A Message From the Other Side
Who's Your One? • Sermon • Submitted
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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.’ ”
INTRODUCTION:
I- THIS LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS. (Luke 16:19-24)
I- THIS LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS. (Luke 16:19-24)
A- Every person will one day have to leave this life. (Luke 16:19-22)
A- Every person will one day have to leave this life. (Luke 16:19-22)
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
“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,
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,
1- Both of men in this story had to face this fact.
a. The rich man:
(1) The rich man had lived his life to accumulate all of the material possessions possible.
(2) He lived every day in luxury.
(3) He neglected to make any preparation for eternity.
(4) His banquets and pleasures came to an end in the icy-cold hand of death.
b. Lazarus:
(1) Lived his life in the deepest poverty.
(2) He had no house to protect him from the weather.
(3) He lived at the gate of the rich man’s house.
(4) He was hungry, homeless and sick.
(5) He had evidently made preparations for death, whom he, too met.
2- The Bible testifies of many other people who faced death.
a- Adam & Eve had to face death.
b- Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969 years, but even he had to face death.
3- It is certain that each one of us will someday die.
(Hebrews 9:27)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
a- Even with all of the advances of medical science, this fact has not changed.
B- There is a life beyond this life. (Luke 16:23)
B- There is a life beyond this life. (Luke 16:23)
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.
1- The first thing that the rich man discovered after he died was that there is definitely life beyond the grave.
a- He also recognized that he was unprepared for this eventuality.
b- He could see, feel, think and remember.
2- When you come to the end of this life, you will discover that there is so much more beyond the grave.
3- Jesus warned many times of need to prepare for eternity.
a- Life is short and eternity is long. It is wise to prepare for eternity.
II- THERE IS A RECORD OF SIN. (Luke. 16:25)
II- THERE IS A RECORD OF SIN. (Luke. 16:25)
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.
A- There is an eternal record of the things we have done in this life.
A- There is an eternal record of the things we have done in this life.
1- The rich man was reminded of the kind of life he had lived.
a- A record of his life had been kept.
(1) He had lived a selfish life.
(2) He had not prepared for eternity.
2- God has a record of your life.
(Revelation 20:12)
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
a- One day, you will stand before God to be judged. What will be revealed?
(Psalm 44:21)
21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
(Ecclesiastes 12:14)
14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
III- THERE IS NO MORE OPPORTUNITY AFTER DEATH TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY. (Luke 16:24, 26)
III- THERE IS NO MORE OPPORTUNITY AFTER DEATH TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY. (Luke 16:24, 26)
“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.’
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.’
A- There is no mercy available after death. (Luke 16:24)
A- There is no mercy available after death. (Luke 16:24)
“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.’
1- The rich man cried out for mercy.
a- He wanted relief - he wanted water, he wanted out!
b- What he received was torment in flames of fire.
2- Jesus warns again and again about the fames of Hell.
a- In the Gospels, He warned 14 times about this place of punishment.
b- It is obvious that he meant for us to take seriously the reality of Hell and prepare for eternity.
(Mark 9:43)
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.
c- Hell was not originally prepared for people.
(Matthew 25:41)
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
B- There is no chance for transfer, preparation must be made now. (Luke 16:26)
B- There is no chance for transfer, preparation must be made now. (Luke 16:26)
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- The Bible urges preparation be made now.
a. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
b. (Proverbs 27:1)
Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.
c. No one is promised another day to respond to the Gospel.
d. Believers are not promised an endless opportunity to win unbelievers to Jesus.
IV - THE WAY THIS LIFE IS LIVED INFLUENCES OTHERS. (Luke 16:27-31)
IV - THE WAY THIS LIFE IS LIVED INFLUENCES OTHERS. (Luke 16:27-31)
Luke 16:27–31 (NLT)
“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“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.’
“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.’ ”
A- There are many people over whom you hold a powerful influence.
A- There are many people over whom you hold a powerful influence.
1- When the rich man found out he could not get relief from his suffering, his thoughts turned to the people whom he had influenced in life.
a. He had five brothers who were following his bad example and were themselves headed to hell.
b. The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers - he did not want them to come to Hell and suffer, too.
c. Abraham told the rich man that they had the witness of scripture (Moses and the prophets). They needed to hear and respond to the scriptural call to repentance and faith.
2- Think of the people whom you influence in this life.
a. Your children
b. Your brothers and sisters
c. Other relatives
d. Your neighbours and co-workers
How are you leading them?
3- The best witness they can have is you as a committed Christian.
a. Many people you know will follow your example… What will you do with Christ?
b. Here is what you need to do:
(1) Admit to God your sin.
(Romans 5:12)
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
(2) Turn away from your sin.
(Luke 13:3)
Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.
(3) Accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for you.
(Romans 5:8)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
(John 1:12)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
c. Christian, the best thing you can do is to recognize the importance of your friends and loved-ones.
(1) do your best to try to lead them, one-by-one, to Jesus.
Conclusion:
