003-Who is Your One
Who is Your Ones? • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsHell was not prepared for you! Jesus has prepared a place for you.
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Transcript
a story of hell
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
If you want to create an awkward conversation quickly, there are a few sure-fire topics to bring up. Politics, for example, is sure to do it. Religion often does the trick as well, particularly when someone suggests that there is a singular way to God through Jesus Christ and that all those who do not have faith in Jesus will spend eternity in hell. Conversation over.
to do it. Religion often does the trick as well, particularly when someone suggests that there is a singular way to God through
Concerning hell, C. S. Lewis once wrote,
“There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this, if it lay in my power.”
Jesus Christ and that all those who do not have faith in Jesus will spend eternity in hell. Conversation over.
In many ways, I agree with him. No one, Christians included, should like the idea of hell.
In many ways, I agree with him. No one, Christians included, should like the idea of hell.
MAIN TEXT:
MAIN TEXT:
MAIN TEXT:
Luke 16:19-31, CSB).
covered with sores, was lying at his gate. He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs
would come and lick his sores. One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich
man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at
his side. ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ 25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’ 27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
“‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but
now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that
those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’
“‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—because I have five brothers —to warn them, so they won’t
also come to this place of torment.’
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead’”
(Luke 16:19-31, CSB).
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The Bible records an account of a rich man and poor man who both die. The poor man goes to heaven and is embraced by Abraham. The rich man dies and suffers in hell, looks across the great divide in heaven and asks for mercy, water and for someone to warn his family to avoid this place of torment.
warn his family to avoid this place of torment.
God does not send anyone to hell; we go of our own volition as we reject Christ.
John 3:17, CSB).
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Richard Baxter (Puritan pastor) lived his life from the perspective of both heaven and hell. He directed his church members on
Now I want to make 6 quick remarks about hell and we will look at our passage and observe 7 good things in Hell.
“How to Spend the Day with God.”
“Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows. Familiarize yourself so consistently to this that your conscience may check you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of the mercy of a night’s rest and of how many that have spent that night in Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonizing pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of their lives. Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come! Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a time, and seek it without delay.”
and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows. Familiarize yourself so consistently to this that your conscience may check
you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of the mercy of a night’s rest and of how many that have spent that night in
Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonizing pains and sickness, weary of their
PASSAGE OUTLINE:
beds and of their lives. Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and
think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come! Observe that which is lacking in
the preparedness of your soul for such a time, and seek it without delay.”
PASSAGE OUTLINE:
I. HELL IS ETERNAL.
I. HELL IS ETERNAL.
I’m not all I ought to be, my wife would attest to that. But listen to this, I’m not what I used to be. I’m telling you Jesus Christ made a difference in my life, and I’m glad because I really do believe with all of my heart hell is eternal.
Everlasting Life/Everlasting Contempt
1 At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape. 2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.
II. HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN.
II. HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN.
II. HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN.
II. HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN.
Eternal Punishment
41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ 44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Eternal Punishment/Eternal Life
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
III. HELL IS A PLACE OF FEAR.
III. HELL IS A PLACE OF FEAR.
III. HELL IS A PLACE OF FEAR.
III. HELL IS A PLACE OF FEAR.
His truths are designed to warn us.
Somebody says, “I went and heard that preacher, and it scared the hell out of me.” Good. Good.
IV. HELL IS A PLACE OF SADNESS.
IV. HELL IS A PLACE OF SADNESS.
IV. HELL IS A PLACE OF SADNESS.
IV. HELL IS A PLACE OF SADNESS.
Dante’s Divine Comedy describes the fictional journey of the author through hell and ultimately to heaven. In the “Inferno” section, he describes the sign above the portal of hell. “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.”
What is so sad about hell is that there’s no hope for anyone that will ever go to hell.
In the “Inferno” section, he describes the sign above the portal of hell. “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.”
V. HELL IS A PLACE OF ISOLATION.
V. HELL IS A PLACE OF ISOLATION.
Everybody I knew was going to hell. Hell weren’t going to be that bad. All my buds were going to be in hell.
There’s only one thing wrong. There is no record in the Bible of there being fellowship among the lost in hell.
To the contrary ... And by the way, listen to this, this is really important.
In hell the man that is there, he’s not looking for who he can fellowship with. He is now praying. “Somebody go tell my five brothers warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
The last thing you want to do is see anybody else in hell.
VI. HELL IS A PLACE OF SEPARATION.
VI. HELL IS A PLACE OF SEPARATION.
There’ll never be a morning in hell. There will never be a good morning greeting in hell. No one will ever say good night. Why?
