Welcome to Ocean Baptist Church on zoom’ guess that’s what we’re doing right now a couple of announcements we got where a lot of us are at home we can’t donate so we’re trying to let anyone that wants to tithe and donate that we can send a check in to our peel box or you can donate via the website through our PayPal donate link just a heads up for those that wanted to and I’m gonna go ahead and just pray us in and then we’ll get started Lord God I just thank you for another beautiful day and just for this opportunity to come together as your body lord I pray that you would just be with us right now that you would speak through me that you would touch hearts Lord and I just thank you for all you do in our lives I pray in your precious name Jesus in all right so today I’m gonna be going through well we’ve been we have been going through the parables last week brother al went through the beginning parables in Luke 16 and then this week I’m going to go ahead and go through Luke chapter 16 verses 19 to 31 after challenging the Pharisees this ended the scribes Jesus told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to show that being rich should not be equated with being righteous the rich man had everything that he wanted but he didn’t have what he needed to get to heaven his parable illustrates that the point made in the previous about the money manager preparing for the future here and now the parable is about two contrasting individuals one is all about material possession and the other serve God in this life and can see that in 1613 it depicts a the permanent reality of the hereafter in contrast to the temporary present that’s important the detail in this stories are colorful and contrast is pretty sharp for the rich man earthly life is a daily feast and for the poor man clothed in running sores who lies among dogs his life is pretty poor both died but only the rich man is buried in eternity their roles were reversed and the outcome is an ultra ball the Pharisees thought that they were entitled that they had this strange idea that money was deserved money was a sign that they were being blessed by God and poverty was a result of God’s curse jesus repudiates this whole idea all of us are stewards of what we have and we are to use it to bless to bring life to bring health to bring hope and salvation to others I’m going to go ahead and use this following outline to help us work our way through Jesus’s story here so point one is the summation of the two lives and that would be verses 19 and 20 point to a transition to the next life which is verses 22 and 23 the third point is two destinations in death and we see that in verses 24 through 26 and then the fourth point the final point is a plea for a greater persuasion and we see that in verses 27 to 31 okay the parable begins in verse 19 by contrasting these two lives and it says now there was a rich man and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen joyously living in the splendor every day both clothing made of purple and fine linen worn for under clothes were expensive both are indicated that indicated of the opulence of in antiquity for the rich man dressed in robes of royalty and fine Egyptian undergarments wife is a daily feast and a party he’s a picture of the rich indulgent carefree kind of a lifestyle yeah in verse 20 it shows a poor man was daily laid outside the gates of a rich man and it said a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate and it was covered with sores just outside the gate of the man was laid a sick hungry and neglected beggar perhaps Jesus picked the name Lazarus because is the Greek form of the Hebrew name which means the one whom God helps his sickness had robbed him of the strength to move himself when the family carried and laid the sick beggar next to the rich man’s gate probably because he had the resources to do more than just give him food and sustain sustained life which was all the community could do the rich man could have been on the cover of a magazine or having millions of followers on himself who knows Lazarus no one would have known even known his name you know but God records Lazarus name think about that while the rich man remains nameless he’s just the rich man right note that Lazarus is counted as righteous not because he was poor but because he depended on God okay ah yeah his poverty and inability to help himself gave him the opportunity to become great and faith which Jesus brothers taught us in James chapter 2 verse violence’s listen my brethren did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him the poor man’s logging is recorded in verse 21 and the long need to be fed with the crumbs that were falling off the table of the rich man but the dogs were coming and they were licking his sores the poor was longing for the crumbs which were falling off that man’s table the same longing is said of the lost son in 1516 regrettably the wealthy man had no concept of stewardship excuse me no and thought about only his comfort or he would have done something at least to help the beggar Lazarus obviously he didn’t recall such scriptures as saved proverbs 14 21 or 1917 or 21 13 or even 28 17 all of which talked about sharing with the pork if we have the ability to that we should one who enjoys the one who enjoys the feast and parties had no concern for the one who was suffering at his doorstep though the rich man showed no interest or concern but the dogs did dogs look people as a sign of affection and there’s actually a scientific research that tells us that their saliva contains endogenous peptide antibiotics which in layman’s terms just helps facilitate healing though the wealthy man felt no compassion towards Lazarus I mean even the dogs did okay bear in mind that Jesus is not using this parable to convince condemned the rich nor is he