Donna Coble Funeral Service

In the eye appointment of Almighty God, we are gathered here today remember the life of Donna Coble. Your presence is a great encouragement and comfort to the family frame of the Lord will minister to their hearts today into the hearts of all of us as we consider those things which are eternal. Donna had a large family born on May 1, 1934, passed into eternity.

On November 24 of this year. She is survived by two sons, Tony Coble and his wife Sandy and Terry Coble by grandchildren Melanie hello Brian Coble, Adam Coble, Jenny Campbell, Brandon Coble, Misty caps that Ashley Barnhart and Jason Coble and great-grandchildren. I will read that whole list is such a long one.

What a blessing was preceded in death by her husband, married for 67 years to PJ Coble by two sons, Tim and Tom and two grandsons, Tony Coble Junior and Matt Coble. Her parents are deceased Clarence Greeson and Mabel Greeson as well as two sisters, Nancy Smith and Linda Smith.

She lived a long life are gathering together today is to worship God. We need to keep that foremost in our minds.

But today our worship of God is focusing upon what he did in the life of an individual, one that he made in his image. For we are all created in the image of God, one that he redeemed by his grace by giving his own son, that those who trust in him might be redeemed. So we are thinking today about Almighty God and his goodness, and giving this life, and working through this life and using Donna Coble to touch the lives of so many others, and so we pray the Lord will help us to do that this very day, shall we pray. Father, we look to you become to acknowledge you as the Almighty God and ruler of this universe and create order of everything that we see.

We acknowledge the you are the one who gave life to Donna Coble and you are the one who gave eternal life to her by not sparing your own son by delivering him up that sinners might be redeemed. We pray, therefore, Lord, that you will bless our undertaking today me the words that are said in the songs that are sung may the truths that are imparted bring honor and glory to Christ as we worship him, and may they acknowledge you're working in the lives of one of your children. As we ask this in Jesus name, amen.

If you'll take a hymnal and turn to number 371 going to send a familiar hymn when peace like a River attend with my way. It is well it is well with my soul. God make that the reality of every heart. If you're able to stand please stand and join us as also it's a real privilege for me to share subscription with you when I was asked to do this passage came right in mind that I knew that the Lord had me share one of the best known passages of Scripture and in the Bible and one of the best-loved.

It's a passage of Scripture that I shared with PJ and with Donna and I'll share little illustration about that when I'm done. And that is Psalm 23 the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul he leads me in the path of righteousness for his namesake yay though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord never is minister of family sit bacon. I had the privilege of getting to know folks on a more intimate level and I would it church.

We share pleasantries and how are you and how are things are going. But when you have an opt in to going to homes you get to sit down with people and talk at length and it's been my privilege to do that. I want to share just one experience it, and about both PJ and Donna and I believe that it will give insights in the down his most sincere desire for her family and a visit when PJ was still relatively strong and clear thinking he and I were in the back bedroom alone. I read Psalm 23 to him at some point. I told him that I want to ask him a question that asked my own parents as they entered the near the end of their lives and the question was this, are you certain that the Lord is your shepherd your personal Lord and Savior before he can answer. I quickly followed the question with this illustration.

PJ, you can say that you believe in your head that a person they go 13,000 feet up in an airplane wearing a parachute jump from the plane and float there safely you base that on the fact that thousands of others have safely done so you could even put on a parachute and go up in a plane with the intention of parachuting to the ground will never be a parachutist and he make the irreversible decision to entrust your life to the parachute and follow through by actually leaping in the space. Only then are you a parachutist and then I said the same is true spiritually, you can say that you believe in your head that Jesus Christ is God the son came to earth to fulfill the law perfectly, who died a substitutionary death on the cross for all who placed faith in him who rose in victory over sin in the grave and security eternal life. Some people partly based on the fact that thousands of others that profess to do so, and their decision is evident to varying degrees in their lives. But the Bible states that even the demons believe the facts about who Christ is and they tremble, they do not and cannot embrace the truth of the gospel in their hearts. Then I said, the question is this is it evident in your own heart that you are personally entrusting your soul the safekeeping of Christ as your Savior. PJ looked at me and his quiet but firm response was yes his countenance confirmed in May the sincerity of his commitment to Christ and you might ask why do you sure than illustration about PJ with this because when I later told Donna about my conversation with PJ in his response to my question, she radiated with a smile.

