3.1.21 4.20.2022a Funeral Sermon for Kent Wheeler Romans 8.9-11

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Entice: Jeff, Sam, and myself represent all those pastors, preachers, and teachers that Kent Wheeler has encouraged through the years. If I may presume to speak for them in this instant, I offer humble thanks to someone who has so richly blessed the ministry of this congregation, this community, and through the lives of others who have gone on from here to carry on the legacy of Kent’s gentle instruction.

Like all of you I have mixed emotions.

While Kent is at peace his family, friends, and church feel anxiety.

He is experiencing fulness. we feel the emptiness of absence.

He has achieved his rest, we are restless.

I largely agree with the theological position of “realized eschatology” which entails a tension between the

now and not yet.

What was, what is, and what shall be.

The visible and the invisible.

The seen and the unseen.

The hard part of that affirmation is that for some, the end is realized sooner than for others. And those of us on the “not yet” side of eternity continue to experience tears, fears, and grief.

Engage: Kent Wheeler knew and trusted Jesus. For that reason our present grief is tempered by the knowledge that he has joined the great cloud of witnesses and waits to welcome us in the presence of our risen Lord. You and I can share the confidence that motivated Kent. Paul wrote about this trust and confidence in Romans chapter 8. Paul’s confidence was not for the faint-hearted.

It was a confidence that asserted

God’s sovereignty over our fallen world.

It is a confidence that asserts

God’s power in the midst of our weakness,

God’s provision in the midst of our want,

God’s redemption from the reality of our ruin,

God’s love at the moment of our loss.

Today, Let me highlight one small portion of this wonderful chapter of Paul’s epistle.

Romans 8:9–11 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Expand: The Gospel is the story of God enfolding us in His love and indwelling us with His Spirit. Because of that truth the stinging tears of grief are mixed with the singing tears of joy.

Excite: There is nothing better than belonging to God in Christ Jesus in life or in death.

Explore: When we are In Christ, the end begins eternity and the shadow becomes substance.

Explain: In this moment, at this hour take heart from these three reminders.

Body of Sermon: Paul reminds us that both here and in eternity we experience

1 God’s Presence.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

1.1 Longing…

1.2 Belonging.

Through the Holy Spirit we experience the truthfulness of Jesus’ Word and assurance of our salvation through

2 God’s Provision.

Romans 8:10 ESV

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

2.1 Reversal.

Think about the great reversal for a moment, one of the signal themes of the Kingdom preaching of Jesus, you’ve heard these words many times before…the

2.1.1 First shall be last…

the

2.1.2 Sovereign is servant…

the

2.1.3 Greatest is the least…

the

2.1.4 Lost are found

the

2.1.5 Dead are ALIVE!

2.2 Righteousness.

Because of Jesus our brother Kent now knows the substance of

3 God’s Promise.

Romans 8:11 ESV

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

3.1 If the conditions are met…

His Spirit is dwelling in you.

3.2 The reality is shared.

His life resurrecting you.

Shut Down:

When Jesus was born He was called Immanuel. His entire earthly sojourn was an object lesson that answered the question “what would it be like if God walked among us?”

We have just celebrated His victory over death. Because of His resurrection the Spirit is present, continuing to provide for us and fulfill His promises to us. God. With. Us. In life or death. The dark of night or sunny midday. In weakness or strength. In joy or in sorrow. In life and in death. God with us, God in us.

Kent embodied a “little i” immanuel presence. He showed us through his life want it would be like if someone seriously sought to live like Christ. Kent taught us the value of Godly wisdom, a cheerful spirit, a kind heart, and a resolute trust in Christ. As Klay says, school’s out. Go put the lessons into practice.