Three Facts about the Death of a Saint

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ 25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ 27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

ETS: The child of God does not need to fear death.

ESS: The family and friends of the deceased person will receive comfort.

OSS: To help believers understand truths concerning the process of death for Christian.

PQ: How can I face death with confidence instead of fear?

TITLE: “Three Facts about the Death of a Saint”

INTRODUCTION:

When you think about death, what is your internal reaction?

Everyone who is born will someday die. Hebrews 9:27 states,

Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

For the most part, people in the world have a great aversion to death. Whenever the subject arises, the most common emotion expressed his fear. Throughout the centuries, people have sought various ways attempting to escape death.

* Ponce DeLeon searched Florida for the fabled fountain of youth.

* Some people have sought the pathway of being cryogenically frozen so that they can be "revived" when a cure is found for their terminal diseases. This is nothing more than an attempt to escape death.

For the child of God, there need not be any fear of death. In our text, we find three facts about the death of a saint.

I. THE CHILD OF GOD WILL NOT FACE DEATH ALONE. (Luke 16:19 – 22)

A. Lazarus had an angelic escort at the time of his death.

1. The death of Lazarus was the result of illness. (Luke 16:20)

Luke 16:20 (NLT)

20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.

2. Lazarus's last days were not spent in comfort. (Luke 16:21)

Luke 16:21 (NLT)

21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

a) He had no home of his Own.

b) he was sick.

c) He was hungry.

d) He had to beg from others for his basic necessities of life.

e) His best friends are dogs.

3. His love was in the right place.

a) His name means, "one whom God helps."

(1) If his name is an indication, he had a relationship with God.

(2) The rest of the story demonstrates that Lazarus had a relationship with God.

b) Note: the child of God is called a Christian – called by Christ's name.

4. When Lazarus left this life, he had a special escort. (Luke 16:22)

Luke 16:22 (NLT)

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,

B. Another child of God, named Stephen, experienced the presence of Christ at the time of his death. (Acts 7:54 – 60)

Acts 7:54–60 (NLT)

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him

58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

1. Stephen faced a distressing situation at the time of his death.

2. Stephen seemed to be all alone – as far as the world could see.

3. He looked up and found that Jesus was with him.

C. God has promised that the believer is never alone – even in the face of death.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

(Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

1. He will provide comfort through his personal presence.

2. His grace overshadows the site at the time of death.

a) Deaths of saints that I have witnessed.

II. THE BELIEVER WILL BE USHERED INTO A PLACE FAR BETTER THAN THIS LIFE CAN OFFER. (Luke 16:22-26)

A. Lazarus was ushered into paradise. (Luke 16:22 – 26)

Luke 16:22–26 (NLT)

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,

23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.

26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

1. He was taken by his angelic escort into "Abraham's bosom" – the place reserved for the godly prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

B. The believer has a grand place that will be his home for eternity.

1. It is a place that is specifically prepared for God's people. (John 14:1 – 3)

John 14:1–3 (NLT)

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

a) It took God six days to make this beautiful planet. Jesus has been preparing heaven for 2000 years.

2. It is a place of indescribable beauty. (Revelation 21:1 – 2, 10 – 23)

Revelation 21:1–2 (NLT)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Revelation 21:10–23 (NLT)

10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.

12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.

13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west.

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.

17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.

3. It is a place of undisturbed peace and joy. (Revelation 21:3 – 5, 24) (Revelation 22:5)

Revelation 21:3–5 (NLT)

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

4 He 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.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:24 (NLT)

24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.

III. THE SAINT WILL BE REWARDED FOR A FAITHFUL LIFE IN THE MIDST OF ADVERSITY. (Luke 16:25-31)

A. Lazarus was rewarded for living for God in adverse conditions. (Luke 16:25 – 31)

1. His existence on earth:

a) He had no earthly security

b) He had no worldly wealth

c) He had no earthly friends

d) He was unhealthy.

2. His heavenly life:

a) He had complete security

b) He had great comfort line

c) He enjoyed God's wealth

d) He was totally healed

B. The believer will be rewarded for faithfulness and adversity. (1 Corinthians 15:50 – 58)

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 (NLT)

50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!

52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1. the believer has the advantage of being able to look through adversity to the ultimate reward. (Hebrews 11:33 – 40)

Hebrews 11:33–40 (NLT)

33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

CONCLUSION:

* Quote from Moody about death

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1026 Moody More Alive

Moody More Alive

Realizing that he would soon be gone from this world one day, Moody said to a friend, “Someday you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it.

“At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all—out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”

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