Luke 16:19-31 - The Uncomfortable Reality of Hell

Lazarus lying at the Rich Man's gate

Opening thought:

Hell is one of those subjects that makes people uncomfortable. We hear stories of hell being a place of fire, demons, and endless torment. Throughout history many authors have written about it, Dante's Inferno for example. Western culture is very familiar with the concept. Even Hollywood has made it the subject of many movies. Whatever the context, whatever the belief, hell is definitely taught in the Bible. But the Bible's teaching about hell is not without its controversy. Some say it is only the grave with no consciousness. Others say it is a place of correction and punishment that is not eternal. Others say it is an endless agonizing punishment in fire. At a minimum, the Bible says that hell is the total absence of the favor of God and that is it a place of punishment for those who reject Christ.

Pray and Read:  Luke 16:19-31

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 16:19-31 to warn believers about the danger of hell as a real place of permanent punishment.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about hell.

Sermon Points:

1.   Hell is a real place of punishment for those without Christ (Luke 16:19-24)

2.   Hell is the final destination for those without Christ (Luke 16:25-26)

3.   Hell is the Bible’s warning for those without Christ (Luke 16:27-31)

He Goes Before You

Image by karenwithak via Flickr

In Jesus’ last command before He ascended, he told his followers to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19) in the Great Commission. The Christian life is a journey. We are poor, wayfaring strangers. It is a pilgrimage. John Bunyan understood it when he wrote Pilgrims Progress. 

Yet he didn’t send us alone along the way. He promised, “And lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). He assures us that His providence and presence go before us.

How to stop hearing from God

( . . . and burn completely out)

Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God says that God is still speaking in this day and age through the pages of Scripture, and Scripture says the same thing. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). An audible voice? Not likely. But in your heart that still small voice is there when the Holy Spirit is present through a vital, growing relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:19; Matt. 10:20).

Elijah heard God speak in a whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13). Young Samuel heard God calling him in the night, and he answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10). Isaiah heard God ask, “Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8), and Isaiah answered, “Here am I. Send me!”

But you don’t have to listen to God. You can ignore him. “God does speak, now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it.” (Job 33:14). Without a listening heart anchored in a relationship with Jesus, God’s speaking might not sound like anything unusual to you (John 12:28-29). Here are some surefire ways to stop hearing from God and shipwreck yourself.

Praying From His Victory

Everything we have in the Christian life is a gift from our Lord Jesus. We can’t achieve it; we must receive it. In prayer we learn that. Prayer is the laboratory in which we learn to take the theological truths of Scripture and apply them to life. We receive gifts through the Cross and Resurrection that provide us a new position from which to pray. We pray from this new position purchased for us by His sacrifice at Calvary. In prayer we learn to appropriate the gifts of the Lord Jesus. Here's what I mean . . .

Persecuted Church: Iran, Libya, Azerbaijan

Believers suffer in Iran

Youcef and Tina Nadarkhani

IRAN - Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison awaiting a ruling on his execution. He continues to stand strong in his faith and remains in good spirits and health. The 11th circuit court in Gilan is still awaiting a response to their two letters to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini. Youcef’s attorney says that if the court does not receive a response in a month, they will issue a ruling in mid-December. 


Youcef was arrested in 2009, and convicted a year later of apostasy (abandoning Islam). On appeal, the Iranian Supreme Court sent the decision back to the Gilan court to consider other evidence. Prayer and international pressure has given the court anxiety about a ruling, so they have appealed twice to the Ayatollah, but he has not responded.

Hebrews 11:35-40 - The Persecuted Church

Our Suffering Brothers and Sisters

Opening thought: 

The old man stood in the Roman arena. He was pastor of the church at Smyrna, and a disciple of the Apostle John himself. The Roman government had decided to locate and punish him in an outbreak of persecution in that area of Asia Minor. After pursuing him for some days, when the Roman soldiers came, he refused to keep running but instead fed them a meal, then was properly arrested. He stood now in the arena before the proconsul in Smyrna. The historian Eusebius takes the story from here, “And when the proconsul pressed him, and said, Swear, and I will release thee, revile Christ; Polycarp said, Eighty and six years have I served him, and in nothing hath he wronged me; and how, then, can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?” The proconsul, somewhat embarrassed but bound by his threats, had the elderly pastor tied to a stake and burned to death.

