S1: So then every opportunity that you've had to receive the
S1: good news of Jesus Christ for all of eternity, that's
S1: going to be playing in the computer of your mind.
S1: Can you imagine the agony of that?
S2: Welcome to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford,
S2: junior senior pastor of the Christ Bible Church in Chicago.
S2: I'm Steve Hiller, pastor. Today we continue on a sobering topic.
S2: That is the subject of hell. We began last time
S2: by addressing the fact that hell is a place of
S2: eternal torment. And as you just pointed out, one of
S2: those things that may torment us for eternity are those
S2: opportunities that we did have to come to know Christ
S2: that someone said no to.
S1: I believe every time you rejected the Lord Jesus Christ
S1: will be playing over and over again in your mind
S1: for all of eternity. Yeah, that you'll with pinpoint clarity
S1: and accuracy. Remember every time you rejected Jesus Christ and
S1: you're saying to yourself over and over again, I didn't
S1: have to be here. Why didn't I listen? Why didn't
S1: I listen? Yeah. The remorse, you know, for the failure
S1: to repent. And, man, I think that's going to be
S1: very evident.
S2: Yeah. And for maybe the person who doesn't know Christ
S2: and finds himself listening to this broadcast today, I hope
S2: that this is, uh, maybe an encouragement for you to
S2: begin that relationship with Christ. But for those who do know, Jesus,
S2: and I would think many listening today fall into that category,
S2: if not most. I hope this is kind of that
S2: kick in the backside to say, man, take this seriously
S2: and get out and share the good news with those
S2: around you.
S1: And especially if you have any family members that don't
S1: know the Lord, start there. Uh, you know, just go
S1: to them and just share. You know, I've known the
S1: Lord and I've been silent. But listen, I want to
S1: tell you that he loves you and that he died
S1: for you. And then don't forget, if you reject him,
S1: there is a hell that awaits. We don't want to
S1: say that, but it's a reality. And our failure to
S1: share that, you know, we're not giving them the whole
S1: counsel of God.
S2: Yeah, yeah. Very true. Well, today we are in Luke
S2: chapter 16, so I hope you open your Bible. Join
S2: us there as we continue a message called Seven Things
S2: in Hell that ought to be in the church. Here
S2: is Pastor Ford.
S1: Look what it says in Luke 1619 through 31. Let
S1: me give you the characteristics of hell. Characteristics of hell,
S1: number one is for self righteous sinners. What's the problem
S1: with the rich man? It isn't that he just didn't share.
S1: He demonstrated that he did not have the love of
S1: God in him according to all Old Testament passages. And so, uh,
S1: he is a self righteous sinner. Secondly, it is a
S1: place for souls. It's a place for souls. So it's
S1: a place for self-righteous sinners, and it's a place for souls.
S1: So then this teaches us and the other passages about it.
S1: There's no such thing as annihilation that a soul is eternal.
S1: And so everybody in here, whether you know Jesus Christ
S1: or not, you are going to live forever somewhere. Those
S1: of us who know Jesus will live forever in heaven,
S1: and those who don't are going to bust hell wide open,
S1: in the words of my mama. And so just because
S1: we don't believe it doesn't change anything. Notice then, so
S1: it's a place for self-righteous sinners. It's a place for souls.
S1: Then thirdly, it's a place of suffering. It's a place
S1: of suffering. So Matthew said, the worm dieth not. Uh,
S1: so it is, uh, a place where the worm. Now
S1: theologians aren't agreed. And I'm not a theologian, so I'm
S1: just going to tell you what both sides say. Where
S1: the worm dieth not. Some think it is your consciousness.
S1: Where the worm dieth not. Some think it's the soul.
S1: Now I lean on the side of consciousness, even though, uh,
S1: you know, like I said, I'm not a theologian, so
S1: I'm not sure. That's why, you know, you you study
S1: it on your own. But why would I say that?
S1: Because imagine the intensity of being able to know that
S1: you didn't have to be there. Had you listened to
S1: your grandmamma or had you listened to, you know, that
S1: time you went to church on Resurrection Sunday and heard
S1: the gospel and came in just as I am, and
S1: left just as you were, that you heard this and
S1: and now you're in hell, the worm. In other words,
S1: your consciousness about the fact that. So then every opportunity
S1: that you've had to receive the good news of Jesus
S1: Christ for all of eternity, that's going to be playing
S1: in the computer of your mind. Can you imagine the
S1: agony of that man? And so it is a place
S1: of self righteous sinners. It's a place of souls. It's
S1: a place of suffering. But then here's what else he
S1: teaches us. It's a place of searing flames because he says, I'm.
S1: I'm tormented in these flames. I'm tormented in these flames.
