Funeral Service for Darlene Lyons
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2 Corinthians 1:3-4; John 14:1-6; Romans Road Passages
God is the God of all Comfort; His Son is the ONLY WAY to HEAVEN
WELCOME & PRAYER (Pastor Ray Lyons)
WELCOME & PRAYER (Pastor Ray Lyons)
READING of the OBITUARY (Pastor Ray Lyons)
READING of the OBITUARY (Pastor Ray Lyons)
SONG#1 (Darlene’s Grandson)
SONG#1 (Darlene’s Grandson)
TESTIMONIES by...
TESTIMONIES by...
Melvin Lyons (Husband)
Gabe Lyons (Son)
Matt Lyons (Son)
and Others.
SONG #2 – (The Lilly of the Valley)
SONG #2 – (The Lilly of the Valley)
MESSAGE (Pastor John Hester)
MESSAGE (Pastor John Hester)
Today, we are celebrating the life of Darlene. Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 2:20 pm, was a homecoming for Darlene.
This past Sunday, I shared this verse with our congregation. It is Romans 12:15 which says…
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
I went on to say that we, as a church, are rejoicing and weeping today. Rejoicing with Darlene as she steps into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. She is experiencing right now what so many of us long for. And, without any doubt, as much as she loves those of us who are left here on earth, she would not trade what she has now for this old world.
At the same time, we are weeping with Melvin and his family. We are weeping because of the lost we are feeling.
Darlene was an incredible woman of faith. She was one of those rare people you get to know whose faith in the Lord transcended so many of us. I still remember the day that she and Melvin came to meet with me after receiving the news that she had cancer. Honestly, as a pastor, there times when you just do not have the words to say to people. I did my best to comfort them and assure them that God was in control. Yet, it was Darlene who left me encouraged that day. I still remember her saying as she so often did, “John, I know within my heart that God has this!” I can’t tell you how many times over the past years I would hear her say “God’s got this!” Even now, it brings a smile to my heart. Because of her influence, I find myself saying to others, as well as to myself, during difficult times, “God’s got this!” Her faith was remarkable. Never once, to my knowledge, did she doubt the Lord through any of her battle with cancer.
Darlene was also known for her quick wit. Just last year, during one of the SALT activities at our church (Seniors Adults Living Triumphantly), she stood and did a comedy act. She was great.
On one occasion, our church had started a women’s singing group. The first Sunday the women sang I commented how great they were and how that we needed to come up with a name. We couldn’t just keep calling them the ladies singing group. Without hesitation, Darlene quipped, “The Sweet Sounds of Calvary!” It stuck. Now, once a month, the Sweet Sounds of Calvary sing at our church.
Each of you here today knew Darlene in a different way – some of you were very close and others more distant perhaps. Some knew her as mom, sister, sister-in-law, and aunt. To us at Calvary, she was our dear sister in Christ.
It is often said that parting is such sweet sorrow. Truly, for many of us, we are feeling that sweet sorrow today. Anytime we lose someone close to us it leaves a huge void.
There was a time when Christ, God’s Son, also left a void just like many are feeling today. In fact, many months before His death, He gave words of encouragement to His disciples preparing them for the void they would feel at His death. We find these words recorded in John 14.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Christ had just finished telling His disciples in the chapters before this that He would be betrayed and put to death. Hearing those words, the disciples were DISCOURAGED, DEPRESSED, and GRIEVED.
Listen again to what Christ told them!
He gave them 2 COMMANDS!
STOP being troubled (discouraged, depressed, grieved) “Let not your heart be troubled…” (v.1)
BELIEVE in me! “…ye believe in God, BELIEVE also in ME.” (v. 1)
These two commands still hold today. In times difficult times like these, we must stop being troubled and simply put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
He then gave them 3 PROMISES!
I GO… (v. 2)
John 14:2 (KJV 1900)
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.
I WILL COME AGAIN… (v. 3)
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I WILL RECEIVE “you” … (v. 3)
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
You might be wondering what any of this has to do with why we are here today.
It is simply this! Those who, like Darlene, place their faith in Christ are those whom He receives unto Himself.
There is something very important that we must know about verse 3.
Remember Christ said, “I will come again, and receiver YOU unto myself!”
The “you” is NOT everyone!
Further down, we read these words in verse 6.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Verse 6 explains that “NO MAN cometh…but by ME.” Christ is speaking of the ASSURANCE of going to HEAVEN.
On January 22, DARLENE entered God’s presence God. On that day, she met Him FACE to FACE, just as EACH of us will one day.
HERE IS THE QUESTION – ARE YOU READY TO MEET GOD? I know with certainty from Darlene’s testimony and life that she is was ready!
Unfortunately, not every one is ready. Some are even confused by what it means to be ready. That was the case the day that Christ uttered those words to His disciples.
Thomas, one of Christ’s disciples, asked Christ a similar question.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Essentially his question was HOW CAN WE BE READY? How can we KNOW the way?
The great news, even right now, is that we can KNOW FOR SURE (100%) we are going to HEAVEN. You see the Bible tells us all we need to know. What then does the Bible say?
There are 4 VERY SIMPLE THINGS we must understand and accept in order to go to HEAVEN!
EVERYONE is BORN AS a SINNER
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
What is interesting about this verse is the fact it was written long before any of us here today were born! How then could God say before we were born that we would be sinners? The answer is found in Romans 5:12 which says:
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The one man spoken of here is Adam. He is our father. Long before the Adam and Eve gave birth to their first son, they sinned and rebelled against God. God pronounced judgment upon them. In doing so, God cast them out of the garden breaking their fellowship with Him. On that day, sin entered into the world. Sin brought its companion death. Even though Adam and Even did not die physically the day God judged them, they die spiritually. Today we are here because death has separated us from Darlene. That is what death does is separates. Adam’s sin resulted in spiritual separation from God. Later, Adam and Eve died physically. But long before they died physically, they were already dead spiritually. Since that day, everyone born into this world is born already spiritually dead. They are born sinners. We sin because we are sinners.
