Text: Luke 16:19-31 NIV (Key verses: 22-24) (NIV for all scriptures unless otherwise noted)

¹⁹“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²²“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.’ ²⁵“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ ²⁷“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ³⁰“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ ³¹“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Purpose: Seek the lost and lead them to Christ.

I.Intro

a.As I scour the scriptures, there are no references to hell or hades that would be considered positive or desirable

i.Hell (gr. Hades) is generally associated with death and agony for those that die without accepting Jesus Christ as Savior

1.54 references in KJV

ii.Jesus thought that hell is something that should be avoided at all cost, so much so He tells us in Matthew and Mark’s gospels that it is better to dismember oneself than to allow one part of your body to cause your entire body to end up in hell

1.Mark 9:47-48 - ⁴⁷And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

b.There are some that don’t even believe that hell is real

i.To them I say, “Do you really want to keep living in sin and find out later that it is real and be in torment for eternity?”

c.Who would think that there is anything that could be gleaned from hell and applied in the church

i.“We can learn something from everyone and everything. It may just be what not to do.”

ii.There are seven things that are in hell that we need to make sure are in the church

1.As we start to gear up our outreach efforts, we will not be successful without these seven things

II.Point #1: Clear Vision of Heaven

a.Luke 16:23 – ²³In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

b.A clear vision of heaven can be a blessing or a curse

i.If I am someone who has accepted Jesus Christ and is a part of the body

1.A vision of heaven brings comfort and joy

2.A vision of heaven motivates me to keep living my live to honor God

3.A vision of heaven is a confirmation that the struggle will not last always

ii.If I am someone that has lived my life completely devoid of Jesus and any desire to know Him,

1.A vision of heaven can be a painful reality of my impending doom

2.A vision of heaven is a reminder of that which I may never attain

3.If seen while living, a vision of heaven could be motivational to turn my life around

c.We don’t have to wait for death to get a vision of heaven

i.We get a vision of heaven whenever we experience the love and peace of God

1.When God’s love is seen through the people of God, we are getting a glimpse of heaven

2.When I can forgive others in spite of, there is a glimpse of heaven

3.When I can love those that mistreat me, there is a glimpse of heaven

d.It is natural for people to emulate the land that they are from

i.Ex. I was recently in Italy

1.The people spoke a language that I did not understand

2.They ate at different times than I am used to

3.Some social norms that we may use to are different (i.e. smoking in public places)

ii.This world is not our home

1.John 15:19 – ¹⁹If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

2.The question is, “What world are we giving your neighbor a glimpse of by your words and actions?”

a.Are we giving our co-workers a clear vision of heaven by our talk?

b.Are we giving our children a clear vision of heaven by our actions?

iii.The fact is, that you might be the only image of Christ your children, your neighbors, or your friends may see

1.Give them a clear view of heaven

a.A place where love and compassion is commonplace

III.Point #2: Knowledge of the Reality of Hell

a.Luke 16:23 – ²³In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

b.The rich man may not have known or rejected the reality of hell while he was alive

i.The reality has now hit him square in the face

ii.Let’s be clear, hell is real!

1.Not just something that preachers use to scare people into living right

a.Even though the fear of hell is why many of us got saved in the first place

2.Hell is a place of torment intended as a judgement for Satan, his angels, and unbelievers

a.“Why would a righteous, kind, loving God choose to send his creation to a place of torment?”

i.Romans 1:18-19 – ¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

ii.The truth is that God does not choose hell for us

1.We choose it by a rejection of His Son whom He has revealed to the world

2.It is not that God just revealed Himself thousands of years ago, and not today

a.There are some who have seen the truth of God’s love and have suppressed it

b.Examples

i.If we wake up in the morning, God has revealed Himself

ii.When the sun shines, God is revealing Himself

iii.When it rains or snows, God is revealing Himself

iv.When love is shown where hate is appropriate, God is revealing Himself

b.God desires that every person on earth be saved from the torment of hell

i.1 Timothy 2:3-4 – ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

ii.It does not matter how jacked up your life may be, or the things you have done in the past, God still wants every person to be saved from hell

