The Funeral Service of Mary ThomasMarch 4, 2006
Article By: Tom Demeter Dear Friend, This is the Funeral Service of Mary Elizabeth Thomas on March 4, 2006 #1) INTRODUCTION: We gather here today, in this solemn occasion to pay our final tribute to Mary Elizabeth Thomas to acknowledge that the fist phase of God's work in creating her is now finished. We came to give glory to our Creator Jesus our Christ, for the wonderful accomplishments in Mary's life. On behalf of the Thomas family I wish to thank each one of you for being here today, taking the time and the sacrifice to be with us. May you be blessed for being here. - Although today is a very difficult day the scriptures makes this promise: #2) SCRIPTURE READING Ps 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. v2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; v3 Though the waters
roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. #3) A SHORT PRAYER: Please stand with me. Our Heavenly Father we acknowledge your kindness, and your love, which we as humans can't even begin to understand and the glory, you have planned and prepared for us, who love you ICor.2:9. Dear Father, we are human, we are not members of your Godkind and family yet, but we know that we are destined to be part of it according Rom.8:17. For this great honor and destiny, we come humbly to ask you to open our spirit, mind and to receive your words of comfort, to calm us that your words would HEAL US and that your WORDS not return to you empty and void, but fulfill its purpose in our life, converting us to be like you. - We thank you in the name of your first begotten Son, Jesus our Creator Eph.3:9. #4) SERMON: Please be seated. We came to honor Mary Elizabeth Thomas who was born in March 12, 1913 and died in February 22, 2006. I known her personally as a loving and giving woman, who loved company and to talk and listen. It was obvious that she loved her family sacrificially. I am sure we will hear testimonies to help us to remember her legacy to be handed down among us. Dear Friends, we love to hear "good news" of a birth of a new baby, we appreciate graduations the approval of one's new accomplishments. We are delighted to participate in weddings. We don't like to hear "bad news" and to attend funerals. When we are young we have no concept of time, and feel invincible and eternal. As we age, we discover through sorrow, injury, sickness and pain that we are not eternal. DEATH becomes a reality when living becomes a burden to us. This is when we become interested in eternal life. Did you ever wonder, why humans and angels experience "evil?" What is the purpose of EVIL in our life? What is the ultimate EVIL? How did Evil come into our lives? I know that there are many answers, and you might have a few yourself. If you research in the Bible, you will find that this subject is “hidden” and is a "mystery," because our Creator whom Apostle Paul identified as Jesus in Eph.3:9 hidden this from us. The answers to these questions were “hidden” since the foundation of the world were made we read in Mat.13:35. The answers were "revealed" Mat.10:26 to us only now at the End of the World Mat.24:3, when the "mystery of God" is finished or revealed as it was shown to Apostle John Rev.10:7. The answers were right front of us, in the Bible, yet it was "closed." God's words were "shut up" to us until "the time of the End" see Dan.12:4. Yes, see verse 9 "the words of God were CLOSED up and SEALED till the time of the End." The purpose of evil and its origin was and is God's deepest secret, called the “MYSTERY of God" in Eph.1:9-10. To understand this secret, “mystery” we need to know that when we die, we are dead. We are in the state of "sleep." Jesus said to His disciples after Lazarus died that he “sleeps” Jn.11: 11. Paul tells us that all the dead sleep until the Jesus’ second coming, when the first resurrection will take place IThes.4:15. Apostle John after Jesus and most of the Apostles died said: “no man has ascended up t o heaven, but He that came down from heaven, the Son of man” Jn.3:13. Mary or sister sleeps, being unconscious until her resurrection. Mary finished her painful earthly walk. The next thing Mary will remember, when she will be conscious, after her resurrection is of being front of the presence of Christ. This means we don’t need to worry about Mary, but those who were left behind, you and me bearing the loss, the grief and the pain. Death leaves a “deep wound” like an operation when a part of our body is removed. The wound is deeper because it is spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. We must be healed in all three segments of our life, to stay whole. This is where God’s mystery can help us, because it gives us God’s true “knowledge of salvation” Lk.1:77, giving us full understanding of the purpose of evil in our and the angel’s lives, giving us the knowing why we have to suffer in this life. Having this knowledge gives us justification and validation, to bear our cross. This is why God’s spiritual, invisible “Word, Jesus was made flesh” Jn.1:14, making it possible for us to be in God’s family. The "SECRET" was that it was God, our Creator, Jesus our Christ Eph.3:9, who has "ALIENATED" us from Him Eph.4: 18, by "creating evil" Isa.45:7, and the devil who is Satan Jn.8:44, and by hiding the truth and himself, that He, Christ, and our Father might "RECONCILIATE" us ALL, (humans and angels) to him, and to our Father in heaven 2Cor. 5:18, a "FEW" of us now, in this age, and the "many" in God's future coming "ages to come" Eph.2:7. Why would our Creator ALIENATE us? The secret is that "God is LOVE" IJn.4:8. God's love is sacrificial Jn.15:13. This is why to love God, we must be willing to "lose this life, to find, eternal