Just like that she understood what the words the Lord is my shepherd main the apostle John wrote. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. While John was speaking about his spiritual children, every parent and grandparent who knows Lord as his or her shepherd longs for the same thing in the lives of their loved ones. Every time that I visited Donna in the final weeks of her life to conversation was about family.

It is my belief that mama Donna desired that though she loved so dearly would be able to proclaim with confidence of the Lord is indeed their shepherd as well. There can be no better tribute that could be paid to her what a wonderful heritage when a treasured memory for her children for her grandchildren.

Her her great-grandchildren to have and they think have 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren letter to Donna.

The lady left behind is already being felt greatly by Alan that you are such a huge part in our lives that are childhood memories on the phone got carefully designed you gave you 85 years on this earth. 85 years made days and minutes of laughter generally pain, toil, grief, and many seemingly insignificant moments but how moments are gained by God if he or danger were being holidays moments that we sincerely celebrate the end. Many people have grandma's grandmas with fluffy white hair finally plays orthopedic sees not grandma you always had styling class always dressed to the nines with care for how you carried yourself semi people have mentioned this week how beautiful you always were. I remember how you say that to the hospital in the early hours of the morning after the birth of my first child dressed in full seat stockings and dressing you knew you only had one chance to make the first person anyone years to be a good one. I remember even in that moment of craziness thinking how in the world is simple enough. He would hit the ground running early in the morning and did more. By 9 AM the nice people day all day. I have vivid pictures in my head, sitting at your dressing table applying your makeup with either hot rollers or Velcro curlers in your hand your dressing room still smells today as it did the eye stay there this week taking it in their prices.

He married young enlisted by your man didn't even occur to me until this week when I was sitting by your side.

How scared you must demand to leave your parents home setting on and start a life with your husband, was not always the easiest to live with it. He fiercely stood by him left him passionately and demonstrated to Olivet grandchildren lecturer commitment wise and flat for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part really mean nowadays no one sticks with it but she said way that grandma you did it well. Electric PJ and he lied to you. We are so happy that you are finally together again as it should be. You are a dynamic couple in a calm accomplish segments together. Two people fell in love. Now there are only 40 people here on this earth because it family with everything T even the matriarchy did it well. You taught your granddaughters to be strong southern women to care for our families. With love, strength, commitment and grace for me that to ensure your family comes around. You have to feed them and Boise master that everything the one of your grandchildren has said their favorite memory was your Sunday dinners for years.

Each badger quickly growing family.

Twice a month with the spread that compared to a Baptist homecoming.

Even let us bring anything any cuts for days to get it all done. I can still picture that is too big pans of marinated chicken express and accomplish a lot but I still do not know to this day how you develop that when either had chicken marinated chicken or steak and of course mashed potatoes and beans you had canned fresh corn you have pricing biscuit list now Christmas are spread was even there for the addition of an appetizer appetizer table which of course had been cleaning your famous cheese spread and Chex mix and dessert table that went on for days. The timeline you spent on cracking strength I cannot for your friends And I came in on making the famous peanut butter fondant is not time you are organized, efficient and productive. He taught us that the best way to keep your kitchen claim you cupped was to clean as you guide still have it really mastered that he gave cooking classes to your granddaughters and was silent for your cooking that you decided to publish it. Donna's country cooking. To this day. This is one of the nice prize possession also spell that I never go to restaurant humanity that he likes better than your cooking. I don't think he ever went to work a day in his life. He didn't have money for homemade desserts and tag it with the family photographer and as annoyed as I get snapping pictures of us all the time now. How grateful I am for the you want the best photographer really we have pictures of every single family event has ever happened and that is a legacy you left for us the time and effort and money you lavished on the screen. Children did not go unnoticed from the strips Florida trips Easter parties leading us in the back of the pickup truck on Sunday see a pickup Pumpkin visits to the circus family Christmas dinners at the Angus barn taking granddaughters to the doll say taking us to get facials with you. Leon gathering at the pool baking cookies with ice. There are really more memories than I can even mention the memories of Alameda, Sir Hassan.I say precious I can't even speak of them without breaking down. What a gift that home was for so many years.

