ASSIGNMENTS 1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song. 2. Place the scripture where you will see it each day. 3. Think of how your fear of missing Heaven can motivate you to do more in your Christian life. 4. Pray for God's help in difficult times to remember that fearing God and not man is right. 5. Write down the worldly fears that you need to overcome. S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS MONDAY - VERSES: Genesis 22:9-13 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask for help to fear God enough to give Him everything He asks. TUESDAY - VERSES: Exodus 1:15-21 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to fear God enough to do what is right regardless of the earthly consequences knowing Hell would be worse. WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Matthew 10:22-28 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to remember that You have the final say in where we will all spend eternity. THURSDAY - VERSES: Exodus 9:18-21; 28-31 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to fear so that I will not suffer Your wrath like Pharaoh who would not fear. FRIDAY - VERSES: Mark 9:42-48 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to warn others about the dangers of Hell and the need to fear You. SATURDAY - VERSES: Leviticus 19:3,14,32; 25:17,36,43 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to fear You so that I will treat others properly. S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S The man who knows no fear is not only a gross exaggeration; he is a biological impossibility. S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S 46% of seminary students believe preaching about Hell to unbelievers is in "poor taste". 30% of self professed "born again Christians" believed "good" people will go to heaven even if they've never obeyed Christ. - Ashamed of the Gospel, John F. MacArthur, Jr., 1993, Crossway Books, p. 65 SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 95 FEAR OF HELL - 6-8-14 TO 6-14-14 SCRIPTURE - Hebrews 4:1 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." COMMENT – Fear is not always a bad thing. We need to learn what we should fear and what we should not fear in order to make the most of our lives. SONG - TIME ENOUGH YET 1) O soul of mine, be not alarmed At what the Lord may say, Some future time, when I am old, I'll chose the heav'nly way. Time, time, time enough yet, O soul, why be alarmed? The heavenly way I'll choose some day, But there's time, time enough yet! 2) I'm strong enough, I need no help, It's pleasure that I crave; When I have drunk life's sparkling cup, I'll call on Christ to save. Time, time, time enough yet, O soul, why be alarmed? The heavenly way I'll choose some day, But there's time, time enough yet! 3) The Holy Spirit's tender voice Entreats me night and day, And ere I go in sin too far I'll turn and Him obey. Time, time, time enough yet, O soul, why be alarmed? The heavenly way I'll choose some day, But there's time, time enough yet! 4) Today, O friend, may be the last, Stop now and count the cost; You stand condemned before the throne, Your soul forever lost. Lost! Lost! O what a cry From souls along the shore; In darkness to go, In sorrow and woe, And be lost, lost evermore! THOUGHTS Allen Webster in his tract "If I Don't Preach on Hell" gives several reasons to not just believe in Hell, but to warn others about it. His reasons are: S If I don't preach on Hell, then I am not preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). S If I don't preach on Hell, then I'm not following the example of Bible preachers (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). S If I don't preach on Hell, then I do not love souls as much as I should (James 5:20). S If I don't preach on Hell, then I take the teeth out of the Gospel (Psalm 36:1). S If I don't preach on Hell, then I will go there (Ezekiel 3:17-19)! S If I don't preach on Hell, then you may go there (Ezekiel 33:11)! S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S On one occasion Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, the agnostic lecturer of the last century, was announced to give an address on hell. He declared he would prove conclusively that hell was a wild dream of some scheming theologians who invented it to terrify credulous people. As he was launching into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed, "Make it strong, Bob. There's a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain." No amount of reasoning can nullify God's sure Word. He has spoken as plainly of a hell for the finally impenitent as of a heaven for those who are saved. - H. A. Ironside, Illustrations of Bible Truth, Moody Press, 1945, p. 40. S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. - C. S. Lewis S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S At the recent annual Beeson Pastors School, Selles led two workshops to discuss "Whatever happened to hell?" He asked how many of the pastors had ever preached a sermon on hell. Nobody had, he said. - http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-08-01-hell-damna tion_N.htm S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S Peter