Sermon Central
-
My Dream PRO
Contributed by Michael E. Bartee Sr. on Jan 21, 2011 (message contributor)
MY DREAM
This story is dedicated to all who have lost a loved-one who had suffered a long illness before dying.
October, 1972, I visited Israel on a ’Holy Land Tour’. One night while staying at a hotel in Jerusalem, I dreamed that I was standing in a dimly-lit room. In the middle of the room stood a marble table about two-feet wide and six feet long. At each end of the table stood a tall pillar with a lamp upon it. The pillars also were made of marble. Lying upon the table was my father, dead, and covered in a white sheet up to his neck. On each side of the table stood two people I knew very well. On the left side, standing beside me, was my aunt’s husband, David. On the right side stood my brother, Jim. As
we stood there looking at Dad, my brother suddenly stretched out his right hand and thrust two of his fingers into Dad’s closed eyes. He then pushed with his fingers a few times as if to make certain that Dad was really dead.
I then immediately awoke. I was quite startled by what I had just seen. As I thought about the meaning of the dream through out the day, I concluded that my father was in urgent need of prayer and supplication. I was already aware that he was extremely discouraged spiritually.
Eighteen years later my father went into the hospital for what was predicted to be a successful surgery. It was not. After a dozen follow-up surgeries, being in and out of the hospital for more than a year, spending months in intensive care, and enduring intense pain, on January 25th, 1991 at 61 and a half years old, Dad died.
My Father’s death was extremely difficult for me to bear. We did not have much of a relationship when I was a child. After I reached adult hood, and committed my life to Christ, Dad and I became very close. Dad was a preacher. A year after my conversion, I felt called into the ministry. Dad then became my mentor. I eventually became very active in the Church that Dad was Pastor of. In short, we prayed together, worked together, traveled together, shared personal issues, etc.
After my Father’s death I became responsible for making funeral arrangements. On the morning I was to meet the funeral director at the funeral home to make the arrangements, David came by for a visit. After I told him where I was going and what I was planning to do, David asked if I would mind if he went with me. Of course I did not mind. I had already asked Jim to go with me. When we arrived at the funeral home the director informed us that Dad’s body was very swelled, and may not be presentable for viewing. He then asked if we would look at the body. When we walked into the room where my Father was lying, everything was exactly as I had seen in my dream over eighteen years earlier! The marble table, the marble pillars at each end, the lamps on the pillars, the room was dimly-lit, Dad was covered with a white sheet up to his neck. My brother even thrust his two...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Loving Others Involves Kindness And Sacrifice. ... PRO
Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 18, 2005
Loving others involves kindness and sacrifice. In the days when an ice cream cone cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. ...read more
-
A Number Of Years Ago Orel Hirschheiser Was ... PRO
Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 27, 2002
A number of years ago Orel Hirschheiser was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They had just won the World Series, & Orel had been named “The most valuable player of the series.” One of the TV shows about the series showed him in the dugout just before the 9th inning started. He was leaning ...read more
-
The Lady Must Have Been Desperate. She Decided ... PRO
Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Oct 26, 2002
The lady must have been desperate. She decided to write a letter to Dear Abby. Her letter reads: Dear Abby, I am 44 and would like to meet a man my age with no bad habits. She signed her name, “Rose.” Abby replies: “Dear Rose: So would I.” There’s more truth to Abby’s answer than her typical ...read more
-
A Proud Young Man Walked Into A Room Looking For ... PRO
Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Oct 27, 2002
A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over to his waiting ...read more
-
I Was Reminded Of Just How Much God Does To ...
Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Oct 26, 2002
I was reminded of just how much God does to preserve his TRUTH this week. A wee little voice on the telephone answering machine said, “I think you’ll want to read the Newspaper today. There’s a front-page story that you don’t want to miss. Here it is – on the front page of the San Antonio ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Race Set Before Us Series
Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Jun 25, 2012
From Heb. 12:1 the race set before us is: 1. A Set Race (Sovereignty); 2. A Marked Out Race (Guidance); 3. An Individually Crafted Race; 4. A Forward Looking Race (The Race before us)
-
When You Come To The End Of The Road Series
Contributed by Roy Newton on Nov 29, 2011
Concluding the series on Trusting God examining the life of Joseph, we see that even as Joseph trusted God throughout his life so to when he comes to the end of life's journey.
-
Acknowledge God Series
Contributed by Daniel Austin on Sep 9, 2010
To seek after God, to follow His ways, means we must believe that His is – ever present, all knowing, all powerful.
-
When The Fig Tree Does Not Bud Series
Contributed by Roy Newton on Nov 7, 2011
As we consider the outcome of Pharaoh's dreams, seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, we see that Joseph learnt to trust God not only in abunsance but also in disaster both of which are under God's sovereign control.
-
Soli Deo Gloria
Contributed by Bruce Allen on Mar 1, 2011
Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone is the basis of the Five Solas of the Reformation Era. As then - so now is its relevance needed in our post-modern culture.
