Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.
! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.
Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.
This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.
Let's dive in together into God's Word.
It's good to be back after being on, taking some time with my family over in Turner, Oregon.
This is the second time that we've done it, and it's really a great time to just take a step back,
to reflect, to pray, to focus on what really matters.
Spending time with family, time with the Lord, and just asking God,
how can I continue to connect with you and to have a deep and intimate relationship with you?
Sometimes we forget that when it comes to our relationship with Christ,
it's an ongoing relationship.
It's an ongoing relationship to communicate with the Lord through prayer,
asking God to speak to us,
to lead and to guide us in our lives,
in decisions,
to cast our cares upon Him,
to think and consider His Word,
the promises that the covenants that have been made,
the prophecies that have been fulfilled.
It is all connected.
that God not only has worked in the past,
but He is continuing to work in and through our lives every single day.
And to consider how precious life is,
and how every moment is but a gift from God.
I'm reminded how Scripture says that every good gift comes from above.
And God gives so many blessings.
He gives us so much,
especially the greatest opportunity for us to respond
to salvation
for eternal life.
Recently, I've been,
when I was on vacation,
I did hear, unfortunately,
some bad news of some personal friends that I had known.
One of my very close friends
passed away in military service.
And another friend, I guess you could say,
recently divorced.
And it was just back to back hearing the news.
And I'm like,
I want to offer this to God.
And I want to pray for the brokenness,
the hurt.
I don't know the scope of what was going on,
especially when you're very close to them
or semi-close to them.
You don't know all the intricacies,
but you can certainly pray for people.
And I bring all of that up
because it goes to show,
as we're going to go in this parable,
how important it is for us to consider our mind
and to consider our heart.
There is so much of Scripture
that is concerned with,
what is your posture towards the Lord?
In other words,
do you have a hardened heart
or do you have a softened heart towards the Lord?
How has God worked in your life recently?
When was the last time that you have seen
or experienced transformation in your life?
Or God stirring your heart
or molding you through experiences?
Because God continues to work through us.
And when we think about it,
it is important for us
to have that relationship,
to establish, to begin the relationship with Christ
and to continue it.
It's much like any sort of friendship
or any sort of relationship
that we have with people.
You don't just call your friend,
you know, once and then never call again.
You visit.
You take time.
And that's how important it is
for our relationship with the Lord.
And I want us to open our Bibles.
Go ahead and turn to page 1040.
We're going to turn to Luke chapter 16.
And it's important for us to understand
this parable.
As we've gone over in many weeks,
we've gone over the teachings,
the parables of Christ
that has a lot of symbolic language.
These parables are simple,
but yet they can be so convicting.
They can be so deep
and they can move us.
So the gospel of Luke chapter 16,
I want us to go specifically
to verses 14 through 15,
which is right before the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus.
This helps us understand the scene here
of what Jesus,
who Jesus is speaking to and why.
So it says,
the Pharisees who were lovers of money,
that's very important,
heard all these things,
or hearing about the teachings,
the parables of Christ,
and they,
what did they do?
They ridiculed him.
And he said to them,
you are those who justify yourselves
before men,
but God,
what?
Knows your heart.
For what is exalted among men
is an abomination in the sight of God.
So this is after
when Christ is teaching
about wealth,
about stewardship,
and it's addressing
the attitudes towards money.
That what was leading up to here.
When we go over
to the rich man and Lazarus,
there's some important things
that we should take to note.
When we go,
let's just go over to verse 19.
There was a rich man
who was clothed in purple
and fine linen.
Well, just right there,
when you see the color purple,
that is someone
who is of great wealth.
Now,
we may not,
some of us are wearing purple
here today.
I'm not going to pick on you here.
But,
back in the day,
the color purple
was a very rare color.
It was a,
something that only the,
those wealthy people
were able to have.
That's important to know.
Clothed in purple,
and we can understand
in fine linen,
right?
Certain materials
that people wear.
And this man,
he feasted
every single day.
So,
this guy is living it up.
He's got a good life.
Or,
at least it appears so.
