Good Things in Hell?

September 24, 2023

FBC Baxley

am service

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Welcome radio and online guests…

*It’s ok if you’re broken, unfaithful, lost, we are too and we are here seeking God’s will and way and plan.

We are all prodigals here…

Some rescued….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: Good Things in Hell?

Scripture Passage: Luke 16:19-31 & John 14:1-7

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.

MAIN TEXT: Luke 16:19-31 (ESV)

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

24 And 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.’

25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.

26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—

28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31 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.’”

PRAY

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.

God does not send anyone to hell; we go of our own will as we reject Christ.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17,ESV).

Richard Baxter (Puritan pastor) lived his life from the perspective of both heaven and hell.

He directed his church members on “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.”

Introduction:

I. HELL IS ETERNAL.

II. HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN.

III. HELL IS A PLACE OF FEAR.

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.”

IV. HELL IS A PLACE OF ISOLATION.

V. HELL IS A PLACE OF SEPARATION.

A FEW GOOD THINGS IN HELL:

I. GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN HELL.

The rich man in this story is moral and caring.

II. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.

“and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”

(Luke 16:23, ESV).

III. GOOD PRAYERS ARE IN HELL.

“And 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.’ (Luke 16:24, ESV)

IV. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” (Luke 16:25, ESV).

V. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.

“10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11, ESV).

VI. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.

“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ (Luke 16:27-28, ESV).

“testify to them”: witness

“lest”: warn them

VI. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE IN HELL.

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.

CONCLUSION:

Hell was not prepared for you!

Jesus has prepared a place for you.

““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”(John 14:1-7, ESV).

PRAY

Invitation

“Are you born again?”

Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?

“Have you surrendered/repented to Jesus?