Let's open our Bibles this evening
to Luke chapter 16. Luke chapter 16 and beginning
in verse 19, we want to read the words of our Lord. There
was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine
linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain
beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich
man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked
his sores. 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. And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus
in his bosom. 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. But Abraham said, Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted, and
thou art tormented. And beside all this, between
us and you, there is a great guff fixed. so that they which
would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass
to us that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee, therefore,
Father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house, for
I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they
also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him,
They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said,
Nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead,
they will repent. And he said unto him, If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead. These words of the Lord Jesus
Christ here are very important, and there's so many blessed truths
that we could bring out from these words. But tonight, I want
to concentrate, I want to focus mainly on what we may learn from
the words which speak to us about Lazarus. And the title of the
message is Lazarus Carried Home. What we see here about Lazarus. I have four headings to the message. First, being a child of God does
not mean a life exempt from trouble. That's the first thing I would
like for all of us to remember. that being a child of God does
not mean a life exempt from trouble. I don't think any of us here
tonight can doubt that Lazarus was a child of God. Now, he was
not a child of God because he was materially poor, that's for
sure. At the same time, because he
was materially poor didn't mean that he wasn't a child of God. Lazarus, like every child of
God, was a child of God because God loved him. God loved him
eternally and chose him in Christ. He was a child of God because
of his surety, that is the Lord Jesus Christ who had come and
paid this man's debt of sin. He was a child of God because
he was accepted in the Beloved. And that's the only way any of
us tonight will be accepted with God or by God, is that he is
in the Beloved, in Christ, in the Son of God's love, the Lord
Jesus Christ. In him, we are accepted. But outside him, there is no
acceptance. At some point, we're not told
when, that's not the main issue or lesson from these words of
the Lord, but at some point, Lazarus had experienced the regenerating
grace of God. Because you know the Lord Jesus
Christ said there's no exceptions. There's no exceptions. Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God. Now, our Lord said, Abraham saw
my day and he rejoiced. Abraham, thousands of years before
the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, trusted in him, he
who was promised to be his seed. Abraham saw his day, this man,
because our Lord is telling these words, or speaking these words
rather, and obviously Lazarus had already died when our Lord
tells us this about Lazarus and this rich man. But he too, he
too saw the promised Messiah. As everyone who was saved in
that old dispensation, that is, before the Lord Jesus Christ
died upon the cross, that old dispensation, remember when he
died, the veil in the temple was rent, showing that the way
into the most holiness of God was opened up. It was opened
up to us through the death of Jesus Christ. Everyone who lived
in that old dispensation who were saved, they were saved in
the same way that we're saved, only they look forward to the
coming one. He had not yet come, but he was
the only Savior, the Lamb of God, and we look back to him
who has come. Now, Lazarus, from what we're
told here, He didn't have an easy life. He didn't have an easy life.
That's the point I'm making here. First of all, being a child of
God does not mean a life exempt from trouble. And that flies
in the face of this prosperity gospel that has been preached
in our country for the last 50 years, that it's always God's
will for his children to be healthy and to be wealthy. Well, here's
a man, here's a man who was loved of God, saved by the blood of
Christ, and he was a beggar. He was a beggar. And he was laid
every day at this rich man's gate. hoping that he might receive
some crumbs that would fall from this man's table. Now, it's very
important. Don't miss this. You know this,
but I've got to emphasize this. You know, there was that theology
that came out of South America about 25 years ago that taught
just because a person was poor that they were children of God.
That's just not true. Salvation doesn't come by being
materially poor. It doesn't come by being materially
rich. Salvation comes through Christ
and Christ alone. But this man, he didn't have
an easy life. He was laid at the rich man's
gates full of sores. But now listen. Listen to me. He did not have an easy life. That's easy to say. But Who is
to say that he didn't have a blessed life? Now let that soak in. Who is to say that this man did
not have a blessed life? That God Almighty, God the Holy
Spirit didn't visit him many times when he was laying outside
that rich man's gate. and fill him with joy and peace
in believing in Christ and knowing that Christ was his and he was
Christ. You know, God can do that. Amen? God can do that. Some of you
have experienced that. Some who watch this telecast
tonight or this streaming service tonight, you've experienced this.
And we've all read testimonies of how God could turn a dungeon
into a castle. He's done it. And who's to say
that Lazarus did not experience the blessings of life every day? You see, we've got, whether we
want to or not, we've bought into this idea that blessings
have to do with just material things. Well, blessings, spiritual
blessings are worth a whole lot more than material blessings
can ever be. Many of God's people have been
blessed abundantly and who's to say that Lazarus was not blessed
even though he was a beggar and even though the dogs came and
licked his sores? Who's to say that God, that he
was not experiencing the love of God, the peace of God, the
company of God as he was laying there? And again, how many people
have laid on a sickbed for years and yet They've experienced the
blessing of God, the peace of God, the presence of God, and
there's nothing, there's nothing that can compare with the presence
of God in the heart of one of his children. Nothing can compare
with that. Oh, His gracious presence can
turn a hell into a heaven. Many of God's children have experienced
that. We've read the testimonies of
many, and who's to say that's not the truth about this man?