Goes on then
in verse 20.
So,
you first have
the first individual,
the rich man,
wealthy,
purple clothed,
and feasting.
Lavishly,
right?
Then,
verse 20.
It's important.
It says,
at his gate.
At his gate
was laid
a poor man
named Lazarus,
covered with sores.
Now,
church,
is this the same Lazarus
that was raised
from the dead?
No.
And it's important
to identify that.
And we'll,
you'll see why
in the text.
So,
Lazarus is a
common name.
And what's interesting
about it
is that
the word
Lazarus
means
God helps.
It's a beautiful name
when you think about it.
So,
that's important
for us.
So,
he's covered
with sores.
When you think
of that kind
of
someone who
has sores,
even nowadays,
we can think
you kind of want
to stay away
from them.
I mean,
if we're being honest
here,
you kind of don't
want to catch
what they have.
But anyone
that had
sores over,
right,
leprosy
or whatever
disease it was,
was not viewed
upon very highly
back then.
And they were,
unfortunately,
the outcasts
of society.
You didn't want
to be around them.
Verse 21,
he desired
to be fed
with what fell
from the rich
man's table.
It's very interesting
to note that's
the very similar
language where
you have the woman
who is
saying,
talking about
scraps that
fall down
from the table
and the dogs
want that
if you remember
that.
So it's
interesting.
It goes,
who desired
to be fed
with what fell
from the rich
man's table
so he's hungry.
Unlike this
rich person
who has more
to eat
and you can
get this image
of scraps
falling on the
ground.
They're just
eating and
they just,
you know,
can't wait
to sip their
drinks or
whatever,
right?
You get that
kind of image
and this
guy is at
the gate
and he
just wants
a little
bit.
Okay?
So,
moreover,
even the
dogs came
and licked
his sores.
Now,
sometimes we
can read
this and we
can have
more of a
literal reading
where it
says,
okay,
the dogs
literally are
coming over
and licking
the sores.
There are
some scholars
that would
say that
there is
an underlying
lesson that
even the
dogs being
represented as
Gentiles would
give care and
compassion to
Lazarus more
than this
rich man
who is
Jewish,
who has a
hardened
heart.
There is
that kind
of distinction
there,
but you can
come to your
own conclusion
on that.
I just think
it's very
interesting,
nonetheless,
that dogs
have been
viewed upon
as Gentiles.
But in this
case,
we can just
look at it
as just
normal dogs.
So we
don't have
to over
complicate
that.
So the
dogs came
and licked
his sores.
So what
happened?
Verse 22,
what happened
to the poor
man?
He died.
What happened
then?
He was
carried by
the angels
to Abraham's
side.
The imagery
of that,
of angels
carrying anyone
is just,
that's very
beautiful.
And you
can think,
you can
conclude
that this
poor man,
this Lazarus,
was seeking
the Lord
and knew
the Lord
at some
capacity,
at least
to the
point where
angels would
gather him
up.
That's
beautiful
language to
think of.
I mean,
I want to
be carried
by angels,
you know?
But nonetheless,
it's still
very beautiful
to see.
So what
happens then,
church?
The rich
man,
what?
Was he
alive and
well?
He was
died and
buried.
And where
did he
end up?
In Hades.
Being in
torment,
he lifted
his eyes
and saw
Abraham far
off and
Lazarus at
his side.
It's important
to note that
there's a lot
of language
that describes
heaven and
hell.
And just
to kind of
give you a
broad sense
here,
back then,
to be in
Hades was
to be in
the underworld,
as it were.
And it
appears that
somehow they
are able to
see one
another,
despite one
being in
more of
paradise,
and the
other being
in torment.
So that's
kind of an
interesting thing
to see here.
that in
Hades,
being in
torment,
he lifted
his eyes
and saw
Abraham.
So you
have to
remember,
Christ is
speaking to
the Pharisees.
He's speaking
to a
Jewish audience
in this.
So,
let's see
here.
Far off to
his side,
verse 24,
he called
out,
Father Abraham,
have mercy
on me,
and send
Lazarus to
dip the
end of
his finger
in water
and cool
my tongue
for I
am in
anguish
in this
flame.
