Pastor Jeon

The Faith of Lazarus

The Faith of Lazarus (Lk16:19-31) 2013 9.22

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

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

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Introduction:

  1. The man takes three concerns of his life in the world as follows; 1) Sin 2) After the death 3) the present life. What is your main concern in your lives? All people will agree with me. Do not think so?

Actually three issues are appeared in Cambodia traditional festival, Pchum Bun. According to a record I read that they executed four ceremonies of the festival, As you know, there we can find that their main concern is three things. 1) Sin 2) After the death 3) the present life. Actually these are our concern in Christina life, Do you assure that theses lives were solved in Christ? The text reveals the answer of three common issues.

2)How we should understand this issues? Lazarus’s faith reveals the answers obviously to the contemporary three issues. What are the contents? What faith did he take in his life?

    1. He was solved his miserable sin issue in his whole life.

  1. He received troubles in his life. In the Old Testament he had the fear of God. Although he was a poor man and a bagger. After he died he went to the heaven.

  1. The heaven is the real world. . 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

  2. ‘ Abraham breast- in Christ, the covenant people. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

  3. He committed sin before God but his faith of fear and love of God made him entered in the heaven. 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

  4. Today Cambodia persons thought that their sins shall be cleaned by the good behavior. It is very stupid thought.

So Pschm Ben ceremony include to clean their sin by executing ….

  1. But we was cleaned by faith of Christ and his merit. (Hebrew1:3 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ) we are received by accepting the mert of Christ on the cross.

= To solve that issue we have to return to Cross. What is the sin? The root of sin is to live by myself.

2.He was solved his eternal future after his death.

Verse 31 says “ He was embraced in the breast of Abraham. 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

  1. What does it mean? It points the salvation, redemption, and the eternal rest in Christ. The forgiveness of sin, the eternal life to enjoy God. Cambodian’s praying for their fathers’ eternal future in that festival. Their greeting proves their present reality that they were wandering without having real peace.

  1. Jn5:24 says “24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Now presently we assure that we have the eternal life in our heart. Do you believe in it? According to this verse, our eternal future was solved in the earth.

3.He was solved his present happiness in Scripture.

Verses 22-25 says “22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

  1. 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. What is Abraham’s answer? the present people should listen to the prophet and Moses, the Scripture. Then will take the happy rest.

  2. We have to return to the Scripture and to meditate the Scripture. We need the present life of salvation. Why did the Psalmist emphasized that the blessed man was to meditate the Word of God? Jewish memorize the Torah in his life from 5 years old. Without accepting Christ. They did not return to the Word of God even though they memorize all Torah. Because they did not accept real word of Jesus Christ. Now they are wondering in the wilderness in his life.

In the same case Cambodian traditional festival was included this thing. Before they meet the Scripture no body can possess the present happiness, any time, any place. We have to listen to the Scripture, to get miracle life happy life abundant life in our life and in our family. Do you believe in it? Abraham’s command is Christ’s command. What is the greatest command? It emphasized to teach the Scripture. To keep the Scripture. In other words when we devote ourselves to the command already we abide in the happiness in the world through understanding the Scripture. John6:63 Says “63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” The fresh is void but the spirit is life, my word is life. Jesus emphasized so. We have to check up our faith. Did you check up them in your heart?

  1. To enjoy eternal life means to depend on the Scripture in the world.

Without the Scripture, true salvation will be impossible. I Jn5:11-12.11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Let’s take the faith of Lazarus in this ptchm bun festival. Be careful the view of the rich man. – pleasure, present physical peace.

Conclusion:

Cambodian Church that includes us needs to understand Lazarus’s faith. Build the sound faith. Especially, at the day of Pchum Ben, we have to think of these issues to enjoy the true salvation. And also we have to pray to evangelize all Cambodia.

Let’s pray.