Kingdom Principle: Our hope is in Christ. It is not in this world. Those who experience comfort on this earth without trust in Christ will suffer terrible discomfort in the life to come. But those who suffer greatly in this life, but have Christ, will experience the greatest of all comfort in the life to come.
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The ___________________________ of Riches
Luke 16:19 (ESV) — 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
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Dressed in Purple
Purple was cloth dyed with a very costly dye (obtainable from the shellfish murex). It would be used for the outer garment and the fine linen for the undergarment. The combination stands for the ultimate in luxury.
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Feasted Sumptuously Everyday
The rich man not only was dressed head to toe in the finest linens, he also ate the finest foods for every meal.
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Lives in a Gated Home
Lazarus lies before the home’s high ornate gate. Πυλών (pylōn) is usually used of entrances to cities, temples, or palaces…
Lazarus (El-Azar)= God _______________
John 1:18 (NASB95) — 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
The rich man’s comfort, in this life, pales in comparison to his suffering in the life to come. On the other hand, the poor man’s suffering in this life pales in comparison to his comfort in the world to come. More than that, the poor man’s suffering in this life pales in comparison to the rich man’s suffering in the life to come and the rich man’s comfort pales in comparison to the poor man’s comfort in the world to come.
Luke 6:20–21 (ESV) — 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Luke 6:24–25 (ESV) — 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
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The __________________ of the Word
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) — 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
1 Peter 1:23 (ESV) — 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
What the world needs is gospel literate messengers, because the power is not in the messenger the power is in the message.
1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV) — 1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Questions to Consider
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In what ways do you find yourself trusting more in the things of this earth and not in the life to come?
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How are you tempted to alter the gospel message in order that it might be more suitable to your loved ones and neighbors? How is God calling you to trust him in this?