EVERYONE is BORN A SINNER and ALREADY UNDER CONDEMNATION
Again, in Romans, we learn that sin has consequences. Almost everyone has heard at some time in their life the verse John 3:16.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
However, many have not heard the verses after it which say:
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
You see we are born not just as sinners, but as sinners under condemnation.
Here is another great verse that helps understand our helpless condition.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The first part of that verse talks about sin’s wages. A wage is something earned. Our sin earns us death - spiritual death. Condemnation speaks to the fact that if we live our lives under sin’s wage (spiritually dead/separated from God) when we die physically we do not go to be with Him. Instead, Scripture clearly states our eternal destination without God is place of great suffering and torment.
Thus, as I often illustrate it, you are born already separated from God, and, if you live your entire life without Him, you will die separated from God and live eternally separated from God.
Now, if that was that God ever told us about ourselves, we would be hopelessly and helplessly destined for eternal punishment - aka condemnation. But, Praise God, there is some really GOOD NEWS!
CHRIST DIED FOR ALL SINNERS
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 5:8 which says:
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I like this verse for two reasons. First, I like it because of God’s love. God commended (demonstrated) His great love to us. How did He do so? He did so by allowing His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us. Remember John 3:16!
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Now, because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we can be made spiritually alive. Listen again to Romans 6:23 which says:
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A wage is something earned. However, the opposite of a wage is a gift. A gift is free. A gift is something of value given by someone who purchased it with mindset to give it away with no strings attached. The Lord Jesus Christ by His actions upon the cross purchase with His own blood the gift of eternal life. Now, He, the Lord Jesus, offers that gift to all of us. And, just like any gift, all we have do is reach out and take it.
How then does one receive this wonderful gift of eternal life? That is a great question! One must receive Christ and in doing so receives eternal life.
YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST
Listen closely to these verses.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
You might remember the words of John 14:6 which say:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The only way to receive eternal life and to enter Heaven is to receive Christ as your personal Savior.
How does a person receive Christ? The answer is found in Romans 10 where we read:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Note that we are to:
Confess with our MOUTH the Lord Jesus by calling upon His name.
Believe with our HEARTS the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus, outwardly we are receive Him as well as inwardly. God’s personal promise to those who do is they will be saved! Saved from what? Saved from condemnation. Saved from spending an eternity without Him. Saved from a place of eternal torment and pain. Saved with a new life that is everlasting. Saved with a promise of spending all of eternity with Him.
Why share all of that with you this morning? I share it with you this morning because it is what Darlene would want you to hear. You see she is enjoying the promises of God today. She is enjoying His presence. I know that she would want you to enjoy and know all that she is experience even now.
May I say to you today that the GREATEST COMFORT and the GREATEST JOY is to KNOW Jesus Christ as YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR and to trust Him alone to take you to Heaven.
INVITATION
INVITATION
ASK FOR HEADS TO BOW AND EYES TO CLOSE
How many of you KNOW for SURE, without any doubt, you are going to Heaven?
Great! Several raised their hands, Praise the Lord! However, some of you here today did not raise your hands indicating you are NOT 100% SURE! May I LOVINGLY and TENDERLY tell you what a wonderful thing it is to be a Christian and may I RECOMMEND my Savior to you?
If you would like to receive Christ today would you RAISE your hand!
(IF SOME DO) Pray the sinner’s prayer!
Just repeat this prayer after me.
Dear Lord Jesus,
I realize that I am a sinner. I realize that the penalty of my sin is death. I repent of my sin and confess that you died for me, was buried, and rose again on the third day. I accept your wonderful gift of salvation. I accept you into my life today as Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
If you prayed that prayer, then know today that Christ is now your ticket to Heaven. I would encourage you to come by and let me know so that I can pray for you. I have with me this morning some tracts. Please take one and read it. It will help explain even more the assurance that you now have of Heaven.
CLOSING PRAYER
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, we thank you once again for the wonderful life of DARLENE LYONS. Today, we commend HER into your hands. May all those who are here today turn to YOU for their comfort. Truly, you are the God of all Comfort. You are also the God of salvation. May those who do not KNOW 100% for sure they are going to Heaven take the same steps that DARLENE did. May her life be counted as testimony to how wonderful you are and may we all determine to live lives pleasing unto you. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen!
GRAVESIDE – The family has requested one last song to close this portion of the service. After the song has ended, you are invited to stand with the family at the graveside where we will conclude this memorial service.
SONG #3
SONG #3
GRAVESIDE
GRAVESIDE
*BE SURE TO STAND AT HEAD OF CASKET
VERSES TO BE READ by Pastor Ray Lyons!
VERSES TO BE READ by Pastor Ray Lyons!
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
PRAY
PRAY
Lord, again, we commit unto our beloved sister, Darlene. She was a wonderful testimony to you. We are thankful for the time we spent with her. She is truly missed. However, we, who are believers, know we will see her again. While wait for that day, may we rely completely upon you for our comfort. Help Melvin in the days to come especially in those times when missing her hits home. May the rest of her family lean upon you as well for their comfort. And, may all of us, commit ourselves to You and living the remainder of our lives serving you. May her life serve as a constant reminder to us of Your grace, mercy, and love. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, AMEN!
GREET NEXT of KIN
GREET NEXT of KIN
Shake hands and give a word of encouragement.