It is
hot there.
Just to
dip your
finger to
get a little
cooling,
I mean,
that is
pretty hot
in there.
And so,
look,
two different
people,
two different
deaths,
right?
Lazarus dies,
he's carried
by angels,
the rich man
is died,
he dies,
and is buried
and finds
himself in
torment.
It's
more of
descriptive
language of
what we
would call
Gehenna,
so to
speak.
And the
rich man
is begging
Abraham for
mercy.
Well,
Abraham replies
and says,
child,
remember that
you in your
lifetime received
your good
things,
and Lazarus
in like manner
bad things,
and now he
is comforted
here,
and you
are in
anguish.
That's
interesting.
Verse 26,
besides all
this,
between us
and you,
a great
chasm has
been fixed
in order
that those
would pass
from here
to you
may not
be able,
and none
may cross
from there
to us.
So you
can't cross
over.
When we
think of
heaven and
hell,
when we
think of
torment and
comfort,
there is
no crossing
over,
at least
that's what
is being
described
here within
the parable.
So Abraham
is explaining
there is a
chasm between
comfort and
torment,
and there's
no crossing
possible.
So that's
important for
us to know.
And he
said,
then I beg
you,
Father,
to send
him to
my father's
house.
It's
interesting to
know,
I was
reading,
there's one
commentary
about this
specific
parable,
and I
thought it
was very
interesting.
He is
thinking,
despite being
in torment,
he's saying,
send this
guy who
died over
to speak
to my
family on
my behalf.
So he
still has
this hardness
of heart,
so to speak.
He's so
focused,
he's not
even caring
about Lazarus.
Does that
make sense?
He's not
recognizing,
like,
okay,
there's this
other guy
here that
just died,
and yet,
I need you
to send
him over
to my
family.
That's
interesting.
It's the
same kind
of mindset,
not having
really a
care for
Lazarus in
there,
and I
just thought,
that's
very true,
that's
very
interesting.
I beg
you,
Father,
to send
him to
my
father's
house,
for I
have
five
brothers,
so that
he may
warn
them,
lest they
also come
into this
place of
torment.
Well,
at least
he's
caring for
his
brothers
here.
At
least he
has the
care
for
them.
But
Abraham
said,
what does
it say,
church?
They have
what?
Moses and
the
prophets.
Let them
hear them.
And he
said,
no,
Father
Abraham,
but if
someone goes
to them
from the
dead,
they will
repent.
And he
said to
him,
if they
do not
hear
Moses and
the
prophets,
neither
will they
be convinced
if someone
should rise
from the
dead.
Interesting.
They,
the Jewish
people,
had Moses,
they had
the prophets,
they had
the law
to show
them
the Lord,
to draw
close to
the Lord,
and yet,
even despite
someone raising
from the
dead,
there are
still going
to be
people who
do not
believe.
I've
always found
it very
interesting,
and maybe
you can
identify as
well.
Imagine
being
back in
biblical
times and
seeing some
of the
signs and
wonders that
happened.
The parting
of the Red
Sea,
for example.
Right?
Or Christ
walking on
water.
It's just
two miracles
right there.
And yet,
there were
still some
that did
not believe.
Like,
in my
mind,
if I see
anything,
if I see
someone walking
on water,
I'd be
kind of
fascinated.
If I see
the feeding
of the
5,000,
wouldn't
you be
impressed by
that?
But yet,
despite
all of
that,
there are
still
people
back
then
that
did
not
believe.
Even
someone
being
raised
from the
dead,
there are
still
people
who
will
reject
the
Lord.
That's
shocking.
I mean,
I've never
been able to
just get
myself to
think,
like,
if I
saw a
miracle
right in
front of
me
happen,
I'm
not
interested.
Can you
imagine?
But yet,
there are
people that
are that
way.
And it's
important for
us,
where God
has worked
in and
through our
lives,
or maybe
he hasn't,
pray that
God will
soften your
heart and
change your
mind to
recognize
who
Christ
is.
