SCRIPTURE: Luke 16:19-31

INTRODUCTION:

There are a lot of documentaries on TV and in the movies nowadays which indicate that people can communicate with the DEAD.

There are many people who are convinced that their loved ones are in heaven, and they receive messages from them from time to time.

There are messages from beyond the grave, but they are in written form in the Word of God.

Here are some lessons the rich man and Lazarus speak to us from beyond the grave.

I. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION FROM THOSE WHO HAVE DIED.

A. First The rich man wanted Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers.

(v.31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Abraham said that they have Moses and the prophets (their written words).

B. Second Thus, there was no communication between the rich man and his brothers, or between Lazarus and the rich man’s brothers.

Such attempts to communicate with the dead were expressly forbidden in the Old Testament.

(Deuteronomy 18:9-14) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. (10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (13) Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. (14) For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

C. Third All modern claims of spiritualism (the belief that the living can communicate with the dead) such as those in the NEW AGE MOVEMENT, are to be rejected.

II. MAN DOES NOT CEASE TO EXIST AFTER DEATH.

A. First The passage is one of the clearest texts in the Scriptures which reveals what happens after death.

B. Second Some religious groups teach that the wicked are annihilated after death.

C. Third The rich man was not annihilated.

(vv. 22b-25) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried. (23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (v 24) and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Therefore, the rich man could speak and feel after death. (v.25) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

After death he could remember.

(VV 27-31) HE REMEMBERED HIS BROTHERS BACK HERE ON EARTH.

(v.27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (v.28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (v.29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (v. 30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (v.31) And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

D. Fourth. Man was created in the spiritual image of God.

(Genesis 1:26-27) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth. (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them

God formed the spirit within man.

(Zechariah 12:1) The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of men within him.

(Hebrews 12:9) Furthermore we have had father of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Man has a dual nature--both a BODY and a SOUL.

(Matthew 10:28) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Death is a separation of the spirit from the body.

(James 2:26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

III. MAN HAS NO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AFTER DEATH.

A. First Death seals our destiny.

(Hebrews 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

(Ecclesiastes 11:3) If the clouds be full of rain they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Man will not be given a second chance after death.

The fact that they could not leave the respective place refutes the doctrine of REINCARNATION.

B. Second Preparation for eternity can only be made in this life.

Read: Matthew 25:31-46

All of us will be judged by the things which are done while here in the body (II Corinthians 5:10)

IV. THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION CANNOT BE TRUE.

A. First The fact that the rich man’s brothers could hear Moses and the prophets and repent, refutes the doctrine of election.

B. Second The rich man recognized the need of conversion.

He knew his brothers could escape going to torment if they would hear and obey.

If people are predestinated, this could not be possible.

C. Third The fact that God refused to send one back from the dead to warn the living is proof that God will not use miraculous power separate and apart from His revealed word to convert people.

The gospel, and the gospel alone, is God’s power to save.

(Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

That which produces the new birth (CONVERSION, REGENERATION) a new man, not the same, is the Word of God.

(I Peter 1:22-25) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (v.23) Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (v.24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withered, and the flower thereof falleth away. (v.25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The word of God thoroughly furnishes the man of God for every good work.

V. IT IS A MESSAGE OF THE FOOLINESS OF TRUSTING IN RICHES

A. First Jesus did not elaborate on it, but the indication regarding the rich man is that he was unwilling to give even the scrape from his table to feed a starving beggar.

Our main concern should be the laying up of heavenly treasures.

(Matthew 6:19-21) Lay not up for yourselves treasurer upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (v. 20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (v.21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Notice Jesus’ words after He saw that the rich young ruler went away very sorrowful.

(Luke 18:24-25) And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful: he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! (v.25) For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. There was a man who thought that riches brought benefits to his soul, but God called him a fool.

B. Second How many in this life, like the rich man, are building their personal estate rather than feeding the poor?

We must learn to distribute our money and goods.

CONCLUSION:

IT IS A MESSAGE TO AVOID TORMENT AT ALL COST.

A. First: This is no doubt, the main lesson or message from our Lord’s words.

B. Second: The fate of the wicked after death is terrifying.

The rich man was so tormented that he was begging for the slightest amount of relief. (v.24)

We must get all the sin our of lives so that we can avoid the terrible place of torment.

Those who choose to ignore Jesus’ warning, and continue pursuing corruptible wealth, must realize there is a terrible fate a waiting them.

How important it is for us to open our hearts to the Word of God.

Let us listen to the Lord’s call to be saved.

Let us focus our attention on being a Christ like Christian.

Let us continue to teach and live, and contend for the truth of the gospel.

C. Third: There is a message from beyond the grave from the account of the rich man and Lazarus.

The choices we make in this life seal our destiny. THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES AFTER DEATH. There is a horrible, terrible, torment awaiting all those who disobey God.