suggesting that all poor people will go to heaven Jesus doesn’t question how the rich man got his money or how that he even has it the rich man isn’t necessarily even a bad man but whatever else he was in this story he’s blind to the person who is in need who is sitting right outside his gate the second section in verse 22 it indicates that both men died and says now the poor man died and was carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom and the rich man also died and was buried in the course of time both men died lazarus though too poor to afford a funeral was transported by angels into the presence of abraham a place of blessedness in heaven he was given a place of honor – proximity in proximity to Abraham’s bosom Abraham’s side apparently refers to a place of paradise for Old Testament believers at the time of death in spite of this wealth the rich man also died and was given no doubt a fine funeral I imagine he too was expecting to arrive to be with Abraham and continue enjoying the good life but in 30 in verse 23 contrast is the eternal destiny of the rich man with the eternal destiny of the beggar in Hades he lifted up his eyes being in torment and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom a death the rich man receives no heavenly escort that finds himself in Hades Hades is the Greek word translates to hell and in ASB it is used 10 times in the New Testament mm the Septuagint use had translated the Hebrew Sheol or seal or shield the place of the debt which is also used on about 61 occasions here Hades refers to the abode of the unsaved dead prior to the great white throne judgment apparently everyone who had died before Jesus was crucified to pay for their sins of mankind went to shul the place of the grave Jesus parable divided it into two compartments separated by the Great Divide one side was filled with fire and torment and the other place was called Abraham’s bosom or paradise it’s often referred to those who love God would go to the paradise or abraham’s bosom side of Sheol and the reason that they couldn’t go directly to heaven is because the blood of Christ had not yet been shed so paradise was kind of a simply a waiting room if you will Abraham the father of faith or the friend of God as he sometimes referred to as would greet them there those who did not believe in God went to the tormented side of Sheol and although there was a great gulf between the two as seen in this passage those on both sides could call out to one another which would make that the flaming side kind of even more hellish if you think about it Ephesians 4 verses 8 and 9 tell us that before Jesus ascended to heaven that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth and led those in Abraham’s bosom up to heaven that’s why Abraham’s bosom no longer exists today Hades is not the final destination of the unbeliever but rather only a temporary holding tank until that after the great white throne of judgment but when he will be cast into gana or the outer darkness you can see that in Revelation chapter 20 contrary to popular belief hell is not going to be one big giant party Gehenna is the place of heat without light of eternal isolation of an in terment interminable torment and I got that out of John Kristen’s application of commentary if anyone was curious take a look in Hades the rich man finally saw a bigger picture of existence the world says eat drink be merry for tomorrow we’ll all die because they only see what’s in front of them in death they’ll finally see the big picture of eternity but it’ll be too late in the context of this chapter the rich man’s sin was not that he hated Lazarus but simply that he had neglected him last week brother Allen spoke on the parables of stewardship and the Bible says there are sins of commission sins of commission and they’re witches things that we actually are that we do that are wrong and then sins of omission which is failing to do that which is right we see in James 4:17 it says therefore to no one who knows the right thing to do but does not do it to him it is a sin there was a person in need at the rich man’s gate but he didn’t offer help and that was his sin I was indicated that because he did not care about the man at his gate he did not have the love of God in his heart he kind of see that first John 3:17 which says but whoever has the world’s good sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him how does the love of God abide in him it’s pretty strong my point three two destinations and death it says in verse 24 interestingly it indicates that the rich man kind of began to pray he cried out and he said father Abraham have mercy on me send Lazarus so that he may dip his finger in water and cool off my tongue for I am in agony in this flame No the rich man is depicted as being able to converse with Abraham even calling him father first he prays for himself he’s begging Abraham to have mercy on him to allow Lazarus to bring him just a touch with just a touch of water in I gotta say extreme thirst is one of the most terrible pains that we can suffer another kind of agony or torment is the flame that we can kind of see talked about in Matthew chapter 3 verses 10 through 12 but despite his circumstances he still sees Lazarus as someone to be ordered around someone who should relieve his circumstances when he did nothing on earth to relieve the circumstances of Lazarus if only he had realized his thirst while living he could have come to Jesus living water Jesus said in John 7:37 to any man brokenhearted or outcasts or an 80s or I dollar or forsaken or forgotten poor or rich may come and drink of this living water but we must come to him it’s not enough for us to it’s not enough for to wish or to resolve or hope we have to physically act we must acknowledge that our thirst has come to Jesus and partake