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[no audio] [music] I know that my Redeemer lives in me. That he shall stand in the latter day above the earth.

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Yet worms destroy this body, yet shall I see God. I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another. We brought nothing into this world

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and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave. The Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

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Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they

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stumbled and fell. Though when hope should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. war should rise against me, and this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the

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house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles.

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They shall run and not be weary. And they shall walk and not faint. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. You may be seated.

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We come to celebrate the life of Brother Gastro Wright. We come to remember his deeds of mercy. become to receive comfort and strength through God's Word and the reassurance of that hope which is ours

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and the resurrection through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (soft music) (grunting) [ Music ]

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[ Music ] God sent his Son, they called him Jesus, he came to all. He loved for him, he lived and died, to buy my poor heart. And yet he prayed, "Is there to prove my Savior lives?"

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Because he lived, I am blest to mark on him. ♪ Because he lives ♪ ♪ All fear is gone ♪ ♪ Because I've loved ♪

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♪ He holds the future ♪ ♪ And life is worth the living just ♪ ♪ Because she lives ♪ ♪ And in one day ♪

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♪ I'll cross the river ♪ ♪ I'll find my son ♪ ♪ A walk with him ♪ ♪ And hear His prayer ♪

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♪ His way to give me ♪ ♪ I'll see the lights of glory ♪ ♪ I know it is ♪ ♪ Because He hears ♪

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♪ I can face tomorrow ♪ ♪ Because He lives ♪ ♪ All fear is gone ♪ ♪ Because I know ♪

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♪ He holds the future ♪ ♪ And life is worth the living ♪ ♪ Just because he lives ♪ - From the Ninth Songs.

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Lord, thy has been a dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, for even thou hast formed the earth and the world. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.

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Thy turnest man back to the dust and says, turn back, O children, amen. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, when it is past or at watch in the night.

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So teach us to remember our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. Remember, O Lord, how long. How pity on thy servants.

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Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, And as many years as we have seen evil,

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let thy work be manifested to thy servant and the Lord's power to thy children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thy the works of our hands.

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Yea, the work of our hands, establish thy. Psalms the 91st through the 4th, 12th through the 17th, Let us thank God for being hearers of the Word. Shall we pray?

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Eternal God, our Father, as we come before your presence, we come with thanksgiving. We realize that man's life is transitory. And man is here just for a little while.

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But we must prepare ourselves on this side. We thank you, gracious master, for the life lived by the deceased. We pray, Gracious Master, for this family.

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We pray that they will look to the hill as David did years past. He acknowledged that help is available when one looks to the hills. We pray, gracious master, not only for this bereaved family, but for all who are present. And we do pray that if there are those who have not made their election sure, that this

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service will be a reminder to them that they too must pass this way. Every man, every woman was born to die and after death is the judgment. We pray gracious master for the man who will stand here and proclaim your word. There are those who have not made the decision to make Christ their personal savior.

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They will leave here with Christ on their mind. as the choir finished singing a few moments ago, because he lived, we also live. And may all of us, when that hour should come, may we say as the Apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight.

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I have kept the faith. The crown is laid up. The crown of righteousness." So that saying goes for all who fight the fight here on this earth.

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These blessings we do ask in the name of Christ and for his sake we pray. Amen. [ Background Sounds ] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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(gentle music) [ Music ] ♪ Precious Lord ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪

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♪ Lead me on ♪ ♪ Let me stand ♪ ♪ I am tired ♪ I am weak, I am whole. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on.

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to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord. Lead,

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lead me home. When my way grows dreary, precious Lord, linger near. When my life is all must go, hear my cry. Hear my call.

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♪ Oh, hold my hand ♪ ♪ Lest I fall ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Precious Lord ♪

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♪ And lead me home ♪ me home. When the darkness, when the darkness appears,

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and, and the night draws near, And the day is past and gone And the river, not again

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♪ God my me ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Precious Lord ♪

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♪ And lead ♪ ♪ Lead me home ♪ Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead,

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"yet shall he live. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me "shall never die. "Believe it that this.

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"For God so loved the world "that he gave his only begotten son, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. This verse was among the first of

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verses in the scriptures that the children were taught at an early age. Brother Gastro Wright, hearing this, believed they were a poet and committed his life to our Lord and Savior at an early age. He joined the Ebenezer Baptist Church and was baptized by the late Reverend L. L. Campbell and he remained with Ebenezer

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until death. Brother Wright was faithful, regular in attendance, active in the life of the church and its auxiliaries, the Sunday school, the training union, the brotherhood, and always ready to contribute to special programs and always here as long as he was physically able.

