Because Our Savior Has an Answer for Death

Dr. Steve Viars June 27, 2021 John 11:1-57
Outline

John 20:30-31 - Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

3 principles to help us process what the world views as “the king of terrors”

I. Jesus’ View of a Situation Is Often Different Than Ours – vv. 1-16

John 10:4-5 - When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.

A. His timing – vv. 1-6

John 11:5 - Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

John 11:6 - So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

John 11:21 - Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32 - Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:3 - So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

John 11:4 - But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

B. His analysis of danger and mission – vv. 7-10

John 11:9-10 - Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

C. His understanding of what is actually happening – vv. 11-16

John 11:12 - The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

II. Death Provides an Opportunity for the Genuineness of Your Faith to Be Revealed – vv. 17-37

John 11:16 - Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

A. Your belief in the future resurrection – vv. 17-24

John 11:24 - Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - But 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

B. Your belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life – vv. 25-27

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:27 - She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

John 11:14-15 - So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

C. Your belief that Jesus cares deeply about how this subject affects you – vv. 28-37

John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

“Inextinguishable fury seizes upon him…It is death that is the object of his wrath, and behind death him who has the power of death, and whom he has come into the world to destroy. Tears of sympathy may fill his eyes, but this is incidental. His soul is held by rage…The raising of Lazarus thus becomes, not an isolated marvel, but…a decisive instance and open symbol of Jesus’ conquest of death and hell. What John does for us…is to uncover for us the heart of Jesus, as he wins for us our salvation. Not in cold unconcern, but in flaming wrath against the foe, Jesus smites in our behalf. He has not only saved us from the evils which oppress us; he has felt for and with us in our oppression, and under the impulse of these feelings has wrought out our redemption. While Christ is a lion to the impenitent, he is a lamb to the penitent—the reduced, the open, the hungry, the desiring, the confessing, the self-effacing. He hates with righteous hatred all that plagues you. Remember that Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows (v. 4). He wasn’t only punished in our place, experiencing something we never will (condemnation); he also suffered with us, experiencing what we ourselves do (mistreatment). In your grief, he is grieved. In your distress, he is distressed.” (Gentle and Lowly, pp. 111-112)

III. Those Who Believe in Christ’s Resurrection Power Will Never Be Disappointed – vv. 38-45

A. The glory of God is at stake – vv. 38-40

John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

B. The power of God is at hand – vv. 41-44

John 11:43 - When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”

C. The redemption of God is at work – vv. 45-46

John 11:45 - Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.

John 14:1-3 - Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

- our church family has had a number of opportunities this year to face the challenging topic of death…

- it was a repeated theme throughout the pandemic…I’ve never experienced an occasion during my lifetime where every evening you could turn on the news and see a daily tally of people who had died in our country or around the world…

- one could only wish that our world had a similar concern for unborn life…but it was truly surreal to see that kind of focus on life and death…

- I imagine our older members could tell similar stories of what occurred during times of war but many of us did not experience that until the pandemic…

- then as a church family even recently Doc Smith passed away…

- I think many of us would say we knew that day would have to come…but it hurts when you lose such a dear leader, friend, and fellow-servant…

- then we had another dear church member, Jeff Baker, pass away after a long struggle with cancer…

- Jeff was another one of those church members who had such a significant impact on so many people that it hurts to think about not enjoying his presence on earth anymore…

- having the privilege of conducting Jeff’s memorial service reminded me of some aspects of Jeff’s story that I had long forgotten…

- I don’t know if this is good or bad, but I don’t generally remember people through the lens of their past…I tell counselees all the time that one of my strongest spiritual gifts is a bad memory…so we’ll deal with whatever we have to deal with – but I purposely choose to focus on who they are in Christ now and in the days ahead – not what they were before they knew Christ or when they were struggling in some way…

- but to help me prepare, Amy passed along the text of a testimony Jeff had given to our high school students a number of years ago…

