Overcoming The Fear Of Dying Pt 1 & 2 | Bible Study | Mike Prah

Aug 17, 2022 | by Mike Prah

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF DYING | BIBLE STUDY | MIKE PRAH

INTRODUCTION

Death is a journey, not a destination, a shadow, not a reality. Death is lonely, but as believers, we are never alone in death because God is with us. In this study, Pastor Mike describes what to look forward to when it comes to the actual destination and how we can have certainty that the believer's final destination means being with God in heaven.

"I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV+NKJV)

Since death is not a destination but a journey, what do you look forward to when it comes to the actual final destination?

A. THE FACT OF DEATH

"People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" Hebrews 9:27 (NIV)

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants" Psalm 116:15 (NIV)

"The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die" Psalm 116:15 (GN)

B. THE FACES OF DEATH: 3 KINDS OF DEATH

Physical Death | Spiritual Death | Second Death

I. Physical death is the separation of the body from the spirit.

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26 (NIV)

"The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV)

II. Spiritual death is the separation of our souls from God Romans 3:23, 6:23

"The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (GW)

Sin separates us from God, the source and fountain of spiritual life and light (Eph 2:12). The spiritual dead sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Lk 1:79)

"In those days, you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope." Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)

III. The second death is an ultimate and eternal separation from God. It is synonymous with hell.

H. Thayer defined the "second death" as the "miserable state of the wicked dead in hell (Greek-English Lexicon of the NT, Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1958, p.283).

"The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave[a] gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then, death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:13-15 (NLT)

Read John 3:3-6, 1 Peter 1:23, and John 11:25-26, and talk about how it is possible to escape the "second" death

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. … 5 Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water, and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." John 3:3-6 (NLT)

"For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." 1 Peter 1:23 (NLT)

"Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die." John 11:25, 26 (NLT)

C. REASON WHY DEATH DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TERRIFYING FOR BELIEVERS

“Yea, though I walk through 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.” Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet.” Luke 16:22 (NLT)

“But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43 (NLT)

“So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NLT)

“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.” Philippians 1:21-23 (NLT)

D. BELIEVERS HAVE VICTORY OVER THE FEAR OF DEATH

A. The prince of death has been defeated

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” Hebrews 2:14,15 (NLT)

B. The power of death has been destroyed

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NLT)

“God will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

C. The picture of death has been developed- Psalm 23:4

“Yea, though I walk through 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.” Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

Death is a journey, not a destination. — "Through the valley"
Death is a shadow, not a reality. —"The valley of the shadow of death" - John 11:25-26
Death is lonely, but you are never alone. —"You are with me."

“God is our refuge and strength, very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” Psalm 46;1-2 (NKJV)

“Even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.” Psalm 139:12 (NLT)

“God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) [Deut. 31:6,8]