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He was very, very quiet, unassuming, never worried unless you spoke first. Yet he was friendly, responding readily with strong Christian convictions,

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always ready to do whatever he could for the ongoing and promotion of God's kingdom. For he was faithful and loyal to the calls of Christ.

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We cherish the memory of his gentle nature, his love for the church, his devotion to his family. Will and passing days lose none of its radiance in our hearts and minds.

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Whereas the Lord in his infinite wisdom and divine love has seen fit to call for mortality to immortality, our co-laborer in the service of the King. We, the pastor and members of Ebenezer Baptist Church,

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bow in humble submission to the will of God and thank him for sharing a long life of service with Ebenezer, for Brother Wright was here to help bear the burdens in the heat of the day.

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Resolve that with understanding hearts, we extend our sincerest sympathy to the bereaved family and commend them to our father, who is full of love and compassion.

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Resolve further that the passing of Brother Gastro Wright be noted in the records of the church and the resolution given to the family. Humbly submitted Ebenezer Baptist Church,

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The Reverend Dr. Marvin C. Griffin, Pastor, Valverde C. Phillips, Church Clerk. To the Wright family, the cards, the telegrams, flowers, and all forms of condolences you've received from friends,

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we're saying God cares. Go quickly to him in prayer for strength, and we care too. To the friends who have remembered the family during the illness and at the passing of their loved one,

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the Wright family says thanks to all of you. [ Music ] [MUSIC] ♪ Of your service ♪

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♪ Telling the world ♪ ♪ That the Savior is come ♪ ♪ In the midst, pray ♪ ♪ When men don't believe you ♪

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[ Music ] [MUSIC] ♪ Burning with the alpine ♪ ♪ Through the meadow is one ♪

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♪ Can you not tell ♪ ♪ How the cross of redemption ♪ ♪ In wondrous light ♪ ♪ And say, "Well done" ♪

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♪ If with its fire ♪ ♪ The waker is in death ♪ ♪ And the Lord ♪ ♪ Hath the grace you have brought ♪

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♪ All those who regret ♪ ♪ Prepare for the painful ♪ ♪ Where the hated matters ♪ ♪ Are not overwhelmed ♪

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♪ How will I come ♪ ♪ To the end of my journey ♪ ♪ Here he arrives ♪ ♪ And the battle is won ♪

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♪ Carrying the star ♪ ♪ And the cross of redemption ♪ He'll understand and say, "Well done." Each of us here this morning, or today, have problems.

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Problems that we possibly cannot solve. But there is a way of solving problems. if you don't let the devil persuade you to do what he wants you to do. In the early writings of Saint Mark's Gospel, there's a story told of Jesus healing in a certain house.

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There was a man down the road, sick with the palsy, so much so that he couldn't walk. He had four friends who wanted him to see Jesus. They went down to his house and took his bed and him on it and brought him to see Jesus. But when they arrived at the house, the Bible says there was no room, so much as at the door.

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such an immense crowd that they couldn't get in. And it was a flat roof and they had a stairway on the outside. They went around and went up on top and broke up the roof. They tied ropes on the corner of the bed.

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And each man took his rope and they led him down to where Jesus could heal him. The first thing Jesus said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." Somebody sitting there criticized Jesus for saying, "forgiving sin." Who could forgive sin but God?

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But in order that Jesus would let them know that He was God, He told a man to pick up his bed and walk. He took up his bed and went out before them all. It had been impossible for three men to carry that man to Jesus.

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They had to have the fourth man, and each man had a corner to carry. And each man stood at his place and let the man down by a rope. It may be you sit here this morning with problems about your church. You don't know how to solve them.

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But you got a corner to carry in that church because you're a part of that membership. Don't let the devil tell you not to support the church because of this thing or that thing or something else. Stay by the church.

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come and preachers go, but people and churches remain. There's another story in the Bible. All four of the gospels tell about the resurrection. the first Easter, Jesus disappeared from the tomb. And some women went to the tomb looking for him and only found the napkin, the cloth that

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was around his face. As they were about to leave, Jesus said, "All hail." They stopped. He said, "Go and tell Peter and the disciples

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"that I am going before you into Galilee. "There you will see me." And you know, somebody picked up the string and wrote a song that said, "Don't let nobody turn you around, but keep on to Galilee."