Your property in the country was beautiful and we also enjoyed our time thinker here yard the pool the pastor the cows is also a beautiful in all how you loved your pals. We said in your driveway Sunday evening in wet we couldn't believe our time there at your house is really a similar sitting on your patio with you and other family members on summer evening when I was little checking dozens and dozens of ears of corn and snapping vessels of the three to freethinking and for Sunday dinners at pretty sure the day ended with handcranked price peach ice cream. I even remember taking my turn at the crank. I give anything to get back and have a day like that again. He also carries her love and attention I received your great-grandchildren as long as you are physically able. He never missed a birthday party you, were always some of the first people at the hospital you loved your babies you would always announce the birth of your great-grandchildren and charts.

You are proud of your family. Even some of the great grand got to spend time with you and the kitchen learning your wisdom and to like Mattie said he taught her how to cook yummy sweet and that it was okay to lick the ball in the end and enjoy the fruit of your labor now mama now. I can't wait to get by without mentioning your spunk and strong will you rarely take no for an answer and we decided you were going to do something you did it.

He ahead. You are impulsive to your detriment. At times I remember us riding on the Isle Beach Rd. in Kitty Hawk and somehow quickly spotted fishermen hitting the jackpot is a large skillet back of please pass close of the solar without thinking, he jerked the car off the road into a sandy lot. We could watch the but we were in a four-wheel-drive.

I still remember Papa coming to get us out and not being too happy about it. He said Donna what were you thinking that I couldn't wait to get by without telling about the time without a construction worker. The neighboring details was giving you an unwanted gesture and what did you date grandpa pistol inside any it occurred to me this week how our life would have been very different had to actually getting well I can get this doesn't even seem like a fitting tribute to you were. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, sacrifice and commitment, and for faithfully praying for everyone of us every single only eternity will reveal how your prayers were answered and what dangers your prayers may have kept us from Utah Sunday school for 43 years and maybe this weekend Sadie were their favorite teacher. Only eternity will reveal again how God used your faithfulness in proclaiming his word in the lives of all the students text in the years we truly can't believe you're gone. I don't know why you live forever. I just can't imagine life without that generations come generations guide. I still don't know how I'm going to get their homes the week without the kids and I coming over for a visit then playing in the backyard nice just sitting and chatting, just watching the kids in the cows to your back window.

I will miss our struggles in the wheelchair all around your yard and our trips to Hoenlein creamery for ice cream.

She loved her ice cream. It was a privilege to be by your side the last weeks of your life precious precious time that I will never forget gathered family singing to you reading Scripture, see praying over you, rejoicing and praising God for the gift of even just holding her hand.

It was a hard journey along one and you did well, mama did well actually secure last breath. I sat beside completely filled with all and wonder if what you are experiencing. I literally thought I was going to burst.

It is only by grace the line that we have that grace poured down on you by God for the blood of his perfect son Jesus here (as was evident as you evening your dying days in a semi conscious state repeatedly for kisses and hugs upon us. Thank you for pouring your life into less. We will never forget. We rejoice you're now basking in the glorious presence of your Savior pain free and clear of mind, we would bring you back for anything please let me mama on behalf of the family must take this time to thank Linda and the fighters that took care of grandma day after day for us and we couldn't be there. He loved her. You got it on her and you maintain her dignity literally to the very end. He tolerated the difficult days and you came back the next day for more he became my family.

I think he just doesn't think sufficient there's doing your job and then there's doing your job well you did well.

Thank you for giving her your all somebody came by last week and hours with us off the clock.

