(#472) Romans 15 – You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

It's easy to avoid the worst place ever created by God.

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

Good Morning!

Welcome to Barah Ministries… a small, intimate, and local Christian Church with worldwide impact. My name is Pastor Rory Clark. At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective…because how God sees things is very different from how we see things.

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

One of the surest ways to tell you have a good Pastor is when he teaches you about God’s enemy, Satan, and when he teaches you about allegedly “tough” subjects like The Lake of Fire. Yes…there is a Lake of Fire, commonly known as hell…and yes…your friends and family members who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ are choosing to spend eternity there. It’s something you want to know about. In today’s lesson, you’re going to find out why evangelism is so important and why you wouldn’t wish The Lake of Fire on your worst enemy.

On July 4^thevery year, we celebrate freedom in the United States of America. For the 243^rdtime in our country’s storied history, we stop to commemorate an ideal that citizens of this country hold dear…that we are free from external control and interference…that we can speak freely and frankly without fear of repercussion…that we can worship our God, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in a place of peace…we celebrate that we are united…States. Let’s begin this lesson by listening to a portion of one of the most magnificent documents ever penned…The Declaration of Independence as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day this week.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

We hold these truths to be self-evident…

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America…

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these rights are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind is more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right…in fact, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity that constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let the following Facts be submitted to a candid world.

In every stage of these Oppressions, We have Petitioned for Redress in the humblest of terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.

A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and the voice of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, to conclude Peace, to contract Alliances, to establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

In gratitude to those who put their lives on the line to form this nation… and for the men and women of the fighting forces the framers of independence assembled to protect our freedom…let’s listen to the Armed Forces Medley…the fight songs of each branch of our armed services.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

God Bless America!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Armed Force Medley

U.S. Army

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Armed Force Medley

U.S. Marines

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Armed Force Medley

U.S. Navy

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Armed Force Medley

U.S. Coast Guard

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Armed Force Medley

U.S. Air Force

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

God Bless America

One nation under God…under our Almighty God…all we need now…all we have ever needed…is You. Here’s Toby Mac with his song I JUST NEED U.

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

I JUST NEED U

Toby Mac

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

Thank you for allowing us to be born in a country where freedom rings… thank you for the men and women You have provided to create our great nation and to preserve its freedoms…thank you for the freedom to choose the eternal path of our lives…thank you for giving us the means to share your plan of salvation with our friends and family…

Father, keep on blessing America…grant its leaders the wisdom to steer us away from anything that threatens the gift of freedom You have given us… teach us to value the freedom of others, even when we don’t agree with their choices, just the way you honor freedom…help each of us to be a perfect reflection of Your unconditional love, grace and forgiveness…give us the courage to evangelize in the face of resistance so that we plant the seeds that will keep as many people as possible out of The Lake of Fire…

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

I have a timeshare in Los Cabos, Mexico at a resort called Diamante. It is a beautiful resort located on the Pacific Ocean. I’ve been there five times, and I have yet to prepare properly for my visits there. Thus, every time I go, I nearly freeze to death. The wind that comes howling off of the Pacific is reminiscent of my days in my hometown, also known as The Windy City, Chicago. Since I have yet to bring warm clothes for these visits, the experience is always marred by shivering because of my lack of preparation.

For many people in this world, the same is true. Their lack of preparation is going to mar their eternal experience. They will spend eternity in a very hot place…The Lake of Fire. Failure to make the proper preparation is a mistake that can't be corrected once a person closes his eyes in this life. The soul, once born, never dies. Each of us gets to choose where our soul spends eternity. Hebrews, Chapter 9, Verse 27…

HEBREWS 9:27

…it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment…

Praying for the dead is pointless.

For each and every one of us, the most important decision we make in this life is the decision concerning what our attitude will be toward having a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Those who choose to have a relationship with Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven. Those who reject a relationship with Jesus Christ will spend eternity in The Lake of Fire. John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

Eternity is a long time.

Most Pastors don’t want to teach their congregations about The Lake of Fire. Congregation members tend to experience teaching on this subject as a negative experience, and most Pastors are such cowards that they only mention Satan, the enemy of God, and The Lake of Fire in passing. They give these life-changing subjects short shrift. Well, I am not a coward, and I want you to know about The Lake of Fire. I don't want you to be able to tell Jesus, when you stand before Him on your judgment day, that you never knew about The Lake of Fire because your Pastor never mentioned it.

We’re studying Romans, Chapter 15, Verses 14 to 21. We’re parked on the subject of evangelism. In Romans, Chapter 15, Verses 17 and 18, the apostle Paul reminds us why he is writing the letter to the Romans…

ROMANS 15:17

Therefore, in union with Christ Jesus, I (Paul) have found a reason to be proud (to the point of boasting) about my work for God the Father (my spiritual achievements in spreading the gospel message).

