An Interview From Hell!

Introduction:

 

     A.   You know, we talk a lot about the beautiful place that           God has prepared for his children.

 

           1.   I don’t talk a lot about the other place.

 

           2.   I prefer for people to serve God because of love and

not out of fear.

 

           3.   If you listen closely, you can hear that preference

                coming through even as we talk about the other place

today!

 

     B.   But we see in Matt. 25:31-46 that those on the left hand

will go to another place!  read 25:31-33,41-46

 

           1.   He refers to it here as eternal punishment.

 

           2.   In other places, we see it referred to as "HELL."

 

     Trans.

           Let’s look at this kind of Interview from Hell, and see

what we can learn about this place!

 

                                Prayer

 

                            Luke 16:19-31

 

I.   What can we learn about Hell from this passage?

 

     A.   He was in torment (v.23). "Pain" (Nelson footnote).

 

     B.   He could see what he had missed in Heaven (v.23).

 

           1.   I think this would be perhaps even harder to bear than the pain!

 

2.   Here he sees Lazarus, but I think seeing a place of love, joy, and peace when those things were absent from where he was would be among the hardest pain in hell!

 

3.   Being out of the presence of these things and Jesus would be hell to me!

    

     C.   The torment will be inflicted by a flame!

 

           1.   He begged for just a drop of water to cool his

                tongue!

 

           2.   We are told other places that this flame will be

                everlasting.

 

           3.   Some would say there is not actual hell with flames.

          

                a.   The scriptures here do describe such a place,

so I think we do have to realize the

possibilities!

 

                b.   Again, for me, the worst punishment of hell

whether there is an actual place or not will

be being out of the presence of a God of Love

and all that is good!

 

     D.   He still could remember the things that had happened in life: all the opportunities he had missed to accept Christ.

 

           1.   He had not shown mercy to Lazarus, and he remembered

that!

 

           2.   One of the characteristics of Luke is that Luke writes like it is impossible for the rich to go to heaven!

 

a.   We need to hear that because by most of the

world’s standards, we are rich!

 

                b.   It isn’t about the money, but it is about what

do we let it do to us.  Are we greedy?  Do we

ever have enough to be generous?  Do we do the

things with the riches that God would have us

to?

 

                c.   The rich man here had lived in luxury and had

let Lazarus suffer, literally eating the crumbs

from under his table!  This speaks to us as

individuals and as a country, especially at a

time when many programs for the poor are being

cut to provide tax breaks for the rich!

 

     E.   He would do things different if he could have another

           chance (v. 27-31). 

 

1.   I think we can assume this from these verses.

 

2.   He couldn’t go back and tell his loved ones, so he

asks Father Abraham to send someone to tell them of

this place!

 

3.   Abraham’s response was a no.  They would have to

listen to those who were there! 

 

II.  Realizing these facts about "Hell," we need to ask ourselves     two questions!

 

     A.   Am I listening to the folks who are here?  Am I listening

to the prophetic message that tells me of the Love of God

in Christ?  It's up to us to hear and prepare!

 

           1.   Today is the day that we can decide that.  When we               face the end of life, it will be too late! Today is

the day of Salvation!  Today is the day to accept what God has done for us in Christ!  God has made a way; we just need to accept!

 

           2.   Jesus is the only way that we can miss Hell!

 

                a.   We deserve Hell, but Jesus paid the price so that we don't have to go there!

 

                b.   If we will come to him and if we mean business                   about living for him, we can live with him                       forever in Heaven!  We can be a part of sharing

God’s love in the world today, and we can be

surrounded by God’s love throughout eternity in

a place we call heaven!

 

     B.   Am I doing what I can to help others miss this awful

           place?

 

           1.   Are you living and sharing the Love of God every day

and everywhere you go?

 

a.   I am more and more convinced that this is the

best way we can reach those we love!  I don’t

think we’ll reach them by scaring them to a

commitment by preaching hellfire and brimstone at

them!

 

                b.   People are skeptical of those who think they

have all the answers but really don’t live the

love of God!

 

                c.   Be different!  Really tap into the love of God,

live it, and they will ask you questions!

 

1.   When they do, you will be able to share the

love of God in Christ and tell them what

difference Christ means to you!  You don’t

have to have all the answers!  Just point

 them to the one who does!

 

                     2.   You will have the opportunity to invite

them to church!

                    

                     3.   John Wesley charged us to “Offer them

Christ!”  That offer doesn’t just come

from the pastor, but it comes from all of

us! “Offer them Christ!”  Not, Cram Christ

down their throat!

 

                     4.   If you get them here, they can hear the

                           message!

 

           2.   Folks, there is an urgency; we don't know how many   

                more opportunities we will have to tell them of

                Christ this side of eternity!

 

a.  How we do it matters!

 

b.  Let God use your life to be a witness to the Love of God!

 

Conclusion:

 

     A.   We are going to live on forever and forever one place or         the other.  Which one will it be? 

 

1.   If you have never accepted what God has done for you

in Christ, you can do it as we encounter Christ at

the table today!

 

           2.   If you do, let me know so I can help you with your

new life in Christ!

 

     B.   Our loved ones are going to spend eternity somewhere!            What are we doing to make sure it is in Heaven?

 

           1.   As we encounter Christ at the table, Christ can

forgive us for past failures!

 

2.   We can be filled with the Love of God to be more

effective in the future! 

 

           3.   Ask God to give you opportunities and to help you take those opportunities in the future!  Ask Christ to help you to know what to say and when!

 

 

           Read Rev. 20:11 - 21:4

 

                         Prayer of Confession

                         Service of Communion