain of separation.

And there is nothing wrong with shedding tears.

But for those who belong to Christ, grief is not without hope.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13

1 Thessalonians 4:13 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

Why? What Hope?

In the next verse, he says because Jesus Christ died and rose again.

And because He lives, those who belong to Him have the promise of eternal life.

That's the hope we cling to today.

Not that death isn't painful.

Not that separation isn't difficult.

But that death does not have the final word for those who are in Christ.

And so today, as we remember Brother Ken, I want to challenge each of us to consider our own lives.

His earthly race has come to an end.

But ours continues.

We still have opportunities to serve.

We still have opportunities to grow.

We still have opportunities to speak.

And we still have opportunities to tell others about Jesus.

May we not waste them.

Conclusion: If He Could Speak One More Time

If Brother Ken could stand before us today and share one final message, what would he want us to know?

Now, I can't claim to know exactly what he would say.

But based upon the testimony he leaves behind, I believe there's one subject he would certainly want us to consider.

Jesus Christ.

He would want us to know the Savior he loved.

He would want us to understand the Gospel he was willing to share.

And he would want us to recognize that there is nothing more important than being right with God.

I remember during another one of our conversations at breakfast, I had mentioned how it would be good to do an Evangelism Workshop, a class that taught people how to share their faith with others better. As I was speaking, he said, “What do we need that for? Jesus died in our place at Calvary, and He told us to go tell others about it. What more do you need to know?” I said, “Well, yes… you’re right, but some people, especially new Christians, are sometimes intimidated to have those conversations, and other times, people misunderstand and think that only more tenured Christians should have those conversations.” He said, “Well I don’t know how they could come to that conclusion. Jesus plainly told the whole church to go share the Gospel, and its easy. You see someone who doesn’t go to church… you invite them. Doesn’t get any easier than that.”

It really was that simple to Ken.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Brother Ken was never one to keep quiet.

He wasn't simply a man who had something to say.

He was a man who had Someone worth talking about.

And that Someone is Jesus Christ.

May we never be ashamed to speak His name.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with grateful hearts, even in the midst of our sorrow.

Thank You for the life of Brother [Name].

Thank You for the memories he leaves behind, for the joy he brought to those who knew him, and for the testimony of faith that marked his life.

Thank You for the opportunities he had to serve You, to love others, and to tell people about Jesus Christ.

Lord, I pray especially for his family today.

Comfort them in their grief. Strengthen them in the days ahead. And when the sorrow feels overwhelming, remind them of Your presence and Your promises.

Help us as a church family to surround them with love, encouragement, and support.

And Father, I pray that You would use even this occasion to draw hearts closer to You.

For those who do not know Christ, may they recognize their need for the Savior and respond to the Gospel in repentance and faith.

And for those of us who belong to You, may we live with greater faithfulness, greater courage, and greater love.

Help us to make the most of the opportunities You've given us.

And may our lives, like the testimony we've remembered today, point others toward Jesus.

We thank You for the hope we have through the death and resurrection of Your Son.

In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray,

Amen.