S1: Then I want you to notice. Fifthly, it's a place
S1: of separation. Separation says there's a great gulf, verse 26,
S1: between us and you, there's a great gulf fixed so
S1: that those who want to pass from here to you cannot,
S1: nor can those from there pass to us. So then
S1: it's a place of self-righteous sinners, souls suffering, searing flames, separation.
S1: It's a place of supplication. The rich man is praying,
S1: and he uses a word that literally means where he says.
S1: Then he said, I beg you. Therefore other places that's
S1: translated prayer. And so he is supplicating. Uh, then number seven,
S1: it's a place of sensitivity. So, so let me just
S1: let me just show you this. Let me just show
S1: you this. He says, um, then he said, verse 27,
S1: I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him
S1: to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that
S1: he may testify to them, that they also, lest they
S1: also come to this place of torment. So in hell,
S1: they're concerned about lost people. How concerned are we? Yeah,
S1: there's sensitivity to lost people. Yeah. And then, uh, finally,
S1: it's ceaseless. It's ceaseless, it's incarceration, and people will never
S1: get out. So there's some things hell will never have.
S1: No light, no liquid, no laughter, no liberty, and no
S1: one who isn't lost. Let me say it again. There
S1: are some things hell will never have. They will never
S1: have no light, no liquid, no laughter, no liberty, and
S1: no one who isn't lost. Now here it is. Let me,
S1: let me allegorize it. So this this is. You know
S1: what I did when I did that message? Uh, is
S1: now 16 years ago, I did a message entitled seven
S1: Things in Hell that ought to be in the church,
S1: seven things in hell that ought to be in the church.
S1: I'm going to drop them. I'm not going to push them.
S1: Number one vision. Vision. It says. He looked up, and
S1: being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes
S1: and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Yeah.
S1: I'm allegorizing, yes I am. Yeah, yeah. I'm not giving
S1: you the interpretation. I gave you that already. I'm giving
S1: you the application. Say, what are you talking about? Seeing
S1: afar off. What is vision? Duke Ellington had a definition
S1: of rhythm. Here's what he said. If you got it,
S1: you don't need a definition. And if you don't got it,
S1: ain't no definition going to help you. Yeah. Well, what
S1: is it? The ability to be able to see afar
S1: off regardless of your present circumstance? Here's a man in hell,
S1: but he has the vision to see Abraham's bosom and
S1: Abraham in Paradise And you know what the church needs. Vision. Visionaries. What?
S1: What is that? Vision is seeing where you want to
S1: be and believing God can take you there. Where do
S1: you want to be as a church? As a person?
S1: What are you trying to accomplish? You got to see
S1: yourself there. You got to be like the guy who's
S1: just started as a freshman in college. And the front
S1: of his shirt said, I'm going to be a doctor.
S1: And he was riding a bike. And the license plate said,
S1: And I'm going to be a Mercedes Benz. You gotta
S1: see where you want to be. Vision is believing God can.
S1: Vision is believing. God will. Vision is believing. God can
S1: and will do it for me, I like bananas definition
S1: of vision. He's got a book. If you want to
S1: read a great book that will fire you up about
S1: where God wants you to go, read bananas. Book on vision.
S1: Here's his definition I love it. Vision is a clear
S1: mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to
S1: his chosen servants, and is based upon an accurate understanding
S1: of God, self and circumstance. Let me say it again.
S1: Vision is a clear mental image of a preferable future,
S1: imparted by God to his chosen servants, and is based
S1: upon an accurate understanding of God's self and circumstances. Proverbs 2918.
S1: Come on, let's all say it together. Where there is
S1: no vision, the people perish. Where are we going? Christ. Bible.
S1: What are we going to do? Well, I hope, first
S1: of all, that we will pay off this sanctuary and
S1: then go ahead and build our community life center. That's
S1: what I hope that we will do. I've had that
S1: vision for a while. Helen Keller was asked, is there
S1: anything worse than being blind? Here's what she said. Classic. Yes.
S1: Having sight but no vision. Sight but no vision where
S1: you want your family to be in two years? In
S1: three years? Where do you see yourself? What do you
S1: see yourself doing? You know, I remember, uh, Lakeshore Pointe, uh,
S1: condos up here on 75th and South Shore Drive as
S1: you pass there. Anybody ever see those? You know, they're
S1: pretty nice. Uh, but I remember when it was just
S1: an empty lot. Anybody remember when it was just an
S1: empty lot? Around 71st Street? I wonder if anybody saw
S1: what I saw. Uh, one day, me and my wife
S1: were traveling, and, uh, I just happened to notice it.
S1: And I saw Lakeshore Pointe condos. 50% sold, but it
S1: was just a parking lot. And so I said to
S1: my wife, I said, what do you see over there?
S1: You know what she said? What? That mess. And I
S1: and she said, okay, okay, I know it's a sermon illustration.
S1: Would you tell me I said, you saw a mess. 50%
S1: of the people are going to live there. Saw a building? Yeah.
