The Reality of Hell

The Reality of Hell

Luke 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 
Luke 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 
Luke 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 
Luke 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 
Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 


If God where to warn you tonight would be your last night, what kind of preparation would you make? If this where your last day would you be prepared, if your soul was required tonight would you be ready. Each needs to ask themselves that question. Many today believe in heaven, but for some reason do not believe in Hell:

• Only 59 percent of Americans believe in hell, compared with 74 percent who believe in heaven, according to surveys from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
• Research from Barna Associates shows that only 32 percent of adults see hell as “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death. 8% or more of Churchgoers do not even believe in a literal hell. 

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Luke 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 
Luke 16:20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 
Luke 16:21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 
Luke 16:22  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; 
Luke 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (He has the sense of what he missed out on)
Luke 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me (Now has a desire for mercy, but now is judgement), and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue (thirst that cannot be fulfilled); for I am tormented in this flame. 
Luke 16:25  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. 
Luke 16:26  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. (No Escape) 
Luke 16:27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 
Luke 16:28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 
Luke 16:29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 
Luke 16:30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 
Luke 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (The worm, the conscience that does not die eating at him for all enterity) 

This is the Reality of Hell 

Let's clarify a few things before we move on..

1st- Hell was not created for humanity
Matthew 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

2nd- Everlasting Destruction is for the Disobedient. 
2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 
2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (Never ending destruction, NO Escape out of Enteral Death) 

3rd- God is just
Many times the question is asked, "how could a good, loving God send anyone to hell." 
1st- God sends no one to Hell, your own diobedience and sin places you there. (John 3:16- God made a way for whomsoever will) 
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 
All that God did was to give us an opportunity at enteral life. As Peter told the hearers on the day of Pentecost, "save yourselves from this untoward generation." (ACTS 2:38 WAS THE MESSAGE TO SAVE THEMSELVES BY) 
Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Sin will send us to Hell, but God is not willing it be so...

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (turning, and when you really turn and believe the rest will follow John 3:3-5)


Deut. 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

Rom 3:8  And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 

God is just, and he is a just judge. Would a just judge let lawbreakers go unpunished, well neither can a just God let sin go unpunished. 

The Reality of Hell 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 


Lets get a Bibical description of what we are escaping: 

It will be a place of no rest- Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 
Rest- intermission, no break. Cannot sleep it away. 

Torment, Hopelessness of Desires being Fulfilled- Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
Luk 16:24  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. 

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth- (5 times in New Testament, four in Matthew and once in Luke) Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (Place for hyrocrites according to Matthew 24:51, so I would rather be in church than in the world)Outer Darkness (Used three times, all in Matthew) 


WE CAN SEE WHY THE BIBLE SAID: 
Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
Mar 9:44  Where their *worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

-*will forever be conscious of the fact that they will never have what they could have had. Worm feeds on soul as worms on body. Accusing, Condemming, and Upbraiding self. Seperation from God, from hope means no escape from constant reminder of What Ifs? Fully Restored Memory of any preaching, any Sunday school class, any warning to escape hell. 

This is the Reality of Hell 

Bottomless Pit, Lake of Fire, Everlasting destruction, Fire and Brimstone. 

This is the Reality of Hell. 

Heb 2:1  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 
Heb 2:2  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 
Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 

Mat 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 

Regardless of the unbelievers today Heaven and Hell are both REAL. But A REAL God who loves us wants us to escape the damnation of Hell. For that very reason he manifested himself in flesh and shed blood for our remission:

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

What are you waiting on, no time to waste: Repent and Believe the gospel. Be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and recieve the Holy Ghost! 

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And for the backsliders out there, come home:

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

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Destiny Created

Determining your Destiny

“Our determination determines our destiny.”

“Our decisions determines our destiny.”

Elimelech and Naomi had traveled to the land of Moab during famine, their two sons married Moabite women which for a moment gives Naomi hope in her horrible conditions. Elimelech was now dead, and ten years afterward his two sons die. Naomi is left childless and a widow, so are Orpah and Ruth the two Moabite women who married Naomi's two sons. Naomi hears that the famine in Israel is over and decides to return since she has no kindred in Moab.

Ruth 1:6-18

You must remember Ruth is a nobody in today's terms, many would look at her that way. And being from Moab her nor Orpah should expect to receive any charity from Israel. Ruth had no bright future, as many would never have without the Holy Ghost and the church, but she clave to Naomi and God. Our faithfulness and dependability determine our true love. Orpah kissed and wept, but Ruth clave (joined, stuck together).