Being there for the family, reminiscing and laughing about your good times with her weeping after her and kissing her cheeks and that meant the world to me and my family the humility so very very will slip by been asked to give the pastor's reflections having plastered daughter for since the beginning of our church in 1973 was back a long long ways. If I got couldn't help but reflect what I saw Silas Smith here this afternoon. When you do the grading for building back in about 1976 and who would've known you'd still be here that I'd still be here, but here we are, by the grace of God. After all these years. Well I would like to say some things about Donna Coble and three areas. First, in the area of her Christian commitment. Secondly, her Christian compassion and thirdly, her family, which is already been thoroughly covered by melody, but I'd like to reflect a few few things for the pastor's perspective as well regard to Donna's Christian commitment three things of the number things and stand up three things in particular, number one, her faithful faithful attendance to church until her health broken. She couldn't come anymore but Donna and PJ were the kind of Christians who if the doors were open.

They were there no not implying that bring salvation to anyone.

Of course it does know what to say because they attend church or anything else they do, but it's a reflection of what is in the heart to want to be there. There are other people who attend church usually not with that kind of devotion. Daughter was there every time in her place faithfully is a testimony of her commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, beyond her faithful attendance at church.

There was for active service that's already been mentioned, particularly her teaching of the girls Sunday school class for Decker. I don't know how many girls pass through that class and were taught the word of God by a faithful Christian lady, but they are there are scores and scores and I'm sure hundreds over the years she has impacted many, many lives in that way.

It's one thing to attend church. It's another thing to serve the church and Donna's commitment to the Lord was such church was not just something you attended, but it was something you became involved something that you helped to to make work.

It takes workers to make a church work and Donna was involved in serving the Lord in that way then thirdly daughter and PJ together were very faithful and committed to their financial support of the Lord's work at this church. And that was a great blessing to us over the years and I could talk about other things as well but I move on for lack of time. Secondly, like to comment upon Donna's compassionate heart she got a real love for others and want to help and encourage them of that was seen in fact the first instance of that in my personal experience goes back before the beginning of this church before I was married, my wife Marty Grubb is the daughter of missionary parents and those parents were supported by the church that Donna was a member of before we begin this church and knowing the situation. She thought it would be appropriate to have a bridal shower for my wife and that wasn't easy to do because my wife lived in South Carolina, Donna Lipton and elements County, North Carolina, which she worked it out and provided transportation and provided a lovely bridal shower and then tree and PJ put my wife in the car and drove down to Chester, South Carolina Sunday afternoon when the bridal shower was over where I served in the church as weekend youth pastor while I was in training for the ministry and I met Don and PJ Coble for the first time and I suppose that would be in about 19 will probably 70 we got married in 1970, so that probably was in the spring of 1970. I still remember the day that Donna pulled my wife Marty aside and had some photos and she said look at these photos and they were photos of their new beach house under construction, and she said I wanted you to see where you will be going and sure enough, year after year after year daughter and PJ gave this pastor and his wife a lovely free week of their beach house duck North Carolina that was special for us. The church was young and small, and our salary was slender, we never had a vacation like that for Marty and I and our four children to go on vacation meant to go sponge with off my parents for a week would never been to rental vacation home never been to a resort. Until then, but the compassion of this dear lady to provide something for us that otherwise we wouldn't of had was an evidence of her Christian compassion 1984, Ike had cancer very aggressive cancer that had to be treated very severely with chemotherapy that would it would cure me if he didn't kill me with almost killed me, but I was I was determined to continue the ministry, the God given me so even after those chemotherapy treatments week after week.

I would somehow manage to get in the pulpit and preach. I look back now, what I say, that was crazy, but of the time it seemed like exactly the right thing to do but here's what happened with each chemotherapy treatment my hair got thinner and thinner. It was heading toward absolute vault.

Now that and in those days that was not cool.

That was not bald heads were not cool but I didn't have any options.

Did look if the if the cultural climate were the same. Today I could you shave off with stray hairs were up there and I'd be writing style, but back in that day that didn't that that was not an option. Nor was purchasing a hairpiece an option for this poor preacher Donna Coble saw the need sprang into action.