ROMANS 15:18

For I (Paul) will not presume to speak of anything except what (supernatural things) Jesus Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in bringing the Gentiles who are obedient to the gospel message (to salvation) by the Word I have spoken to them and by the deeds I have done for them…

Well, those who reject the gospel message…the good news about what Jesus Christ has done for all of us at the Cross will spend all eternity living with the consequences of their decision. Will they regret it? Not at all. In fact, as eternity progresses, they'll be even more convinced that rejecting a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ was the right thing to do.

What does the bible have to say about the Lake of Fire? A lot! In Mark, Chapter 9, Verses 47 to 49, Jesus Christ says…

MARK 9:47

“If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out…for it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell…”

MARK 9:48

“…where the worm (the internal torment) of those who are there does not die…and where the fire (the external torment) of those who are there is not quenched.”

MARK 9:49

“For everyone who is there will be salted with fire (they will be preserved for an eternity of fiery judgment).”

If you have ever salted chicken in preparation for grilling it, you know that the salt sticks to the chicken. You know that salt is a preservative. Well, the one thing you don't want sticking to you or being preserved for you or for any of your friends is a salt of fire for all eternity.

When Mark says, “Where the fire is not quenched,” he means the fire never goes out. Mark is portraying vividly the unending, conscious torture that awaits all who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The essence of hell is unending torment. It is the choice to spend an eternity without the Lord’s presence. None of us would wish this fate on our worst enemy.

The bible has much to say about the Lake of Fire. Revelation, Chapter 20, Verses 11 to 15…

REVELATION 20:11

Then I (John) saw a Great White Throne and the Lord Jesus Christ who sat upon it…from whose presence earth and heaven fled away…and no place was found for them to live.

REVELATION 20:12

And I saw the (wicked) dead (not the righteous dead)…the great (the famous) and the small (the not so famous)…standing before the Great White Throne, and books were opened…one of which is the Book of Life…and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

God has written records that confirm the just nature of the fate of everyone who is judged.

REVELATION 20:13

And the sea gave up the (wicked) dead which were in it…and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them…and the dead were judged… every one of them…according to their deeds (not according to their sins).

REVELATION 20:14

Then (spiritual) death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, The Lake of Fire.

Eternal condemnation by conscious choice.

REVELATION 20:15

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into The Lake of Fire.

At the Great White Throne Judgment, many will hear the words no one should ever want to hear…Matthew, Chapter 25, Verse 41…

MATTHEW 25:41

“Then the Lord Jesus Christ will also say to those on His left (unbelievers…the unrighteous ones), ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…’”

Revelation, Chapter 21, Verse 8…

REVELATION 21:8

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and this verse scares you…don’t miss the key word…UNBELIEVING…all have sinned…all fall short of the glory of God. But for those who are the UNBELIEVING…those who reject the notion that Jesus Christ is God…those who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…these are the ones who consciously choose to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Remember the words of Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9…

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of, but instead He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

IT IS NOT GOD’S WILL THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH in The Lake of Fire.

So if you end up there…it was YOUR will that got you there. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved, and there is NO WAY you will end up in the Lake of Fire.

When we return from our five-minute break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll continue our look at The Lake of Fire.

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

Unconditional Love

Donna Summers

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

Psalm 11, Verse 25 says…

PROVERBS 11:25

The generous…will be prosperous…

God encourages us to be generous. Those who hoard always have lack. Those who give always have plenty. Make giving generously a habit, and watch it change your life. The summer is always the time when we need your help the most. We appreciate your generosity.

Let’s welcome Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

OFFERING VERSE

MATTHEW 5:14

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…”

OFFERING VERSE

MATTHEW 5:16

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and that they may glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 31 says…

ROMANS 8:31b

If God the Father is for us, and He is, who can be successful against us?

We have a God who loves us unconditionally…so no matter what you do, you can’t escape the sphere of God’s love. Here’s Chris Tomlin to sing praises to our God in his song JESUS LOVES ME.

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

JESUS LOVES ME

Chris Tomlin

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

You Wouldn’t Wish the Lake of Fire on Your Worst Enemy

Welcome back!

Let’s finish this lesson with an interesting story the Lord Jesus Christ tells, recorded by Luke in his gospel, Chapter 16, Verses 19 to 31…

LUKE 16:19

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple (the color of royalty) and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.”

LUKE 16:20

“And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores…”

LUKE 16:21

“…and the poor man was longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table…besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.”

