Podcasts about lazarus jesus

Welcome to The Bridge Between Us Podcast, where we navigate the challenges and opportunities of walking alongside LGBTQ-identified loved ones from a Biblical perspective. Hosted by Melinda Patrick, today's solo episode is all about being your own advocate as you build a support team for your personal journey. In Today's Episode, You'll Hear About: The importance of a support system and how Jesus' story of raising Lazarus teaches us that no one walks the journey alone. The need for Godly counsel and guidance in your healing process. Signs to look for that indicate you might need professional help, including counselors or therapists, to aid you through grief or trauma. How to interview a counselor to ensure they align with your Biblical convictions and are a good fit for your needs. Practical questions you should ask potential counselors to be your own advocate. The role of trusting in God's process and finding freedom not just for your loved one, but for yourself too. Key Scriptures Discussed: John 11:44 – The story of Lazarus: Jesus doesn't expect us to walk alone. Galatians 6:2 – Carry one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. Romans 8:28-29 – God works all things for our good and transforms us into the image of His Son. Proverbs 11:14, 20:5, 24:6 – The wisdom and safety found in seeking godly counsel. Key Takeaways: Building a support team of friends, prayer warriors, counselors, and more is essential to emotional and spiritual healing. A biblical counselor can provide guidance and a fresh perspective when you're stuck in grief or difficult circumstances. As a self-advocate, you have the right to interview and find the right counselor who aligns with your values. Healing and freedom aren't just for your loved one—they're for YOU too. Your journey is just as much about your own transformation. Red Flags: Signs You May Need Help Melinda shares some red flags to watch for to determine if you might be struggling with grief or trauma: Difficulty remembering the last time you laughed or enjoyed time with loved ones. Struggling to engage in activities you once loved. Feeling emotionally drained by everyday tasks. Avoiding people or conversations. Trouble celebrating others' successes. Feeling overwhelmed by bitterness, guilt, or sadness. Questions to Ask Your Counselor: How does your Christian faith influence your approach to therapy? What's your view on marriage and gender? What do you believe about homosexuality, and how does that affect your counseling approach? Do you see the Bible as the final authority in your practice? These questions will help you determine if a counselor aligns with your faith and values before diving deeper into the therapeutic process. Resources Mentioned: Restored Hope Network Helpful previous TBBU episodes:  Eps 89, Eps 41   Want to Connect? Melinda loves to hear from listeners! If you're navigating your own journey, need encouragement, or want to share your story, feel free to email Melinda at melinda@melindapatrick.org. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need it. Until next time, remember: God has entrusted this journey to you. As you engage with Him, He will equip you for each next step.   *Disclaimer: The opinions and advice shared on this podcast are intended for informational purposes and are not a substitute for professional counseling. Always seek appropriate guidance and support for your personal needs.

How the story of Lazarus is all of our story and what the claim that Jesus made means for us.//NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.churchPRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/careGIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give// Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! //WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tvFACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurchINSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

A @Christadelphians Video: Description:   The Lord Jesus understood that death is like sleep and that when believers die, they will sleep until the Lord awakens them at the final judgement. ### SummaryJesus viewed death as a temporary sleep, offering hope through resurrection, contrasting with mainstream beliefs about the afterlife. ### Highlights–  Jesus described death as sleep, signifying hope and awakening.–  This understanding is rooted in the Old Testament, emphasizing continuity in biblical teachings.–  Jesus' miracle of Lazarus illustrates the power of resurrection and life.–  Biblical language contrasts sleep with consciousness, indicating no awareness in death.–  Resurrection is linked to Christ's return, providing believers with hope.–  Mainstream teachings diverge from the biblical view, presenting an immediate judgment.–  Believers find comfort in the promise of reunion and eternal life through faith. ### Key Insights–  **Death as Sleep**: Jesus' metaphor of sleep portrays death as temporary, offering believers hope for resurrection and life beyond the grave. –  **Old Testament Foundation**: The concept of death as sleep is deeply rooted in scripture, seen in verses from Deuteronomy and Psalms, reinforcing biblical consistency. –  **Miracle of Lazarus**: Jesus' act of raising Lazarus demonstrates His authority over death and foreshadows the ultimate resurrection for all believers. –  **Consciousness in Death**: The Bible indicates the dead are unaware, contrasting with many beliefs about an immediate afterlife, emphasizing the peace in death. –  **Hope in Resurrection**: The resurrection is a pivotal theme, highlighting the transition from death to eternal life for those who believe in Christ. –  **Mainstream Divergence**: Traditional Christian beliefs often conflict with the biblical portrayal of death, which emphasizes unconsciousness rather than immediate judgment. –  **Comfort in Community**: The promise of resurrection fosters hope among believers, encouraging meaningful relationships centered on faith and shared beliefs.

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John 11In the raising of Lazarus Jesus shows He is the Resurrection and the Life and the only answer for all our sin.

The Proof and the Point of the Resurrection – John 20 – David Larmour #1 – the PROOF of a Risen Saviour What decision do you come to…?! #2 – the POINT of a Risen Saviour When Jesus raised Lazarus… Jesus' resurrection proves we can trust Him… Jesus' resurrection proves He is who He says He is… Jesus' resurrection proves we need not fear death… The post The Proof and the Point of the Resurrection – John 20 appeared first on Welbeck Road Evangelical Church.

THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUSJesus Ruins Funerals – Part 3Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartMarch 24, 2024#realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hope #lazarus #palmsunday https://www.springcreekchurch.org/  Leading up to Easter, we've been looking at the resurrection miracles in the gospels. There is actually a progression in these miracles that seems quite intentional. In the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, she was raised from the dead shortly after she had died but was still in the home. The son of the widow of Nain experienced his miracle while his body was being carried to the cemetery for burial. Then in this week's message, Lazarus is raised from the dead after having been placed in the tomb and decay had already set in. Yet in each circumstance, Jesus demonstrates that no matter how advanced, death is no match for Him. Even more importantly, each miracle speaks powerfully as to what Christ will accomplish in His death and resurrection. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. This message illustrated both the struggle with what Jesus failed to do in responding immediately to the crisis and how compassionate He was in meeting both sisters where they were with exactly what they were needing. Have you ever felt like God let you down? Did you have an expectation that He would do something for you and it failed to materialize? Describe what that was like. Since that time, have you had any new learnings, or understandings in retrospect? Have you ever had God meet you in a crisis with a word of assurance? 2. It doesn't matter if they just died (like with Jairus' daughter), or their body is being carried to the cemetery (like the widow of Nain's son) or they're already in the grave and the decay of death has already set it (like with Lazarus). There's a progression in these resurrection miracles we've been looking at. And it truly doesn't matter how long a person has been dead or the state of their body in death because Jesus IS the Resurrection. Even in the Old Testament, there is a vision of resurrection that involves the valley of dry bones that are made to come back to life (Ezekiel 37) – talk about an advanced state of death! God will one day breathe life into whatever remains of our body and it will live again. How does our ultimate resurrection give you hope? Comfort? Why is it significant that our bodies will live again? Every miracle sends a message and is a down payment on a promise God makes. What message does this miracle send? 3. There are tremendous parallels between the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of Christ that will happen just a week after this. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?4. There are also parallels between the Resurrection of Lazarus and the Exodus from Egypt. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?5. Jesus has taken the sting out of death. That's what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15…Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15.55-57How has the experience of death changed for the believer? What does it mean for Christ to have taken the sting out of death? Share honestly with the group your own experiences, fears, or comforts around death. As a bonus, it might be helpful to read all of 1 Corinthians 15 (the Resurrection chapter Paul wrote) and discuss what other truths are meaningful, challenging, and helpful concerning death.

