The Ultimate Victory

Initial Comments

First, I want to take a moment and say how honored I am to be here today with this lovely family, and on behalf of the family, I want to thank each and every person who has come out to show their love and support during this time.

I remember when Michael, Chrystal, and the family first came to Sink Creek. It didn’t take very long at all for them to become part of the family there. You know, it is such a blessing to have a special place, where you are surrounded by people you love, and more importantly, people who love you.

Any pastor knows that some of the most precious times you have is when you get those moments to set down with people one-on-one and have private conversations. You know, the conversations to where complete honesty is on the table. The conversations to where hearts are shared, tears are shed, and prayers go up. That is the good stuff!!!

I am honored to say that this family allowed me to do that with them. They invited me in, shared their personal space, and welcomed my council each and every time. Andrea was no different. Several times, Andrea, Chrystal and I would sit and talk about things going on at school, at home, and in her heart. We would talk and cry, and then talk some more, and then cry some more, and we would bare our hearts to God in prayer together.

If there is one thing I picked up on during our times together, it was that Andrea knew the Lord. She knew right from wrong, and she had a deeply-rooted desire to do right. In those rare moments when she would pull down those stone walls around her heart and share what was within its depths, you could see the goodness of God there. I believe with all of my heart, that she is in heaven today!

Did she have her own battles? Absolutely! Did she win all of those battles? Absolutely not! But that is no different than any one of us, and the testimony that she left with me was that she knew the Lord!!!

Ecclesiastes 7:1 NKJV

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;

2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Context

I want to share with you today a set of scripture that I believe will offer hope, peace, and understanding. I have had the privilege of preaching more funerals than I care to admit and they are always tough. I believe that one of the reasons they are so tough is because of our understanding of death.

We view death from a physical standpoint because that is exactly what it is. Death is a term that relates to the moment in which our physical bodies cease to live. The thing I want to leave with you today, is that death only relates to the physical body. Our bodies may cease to live, but our spirits are eternal! Though our physical bodies must be laid down, our spirits will live forever!!!

I am speaking from 1 Corinthians 15 today. This chapter is what we call an apology. To say that this is an apologetic chapter means that Apostle Paul is making a stand, or defending, his faith. The issue at hand in this chapter is that of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As every good apologist does, Apostle Paul begins by playing rhetorically and asking the question, “What if Christ did not rise?”

That is where we are going to begin.

Content

Consequences Of No Resurrection

Preaching is vain (vs. 14)

Faith is vain (vs. 14)

We are false witnesses of God (vs. 15)

Sins are unforgivable (vs. 17)

Death is the end and judgment is sure (vs. 18)

Our lives are miserable (vs. 19; 32-33)

Christ Is Risen

The Statement (vs. 20)

The Proof (vs. 5-8)

A Case For Christ (quote)

It would have been an even greater miracle for 500 people to have the exact same hallucination, than for Jesus to be raised from the dead.

The Results Of Resurrection

Sins Forgiven (Pardon)(vs. 42)

Glory (Praise)(vs. 43)

Power (vs. 43)

Spirituality (Partaking)(vs. 44)

Resurrection/Life (Hope)(vs. 21-22; 45)

Victory (vs. 25-26; 50; 53-55; 56-57; 23)

Commitment

Choice

Distinction (vs. 46-48)

Call (vs. 34; 58)

Belief (vs. 1-4)

Graveside

Acts 20:25 NKJV

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

Acts 20:36–38 NKJV

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.