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Why go to Galilee? They were going to see Jesus. Don't let nobody tell you to vote to close your church. And every time you fail to support the church as you promised to do, you are saying, "Nail a piece across the door and close the church.

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Don't vote to close your church." For you and the church are here together until Jesus comes. Now let me say something about my brother-in-law who is here before us today. We married two sisters.

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I married the older one and he married the next older. In 1936, my wife was, mine was bad. She had to be put in a state hospital. I didn't pass for that year.

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I came, I took a year leave of absence. Gastro and his wife took me in their home, rear of the family, and I stayed a whole year with them. He was a brother of a love.

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I loved him like he was my blood brother. Worked hard. Didn't get much for his labor, but he kept his family fed. I've been able to do things for him.

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I've given him money, given him more than he wanted. And they asked me one day, "Why are you giving me so much money?" My wife got stuck on him and wanted him to work. He was a good man around the house.

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And I'd overpay him. Why you give me so much money? I'd say, "You remember what you did for me when I stayed with you?"

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I can't forget it. He had no habits, whatever. He didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't chew, didn't dip. You are just a clean cut man.

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And I loved him. And I am glad of one thing that his children, most of them, are in the church. Their mother taught them to go to church. They went with her.

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But I want to say this thing. Michael the baby boy has two boys there at home with him. I'm thinking Monday morning going to your job, and your boys going to school. Tomorrow is Sunday.

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Why not take those boys and go to Sunday school in the church tomorrow? Not next Sunday, I mean tomorrow. Start now. you don't have tomorrow, you don't have next week.

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You know what has been in the past, but you don't know the future. Put those boys in Sunday school. I'm 91 years old and I'm the first man

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to go to Sunday school every Sunday morning. And if I'm not first, there's another man to get there ahead of me because he has a car. And sometime the man that carried me, Little Lee, he beat me there.

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But I've been going to Sunday school and church over 70 years and I don't see no harm in it. Take your children to Sunday school and to church. My mother carried me and it became a part of my life and now I'm at my age, the oldest person in the church and sometimes I'm the first in Sunday school.

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That ought to tell you there's something in serving God. Go to church. Go to church school. Take your children.

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Be an example for them, a right kind of example. Or anybody can do as they please. He's a free moral agent, he's supposed to do as he wants to do. But you ought to want to do the things that's right.

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And it's right to go to church, it's right to go to church school. your children and go to church. God bless you. Amen. Amen.

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Let us look to God's Word for comfort, strength, and hope. I invite our prayerful attention to two passages of Scripture. The first is a word of prophecy recorded in the book of the prophet Isaiah, the 25th chapter, the eighth verse. He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord will wipe

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away tears from all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth for the Lord had spoken it. The next word is a word of fulfillment recorded in 1st Corinthians the 15th chapter the 53rd and 54th verses. For this corruptible must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put

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on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." And these are the words on which I would like for us to meditate, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

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Our coming together is to celebrate. We come to celebrate the life of Brother Gastro Wright. We celebrate the life of love that he has shared in our midst. Brother Wright has been a part of the Ebenezer Church family for 63 years.

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a long, long time. He has been a moving force of goodness, a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb. We celebrate the fact that he lived meaningfully as a husband, father, brother, relative and friend. He was the patriarch of this family of eight children. He gave good guidance. He was a loving provider. He nurtured and nourished them in the fear and

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admonition of the Lord. For 84 years he has sojourned in our midst as a servant of goodness, life of usefulness, a life well spent. He heard the biblical admonition, "Be thou faithful unto death and he followed it. If there were one word that I would use to describe him it would be the word faithfulness,

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for he was faithful unto death. So what shall we say? Our celebration involves expressing praise for the past, for the history of this good man.

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But here we are in the present, and there is for us here a word of comfort and strength and hope. This word which comes to us from the pen of the Apostle Paul, it's a word about death. And he begins by emphasizing the certainty of death.

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See death is a part of life. Even though we consider it an unwelcome visitor, we know that it's sure to come. And Paul here encourages us to accept the reality of death. It comes at the close of the day.