James and Jack Painter discuss John's account of Jesus' final sign in the Gospel of John. In the raising of Lazarus, we see that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Be sure to check out Dr. Painter's blog title "In Plain Sight" at https://jacksonpainter.substack.com. You can also see upcoming courses from Drs. Spencer and Painter at https://www.rightonmission.org/upcoming-courses. 

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to priests at the Manoir de Beaujeu, February 4, 2023. In the death and burial of Lazarus Jesus watched the long procession of mourners from the first to the last, and the reason of it all. He understood the very reason for all those mourners. He knew deeply, in its essence how death came into the world with the sin of Adam. He wept for Lazarus, but he weeps for you and me too, because we too will die. John 11, 38: "Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said." Martha does not think it is a good idea. She says: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.” Iam fetit. (Jn 11, 39) Makes sense, since sin and death always give off a bad smell. Bad smell of pride, the high odour of vanity. We must now remove the stone and smell out the bad odour of sin in our life, not to simply cover it over, but to get rid of it. Not simply perfume it. Thumbnail: The Raising of Lazarus, from a codex prepared in Reichenau, during the reign of Otto III, year 1000, now in the Munich National Library. Music: Bert Alink, Tears Keep Flowing, 2015. For more meditations, check my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” - Matthew 5:1 - 4 (NIV) Jesus wept over Lazarus - “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.” - John 11:38 (NIV) Jesus wept over Jerusalem - “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” - Hebrews 5:7 (NIV) The Bible never teaches us to deny our pain ---> “I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.” - Psalm 119:28 (NLT) “I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.” - Psalm 6:6 (NLT) “I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me” - Psalm 69:3 (NLT) 1.) It is a happiness that comes from sacrifice. “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” - Luke 6:21 (NIV) “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” - Psalm 30:5 (NIV) 2.) It is a happiness we get when we are sorry for our sin! “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” - Psalm 38:18 (NIV) “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:17 - 18 (NIV) “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” -Joel 2:12 (NIV) - If we are growing in Christ, we become sensitive to our sin. 3.) Happiness is discovered when we suffer the losses of life. - Sorrow can be the source of some of the greatest discoveries in life. + It is in sorrow where we discover how solid or superficial our faith is. + It is in sorrow that we learn some of the most important lessons in life; you can't love without suffering. + Mourning is the deeper side of loving. We mourn those we love. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 18 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 (NIV)

May 22, 2022Acts 16There is no such thing as a “self-made Christian.” A heart opened to the works of God, along with our conversion or faith, are acts initiated by God. This is why when the church speaks of repentance, we remember that we have been repented, that it is the inward working of the Holy Spirit that enables us to turn toward God.Jesus' life and ministry testify to this.Jesus called his disciples. They did not seek him out. People would come to him only after he began his ministry and word spread.In situations and places where hope and the presence of God seemed to be surely gone – a possessed man chained up among the tombs or at the grave of Lazarus – Jesus, the Lord, imitates what is needed for us to be open to the good news of new life that can only be found in him.New life that calls us beyond the city gates. Moving us away from the safety of our comfort and into the lives of the people we least expect.New life that opens our hearts and minds to receive the good news of the gospel. And in turn, we hear, once again, the good news of our salvation.New life that breaks through the barriers of race, gender, identity, and more! Remember, Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth, meaning she was a rich woman. While just a few weeks ago, Tabitha or Dorcas was caring for the poor and forgotten. There is no one outside the reach of the movement of God.

Pastor Jeremy shares on Easter Sunday in Glendive. BFBC functions as a force, not a field ● Church as a field - The church is a place where people come and the work of God is done. ○ Inside the building the work of the Lord is done by trained professionals, the building becomes the harvest field. ● Church as a force - The church is people, equipped to serve, meeting needs everywhere in Jesus' Name. ○ Inside the building worship, training, and fellowship are done. The building is a Holy Ghost Hospital where believers can assemble to recoup, recharge, be restored, repaired, encouraged, sharpened, and head back out into the field to do the work of the ministry again. Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus ● Luke 24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' ” ● This action of the resurrection is a crescendo of a long list of God bringing something dead back to life... ○ 1 Kings 17 the widow's son (Elijah) ○ 2 Kings 4 shunammite woman's son (Elisha) ○ 2 Kings 13 Israelite man thrown on Elisha's bones ○ Luke 7 the only son of a widow woman (Jesus) ○ Luke 8/Mark 5 Jairus' daughter (Jesus) ○ John 11 Lazarus (Jesus) ● or you could say it this way...God making something out of nothing. ○ Abraham & Sarah ○ Joseph ○ Gideon ○ David ● Life is hard, marriage is hard, raising kids is hard, owning a business is hard, working for someone is hard, caring for livestock during snowmageddon is hard, shopping for groceries is hard, filling up with fuel is hard...shoveling snow is hard!! ○ This building is a Holy Ghost Hospital where believers can assemble to recoup, recharge, be restored, repaired, encouraged, sharpened, and head back out into the field to do the work of the ministry again. ○ This is who we are, this is what we do. We let God do what He is good at, bringing dead things back to life, making something out of nothing. ○ Do you need a little resurrection in your marriage, your business, the relationship with your kids, your career, your ground, your body... ■ Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The Rich Man and Lazarus 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and [h]fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with [i]the crumbs which fell from the […] The post Jesus Revealed Much in the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus…Jesus is God…Amen! appeared first on Wonder & Reality.

