01-17-21 LOOKING THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL MATTHEW 16:18
This morning with the Power and the Presence of the Holy Spirit I would like to preach on this topic LOOKING THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL.
PRAYER
This morning we are going to take a trip together through God’s Word and look through the GATES OF HELL.
It is going to take some thinking and imagination and the thing about it is we will still not get the gravity of this place called Hell.
I have a great imagination as I said on Wednesday Night. I was grounded to my room a lot of my teenaged life because I deserved it.
I was a strong willed child and my parents had to be innovative to break my will. His they spanked me, but the problem is a teenager who is playing church and thus unsaved knows the language and when to be good and when not to be + is strong willed.
This is a mindset of a strong willed person: They know the rules, but they do not want to obey the rules, they want to do their own thing.
So they start thinking is the punishment worth want they wanted to do. For me most of the time in my mind, what I wanted to do was worth it because if I get spanked it will only hurt for a little time.
So my parents got innovated are you listening because they loved me and wanted me to do something for the Lord.
I received correction and what I called isolation AKA grounded to my room. Before we had cell phones – internet – social media before there was any fun.
While in my room I would use my imagination to pass time.
And the Lord used that time for me because when you read God’s Word I do not know about you I like to imagine the scene and circumstances around the text.
And that is what I would like to do this morning as we LOOK THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL
MATTHEW 16:18
As we look at this one verse we find out the Hell has Gates. Those gates only swing one way. TO LET PEOPLE IN NOT OUT.
There are so many false views about this place called hell!! Oh by the way IT IS A REAL PLACE.
How do I know there are so many false views about HELL, I am glad that you asked.
Because some of you right now if you really believed in the reality of hell and that you were 1 heartbeat and 1 breath away from going there, you would put away your pride, and what other people might think and run down this isle begging someone to tell you how to escape HELL.
An we the name the name of Christ instead of trying to straighten everyone out, you would commit yourself to the Lord and REACH ONE IN 2021.
Are you still with me? In our society today the word HELL is used much without meaning, it has become a normal word.
People tell other people to go there all the time.
But in our pulpits so-called preachers do not want to preach on it because it might offend people.
As we begin our journey this morning to the Gates of Hell I rea this quote from a fire fighter who survived 9-11.
“IT WAS LIKE LOOKING THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL”
So let us start journey down to the gates of hell. As we walk toward these gates, before we even get to far there is something that is very nauseating.
*I. WE SMELL THE STENCH BURNING OF PEOPLE
REVELATION 14:11
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.
I can remember getting a phone call while my family and I was on vacation that one of our members had been burning some brush not knowing that there was an aerosol can in the brush and the can exploded catching him on fire.
We came home and ran up to the hospital and had to go into the burn ward of the hospital and before I even reach the door to the burn unit I got nauseated because of the smell. And when I went in the smell would just almost knock you out.
And as we start our walk towards the gates of hell we are hit with the smell of billions of burning bodies.
Are you listening HELL is not something to play around with, because HELL is real, HELL is for all eternity.
You can add up all the pleasures of this world and they are not worth spending an eternity in hell
OH I BEG AND PLEAD WITH YOU THIS MORNING NOT TO LEAVE HERE ON THE ROAD TO HELL
As we continue to move closer the smell gets stronger and then
II. WE HEAR THE SOUNDS OF HELL
*A. WE HEAR WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH
MATTHEW 8:12
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MATTHEW 22:13
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I remember doing a funeral of a lost person and some of the family were saved and at the end when people were filing through the family started crying and then they began to weep because they would never see their loved one ever again and they were weep it brought chills down my back
My grandson who is Autistic went through a stage in his life were he grinded his teeth.
Can you imagine with me billions of people weeping and gnashing or grinding their teeth all at once.
Before we even get to the gates of HELL the smell is overwhelming, the weeping and gnashing of teeth pierces our minds.
But why are they weeping, why are they gnashing their teeth?
TURN TO LUKE 16:19-31
1. VS 21-24 Because They Are Thirsty With No Hope Of Any Water
2. VS 24 They Are On Fire
Remember we have not arrived to the Gates of Hell, but as we continue walking we hear another strange sound
B. VS 27-28 WE HEAR PRAYING
1. The Plea Not To Come There
2. The Plea For You To Go And Tell People About This Place
Are you still walking with me? As we walk to these gates of HELL we hear billions of people praying – pleading – begging – you that are hear playing church – you that think that you can get to heaven by your good works – you that think you have plenty of time to wait – you that think that your baptism will get you to heaven.
People in hell right now are praying and begging you to throw away your pride – your religion – your baptism and Repent of being a sinner and ask Jesus to come into your heart today.
Saved person we are hearing the praying – the pleas will you go – will you go and tell people about this place – will you REACH ONE IN 2021.
As we draw closer to the gates of HELL something else we notice.
III. WE FEEL THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE
MARK 9:44
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched
VS 46
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched
VS 48
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
I probably do not have to tell you this but fire is hot. I HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH FIRE THIS SUMMER
Finally we arrive at the gates of Hell
IV. LOOKING THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL
*A. WE CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS
MATTHEW 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MATTHEW 22:13
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MATTHEW 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ILLUSTRATION OF GOING TO THE CAVES WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.
You might be asking yourself how can there be fire and darkness.
Hottest part of a fire is the darkest part of the fire. What we see is the cooling of the fire.
As we continue to look through the gates of HELL we have to use the Word of God to see through the darkness and what do we see?
B. PEOPLE LIKE WORMS
MARK 9:44, 46, 48
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched
Because of the intense fire and pain billions of people right now are moving like worms.
And are you listening they will be there for all eternity.
As we continue looking at God Word’s we see
C. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HELL
TURN TO 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.
*1. FEARFUL
2. UNBELIEVING
3. ABOMINABLE
4. MURDERERS
5. WHOREMONGERS
6. SOCERERS
7. IDOLATERS
8. ALL LIARS
ILLUSTRATE BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED
Hell is a real awful place so bad that Jesus preach on hell 3x more that He did on Heaven.
The good news is you do not have to go there.
The only way that you or I can escape the eternal flames of hell is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
ROMANS 3:23
ROMANS 6:23a
ROMANS 5:8
ACTS 4:12
ROMANS 10:9-10
Remember God never sends anyone to HELL people chose to go there
II PETER 3:9
OH WOULD YOU COME TO JESUS AS YOU ARE AND LET HIM SAVE YOU SO YOU CAN SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH HIM.
SAVED PERSON IT IS OUR TIME – TIME THAT EVERYONE SAVED PERSON WAKE UP AND REACH ONE IN 2021.
YOU ARE THE HOPE OF YOUR HOME – CHURCH – STATE – COUNTRY.
NOTHING AND NOBODY IS GOING TO CHANGE UNTIL THEY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR.
MATTHEW 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
SPRBC LET US GET THINGS RIGHT WITH THE LORD AND WITH EACH OTHER SO THAT WE CAN BE THAT POWERFUL CHURCH THAT THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST US.
