Full Gospel Church / Wayne Parks Ministries

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Seven Things in Hell that Ought be in the Church

Introduction

A vision: I looked down and God gave me a vision of Hell...

The following important discussion is taken from Luke 16:23-31.

1. Vision. "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off."

The rich man could in see hell. The church today needs a fresh vision for lost souls. Paul said, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). And Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he who keeps the law [i.e., His Word], he is blessed."

2. Crying. "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus."

There is crying in Hell. Today we need old fashion crying-out-to-God prayer meetings in the church. Jonah got out of trouble when he cried (Jonah 2:2). There is a reason when souls are not being saved in the church. No travailing.

3. Remembrance. "But Abraham said, Son, remember..."

In hell people will remember every opportunity they had to find God. In church today we need to remember how good god has been to us. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Luke 17:32 reminds us to "Remember Lot's wife" and the mistake that cost her her own life.

4. Praying. "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father."

In most churches the supper rooms are full and the "upper rooms" are empty. Some preachers are teaching there is no need to pray. But in Luke 11:1-2  Jesus teaches on prayer,

And it happened as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples. And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as in Heaven, so also on the earth.

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul admonishes, "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." And James writes in his letter in 5:15-16,

And the prayer of faith will cure the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him. Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous one avails much.

5. Sending. "That thou wouldst send him to my father's house."

He had a missionary spirit. He couldn't go, so he wanted to send someone else. This spirit needs to be in the church. Luke 10:2 says, "Then [Jesus] said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest."

6. Testifying. "For I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them."

John wrote that we are made overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Paul gave a good testimony regarding a faithful assistant in the ministry in 2 Timothy 1:18,

May the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day. And in what things he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well.

And in Luke 21:13, Jesus spoke about the rewards of a faithfulness under persecution, saying, "And it shall return to you for a testimony."

7. Repenting. "But if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent."

He could see the only way to God was by repenting. Psalm 51:3 says, "For I confess my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me." This spirit of repenting and confession to God of our sins needs to be in the church today.

Wayne Parks

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