life" Mat.16:25. This is why our "flesh and blood can't inherit the kingdom of God" ICor.15:50. For humans to be able to "sacrifice," to lose our lives, God created evil and DEATH Isa.45:7. We are all afraid of death, being carnal. It was revealed to Apostle Paul that the angels are also “alienated” from God Col.1:21, as humans are and must overcome our FEAR of DEATH Heb.2:15, because FEAR has “torment” IJn.4:18, which we need to overcome in this life, that we may not be tormented in eternal life Rev.21:8. My sisters and brothers the "good news" is that God "revealed" this to us now as Jesus prophesied in Mat.10:26. This great secret of God, tells us that we are the "last generation" as shown in Mat.24:34. This tells you that we can be in the "resurrection" without dying IThes.4:17; ICor.15:52. This means who has access to this knowledge, like you sitting in this room to be in the RESURRECTION without dying. This applies to every one of us, young and old, if we are willing to claim it. We only need the “holy spirit” like the 120 disciples of Christ, waiting with fasting and prayer for the holy spirit which came on the Feast of Weeks, we call Pentecost. Many, like I felt that I had the Holy Spirit of God, until I was shown that I had only one of the “seven spirits” of God’s “seven churches,” mentioned in Rev.2 and 3 which is an angelic spirit not God’s. This means that you can receive God’s “holy spirit,” as the people did on the day of Pentecost, to start God’s “work” Acts.13:41, as the resurrected Christ’s work started after Pentecost. This makes “this day” your day of true salvation. This means that just as 2000 years ago, God wants to use you to bring salvation to others, that God’s church may grow, and His true gospel may be preached as a “witness” to all nations, and then will the End of the World come Mat.24:14. Do you see how God is honoring us at this present moment? Dear Friends, do you realize that the “work” the churches are doing is not the “work” mentioned in Acts.13:41. This “work” was given to God’s “Two Witnesses” see Rev.11:3 whose “testimony,” warn the world before the Biblical Beast, the Anti-christ comes Rev.11:7. We, who are here today are the beneficiary of the “work” of God’s Two Witnesses, as the 120 were the on the first Pentecost. I don’t know about you, but this is very exciting to me, because I expect great things today, like what took place on the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, when “suddenly a sound came from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” and “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them. And t hey were ALL filled with the holy spirit” Acts.2:2-4. This changed their life to be a “new man” Eph.4:24 to have the power to overcome their FEARS to serve God. Brothers and sisters this means that you can be in the first, or "better" Heb. 11:35 "resurrection" to eternal life, where there are “no more plagues, morning, and famine; and war, destruction by fire or death” Rev.18:8. We read in Rev.21:4 When you gain eternal life "there shall be no more DEATH, neither sorrow, nor crying, pain: for the former things are passed away." You will have everything which is "good" happiness, joy, fulfillment, peace, love and all the resources of God's omnipotent power. You will be in the presence of the Most High, because God's holy spirit will be in you. How does this comfort and bless you now? You are in pain bearing the loss of our beloved Mary. How does this HEAL the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wound you have now? Your loss is like when you go through a most serious operation a heart transplant, or when an organ, a part of you body is cut out. Death is even more painful. I have heard from brave soldiers coming home from Vietnam, where they endured torture, but could not cope with a divorce from their wife. Death is a greater spiritual and psychological trauma than a divorce. DEATH of a loved one leaves a spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wound, which takes time to heal. You must take TIME to face and deal with your GRIEF. If you don't, you can't be healed. It is your duty given by God, to overcome your LOSS and gain VICTORY over it. You must overcome your bitterness, being hateful, vengeful, mean and a person whose love was quenched. As a Christian knowing the truth about the PURPOSE of EVIL you can be relieved from the torment of your loss not knowing why you must suffer. Friends, when you see the reason of your grief, sorrow and pain, the knowledge of God's mystery will comfort you. You will see that there is a vital purpose of God’s work is being done in your life. Now you will appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus, who died for you, showing us an example we must follow. Apostle Paul tells us in Phil.1:29 that "unto YOU it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to ‘suffer’ for His sake." Paul said in Col.1:24 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and FILL UP that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in MY FLESH for His body’s sake, which is the church.” We are told that "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us" 2Tim.2:12. If you are willing to "endure" your cross Mat.24:13, Christ will give you POWER to endure what humanly you would not be able. This will give you moral strength to stand for what is good, defined by God's laws. Obeying God's laws will open your eyes to see the truth and the error. If you obey God's laws, you will be guided, protected, healed and Blessed in this life and in the life to come. "God's way" is the difficult and narrow road, but it leads to eternal LIFE, Mat.7:14. Let us take comfort in the loss of our beloved Mary, in that God so LOVED us, that He gave His first begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in Him should NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life” Jn.3:16. Our Father in heaven was willing to sacrifice His First begotten Son on the cross, that we may believe, that we may be HELLAED from our spiritual, mental and physical FEARS and sicknesses. Our Creator wants to heal our wound of Mary's departing. #5) SONGS #6) EULOGIES: At this time I would ask all those that would like to share something from the life of Mary to come forward and do so. I thank you for your comments and love. 7) FINAL PRAYER
