A Story of Hell

Introduction (Open to Luke 16)

Recap Sermon Series

Week 1 - Fisher of Men - We are all called to share the Gospel… will you commit to sharing with one person this year

Week 2 - Healing the Paralytic - What are you willing to do to get your one in front of Jesus

Week 3 - The Importance of One - One can make a big difference, One conversation, one prayer, one conversion

This Week - A Story of Hell

There are some topics that you can bring up that just makes things awkward real quick

politics at a family reunion or holiday

saying nothing good comes from California when there are people in the congregation from California

Hell is a topic that too many churches ignore, though Jesus talked about it a lot!

too many people understand what it is, as if it is a place where the “fun” people will be

 “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.,j 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!’

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.,j 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.’ ”

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.’ ”

PRAY!

Explain that this is a parable and what a parable is...

Retell the parable in my own words

Two men… Rich man and poor man Lazarus

not the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead, but ironically this is the only parable that Jesus names one of the characters

Poor man

not the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead, but ironically this is the only parable that Jesus names one of the characters

He is sick… sores all over his body that he has no relief from, not helped at all by the rich man, though he is outside his gate.

the problem is not unknown by those that might be able to help

I wonder how many problems are right outside of our door that we ignore… different sermon for a different day.

He has no food, is starving to death… Just wants the crumbs from the table of the rich man, Can I get the leftovers

Rich man

He is very blessed…

he has all the food that he wants… plenty of clothes, He is a K-state fan… wears purple, a detail that is brought out to demonstrate how rich he is

He knows Lazarus

because after they die, he calls him by name

Showing that he knew him before, ignored him and his needs

Both men die

death does not discriminate

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot;

2 There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot;

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot;

And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—

27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot;

There is an occasion for everything,

and a time for every activity under heaven:

Lazarus to Abraham’s side, or paradise, or heaven

2 a time to give birth and a time to die;

a place where there will be no more pain, a place of comfort

a time to plant and a time to uproot;

this is the only place that this term, Abraham’s side is used

The rich man was taken to Hell… a place of eternal torment

he asked for different things…

he expected Lazarus to serve him… send Lazarus…

he wanted relief

he wanted his family to not come to where he is

Hell is not a place created for man, but for the angels who rebelled against God

“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!

“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!

And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

God does not send us to Hell… We go there on our own

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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.

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.

The parable does not say that poor people go to heaven and rich people go to hell

And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Jesus does say it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Your salvation depends if you know Jesus…

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Only those that do the will of the father enter…

v23, I never knew you… The will of God is that you know and are known by the son.

Do you know Jesus?

For those who do not know Christ, they will be cast out from the son, into what Jesus has called,

outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

I have made the claim over the last couple weeks that we would be more willing to share the gospel if we really believed or knew about Hell

Hell is...

Eternal

English Standard Version Chapter 16

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.’

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.’

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.’

there is nobody that will go from one place to another…

they will not have a second chance

we will not be able to trade them places

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

not that they are there forever, but their torment continues for eternity

11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

A Place of Pain

he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

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.’

he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

the pain and anguish of wanting just a drop of water…

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.’

A Place of Fear

a constant knowing that it is forever…

not that we should be afraid of Hell now, though we should

but a constant pain for eternity leaves you wanting to know what is next and when you do not know, it leaves you fearful

A Place of Sadness

Dante’s Inferno… Abandon hope, all who enter here

v27 transitions from worrying about himself to worrying about his family

hope is gone for himself, so tell my family…

the hope that you could be saved from your pain

A Place of Isolation

people always think… we will be there together, we will have a party there

look at the the rich man sees nobody and talks to nobody but those he sees in Heaven… there is no fellowship of even the lost

A Place of Separation

They are separated from everyone, from everything accept for the pain that we feel and anxiety that they feel

They are separated from God…

Hell has…

Good People

we’ve seen “good people” but we know they are not really… you have been to funerals that have talked about how good that person was, you could swear that they were Jesus himself

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11  no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

11  no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

Good Vision

Look at the passage… there is a great chasm that he could see across into heaven

Good Prayers

v24 Have mercy on me…

v27 tell my family the gospel so they do not come here

Good Memory

in the parable, Abraham tells him remember

remember your life… all the things that you had

i am convinced that it will be remembering the opportunity that they had to accept Christ… the times that they dismissed or spoke poorly of Christ

Good Theology

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

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.

Everyone in Hell believes in Jesus… when I say everyone, I mean everyone person, every demon and Satan himself

They believe in Jesus, they know that he is the only way and they hate him

Good Priorities

Send them to my family! He now has five people on his list… how many do you have?

did you struggle to come up with one?

Good Intentions

Good intentions in this life… I meant to go to church more… I meant to do the religious thing, but there was no time

There will be all kinds of people who intended to follow Jesus…

One day… when I am ready,

Lady on the plane… I like to drink, I will think about it when I am done drinking

Conclusion

Hell is defeated…

Jesus has defeated it on the cross

Jesus is building his church and the gates of hell cannot prevail

Our understanding should

cause us to praise God that he has made a way for us to be saved

cause us to want to tell others the gospel