R926 Life After Death, Pt.1

The question we all have one about life after doing let's go to God's Encouraging Word and this is The Encouraging Word the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton study the word together know that we're here for you 24 hours a day of 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 Dr. Don Wilton we're in the middle of the beginning of a wonderful study God's word life often, and folks I want you to open your Bibles this morning to Luke's gospel in chapter 16, you gained absolutely need your Bibles. We always do. Every time we come together, but I would say that you most particularly will need it today and in the days and months apply here because we going to be studying one of the most intriguing and remarkable subjects that I think anybody could ever start. The problem is that none of us know or know a whole lot about life off the reason is quite simple. None of us being there. I have been there. I've been to heaven. I haven't been to hell. I haven't God and come back from the dead. I have been heard a lot of stories are I have my own. We all have stories of life off the dais, the absolute certainty of life off the day with my own story impacted me so much that I wrote a book and I hope that you got a copy of that book. It doesn't even come close to the Bible much or all that you look at the Bible. The Bible is the only thing to look at, but God gave me the opportunity to write a novel about life off the bed based upon what Jesus had to say. I must say we getting hundreds of colds and emails about the impact of this novel, while novel because it is a life portrayal of the absolute certainty of life off the dead. It's a novel it's a fiction, but it puts everything in perspective and it's based upon the word of God, the subject of life off today brings to bear a number of very important questions. For example, how do we know that what we say is actually going to happen. That's a good question is how do we know that if we've never been we going to be starting some very deep thinkers at some of them again to be rather difficult to think about. I don't mind telling you that is a lot about black off to bed be quite frank with you. I want to not talk about because with some awful things in the Bible about what happens to people if they don't give their hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus, which is the reason why I'm so glad today to be able to present to you the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because the whole saga of life off the saint is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alarm I'm going to invite you to give your heart to Jesus. Even in modern novel in the introduction I write very clearly before you read this book is how to give your heart to Jesus you don't have to go through the things that I write about in this book. And that happened in the life of this particular man by the name of Albright my one character in the bargain. In the book and the Bible is very clear about this and we going to look at a lot of things in the Bible and you've got every reason to listen to these things and then decide things like will foster you know on what basis do you like that statement, but when you study the Bible about all issues but in this case about black off today how we going to look where we going are we going to be able to talk often we die. How we gonna recognize each other and how do we know that what are we going to do and so the list goes on. What we even be able to remember things without brains function. Often we die or on what basis do we make the statements well. There are three principles of operation and I'm just sharing these with you and me just tell you that I'm going to say the same thing next week, so get ready for the and I might even feel leg to say the same three things the next week because I know there's going to be somebody every week.

Who hasn't heard anything. The previous weeks.

One thing to know how you attest to the truth of things.

While there are three criteria in all three principles by which you arrive at the point at which you know something is true. First of all, by the simple fact and I want you to listen to this very carefully folks by the simple fact of asking the question, is it in word by the Bible. Now, boys and girls. That's a big word inferred inference perhaps a really good word to use you. Is there a suggestion about that. Have you ever suggested something to someone and inference is the weakest way in which to determine whether something is true, but it is part of the process. If you talk about an inference in the Bible or something is inferred what you are saying is it doesn't exactly say that but you can deduct you can deduce, you can assume that this is where it is headed. It's the weakest way to verify the truth but it is part of the process and I want you to know as best as I can.

I'm in a let you know I am not going to try and pretend that something is in the Bible.

If it's not. And if it's just an inference. I'm going to say to you now folks I want you to know I cannot give you Scripture to back what I'm saying but I believe if we understand God's word in its hold that this is what is inferred by what we are learning what way do we go after that. The second question we got off is is it implied in the Bible that when you imply something it means that it doesn't say exactly what you are saying in that passage, but an implication always has supporting evidence. In other words, I may read your passage and I might say to you, Jesus, Carol. The Bible is saying this is black and white and it might not say this is black-and-white, but I can take you to other passages of Scripture that provide supporting evidence. That's an implied statement and so I'm going to look at inference I'm gonna look at an implied statement protest. The third one is it stated in the Bible's when something is stated, it falls into the category of absolute truth, ready if you want to categorize these inference is personal conviction is personal preference implication is personal conviction statement is absolute truth and there are going to be many times like the passage I'm in right now in Luke chapter 16 and he tell you why this is stated it's absolute truth well. I know that you cannot see my Bible if I was to hold it up here for everybody to see. But in my Bible in Luke chapter 16. The letters are all printed in red. The color red. What that tells me is that every time something is written in red.