EVENTS AND TEACHINGS IN THIS EPISODE: Jesus tells the story of the shrewd manager Lessons on honesty and faithfulness Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus Jesus answers the question about the coming of the Kingdom of God Jesus speaks of the times to come using some end time examples from Genesis SCRIPTURES USED IN THIS PODCAST: Luke 16:1-31 Luke 16:13 – The Message Luke 17:20-35, 37 Genesis 6:5 – 8:22 Genesis 19:1-29 Find us on social media platforms: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesusStoriesThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesus_stories_the_podcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JesusStoriesPod YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgJ3Tf0R_aiF-uxG-G97ortxPZMFC7kPu Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesusstories/ We're on most of the podcast platforms. Just don't forget to subscribe where you listen and leave a rating for us there and on Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to be a sponsor for this podcast, want to leave a comment or a correction, contact us at jesusstories@outlook.com. Check this link for sponsoring this podcast on a monthly basis. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Episode 132 – But What About … Hell Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew, chapter 13, verses 40 through 42, New International Version ******** VK: Hello. I'm Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today, we are coming to the final topic of our study series we've called “But what about” because a lot of time you hear questions like “but what about angels and demons” or “what about heaven and hell?” So far in our series we have discussed the angels, demons, the Angel of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. Today, we're going to begin our discussion of “but what about heaven and hell” with today's show focusing on “but what about hell.” I'm in the studio today with RD Fierro, author and Founder of Crystal Sea Books. RD, why did you pick these topics to feature on this “but what about series?” I suppose we could probably have picked any number of others because there are so many topics in the Bible that cause some level of confusion in the minds of many Christians. Why did we focus on the topics we did? RD: Well, before we get started I want to say a word of greeting and thanks to all the Anchored by Truth listeners. Thank you for joining us here today. I think an astute listener … VK: Which all of our listeners are! RD: Agreed. We tend to focus on attributes of the Bible and Christian faith that often don't get much coverage on some programs. We're not criticizing – we fully understand there's only so much any program can cover. But our focus is on helping people develop a strong intellectual framework for understanding the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God – and to do that means we have to talk about some subjects that are somewhat more esoteric – like why all arguments against the existence of God have logical failures or how real science demonstrates that the book of Genesis is literal history. At any rate, our listeners will have noted that all the subjects we have covered in this “but what about” series have to do with the supernatural dimensions of the Christian faith – or you might say the unseen realm. VK: And the Bible is very clear that there is a very real but unseen realm. Colossians, chapter1, verse 16 says, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible …” The Christian faith is a faith that is anchored firmly in time and place but it also recognizes that the created order is not limited to the things that we can apprehend with our five senses. RD: Right. And because the unseen realm is, well, unseen there is a lot of confusion and misinformation that circulates around it. That's why we wanted to do this “but what about” series to focus attention on what the Bible says about many of the subjects that are normally part of the unseen realm – like angels – or heaven and hell. Today, we want to focus on the unpleasant topic first: hell. VK: And I'm sure most of the listeners know that hell is the final destination for those who have rejected Christ as their Savior. The New Geneva Study Bible put it this way in one of their study notes: “The New Testament views hell as the final abode of those condemned to eternal punishment at the Last Judgment.” Why do you think it says the New Testament in that comment and not “the Bible?” RD: Probably because the doctrine of hell is far more fully developed in the New Testament than it was in the old. It's not that a place of condemnation for the unfaithful was unknown during Old Testament times. It certainly was. For instance, Job 24:19 says “As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned.” VK: “Sheol” is one of three words that is commonly translated as hell in the Bible. The others are “gehenna” and “hades.” Sheol is from ancient Hebrew. The others are from Greek. RD: Yes. So, the concept of an eternal division between the righteous and unrighteous was definitely present in the Old Testament but most of details we have about hell come from the New Testament. And surprisingly enough the Biblical figure who talked the most about hell was Jesus – and it's from Jesus we get the clearest idea of the horror of hell. VK: Like the images we get from our opening scripture where Jesus likens hell to a blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Weeping and gnashing of teeth are both expressions of sincere sorrow and regret. And since this quote is from Jesus Himself we know that it is accurate. In a way it's not surprising that we learn the most about hell from Jesus because Jesus is the One who can save us from hell – so he knows what he is saving us from. It has been said that “God saves us from himself by himself for himself.” RD: Right. And that leads us to one of the first concepts that we want to ensure that people understand. It is sometimes said that hell is the absence of God whereas heaven is where we will be in the presence of God. But strictly speaking this is not true. It is true that we will be eternally in God's presence in heaven but in heaven we will be in the presence of God's goodness, his beneficence. The people and demons who will be in hell will be in the presence of God's wrath rather than His goodness. VK: Now in our day and age the concept of God's wrath is not a popular one. But whether it is popular or not, it is Biblical. For example, Romans, chapter 1, verse 18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” The Bible makes it very clear that as a perfectly holy God, God cannot allow godlessness and wickedness to go unpunished. Correct? RD: Correct. We're well aware at Anchored by Truth that the doctrine of hell and God's wrath has come in for a lot of criticism in our day and age. But that doesn't mean it's not clearly taught by the Bible and we do people a disservice if we don't pass along the warnings about hell that Jesus gave his listeners during his public ministry. VK: Such as the warning Jesus gave in Matthew, chapter 25, verse 41 where Jesus warned His listeners about being kind to His followers. Jesus promised blessings to those who fed, clothed, or visited His people when they were in need. But Jesus also promised those who didn't assist His followers in need that they would be separated from Him. Jesus said, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'” Note that Jesus said that the eternal fire had been prepared for the devil and his fallen angels. Hell was established for the devil and his demons but it's also where unrighteous people will also end up. RD: Sadly, yes. But let's hasten to add that there is no need for anyone to go to hell. All anyone has to do is accept Jesus as their Savior or Advocate and they are eternally safe the instant they do so. And that is certainly one of the reasons Jesus talked more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. Jesus came to the earth to save people not to condemn them. Jesus made that very clear in his conversation with Nicodemus. In John 3:17 Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” VK: And the disciples clearly understood this message because they continued to carry it after Jesus' resurrection and return to heaven. In 2 Peter, chapter 3, verse 9, Peter wrote to his audience that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Jesus' earnest desire – in fact the desire of every true Christian - is to see everyone come to a saving knowledge of Christ. RD: And there would be no need for us to talk about hell at all if everyone would turn to Christ for salvation. But, unfortunately, we know that they won't. As such it's incumbent on us to talk enough about hell so people have a very clear idea of the eternity that awaits the unsaved. Warning people about their fate for not turning to Jesus is, in fact, an essential part of testifying about the gospel. God has given His people very clear commands that when He, as God, commands us to bring His word to others we are to do so whether that word is a pleasing one or not. This is what God made clear to Ezekiel in chapter 33 of his book. VK: You're thinking of Ezekiel, chapter 33, verses 8 and 9 where God speaks to Ezekiel and says, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for a their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.” RD: Yes. In that context God was doing more than commanding Ezekiel to warn people about physical death if they didn't turn from their wickedness. Ezekiel was well aware that even the righteous will suffer physical death as long as we live in a fallen creation. God was telling Ezekiel to warn people about the eternal death that comes to wicked people who won't turn from their wickedness even after being warned. Jesus made this same point in Matthew 25, verses 41 through 46 that we alluded to earlier and in Matthew chapter 5. Throughout His public ministry Jesus warned people that the price of a failure to repent and turn to Him was eternal damnation. Notice that in Matthew, 25:41 Jesus expressly refers to the fire being “eternal fire.” VK: So, that raises the question as to whether Jesus was speaking literally when He referred to “eternal fire” or whether He was speaking figuratively. RD: And that's a very good question. Fire is certainly the most common motif that is used when hell is being described in the Bible. Jesus mentions “eternal fire” in Matthew 25:41 and in our opening verse from Matthew, chapter 13 Jesus talks about the wicked being cast into a “blazing furnace.” VK: And of course in Revelation, chapter 21, verse 8 we see hell identified as a “lake of fire.” In the New International Version that verse says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” RD: Yes. And there is