of the life that only he can get have you laid your life before Jesus Abraham gives us two reasons that comfort could not be brought to the formerly rich man in verses 25 and 26 in verse 25 the formerly rich man could not be helped because his character had now become unalterable and it says but Abraham said child remember that during your life you received good things and likewise Lazarus bad things but now he’s being comforted here and you are in agony these words capture the reversal of fortunes or circumstances to which Jesus is speaking Abraham replied that it was not possible that he could help him know that he could be helped and that he should remember that during life he had everything he wanted while Lazarus had nothing even so the rich man had never helped Lazarus during the course of his life the man had lived for the good things of Earth only caring about experiencing a bunt but in abundance of earthly blessings it’s too late after death to change the way you live because you were the because of who you were on earth Jesus elevates the man disdained by the Pharisees and humbles the man that they would have considered to be blessed although people mistakenly believe that at worst when they die they will cease to exist the fact is that not only will they continue to exist but they will be able to remember the good things they received on earth the blessings that God poured out on the patience that God had showed to them and then just the many opportunities he gave to them to turn to him so I suggest that one of the most horrendous aspects of Hell is the memory that people will have of the times that they could have received the free gift of salvation but hmm but chose to harden their hearts instead again Jesus uses the word agony or torment and he uses it four times in the parable indicating that this is real and definite paint Abraham gives another reason in verse 26 that comfort could not be brought to the formerly rich man and it says and besides all this between us you and I there is a great chasm fixed so that those who wish to come over here from where you are will not be able and that none may cross over from there to us additionally a great chasm has separated the paradise and Hades so that no one can cross over from one side to the other Jesus seems to be using the great chasm imagery to describe the permanence of our characters eternal destiny now torment is one of the one is one’s eternal recompense and comfort is Lazarus Lazarus eternal blessings the fourth point here up to this point all has been said in warning and instruction about material things comes vividly in mind Lazarus enjoys the Bliss of Abraham’s bosom while the rich man lies in Hades in verse 27 to 31 a second Bible point is made scriptures are sufficient for faith and when they’re rejected as the rich man had done not even an event as extraordinary as a resurrection will generate belief which has actually proved true in the case of Jesus the rich man in verse 27 begged that Lazarus would be sent to earth to warn his brothers and he said then I beg you Father that you send him to my father’s house and if Lazarus can’t come over here has it send him back to that send him back from the dead to tell my family that this place exists the rich man begged explain the terrible reality of Hell and and the glory of heaven well I find it interesting that the rich man realized the power of testimony or witness he didn’t say send a theologian or a Bible teacher or send a preacher no he said send the one who believed in God and is now in his presence that he may share his testimony if you haven’t already you will hear Satan whisper in here you can’t you don’t know enough about the Bible you’re not solid enough on your own walk your understanding of theology it’s too elementary but that’s a lie the most powerful thing you can share is your own testimony after he was cornered by the Pharisees the once blind man simply said I can’t answer all your questions concerning the nature and the person of Jesus but this I do know once I was blind but now I see and none of it no one could deny it for the most so I think the most powerful thing that you can tell your unsaved parent or a lost neighbor or a friend is simply what the Lord has done in your life and for you in verse 28 the rich man now wants to prevent his family members from having to share his torturous fate where I have five brothers in order that he may warn them so that that they will not also come to this place of torment formerly the rich men the formerly rich man now has a concern for his lost brothers he wants to warn them but he could do nothing about it after we die it’s too late to do anything no it’s too late to lead people a Salvation and bring them to the Lord also notice that the rich man’s concern had not changed in spite of his torment conditions he was still kind of self-centered he prayed only for discomfort and the safety of his family he was not concerned about the loss he was only concerned about his five brothers how tragic that even the reality and torment of hell does not change the condition of the heart how crazy are we guilty of knowing the reality of Hell and the opportunity of heaven and failing to warn others of the coming judgement I think I know I’ve failed in this multiple times verse 29 calls us to realize that Scripture is all that we need to lead people to faith in Jesus and says but Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets let them hear them Abraham points out that they already have the Word of God and the Word of God is not only sufficient it’s the most powerful means in existence to bring people to faith if one will not be convinced about the gospel of Jesus and the reality of eternal life in eternal existence in either heaven or hell nothing else can convince them that is the supreme