- on that day, Jeff explained to the high school students that for the first 33 years of his life, he lived as a very self-centered man…

- he even mentioned some things he had been involved in that I’m not even going to name here, but he said that at age 33 he went through a divorce and lost his first wife and 2 children…

- many who came to know Jeff later in life might say – that doesn’t even sound like the Jeff I knew…which is really the point…

- because in the providence of God, Jeff sought counseling at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries…

- and his counselor didn’t simply try to tune up his self-image, which was the dominant approach to secular and even much of so-called “Christian counseling” at the time…

- the counselor didn’t use that as an occasion to blame his problems on everyone else…

- instead, Jeff was told that his greatest problems weren’t horizontal with any human being in his life at the time…

- his greatest problem was his estrangement vertically from the Holy God of heaven and earth…

- in biblical terminology – sin had separated him from His God…

- but then he was given the gospel…the life transforming news that even in his sin, Jesus Christ shed His blood so that men and women could admit their need and place their faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior…

- and after careful consideration, Jeff made that decision and became a follower of Jesus Christ…

- he then was subsequently baptized and became a member of this church…and the gospel began changing him in profound ways…

- he served faithfully in our Singles class…and he even explained to the high school students that as singles, they needed to get to the place where they were satisfied in Christ alone before ever seeking a marriage partner…it was a powerful part of his presentation that day…

- he and the former Amy Knicely…served together in that class for 10 years and then Jeff thought maybe it would be God’s will for them to consider dating and possible marriage…

- they were married the Saturday after the BCTC 19 years ago…

- I appreciated what Betty Pena, one of our seminary wives from the DR, posted on FB –…

- one of Jeff’s ministries was teaching ABF’s…

- and of all the notes I received as I prepared the funeral, this is one of the ones I enjoyed the most…

- so there’s no question that our church family has faced a lot of death recently…but it’s true that we haven’t had to sorrow as if we have no hope…

- it’s possible to Enjoying Life in Jesus’ Name because Our Savior has an Answer for Death

- with that in mind, please open you Bible to John chapter 11…page 81 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…

- this year we’re working our way verse-by-verse through the Gospel of John…centered around the theme of Enjoying Life in Jesus Name

- we’re taking that from the purpose statement toward the end of the gospel - John 20:30–31 - Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

- what we’re about to study in John 11 fits right into the center of that purpose statement…every person hearing this message will be faced with the same question Jesus poses to one of the key characters…do you believe this?...because if you believe this happened, as one Christian writer titled one of his books – this is evidence that demands a verdict…

- you have to do something if you believe this is true…

- and the results of that belief are profound, including the way you think about death for yourself and those you love who have died in Christ…

- please carefully picture these events in your mind as I read beginning in John 11:1 – Read 11:1-57

- so we’re talking about Enjoying Life in Jesus’ Name because Our Savior has an Answer for Death

- with the time we have remaining, let’s think about 3 principles to help us process what the world views as “the king of terrors”.

I. Jesus’ View of a Situation is Often Different than Ours – vv. 1-16

- in chapter 10, Jesus offered to be our Great Shepherd…

- that passage is filled with marvelous promises, including John 10:4–5 - When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.

- what that means is, if you know Christ in this way, there are plenty of times when the direction He is leading is going to be quite different than what you would have previously thought on your own…

- and if you love and honor your shepherd, you’re going to glad and thankful when that occurs…that’s one of the reasons you admitted that you needed a shepherd to begin with…

- well, how do we see that playing out here?...

A. His timing – vv. 1-6

- part of the way John tells the story is to draw attention the disparity between verses 5 and 6…

- they really don’t fit together…so we read…

- John 11:5 - Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

- well, how would we have expected verse 6 to read?...

