1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Abraham said, son, remember that thou 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: evil things. But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Luke sixteen twenty five. When I look at everything You've 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: blessed me with in my life, Lord, I stand in 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: awe and reverence at all the times You've come through 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: for me, and for all the times you've lavished me 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: with provision. As I think about to day's story from Luke, 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: I'm reminded through the life of the rich Glutton that 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: the purpose for blessing is to be a blessing to others. 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: May my life be first known by my love for 12 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: you God, then second by the generosity I lived by. 13 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: With every new year, I will not ask how how 14 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: much I can make. I will ask instead how much 15 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: I can give. With this paradigm shift, I acknowledge that 16 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: blessing and abundance are a byproduct of my generous heart. 17 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: For the life of the stingy gets smaller and smaller, 18 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: while the life of the generous gets larger and larger. 19 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: Because I am a change agent, I am always in 20 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: tune with the needs of your children, Lord, whether time, talents, 21 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: or treasures, I will give where I can because You've 22 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: blessed me so much. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you 23 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 24 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year 25 00:01:52,320 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: dot com. 26 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: The Rich Glutton and Poor Lazarus. In our last story, 27 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 2: we learned about Jesus's provision over Peter's taxes. Jesus also 28 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: gave a stiff warning to those who would threaten the 29 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: innocence of a child. Now we hear a story told 30 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: by Jesus, a story that has an eternal lesson with 31 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: great consequences, as inspired by the Gospels. 32 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in 33 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode, 34 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love 35 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you 36 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment 37 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits 38 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention. 39 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 3: But it's in the midst of all this crush and 40 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and 41 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help 42 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving, 43 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: life changing Word by sending you my free daily email 44 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: devotional PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign 45 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 3: up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org 46 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. In our previous episode, we heard 47 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 3: how Jesus taught Peter about the freedom we have as 48 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: children of God, and we discovered the upside down nature 49 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: of God's kingdom, where the way up is down, where 50 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 3: humility and servanthood is a strength rather than a weakness. 51 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 3: So today we'll hear as Jesus tells a story that 52 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: reveals more of God's heart and speaks to the eternal 53 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: implications of our faith in this life and in the 54 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: life to come. Let's listen now to the Gospel. 55 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: Jesus sat among his disciples by the fire. The coals 56 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 2: glowed under the darkness above them. They ate beside the flames, 57 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: and Jesus told them parables and stories to illustrate heavenly meaning. 58 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: There was once a wealthy man. He was clothed in 59 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: fine linens, fat and content. He lavished in his chambers, 60 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: consuming fine meats and cheeses to fill his gullet. Crumbs 61 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: littered the floor of his dining hall and were picked 62 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: up by the dogs and rats. His wealth made him comfortable, 63 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: his comfort made him lazy, and his laziness made him selfish. 64 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 2: Only a few yards away, at the gates of the 65 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: rich man's property was a poor man named Lazarus. He 66 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,119 Speaker 2: laid at the gate, nursing the sores on his feet. 67 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 2: Lazarus was hungry, thin, and sickly. Every night he would 68 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: dream of feasting on the crumbs that fell from the 69 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: rich man's table. Every day, the rich man would pass 70 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: by him, belly full in eyes forward. Lazarus was invisible 71 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: to the wealthy man. The only companions he had were 72 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: the dogs that licked the sores on his feet. On 73 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: one cold and dark evening, Lazarus was shivering outside the gate. 74 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 2: He lay on his side, eyes fixed on the warm 75 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: fire that could be seen from the window. Lazarus could 76 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 2: see the rich man gorging himself on fruits, meats, and bread. 77 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: His bones quivered from the frosty night. As Lazarus lay 78 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: on the cold ground, his heart began to beat slower 79 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: and slower, until eventually he drifted off into a deep sleep. 80 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: That night, alone and hungry, Lazarus died and was carried 81 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man died 82 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: not too long after, no doubt, due to his gluttony. However, 83 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: he was not embraced by angels. Rather, he was cast 84 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: out into the dark depths of Hades. There he was 85 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: tormented with hunger and thirst. In his discomfort, the rich 86 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: man cried out to Abraham, saying, Father, Abraham, have mercy 87 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: on me. Then he peered into the light above. In 88 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 2: the windows of abraham house, he could see Lazarus drinking 89 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: the cool water of heaven and feasting. Please, the rich 90 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 2: man shouted, send Lazarus to dip his finger in the 91 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,559 Speaker 2: water so I might have one drop. But Abraham shook 92 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: his head and said, remember your life, my child. Remember 93 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: that you received only good things and shared none of it. 94 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: But Lazarus only received bad. Now he dwells in comfort, 95 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: and you are the one who suffers. The once rich 96 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: man anguished in his hunger and pain, he looked up 97 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 2: to Abraham, gasping for every breath. Please, Father, send Lazarus 98 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: to my family's home, warn my father and brothers of 99 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: this punishment. Abraham shook his head again and said, they 100 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: have the prophets in Moses to guide them in how 101 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: to live and treat others, just as you did. But 102 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 2: if someone were to come from the dead and warn them, 103 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: perhaps they would listen. The man responded, Abraham began to 104 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: shut the gates between them and said, if they were 105 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: unwilling to listen to the word of God himself, surely 106 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: they would not be convinced if someone rose from the dead. 107 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: And with those words, the rich man was shut away forever. 108 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 3: Today's scripture begins with Jesus telling the disciples a story. 