Recognizing
the power
of Christ's
miracles,
the ministry
of Christ,
all of
these things,
the things
that we
find in
Scripture.
Now,
here's the
thing,
there's a
lot of
us in
the world
that we
want to
psychoanalyze
and come to
understand how
and why
and where
and when
things happen.
I want to
understand how
the Red
Sea was
parted,
so I can
understand it.
Well,
there are
some things,
even in the
scientific community,
even in
academic pursuits,
that we just
do not
understand.
And that's
okay.
It's okay to
not know
how,
we know that
God split
the Red
Sea,
we know that
God raised
the other
Lazarus from
the dead,
but it goes
to show that
God has far
greater
power than
our
understanding.
We try to
understand so
much,
don't we?
God is
beyond our
understanding.
Trust in the
Lord with
all of your
heart and
lean not on
your what?
Your
understanding.
But yet we
try to lean on
our understanding.
We try to
understand things
that don't
make sense.
God is
so,
let them
hear.
It's
important for
us to
learn from
this about
how important
life is.
Now,
I don't want
you thinking
that having
money is
evil.
I don't want
you thinking
that being
poor is
holy.
it's all
about the
what?
The heart.
Are there
not wicked
people who
are rich?
Are there
not?
All right,
right?
Can the
same argument
be made?
There are
people who
are wicked
that are
poor.
Of course.
It has
so.
It doesn't
matter your
socioeconomic
status.
But what
is interesting
is that very
often,
specifically in
parables,
you have
what appears
to be
successful,
what appears
to be good.
The Lord
is comparing.
Look at
this poor
beggar.
This guy
with sores
and the
dogs are
licking his
sores to
give him
some sort
of comfort.
And yet,
he's being
transported by
angels.
If you
remember the
parable of
the Pharisee
and the
tax collector,
that was
very different.
Actually,
it's the same.
It's very
similar.
Two
completely
contrasting
people.
If you
remember that,
the Pharisee
and the
tax collector,
the Pharisee,
he,
the tax
collector was
justified before
the Lord,
but not
the Pharisee,
logically,
that does
not make
sense.
Logically,
the rich
person should
make it to
heaven.
Logically,
the religious
person that
follows the
rules and
is keeping
everything to a
T should
make it.
person.
Let's think
about how
our world
works.
You perform
well,
you get a
promotion.
You perform
well,
you make it
on the
honor roll.
It's very
logical when
it comes to
that.
But when it
comes to
things of
the Lord,
matters is
your heart.
the softening
of your
heart.
I think I've
mentioned it
before about
the story of
the Grinch,
right?
Where his
heart was so
small,
right?
And,
spoiler alert,
his heart
grows,
right?
Signifying a
change of
his heart.
Well,
I know that's
just a movie,
but when we
think of the
Lord,
there is
change that
happens within
our heart.
Going from
hardness of
heart to
a softening,
the ability
to love,
to live and
love like
the Lord.
So,
things to
take note
is,
yeah,
the connection
with the
Pharisee and
the tax
collector and
even the
rich fool.
And,
certainly,
this parable
can be very
challenging for
us because
it's addressing,
well,
what happens
after death?
You know,
only light
reading,
right?
But it's
important for
us,
nonetheless,
to read and
to study
scripture to
understand it.
And this
leads us in,
okay,
what can we
learn from
this?
Number one,
church,
our actions
reveal our
heart.
So,
the rich man
was neglectful.
He revealed a
hardened heart
by not having
kindness and
compassion and
care for the
person right
outside his
gate.
do you
know anyone
who is right
by your
gate?
That's a
hard question
to ask.
But,
certainly,
consider someone
who might be
at your own
front door
needing help.
And,
faith is
then shown
through
transformation.
Having a
compassionate
heart.
That's what
this is about.
Having a
changed mind
and a
changed heart.
the second
thing then,
church,
what does
it say?
Eternal life
exists.
That's pretty
self-explanatory
when we have,
at least for
the Jewish
understanding,
those who
end up in
torment and
those who
end up in
comfort.
