Place: Lurgan Baptist 22:9:2002

Reading: Luke 16:19-31

" IN HELL IN SPITE OF THE MERCIES OF GOD "

In the month of January, 1833 Samuel Hebich was in Mangalore, India. The residential surgeon there was seriously ill, and Hebich went to visit him, but was again and again refused admission. Finally, his persistence won, and at last he was shown in. The surgeon said to him, " I'm to weak to talk to you."

As Hebich was about to leave, the surgeon asked, " is there a hell ?" " Certainly," replied Hebich, " unless the Word of God lies." Hebich went again to see the surgeon, and this time the surgeon said to him, " I am not a very great sinner, hence I hope for salvation." Hebich's reply was, " I am so great a sinner, that without a Saviour, I must go to hell." Some time late that surgeon said to him, " what a great sinner I am." Then he added, " almost it would have been too late." That surgeon died trusting the Lord Jesus to save him from the penalty due to his sins, to save him from hell itself.

My .... are you here this .... asking what the surgeon asked, " is there a hell ?" You see, through different methods the devil has sought to get rid of the doctrine of hell. Some folk treat hell as a joke, laughing and poking fun at it. Others think of it as an invention of religion to frighten timid people into being good. Still others feel that hell is not consistent with the thought of a loving God. They emphasise the love of God at the expense of His holiness and wrath ! But my .... at the end of the day it makes no difference what people say, feel, or think.

Hell is a reality and it must not be forgotten. Here in

( Lk Ch 16 ) our Lord Jesus Christ draws back the veil that separates the earthly from the eternal. He gives us the history of two men. One who died and went to heaven, the other died and went to hell. I want to talk to you this .... about " A Man in Hell in spite of the Mercies of God." You see, our Lord Jesus begins here with:

(1) A SPECIFIC PERSON

He says, " There was a certain rich man." ( 16:19 ) I believe that this was an actual, historical account. Our Lord Jesus was referring to an actual specific person. Indeed He tells us some things about this rich man. The Saviour talks about:

(a) HIS WEALTH: .... God's GOODNESS to Him:

The word for " clothed," means " habitually clothed." This man anticipated no end to his good fortune. The Greek word, " sumptuously," means " dazzling," or " in brilliant splendour and flamboyance." My .... when this man saw how much the Lord had blessed him with, it should have made him feel repentant and humble realising that he did not deserve such blessings.

The Bible tells us, " Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." ( Rom 2:4 ) Have you ever paused to consider God's goodness to you personally ? Paul asks the question, " what hast thou that thou didst not

receive ?" ( 2 Cor 4:7 ) My .... the very clothes that you wear, the food that you eat, the air that you breathe, the children that you enjoy .... " every good and perfect gift." ( James 1:18 ) God's goodness to you, God's blessing on you, God's protection of you, should bring you to repentance. But has it ? Or could it that the very goodness of God has caused you to harden your heart and think more of yourself. But there was not only (a)

(b) HIS WITNESS: .... God's MESSENGER to Him:

For the Lord used Lazarus as a witness to this rich man.

This beggar had sat by this rich man's gate for a long time hoping to receive a little food from this wealthy resident. ( 16:20-21 ) Now its obvious that Lazarus had been a witness to this rich man for in hell do you recall what the rich man begged ? He said, " I pray thee therefore father that thou wouldest send him

( Lazarus ) to my father's house." ( 16:27 ) Now why did the rich man make such a request ? Because Lazarus had testified to him either by his lips or by his lifestyle ! Oh, as this rich man passed the gate Lazarus took the opportunity and spoke to him about his need to trust in the Lord. I wonder this .... can you think of someone who has been a witness, God's messenger to you ? Is there someone in work, in business, in the family, perhaps someone who has brought you to this .... someone who out love for your soul, has warned you to get off the road to hell, and onto the road to heaven. My .... do you realise that is God's messenger to you ? a, b,

(c) HIS WARNING: .... God's VOICE TO Him:

For I read, " that the beggar died." ( 16:22 ) And the passage seems to indicate that Lazarus died first. You see, when death is at a person's doorstep, as it was at the rich man's it often causes that person to see his need of the Lord. But just as the life of Lazarus did not awaken him so the death of Lazarus did not stir him to think of eternity. My .... has death been God's voice to you in recent days ? Death has claimed that loved one, that neighbour, death unexpectedly took that colleague at work, but has it caused you to think about your latter end ? Have you asked yourself the question, " what if that had been me ? Where would I be in eternity ?" Here was A Man in Hell in Spite of the Mercies of God ! Like him have you Despised the Goodness of God ? Have you Disregarded the Messenger of God ? Have you Disobeyed the Voice of God ? (1)

(2) A HORRIFIC PLACE

" And in hell .... " ( 16:23 ) What other place fills us with horror like hell does ? A few years ago a man brought forth his strong argument against the Bible's teaching on hell. He said, " I am seventy years of age, and have never seen such a place as hell, after all that has been said about it."