But my point is that being a child of God does not, never has exempt
a person from living a difficult life, having a difficult time
in this world. The second point is the ministry
of angels. You know, the apostle in Hebrews
1 in verse 14 said, are they not all ministering spirits sent
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation."
The scripture, our Lord says, that when Lazarus died, that
He was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, the ministry
of angels. Now, I doubt, I doubt that the
day that Lazarus died was the first time that angels had ministered
unto him. You know, how many times have
we read stories, factuals, of deathbed experiences of God's
saints when they're just right on that edge of going into eternity,
and people in the room with them, and they say they can see angels. Now, the people with them can't
see them, but angels minister unto God's children. We can't
see them. I doubt that any of us here tonight
who know the Lord as our Savior, we've experienced angels ministering
to us. Maybe some close call when death
was certain and yet somehow we were delivered. Remember the
scripture says, he shall give his angels charge over thee to
keep thee in all thy ways. I know that refers especially
to the Lord Jesus Christ, but not exclusively to him. You read
that Psalm, Psalm 91, and you see that speaking to believers,
to God's children. Yes. And our Lord Jesus said
this, take heed that you despise not one of these little ones.
And we think of children and maybe that was exactly an But
not only those, but these little ones that believe on me. Take
heed that you despise not one of these little ones. For I say
unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face
of my father, which is in heaven. Now this day, the day when Lazarus
died, no doubt these angels were hovering over his him while his
spirit was breaking loose, while his spirit, his soul was being
delivered from that tabernacle, that tent in which he had lived,
in which he had been laid there at the gates of that rich man. He's carried, our Lord said he
was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The moment came
when they They escorted him, that chariot of fire in which
Elijah was taken up into heaven. What is that speaking about?
These angels, ministering spirits, spirits of fire, yes. When the time came, I put this
in my notes, then the moment, the moment came when a way, a
way up into glory, went Lazarus' spirit into the bosom of Abraham. What a thing, into the presence
of God. That's what death is for a believer,
isn't it? It's being taken to be with our
Lord, taken into his presence. When I think about Lazarus, I
wanted to mention this. He didn't have an easy life,
that's for sure. But I want you to look at this
verse in Isaiah chapter 63 and verse 9. Isaiah 63 and verse 9, we read,
in all their affliction, he was afflicted. Huh? In all of his affliction, Lazarus. He, the Lord God, in all their
affliction, he was afflicted. And the angel of his presence
saved them. In his love and in his pity,
he redeemed them. And he buried them and carried
them all the days of old. The ministry of angels. Yes,
this man was a child of God. He didn't have an easy life,
but in his affliction, The Lord was with him. That's his promise,
isn't it? He will never leave us nor forsake
us. And then these angels, they ministered
to him. They're God's angels, of course,
the holy angels. They ministered to Lazarus in
carrying him into the bosom of Abraham. And that brings me to
my third point. The bosom of Abraham, what does
that mean? Well, that's the way the Jewish
people spoke about heaven. In other words, to be blessed.
And when a person left this life, he would go to be with Abraham. He would go to where Abraham
is. We refer to this, of course,
as heaven. But in Matthew chapter eight,
the Lord, the scripture says he marveled at the faith of this
Gentile man. And then he said this, I say
unto you that many will come from the east and from the west.
Now, in other words, here's Israel, God's chosen people, how they'd
been blessed through the ages. But our Lord said to the Jews,
many are going to come from the east and the west, speaking of
Gentiles. They're going to come from the east and the west, from
the north and from the south as well. But here's my point. They're going to sit down with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Okay? Where is Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob? Well, our Lord went on to say
they will sit down All of the elect, all of the chosen, saved,
redeemed people of God will all sit down with Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. In the kingdom of heaven. That's
where this man, Lazarus, was taken. He was taken to heaven,
taken to the bosom of Abraham. I want you to look back in the
Old Testament, Genesis 25, just a moment. We have an expression here in
Genesis 25 that is given for the first time in the scripture. We say it several times later,
but it concerns the death of Abraham. Genesis 25 and verse
8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost
and died in a good old age. an old man full of years, and
here's the expression, and was gathered to his people. Gathered to his people. Now,
who was already there when Abraham died? He's the father of the
nation of Israel. The nation began with Abraham.