Much like how
we understand
heaven and
hell.
So,
there is
life after
death.
In this
parable,
speaking of
being comforted
or being
tormented.
It's important
for us to
note then
that we
have decisions
to make
in this
life which
goes to
show how
important it
is for us
to seek
the Lord,
to know
the Lord,
to grow
in Him,
and to
continually
be
transformed.
Because,
if you
think about
it,
responding
to the
gospel
message,
you know,
only has
eternal
consequences,
but you
should respond
accordingly.
It's kind
of the
biggest
decision
you'll
ever
make,
you know.
The third
thing then
is scripture
is sufficient
for salvation.
What does
that mean?
It's that
God's word
gives us
a guide
to
understanding
salvation.
Okay?
To
understanding
salvation
and newness
of life.
And it's
also important
that even
when we
think of
miracles
and signs
as wonderful
and as
beautiful as
they are,
we have
to think,
do those
signs and
wonders
change our
hearts or
our minds
towards the
Lord?
And then
that leads
us to,
what do we
do about
this?
All right,
you have
this parable
about two
people,
right?
You have
the rich
man and
you have
Lazarus.
The one
parable that
mentions a
specific
individual.
That's
interesting
because you
have the
Pharisee and
the tax
collector,
right?
You have
the widow
and the
unjust
judge.
You don't
have specific
names here,
but here
you do.
That's very
interesting.
So you
have these
two people,
Lazarus,
the rich
man,
both die
and they
both end
up in
different
places.
one appears
to have
it all,
but yet
loses,
and the
other doesn't
have much
in gains.
But in
order to
understand
this,
it goes
back to
the heart.
And so,
what do we
do about
this?
Well,
the first
thing is
to respond
to Christ's
invitation
for you.
As we
partaken
of communion,
we do
this in
remembrance
of Christ's
sacrifice
for us.
There are
some people,
there are
so many
people in
the world
who do
not know
the Lord.
And it's
important for
us to
share in
the gospel
message,
the death,
burial,
and resurrection
of Jesus
Christ.
That Jesus
is the
way,
the truth,
and the
life,
and we
ourselves
have got
to respond
to it
first and
foremost.
Believe
in the
Lord and
be saved.
So
recognize
that you
need
the Lord
in your
life.
You need
Jesus
Christ.
And
respond
to that
invitation.
The second
thing then,
upon being
saved,
being saved
by grace
through faith,
is to
live your
new life
being
transformed.
Being saved
by grace
through faith,
making a
decision for
Christ,
is the
greatest
decision you
can make,
and it
is the
beginning of
your new
life in
him.
To continue
to be
molded,
to become
more like
Christ.
I don't
know about
you,
but the
very notion
of becoming
like Christ
is an
incredible,
it's an
incredible
journey.
Because Christ
is way better
than I'll ever
be.
I want to
be like
him.
I don't
want to
be like
the old
me that
was some
punk.
Okay?
I don't
want to
be that.
I want to
be more like
that which
is holy.
I want to
be closer
to the
Lord.
And we
think we
should think
of how
important it
is for
transformation,
for holiness,
right?
Continuing on
the path.
Now,
here's the
thing.
We should
all be on
a path of
growth.
And what
that growth
looks like
is unique
to you.
How God
works in
and through
your life,
that is
specific
between you
and the
Lord.
God,
we are
all a
work in
progress.
Amen?
So we
are saved
by grace.
We are a
work in
progress.
And that
should mold
us.
As we
are being
molded,
we should
then in
turn be
moved to
act.
And this
is very
important.
There's a
lot of
books and
media
courses out
there that
will tell
you that
we got a
lot of
head
knowledge,
right?
But we
have to
live out
what we
have
learned.
And so
when it
comes to
things of
scripture,
the things
of the
Lord,
God
transforming
our lives,
we have
got to
be molded
and go
out and
share in
the life,
love,
and truth
of Jesus
Christ.
So share
God's
word,
share grace
and truth
to others.
The love
of Jesus
Christ to
the misfits
of society.
