I am teaching a Wednesday night class at church, Completely Free by Dan Strickland. Page 15 “Spiritual Awareness: Sin’s Corruption.” In this session we want to discover that when we suppress the truth, we separate ourselves from God; and as a result, we pay a terrible price.
The issue is especially important today because the average person does not associate the rampant evil in the world with humanity’s rebellion against God. The Bible teaches us that the result of rebelling against God’s truth is that we become more given to evil. The more given to evil we become, the more trapped we become in self-destruction behaviors and the greater penalty we pay in our daily lives as a result of this sin. Until we realize the root problem with mankind is defiance of God’s authority over us, we will continue on the path to ultimate destruction.
When God’s truth is suppressed, there is a corresponding degeneration of the morals of humanity. This is true whether it is an individual, family, nation, or world that is suppressing accountable to him, then the world becomes a very dangerous place where people devour one another and live only for themselves.”
WOW! As I taught this class, I was thinking ‘wake up Children of God.’ One of my friends was telling me about a doctor that he had heard about, who didn’t believe in God. When he died a beautiful angel came to get him and they began walking to this bright light. As they were walking the light got farther away and this beautiful angel turned into this evil wicked terrifying demon before his eyes. Arms began to grab him and pull him down into a pitt. The doctor cried out to God to help him. To save him. At that moment two glorious arms reached out and grabbed him up. He was revived and is living today. Hell is real. My friend also told me about a story of a preacher who was a missionary in Africa. He became very sick and died. He was walking toward the gates of Heaven when the angel of the Lord held up his hand and said “Stop you cannot enter this gate.” The man ask, ‘why?’ The angel said “You have unforgivingness in your heart.” The man remembered one incident when he didn’t forgive. He yelled out and pleaded with God to help him, give him one more chance. God rose him from the dead after 2-3 days. This man will tell you heaven and hell are real. Why do we act like they don’t exist? Why has God’s children gotten so busy with the world, that we forget our purpose, our obligation to the Lord? Romans 1:4-5 “……who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and the apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all Gentiles, for His name’s sake,……” Paul tells us we received grace and the apostleship. So what are we doing. Why are we so busy living our “christian lives” when our spouse, child, family member, friend neighbor, is on the road to hell? I mean, we study God’s word, we pray and talk to the Lord, we tithe our money, we go to retreats, we go to Bible studies and we go to church, etc. We live our Christian life. This is what we are supposed to do.
All I’m asking is what about the ones who aren’t. Are we too busy with our lives? Do we not want to get involved with all their “sin”, it’s too complicated to handle? Why do we feel we need to handle any sin, isn’t that why God is there? Are we afraid to help these people on the road to hell? Isn’t that what we are here for? Where is God’s soldiers who are ready to fight for God, no matter what? Who are God’s children? Can we tell if someone loves Jesus, in a crowd of those who don’t? Are we worried about lost souls or how much money we have lost in our 401K? Why have we lost our “God fearing” spirit? When we walk to the gates of heaven is the angel going to stop us and tell us you can’t go in. Why? You were to afraid, lazy, busy,… to reach out to the lost. Are we going to look down in hell and see our spouse, child, family member, friend, neighbor, etc… crying out in pain and being tormented? Are we going to have to join them because we didn’t fulfill our obligation to the Lord?
The big question is, “if we are ignoring sin around us while enjoying the benefits of the sinner, are we going to be where we think we are going to be? Heaven and Hell are real. So what do we do and where are we going?
thedailylily.com 
Chickenfarmer you have clearly laid out for us two roads and where we are going depends on which road we choose to travel.
If we choose the road of suppression according to Webster we will decide to: ‘keep from public knowledge; to stop or prohibit the publication or revelation of’…the truth of the gospel to others….say nothing, do nothing actions which reveals our own wickedness. Romans 1:18:”The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,..”
Or if we decide to travel the road Paul traveled on we will be: …”obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you…” Romans 1:14
Paul said of his road: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
“The big question is, if we are ignoring sin around us while enjoying the benefits of the sinner, are we going to be where we think we are going to be? Heaven and Hell are real. So what do we do and where are we going?”