Talk to my wife made arrangements with our with my barber to get a hairpiece that would match my hair perfectly.

It was expensive many hundreds of dollars she paid for that hairpiece but she was a lady of compassion and she just didn't think it was suitable for her pastor to be preaching with that bald head to those few stray hairs and she demonstrated Christian compassion and finally I can tell you that over the years Donna PJ Coble gave thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars as benevolence gifts to people in our church who were need she would consult with with me and I would consult with the other pastors to try to determine who was who were the members of our church who were most in need and quietly that money came and quietly went to those people. They didn't know where it came from but now that she is with the Lord.

I think it's appropriate for me to publicly declare this example of Christian compassion and finally, as is already been talked about. She was a lady who focused on her family. She was thoroughly involved in the family business as office manager. She arranged for her family to be together regularly in the home for meals and who could who could stay away from from that kind of cooking and she did everything she could to make sure that what she had learned would be passed on by way of family heritage.

Course of cookbooks are one of the ways that she did that her country cooking, but she not only did these things, but she gathered her grandchildren around her while she did these things. She didn't just cook for the family. She taught the grandchildren shouldn't have a daughters to teach solid sheet she missed out that generation, but at least as far as I know the only did she teach you to cook, know that she is okay, but the grandest granddaughters. She gathered them in the kitchen and taught them to cook in past some of that legacy on to them when I was reflecting on this, I thought about Proverbs 31 the Proverbs 31 woman that the Bible sets before us a lot of interesting things about that woman that's described in Proverbs 31 when you read about that lady that wife that mother see a woman who is strong see a woman who is determined to provide for her family see a woman who was focused and yet you see a woman who's in a supporting role.

She's supporting her husband because of her diligence.

He is honored in the city gates equivalent of a city Council member in that day, I thought, you know, that's a pretty good description of the Donna Coble but I know she was strong.

She was determined, but she was also submitted to God's order in the home and to the supporting role which God had given to her something that's not very well esteemed in the day in which we live but shake demonstrated all of that so will nobody ever thought of Donna Coble as being a week woman. Nobody thought of Donna Coble as being a woman who had no influence over.

She did, she did, she did know how she did, but in a biblical way and that is my pastoral reflection on this woman in the grace of God in her life is not to leave this enjoying the saying to the so is not the eyes of the King to be loyal. She is to say the name is is this new blue-green is not the day and the second Corinthians chapter 5 we have these words for we know that if our earthly house. This 10 is destroyed, we have a building from God house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens for in this we grown earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, which is from heaven. If, indeed, having been closed.

We shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent grown being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Now he was prepared us for this very thing is God who also has given us the spirit as a guarantee, so we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith not by sight.

We are confident yes well pleasing are well pleased, rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it rain whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him. It is not death to die.

And why is that there's a phrase in verse number four of the passage that I read here in second Corinthians chapter 5 and I know it a time like this.

Our minds can be adrift were fighting to stay composed or Vietnam because our emotions of been assaulted and after funeral sermon is preached not too much is retained. This is the fact however, if you hear nothing that I say here these words from Scripture and give thought to them, meditate upon about what truth God is communicating to us here that mortality may be swallowed up by life what what is what is the word mortality mean mortality is the state of being that is subject to death that state of being that is subject to death.

In this passage says that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

No reason with me think with may engage with me for a moment family you've carried on a bedside vigil for this dear precious one for days and weeks. What did you see what did you observe what did you witness did your eyes not tell you that life was being swallowed up by death.

Isn't that what your senses told you that the life of this dear one was swallowed up by death. That's what our senses tell us listen, God is telling us just the opposite. Mortality that state of being that subject to death may be swallowed up by life. I absolutely counter to what our senses was Woodward's telling us in these days and here's the question what life was like has power to swallow what mortality was not. This physical life is it supported on the man wants to dine.

After this the judgment falls telling us of the limitations of the physical body.

He refers to this body that houses our soul is a tent.