Who was already there? Well, Abel was there. He was gathered to his people.
Noah was there. Enoch was there. His wife, Sarah,
was there. We know that. Many others, I'm
sure, as well. But the point is, he was gathered
to his people. And when Lazarus died, and the
angels carried him to Abraham's bosom, he, too, was gathered
to his people. Now you say, well, who Who are
our people? Who is our people tonight? That's where I want to be gathered,
don't you? To my people. Who are my people? I'm not talking about my ancestors. You study that and see your ancestors
all the way back. I don't know about those people.
This is my people right here. God's people. People who love
God. People who worship God. That's
the people I want to be gathered to, right? People I've worshipped
with here in this world, and men I've heard preach the gospel,
and Christ mainly. Yes, Abraham was gathered unto
his people, and so was Lazarus. He was gathered. He was carried
into Abraham's bosom, gathered unto his people. Now, here's
my last point. fullness of joy, fullness of
joy. Lazarus was now in the presence
of God, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And listen
to what we read in Psalm 16. And these are the words of the
Lord, actually, the Lord Jesus Christ. But he said, in thy presence
is fullness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore. Lazarus, he's now entered in
to the joy of the Lord, fullness of joy. He's entered into where
sin cannot molest, sickness cannot come, sorrow, parting, tears,
all of those things are outside. He's now gathered to his people,
to Abraham's bosom. Now for Lazarus was fulfilled
the scripture. Therefore, the redeemed of the
Lord shall return and come with singing under Zion, and everlasting
joy shall be upon their head, and they shall obtain gladness
and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. And I can just,
in my mind, imagine Lazarus as he was carried there into heaven,
into that realm where there's fullness of joy. There are three
sources, three sources of joy that would come to Lazarus and
will come to you and to me if we're God's children tonight
and we're carried home, carried into Abraham's bosom. First, looking over the way,
I can just think of Lazarus. This is, I want to thank concentrator,
focus in on him because he, you can't, can't get away from the
fact that was a hard life, a beggar, sick, dogs licking your sores. And now, now he's suddenly in
the presence of Christ where there's fullness of joy. The
fullness of joy. Number one, Lazarus looking over
the way he had come would cause him great joy. Now he sees that
his earthly trials, his afflictions, his sorrows, his tears were all
ended. All ended. And he had known some,
hadn't he? But they're all over now. They're
all ended now. He's safe on heaven's shore. And now, all the dark providences
that he experienced on his journey as he walked through this world,
they're all made clear. He can now see how that all things,
yes, even being a beggar, and yes, even laying outside that
rich man's gate. How did all things work together
for his good? He's now reached the hereafter. Remember our Lord told his disciples,
he said that, what I do now, thou knowest not now, but thou
shalt know hereafter. And Lazarus And just put yourself
in this place, but Lazarus contemplating the past, he's filled with joy
in knowing and seeing how that he hath done all things well. All things. Every pain, every
tear, every sorrow that he had known, it's all past. And he sees how that all these
things, and there was joy too, there was joy, no doubt, how
all these things had worked together for his good. And he's home,
he's home, he's safe in the bosom of Abraham. And then second, not only looking
at the past, but looking at his present condition would fill
him with joy. Seeing Jesus, his savior, the
one who loved him and gave himself for him in all his glory. Oh
yes, he had lived a life of poverty himself, the Lord Jesus. But
now, he's there in his glory. And that would fill the heart,
that would fill the soul of Lazarus with such joy, unimaginable joy
would come into his heart. Seeing his savior lifted up so
high and honored as he is there in heaven. All of heaven singing
his praises and blessing his name. And think about this fact. You
love Christ tonight if you're one of his. You've never seen
him. You've never seen him. Oh, you've seen him with the
eye of faith, but you've never seen him with these physical
eyes, have you? But you love him. Well, think
of what it will be when you do see him. when you do look upon
him, the joy, the joy that will fill your heart. Can you imagine
what the happiness and joy will be when we do see him? You know, he told his disciples
the night before his crucifixion, these words, he said, you now
therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again. And your heart
shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And then
third, looking to the future, knowing that this joy shall never
end. It shall never end. It shall
never subside. This fact caused one man to write
these words. This is the crowning glory of
the whole. The anticipation of the future
will afford the saint present happiness. And as he sails over
the boundless ocean, he will rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory. Amen. May the Lord bless his
word to all of us here tonight. And my, who wouldn't want to
to know Christ and have such a wonderful hope, wonderful expectation. Maybe you're here tonight, and
you don't have that hope. You don't have that expectation.
Look to Christ. Trust in Him alone. And then
one day, when your life is ended here in this world, you too will
be there where Lazarus is. where there's fullness of joy,
and at his right hand, pleasures forevermore.