What In Hell Do You Want?

What In Hell Do You Want?

(Making a Deal with the Devil)

Text: Philemon 1:24, Matthew 16:24-26, 2 Timothy 4:10

Philemon 1:24

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Matthew 16:24-26

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.

2 Timothy 4:10

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,…

Introduction:

We live in a world that appeals to the nature of humankind. It is a nature that is carnal, deceitful, lustful and pleasure seeking. This nature is vile and repulsive, containing no credible values or morals. It is a nature that was defiled by sin and destined to Hell. It is a nature that desires nothing but the pure, unadulterated pleasures of sin. It is a nature that craves only the debauchery of wickedness. It is a nature that seeks after the pleasures of Hell. It is a nature that when left to it’s own wicked devices, utterly destroys.

I. The Tragedy of Demas

 Paul’s Fellowlabourer

 Philemon 1:24

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

 A Position of Honor – Who Wouldn’t Want to be a Minister with Paul.

 Somewhere between the Writing of Philemon in 61-62 AD and the Writing of 2 Timothy in 67 AD Demas got sidetracked.

 2 Timothy 4:10

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,…

 He became enamoured with what the World had to offer

 He traded Salvation for Sin

 Heaven for Hell

II. What In Hell Do You Want?

 Hell has Nothing to Offer

 It is a Place of Unpleasantness

 The Party may be here but the Payday is There

 Luke 16:22-24

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in Hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

When England closed it’s Libyan Embassy Muammar Qaddafi became so angry that he ordered England to be removed from all maps in Libya. If you buy a map in that country today, that area will be represented by a new arm of the North Sea bordered by Scotland and Wales. Simply removing England from all maps in Libya does not mean it doesn’t exist or is not real. Just because we’ve never been to Hell or the world makes light of it, and would try to convince you that it is only a fairy tale doesn’t mean it’s not real or doesn’t exist. Hell is very real.

But just as Hell is a reality so is Heaven. It is a better place.

III. There is a Better Place

 John 14:2-3

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 I Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

IV. There is a Way to Get There from Here.

 John 14:5-6

Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not wither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 The Difference between Here and There is a Cross (Steve Cole)

 We must all go through the Cross

 Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Conclusion:

Hell is a high price to pay for the temporary pleasure this world has to offer. Yes, you could say there is Hell to pay, for eternity. Hell may hold title, but Jesus made the payoff.