If Hell Could Preach(2)

Intro:

In my lifetime I have heard many different sermons.

I’ve sat right where you’re at and listened to sermons.

I’ve heard my mentor Pastor Kenneth Woods, my good friend Terry Yancey (Supt. of Kansas A/G)

George Woods.

The sermons that have touched my life have been those that centered around the teachings of Jesus.

When hearing/thinking about the sermons/teachings of Jesus, I don’t think of just Jesus, but I also think about those around Him —and He had many around Him, following Him.

Often I see throughout Jesus’ teachings—maybe you’ve noticed too—there was a certain group of people around Him that especially took interest in Him.

This group of people were made up of Pharisees, scribes, and experts of the Law. They struggled with what Jesus had to say—because Jesus would hang around tax collectors and sinners and the poor and the sick.

That didn’t line up with their thoughts because THOSE people from their perspective didn’t have God’s favor.

From their perspective, God’s favor and His blessings were seen in the powerful, the wealthy, the elite, the popular crowd, the wanted crowd.

Let me tell you about an encounter Jesus had with this group. Its recorded in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke chapter 16.

Luke 16:14–15 NLT

14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

Jesus in His compassion wanted this group to understand that their beliefs didn’t line up with God.

Often times Jesus used one of two methods , the question or a story, of helping people understand that their way is different than God’s way and a choice needs to be made.

So Jesus used a story in verse 19

This is what Jesus said

Luke 16:19–22 NLT

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,

This story tells us something.

EVERYONE Dies

Hebrews 9:27 NLT

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

Luke 16:23 NLT

23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

The rich man went to the place of the Dead—that place is HELL.

The next words are what I want you to pay very close attention to:

Luke 16:24a “The rich man shouted”

The title of my message this morning is:

“IF HELL COULD PREACH”

I want you to note that the rich man shouted!

What did he shout?

What did he want to get across?

What did he want to tell?

Luke 16:24 NLT

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

TRANS: If Hell could preach it wold SHOUT

It is a Place of Anguish

Pain, torment,

It is a Place of No Relief

Revelation 14:11 NLT

11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”

Luke 16:25 NLT

25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.

It is a Place of Consequence

Your actions, Your choices have consequences.

What is important to you right now?

What is important now may not be important to eternity.

Luke 16:26 NLT

26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

It is a Place of No Second Chances

It is irreversible.

Luke 16:27–28 NLT

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

It is a Place that Pleads for Evangelism

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Luke 16:29–31 NLT

29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

It is a Place that Offers No Excuse

Conclusion

I said IF HELL COULD PREACH but did you know who told this story?

These are the words of Jesus!

Who are you in this story?

Are you the rich man?

Are you Lazarus?

Its easy to say oh I’m Lazarus in this story. But it would serve well to make certain there is not a trace of the rich man character in you.

Who has God laid at your gate? Who is lying there hungry and in need, bearing the afflictions of our broken and fallen world?

What are you doing about that?

If you are a professing Christian, follower of Christ, think about your life prior to Christ.

I want to ask you Has anything changes?

Do you still talk like you did before Christ?

Do you still engage in ungodly activities?

Do you still view things that grieve he heart of God?

Do you still think about and fantasize on things that have no place in the life of a follower of Christ?