Romans 13:1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2) Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Intro: For a few moments I would like to talk to you about a subject few discuss any more or even will preach and that is HELL. In a time when we see that we need to warn people of Hell we see that we fail for fear of offending someone. Or worst we take the word Hell and water it down with phrases as “the bad place”, “Hades”, “down stairs”, or worst of all we are so scared to say that word to someone we just point to the ground and say “you don’t want to go there.” It’s time to wise up and know that there is a Hell and millions are going each year. Judging by the way people are acting these days hell is experiencing a population explosion. It was once quoted “that since the old time evangelist have almost disappeared from the scene, hell doesn’t seem half as hot as it used to.” Well let me tell you it’s still hot and probably hotter than ever and I’m not afraid to talk about it where as many want to preach God bless me, God bless you, and God bless the world, well God does bless, but He also judges for in His word it is written in Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead. I can not preach the whole word of God without including hell. And if you don’t like it then know that in Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
I. First I want to describe this place of torment…to some judging from the way they behave, they must think Hell is air-conditioned!
A. Hell is an everlasting fire, in Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
B. It’s an everlasting punishment, in Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
C. It’s an outer darkness, in Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
D. It’s an Everlasting destruction, in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
II. Now that we see what Hell is lets see what it is like… in Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (20) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (21) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) 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;(23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.(24) And he 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. (25) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (26) 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. (27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (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.
A. We see that from the text that he was aware of his surroundings.
(Now talk about what it was like in Hell on the body)
III. Now who’s going?
A. In Matthew 25:41 we are told that Hell was made for the devil and his demons. In the word we are told that in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
IV. Now after death and you go to Hell you await your finally fate and that is your judgement. In Revelation 20: 11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
V. How do I avoid this fate?
A. In Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
B. In John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
C. In Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
D. In Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion: Before I end in prayer I would like to tell you a story about these two teenagers they were sitting in the back of the Church cutting up and not really paying any attention to the sermon, near the end the preacher gave his alter call and went to the back where the two boys were and ask them if they wanted to go to hell. They replied that they didn’t need that Jesus that was a lie they were good boys and God would let them in. The preacher turned to go back to the pulpit and one of the boys yelled out as they were leaving hey preach How far is it to Hell? And left laughing, well as the preacher began to leave to go home from church he went about 2 ½ miles up the road when he noticed a car wreck and the two boys being put into a body bag. Now I ask you how far are you from hell. (Give examples)
