Stephen A. Davis - Celebration

Stephen Andrew Davis - Age: 74; a native of Pinson, Alabama and a recent Resident of Mobile, Alabama having just moved from Lakeland, Florida died Friday, August 6, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. He was born July 25, 1947. He is survived by his spouse of 45 years, Kathy Gail Davis; his children, Stephen M. Davis (Ashley) of Vestavia, Alabama, Andrew Davis (Brittany) of Mobile, Alabama, Stephanie Nichols (Shaun) of Houston, Texas; his grandchildren: Jaden Nichols, Bailiegh Davis, Kalli Nichols, Mackenzie Davis, Drew Davis, Alba Nichols, Kailey Davis, and Jayda Davis; his siblings, Jack Davis (Barbara), Mark Davis, Darryl Davis (Julie), Anthony Davis. He was preceded in Death By: A.B. Davis (Father), Margie Womack Davis (Mother), Berry Davis (Brother) and Paul Davis (Brother).

Stephen Andrew Davis passed away peacefully in his home on August 6, 2021, surrounded by his family following his battle with cancer. Stephen and Kathy, who he loved deeply, were married for nearly 45 years. A native from Pinson, Alabama, they had recently moved to Mobile, Alabama from the Cypress Lake Community in Lakeland, Florida to be closer to family. Stephen and Kathy enjoyed the relationships and memories they had made within the Lakeland Community. Stephen was an avid golfer and enjoyed time with his family. A veteran of the Navy, he loved his country and would regularly wear attire that honored his fellow veterans. He believed in community and was an active member in the Cypress Lake Christian Fellowship prior to moving to Mobile. Stephen retired from being the owner of an independent insurance agency in Gardendale and Oneonta Alabama. His legacy is his children and grandchildren for which he was very proud.

Sermon

Today is a day of Celebration. We are celebrating the Life that Stephen A. Davis lived. The legacy that he has left today with his family, friends, acquaintances and those he just met.

I want to tell you a story to help you understand my dad a little and to tie it in with a certain passage of scripture that was the tipping point in his life.

Some of you may know this story: Dad was in the Navy during the Vietnam years and one particular day while on base his CO told him he had a job for him. So the CO took dad inside one of the offices and told him to paint everything in it. So Dad being dad did exactly that. He painted the walls, the ceiling, the desk, file cabinets, ceiling, everything that was in the office he painted it. You can imagine the look on the Co’s face when he saw it. Dad said his was so mad but what could he expect Dad was just following orders. The CO told him to paint everything in the room so that's what he did.

This CO never asked him to do anything like that again. That’s a true story. Dad took it literally. He followed orders exactly.

Today is a day of celebration. We are here to celebrate the life that my Dad lived, but in order to celebrate his life we need to go back and talk about why we can celebrate his life and how we can celebrate his life.

You see Dad believed that God (Yahweh) sent His son Jesus who was born of a virgin, to earth to show mankind how to live life to the fullest. To be the final sacrifice, to save mankind from their sins, by believing that Jesus willfully died on a cross for all mankind, rose on the third day and ascended into heaven.

Now there was a time back in the early to mid 70’s where dad was just in a tough spot. I firmly believe what

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

During this tough time in Dads life I believe he remembered this and he called the one person who he knew could help him. He called his dad A.B. Davis and flew him from Birmingham to Houston where dad was staying.

Dad would tell me that he read this passage of scripture and did exactly what it said.

Matthew 6:6–8 KJV 1900

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:6–8 ESV

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Dad took this verse literally. As I began to study this passage I noticed that the actual Greek Word for Closet or Room in the original language is Tameion which literally means inner room, storeroom, a room located in the inner parts of a house or building.

The verse says to close, shut the door and pray or literally make a request, this word appears 89 times in the New Testament.

Why do I bring this to your attention? Because it is important to know what is actually being said. Communication is vital to our relationship with God and with each other.

He told me that he went to his closet and actually took everything out, everything and then the two of them got down and prayed. Once they finished praying dad took grandpa and flew him back home. I was told that Grandpa came with just the clothes on his back and his Bible.

It was this passage of scripture and what he did with what he read that changed his life.

Dad would look back over the course of his life and remember that day. It was a spiritual marker in his life, this passage had a profound affect on his life and it changed him.

He would say, “I’m not saying that I was perfect after that or never got did anything wrong” but it changed me.

Dad would tell me that story many times over the years when he knew I was hurting, or worrying about something. He would tell me to go in my closet and get alone with the Lord and pray.

Matthew 6:5-8 was the last thing he read. He made it a point to read it to us last week and to tell us how it changed him.

Dad believed in the inspired, infallible Word of God, the Bible. He believed in the Salvation message where

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Dad made a choice that day.

What about you?

Are you struggling in this life? Doubt, Fear, Shame?

Do you need to enter into your closet and turn things over to Jesus?

The Bible tells us in Romans

Romans 10:8–13 ESV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Dad called on him that day and He saved him from the life he was living.

What about you? What life are you living right now? Are you struggling?

Maybe its time to give your life to Jesus and give him a chance to walk with you in this life. I promise you will not regret that decision!

Mom - the lyrics to this song were special to Dad

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow - Ira F. Stanphill

Ev'ry step is getting brighter As the golden stairs I climb Ev'ry burden's getting lighter Ev'ry cloud is silver lined

There the sun is always shining There no tear will dim the eye At the ending of the rainbow Where the mountains touch the sky

Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of this earthly life. We thank you for the life of our Dad, for the years you gave him and the character that you shaped in him. We thank you for his life, for every memory of love and joy, for every good deed and every sorrow shared with us. We thank you for the rest in Christ he now enjoys. We thank you for giving him to us for a time, and we praise you for the glory we shall share together for eternity. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

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