When we think of persecution and Christian martyrs, the picture comes to mind of Christians being thrown to the lions in the Roman arenas of the first century. Not many of us in the West associate persecution with believers today. Nevertheless, most of the world does not live in a free society where attending church is considered a choice. This isn't the case for our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world. Believers living in still-Communist, Hindu, and Islamic countries are being imprisoned, enslaved, tortured and martyred daily.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that one of the signs of the last days will be an increase in the persecution of believers, and he said in John 15:18-21 that if the world persecuted Him, then they should expect that the world would persecute his disciples. There were more martyrs in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, and the pace of persecution is increasing. 
Click below to read full sermon . . .

Human Trafficking in NC (WRAL)

 Thanks to WRAL Investigates for this important story for North Carolina.

• NC human trafficking resources
• Human trafficking: Report a tip
• Recognizing the signs of human trafficking
• Human trafficking FAQs
• Hotline statistics

Through the Night Watch

The darkness can be fearful. You don’t know exactly what all is there. Perhaps the darkness is of the soul, a time of darkness in your life with the Lord or in your circumstances, what John of the Cross called “the dark night of the soul.” Jesus has promised to be ever with you: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Through the night watch, the Lord is there.

There is no difference in darkness or light to Him (Job 34:22; Psalm 139:11-12; Jeremiah 23:24). Often the dark is a time to be quiet with God (Psalm 46:10), because God speaks in the darkness (Matt. 10:27; Job 33:13-18). 


From one end of the Scripture to the other we hear His tender pleading, “Fear not!” Fear will rob you of the peace of God. When the Spirit of the living God indwells us, fear is not supposed to control us continually – even if the fear is from intimidation or the unknown. 

Fear is always the tool of the adversary who uses it to make us doubt God’s goodness, doubt God’s power, doubt God’s intentions. Fear gives birth to doubt. Doubt destroys trust and gives birth to unbelief (John 20:24-29; Heb. 3:12, 19; 4:1-2). Paul says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).  Through the night watch, the Lord is there.

We fear because we doubt his love and care. You can defeat the fear found in the darkness (Psalm 3:5-6, 91:1-7). The baseline weapon against fear is being convinced of the love of God. Perfect love casts out a spirit of fear (1 John 4:18). Plant yourself in the Word (Psalm 16:7; 119:55, 148). Lift up a song of praise (Psalm 63:6-8; 77:6; 149:4-5), joining the Lord as He sings over you in the night (Psalm 42:8; Zeph. 3:17; Isa. 62:5). 

Sink down into the loving heart of God. Cease striving and rest (Psalm 4:8; 127:2) in the comfort of His faithfulness (Psalm 92:1-2; 121:2-8), in the confidence of His protection (Isaiah 27:2-3; Prov. 3:23-26; Psalm 91:1-2). Remain still in the darkness (Psalm 46:10). God walks on the darkness and He wears it as a covering (Psalm 18:9, 11). Therefore you will find Him in the dark night watch (Lam. 2:19). 

Pay attention in the night watch, and listen to what the Lord gives you of Himself (Psalm 3:3, 5). Listen simply. Let Him be your confidence (Prov. 3:26). Thank Him for the sweetness of His Presence. Obey what He tells you. Through the night watch, the Lord is there.

What has God revealed to you from His Word, and how is He applying it to your life? How is He speaking to your need?

Related articles

• Face to Face (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Consumed by Him by consuming Him (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Pastor Youcef's letter to believers (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Peace in His Presence (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Nothing but the Blood of Jesus (genebrooks.blogspot.com)

You're excommunicated -- and outta here!

Really . . . who does this stuff?