“Sermons from the Death-Beds of Saints!” Genesis 49:28-33

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a book that was assigned reading in a high school literature class. It was entitled The Great Gatsby. The book had a depressing, hopeless end... F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author of the book Call of the Wild, London was known not only for his writings, but also for his adventures. Yet, London personally believed life was without sense and that real men will admit it and go ahead as if it made sense anyway... Jack London

Hemingway’s search for sense in a nonsense world took him to all sorts of adventures. He managed to live into his 60’s. But his ultimate adventure came by... Ernest Hemingway

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

to learn what the departure of God’s saints teach us Purpose: to learn what the departure of God’s saints teach us

I The Need to Prepare for DEATH A. Death Does Approach 7

June, 1983 in Stewart, Florida on Ocean Boulevard, a funeral procession with a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer with a sign saying...

Certainly our lives are but vapors – fragile and unpredictable Certainly our lives are but vapors – fragile and unpredictable. Just ask the Joe Briggs family of Philadelphia...

I The Need to Prepare for DEATH A. Death Does Approach B. Let’s Not Trifle 10

“He who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool, he is a madman.” C. H. Spurgeon

II The Need to Value RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE A. Prize Godly Parents B. Prize Godly Friends 12

III The Need to Pray for MORE SAINTS A. Pray That More Become Saints B. Pray That More Be Sent Forth 13

Matthew 9:37-38 “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’”

F = Faithful – people who really love and want to honor Christ by putting nothing/one before Him A = Available – people who are not all wrapped up in “everything” but available to worship and serve... to reap the harvest! T = Teachable – people who recognize they don’t know everything and realize how little they truly do know about the Word of God...

“I am abandoned by God and man “I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months of life. Then I shall to go hell, and you will go with me...” Voltaire

His wife. Heard her husband call out, “Lord, I come His wife... Heard her husband call out, “Lord, I come!” These were the dying words of this great man of God. J. W. McGarvey

Conclusion and Summary Yes, the death-bed of one speaks much of one’s life. In the case of God’s saints, their death-beds speak forth sermons: I The Need to Prepare for Death II The Need to Value Righteous People III The Need to Pray for More Saints

“Live Like You Were Dying” I went sky divin’, I went rocky mountain climbin’ I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu, And I loved deeper, And I spoke sweeter, And I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying, And he said someday I hope you get the chance, To live like you were dyin’.

We are all terminally ill We are all terminally ill... I pray that you and I will learn to live like you and I were dying, for in doing so we will be passing the faith along!