1.Notice: The rich man has died and is in hell, but he can still feel pain (In hell, where he was in torment…)

a.Jesus came to save every one of us from this torment

b.Hell is real!

i.Live today so you don’t go there tomorrow

IV.Point #3: Tears for Our Current Condition

a.Luke 16:24 – ²⁴So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.’

b.The reality of the rich man’s situation had just hit

i.Lazarus – God is our helper

1.Too bad the rich man had to find out too late

2.The rich man never called on God until his physical comfort was impacted

a.Let’s not be too hard on the rich man

i.That is like many of us

ii.The problem is that change will never occur without first realizing how bad our current condition is

1.Examples

a.Alcoholism

b.Weight Loss

c.Fear of torment

iii.We, in the church, have to show the unchurched the joy of being heaven-bound

1.Sometimes realization of our current condition does not occur without confrontation

a.The unchurched need to be confronted with

i.The cold hard truth of hell

ii.The excitement of heaven

iii.The joy and peace of living with Christ right now

iv.The love of God

b.We need to get away from the “I’ve got mine, these four and no more” mentality

i.Let’s be honest, sometimes we are the cause for the unchurched not having tears for their current condition

1.We have not shown them a better way

2.They look at us and say, “If that’s what Christianity is all about, I don’t want any part of it.”

2.As believers, there must be a difference in our walk and our talk

a.Ex. I can’t just cuss someone out just because they wronged me

i.Then say, “Praise the Lord”

b.Ex. I can’t just punch you in the mouth just because you talked bad about me

i.Then say, “I love Jesus.”

c.WE HAVE GOT TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD TO SHOW THEM A BETTER WAY!

c.As believers, we cannot get complacent in our walk

i.“I’m on my way to heaven so I can coast now!”

ii.James 2:26 – ²⁶As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

1.Believers should always want to grow closer to God

2.We should never be content with our current condition

V.Point #4: A Prayer Life

a.Luke 16:27 – ²⁷“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,

b.The rich man, all of a sudden recognized the need for prayer

i.Let’s not wait for calamity to hit for us to start praying

ii.Prayer is a conversation between you and God

1.Ex. Imagine if you were in a relationship, but the only time you spoke to the other person was when something went wrong

a.That’s what we do to God

2.Why Pray?

a.Restore our relationship with God

i.Satan does not want us to know this

1.“You haven’t prayed for a while. Don’t bother, God won’t hear you.”

2.“You really messed this time. That sin is too big. Don’t bother.”

ii.A prayer of confession and request for forgiveness gets our sins washed away

1.1 John 1:9 – ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2.It is our sin that has damaged our relationship with God

a.Prayer can restore that relationship

b.Bring our will in line with God’s will

i.I don’t know about you, but even as a believer, I have those internal prayers that are not in line with God’s will

1.Ex. “This person wronged my, Lord rain down fire.”

2.Ex. “That person just cut me off, Lord strike them down!”

3.Ex. “Lord, I don’t want my children to suffer, please don’t let them make bad decisions that I know will not turn out well.”

ii.Luke 22:42 – ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

1.“Not my will, but yours be done.”

a.Regardless of what we want, adding this to your prayer acknowledges God’s sovereignty over everything

c.Demonstrate our trust in God

i.Praying without belief is a waste of time

1.Our faith is the active ingredient to our prayers

2.Mark 11:24 – ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

ii.Pray God’s word back to Him

1.Trust in His timing

a.Lord you said “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.” (Prov. 8:17-18) Why am I struggling?