the well-known story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus Jesus told in Luke, chapter 16. VK: In verses 23 and 24 of Luke 16 Jesus said that the rich man had been sent to Hades after he died. Then Jesus said, “In Hades, where [the rich man] was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 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.'” RD: Right. Those are just a sampling of the Biblical verses that associate hell with fire or extreme heat. But, in a puzzling fashion the Bible routinely also associates images of hell with darkness such as in Matthew 8:12 and Jude verses 6 and 7. VK: Jude verses 6 and 7 say, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” That's the New International Version also. RD: Right. So, you have these two different metaphors that are hard to reconcile. After all, fire produces light as well as heat. So, it would be hard to see if hell is a place of darkness. But the image of utter or “deep” darkness is also commonly associates with descriptions of hell. VK: So, how do you reconcile those seemingly conflicting ideas? How can hell be a place where there is an eternal flame that burns continuously but also be a place of everlasting darkness? RD: I think that there are several possibilities. First, all of these images of hell may be symbolical and not be literal in any sense. Now, if they are symbolical that should not provide any comfort to anyone. In Bible history we have always seen that the reality has been more profound that the symbol that pointed toward it. In the Old Testament lambs were used as the sacrificial animal for the Passover Celebration. As such they were a symbol of the coming Christ. But Christ didn't sacrifice an animal to produce salvation for mankind. He sacrificed himself. And the atonement Christ produced was immeasurably better than that produced by the symbol. The symbol's sacrifice was temporary. Christ's sacrifice was permanent. The Biblical reality is far more real than the symbol. VK: Well, given the images of hell that are presented in the Bible, that's a terrifying thought? RD: And it's intended to be. So, one possibility is that we shouldn't try to make literal sense out of the images of fire, furnaces, or darkness. But another possibility is that there is some degree of literal accuracy, although again the image will be less profound than the reality. For instance the Contemporary English Version of part of the verse you read from Jude says, “God chained [the fallen angels] with everlasting chains and is now keeping them in dark pits until the great day of judgment.” So, the Contemporary English Version doesn't say the fallen angels are kept in “darkness” per se but in “dark pits.” Think about a really large BBQ pit. Well, within the pit there will be spots where there is bright light but there are also spots with quite a bit of darkness. VK: And, of course, smoke is also a common element present even with fires and flames. So, the fact that hell is described as “fiery lake of burning sulfur” or “a blazing furnace” doesn't have to conflict with the idea that it may also be a place where there is desperate darkness – certainly enough to cause weeping and gnashing of teeth. RD: Yes. So, even if we attribute some degree of literal truth to these descriptions of hell we can easily see how they could all be true albeit they are emphasizing different attributes in different descriptions. And this points to another truth about hell which I think is also very disconcerting. VK: Which is? RD: Which is that just as in heaven there are varying degrees of reward, in hell there will be varying degrees of punishment. VK: Ouch. What you're saying is that those people who experience hell will not necessarily experience hell in the same ways. As with any destination, each person will experience that location differently. Sadly, the same thing will be true of hell. Various writers have tried to depict his concept in their own way. In his Inferno Dante depicted hell as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth. Each level had its own level of torment and people were assigned to their level based on the level of wickedness or depravity they had exhibited on earth. RD: Yes. So, the fact that the Bible uses different metaphors, if that's what they are, to describe different phenomena the people there will experience just emphasizes that God is a God of perfect justice and judgment. It can literally be said that everyone's punishment in hell will be individually suited to what they did on the earth. So, considering all of the various scriptures that describe hell and judgment in the Bible we can frame a coherent understanding of the doctrine of hell including a reason it exists, God's response, the reality of the risk, and the result for everyone who rejects Christ as their Savior. VK: So, let's start with the reason. What is the reason God created hell? RD: We heard the reason in our opening scripture from Matthew 13. Jesus told His listeners that “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Hell is the destination for anyone who persists in their evil, including, as Jesus told Nicodemus, the evil of rejecting God's one and only son, Jesus. VK: Jesus had also told another group of listeners that hell had originally been prepared for the devil and the fallen angels. But once Adam sinned hell also became the destination for men who rejected God's offer of saving grace through Jesus. What you're saying is that the reason hell exists is because God had to have a place to send anyone who rebelled against His authority and holiness. RD: Exactly. The reason hell exists is because sin and rebellion against God exist. God's response to the sin and rebellion had to be to contain it otherwise it would have free rein to pollute all of creation. Right now, sin had not been fully contained in our fallen creation but there will come a time when it is – in hell. VK: So, that's the reason and God's response. What about the reality of the risk? RD: Remember that Jesus is the Biblical figure who gives us more information about hell than any other. Jesus gave us that set of horrible images of blazing furnaces, fiery agony, utter darkness, and separation, to forcibly drive home the reality of the future of those who rebel against God and never repent. Notice, Jesus didn't describe hell as a place where people were just removed from God's presence to live an eternity in a sort of regretful contemplation of things they missed. No. Jesus, as well as the rest of the Bible, used the kind of language to invoke fear, horror, and terror. Jesus wanted people to be well aware of what awaited them if they rejected Him. VK: And that's why we do people a disservice if we try to tamper with the plain warning that Jesus was so careful to send. Jesus wanted everyone to know the stakes – the ultimate results - of their decisions. He described that result in as plain a fashion as possible including how the people would react once they realized their plight. It's interesting that Jesus did not confine His warnings about hell to just the physical conditions in hell – whether those are literal or graphically metaphorical. Jesus also told us that the people in hell would lose any sense they were consigned to hell unjustifiably. RD: Yes. The people in hell wail and gnash their teeth not just because of their physical misery but because they will then know, undeniably, that they are there because of their own choices. Romans 14:11 quotes Isaiah 45:23 where God says that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” that God is sovereign. On earth it's possible for people to deceive themselves and suppress their awareness of God. But that possibility gets stripped away after death. VK: So, what you're saying is that people in hell are denied even the comfort of claiming that they were put their unfairly. Just as the rich man in Luke, chapter 16 told Abraham that he was in agony because of the fire and wanted some relief. But he didn't claim it was a mistake that he was there. Right? RD: Right. In fact the rich man acknowledged that his brothers would also wind up in hell if they didn't change their behavior which is why he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them. The rich man knew he was only receiving what he deserved and he apparently knew that his brothers deserved the same fate. This may be one of the saddest punctuation points in all of scripture. Scripture doesn't say that the rich man was particularly evil but it does tell us that the rich man, despite being aware of the Old Testament, ignored its warnings. This is unbelievably sad. People who don't accept Christ as their Savior know there is a God (Romans 1:18 – 20) but they suppress the knowledge. VK: Well, when we did our “Truth in Genesis” series Dr. Jonathan Sarfati made the observation that diamonds are the hardest substance on earth next to the human heart. That's so sad when you think about it. RD: It is. So to summarize, the reason hell is exists is because of rebellion. God's response to the rebellion was to create hell to house the rebellious angels. But when humans rebelled it became the ultimate destination for anyone who, as Jesus put it, prefers the darkness to the light. But Jesus graphically warned people of the reality of the risk they were taking through the horrific images He associated with hell. And Jesus noted that the final result of a continued rebellion against Him and His Father will be an eternity of misery. But the good news is that there is no need for anyone listening to this program to have any concerns about hell whatsoever. All anyone must do to avoid that terrible fate is acknowledge that they are a sinner and accept Christ as their Savior. Christ has already died for their sin and ours. All any of us must do is accept the work he has already performed on our behalf. VK: Well, this sounds like a good time to go to God in prayer. Since all of us have sinned and fallen short of what God requires, let's listen to a prayer of corporate confession of our sins. 1 John, chapter 1, verse 9 tells us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will not only forgive us for our sins but also purify us from all unrighteousness. What a blessed assurance to know that God is not just a God of justice but also a God of mercy if we will only seek it. ---- PRAYER OF CORPORATE CONFESSION (MARCUS) We hope you'll be with us next time and we hope you'll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you'd like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We're not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quote from the New International Version) Matthew, chapter 13, verses 40 through 42, New International Version Topical Bible: Hell (biblehub.com) "The Eternity of Hell-Torments" (biblehub.com)

