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Christian Network

  Sometimes God Says No
A Funeral Message
 
 
 

2 Corinthians 12:6 through 2 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV)
6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the 
truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he 
seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7And lest I should be exalted above 
measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn 
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted 
above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart 
from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength 
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my 
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take 
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in 
distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
 
A little girl prayed hard for a bike for Christmas. Her parents could not afford 
it. The mean little boy next door scoffed, "Well, so your prayers were not 
answered!" "Oh yes, they were," said the little girl. "The answer was 'No.'"
 
I hope I have not offended anyone by telling this little chuckle of a story at a 
memorial service. I told it because it is relevant to our situation as loved 
ones, friends, family members of Norlyn Armstrong who a few days ago returned to 
the Lord. We prayed hard for Mr. Armstrong -- for his recovery. To our sorrow, 
our prayers were not answered. Or rather they were, but the answer was "No."
 
Hearing someone, especially God, tell us “No” is a difficult thing.  “No” is not 
a word that we want to hear at any time, but especially when one we love is 
suffering.
 
You are all here today because your lives were touched in some way by the life 
of Norlyn Armstrong. You are  family, or  friends. You could share, if you were 
standing where I stand, the many things that Mr. Armstrong meant to you and the 
many ways he touched your life. Memories like those will continue to live on in 
your hearts — and those memories are very precious, and to be highly valued. 
Their worth is far more valuable than words can describe. And each of you gives 
testimony of how highly you thought of Mr. Armstrong  by your presence here 
today.
 
Mr. Armstrong was a good neighbor.  Any time our paths would cross in the course 
of our days he always had a cheerful word, or a story to tell.  His passion was 
working with furniture.  He had the amazing ability to take a piece of abused, 
forgotten, tossed aside furniture and turn it in to something a person could 
proudly display in their home.
 
A year or so ago we began to notice that Mr. Armstrong wasn’t outside as much as 
usual, it was then that we discovered that he had been diagnosed with cancer and 
was undergoing treatment.  It was this treatment that robbed him of the strength 
he once had, but in spite of this he still worked in his garage shop every 
opportunity he could.  
 
We set about praying for Mr. Armstrong at his wife’s request.  Indeed the day he 
went to rest I had the privilege of sharing a prayer with him at his own 
request.  We prayed that day, as on many occasions before, that God would heal 
Mr. Armstrong and return him to health.  
 
Sadly, for the family who has lost the one that they love, God’s answer was no.  
“No” as hard as it is to hear is sometimes part of God’s world, and indeed His 
Word as well.  We see that Paul on numerous occasions asked God to remove the 
“thorn from his flesh”.  We don’t know what that thorn was, but the scripture 
indicates that it was a painful, apparently incurable ailment.  
 
God told Christ “NO” as well in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Christ fervently 
prayed that the cup of crucifixion would pass over him, but in the end Christ 
(as we must) realized that it was God’s will that must be done.
 
Even when God says no, He says so with a love that can only come from Him, and a 
fresh outpouring of His grace on your lives.
 
You have Psalm 23 printed in your memorial folder, but I’d like to read to you a 
different interpretation of it, one that I hope will allow you to find comfort.
 
Yahweh, my shepherd!  I don't need a thing.  You have bedded me down in lush 
meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.  True to your word, you let me 
catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
 
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my 
side.  Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.
 
You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.  You revive my 
drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
 
Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.  I'm back home in the 
house of Yahweh for the rest of my life.
 
Psalm 23 in Eugene H. Peterson, The Message:  Psalms (NavPress, 1994)
 
 
We are reminded today that life is limited for each of us.  We cannot escape 
death, but only postpone it for a time.  But death is just a transition. 
Although the body ceases to function, the spirit lives on. Death, according to 
the Bible, is a change of status. That which perishes is exchanged for that 
which is imperishable. Death ushers us into the presence of the living God. 
Death brings us into eternity.
 
All of us must face death sometime. Hebrews 9:27 says, ". . . man is destined to 
die once, and after that to face judgment." In light of this, we should all take 
great care to live in such a way that when it comes our time to die, we are 
ready to face God.
 
You see, death is not death if you know the Lord. 
Death is not death, if it kills no part of us, except that which hindered us 
from perfect life. 
Death is not death, if it raises us in a moment from darkness into light, from 
weakness into strength, from sinfulness into holiness. 
Death is not death, if it perfects our faith by sight, and let’s us behold Him 
in whom we have believed.
Death is not death, if it rids us of doubt and fear, of sickness and disease, of 
sorrow and sadness. 
Death is not death, if it gives us to those whom we have loved and lost, for 
whom we have lived, for whom we long to live again.
Death is not death; for Christ has conquered death, for Himself, and for those 
who trust in Him. 
 
The reality of death is that we all die. And death puts us face to face with 
God. This we cannot change. But we can do something about eternity. If we do not 
commit our life to Christ to serve Him, then to die is an eternal loss. The 
realities of heaven and hell confront us as we consider death. But the good news 
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can be forgiven for our sins and enjoy 
God’s presence forever. We do not have to fear death, for death is not death if 
it transports us to eternal life. 
 
God told us no when he answered our prayers for Mr. Armstrong.  It is part of 
life and part of God's way with us. We may need to relearn to say "No" to our 
children. We may need to clarify our laws, so that their "thou shalt not"s may 
not just punish criminals, but prevent crime. And we may need to learn, or 
relearn, how to accept "No" as an answer to prayer, even to the kind of 
sustained, loving prayers we offered on behalf of Norlyn Armstrong and for his 
healing, when God, for reasons we cannot fathom, saw fit to call him home at 
this time.
            
Yes, it is hard to take "No" for an answer. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, the 
answer was "No." But his trust in his Father's love and power was so strong that 
he was able to conclude his prayer with "Yet not my will, but Thine" (Matthew 
26:39b). In that spirit, let us accept the absence of Norlyn Armstrong while 
celebrating his life and his legacy.
 
May we pray.
 
Dear Heavenly Father……..(Prayer for the family, and those assembled)
 
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the 
great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, may you 
complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that 
which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory 
forever and ever. Amen.
-- Hebrews 13:20-21
 
 

©2000 Claim The Victory Ministries
South Peninsula Baptist Church
Daytona Beach, FL
 
Rev. Charles S. Mims