He mentions that twice mentions it in verse one. He mentions it again in verse four. For we know that if in that word if can mean sense since our earthly house. This tent is destroyed. This building from God's house made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For this we grown groaning burdensome those of the characteristics of this earthly tent. This earthly house that houses our souls. There are limitations to the physical body and the reason their limitations for the physical body is God as design for the soul that this physical body cannot fulfill where you live forever, for those who who put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

You will live with God forever and ever and ever and this physical body is not designed for eternal life.

So God is in the business of constructing, preparing a resurrection body that's suited and fitted for eternal.

I think I will know you for that. We will carry these aches and pains and the weariness and the decay of our bodies into that world will have a body suited for heavenly habitation, but this phrase, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. The life that has power to swallow up mortality and death is the life of God in everyone that he redeems say will have a house that God does not want us to be uninformed or misinformed. He wanted he wants us to hear the word of God that helps us at a time like this. So he tells us what it is that we are to know where to know that this earthly body is temporary. It's not suited for heavenly habitation and that knowledge is to give way to confidence in what is our confidence, our confidence is that to be absent from this body for a Christian is to be present with the Lord.

That's our confidence in that confidence comes from believing what God is said not what we've seen with her eyes. Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God who also has given us the spirit as a guarantee. So God doesn't want us to be uncertain about this. He doesn't want us to be confused about this. God wants us to have a confidence about this because there's nothing any more important in a time like this. And what were talking about in God the Spirit indwells every redeemed saint the life of God is in us, and that's why when we breathe our last breath in our physical bodies are are but life doesn't end there is a separation from the soul to the body. The body stays here the tent the house. The building, but that part of us that it's real that part of us that lives beyond this earthly life leaves the body and it leaves with the power of God. Unit and that's why mortality is swallowed up by life now.

Have a wonderful illustration of that in John chapter 11 work comes to Jesus that his friend Lazarus has died and Jesus goes to the place where Lazarus, but has been put in a tomb and he has been dead for four days and he goes he encounters Mary and Martha. There are overwhelmed with sorrow, their brother Lazarus is died and Jesus says to them in their sorrow.

I am the resurrection and the life you believe it than me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

And whosoever liveth and believe it than me shall never die. And then he asks this question which I must ask the question today believe us about this. Do you believe this. Jesus said that all those who were around. I am the resurrection and the life. There is a statement of unparalleled power and authority who has the nerve to make such a claim. I am the resurrection and the life. That's what Jesus said now to attest that he was speaking the truth that he was really claim to be. He went to the tomb where Lazarus had been dead for four days and call them out of the tomb, he said Lazarus come forth and guess what, Lazarus came forth who has power to do that.

Who has power to do that only God has power to do that Jesus Christ was God come in the flesh.

A statement of unparalleled power and authority. Jesus said right before he gave the great commission.

All all authority has been given unto me on in heaven and on earth. All authority. Jesus says authority over life and authority over death. Job chapter 14 verse 14 we have Job asking the question that I want to draw your attention, Job 1414 says when a man dies, shall he live again. There's not a more important question have an answer for than that right now.

When a man one woman dies, shall he or she live again. We should want to know that question answered, not just for Donna Coble but for all of us because just as two years ago we were here in PJ was in front of us and we were talking about him. There's a day coming when you two will be at a place like this that we talking about you.

Somebody will so we want to know the answer to that question, not just for Donna Coble sake, but for our own sake. So when Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life that was a statement of unparalleled power and authority.

No one else has said that no one else can say that only he can say that and he demonstrated that what he said was true by raising Lazarus from the dead, and not only that Jesus said about himself. I have power to lay down my life. My power to get back up again. Only God can do that so Annette statement that Jesus makes. I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believe within me.

Here is a condition to embrace.

He that believe within me that's a question are you believing in him today. Are you trusting him to the saving of your soul. Here is a condition to embrace.

He that believe it in me. Here's a promise attached to any and all who believe in him either believe in the main, though he were dead, yet shall he or she live was set up DL Moody.

He said to his friends. Those around him. He said were going to come to you in a little while the deal Moody is dead.

He says don't believe it. Don't believe it. I will be more alive than I've ever been before.