Make up in your mind to serve God; broken homes, divorced parents, no matter your background your decisions and determination (your choices and your attitude) determine your destiny. First generation or 5^th generation Pentecostal, your background and atmosphere does not always determine your destiny. Your choices and attitude does.

Prefect atmosphere, wrong attitude and choices

Judas- prefect atmosphere, one of the 12. Demas- Prefect situation with Paul.

Devil- prefect situation, sinned when there was no devil. Jeroboam- prefect situation.

Neither had the prefect attitude! 

Not so prefect atmosphere, but right choices and attitude

Moses- born in a time of death for infants, lived and chose to follow God.

David- least among his brethren chosen because he had a heart after God.

Abraham- called out of a idol worshiper's home to follow the true God.

Paul- persecuted the church, God changed him.

Your determination and choices determine your destiny, not your current circumstances.

As widows do Ruth went to glean in Boaz's field who was kin to Naomi.

Ruth 2:11-12, Ruth 4:13-15.

Boaz

Rahab, the harlot, made a decision to house spies sent to spy out Jericho. One of those spies was Salmon, and God spared Rahab and her family. She made a decision that changed her destiny, who before was a nobody. She had a child with that spy named Salmon, his name was Boaz. See destiny being created by attitude and choices.

So Ruth crosses paths with another person who came from a nobody that God made into a somebody. And from Ruth and Boaz came a son named Obed and from him came Jesse and from Jesse came King David. Wow the creation of a destiny by determination and decisions to serve God.

Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

The Lineage of Jesus, what destiny! 

God only knows what destines can be created! We got to make the decision, a made up mind. We can have everything going for us. 

-Bro. C

Acts 2:38, obey it! 

The Truth About Grace

So there are those that say Grace alone saves us? Let's see what the Bible says:

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.

So IF grace alone saves us then all men will be saved, because clearly the grace of God has appeared unto all men. 

Let's consider this next verse from the same Bible:

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, wh

ich leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.

verse 23....I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So clearly from the Bible all men will not be saved. So either the Bible contradicts itself, are the statement that grace alone saves us is wrong. I am going to stick with the Bible over the traditions of men, and say the Bible is always right. The grace of God has appeared unto all men and gave them opportunity but unless we let God work in our lives we will be lost.

Grace + nothing does not and never will equal salvation.

But rather grace brings us opportunity to obtain salvation by the word of God.

Grace +Faith+ Obedience= Salvation

We want to be like the wise man who later on in chapter 7 of Matthew heard the sayings of Jesus and did them. God showed us his grace by what he did and then giving us a preacher to preach to us his word, so we could mix it with faith and obey the scriptures. And when we obey he gives us his spirit.(Acts 5:32)

God's grace appeared unto Noah (Genesis 6:22), but Noah then had to listen to God's voice and build a ark. God has given us a plan, his word, and his grace (divine influence) is working on our hearts asking us just to listen and obey his voice just like Noah did. And when Noah listened in faith, he was saved from destruction.

Titus 2:12 goes on to say "(grace) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...

So grace teaches us, that's what God is trying to do by his word. Teaches us how to please him, and that's by being obedient.

Never take tradition, or what you have always heard or thought, over the word of God. The word is always truth, and truth is the only thing we need.

-Bro. C
Acts 2:38, obey it!

It is easy to not compromise when you LOVE the TRUTH!

Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Politically correct? No. Sympathy toward sin? No. Jesus did not seem to sympathize with hypocrites and sinners one bit. He had compassion on everyone, he had love for everyone, but he did not allow sin to go without being dealt with.

You see it everywhere today, sympathy for wrong doing and justification for wrong actions. Everywhere from news media to “churches”, from schools to jobs folks are having to deal with good being spoken evil of, all the whiles evil is being promoted. Media attention goes to Hollywood filled with homosexuality and all uncleanliness, idols are made out of people that are far from role model material. Many children can tell the latest on television shows but not quote one scripture. Tolerance is being screamed from the Left all while not giving any tolerance to the beliefs of others. As in the news recently with Chick-fil-a, standing for the morals you believe in can get you in a heap of hot water in today's society. We are living in dangerous times, filled with sympathy for sin and intolerance for Christian beliefs.

So the media is not favorable toward those that want to live right, neither is the government in many circumstances. So we must stand together for what is right. Preachers can not become sympathizers toward evil, saints cannot begin to welcome sin into their homes. True preachers are going to be like Jesus, who faced opposition but never quit preaching the truth. The world's only hope is in truth, so in compassion we must continue to preach what the world needs to hear. Preach to me preacher, no one else is going to in the world we live where everything seems to go in their eyes.