power and authority of the Word of God now there’s a california-based I don’t know you’ve probably heard of them the Flat Earth Research Society they were founded in 1800 and they’re devoted to the purpose of proving that the earth is flat and that modern astronomical science is fraud when we’ve actually have photos of the earth that were televised you know 20 30 40 years ago long long ago confirming the spherical shape of our planet now the Flat Earth Society said that these photos were for faith and I gotta say human beings have the uncanny ability to reject what they don’t want to believe regardless of what the evidence is for examples some nurses have reported that they sometimes find in emphysema patients smoking in bed alternating between puffs of smoke and whiffs of oxygen despite the overwhelming medical that that practice is killing them and of course it’s not uncommon for the worst case alcoholics to deny it but they have a drinking problem or that they just just keep going I mean it’s it’s a blatant human thing the five brothers of the rich man in Jesus parable knew the law given through Moses and had refused to obey confronted by prophetic warnings they had turned their backs their problem was not hardness of hearing but hardness of heart the pleas of the resurrected beggar would not have changed anything may we pray for the courage to accept what is true even when it’s more uncomfortable or more comfortable seasoning to ignore it it was a rich man’s contention in verse 30 that if one came from the dead then his brothers would listen to them but he said no father Abraham but if someone goes to them from the dead that will repent the man reasoned even though they’re not listening to the word even if someone comes back from the dead surely they’ll listen and repent and he’ll people finally realized they need the need to repent not to believe in theology but to repent from iniquity tragically there will be those who believe in the existence of Jesus and the inspiration of Scripture who will be lost eternally because of the refusal to repent to change direction and to follow Jesus the devil and demons believe and tells us that in in James chapter 2 verse 19 but there they’re not saved because their belief is based on intellectual knowledge rather than humble personal repentance that leads to life change Jesus made it clear in verse 31 that most that people have enough light but still miss the obvious truth but he said to him if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead now Abraham replied that if they refused to listen to scriptures then why would they were then they would refuse to listen to the one who came back from the dead that’s kind of crazy but if you think about it that’s we see that have happened with Jesus if God’s prophetic word cannot convince and crack a hard heart then neither will great miracles I think that’s basically what some of the best Jesus own resurrection is proof that only an open heart sees the evidence for God’s presence and here’s his pleading voice Jesus says implication was that the rich man symbolizes the Pharisees they wanted to see they wanted sign sign so clear that they would compel people to believe but since they refused to believe the scriptures they would not believe any sign no matter how great he was just a short time later Jesus did raise a man from the dead another man named Lazarus and you can see that over in John chapter 11 verses 38 through 44 I encourage you guys to go read it the result was that the religious leaders began to plot more earnestly to kill both Jesus and Lazarus what you can see in later on in that chapter verses 45 to 53 and also in chapter 12 10 through 11 that could be a veiled reference to Jesus’s resurrection and that in that case neither did Jesus resurrection changed their thinking in closing living presumptuously with no compassion for people and no thought for eternity caused the rich man to end up in a real place called hell the wicked do not just cease to exist but they go to a place of torment jesus said hell is real indeed God desires that no one should perish there in second Peter 3 verse 9 it says the Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you not wishing for anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance as we consider this passage may we be renewed in our compassion and our commitment to share what the Lord has given us maybe we’ve been willing to share what we cannot keep to gain what we can’t lose we’ve heard that said before I’m sure the second may we be renewed in our compassion and our commitment to share the good news with the loss however that looks at neurone I pray that we will be reminded of the big picture of eternity and the power of destiny and testimony Susan in the power of a testimony in other words just because we’ve considered how we may become more mindful of heaven I believe there are many people within a mile or five miles of your location where you’re at right now that would like to go to heaven but they just haven’t found someone to tell them how I would challenge you all to find those people and share your testimony with them and and just use this section as an example of what we should be doing this is this this chapter and section of vs. has always hit home to me I know the very first time I read it I it just broke my heart and I literally cried um is it’s a very intense feeling that you get from reading this chapter I’m just gonna go ahead and close us in a word of Prayer Lord god I just thank you again for today and just for your work earth lord I just pray that you would give us the courage and the strength to go out into this world to share our testimonies to share the gospel lord I pray that you would help us to focus and to throw in all that you will for us I thank you and I pray in your precious name Jesus