30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 09 Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord
📖 Luke 16:19-31
12May2020 - *Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Revelation 14:12-13_
_Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried._
We have now reached the bridge of this narrative. The first part being the rich man’s life on earth and the other being the life of the rich man in hades.
Both Lazarus and the rich man died but look at the welcome party for Lazarus. Angels came to carry him and he was laid in the bosom of Abraham. Lazarus was obviously in a deep love relationship with God, though his life on earth was difficult and painful. Now he was enjoying closeness and intimacy with God.
_Revelation 14:12-13 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (13) Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them."_
Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. What does that statement mean? Our life here on earth is to constantly die with Jesus. Our self is constantly taken to the cross and we identify with His death. It is as we die with Him always that the life of Jesus manifests from within us. _II Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body._ The physical death of such a person, who is always dying with Jesus, is a blessed death. Angels will come to receive such a person to be in the presence of the Lord.
What was Lazarus’s condition now that he was in Abraham’s bosom? The pain and suffering were all gone. As we read the narrative, we can see that the rich man saw Lazarus’s condition as full and complete. _Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."_
God permitted Lazarus to suffer on earth. Many times, we are not able to answer this question as to why the Lord does not give healing or deliverance, though we may have prayed over a particular problem for years. The problem or sickness has remained. Elders from the church may have prayed and yet there is no healing. What are we to make of this situation?
_II Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,_ God’s word is telling us that the suffering that we may be going through now, which to us is weighty and prolonged, is light and momentary. How can that be? We, who actually go through a crisis know that the predicament is not light or brief. God’s word is comparing our current crisis to the bliss that we will experience in the presence of the Lord. When we compare our current crisis with the ecstasy of heaven, then it is truly light and momentary.
The suffering during our lifetime here on earth is a free worker, working for us and building for us a far more eternal weight of glory.
_Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us._ This was the experience of Lazarus. He was enjoying the glory of the Lord.
*Thought to ponder*
```If you are going through a crisis right now, will you turn and see Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham and be encouraged that in God’s time, you too will be there? So, rejoice and be glad.```