REVELATION 2:8-11 To the Church in Smyrna 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ INTRODUCTION – COMFORTING THE AFFLICTED Many have said that the Preacher should have two aims when it comes to preaching to a group of people: 1. Comfort the Afflicted 2. Afflict the Comfortable In our first letter, we saw Jesus afflicting the comfortable. He did provide some comfort – some encouragement - to Ephesus. He praised them for the many things that they were doing right. But the real reason he was writing to them was to cause them a little discomfort. • You’re doing all these things well, Jesus said… o but you’re just going through the motions. o You’ve lost your love. And as this letter would have been read at Ephesus you can imagine some people beginning to squirm. You ever been in a room where you can almost feel the entire room start to shift in their seat because of what the Preacher is saying? • I was at a conference held in the KFC Yum Center in Louisville Kentucky listening to Ligon Duncan several years ago. o And there were thousands of people in the room, o but the place was completely quiet, and you could feel the discomfort – the good kind of discomfort – as Ligon preached. • It was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever been a part of. o The conviction of the Holy Spirit falling on us all at once as the Word was preached. Sometimes the comfortable need to be made uncomfortable. • Sometimes our toes need to be stepped on a little. But sometimes the afflicted need to be comforted. • And the church in Smyrna, is a church that is afflicted. And the words that Jesus writes to them are: • words that challenge them. • Words that encourage them. • But primarily they are words that comfort them. The church in Smyrna was of course located in the city of Smyrna. Smyrna is the only city of the seven that is still in existence today. • Today it’s known as the city of Ismir in Turkey, and has a population of almost 3 million. At the time this letter was written, it had a population of around 200,000 • Big city for that time. Like Ephesus, Smyrna was a major city in the region. Like Ephesus (MAP), it was located on a harbor. • Which meant a lot of business was done in Smyrna. In fact, Smyrna was known as the Port of Asia • As you can see on the map, there was a narrow entrance into the harbor, which made it easy to defend, and therefore a favorite of most sea travelers. Smyrna was a modern city for the time. • Libraries • Gymnasiums • Paved streets • Asia’s largest open air theater The coins minted in Smyrna: First in Asia in Beauty and Size. But while Smyrna was similar in many ways to the city of Ephesus, one of the things that made it unique…was its loyalty to Rome. • All of the cities that these letters were written to were part of the Roman Empire, o but Smyrna was dedicated to Rome. In the first century BC the Roman senator Circero described Smyrna as one of Romes “most faithful and ancient allies.” And one of the ways Smyrna showed that allegiance was by being a center of worship to the Roman Emperors. • There were multiple temples in Smyrna dedicated to different past and present emperors. • And it was required that all citizens of the city offer sacrifices to the emperor. Something that Christians could not do. They could not join with the crowd shouting that Caesar was Lord, because there was only one Lord. • And that was Jesus. And their refusal to worship the emperor led to opposition • it led to them being ostracized in the city, o and eventually it led to martyrdom. Many Christians in Smyrna were killed for their faith in Jesus. Again, the first recorded Christian martyr outside of the New Testament is from Smyrna. And since that day…many Christians have been, and are being killed for their faith in Jesus. A 2014 article in Christianity Today says that since the days of the writing of this letter over 70 million Christians have been killed for their faith. Open Doors tells us that since 2014, it’s only gotten worse. Just last year, Open Doors reports that: • Over 340 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination. o That’s 1 in every 8 Christians. o You think about 1 out of 7 churches in Revelation being a persecuted church…not much has changed. • 4,761 Christians killed for their faith • 4,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked • 4,277 believers were arrested, sentenced or imprisoned without trial. Again, just in 2020. What would Jesus say to these Christians? • How would he comfort and encourage his afflicted church? Well fortunately we don’t have to wonder what he would say, because we have what he has said. • What he said to Christians in Smyrna in the 1st century • he says to persecuted Christians in the 21st century. And the first thing that Jesus tells the persecuted Christians in Smyrna is that He is greater than death. JESUS IS GREATER THAN DEATH What do the Christians who face the reality of dying for their faith need to know? • They need to know that there is something greater than death. o And that is the Savior who is awaiting them on the other side of death. In each of these letters Jesus introduces himself in a unique way. • He reveals something about himself that that church in particular needs to know. And to the church that is facing persecuted the way Jesus reveals himself is that he is: Revelation 2:8 “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Two things Jesus says about himself. The first is that he is the first and the last: JESUS IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST He is the eternal one. • Go back as far into eternity past as you can go…and Jesus was there. What does John say about Jesus in the opening of his gospel? • In the beginning…Jesus was… (John 1:1) When the beginning took place, Jesus already was. • He has always been. And he always will be. • Nothing will outlast Jesus. Not even persecution. • Persecution will end. o But Jesus will still be. • Your pain will end. o But Jesus will still be. • Your suffering will be complete. o But Jesus will still be. Jesus is the eternal one. Here he is really emphasizing his divinity. • Only God is eternal. He’s associating himself with God the Father, who is described in verse 8 of chapter as the: Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. • He is the A to Z. • He is the first and the last. And Jesus, the one who is walking among his churches, the one who will say in a little bit – I know what you’re experiencing Smyrna – is the eternal God. But then he says: JESUS IS THE ONE WHO DIED AND CAME TO LIFE NLT - “This is the message from the one…who was dead but is now alive” Those two statements together baffle us: how can someone who died be alive? But what’s even more baffling is to put them with the previous statement: • How can the one who is eternal…die? What is Jesus saying to this church? This church who he later says: • some of you will be thrown into prison • and some of you will need to be faithful even unto death. What does this description say to them? He’s saying: • I’ve already been there. You’ve seen those shirts right – been there done that. • Jesus says, I’ve been there, and I’ve done that. • I have died and came to life again. Later in Revelation we see Jesus as the Lamb standing…but when you look at him you see that he is one who has been slain. But he’s standing. He’s alive. I’m not asking you Smyrnan Christians to do something that I haven’t already done. • And because I’ve already done it I can tell you…you’re going to be ok. Because I died, and in my death, I conquered death. Standing at the tomb of Lazarus Jesus said to Mary and Martha: John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. And then he asks them: Do you believe this?” And now he asks the Christians in Smyrna, who are facing their own tombs…do you believe this? Believe it. Because I have accomplished it. • Look at me. • I am the one who died, but is now alive. What the Christians facing persecution need to know most in order to remain faithful is they need to know who Jesus is. What all of us need to know most in order to remain faithful is who Jesus is. • He is the eternal God who became flesh. o Who lived o and died o and rose again. And who comes to us and says I am greater than any obstacle that lies in the way of your faithfulness…even death. Look to me. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd The first comfort that Jesus brings to his afflicted church is the reminder that He is greater than death. The second comfort is that he knows what they’re going through. JESUS KNOWS THE SUFFERINGS OF HIS PEOPLE “I know…” Jesus says. Revelation 2:9 “I know your tribulation and your poverty…and the slander.” That phrase – I know – is found in each of the seven letters. Sometimes, when Jesus says that, when he looks at the church and says “I know…” it causes some shuffling in the pews. • The congregation starts to get uncomfortable. o Because they wish that Jesus didn’t know…all that he knew. o They were hoping that he didn’t know about that. But when Jesus says those words to the church in Smyrna a wave of comfort sweeps over the church. • He knows… • He knows what we’re going through. • He sees us. Do you know…that Jesus knows? You aren’t hidden from his sight. One of the hardest parts of suffering is the loneliness of it. It isolates us from others so often. Even when others are doing the best they can to walk with you in your suffering, there is still a sense of loneliness that comes with suffering. • But Jesus says…it hasn’t isolated you from me. I know what you’re going through Smyrna. And Jesus points out three things that he knows. First he says: I know your tribulation. JESUS KNOWS THEIR TRIBULATION NIV – Afflictions NLT – Suffering And the word refers not to minor irritants or inconveniences, but to real hardships. • It’s a word that refers to things being pressed together. o Like grapes that are pressed to produce juice. There is a constant pressure on the church in Smyrna. James Hamilton says of this word that it reminds us that: “Tribulation is painful and wearisome. It pecks away at us little by little, chipping away at our joy, taking the wind out of our perseverance, and things only worsen as tribulation drags on.” Our tribulation might not come in the form of persecution like the Smyrnans, but there are many ways that the enemy brings these kinds of tribulation into our lives. • Things that peck away at us little by little. And notice, Jesus doesn’t minimize their suffering, does he? • He doesn’t say, “oh come on, its not that bad. Look at what I went through!” He doesn’t belittle them and say • “oh Smyrna why are you not stronger in this? Why aren’t you handling this a little better than you are.” Instead, he says, I see you. • I know what you’re going through. • Your suffering is real. Neither does Jesus offer them advice on how to escape the suffering. • Because there is no escape. • In order to remain faithful to Jesus in Smyrna, it means they’re going to have to experience suffering. Under Emperor Domitian, the Roman Emperor at the time, it was a capital offense to refuse to offer the yearly sacrifice to the emperor. • The only escape from suffering was compromise. o Of denying Jesus. And there are seasons in our lives, and situations for many here, that there is no escaping the suffering except by compromise. We don’t know all the reasons, but in many situations God has not provided an escape route out of suffering. • We don’t know why our lives don’t involve the kind of suffering right now that Christians in Afghanistan do. • Or why your life involves the level of tribulation that the person sitting beside you doesn’t experience. But I think that it’s significant that this letter is one of only two of the letters that receives only words of comfort. • There is a special comfort that comes from God when walking