“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven – A time to give birth and a time to die…” (Ecc. 3:1-2 NASB) HOW WE STEWARD DEATH , IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW WE STEWARD LIFE 1. CONTEND FOR HEALING WHETHER BY MEDICINE AND/OR MIRACLE “…faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works’”. (James 2:17-18 NASB) “… ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.’” (Matthew 9:12 NASB) GOD GIVES GRACE TO LET GO “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT) 2. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION AND SPACE TO GRIEVE “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4 NASB) “A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NASB) GRIEVING CAN COME IN WAVES “Each time he (God) said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT) “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB) 3. JESUS FEELS , AND UNDERSTANDS YOUR PAIN “…A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried…” (Isaiah 52:3-4 NASB) 4. THE GRACE TO GRIEVE WITH HOPE “…to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NASB) “…we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14 NASB) IT’S NOT “ GOOD BYE ”, IT’S “I’LL SEE YOU LATER ” “…there will be one huge family reunion with the Master.” (I Thessalonians 4:17 Message) Victory Group Discussion: 1. What should a Believer do when a loved one is sick, or injured? 2. What should a Believer do when a loved one passes? Why? 3. What does God do to help those that are grieving the loss of a loved one? 4. What is the Believer’s hope of life after death?