Two People, Two Places, Three Principles

Title: Two people, Two Places, Three Principles

Theme: Two people, Two Places, Three Principles

Text: Luke 16:19-31

Goal: Two or three things about Heaven we didn’t know.

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

Tomb stone in Indiana over 100 years old

To follow you I am not content

till I find out which way you went.

Pause Stranger, when you pass me by,

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.

An unknown passerby read those words and underneath scratched this reply:

To follow you I’m not content,

Until I know which way you went.

Another had the same qoute: Henry Page (1648-1719)

People want to know where are they ? How is it going?

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

Many people struggle with death and the afterlife.

Death seems so permanent. What happens after that?

Where can we get solid information.

I have talk with people who have died and been brought back. They have stories?

Movies from serious to playful talk about it.

Heaven is for real

The Shack is a story

90 minutes in heaven

Can the scriptures help us out?

Where are the now & How are they doing ?

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (ESV)

Sleep means death

Two people, Two Places, Three PrinciplesTwo People

I. Two People

 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. Luke 16:19(ESV)

A.Rich man introduced in terms of wealth

Purple clothes came from dye derived from snails and were extremely expensive (Kistemaker 1980: 236–37; SB 2:222). Πορφύρα (porphyra, lit., purple) probably refers to outer garments, while βύσσος (byssos, fine linen) refers to undergarments (Manson 1949: 298; Luce 1933: 268; Fitzmyer 1985: 1130–31; Ernst 1977: 473). Some people have nothing, while others can afford expensive underwear. This man celebrated life daily with great feasts (Bultmann, TDNT 2:774). Such was the daily life of comfort that the rich man experienced.

* smell the food, ate outside

* Obvious wealth

* Shady maple

* many servants

B. Lazarus

I picture him possibly being able to smell the food, liked by the dogs.

B. Lazarus

20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores Luke 19:21(ESV)

16:20 In contrast to the rich man stands, or rather lies, Lazarus (Manson 1949: 298 calls this a “violent” contrast). The Hebrew name לַעְזָר (Lazar) is a contraction of אֶלְעָזָר (Eleazar) and means “God helps.” The name is significant, for it indicates someone dependent on God.

Smelled the food and was willing to settle for crumbs or what the dogs got.

He was placed at the gates

I have met Lazarus.. her name was Paula, Red, Tom

Homeless, soars, and hungry needing a place to stay.

I am sure I didn’t see Lazarus as many times as he was available

C. They both died

* They both died

* Lazarus died first no funeral, thrown in the pit and burned.

* Rich man had a nice funeral many people probably speaking well because he had money.

II Two places

Where are they now?

Intermediate place called hades or in the Hebrew Shoel.You don’t want to go there.

A. Place of misery

23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ Like 19: 23-24 (ESV)

* He was there because he didn’t have faith.

B. A place of memory

But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. Luke 16:25 (ESV)

C. Place of mourning.

26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—

28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

D.There will be a future time for judgement

Revelation share with us the Great White Throned judgement.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Revelations 19:13-14 (ESV)

(15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelations 19:15 (ESV))

E. Something has changed because of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8-10

8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”[a]

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:8-10 ESV)

III Three Principles

Three principles take away.

A. So Heavenly minded you are no earthly good.

( wrong statement)The more we focus on our future it influences how we live here. How we spend our money.

B. That we may be where Jesus is

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3 (ESV)

The first time this principle touched me was several years ago. 38 funerals and there were two when I was on vacation.

God spoke to me

 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 (ESV)

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV)

 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23

Conclusion: Take away

Bible Study 19: