Funeral Sermon for Martha Louer

Service

Dear Family,

We are gathered here today to commemorate, memorialize, to remember the life of Martha Louer. It is fitting that her family is here representing Dale’s and Priscilla’s family.

Let us begin with prayer to our Good God –

Oh God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come to you now in our hour of great need. We remember the words of the Apostle Peter when Jesus asked if the disciples were going to leave Him too and Peter replied “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

We come to you now knowing that only You have the words of eternal life. As we mourn for our Mother and Grandmother and friend, we ask that you will send your Holy Spirit, the comforter and counselor. Give to us that comfort, that peace that passes all understanding. Counsel us by your Word to understand your goodness and help us to see beyond this life.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Lazuras (Jesus good friend and brother of Mary and Martha) was sick. But Jesus did not come to heal him. After Lazuras was dead and buried Jesus arrived at the scene. Lazuras-sister Martha said, “If you would have been here, he would not have died.”

This passage has the shortest verse of the Bible – Jesus wept.

(NKJV)

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Priscilla tells me that her Grandfather Morehead’s (Martha’s Father) favorite Scripture was (NKJV). Here Jesus tells his Apostles --

14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Then a favorite of all

(KJV 1900)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

At Providence PCA, where I was Associate Pastor for some years, an old couple would greet me after worship, Upon me asking how they were doing, they would always reply, “we read the end of the book, and we won!”. Here is the end of the book,

(KJV 1900)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

We won. And by God’s grace, Martha won.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

(KJV 1900)

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Committal

(KJV 1900)

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

Is the death of his saints.

(KJV 1900)

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

(KJV 1900)

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

(KJV 1900)

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; … 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.

Unto the mercy of Almighty God, we commend the soul of our sister departed and we commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ or Lord. Amen

Let us pray,

Almighty God, who by the death of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, has destroyed death,

by His rest in the tomb has sanctified the graves of the saints,

and by His glorious resurrection has brought life and immortality to light:

Receive, we beseech You, our unfeigned thanks for that victory obtained for us and all that sleep in Him.

Keep us in everlasting fellowship with all that wait for You on earth, and with all that are with You in Heaven,

in union with Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. ever one God, forever. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you, and remain with you always. Amen