Cartwright was to preach one Sunday morning and was told that President Andrew Jackson was there. He was warned to be careful what he said. When Cartwright stood to preach he said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent." The congregation was shocked and wondered how the President would respond. Afterward, President Jackson shook his hand and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world." - Illustrations for Preaching/Teaching from Leadership Journal S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S WHERE HELL IS A young man converted during special evangelistic meetings held in a mining village, desirous of doing something for God, bought some tracts. He was distributing these one day when he met some of his old companions, who derided him as he spoke to them of Jesus. "Here," said one of his companions, "can you tell me where hell is?" After a moment's hesitation, the young man looked up and said: "Yes, it's at the end of a Christless life." - http://www.moreillustrations.com/Illustrations/hell%201.html S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S ETERNITY'S MOST POPULAR DESTINATION INTRODUCTION - MARK 9:43-48 L.S. - _______ MIGHT SEEM DESIRABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO . . . I. LOVE ________________. - MATTHEW 25:30 II. ARE FASCINATED BY _________. - MATTHEW 3:12 III. ENJOY __________. - MATTHEW 13:42 IV. _________ GOOD. - LUKE 13:27-28 V. WANT LOTS OF _________ COMPANIONS. - MATTHEW 7:13 VI. WANT NO ___________. - JAMES 2:13 VII. NEVER WANT TO ________. - REVELATION 14:9-11 VIII. EXPECT TO HAVE THE __________ NOW AND NOT ________ UNTIL LATER. - LUKE 16:25 IX. DON'T WANT ANY __________ IN LIFE. - ROMANS 2:8-9 X. THINK THEY CAN HAVE A POSITION OF ______________ THERE. - LUKE 12:5 XI. WANT AN ________ TRIP. - MATTHEW 7:21 CONCLUSION - LUKE 16:28 ETERNITY'S MOST POPULAR DESTINATION INTRODUCTION A. SINCE EVERYONE SEEMS TO WANT TO SPEND ETERNITY THERE LET'S EXAMINE ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE HELL SUCH A DESIRABLE DESTINATION FOR SO MANY. B. MARK 9:43-48 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: [44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: [46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 1. JESUS DESCRIBES HELL AS AN UNDESIRABLE PLACE. 2. HE COMPARED IT TO A BURNING GARBAGE DUMP, WHERE CHILDREN HAD BEEN SACRIFICED TO IDOLS. 3. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO MAIM YOUR PHYSICAL BODY THAN GO THERE. WORSE THAN A ROOT CANAL. 4. YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE, AND THE FIRE WILL NEVER GO OUT, BUT EVEN DEATH CAN'T RESCUE YOU. L.S. - HELL MIGHT SEEM DESIRABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO . . . I. LOVE DARKNESS. - Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. II. ARE FASCINATED BY FIRE. - Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. III. ENJOY PAIN. - Matthew 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. IV. HATE GOOD. - Luke 13:27-28 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. [28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. V. WANT LOTS OF EVIL COMPANIONS. - Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: VI. WANT NO MERCY. - James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. VII. NEVER WANT TO REST. - Revelation 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [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. VIII. EXPECT TO HAVE THE BEST NOW AND NOT PAY UNTIL LATER. - 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. IX. DON'T WANT ANY RULES IN LIFE. - Romans 2:8-9 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; X. THINK THEY CAN HAVE A POSITION OF POWER THERE. - Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. XI. WANT AN EASY TRIP. A. GET ANGRY AND CALL PEOPLE FOOLS - Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. B. SAY "LORD" OR NOT JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING - Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. C. LIVE HOWEVER YOU WANT - Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. D. DON'T THINK ABOUT GOD OR HIS RULES - Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. E. LIVE AS UNRIGHTEOUS AS YOU WANT - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. F. DO WHATEVER PLEASES THE FLESH - Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. G. NO NOTHING ABOUT GOD AND DO NOTHING TO PLEASE GOD - 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; H. BE SELFISH AND UNCONCERNED WITH OTHERS - Matthew 25:41-46 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: [42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: [43] I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. [44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? [45] Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. CONCLUSION A. IT SEEMS POPULAR AND EASY, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE WAY THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. B. ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE WOULD WARN EVERYONE TO STAY AWAY. - Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. C. JESUS KNOWS THE TRUTH AND WARNS US TO STAY AWAY. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.