- He immediately got up and went to be with them…

- He created the automobile so they could get there faster than ever before…

- but John wants the next verse to just sit there for a while…

- John 11:6 - So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

- this became a major part of his conversation with both sisters…

- first, with Martha - John 11:21 - Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

- then again with Mary, John 11:32 - Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

- why were they so fixated on that point?...because they knew when Jesus had received the news…and they knew what he said when He received it…

- verse 3 is crucial to understanding what was unfolding… John 11:3 - So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

- with the understanding that He would come to them immediately…

- so Jesus said to the messenger… John 11:4 - But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

- so here’s the key question – what happened to that guy?...he went back and gave the message to the sisters…which would have been very awkward, because during the intervening time, Lazarus died…

- can you imagine the messenger you sent to Jesus to come back with that response…and the obvious problem is – Lazarus is dead…

- I think you have to come to that conclusion because of what the Lord eventually said to Martha in verse 40…that’s after she makes the infamous “Lord, he stinketh” comment..

- John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

- when did Jesus say that to her?...that was the content of the message He had sent…

- the conclusion we have to draw, and the lesson we have to learn…is that Jesus’ view of a situation is often different than ours…including His timetable…

- Doc Smith was such a blessing to me, especially after Pastor Goode’s death and the way Doc served as the chairman of our deacons…

- I’ve often said at conferences where I was teaching that I wished every pastor had a Doc Smith…he was like one of David’s mighty band of men…

- and I told Doc once—listen, you’re just going to have to stay alive until after I retire…the age difference was so significant that we knew that wasn’t going to happen, and he certainly wasn’t to sign on to that deal…but I was trying to communicate how much I appreciated him…I wanted my timing, not the Lord’s or even Doc’s…

- I remember exactly where I was the first time Jeff Baker told me about his cancer diagnosis…I felt physically ill…and I told the folks at his memorial service that humanly speaking, I didn’t even want to think about my life or our church without Jeff Baker’s presence…

- and even though he lived much longer than the doctors originally projected…none of us like the timing of one of our 63-year old members passing away…

- but friends, life works far better when we learn that Jesus’ is often different than ours, and better than ours…

- see, that brings us back to an important aspect of our theme this year…

- we’re enjoying life in who’s name?...is it, we’re enjoying life in our names and it’s Jesus’ role to energize our wonderfully superior plans…including our desired timing…

- or is it enjoying life in His name and submitting to His timing even if we don’t particularly like it?...

- can I ask you to pause and think about something occurring in your life right now where you’re really bothered by the timing…

- the Lord is allowing that one to move far more quickly than you prefer…

- or He’s sitting around waiting in one place when you really need Him to show up at yours…by the end of business today, thank you very much…

- would it honor Him as your Good Shepherd if you quietly said to Him – Lord, I recognize your timing is always best and help me joyful submit to your timetable in this particular situation…

B. His analysis of danger and mission – vv. 7-10

- when he tells the disciples it is time to go to Judea, the disciples are concerned because they know the people there have been seeking to stone Him…

- John 11:9–10 - Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

- [Develop – Ron and Sherry Allchin’s visit, some of the stories they were telling of seeking to get clothing and supplies into places like Ethiopia and Cuba…they still plan to make those trips even though they are in the 70’s - the safest place is all the world is the center of the will of God]

- [Develop – the news that their daughter and her husband have been approved to be missionaries in a closed country that is predominantly Muslim…]

- wise is the person who follows the Good Shepherd’s analysis of danger and mission…

C. His understanding of what is actually happening – vv. 11-16

- this passage is filled with examples of people who were clueless…coupled with a pride that motivates them to speak in extremely condescending ways to the Savior…

- so when Jesus uses the phrase “fallen asleep” to explain that Lazarus has died…what was the profound response from the disciples?...

- John 11:12 - The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

- that’s one of those – did you really just let that come out of your mouth – kind of statements?...

- along with the one I mentioned a moment ago from Martha – you better not open the tomb because by now he’s going to stink…

- friend, would you agree with me that often it would just be better to be quiet…and try to ascertain Jesus’ perspective in the matter…

- can I ask you – is there evidence that you understand that Jesus’ view of a situation is often different than yours…and does the patient, humble way you follow Him demonstrate that you’re glad that’s the case?...