Because they’re in hell.
There will never be a good morning greeting in hell. No one will ever say good night. Why? Because they’re in hell. No wonder when somebody gets mad at somebody, they tell them to go to hell, because you can’t think of a more horrible place that you’d rather somebody go
No wonder when somebody gets mad at somebody, they tell them to go to hell, because you can’t think of a more horrible place that you’d rather somebody go.
Wrap it up and do it in nine minutes?
A FEW GOOD THINGS IN HELL:
I’m going to tell you every good thing I found about hell.
There’s some good things in hell. Listen to the good things in hell
A FEW GOOD THINGS IN HELL:
1. GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN HELL.
1. GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN HELL.
The rich man in this story is moral and caring.
27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
luke 16:
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
Good people go to hell. Morally speaking, don’t tell me that you don’t know people that are good that are not Christians. I know some people that are not Christians that live about as good and sometimes better than those who claim they are.
Now compared to Jesus there is no one that can be called good. But to human standards there are people that are good.
II. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
How do I know?
20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate.
Let me ask you this… if you went to drive home today and there was a homeless man leaning against your mailbox. What would you do? Call the police? I know you would bring him food and care for him. That’s why you are all the best.
He let this man sit by his beautiful house to beg for money.
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side
23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.
, CSB).
This mans vision was so good that he could see what he was missing. He could see that he was separate from God and that nothing before really mattered.
Has God giving you that vision?
3. GOOD PRAYERS ARE IN HELL.
3. GOOD PRAYERS ARE IN HELL.
24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
, CSB)
my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ (, CSB)
Have mercy on me....
What a great prayer… If he had prayed that before his passing he would not be on that position now.
I’m glad that in 2006 I cried out to God and asked Him to have mercy on me and to save me.
4. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.
4. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.
IV. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.
25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
, CSB).
Listen to this, here’s what you’ll have in hell. Consciousness, memory, awareness.
things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony’ (, CSB).
What will you remember? This is just a thought. Listen to this, listen to me carefully. Please give me your undivided attention. Somebody in this service may never be converted. You may live to be 85, and then you go to hell, and in hell one day, you’ll be able to remember this sermon.
You may remember all the times you had an opportunity to turn and give your life to Jesus but you decided to wait. You thought I have time.
5. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.
5. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.
V. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.
He realized that God exists. There are no atheists in hell. “I don’t believe there is a God.” One day you will. Everyone in hell believes the Bible.
“… every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.
6. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.
, CSB).
VI. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.
27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—because I have five brothers —to warn them,
They believe in evangelism in hell. They’re asking him to send somebody back and knock on their door, go to their house. “Hey, I’m here, not from Southside Baptist, I’m here from hell, and I’ve come to warn you not to go to hell.”
so they won’t also come to this place of torment’ (, CSB).
“testify to them”: witness
“lest”: warn them
They believe in evangelism in hell. They’re asking him to send somebody back and knock on their door, go to their house. “Hey, I’m here, not from First Baptist Woodstock, I’m here from hell, and I’ve come to warn you not to go to hell.”
People in hell were wishing someone would go to their family and tell them.
Let’s not let the population of hell be more concerned over who’s going to hell than the people in the church are concerned about people going to hell.
By the way, the man in hell had five people on his prayer list. He had 5 ONE’s!
How many people on their way to hell have you prayed for in the last five years?
7. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE IN HELL.
7. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE IN HELL.
There’s good intentions in hell. I’m telling you this may be the most powerful part of this sermon.
You will hardly ever meet someone that will outright reject the gospel… “Get out of here with the gospel… I could care less if I went to helll...”
One can reject Christ through outright rebellion, but rejection of the Lord does not have to be active. One can deny and refuse Christ also through apathy, indifference, procrastination and even ignorance. Some people fully intend to follow the Lord, and one day they plan to do so. - Johnny Hunt.
and refuse Christ also through apathy, indifference, procrastination and even ignorance. Some people fully intend
refuse Christ also through apathy, indifference, procrastination and even ignorance. Some people fully intend
Hell is full of people that never intended to go there. They had good intentions.
to follow the Lord, and one day they plan to do so. - Johnny Hunt.
It’s been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Lord, and one day they plan to do so.
CONCLUSION:
What have you got to do to not go to hell?
What you have to do is repent of your sins, acknowledge that you’re a sinner. Your sins will send you to hell because they’re never dealt with, but you’re sorry for your sins and you ask God to forgive you and for Jesus Christ and Him alone to come into your life.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have
told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you
to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will
also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (, CSB).