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus saw the one thing this man lacked, and instead of just sympathizing with him he let him know. The man could then make a decision either to listen and live, are not and face eternal damnation. Thank God that today there are still those that love people just like Jesus loved this man, loving them enough to tell them what they lack. No beating around the bush, no sympathy toward sin, no politically correctness, just a straightforward answer to the problem. Thats what truth does, truth is just right. When you preach truth, you are never in doubt you know what is right and wrong according to God. Thank God for my pastor that always preaches the truth in love, thank God for the knowledge of the truth so I can always preach the truth in love. You can have confidence in truth.

So while the world is wishy-washy in what they believe and compromise about everything the church just keeps right on going with confidence because we know in whom we have believed, and we are persuaded. Do not be a sympathize, get persuaded of truth!  

It is easy to not compromise when you LOVE the TRUTH! 

-Bro.C, Acts 2:38 obey it! 

Strive According to God

2 Timothy 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

For the last few days the Olympic games have been taking place in London. And competing in those games are athletes that have given their entire life, and every ounce of their efforts to make it there to compete. But in order for them to be successful they must compete while staying within the rules and regulations  else the games would be nothing more than chaos.

• 100m ran in the wrong direction, or in the wrong lane, no matter how fast, will not win. 
• A javelin thrown the wrong direction, no matter how far, will not count. 
• A swimmer who does not compete with the proper stroke for the current event, will lose. 

In football there is an out of bounds. There are yard lines, there is a play clock and a game clock. There are rules and a set time, why? So there will not be chaos, and there will be a functioning game. 

• The throw maybe the longest and most spiraling, but if it is caught out of bounds it is in vain.
• The kick may be the longest in history, but if it does not go between the goal post there are no points.
• May have the best team, but penalties can derail the win. 

In baseball there are rules. Three strikes you are out, three outs and the inning is over. After nine innings if you have fewer points you lose the game. 

• May be the longest hit ever, but it's no home run without being between the lines. 
• The 4th swing may have sent it out of the park, but after three you where out. 
• Your team may have been able to score 10 runs in the 10th, but there is no 10th unless you are tied. 

In everyday life, there are rules and there are regulations. There are things that the employee must abide by, there are rules the students must live by, there are rules that families must live by. And there are also rules we must live by if we plan to be saved. 

• We can do good deeds, but if we are not born-again it is in vain. 
• We can pay tithes, pray, fast, and read the Bible, but yet not be striving lawfully. 
• We can be good people, and still be lost. 
• We may sound good, and be a good speaker, but our efforts to win souls is in vain without the truth. 

So not only must we strive, but we must strive according to the word of God. And to begin to even strive for him we must be baptized in Jesus name living a repented life filled with the Holy Ghost. Then we must follow the word of God. It's not enough to fight, we must fight the good fight of faith. 

-Bro. C

Acts 2:38, read it and obey it! 

Never Look Back

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Once we begin a new life, living for God, we must never begin to look back. Anything that God requires of us, any sacrifice, is well worth it. Why would we allow anything from our past to keep us from the riches in Christ Jesus. Our destination is far greater than anywhere we could go in this life, it's far greater than anything we could have or obtain in this world, it's far greater than any pleasurable moment we could enjoy here. Whatever the cost of being apart of the kingdom of God, it is well worth the price.

Never, ever look back. Keep going forward, because any man that looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. Any one that would treasure the old man and the old lifestyle more than the their life being born again, is not fit for the kingdom of God. Any man that would rather have his old addictions and attitudes than the new mind he has obtained in the kingdom of God, is not fit for the kingdom of God. Any person that would rather have it their way and do whatever he or she likes rather than do the things which please God, is not fit for the kingdom of God. Anyone who would not what God's standards as their standards and would rather have everything the same as it was before they where born again, is not fit for the kingdom of God.

In Christ Jesus we are new creatures.

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ (born-again), he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And when the Holy Ghost is guiding us, it will guide us unto all truth. Hence it will not lead us backward to the life before, but rather into the area where our actions please God. Thats why we cannot even take the slightest look back at where we came from, it has nothing to offer us. We become new creatures, with new habits, and new behavior, why? Because we are born-again, and when we are truly born again it is easy for us to learn and adapt. When we are truly born again we will adhere to the Bible and desire the sincere milk of the word so we can grow. So if we reject the word then there is a problem, for when we truly are born again we are babes in Christ and are teachable. Those that are not teachable and not being led into all truth are those that are looking back, and are not fit for the kingdom of God. But those that really have gotten a new heart will be led by the Word of God, and will have no desire to look back.

So let's forget those things which are behind, sin is not something to brag about. And lets focus on the task before us, and that is making it all the way and helping as many as we can to do the same.

-Bro. C

Acts 2:38, obey it!