through tribulation. • A special grace that is not found in seasons of ease. The only two churches that receive only words of comfort and encouragement are Smyrna and Philadelphia. • And most commentators will say that on the surface, those are the two churches that looked the least impressive. o They were small. o They were insignificant in the eyes of the world. Smyrna didn’t have all the activity of Ephesus. • It didn’t have the well-known leaders of John and Paul and Timothy. It went unnoticed by the world. But Jesus says to them…I know you. • I see you. • And I am with you in your sufferings. Over and over again we hear in the New Testament that there is something gained in sharing in the suffering of Christ that is not found anywhere else. And over and over again we see that on display in our persecuted brothers and sisters. And we see it here, in this letter to Smyrna. I know your tribulations. JESUS KNOWS THEIR POVERTY The second thing that Jesus knows, is their poverty. There are two Greek words that are used in the New Testament for poor. • One means that you only have the basics. o Nothing extravagant. • But the other means you have nothing at all. It refers to utter poverty. o It’s the word ptochos. o And that’s the word that Jesus uses here. These Christians…had nothing. Not participating in the worship at the temples meant that the Christians in Smyrna were ostracized from society. • Most jobs were unavailable to them. • Only the jobs no one else wanted were available to Christians. This still happens today in many places. • A few years ago we saw a video from Christians in a persecuted country saying that they had the same experience. o Maybe you remember the man being lowered into the sewer,  and coming out covered in what was in the sewer. o These were the only jobs Christians were allowed to have. But if you watched that video you remember the face of that poor man. • And that it wasn’t the face of someone who was poor. • But it was the face of someone who had found something of greater value than any high paying job could bring. Open Doors, India… Jesus says, I know you’re poor…but here’s what else I know…you are rich. A few letters later he’ll say the same thing, only the opposite. To Laodicea he’ll say, you think you’re rich, and in the worlds eyes you are rich. • But I know the truth…and that is that your bankrupt when it comes to spiritual wealth. Laodicea was a rich church that was really poor…but Smyrna is a poor church that has true riches. James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” The Christians in Smyrna were poor in the world, but rich in faith. Hebrews tells us that many Christians in that day had their homes robbed. • In many countries today where Christians are persecuted, the government will look the other way as Christians are robbed and mistreated. And that was happening in places like Smyrna. But Hebrews said that they: Hebrews 10:34 “you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” And here Jesus is reminding them…don’t forget that you have the true riches. James Hamilton said that those who have the kind of wealth Jesus is talking about in these verses are like the poor man boarding the Titanic. • All around him he sees men and women in fancy clothes, expensive jewelry and bags and bags of luggage for their journey. All laughing and mocking him as they walk by. • And all he has is a lifeboat. o What a seemingly foolish thing to bring aboard a large and beautiful ship. But what he brought is the only thing that will be of any use when the ship sinks in the night. Jesus says, you have what is of real value. I know your poverty… And the third thing Jesus knows is the slander. JESUS KNOWS THE SLANDER This word “slander” is actually the word “blasphemy”. Which again reminds us that Jesus knows all that Smyrna is experiencing from first hand experience. • He experienced tribulation. • Though he was rich, he was made poor. • And he was blasphemed against. And not only does Jesus know that they’re being slandered, he knows who they are being slandered by. Revelation 2:9 “I know…the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Most likely this slander came in the form being informants. • The Jews would turn the Christians in to the officials in Smyrna. Jews were exempt from emperor worship in the Roman Empire at this time. • They were an ancient religion, and weren’t a threat to the emperor, so they were allowed to skip out on the sacrifices at the temple. And for a time, many viewed the Christians simply as a Jewish sect, and they fell under that same umbrella of protection. But the Jews denounced the Christians. • They aren’t part of us. • They aren’t Jews at all. And they kicked them out from that umbrella of protection. In fact, at the martyrdom of Polycarp its recorded that the Jews actually helped to gather the sticks that would be used to light the fire that burned him at the stake. • And they did this despite the fact that it was the Sabbath. The Jews hated the Christians. But what does Jesus say about these Jewish men and women? • They aren’t really Jewish. They might be Jewish by their family line, but they come from a different spiritual line. • They are a part of the adversary. • They are in cohots with Satan – the one who is described as the accuser of the brethren. Jesus said this same thing to the Jews who opposed him during his earthly ministry. • You might claim to come from Abraham, but you have a different Father. o Your acting just like your father, the devil. Again, Jesus knows, because he has experienced this. • Nothing that happens to Smyrna has not happened to him. He is the great high priest who truly has been tempted in every way that we are…yet without sin. (Hebrews 4) Jesus knows. • Isn’t that a great comfort? • Jesus knows. • Whatever you’re going through…Jesus knows. My Jesus knows when I am lonely / He knows each pain; He sees each tear He understands each lonely heartache / He understands and always cares. But not only does Jesus know what we’re experiencing in the moment of our suffering. • He knows what’s on the other side of the suffering. And that’s the third and final thing he says to the suffering Christians. • That all the suffering… • all the slander… • all the tribulation… • all of it.. • is worth it. o It’s worth it. FOLLOWING JESUS IS WORTH THE COST Following Jesus is worth the cost. • No matter what that cost is, it’s worth it. But notice what that cost will be for the Christians in Smyrna: THE COST WILL BE GREAT Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death…” When Jesus says do not fear, what he actually says is stop fearing: TLB – Stop being afraid They are already fearing what is about to happen. And to say that it’s about to happen, means that it’s at the door. • It’s imminent. The Christians in Smyrna can sense the pressure in Smyrna mounting. • The slander is getting more severe, • the poverty is getting worse. o Just when they thought they couldn’t get poorer, they do. • And the tribulation is rising. And with it, the hearts of the Christians in Smyrna are becoming more and more fearful. But Jesus says, stop fearing. Do you know that one of the most used phrases in the Bible is “do not fear.” • In fact, someone said it’s found exactly 365 times in the Bible. o One time for every day of the year. That tells us two things doesn’t it. • First of all, there’s plenty of things in this world for us to be fearful of. • But secondly, God really wants us to know…with Him we don’t have to fear any of it. And there’s plenty to be fearful about in Smyrna. Jesus says some of you are about to get thrown into prison. • In those days, prison was not a place of rehabilitation, o or even a place of punishment. • Prison was a holding cell while you await trial for your execution. And some of the Smyrnan Christians are about to experience that. But notice, they will only experience tribulation for 10 days. Now there is an argument over whether this is a literal ten days or a figurative 10 days. • I lean towards figurative. But either way what Jesus is saying is the same thing. And that is that though your tribulation will be intense…it will end. Your suffering has an expiration date. • And God knows what it is. And nothing • that Devil, • or the Jews of Smyrna, • or the city officials do can extend that date. And this is true for us as well. • Your suffering has an expiration date. It may be intense, it may be long…but it will end. • Your pain…it will end. • Your trials…they will be brought to an end. • Your heartache…it will one day be gone. • Your suffering has an expiration date. It will only last 10 days, Jesus says. • 10 days is a long time when you’re on day 5 or 6. • But compared to some of the other numbers in Revelation – the thousand year reign of Christ – 10 days isn’t very long. • And compared with eternity…10 days is merely the blink of an eye. And Jesus tells them that these days of suffering will be hard…but they will end. • Hold on. Be faithful, Jesus says, even unto death. But why be faithful unto death? Because it’s worth it. The cost is great…but the reward is greater. THE REWARD IS GREATER Revelation 2:10-11 “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” The crown that Smyrna would have in their minds as they hear these words wouldn’t be a golden crown covered with jewels, • but would be a laurel wreath that was given at athletic competitions. • It was also placed on the heads of military men who came home after conquering in war. And Jesus says that for those who remain faithful, awaiting them on the other side of death, is a crown. • A crown of life in the kingdom of eternal life. But the only way to get to that crown is by death. The only way for any of us to get to that crown is by death. This is the way to life. The way of death. • Death to self • Death to sin • Dead to the world But alive unto God. All of us must be faithful unto death. And Jesus says that for those who remain faithful unto death…they don’t have to fear the final death. The second death. The second death is described later in Revelation as the lake of fire. A place of eternal death. And eternal separation from God. Revelation 20:14 "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Everyone will die the first death. Physical death in this world. But those who are faithful to Jesus will be saved from the second death. CONCLUSION One such person who was faithful unto death was the pastor of Smyrna…the Bishop Polycarp. And at the age of 86, Polycarp was arrested and brought before the proconsul in Smyrna. On the way their the chief of police tried to persuade Polycarp – you don’t have to go through this “what harm is there in saying “Lord Caesar” and offering some incense and save yourself?” But Polycarp refused. When he was brought before the proconsul, he to tried to persuade Polycarp: Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ.” Polycarp responded: Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? The proconsul replied: I have wild beasts. I shall throw you to them, if you do not change your mind.” But Polycarp said: “Call them.” I will not recant. Well then, the proconsul replied, “I shall have you consumed with fire, if you despise the wild beasts, unless your change your mind.” But Polycarp said: “The fire you threaten burns but an hour and is quenched after a little; for you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and everlasting punishment that is laid up for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Come, do what you will.” And they did. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was faithful unto death. And millions of Christians have followed in his footsteps. Because they knew that what was awaiting them on the other side of death was worth the cost. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Don’t be fearful…remain faithful.