Chickenfarmer, your comments/questions profile a ” spiritual selfish, self-centered egotistical narcissistic maniac,” to me. Now, I am not sure there is such a thing. But, if we believe what you have written about heaven and hell it rings true to me. Those stories as told by your friend are very scary and if we go on enjoying the benefits of the sinner and ignoring the soul of the sinner then I would have to say, NO, I am not any different than the sinner.
You also quoted ” The Bible teaches us that the result of rebelling against God’s truth is that we become more given to evil..” I was thinking not doing the list you have given would fall under “Rebellion”, with subtitles of selfishness, etc. and then evil would be the clothes I am wearing.
Chickenfarmer, your teaching is scary. I hope you skip teaching the week of “Haloween” or this teaching might cause one to jump right out of their skin, I mean SIN!
I have been without my computer for a week now, and am awaiting to see if it can be fixed. I have come to my local library, to use the computer. Woe, what a blog to read today! Chickenfarmer, you have asked, “are we going to be where we think we are going to be?” This makes me think ,of the story, of the rich man and Lazarus. We have discussed this story before, I think, on another blog? Let me reiterate the account where the rich man died…. read with me:(Luke 16: 22-26) “Later, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried. In the place of the dead, he was in much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus at his side. He called, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire!’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember when you were alive you had the good things in life, but bad things happened to Lazarus. Now he is comforted here and you are suffering. Besides, there is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here.”
Yes, Chickenfarmer, Heaven and Hell are real! This account is certainly enough evidence!?!?!
Happy you are back on line Needles.
This blog makes me think we just might be cowards when we don’t care and look what cowards get according to, Rev. 21: 8 “But cowards, …and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
I love studying about Heaven and the ones who have had a “death” experience and come back to tell about the afterlife. Or ones that the Lord has chosen to show (like Paul spoke about) Heaven and Hell.
One woman named Choo Thomas wrote in her book how she was shown many fantastic things about Heaven and the wonders and glory of it. But then she was shown hell…and there she saw her very own mother in great flames and agony crying out to her. The gulf was too extreme. The Lord told her that there is no hope for those who do not know Him, once they have died in reality, no compensation, hope abandoned. Choo said she was sick for many days after this vision but the Lord told her He had to show her because it is the Truth and so that she, as His instrument would write and publish all He told her and showed to warn the people that it is real. The torment is real and it is forever.
In her book, Scenes Beyond the Grave, writtenin 1865, Marietta Davis tells of her visits with the Lord to Heaven and then hell. She writes that she encountered a friend in hell whom she had known well, on earth. He explained to her the tragedy of the “pit”. He told her the consciousness and capability of suffering in hell is most superior to the human suffering (while on earth). He speaks of disappointment and agony in hell.
It is almost too awful to read what was disclosed to her about hell, from its occupants. It is almost sickening. But everything the Bible says is true and hell is horrid. It is a place of unrequited yearnings & desires never to be filled, thirst never to be quenched (see the rich man parable above in Needles comments ) hunger never to be appeased…always starving, always thirsty, always craving and yearning… for eternity ….and the flames!!OH !!!the flames~~~~~
Oh my gracious. This just gets worst. Who is going there according to Ms, Davis’ book?
In response to your query, Sara, I read further…another tortured souls then said to Marietta, “…is there no hope? How can harmony exist in the midst of discord? WE WERE ADVISED OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR COURSE WHILE IN THE BODY; but we loved OUR WAYS better than those which exalted the soul. We have fallen into this fearful abode. We have originated our own sorrow. God is just. God is good. We know it is NOT from a vindictive law of our Creator that we suffer. It is our (own) condition and sin from which we receive our misery….the violation of the moral law which should have been preserved in us in harmony (wholeness) and health Oh Sin!! that parent of countless woes!!….you insidious enemy of peace and heaven!! Why do mortals love thy ways!!!”
Then Marietta said, the soul looked upon her in despair….she shrunk from that hopeless glare….no hope!
The one that she had known on earth told her who was in that pit…”those who oppressed the poor; the false in religious faith; the hypocrite; the adulterer; the assassin; the suicide; those who desire universal adulation and those who want to be free to pursue perversions, rebellious, proud and pleasure-loving hearts…no restraint…no prayers and religious instruction to bring to accountiblity. ”
These are just SOME of those that he described who were in hell.