That's what's true Donna Coble. She's more alive today than she's ever been. Why, because of the authority of the word of God. He who believe it than me, though he were yet shall he live, so there's the promise and here's the invitation, and whosoever liveth and believe within me shall never die. That's an invitation in its all-inclusive, it's for any and everyone sitting in this place today. Whosoever liveth and believe within me shall never die. See it's not just head knowledge is just not an affirmation. Yes I believe in Jesus.

Whether you believe in Jesus to the saving of your soul will be determined by the way you live your life. As I said to you at the beginning of this consideration of what Jesus said here is a statement of unparalleled power and authority. There's only two responses to that authority. In John chapter 11. We have both responses. Now when he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, and he who had died came out bound hand and grade close in his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, loose him and let him go. Verse 45. Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary and it seemed the things Jesus did believe in him. Why not who has that kind of authority was a kind of power. Only Jesus then many of the Jews would come to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did believed in him. Here's the other group verse 46 that some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did verse 53 says, then from that day on, they plotted to put him to death.

This kind of authority demands a response from you either acknowledge who he is and submit yourself to him yield yourself to him. Not only believe upon him, but live your life for him or you reject his authority and that's what we see happening here in futile evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be the God man, the one who had authority over death itself.

They determined were going put this man to death and they did so I want to challenge you today because what were talking about is not ascertained by our five senses.

Back to second Corinthians 5 that I read so we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. In verse seven says, for we walk by faith not by sight. We walk by faith not by sight.

The only way you're going to affirm what I've said agree with what you've heard is by believing faith. But if you do not have this faith then you're left with your five senses trying to make sense out of what were talking about and it's impossible because the things that are eternal the things that are spiritual things that are gonna last forever or only ascertain through the eye of faith in God must give that God must impart that and that's that comes by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. So again my challenge to you if you hear nothing that these words would be ringing in your ears. In the days and weeks and perhaps months to come, that mortality may be swallowed up by life mortality that state of being that subject to death that may be swallowed up by life. And if you do not have that life residing in you, that God by his mercy would bring you to surrender and that life would be imparted to you and the life is imparted to you by the ministry of the Spirit of God is he quickens men who were dead in trespasses and sins and makes makes them alive spiritually. Those of us who are alive spiritually know exactly what I'm talking about the spirit of God is exercised you in that way the life of God's been imparted to you. You understand what I'm saying you had the same hope the Donna Coble had but if you're a stranger to it. There's nothing that these three pastors would want anymore then to see God bring fruit out of this experience today. The guy would be pleased to quicken someone wherever you might be to life today and if you're in consternation. You can understand what this preacher is saying your thinking you know what I want to be out here on and be done with this. I don't agree with this.

I don't understand this. All of that is evidence that you need.

The very thing that I'm challenging you about.

I would be faithful to my responsibility if I didn't press you on that because eternity is a very very long time. Let us pray father we ask you to cause your word to live in us because fruit to come through the ministry of your spirit. I pray in Christ name a man take your hymnal. Please going to conclude our service here by singing 247, 247 amazing Grace were going to sing the first the second.

The third and the last, and let me tell you this before we sing menacing words that say through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come.

The sister knows about dangers, toils and snares the God and his grace was faithful to bring her through all of that and it's all behind her. It's in the rearview mirror. No more toils dangers and snares for her through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come. She has already come to his grace as let us safe thus far and grace will lead us home. So grace is not in front of us, leaving us special tour read Psalm 4023 to you and at the end of Psalm 23. It says goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life.

Get this picture grace is leading us through every danger toil and snare in grace and mercy is following us as bookends. I can you talk and you fall away, how can you fall in a ditch. How can you mess getting to heaven with that kind of safeguard and protection and then Psalm 23 ends and I this is Davis testimony this is what we believe about Donna Coble and I shall live in the house of the Lord forever. She's going to live in the house of the Lord forever and who wish to ensure that that would happen, the God of grace letter through every toil danger and snare in the God of mercy and kindness of folderol. The days of her life. May that be true of all of us. Let's stand and sing and the no