“Missing in the US Church” – Part II

Eternal Perspective Luke Chapter 16:19-31

 Political Correctness has invaded our culture in the US

The worldly philosophy behind political correctness is acceptance and tolerance 

This same attitude has infiltrated the church of Jesus Christ

Many Churches preach selectively only talking about what people want to hear.  We must preach Genesis to Revelation

Churches no longer talk about sin, are afraid to talk about hell or the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Churches Don’t encourage people to bring their bibles to church, many do not have altar calls evangelism and witnessing are at an all time low

The church needs to preach the reality of Heaven and also Hell

Introduction

16:1 Jesus Told His disciples = Jesus was teaching his disciples mean-while the Pharisees were listening in

16:1-13 The Lord was teaching concerning wealth and shared the parable of the dishonest manager or the unrighteous steward 

The key verse to understanding the parable are verses 8-9.  The dishonest steward is praised for using his present opportunities to prepare for the future  

Jesus ministered to people who were poor and who thought that acquiring more wealth was the solution to all their problems

Eternal Perspective Concerning Finances

16:13 You cannot serve God and Money

You can have God and Have money but you can’t serve them both

Money is a wonderful servant but a terrible master

Proverbs 30:8 Give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with the food that is my portion lest I be full and deny Thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I be in want and steal and profane Thy name

The Pharisees believed that material prosperity is a sign of true spirituality 

16:14 The Pharisees who loved money heard all this and were sneering at Jesus 

The Opportunity Of A Lifetime

16:15 You are those who JUSTIFY yourselves in the sight of men

You CANNOT JUSTIFY YOURSELF 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift through His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus 

16:16 Pharisees you have Genesis to Malachi The 

Now the Good news of the Kingdom of God

16:17 I am the fulfillment of the law

You are presented with an opportunity 

The Pharisee’s sins were Covetousness and Unbelief 

Jesus was saying to them this is what your attitude will get you, most of this teaching is concerning hell

Lazarus and the Rich Man (Read 19-31)

16:20 And a certain poor man named LAZARUS was laid at his gate covered with sores

Greek Lazarus Hebrew Eleazar = God is my help

16:21 The dogs were the lowest form of life

16:22 Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom 

Abraham’s bosom = to occupy the seat next to Abraham. A state of bliss after death

16:19 Now there was a certain RICH MAN and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen gaily living in splendor every day

Purple royalty/extravagant living 

16:22-23 and the rich man died and was buried and in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom

Greek = Hades English = hell

This is not the Lake of fire in Rev 20:14 which is the second death 

With in the under world or what the bible refers to as the lower parts of the earth there are several compartments

Paradise (Luke 23:43) = a place of bliss 

Hades (Luke 16:23) = a place of torment for unsaved dead

Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4) = a deep hole or a pit reserved for fallen angels

Ephesians 4:7-10 When Jesus Ascended he took all old testament saints with him from paradise to heaven 

Revelation 1:18 I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore and I have the keys of death and of hell 

2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage I say and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord

Let Eternity Bring Perspective to Life here and now

Live life with eternal perspective 

Love and spend time with your family have fun 

Don’t waste your time being biter or worried 

Serve the Lord while you still have the chance

Eternal perspective concerning evangelism 

Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment