4-13-2008 AM Service Sermon

Posted on 04.13.08 4:04PM under Sermons

Title/Subject: The Stability of Hell
Speaker: Stacy Watford
Date: 04-13-2008 Morning Service

The Stability of Hell
Luke 16:19-31Luke 16:19-31
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
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.  

I. The Two Men - the social position has nothing to do with their eternal state; Jesus is not saying that all rich men are going to Hell and beggars, poor, broke folk are going to heaven - the context of the passage begins in Luke 16:14-18Luke 16:14-18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.  

when Jesus notices that there were “Pharisees.. who were covetous” - it wasn’t the rich man’s wealth that sen him to Hell, it was the coveting and greed of money instead of having a true relationship with God that sent him to Hell.

a. The Rich Man - Proverbs 27:20Proverbs 27:20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. never: Heb. not  

“Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” again, the rich man was never never satisfied with what he had — He “feared sumptuously every day” - splendidly, magnificently - purple and linen - cloths of royalty.

b. Lazarus, the beggar - Not much is known about him other than he was “full of sores” and deep in poverty. It must be understood that at some time in this man’s live, he trusted in God as his savior.

II. The Two Places - both places are real and eternal.

a. Heaven - just as much as there is a stability of Hell - there is a stability of Heaven. Heaven is real. It is eternal.

i. Luke 6:23Luke 6:23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.  

ii. Luke 10:20Luke 10:20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.  

iii. 2 Corinthians 5:12 Corinthians 5:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  

iv. 1 Peter 1:3-41 Peter 1:3-4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, abundant: Gr. much 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, for you: or, for us  

v. Revelation 4

b. Hell

i. At least seven times Hell is associated with FIRE

1. Matthew 18:9Matthew 18:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.  

2. Proverbs 6:19Proverbs 6:19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  

3. Mark 9:45Mark 9:45
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: offend...: or, cause thee to offend  

4. Luke 16:24Luke 16:24
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
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.  

ii. Psalm 9:17Psalm 9:17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.  

iii. Backbiters (defamer, evil speaker) & Backstabbers are in danger of Hell - David records in Psalm 55 not by “an enemy” for “then I could have borne it”; not by someone who hated him; but a friend, a “guide” an “acquaintance” - “We took sweet counsel together, and walked into the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into Hell” - Jesus related it this way by saying, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6Matthew 18:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  

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iv. An Adulterous Heart is in danger of Hell - three times in Proverbs: Proverbs 5, 7Proverbs 5, 7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.  

, and 9 does Solomon say that if you entertain a prostitute that “Her house is the way to Hell.”

v. The religious, Pharisaical, hypocrites are in danger of Hell (Matthew 23)

1. Jesus said, “woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of Hell than yourselves”

2. Jesus then said, “ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity;” then he spoke against their religious activities; then said “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell”

iv. Hell was ultimately designed for Satan.

vii. Jesus also referred to Hell as “utter darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13Matthew 22:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

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III The Stability of Hell.

a. There is a “megas chasma sterizo;” a great gulf fixed - even if you wanted to leave there, you couldn’t.

b. HELL is not MOVING for you! If you stay in your sin, you creep closer and closer to Hell and it’s not backing down.

c. Jonathan Edwards made these statements:

i. “There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of Hell, but the mere pleasure of God.”

ii. “if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf.. and your own care and prudence.. and all your righteousness, would no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of Hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.”

d. HELL IS NOT MOVING FOR YOU! But bless God you can move away from Hell! It is called Repentance! Turning from you sins! Christ causes you to realize that you’re headed down the road to Hell and gives you a U-Turn by the Blood!

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