109 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 3: It's a parable. It's interesting to note that of all 110 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: the parables Jesus told, this one is unique in that 111 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 3: he named one of the characters. It was a man 112 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 3: named Lazarus. The meaning of this man's name is God 113 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 3: Will Help, which may seem an odd choice given the 114 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: man's condition. Lazarus, you see, had nothing and no one. 115 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 3: He lived in hunger, cold, and pain. Dogs would come 116 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 3: to lick his swords, surely compounding his pain, his suffering, 117 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,679 Speaker 3: and his humiliation. Why would such a man be given 118 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 3: a name like God Will Help? Lazarus lived outside the 119 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 3: gates of a rich man's home. He isn't given a name, 120 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 3: that is, the rich man is not given a name. 121 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: But it seems he has everything that he needs, the 122 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: best clothes made of fine linen, and delicious, sumptuous food 123 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 3: to enjoy. But as we all know, death is no 124 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 3: respect of wealth, or position or power. And so one 125 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 3: day Jesus said, both of the men died, and just 126 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 3: as in life, their condition could not have been more different. 127 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 3: Their condition and death was polar opposite of one another. 128 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 3: Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham, a place of 129 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 3: rest for those who followed God and obeyed his commandments. 130 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 3: In an instant, his life was changed. The hunger, the thirst, 131 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 3: the pain was gone, and he entered a place of 132 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 3: peace and comfort. This is like heaven. The rich man, however, 133 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 3: went to Hades, where he lived in punishment and pain, 134 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 3: outside of paradise. Jesus then said, the rich man called 135 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 3: from his place of torment, meant to Abraham, asking for 136 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 3: just a bit of comfort. If Lazars could just dip 137 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 3: his finger in water and place just to drop on 138 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 3: his tongue, to get one moment of respite from his 139 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 3: anguish and torment. This, my friends, is hell. Of course, 140 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 3: it is impossible for him to be comforted in hell. 141 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: Abraham reminded the man of the comfort and pleasures he 142 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 3: enjoyed in life, and the suffering that the other man, 143 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 3: the poor man Lazarus, had endured. Though Abraham did not 144 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 3: say so specifically, we can understand that in life this 145 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 3: man was indifferent to the pain of others. Surely he 146 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 3: would have seen and even heard Lazarus outside his gates, 147 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 3: and yet he nor no one else provided for the 148 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 3: poor man. The only comfort Lazarus had was God's comfort. Indeed, 149 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 3: as his name suggests, God will help. Abraham also pointed 150 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 3: out that there was a great chasm separating the two places, 151 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 3: reaching him would simply be impossible. At this point, he 152 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 3: was beyond hope. You see, we are all separated from 153 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: God by this great divide in life. There is only 154 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: one who can cross it, and that one is Jesus, 155 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 3: who brings us to the Father. He died on a 156 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 3: cross to bridge the chasm between heaven and Hell. He 157 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 3: bridges the separation between us and God, just as it 158 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 3: was true for the rich man in death. There is 159 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 3: no hope for those who have rejected God, those who 160 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 3: have turned their back on Jesus. The choice is made 161 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 3: and fate is final. This is why we must be 162 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 3: so urgent and sharing the Gospel, the good news of 163 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 3: Jesus with our friends and family, and even strangers we 164 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: meet who are separated from God and need the hope 165 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 3: that we know in Christ. The rich man then made 166 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 3: another request, if Lazrath could just return to his family's 167 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 3: home and warn them that they might not come to 168 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 3: this terrible place of separation from God. He was desperate 169 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 3: to save his loved ones from this eternal fate, but 170 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 3: it was too late. Abraham then replied that they have 171 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: Moses and the Prophets, that they should listen to them. 172 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 3: That wasn't enough for this man, He protested, saying that 173 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: if someone could just return from the dead, they would 174 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 3: repent for you and me. With the benefit of hindsight, 175 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 3: we can see the foreshadowing of this statement, and we 176 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 3: can understand the hard truth in Abraham's response. For in 177 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 3: Luke sixteen thirty one, we read he said to him, 178 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 3: if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither 179 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 3: will they be convinced. If someone should rise from the dead. 180 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 3: Jesus knew that he himself would one day soon die 181 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 3: and then rise from the dead, and many who had 182 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: failed to see God's truth pointing them to the Law 183 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 3: and the prophets would also fail to believe in him, 184 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 3: even though he rose from the grave. Ultimately, Lazarus name 185 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 3: reminds us, Yes, God will help. He'll help us in 186 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: this life to find comfort even in the most dire 187 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 3: and deathly of circumstances. And He's provided the true help, 188 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 3: the everlasting help. We need, the Savior who can open 189 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 3: Heaven's doors with nail scarred hands through his death and resurrection. 190 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: But we must believe in him by repenting of our 191 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 3: sin and putting our faith in Christ and Christ's alone. 192 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 3: He is the help we need. He is the hope 193 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: that we have in this life and in the life 194 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 3: to come. And if you want this brand new life, 195 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 3: why not where you are right now, bow your head 196 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 3: and pray a prayer like this. Dear God, I thank 197 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 3: you for loving me, for sending your son into the 198 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 3: world to be my savior. I believe, Jesus that you 199 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 3: died and rose again, and that you're coming again for me, 200 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 3: and I trust you as my Lord and my Savior, Lord, 201 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: I give you my heart. I will follow you by 202 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 3: the power of your spirit all the days of my life. Amen. 203 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 204 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, and before we go, 205 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to 206 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement 207 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: every single day. So visit Jack Graham dot org to 208 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 3: sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jack Graham 209 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 3: dot org.