Saturday, August 29, 2009 There aint no purgatory! Luke 16:19-31

Well it has been four days since the rich and famous, influential and elderly rich man died. Everyone knows that last Tuesday a very rich and powerful man died, but did you know that on that same day a poor preacher also died. Well maybe not poor, but poor in worldly goods compared to the rich man.

The second I heard of the death of the rich man Luke 16:19-31 came to mind, for the rich man was very rich, yet he never used his own money to help the poor, he never used his own money to alleviate poverty, illness, sickness or squalor, he instead used his power to use other peoples hard earned limited resources to further his own political goals.

While the US senate and other so called leaders mourned and bewailed the death of this rich and famous, highly influential supporter of homosexual marriage, slaughter of the baby in the womb, and every other form of degenerate behavior, a few, sought comfort in the Lord, for the family of a very beloved pastor, a man who fought for the life of the baby in the womb, who fought for the sanctity of marriage, a man who fought to do and teach God’s will.

On the rich mas tomb should be written, “Here lies the champion of infanticide, of homosexual deviant behavior, of the rape of the peoples freedom and wealth. A man who dedicated his life to pursuing and further the agenda of his god.” On the poor Pastors tombstone shall be written, “Here lies a poor fighter for the life of the baby in the womb, a true and dedicated servant of the Most High, a fighter for the souls of men for the Lord, a teacher of His word, a man who dedicated his life to pursuing and further the agenda of his God. ”

As we read Luke Chapter 16 verses 19 to 31 feel free to think about what will be written on your tomb stone.

There was a certain rich man, one clothed in purple and fine linen and lived sumptuously every day:

There was also a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at the rich mans gate, full of sores, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell the rich man lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

But Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

Then the rich man said, “I pray thee therefore, Father, that Thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”

Abraham saith unto him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”

And he said, “Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”

And He said unto him, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:19-31

Yes it was Jesus who spoke those words, He was using Abraham as an analogy for God. Notice how the rich man even argues and fights with God after he is condemned to the eternal pain and suffering of the lake of fire.

Last Tuesday a rich man died, had he used just 10 percent of his wealth to support the agenda of Christ, the poor pastor could have accomplished oh so much more, had the rich man used the power, influence and wealth the Lord had entrusted him with to fight for the kingdom of God instead of pursing the pat on the head from satan, he would not be suffering today.

What are you doing with the things the Lord has entrusted to you? Many of you refer to yourselves as Christians, but are you? Will you spend eternity with the rich man or Christ, Lazarus, and me? If you do nothing else this weekend, do these two things, first read the verses below and then look in the mirror and ponder what you see in light of the following Scripture.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of *false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. *false prophets, the word translated prophets is, in the Greek, pseudoprophetes it also means religious imposters, as in those who profess to be Christians, but are not.

Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Not every one that saith unto Me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but only those that do the will of My Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?” And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity!

Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that hears these sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:12-27

Now look in the mirror and evaluate your fruits. What are you doing with the gifts, the wealth, the power Christ has given to you? By your fruits, are you a Christian or are you a servant of satan? There is no other choice, for just as there is no purgatory, there is no third choice in who you belong to and serve. You are either a servant and the property of the Living God, Christ Jesus, or you are a servant and the property of satan. You can lie to me, you can lie to your pastor, your family and all around you. BUT, you cannot lie to yourself nor can you lie to Christ Jesus. One day you are going to find yourself knelling before Christ, then you are going to meet either Lazarus or the rich man. It is estimated that when senator Kennedy died he had an earthly wealth of 100 million dollars, he took none of it with him, nor, looking at his fruits, did he take any crowns with him to place at the feet of the Lord. What abut you?

You must use the time between now and your death wisely for how you use this, your ever decreasing time here on earth, will determine in which place you will spend eternity, Paradise or the lake of fire. Leaving it to a ministry in your will, will do nothing for you.

To the Pastor who died on Tuesday August 25^th, 2009, I say, “rest in peace my brother”. To the rich man who died on Tuesday August 25^th, 2009, I say “I tried to tell you, I tried to warn you, but you would not read or listen.”

*All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, is from the ACP/KJV

This thought is copyrighted and protected by US Copyright laws and may not be used in any way, shape or form, in whole or in part without express written permission, dated and referencing the specific thought or thoughts, by Rev. Robert M. Celeste. Note Only Dr. Allen Gilpatrick 116900 of KSR LaGrange is exempt from this.