LUKE 16:22

“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom (to Paradise in Hades) and the rich man also died and was buried.”

LUKE 16:23

"In Hades, the rich man lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away (in Paradise) and saw Lazarus (the poor man) laying in Abraham's bosom.”

LUKE 16:24

“And the rich man cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham…have mercy on me…send Lazarus here so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue…for I am in agony in this flame.’”

LUKE 16:25

"But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things…and likewise, Lazarus received his bad things (meaning nothing from the rich man)…but now Lazarus is being comforted here (in Paradise) and you are in agony.”

LUKE 16:26

“And besides all this…between us and you there is a great chasm fixed…so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able…and that none may cross over from there (where you are) to us.’”

LUKE 16:27

“And the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father Abraham, that you send Lazarus to my father’s house—”

LUKE 16:28

“…for I have five brothers—send him in order that Lazarus may warn them…so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’”

LUKE 16:29

“But Abraham said, ‘Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets (teaching from Scripture)…let your brothers hear their evangelism.’”

LUKE 16:30

“But the rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham…but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent (they will change their minds about believing in Christ!’”

LUKE 16:31

But Abraham said to the rich man, ‘If your brothers do not listen to Moses and the Prophets (rejecting Scripture…specifically the gospel message)… they will not be persuaded (to repent)…even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Jesus Christ rose from the dead and unbelievers are not persuaded…they will hardly be persuaded by any other “miracle.” If you care about the people in your life, family and friends and even strangers, whom you know are unbelievers, evangelize to them. The Lake of Fire is something you would not wish for your worst enemy.

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe and the Savior of all mankind says there are two destinations for your eternal future…either heaven (the narrow gate) or the Lake of Fire (the wide gate)…Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 13 and 14…

MATTHEW 7:13

“Enter through the narrow gate…for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction…and there are many who enter through the wide gate.”

MATTHEW 7:14

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to the resurrection life…and there are few who find it.”

Which road will you choose for your eternal life?

Those who are on the broad way that leads to destruction may think there is strength in numbers. Believing what everyone else believes does not save you. Placing your confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ saves you.

The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% God…that’s why we call Him Lord…and He is 100% Mankind…true humanity like you and me…that’s why we call Him by His first and last name…Jesus Christ. Jesus says HE is the narrow gate… John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “I am the way (to salvation), and I am the truth (through the Word of God), and I am the resurrection life…and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me.”

Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

Those on the broad way that leads to destruction place their confidence in false teachers. The Lord Jesus Christ warns you to beware of false teachers in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15…

MATTHEW 7:15

“Beware of the false prophets (false teachers), who come to you in sheep’s clothing (preaching deception)…who inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

As ravenous wolves, false teachers rip your eternity to shreds by deceiving you with a false gospel message. Proverbs, Chapter 14, Verse 12 illuminates the issue…

PROVERBS 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man (saving yourself by thinking your good deeds will earn your salvation)…but its end is the way of death (in the Lake of Fire).

God’s enemy, Satan, is the sponsor of false teachers and false teaching. You have to be able to discern the difference between the truth and Satan’s lies…

John, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…

JOHN 8:31

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine…”

JOHN 8:32

“…and you will know the truth (the gospel message), and the truth will make you free.”

Don’t wait until it’s too late to consider what road you are on! Mark, Chapter 1, Verse 15 says…

MARK 1:15

“The time is fulfilled…and the kingdom of God is at hand…so repent

(change your mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ) and believe in His gospel message.”

Who is this God who saves you? The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received… that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

The Lord Jesus Christ has a true gospel message… John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

JOHN 3:36

Another warning for those who choose the broad road is Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 21 to 23…

MATTHEW 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven (by obeying the gospel message) will enter heaven.”

MATTHEW 7:22

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name…and in Your name did we not cast out demons…and in Your name did we not perform many miracles?’”

MATTHEW 7:23

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…depart from Me…you who practice (a lifestyle of) lawlessness.’”

The will of God the Father is that you believe in His Son…the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who choose the narrow road have decided that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the ONLY ticket to heaven…Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…

EPHESIANS 2:8

For by God’s grace you have been saved through faith (in Christ for salvation)…and that grace and that faith and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is the gift of God….

EPHESIANS 2:9

…therefore, being saved is not as a result of works (deeds you have done in self-righteousness)…so that no one may boast (about saving himself).

Get yourself on the narrow road that leads to eternal life in heaven right this minute. Tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.

Evangelism is a trial. Here’s June Murphy to tell us how to endure the trials in her song, COUNT IT ALL JOY.

CLOSING SONG

COUNT IT ALL JOY

June Murphy

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

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