Let us Pray: GRAVESIDE SERVICE: SHORT PRAYER Our Father in Heaven, we come to you to honor you and to ask for your
comfort, to console our spirit and mind, to give us peace this day of our loss
and grief. Give us the healing balm of Gilead,
the knowledge and the assurance
that you LOVE us, and that You want to HEAL
us from our frailty and its pain. Help us to focus on YOU
and on eternal life that we might bear our pain and to
be victorious over our loss. SCRIPTURE READING May we begin with God's comforting words. IJn.4:8 “He that loves not knows not God: for God IS LOVE” V.12 “If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is PERFECTED in us.” Jn.15:13 “Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend” John 14:1-6 "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. Rev 1:17-18 "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. V18. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Rom 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." SERMONETTE Let us pause for a moment to meditate. We read in ICor.10:13 "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is FAITHFUL, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but with the temptation (your trial) also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." Brothers and sisters Christ sent us the comforter His holy spirit that we may be HEALED, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically from our fears, sickness and diseases. Death causes a wound which must be healed. Christ, our Creator Eph.3:9 has not left us without being comforted. Christ's words are sure, and will comfort us specially if we can trust Him. Mat.24:35 states "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my WORDS shall not pass away." Remember He created all things by speaking into reality. We all must learn to TRUST God, for we read in Heb.11:6 “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Only by using our faith we learn and “believe that He is, and that He is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek Him.” This is how we grown in faith, and God’s love, which is the evidence of God's power, His "holy spirit" working in our life. Christ wants you to TRUST His WORDS, that you may be healed, from all your FEARS, using your FAITH. We all must overcome our fear of losing our loved ones, and our own life, that we may not be "tormented" IJn.4:18. Christ wants you to turn this great LOSS to a great VICTORY. This is a great time to "test yourself" and see how much you trust God. Give your loss and fear to Him, by forgiving God, for the Evil He created in your life, causing you to suffer. Once you FORGIVE God, you are released, from the "spiritual bondage" of fear that you may be free of sin and sickness. Apostle Paul ask us in 2Cor.13:5 to "Examine ourselves, whether you be in the faith; (religion of God) prove your own selves" that you maybe healed. Christ wants to heal you, that through you might other receive healing. You only need to “believe,” and “ASK” for healing, and to “forgive. “ If you want to be healed you need to pray for other's healing, and ask others to pray for you Jams.4:1-3. I ASK you to think of a SIN you have committed, against someone. I ask you to pray for that person you hurt, by asking his and Christ's forgiveness for your sin. Then also confess to God that you have SINNED because He Created evil in your life Isa.45:7, being weak or what ever was the cause for you to sin, and hurt your fellow man. Our Father will FORGIVE you, because the penalty of sin witch is death Rom.6:23, was PAID by Christ on the cross.Christ by revealing His “MYSTERY” to you, elevated you. Now our Father is asking YOU to forgive Him for creating evil, that Christ's sacrifice can be applied to your sin, that you may not be under the penalty of death Rom.6:23. LET US TAKE A MOMENT SEARCHING OUR HEART silently, for “a” SIN we have committed, and you would like to be released from its torment. Then ask for the healing of that person's spiritual, mental or physical sickness, that your SIN caused. To start God’s healing process, when we file by the casket to pay your last respect, please touch it, as a "contact" point, physically, showing to our Creator, Jesus our Christ Eph.3:9 your intent and will, by touching the casket. God will give you a “confirmation” of His acceptance of your “repentance,” to absolve, release you from the penalty of death of your sin Mat.3:2. BELIEVE God's infallible words, and that person you are praying for will receive healing. I will pray for you according James 4:1-3 and 5:14,16, that you may be healed of your “fear of death” Heb.2:15. Expect a miracle in your life, by receiving God’s “holy spirit” to gain power over your “fear of death,” that you may be a new man, to do God’s “work,” at the end of the world not yours Acts.13:41. If you need special healing, ask for some one like me to pray for you. Let us take a silent moment to search our heart. PRAYER of RELEASE Let us Pray: In Jesus' name we pray. BENEDICTION: May the PEACE of God be in you, the BLESSINGS of God surround, cover and be with you, and to protect you, and the GLORY of God radiate through you. Go and serve the Lord. |