After the raising of Lazarus - Jesus has become the central reality in the lives of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This study will challenge us to think carefully about whether Jesus is just a spoke in our wheel - or whether He is at the centre

In one of the most famous stories of the Bible, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In this sermon, we see how we can join Jesus and the power of his resurrection, too. Key Verses: John 11:17-27 Key Words: resurrection, easter, Lazarus, waiting, power, hope

Message: The gospel according to Luke Text: Recap Luke 8:40-56 (48, 50) Hope! / Not sure of hope / Hope! / No hope / Hope! “He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27) Luke 8 Jairus’ daughter Luke 7 Widow’s son John 11 Lazarus Jesus came for you! Luke 2:10-11 Luke 15 Lost sheep / Lost coin / Lost son Luke 19:10

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus Jesus focuses on the rich mans behavior on earth and subsequent experience in hell. The rich man not only ignored the poor and downtrodden, particularly Lazarus who lay at his gate, but flaunted his wealth and privilege. The only description of Lazarus is that he lived a miserable life on earth and enjoyed the comfort of God in heaven. The details of the story reinforce the point made in Hebrews 9:27, that people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. It is not our desire for heaven, our fear of hell, reward for our good deeds, or compensation for our suffering that ushers us into eternity with God. Rather, it is how we respond to Moses and the prophets, the Word of God that has been given, to receive Gods grace. When we receive the grace of God we will share that grace with the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46).

We suffer and grieve (previous week) but there is always hope of healing and new life through Jesus. The point of this story is not Lazarus but Jesus. We can see that in how many people came to faith through this miracle. Yet sometimes we let false identities get in the way. v39 'Martha, the sister of the dead man' highlights when our suffering defines us and our expectations: 'there will be an odour'. We must allow God's promises to define us. Jesus raised Lazarus, foretelling his own resurrection, our ultimate hope is not in his acts but who he is and what he did.

How do we relate to God in our grief? Does God care? Is he still powerful? Jesus wept with Mary even though he knew what was going to happen, so he grieves with us too. Some of us might be asking, like the Jews in verse 37, why God acts miraculously sometimes but not others. This whole story points to Jesus’ resurrection as our ultimate hope for healing.

How do we understand God’s timing? How do we have faith in the uncertainty? But how do we hold onto this truth when times are hard? Jesus hears about his friend’s sickness but waits to arrive only after his death. Martha still has faith in him, even though she a) is grieving and disappointed and b) doesn't know what is to come. How can we wrestle with and learn from this? We don't understand God's timing and will, yet we can have faith - we know the end of this story.

In this story about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus Jesus leads us to consider our assumptions about where we think we will go when we die. Most people assume it will be heaven but how do you know for sure?

In this story about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus Jesus leads us to consider our assumptions about where we think we will go when we die. Most people assume it will be heaven but how do you know for sure?

In this story about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus Jesus leads us to consider our assumptions about where we think we will go when we die. Most people assume it will be heaven but how do you know for sure?