Jesus himself said those words that are stated fact is all about everything that's said in the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. But if you were to say to me, pasta, what do you particularly pay particular attention to. I'm going to tell you every time. If Jesus stated that sables I may Folks, this is very important that we are in Luke chapter 16 and Jesus tells a story about two men. Why do I believe that this is stated fact because Jesus said that when Jesus told us the story that are based upon novel back to me.

Do you suppose that the Lord Jesus one day was sitting there tapping his fingers on his desk, called his just his angels around and see the Angels you know, come over here and help me let's make up some kind of story about black off today: somebody give me a good idea one of the Angels say… And I know what they attempt to people in Jesus. It affects great another one said no, no, let's let's have a whole foot.

Jesus did not honor that's just too much. That's overload that's just limited to two people. Let's just pretend that they were two people and let's make up a story because, you know, man. Every Sunday I looked down there and I see all Don Wilton up. They struggling to preach and we need to give them something response he's preaching up with give them something to say. You know those people need to hear something man I love good stories. People love stories so wanted. We give them the essay. Folks, the Lord Jesus is holy and he is righteous that you know by the way that it is impossible for Jesus Christ to fabricate or concoct anything. Cannot do because he is absolute truth, he doesn't even have an inclination that why my saying this to because I'm about to read to you something that Jesus said and I'm here today to tell you that I believe with all my heart that this is absolute fact that Jesus was talking about to real man who lived on a real earth.

They were rarely here. They died a real day one went to a real hell and the other one went to a real heaven and Jesus was showing us about the reality of life off today so I guess what Jesus said in Luke chapter 16 in verse 19. There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and he lived in luxury every day. Sounds like we Americans doesn't end at these gate was laid a big name glasses was covered with sores and he was longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked the sores.

This man was pretty poor. I mean, he was at the other end of the social spectrum eight he was struggling. He was an plentiful condition in verse 22. The time came in the King James version that were there is and it came to pause the time came when the beggar died and he was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. Now let me just hold on your folks very important.

Why did Jesus use the name of Abraham as he was talking to Jewish people. If there was anything the Jews would never argue about it was the person who went by the name of Abraham. Probably the most respected of all the people in Jewish history and tradition. Now they might've argued that this couldn't bog Jesus is not the Messiah, they would've argued about the Lord and the prophets and everything.

But if Jesus wanted to talk to Jews and talk to them about where God is a just have to say Abraham because they was not a Jew alive during Jesus time that didn't absolutely unequivocably and unquestioningly believe that wherever it was that Abraham was there was God because Abraham was with God, they believe that Jesus used it as a synonymous term with the place regarding so what is the place where God, heaven. Remember Abraham and God, maybe many many years before Jesus came to the earth. He was long gone, and yet all of a sudden Jesus is looking into the places of all these people and said you thought he was there, didn't you. And so the Bible says that this man by the name of Lazarus died and he was carried by the angels into the place where barbecues he joined Abraham the word in the Greek text is Abraham's bosom. The womb of God.

The place where God is now the rich man also died. The contrast and was buried in hell when he was in torment, he looked up and he saw Abraham far away and 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 to cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire but Abraham said, son, remember that you in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony, and beside all of this, between us and you is a great chasm, the great divide a great golf that has been fixed. It cannot be changed so that those who would want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over the from there to us and so the man on said and said that I beg you, father, please send Lazarus down to earth to my father's house because I have five brothers who are still alive, let them warn them so that they will not also come into this place of torment to which Abraham replied, but they got Moses, they got the Lord they got the prophets, the God called preachers. Let them listen to them all know that you don't understand father Abraham. He said they not listening to the preachers they going to church and there is a day I preoccupied all I think about as a football guy you don't seem to understand that not even listening to Moses to the law of God. But if you would just send Lazarus back from the dead. That'll do it, let them hear them. And Abraham said if they do not listen to Moses to the word of God and to the preachers. Let me tell you they will not be convinced even if someone were to come back from the dead, and by inference, besides someone has come back from the name.