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It comes at the end of our stay. is the final chapter and the conclusion of the whole matter here on earth. And in the eyes of the people for whom Paul wrote, death was an awful calamity, an evening that threatens with oblivion all that we hold near and dear. Now that's a

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natural way of looking at it, but death is in our way of looking at things from the human standpoint the last enemy. But Paul invites us to look at death through the eyes of faith and he declares with ringing certainty we shall all be changed. In other words what he does is he takes us out to the graveyard to give

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us some good news and he cries out with a tremendous shout of joy and victory as he says, "We shall all be changed." So you see it's a part of the natural processes of life, just as the caterpillar develops into the butterfly. So it is that we come through death into the gateway of a fuller life. We are

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often caught up with remembering the way things were, but I would like for us to to not only thank God for yesterday, but I would like for us during these moments that we meditate together to get a glimpse into tomorrow. And Paul says we shall all be changed and that is necessary, he says, because flesh and

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blood, this old corruptible body cannot inherit God's eternal kingdom. And he goes on to give us in the beginning of that chapter a theology of death for he says that in Adam all die but in Christ all are made alive. That in Adam we are cast down but in Christ we are raised up. Flesh deteriorates, flesh decays, flesh is

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the victim of disease, but we shall all be changed and that's the good news of God. It's the gospel of the resurrection. We shall all be changed. Humanly speaking we go from life to death but in the divine order we go from death to life, life eternal.

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So we die, we shed just as the caterpillar sort of sheds that and develops into a beautiful butterfly. We sort of shed this old body that we might live the life

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which is full in the eternity of God because death is the gateway to resurrection and renewal. That's good news. We shall all be changed. "Thus thou art, thus returnest" was not spoken of the soul. Those who die in Christ shall be changed, those who sleep in him shall be raised up, we shall all be changed.

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we shall change houses that which was sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body and this corruptible shall put on incorruption we shall all be changed and this all happens through Jesus Christ so the life that brother Castro Wright lived is not a life that is shattered by anything that has

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happened here in the last few days. It is only a natural sequence that God has sort of arranged in the order of things that he has sort of passed through the gateway into that fuller life to enjoy what Paul is talking about in his glorious description of the resurrection. "When he shall come with trumpet sound,

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O may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne." In Christ. In Christ we shall all be changed, the flesh will fade away and the spiritual body will rise to live eternally. "Then shall come to pass, he says. That which is written. Death is swallowed up in

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victory. Death the last enemy, death that works its worst upon us, death the grim reaper, death the separator, death is swallowed up in victory. In victory. Now brothers and sisters, you know what happens when we swallow something. We accept it into our stomachs. And so what has really happened, Brother Gastro Wright

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has swallowed death, he has accepted it voluntarily, he has somewhat surrendered himself into the hands of God, he has swallowed it, and when we look at it in the largest sense, this has been made possible through Jesus Christ, for Christ enables us to accept the death of this life in order to enter into that life

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which is eternal with him. Death is swallowed up in victory. 84 years. The story is told of John Quincy Adams when he had reached his 80s and he was walking down the street. It was an old man, he'd seen the frost of many winters and he was somewhat feeble and some friend said to him, "How is John Quincy

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Adams today?" John Quincy Adams said, "John Quincy Adams himself is quite well, sir, but the house he lives in has grown old and is beaten and shattered and with every wind that blows it totters on its foundation and I feel that one day soon John Quincy Adams will have to move out." But he said, "John Quincy Adams himself is

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quite well, sir." And with a twinkle in the eye the old man moved on down the street. Well we may say of Brother Gastro Wright that Brother Gastro Wright himself is quite well today. It is his house that he lived in that we have here that's left behind, but Brother Wright himself is quite well. And he has gone on and here

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we have before us the reality of the word that death is swallowed up in victory he has overcome, he has fought the good fight, he has won the victory. And what is left for us to say here as family and friends? Well, we ought to say "Thanks be to God." Thanks be to God who gives this victory through Jesus Christ.

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Thanks be to God. And then what is the word left for us who remain? There is another word. Now having heard all of this, Paul says, "Therefore, therefore, such being the case, such being the case, be ye steadfast." You ought to stand firm for Christ. Such, looking at the example of Brother Wright, this family and all of us who knew him, it ought to encourage us to live a good life.

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therefore be ye steadfast, immovable. Don't let anybody move you from that. Okay, how the wind blows, be ye steadfast, immovable, always. That's the way he was. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor in the Lord, in the Lord, in the Lord, is not in vain.

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