'Rich Man, Poor Man- Lazarus x 2' - When the rubber hits the road, who do you serve? - The fascinating parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus - Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead - Caiaphas knows how and when he will kill Jesus   www.cwicmedia.com www.facebook.com/cwicmedia  

The Pursuit of Blessedness The Ministry of Jesus Christ The Sermon on the Mount Matthew Ch 5-7 The Ministry of Jesus Christ The Sermon on the Mount Matthew Ch 5-7 We have already established that the historical Jesus : Eternal God who became flesh – INCARNATION (John 1) Sinless in His humanity – TEMPTATION (Matt 4) The Anointed Messiah – The SAVIOR of the WORLD ( Luke 4) Matt Ch 5 V1-16   He spoke with Authority His words were “Seasoned with Grace” Matthew 5: 1-16 Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRT  opposite of self sufficiency to have deep humility recognize one’s utter spiritual bankruptcy without God to be conscious of their lost condition Matt 17:17 We see Him at the grave of Lazarus Jesus groaned in spirit ...John 11:33 Blessed are the MEEK  More than gentleness / meekness is the OPPOSITE of being out of control Psalm 37:11 “ the meek will inherit the earth” TO THE MEEK ....GOD WILL GRANT THEM AN INHERITANCE - Psalm 23:6 “ Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell....   Jesus said in John 6:35 “ I AM the bread of life the one who comes to ME will never HUNGER and the one believes in ME will NEVER THIRST”.   THEY SHALL BE “FILLED” ... LITERALLY MEANS SATISFIED Blessed are the MERCIFUL  This is a characteristic of GOD ... He came to show MERCY ... I WILL HAVE MERCY....THE GOOD SAMARITAN ...showed mercy (Luke 10) To show a deep sense of compassion, to exercise pity those less fortunate ... something foreign to Chief Priests and Pharisees BUT GOD WHO IS RICH IN MERCY - Ephesians 2:4 What a promise ....those who are merciful, …will be shown MERCY BY GOD  Blessed are the PURE IN HEART  pure in heart is to have UNMIXED MOTIVES ... to have a single eye (Matt 6:22) to have a single desire to walk with God to lead a blameless life, to have a tender conscious, to be without guile, no deceit, nor envy or malice harbored in your heart, to be fixed on pleasing GOD ...WHAT A BLESSEDNESS... THIS ONE WILL SEE GOD !!! ! Many examples…Enoch, Job, Daniel, Nathaniel, Simeon, Stephen Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS  those who ACTIVELY intervene to make peace Those who create the means for UNITY ....THIS IS GOD LIKE This is what JESUS CHRIST did at the CROSS ‘He made PEACE for us by His Blood (Col 1:20) ...took our punishment ! He INTERVENED for us .... became the MEDIATOR ...of the new covenant (Heb 9:15) How can I make peace with GOD ?, ....by SURRENDERING TO HIM in humility and with a contrite heart .... BY ACCEPTING HIS SACRIFICE AT THE CROSS as the very means of satisfying God for the offence of my sins WHAT A BLESSEDNESS ...THE PEACE MAKERS WILL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD  Blessed are those who are PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS .... Blessed are YOU when PEOPLE INSULT YOU and PERSECUTE YOU FALSELY ...because of ME  key phase ... for MY sake ... on account of Me Suffering for the sake of Christ carries a blessing from Heaven Peter said “ suffering for rightness .. well pleasing to God” I Peter 2:20 Jesus said ...in John 15:18-22 you will suffer persecution for my sake “if they hate you.... don’t be surprised ...they hated me also ...“ if they persecuted Me they will persecute you In Luke 6:22 Jesus said if this happens to you “REJOICE in that day... Leap for joy .. great is your reward in heaven” You are the SALT OF THE EARTH Speaking of the Power of a Spirit Filled Life in a world of perishing souls Effectiveness, …salt is used for preservation of perishable goods

As we looked at the account of Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead, we considered some hard questions about suffering. We asked what we look to in our suffering and what does Jesus say to our suffering. We saw that Jesus' response to suffering in this passage gives us great hope in our suffering.

Responding to a question from a listener about the story of the rich man and Lazarus Jesus told in Luke 16, and considering if that story was true. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

In this parable traditionally called "The Rich Man & Lazarus" Jesus gives us the clearest insight into life after death and what awaits us when we die. Luke 16:19-31 Recorded on Sunday July 23rd, 2017

Download | Subscribe In this episode and continuing our Lenten Journey out of the wilderness, Rev. Beverly Gibson discusses "breathing new life" into the lifeless and the hope for the everlasting life that defeats death. To raise Lazarus Jesus relied and call on his Father to perform this miracle. How do we respond to Jesus' example of such confident dependence on God? It can give us the power of hope in adversity.   What you will hear: > Mardi Gras makes Lent an active season in Mobile, Alabama > Journey ramping up to Palm Sunday and Easter > The finer points of summering in Point Clear and Manhattan > Ezekial - Valley of the dry bones discussion, commentary, and insights > Bones: Isreal is dry in spirit and hope > Ezekial is told to call on the "breath" and "wind" to fill the bones and animates the bones with God's Spirit > Is the Valley Of The Dry Bones an example of a priestly call? > Prayer in Mass to animate the Eucharist in turn to feed and animate us in God's Spirit > Rev. Gibson's reason and virtue of using Rite 1 during Lent > The Prayer of Humble Access - explanation. What does this say about my existence with God? > The women that grabs Jesus's cloak - example of humbleness and being made whole by your faith > Your desire to claim your faith is the thing that heals you and makes you whole > What if we don't see ourselves as "dry" and "dead" in our faith? > What are the tombs of our lives? > Breathing "new life" into the segments and parts of our general life > The "breath of life" = inspiration > Ryan Murphy, TV writer reference > What is a muse? > Anam Cara - the "soul friend" reprise > The "It's Complicated" relationship of the early Israelites and God > Jesus and Lazarus - the power over death > What's the last thing a redneck says before they die? > Lamb by Christopher Moore - perspective of Biff - Jesus's friend (book) > Jesus is preparing for his entrance into Jerusalem > Knowing the context of the story before the weekly readings from the pulpit > Jesus's human and close relationship with Martha, Mary, & Lazarus > Why was Jesus two days late to get to Lazarus? >  Jesus is fully God and fully human - did Jesus have any fear that he might not be able raise Lazarus? > Why did Jesus weep at Lazarus's tomb? > A priest's perspective of speaking and presiding over a funeral > Understanding and seeing the depth and complexity of The Bible > What happens to Lazarus? > If someone is brought back from the dead can you die again > Jesus's power over death and his choice to die for us and understand death > Grace - Losing faith and having the strength and gifts to regain it > The gift of the Spirit: Living in Christ not living of Christ > Leveling up in the life in Christ > The Burial Right - The deceased me grow in strength after death > Eternal life - there is no death > Resurrection within your life and still continue to grow with strength > Why Rev. Gibson doesn't recycle sermons year to year > Connecting with the listeners in the pew > Where we are on our Lenten Journey: our dependence (reliance) on God > To bring life back in the lifeless places Readings Referenced: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45   What do you think about Pulpit To Pew?
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This one helps us a ton – seriously! Thanks for listening and have a great and peaceful week.

Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life, he who die will live" What does this mean today? See how He answer Martha and Mary and get faith from that.

God wants to speak to us concerning His resurrection power. He is the resurrection and the life. Not only that someday we will be resurrected when our time on this earth is done. But that today He can take the things that are lifeless in our lives, that are sickly, that have even died and we've given up hope. And He has the power to breath life into that which has become lifeless. What is your Lazarus? Cornell Cannon shares how Jesus not only gives life, He IS life, and it's never too late for hope.

God wants to speak to us concerning His resurrection power. He is the resurrection and the life. Not only that someday we will be resurrected when our time on this earth is done. But that today He can take the things that are lifeless in our lives, that are sickly, that have even died and we've given up hope. And He has the power to breath life into that which has become lifeless. What is your Lazarus? Cornell Cannon shares how Jesus not only gives life, He IS life, and it's never too late for hope.

Calvin College LOFT, Apr 06, 2014