II. Death Provides an Opportunity for the Genuineness of Your Faith to be Revealed – vv. 17-37.

- while it’s true that some of what the disciples and Mary and Martha said in this passage revealed a lack of understanding and/or belief…that was not entirely the case…

- for example, when Thomas said -- John 11:16 - Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

- there’s actually something rather noble in that statement, isn’t there?...it’s a whole lot better than, “if you’re going there Lord, you’re on Your own…”

- Martha makes several significant affirmations in this text that demonstrate the depth of her faith…

A. Your belief in the future resurrection – vv. 17-24

- John 11:24 - Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

- true, that wasn’t exactly what was about to happen…but it still evidences significant faith…

- she truly believed that her brother’s death was not the end of his existence…

- perhaps she was thinking of a concept like we read at the end of the 23rd Psalm…

- Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

- this is part of what helps us… 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - But 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.

- we believe what Paul went on to teach there… 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

- Paul said it this way to the Corinthians in the great resurrection chapter in the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 - Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

- see, death is hard – but it provides an opportunity for the genuineness of our faith to be revealed…just like it did with Martha…including our belief in a future resurrection…

- this is part of what helps us sorrow, but not as those who have no hope…

- do you think about what it will be like to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ in heaven in their glorified bodies?...

- for me, often I’ve had the privilege of meeting people when they were older [and by older, I mean one day older than me at the time]…

- sometimes it’s not until their funeral that you see pictures of when they graduated from high school or college, or were married, or in the military or whatever…

- and it’s delightful to think that because of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we will have the privilege of meeting some of those we love, but more likely in a younger version than we ever knew…

- that’s also true of those we only knew in this life with some sort of disability…

-our long-term members will remember Stevie Fuller…Stevie had Downs Syndrome…and was an absolutely delightful member of this church…

- some of us can close our eyes and practically hear Stevie giggling just before a Sunday night service when someone was cutting up with him about something…

- Stevie also had a sweet faith in Christ…and here’s some good news – disabilities and diseases aren’t going to heaven…

- what will it be like to meet Steve Fuller in his fully resurrected body?...

- death provides an opportunity for the genuineness of our faith in such concepts to be revealed…

B. Your belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life – vv. 25-27

- the core of this passage is…John 11:25–26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

- Martha’s response was a tremendous declaration… John 11:27 - She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

- friends – there is a sense in which Jesus’ question at the end of verse 26 is as relevant today as the first time it was uttered…Do you believe this?...

- if you’re here this morning and you’ve not yet trusted Christ, the gospel we would proclaim to you is the same one that transformed Jeff Baker’s life 30 years ago when it was presented to him…

- have you come to a point of admitting your sin and placing your faith and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord?...if not, we would urge you to do that today…

- Christian friend – do you really believe the story of the raising of Lazarus?...

- I won’t steal the thunder of the pastor speaking on chapter 12…but the unbelieving Jews have a real problem now…which is what?...how do you explain Lazarus?...

- which is undoubtedly why the Lord delayed several days…so there wouldn’t be the accusation that – well, what happened here is that Lazarus wasn’t really dead, so they just buried him prematurely, so Jesus had to quickly come over and correct that little mortician’s error…

- the evidence is clear -- John 11:14–15 - So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

- so now the unbelieving Jews are trying to deal with “the Lazarus problem” – and in a testament to the endless and creative insanity of unbelief – one guy came up with the brilliant plan – let’s just kill Lazarus…

- ...as if Jesus couldn’t just raise him again because he ran out of coupons?...