His little grandson, of about seven years of age who was listening, asked him, " Granda have you ever been dead yet ?" You see, immediately after this rich man died " in hell he lift up his eyes." ( 16:23 ) Indeed hell was such a place of terror the rich man wanted none of his family to come where he was. Why ? Because hell is place where the unrepentant sinner:

(a) WILL SUFFER CONSCIOUSLY:

John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church, said,

" Stick your finger in the flame, how does it feel ? You cannot keep it there one second, will think of what it will be like to have the whole body in the flames of hell forever." The Lord Jesus who is the preacher here said that immediately after this rich man passed out of time into eternity, " in hell he life up his eyes being in torments." ( 16:23 ) He saw, felt, cried, pleaded, remembered. He was awake alright in the flames of hell.

The Bible used different words and terms to describe hell. One word which is used over and over again is the word Fire ! The Lord Jesus spoke about the " fire .... never be quenched." ( Mk 9:47 ) John spoke about " the lake of fire." ( Rev 20:11 ) David spoke about " fire and brimstone." ( Ps 11:6 ) One of the words translated hell in the NT is the word " Gehenna." ( Matt 5:22

Mk 9:43 ) It comes from a Greek word which means,

" the son of Hinnom." It identifies a valley to the south of Jerusalem where that wicked King Ahaz sacrificed his own children in the fires. ( 2 Chron 28:3 2 Kings 23:10 Jer 7:31 )

When Josiah the good King came to the throne he put a curse on that valley. ( 2 Kings 23:10 ) Later in Christ's day the city of Jerusalem's garbage dump was located there. The bodies of the dead animals and the dead poor were cast into the valley of Gehenna. A caretaker there kept a continual fire burning, and as you approached that valley you would always see those ever burning flames. My .... can you visualise what hell is like ? A place of never ending torment and ever burning fire !

Will this be your destiny ? One moment after you die will you life up your eyes in hell in torments ? (a)

(b) WILL REMEMBER VIVIDLY:

For did you notice Abraham's response to this rich man in hell, " Son remember .... " ( 16:26 ) In one of the Art Galleries in Belgium there is a picture entitled,

" Napoleon in Hell." It represents the Emperor surrounded by the multitudes of those who were slaughtered in his wars. According to the artist's conception, hell for Napoleon was the memory of those death he had brought about to further his aims. Napoleon has taken his memory to hell and so will you !

In hell you will remember every message you heard, every service you attended, every Christian who spoke to you about your need of Christ ! My .... what will you remember in hell ? Will you recall your father sitting by your side and urging you to seek the Lord ? Yes ! Will you remember your mothers tears in hell as she pleaded with you to trust Christ ? Yes ! Will you recall this preacher urging you to " flee from the wrath to come, ?"

Yes ! Will you recall your self laughing inwardly and leaving this building saying, " Sure there is no hell."

Yes ! For this a place where the sinner (a) (b)

(c) WILL BE LOST ETERNALLY:

For once in hell men are in hell for how long ? Forever !

Did you notice what Abraham said, " And beside all this .... there is a great gulf fixed." ( 16:26 ) My .... all the roads to hell are one way streets. There is no exit from this terrible place. My .... have you got the message ? Do you realise that there is no chance of being saved after death ? For once in hell men are in hell for ever !

I tell you, your prayers from the pit of hell, will go unanswered, for do you hear this man praying ? Can you hear

(3) HIS TRAGIC PRAYER

Isn't it interesting to notice that this lost man in hell became a sudden believer in prayer ? But his prayer was tragic for:

(a) HE PRAYED IN THE WRONG PLACE:

" And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments .... "

( 16:23 ) He should have prayed and trusted Christ while on earth .... not in hell. You see, God could not answer the prayers of the rich man because he had sealed his own judgement. Death ends all opportunities for the unbeliever to accept Christ. That is why it so vital for you to make the most of your opportunities now. The Bible says, " Now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." ( 2 Cor 6:2 ) Will you cry to God for mercy now ? Will you ask Christ to save you now ? (a)

(b) HE PRAYED TO THE WRONG PERSON:

As a result his prayers were not answered. Rather than praying to God he prayed to Abraham. We read " And he cried and said Father Abraham .... " ( 16:24 ) Now the Jews prided themselves on the fact that they were direct descendants of Abraham. ( Matt 3:9 ) But Abraham could not save this rich man. He was praying to the wrong person. In just the same way, there are some people today who believe that they can pray to people on the other side. There are those who pray to the saints, but the only person who can answer prayer is God. Thats why the Lord Jesus said, " I am the way .... no man cometh unto the Father but by me." ( Jn 14:6 )

We approach the Father through the Son and by the Spirit. ( Eph 2:18 ) My .... are you praying to the wrong person ? Listen, he not only prayed (a) (b)

(c) HE PRAYED FOR THE WRONG THINGS:

What did he ask for ?

1. He wanted WATER:

" Send Lazarus .... tormented in this flame." ( 16:24 ) Oh, on earth, he wouldn't have allowed Lazarus to touch him. But everything has changed. He would gave anything for a touch from Lazarus now. Is it the same with you ?

Unsaved .... do you despise that Christian in the work place who has shown concern for your soul ? My .... one day you will wish you could see them. One day you will ache for some of the love and concern they tried to show you ! (1)

2. He wanted a WITNESS:

When he finally realised that his condition was hopeless, he began to think of others. He began to think of his five brothers and where they would spend eternity. He didn't want them to come to this place of torment. This man now knew the reality of hell. He was unlike some of you this .... who think that hell is a joke.

I recall standing in the workplace one day, a girl walked by and the boys were whistling and then one man said,

" I don't mind if I go to hell as long as she is there." Do you ever hear that sort of talk, " I'll have lots of company in hell." My .... do you realise that you won't want it ? You'll plead with God to do something so that your family won't join you ! Bless God, noone has to experience the horror of hell for the Lord Jesus not only speaks here of (1) (2) (3) but He leaves us with:

(4) AN EMPHATIC PRINCIPLE

The principle is this. You are saved through the Word of God. " Faith cometh by hearing .... by the Word of God." ( Rom 10:17 ) Abraham says to the rich man,

" they have Moses and the prophets." ( 16:29 ) In other words they have the Word of God and the Scriptures contain all that we need to know in order to be saved.

You see:

(a) THIS WORD DECLARES A SAVIOUR:

The Lord Jesus said, " Search the Scriptures .... for they are they which testify of Me." ( Jn 5:39 ) The Scriptures reveal a Saviour. A Saviour who was Promised, a Saviour who Came, a Saviour who Lived, a Saviour who Died for our sins, who Rose Again, a Saviour who is Alive to save you from going down to hell.

( Heb 7:25 ) My .... the way of escape from hell is the way of sacrifice, suffering and substitution.

" I must needs go home by the way of the cross

There's no other way but this,

I shall n'er get sight of the gates of light

If the way of the cross I miss."

On the cross the Lord Jesus cried, " My God, My God why .... Me." ( Ps 22:1 ) He felt the forsakeness of hell on Calvary's Cross, but thank God, He cried, " It is finished," and He came forth from that pit bleeding and broken, scarred and marred, but He came shouting,

" Save them from going down to the pit for I have found a ransom." And in His hand He carried the ransom and the ransom was His precious blood. My .... through the blood of Christ you can escape hell. Through that cross there is pardon, through that Saviour there is life, through that blood there is cleansing ! Yes, (a)

(b) THIS WORD DEMANDS A RESPONSE:

Do you know why the rich man was in hell ? Not because he was rich, but because he had refused to repent. ( 16:30 ) What is repentance ? It means, " to change one's mind, to repent is to turn from your sin."

Have you repented ? Have you turned from your sin and placed your faith in the Lord Jesus ? If you have you'll never perish .... never be in hell.

" In Hell in Spite of the Mercies of God." That was this man's story. Will it be yours ? Will you end up in hell in spite of God's Goodness to you ? God's Love for you ? God's Son dying in your place ! Or this .... will you get off the road to hell and onto the road to

heaven ? A young girl lay dying. The preacher came to visit her and urged her to trust Christ. When she refused she said, " You'll find my answer in a song book in a pew at the back of the church." She died without trusting Christ. The preacher found the hymn book she mentioned. He had held meetings there the week before.

She was present when the invitation was given to trust Christ. She wrote these words in the hymn book, " I'll take the risk." She did take the risk and went to hell !

My .... you don't have to be lost ! Christ died that you might live and He calls you to come to Him. Will you come now ?