Who do
you know
who is
a leper?
It doesn't
have to be
a literal
leper,
mind you.
Who do
you know
is like
the Lazarus
who is
at the
gate,
needing
help?
Right?
That's where
we have
the love
aspect.
Then we
have the
truth
aspect.
Knowing
that Christ
is the
way,
the truth,
and the
life,
and knowing
that we
are blessed
to have
this Bible,
that we
continue to
grow on
an individual
level,
but also
on a
collective
level.
So,
share God's
word,
his grace
and truth.
It's all
about you
living and
loving like
the Lord
every single
day.
Now,
I'm not
saying you
have to
go out
and wave
signs all
day.
It is
being an
ambassador
for Christ
in the
words that
you speak
and the
actions that
you do.
Some of
you,
you may
be
attending
college,
you may
work at
a specific
job,
but you
might have
met someone
and you
knew they
were a
Christian.
You couldn't
explain it,
then later
you find out
they are a
Christian.
How you
perform your
work,
how you
conduct
yourself,
how you
are continuing
being molded
and letting
the light
of Christ,
just like
that song,
this little
light of
mine,
I'm gonna
let it
shine.
And we
let it
shine for
others to
see we
are to
be salt
and light
for our
community,
for our
neighbors,
for our
friends,
for our
families,
being
examples,
being present
with others.
That is for
us to
think and
to consider.
Live and
love like
Christ.
Live your
faith.
Don't sit
on the
sidelines.
If you
remember the
children in
the marketplace,
right?
those spoiled
children who
just were not
doing anything
in times of
joy and in
times of
sorrow,
they didn't
participate.
Don't be
like those
children in
the marketplace.
Actively
participate in
the world
around you.
You'll be
surprised at
how your
influence can
affect someone
else.
A simple
smile,
a simple
act of
kindness,
words of
encouragement,
the ministry
of presence,
just sitting
with someone
through a
hard time.
Praying for
someone.
Calling someone
on the phone,
how you
doing?
I'm not
doing so
well.
How can I
pray for
you?
And just
listen.
Hear them
out.
That's part
of what we
are called
to do as
Christians.
So share
in the
gospel,
share in
your story.
Live and
love like
Christ.
And in
closing,
Jesus
challenges
us to
examine
our hearts.
Consider
this parable.
Do you
want to
be like
the rich
man?
Or do
you want
to be
like the
Lazarus?
And it's
not a
money thing.
It's a
heart thing.
Respond
clearly in
faith.
Steward
your life
intentionally.
And respond
to God's
call for
your life.
Remember,
salvation,
responding to
that invitation
is the
greatest
decision you
can make.
May you
respond
wisely
to his
call.
Let's pray
together.
And Father,
we thank you
for this time
and this
opportunity for
us to go
through this
parable of
the rich
man and
Lazarus.
What a
crazy and
very challenging
parable this
is.
I pray,
Father,
that this
message was
preached in
such a way
that it is
understood by
everyone who
is present
here in
the church
or those
who are
tuning online
or listening
to the
recording or
whatever.
Father,
I pray for
transformation,
for decisions
to be made
for Christ.
If there
hasn't been a
decision made,
I pray for
continued
transformation,
healing,
forgiveness,
love,
kindness,
compassion.
In other
words,
Father,
I'm asking
that we
grow,
that we
are healed
and we
are mobilized
to live
and love
like you.
We're so
grateful for
your son and
we're so
grateful for
your word.
We are
reminded about
how your
word is
living and
active.
May we
continue.
May we
first and
foremost
believe in
you.
May we be
molded by
you.
and do
good in
your son's
precious name.
It is in
the name of
Jesus Christ
that we pray
and we all
say together,
can I get
an amen?
Amen.
Thank you for
listening for
this week's
message from
Ontario Community
Church.
I pray that
you are
encouraged and
strengthened in
your walk with
Christ.
For more
sermons and
resources,
visit
Ontario
Community
Church
dot org.
May God
bless you as
you live out
his grace and
truth every
single day.
Thank you.