2.We must take His whole word

a.2 Thessalonians 3:10 – ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

b.We’ve got to do our part

i.Ex. “I am trusting God for good health.” As you eat a big bag of potato chips

3.Probably for the first time, the rich man was concerned about someone other than himself

a.Our prayers should not be totally focused on what I can get

b.Prayer model

i.A – Adoration

1.Worship and Praise

ii.C – Confession

1.We may not remember every sin

2.Ask for forgiveness in order to mend the relationship

iii.T – Thanksgiving

1.Remember the “little” things, like breathing

iv.S – Supplication

1.Petitions or requests are last

2.For yourself and for others

VI.Point #5: A Burden for the Lost

a.Luke 16:28 – ²⁸for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

b.Too often our perception is, “I got mine, you get yours the best way you can!”

c.The church is the only army that shoots its wounded

i.God saved us for a reason

1.We must get out of self in order to see the needs of others

d.Why should we have a burden for the lost?

i.We are commanded to love

1.The lost may be the one that just hurt you

2.The lost may be the one that society says you should not associate with

3.God says, we are to love our neighbor and our enemy

4.If someone is lost (i.e. don’t know Christ) and we do nothing, that’s not love

a.John 13:35 – ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

b.Jesus’ mission

i.Luke 19:10 – ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

ii.For us to have the mind of Christ, we must have the mission of Christ

e.The lost may be in your family

i.The lost may be on your job

ii.They may be sitting next to you in church

iii.Where your burden is, that is where your heart is

1.Ex. Wife, Family, Church, Youth

2.Burden without action is pity

a.The burden that I have for young people compelled me to become Youth Pastor; Lead the Children’s Choir; Have them crashing at my house

b.Ex. Outreach team

i.To be a part of the outreach team, you definitely need a burden for the lost

VII.Point #6: The Value of a Personal Testimony

a.Luke 16:28 – ²⁸for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

b.It’s one thing for me to tell you that God can deliver you from difficult times

i.It is another for me to share what I have gone through and how God is opened doors

c.The rich man realized that his brothers were destined for the same place of torment that he was in

i.He must have also realized that they would not listen to the prophets who were around them in the land of the living

ii.It would have been a powerful testimony

1.Illustration

a.Can you imagine if Lazarus, whom most people by now would have known had died, would have come back to life?

i.“I have come back from heaven and I was speaking to your brother who didn’t make it. He is in torment because of the life he lived on earth.”

2.When you are not sure how to witness to someone, tell your testimony

a.You may not have a dramatic testimony

i.It is still relevant

b.Let people know that you are not Super Saint

i.Where I am is a result of where I’ve been

VIII.Point #7: Recognize the Need and Importance of Repentance

a.Luke 16:30 – ³⁰“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

b.The rich man got a revelation that repentance would save his brothers from the torment of hell

i.It was too late, but he figured out that if you don’t want to go to hell, you need to repent now

ii.He now understood the value of repentance

c.Repentance (gr. Metanoia) – To think differently; a complete change of mind about sin that causes you to feel guilt when doing wrong

d.Pulling a 1 John 1:9 is not repentance (it is only the first step)

i.⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

ii.Repentance is aligning my walk with God’s will

1.Illustration

a.Walking in sin while constantly asking for forgiveness

i.Repentance is turning in the opposite direction

ii.Romans 6:1-2 – ¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

iii.Don’t let your pet sin walk you

1.Ex. Used to have a Great Dane that would try to go in the direction that he wanted to go instead of where I wanted to go

iii.Repentance is a conscious decision to forsake sin in order to enter into fellowship with God

1.We must care more about a relationship with God than the thrill of sin

IX.Conclusion

i.While we are still in the land of the living, there are those that are waiting on the church to fulfill its mandate

1.To seek the lost and lead them to Christ

2.If God has given you a vision of the glory of heaven and the reality and torment of hell

a.Seek the lost

3.If you realize that your current condition is not all you can be, and there is more that God can do through you

a.Then seek the lost

4.If within your prayer life, God puts a burden in your heart for those that have gone astray

a.Seek the lost

5.When you realize that your testimony is a tool that God uses to draw people towards repentance

a.Then seek the lost

ii.Church, I feel such a burden for the souls on this mountain

1.I am asking out outreach team to develop a plan for outreach that impacts the lives of those around us in physical and spiritual way

Seven Things in Hell That Ought To Be In The Church - Stroudsburg, PA Campus Pastor Carl McCullough

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