A FUNERAL
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee 2/12/19
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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
This message is not about GW (‘your name here’ if applicable). It's about Jesus. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. There is no change now that I have left this world, I am still a follower at this very moment. I am still alive and with JESUS. This service is not about my accomplishments, my intelligence, my deeds in this life, or any of my actions. My righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) compared to my Lord, Jesus Christ. None of us are “good enough” to go to heaven (Rom 3:23). Only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9). It is never about works. It is the gift of God. None of this matters where "I'm from," it is all about where I went - to be with Jesus.
This message is about a relationship with the ONE who created me. My Creator. He created all that there is to be created (John 1:3). This message is about a Savior who changed the life of a sinful and pitiful man and cleansed me from all unrighteousness. That Savior is Jesus Christ. It is about the One, who is God in the flesh, who came to earth to save sinners and I am one of those sinners whose life was miraculously changed when I received Christ into my life. John 1:12-13 reads: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”.
I was told many years ago, that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and heaven was my desire. Simple as that. Jesus said, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Another follower of Christ told me this as I didn’t know who Jesus was as a child. I thought at times that good works would get me into heaven. I was wrong. When I read John 14:6 in the Bible, God’s holy word, I asked God to forgive me and I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ; Lord of lords, and King of kings. It started in 1979 (your date here) when I walked down the aisle of a tiny Baptist Church and got on my knees in front GOD and three dozen, mostly strangers. God gave me a new heart and a new life (2 Cor 5:17). I was made a new "creature," or a new creation. I was born again (John 3:3,5). I knew that Jesus saved me so after that, I followed up with "believer's baptism" to identify myself with the Christ, Jesus. He showed us by example in the River Jordan. Me? Submerged in a lake and again in a church baptistry in front of a congregation of people who love the Lord (Col 2:12). I didn't need to be baptized twice but it was a personal issue with Jesus as a dedication. Those onlookers were now my brothers and sisters in Christ. My new family. [ And by the way, to my family and friends. Being baptized as an infant (or baby) is not being born again. That is a lie from hell to think that you are saved because some man sprinkled you in the face as a baby. That came about from the Catholic Church in the third century. An infant cannot confess their sins and you can't do it for them. That's called works.]
A few years later, God showed me a little hand-painted church billboard on a back road that read: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33). When I glanced at the little sign on the side of the road, near Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, I turned my van around and drove back to the site where I viewed it and wrote that scripture down. As a fairly new Christian at that time, I still wasn’t in God’s word like I needed to be. This was such a powerful reminder from God to me that I needed to be in His word daily and start a serious prayer life with Him. I had a need to seek the kingdom of God and understand more about His righteousness (Matt 6:33). I was still ‘drinking milk’ (Heb 5:12-13) after several years, when I should have been ‘eating meat’ and no longer drinking milk; the meat of His glorious word. God’s word reads: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
I have been working for the past several decades to promote the Glorious Gospel of Christ. Not because I have to, but because I want to - I love the work. God called me. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they folow Me". After reading His word, and receiving Jesus into my heart (John 1:12), I hear His voice and obviously I am following Him. And He knows me. While I was on this earth, my desire was to be obedient to Jesus especially when that is one of His last commands. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). If you do not want to do spread His gospel, I challenge you to this: Examine your lifestyle and your 'trust' in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 13:5) to see if you are truly "in the faith" or if you have been acting upon your "say so" salvation. Come out of this world. Ask yourself, 'am I doing what is pleasing to the Lord?' If you truly are saved, you will love the things that God loves and hate the things that He hates (Pro 6:16-19).
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (2 Cor 6:17-18). You need to be "separate" from this world.
"By the way, when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior,
I didn't have to leave my friends behind, most of my friends and relatives deserted me".
When Jesus went back to His heavenly home, He let us know that we, His followers, would be with Him. John 14:2-3 “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. 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”. Some have told us that there are no mansions and some have told us that these are ‘rooms’ but I say “I will believe that they are mansions” because where Jesus resides, it will be perfect. The Bible states this in many places. There will be ‘no tears’ and no worries. We that serve Him will serve Him forevermore. Will you join me in the servitude of Christ (John 12:26)? If you want to see me again, I will be residing in heaven. I am hoping to see you when you leave this earth. And all will leave this earth someday (Heb 9:27). Hell is real. Jesus spoke of hell more than anyone. It was made for the devil and his angels and for those who reject Him in this life, that will be their abode (Matt 10:28) (Rev 21:7-8).
Do not reject the Lord Jesus. He is real, Friend.
Do not perish. (Luke 13:3)
Call upon Him now with all your heart. He's waiting (Rev 3:20).
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
(Romans 10:13)
"I love ya'll - and I'm hoping to see you soon"
Gary Waddell - Thanks for “Taking 5” - iamnotashamed.com
Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee - God bless and bless GOD