S1: You saw an empty lot. 50% of the people that
S1: are going to live there saw a condo. You saw
S1: dirt and rocks. 50% of the people that are going
S1: to live there saw home. See, you saw with our sight.
S1: They saw with vision because they put their money down
S1: where they believed they were going. How about you?
S2: You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. And we'll
S2: get back to this message. Seven things in hell that
S2: ought to be in the church in just a moment.
S2: You know, Pastor Ford has written a number of books,
S2: and you can find out what they are and even
S2: get a copy. When you come to our website, npr.org,
S2: click on the links that say Books by Pastor Ford.
S2: You'll see the different titles available as a paperback or
S2: an e-book format. You can click on the contact link
S2: and ask a question or give us your feedback. Let
S2: us know where you listen and how Pastor Ford's teaching
S2: is making a difference in your walk with Christ. You're
S2: going to find that and opportunities to listen to each
S2: and every broadcast. When you come to our Website. Treasure. Truth. Radio.
S2: Once again, back to our message. Here is Pastor Ford.
S1: And so what are the hindrances of division? Let me
S1: give em to you. Let me give em to you.
S1: I hope you write these down. Here are the hindrances
S1: to vision. Four of them. Complacency. Status quo. Being satisfied
S1: with where we are. Are you satisfied? Hey, here's what
S1: I've been praying. I shouldn't even let you know because
S1: I said I didn't want to tell everything, but I've
S1: been praying. Fill this place up, Lord, on Wednesday morning. Amen. Amen. Amen.
S1: Then carnality. Carnality. When we are fleshly critics, critics, people
S1: who have the gift of criticism and then circumstances. Circumstance.
S1: Those are the four vision killers complacency, carnality, criticism and circumstance. Now,
S1: I'm not saying, you know, that you can't, uh, be critical.
S1: You ought to be analytical and not accept everything. Oh,
S1: but I'm telling you, if the glass is always half
S1: empty and it's never half full, you got a critical spirit.
S1: Here's the second thing. Here's the second thing. Uh, the
S1: first thing, then, is what? Vision. Here's the second thing.
S1: And remember what Haggai said. Haggai chapter one. Write the vision.
S1: Make it plain. Here's the second thing. A broken spirit,
S1: a broken spirit. It says he's crying out and he's
S1: crying out to the Lord for deliverance. And what is it?
S1: He's humbling himself. Finally. Uh, the the Bible tells us, uh,
S1: he was clothed in fine purple and linen and fared
S1: sumptuously every day. Uh, you know, uh, but there was
S1: a certain beggar named Lazarus full of sores laid at
S1: his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which
S1: fell from the rich man's table. On and on it goes.
S1: And here, now you you got this person who was
S1: so high and haughty and proud. Now that person is humbled, uh,
S1: before Almighty God. F.B. Meyer said this. The only hope
S1: of a decreasing self is an increasing Christ. Mm. Why
S1: aren't sinners getting saved like they used to? Maybe it's
S1: because Christians aren't broken like they used to be. Right. Yeah.
S1: Here's a person that was broken. We don't want to
S1: get on our knees anymore. We don't want to get
S1: him dirty. Second Corinthians chapter 34. Josiah's brokenness stopped God's hand. 34,
S1: 18 and 19. Verse 24 and 28. Second Chronicles 34.
S1: Verse 18, 19, 24 and 28. Psalm 51. David's brokenness
S1: stayed God's hand with his sin with Bathsheba. Verse 16
S1: and 17. So God gives us grace based on brokenness
S1: and repentance. Jeremiah said, break up the fallow ground. He
S1: was talking about our hearts and the hardness of our heart.
S1: So God is like a farmer. He doesn't sow his
S1: seed on ground that had, first of all, not been
S1: broken up. Second Chronicles 714 if my people, which are
S1: called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and
S1: seek my face. You know the rest of it. So
S1: many of us gotta be like Moses, right? Moses said
S1: two things all of us need to do when it
S1: comes to God. He said, here am I. Who am I?
S1: What is that availability and identity or humility? I'm sorry.
S1: Humility and availability. So Philippians chapter two, let this mind
S1: be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who,
S1: being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
S1: to be equal with God, but took upon himself no reputation.
S1: Here's the third thing thirst. There's thirst in heaven. My
S1: mother used to say it all the time. Mama, can
S1: I have. I want people in hell want ice water,
S1: but they ain't getting none. That's what she tell me
S1: all the time. No people in hell want out. That's
S1: what they want. And so it says. The flames are
S1: intense and. And metaphorically. Don't we need a cool tongue?
S1: James says the tongue is a fire, and it needs
S1: to be cooled down. If there's a place where we
S1: need to quench the tongue, it is in the church.
S1: Gossip runs down more people than automobiles. I know you
S1: remember this. Let me tell you about a local enterprise.
