Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. – Luke 23:46

DEATH ! Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. – Luke 23:46

“Death is a foreigner, not a close neighbour.” We live our lives, clutching fiercely to this illusion.

“The health of our bodies, the passions of our minds, the noise and hurry and pleasures and business of the world, lead us on with eyes that see not, and ears that hear not.” – William Law, 18 th century theologian

“Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.” – Psalm 16:1

Major General William Nelson

Though we may not be able to choose our death, we can choose our way of life and that is a way of choosing what kind of death we will have.

Though we may not be able to choose our death, we can choose our way of life and that is a way of choosing what kind of death we will have. If we have lived with love, that is how we will die. If we have indulged in hatred, lust and greed, then our deaths will endorse that kind of living.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 4:22a – “All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips.”

Psalm 31:5

What can we learn from the Son of God how to live and how to die, so that we may also face our own deaths well ? 1.We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose

What can we learn from the Son of God how to live and how to die, so that we may also face our own deaths well ? 1.We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose – we can then make Death our servant instead.

1. We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose – we can then make Death our servant instead. Psalm 39:5 “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.”

1. We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose – we can then make Death our servant instead. Psalm 103:15-16 “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”

1. We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose – we can then make Death our servant instead. Hebrews 11:13b-16 “They (the faithful) admitted that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

1. We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose – we can then make Death our servant instead. Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.”

“You cannot pass a day devoutly unless you think of it as your last.” – St John Climacus, 7 th century

Remembering death acts like a filter, helping us to hold on to the essential and let go of the trivial.

“Labor now to live in such a way, so that at the hour of death, you may rejoice rather than fear.” – Thomas Kempis, 15 th century

Death becomes our servant, then, when we use it to re-order our priorities and to grow in grace and holiness.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

Psalms 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.”

Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Luke 23:33 – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:43 – “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:46 – “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” John 19:26-27 – “ … “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” John 19:28 – “I am thirsty.” John 19:30 – “It is finished.”

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Psalms 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.”

Yet God is our Father, not only in death and after-life, but also now, while we are still living on earth.

What can we learn from the Son of God how to live and how to die, so that we may also face our own deaths well ? 1.We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose 2.We ought to know God as our Father, throughout life, unto death.

Yet what does it mean to call God “Abba Father” ? It means we should have an intimate relationship with Him. We are to know Him & to walk with Him. To know and do His Will.

If we only know about Him, there will be no intimacy, no friendship, no desire to do anything for Him. But if we know Him as Father, there will be passion in our hearts for Him and for things that are important to Him.

Koinonia Bungmati Church, Nepal

1.The Christians in the church were willing to give sacrificially Koinonia Bungmati Church, (new church land/building)

1.The Christians in the church are willing to give sacrificially 2.The youths in the church are willing to brave possible persecutions to share the Gospel.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

What can we learn from the Son of God how to live and how to die, so that we may also face our own deaths well ? 1.We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose. 2.We ought to know God as our Father, throughout life, unto death. 3.We ought to cheerfully entrust our souls to God (in everyday living and at the end), and trust that it is safe in His hands. When we do that, death in fact can be a comforter.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 – “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

Because of Christ, because of the resurrection, because of God’s goodness and mercy, death, our enemy, can be a consoling thought. There will be an end to our struggle for righteousness. A limit has been placed on our pain; our loneliness will not go on forever. Another glorious world awaits us.

Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Luke 16:22-23 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”

When we close our eyes for the last time on earth, will we close them fearfully of the great unknown beyond death, or will we close them in anticipation that we will open our eyes in heaven ?

When we close our eyes for the last time on earth, will we close them fearfully of the great unknown beyond death, or will we close them in anticipation that we will open our eyes in heaven ? That will depend on whether we know God personally as our Father who loves us.

Make death your servant, to ponder on your own death regularly, so that you will re- order your priorities that you will grow in grace and holiness.

What can we learn from the Son of God how to live and how to die, so that we may also face our own deaths well ? 1.We ought to soak ourselves in the Word of God, so that God’s Word may rule our lives and our lives’ purpose. 2.We ought to know God as our Father, throughout life, unto death. 3.We ought to cheerfully entrust our souls to God (in everyday living and at the end), and trust that it is safe in His hands.