His name is Jesus. Listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word to be back in just a moment as we complete this first day of studying God's word about life after death. And if you study the word together. Another we have wonderful resources available for your direct one that is especially popular about Dr. Don's relationship with Dr. Billy Graham my book Saturdays with Betty is about an extraordinary relationship with a precious man impacted lives across the moon. You don't want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by his life to and they still wouldn't believe. So what you are asking me to send someone back from the when the son of God came back and I still want believe life off today. There are a number of things here that that just strike me immediately when I begin to try and get a handle on the subject number one is that they were both alive, I will both alive Bible tells us very clearly that both of these men lived a life alive on earth it's it's a staggering point on the Uganda site will goodness me what's so surprising about that for the fact is folks that they live a life just like you and me. I don't know what they got up to, but I will probably two naughty little boys.

I probably got up to Mr. little kinds of things. How about you ever sit back and think about your life that you live in when you are finding that tree or sneaking up on someone when you Betty got a hold of you when you got your bubblegum stuck under the pure church and you couldn't get it off in the middle of the service you needed it so badly. If you remember your life. Are you aware of your life that you live the life that you living today. God here confirms something that is raw. The remarkable and yet sometimes we just simply take for granted and that these two men were alive and what Jesus was saying here is that the point of origin nation the point at which death begins his life and life is the essential ingredient to life off today you have to be alive and I was so just sad the other day when that billionaire raced by the name of Leona Helmsley died and she left her estate. I do know probably billions of dollars she had probably most charity but I couldn't help notice that she left $5 million to each of two grandchildren.

She made a point of letting her other two grandchildren that she wasn't leaving them a dime because the cat she left $10 million to her dog's name is trouble. She left him million dollars to her dog and some people might get a lot of amusement out of these things and think will hello Harmon I look around and I see will the poverty and all the things people are going through the A's epidemics and the needs to boot orphanages and to reach out and the minister to people and have somebody left $10 million to her dog. Jesus here affirms the essential nature of life.

He brings us back to his hand craftsmanship to the ultimate moment at which God breathed the breath of life into people like you and me and he said because I am life ending me you will never die, they were both alive, but there's something else I noticed about them, but had a decision to make. While they were still alive.

The folks that's good news to bad I couldn't wait to get to this part to share some real good news with you today. You know what I love about the fact that they had a decision to make. While they were still alive is because every one of us worshiping and listening right now are still alive. I just wanted to share that with you the that great news as some of you might not feel alive and in fact the more I look around at some of you don't look alive but talks I want you to know that Jesus here was affirming one of the most incredible life-changing issues that is at the hands of those whom he created and for whom he died. And that is that while you're alive, you have a spiritual choice to make that can only be made while you're still alive.

Have you ever heard someone say, well, I'll just find out one day all you want to have you ever heard someone say will not now. Later, taking an eternal risk certainly hope it you will not live to a ripe old age if that's what we want. I don't know that I'm in love. Many people would say you know alive.

I really hope someone's lap is cultural. I don't want to die early.

I want to do everything I can do to stay alive but the fact of the matter is, the Bible says it is appointed on the man once to die once and then off to that the judge that's what Joshua said that he had to choose this day whom he will serve approach I want to say something to to some of the young people here guys you guys who are young man you but your whole life ahead of you might not have the hated.

You need another auto. It's a tough thing to think about, but you may not have your whole life ahead. I want to say something to the senior adults you know that it's common knowledge that the older person gets the heart of their hearts become audits of factors. The older we get, the more we lack the desire arugula, I'm safe, it's too late.

The Logan a dude I hate change. I'm not interested in that.

I've had a good laugh. Thank you. I don't need this, you cannot afford to do that the Bible to Jesus talking.

He's giving us fact number one that they were alive number two that had a decision to make because number three. They both died. Bible says in verse 22 time deposit. They both died. Jesus said they both died that you think about how remarkable that is in today's world because when it comes to the matter of life.

What we do in today's world is to try and make sure that we don't die or least, we want to postpone all of us folks on 30 we do everything we can.

That's why Mary Kay is able to ride around and think X, I got a little problem here because I thought that when you die that you did, but evidently Jesus is trying to tell us your that you're not such tremendous teaching from Dr. Don Wilton from the pulpit in God's word and now as he steps into the studio.

Open your heart to what you want to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that Arneson and I know that Jesus died for me to cross today. I repainted Larson and by faith I receive you into my phone in Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting new displayed Dr. Don Wilton to give your life to Jesus Christ. We dedicate your life.

Dr. Don Wilton should have some wonderful resources to get you started on the right foot. Call us at 866899 specialty copies 866899673 know this were here for you 24 hours a day. That phone you talk to pray with you and connecting online as well. A TE W online.org drop by the website. Sign up for the free email conducted on glad you did. That's all online@tewonline.org TE W online.org