S1: There's one in every town. No matter what the size.
S1: It doesn't turn a profit or bring any revenue. It's
S1: good for one thing. And that's the damage it will do.
S1: It's called the rumor mill. The people who work there
S1: are all volunteers. The only qualification is a mouth and
S1: two big ears. If the story's not clear, that's okay.
S1: They'll just doctor it up and send it on its way.
S1: It doesn't matter who's involved or who is going to hurt.
S1: As long as people keep listening, they'll keep shoveling dirt
S1: at the rumor mill. Now listen to my children, to
S1: this warning I make. You got a lot to lose.
S1: There's a lot here at stake. The Bible states plainly.
S1: You're going to reap what you sow. And you'll be
S1: shown mercy by the mercy that you show. So shut
S1: your mouth and ask your friends to do the same.
S1: Or you end up a victim with no one to blame.
S1: At the rumor mill. Number four. Number four. Remembrance. Remembrance.
S1: Isn't that amazing? There's no Alzheimer's in hell. My father said. remember,
S1: hell is a place of remembrance. And how do we
S1: often do? We do it? We remember what we should
S1: forget and we forget what we should remember. Remember the
S1: children of Israel going to the land God said to them,
S1: don't forget that I delivered you. I brought you and
S1: all of that. And what do they do? They forgot
S1: everything that God did as soon as they got in there.
S1: Matter of fact, they didn't even wait till they got
S1: in there. He. They crossed the Red sea. They come
S1: to Meribah. And what did they say? How come we
S1: don't have any water? God didn't give. He just. He
S1: just delivered you out of anyway. And so remembrance Jeremiah 1815.
S1: Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense
S1: to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in
S1: the way. And so what does it do? You know,
S1: he he just told them your your worship is effective,
S1: your witness is affected, your walk is affected, and your
S1: warfare is affected when you forget who brought you where
S1: you are. Who gave you what you have. Who you are.
S1: Live and move and have your being in. And so. God. Uh,
S1: you know, like I said before, the saddest thing about
S1: hell is realizing you didn't have to be there. Then
S1: just write these down so I can go ahead and
S1: let you ask your questions. Concern for the loss. Concern
S1: for the loss. We already see that. Here's what I read.
S1: And I you know, there's different statistics I pick this
S1: one says three people go to hell every second in
S1: the world. 180 per minute, 259,200 a day. 8,856,000 a month.
S1: 94,608,000 people die and go to hell every year. How
S1: does that impact us? The founder of the Salvation Army,
S1: general Booth, was asked, what would you do to get
S1: Christians fired up to share Jesus Christ? You know what
S1: he said? I send them to hell for five minutes
S1: and they come back. Evangelists. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Here
S1: it is. Last one. Separation. There's a great Gulf fix.
S1: I like it when Babbie Mason was here. Remember what
S1: she said? She said I had too much church for
S1: the world and too much world for the church. See,
S1: the problem is not that the church is in the world,
S1: but the problem is the world is in the church.
S1: I gotta save a little bit of time. Alright. Let's pray.
S1: Father God, we thank you and we praise you for
S1: your grace and goodness to us. Grant that we would
S1: apply what your word has to say. And it's all
S1: because of Jesus Christ. And all of God's Spirit filled
S1: people are on their way to heaven and not to hell,
S1: said Thank God.
S2: Well, if you don't know whether you're on your way
S2: to heaven or hell, please don't wait another moment to
S2: be sure someone is standing by to take your call
S2: to pray with you and answer questions that you may
S2: have about this. The number to call is one 888.
S2: Need him? That's 888. Need him. You're listening to Treasure
S2: Truth with Pastor Ford and a message entitled Seven Things
S2: in Hell that ought to be in the church. Now,
S2: if you're a Christian, already sharing the gospel is one
S2: of the most important tasks that God wants us to do.
S2: But statistically, less than half of all believers have actually
S2: talked about the gospel with a non-believer in the last
S2: six months. Maybe that's you. Maybe you're in that category,
S2: but you know someone who needs to hear the good news.
S2: You've just never worked up the courage. We have a
S2: book for you that will prepare you for any opportunity
S2: that God gives you. It's called How to Witness to
S2: Anyone and it's written by R.A. Torrey. Now, the book
S2: is a compilation of Bible verses arranged topically, addressing subjects
S2: like dealing with the open hearted, talking with skeptics, strength
S2: for difficult times, and becoming a mature believer. When you
S2: give a gift of any amount and support this ministry,
S2: we're going to send you a copy with our thanks.
S2: Make sure you ask for how to witness to anyone
S2: when you call and give. Our number is 888644 7660
S2: or go online to Treasure Truth Radio. I'm Steve Hiller.
S2: Our producer is Amy Rios. Join us again next time
S2: for more Bible teaching from Pastor Ford here on Treasure truth.
S2: A production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.