- if we truly believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life…then we can enjoy life in His name…and think about death for ourselves and others who have died in Christ in an entirely different way…

- there’s also the issue of…

C. Your belief that Jesus cares deeply about how this subject affects you – vv. 28-37

- if you’ve never memorized a verse from the Bible before, you might want to start that journey right here…John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

- In his book Gentle and Lowly Pastor Dane Ortland quotes BB Warfield’s classic book The Power and Work of Christ…Inextinguishable fury seizes upon him…It is death that is the object of his wrath, and behind death him who has the power of death, and whom he has come into the world to destroy. Tears of sympathy may fill his eyes, but this is incidental. His soul is held by rage…The raising of Lazarus thus becomes, not an isolated marvel, but…a decisive instance and open symbol of Jesus’ conquest of death and hell.

- What John does for us…is to uncover for us the heart of Jesus, as he wins for us our salvation. Not in cold unconcern, but in flaming wrath against the foe, Jesus smites in our behalf. He has not only saved us from the evils which oppress us; he has felt for and with us in our oppression, and under the impulse of these feelings has wrought out our redemption.

- then Ortland continued, While Christ is a lion to the impenitent, he is a lamb to the penitent—the reduced, the open, the hungry, the desiring, the confessing, the self-effacing. He hates with righteous hatred all that plagues you. Remember that Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows (v. 4). He wasn’t only punished in our place, experiencing something we never will (condemnation); he also suffered with us, experiencing what we ourselves do (mistreatment). In your grief, he is grieved. In your distress, he is distressed (Gentle and Lowly, pp. 111-112).

- well, what will happen for those who choose to believe?

III. Those Who Believe in Christ’s Resurrection Power Will Never be Disappointed – vv. 38-45

A. The glory of God is at stake – vv. 38-40

- John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

- as men and women in our church family choose to respond to the topic of death in a hopeful way…you are giving our God great glory…

B. The power of God is at hand – vv. 41-44

- Can you imagine hearing that forceful command from the Savior who was in control of every single aspect of what was occurring - John 11:43 - When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”

C. The redemption of God is at work – vv. 45-46

- John 11:45 - Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.

- a number who are hearing this message will be serving in VBS this week…

- thank you for your sacrificial service…

- I would encourage you look at those boys and girls through the grid of – I wonder who is the next Lazarus…whom God will gloriously, and powerfully, and redemptively call to Himself?...

- this week Scott and Cynda Worrell posted a picture of the stone that has been placed at David’s grave…

- I love the verse Scot and Cynda selected – Psa 139:14 – I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

- we had David’s service last June…and I had an occasion to review the funeral message while I was preparing this one…

- David’s faith was powerful…

- so on one of his last night’s on earth, when Cynda was holding him and talking to him about heaven…

- David made the sign for more…

- John 14:1–3 - Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

- David was also a man who was known to those who cared for him as someone who was thankful… Scott and Cynda told me that in David’s final hours, he was drifting in and out of consciousness…and in one of those last moments…he woke up and do you know what sign he made to his family?...thank you…while he was dying…thank you…

- can you just imagine what it will be like to be greeted by David Worrell in heaven?...

- those who believe in Christ’s resurrection power will never be disappointed…

Authors

Dr. Steve Viars

Roles

Senior Pastor - Faith Church

Director - Faith Legacy Foundation

Bio

B.S.: Pre-Seminary & Bible, Baptist Bible College (Now Clarks Summit University)
M.Div.: Grace Theological Seminary
D.Min.: Biblical Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary

Dr. Steve Viars has served at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN since 1987. Pastor Viars leads and equips Faith Church as Senior Pastor with a focus on preaching and teaching God’s Word and using his organizational skills in guiding the implementation of the Faith Church mission and vision. He oversees the staff, deacons, and all Faith Church ministries. Dr. Viars serves on the boards of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Vision of Hope, and the Faith Community Development Corporation. Steve is the author, co-author, or contributor to six books and numerous booklets. He and his wife, Kris, were married in 1982 and have two married daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.

Read Steve Viars’ Journey to Faith for the full account of how the Lord led Pastor Viars to Faith Church.

View Pastor Viars' Salvation Testimony Video