Lazarus

[IL_ray_phillips]

Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
I love this story! So many miss the very last line. The rich man who thinks he has life by the horns dies and goes to hades! Its nothing but torment so he wants abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to tell his brothers to repent. He says they have moses and the prophets but the rich man knows they will not obey so he still wants Lazarus to go back. Here is a revelation for you all! Jesus foreshadows his death and the result by saying," neither will they be persuaded, though-one rose from the dead." He knew the result of his death! That even though he died to give us the grace(power) to overcome our sins many would reject it and choose a sinful life!

[Snooky]

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.Luk 16:30

What is God showing here? That God has a plan for man's salvation and redemption, and it centers around the men of God who are called by God to preach his word. Apostles, Prophets, Evanglist, Pastors, and teachers, for the perfection of the saints, (the church members-Those who are called to be saints as Paul declared). No man is an island, one sows, another waters, but God giveth the increase.
There are 2 fig trees mentioned in Jesus teachings. Both were barren and unproductive. One was hewn down and cast away, one was spared. What was the difference between the 2?? One has a husband man to make intersession, (sumitted unto the men of God who have the rule over vinyard) the other was a wild tree without any authority to stand before God in his behalf.
One never outgrows the need for a ministry, NEVER.
Good post Bro Ray.