Why would anyone want to go there?
Drawing from everyone’e comments above produces a lengthy checklist of road signs to ‘this way to hell.’ We may think or hope we are not on that road but unless we examine ourselves and make necessary changes we may find we fell short, missed the turn and landed there.
“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. ” II Cor 13:5-8
My husband and I attended a funeral of a 98 year old lady recently and the ministries were talking much like the dialogue here. A young man said to us, “gee I am surprised that anyone talks like this today!” I think I would have to agree. It sure gives you chills in the bones to hear this. Wonder if we really believe it?
Oh, I don’t want to go to Hell to prove it. Maybe it is just easier to say I believe it. But, then what about the living it? Debi wants us to check-up on ourselves. How can we do that if we are bent for evil. How would we even know?
You are right, Sara. Some of us think we are Ok just because we have’t murdered or robbed a bank or beat up our grandmothers. But Paul says our own righteousness is as filthy rags. We cannot gain Heaven on our own by good works and pious platitudes. It is a free gift from the Lord Jesus Christ and the only thing we have to do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord . He, by His Spirit, will help to change our behavior, deliver us from evil and help us check our consciences when we have strayed from the path of life. That is the only way. I have read many books about and from people, best case in point the BIBLE and Paul’s testimony about the THIRD HEAVEN and the Gospel story of the rich man in hell and Lazarus the beggar in heaven (see previous blog comments) to know and believe without a doubt that HEAVEN IS REAL AND HELL IS REAL.
If these blogs help even just one person to miss Hell and gain Heaven then it is worth it. Our prayer is that all who read this blog and have not yet known the love of Jesus the wonderful Redeemer Who paid it all for us…if we would only listen to Him and His Holy Spirit…. then Heaven is our inheritance. It was made for us to be with Christ and glory after glory, ever increasing throughout eternity, never boring, always new, new, new and more beautiful moment after moment…indescribably awesome.
Could you please give some instructions with Biblical references on “how to reach out to the lost?”
One biblical reference as to reaching out to the lost Jesus shows us in the story of THE GOOD SAMARITAN. The religious leaders of the community passed by on “the other side” when they saw the robbed and beaten man lying on the path. Samaritans in Jesus’ day were in some apostasy and the Israelites were not to assoicate with them. But Jesus told of how this supposed irreverent Samaritan man took pity on the victim of a hold up and bound his wounds, set him on his own horse and brought him to a lodging house and paid for his care. Jesus said this man was the one who manifested the love established in one of the 2 great commandments…that is: Love your neighbor as yourself. This samaritan man reached out to the wounded soul and was a great testimony to the inn keeper.
Another example of reaching out to the lost…Jesus, in the Gospel of John chapter 4, encounters a Samarian woman who has come to draw water at the well. He engages her in conversation by asking for a drink from her water jar. Jesus knew what His plan and motive were.
As He converses with her He draws out her attitude of mind as He leads her to the focus of what He wants to tell her about Himself, the Messiah. Her testimony was….’come and see a Man Who told me everything I have ever done!!” What Jesus really said to her was to TELL HER THE TRUTH.
When we reach out to the lost it is of upmost import to TELL THEM THE TRUTH. Tell them about the LOVE of Jesus Christ. Tell them how He can save them from an eternity of Hell. Tell them the truth about the horror of not being in Heaven with the Lord after death. Tell them the truth that there is only one way to God. That is the Lord Jesus Christ. Tell them the truth and then let Holy Spirit do the work on their hearts. Love ’em and leave ’em to God. And pray and pray and pray for them.
Sara your comment /question about ,”Debi wants us to check-up on ourselves. How can we do that if we are bent for evil. How would we even know?”
I guess I was thinking that we measure/compare our actions by the Biblical standards of behavior and character….do we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh according to Galations 5:19-23.
Maybe we only have ability to measure/discern accurately if we are fully walking in the Spirit…and if we are not than we haven’t got the ability to do it….so I guess that leaves a lot of us really not able to check up on ourselves? Is this what Psalm 19:12 means? “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ”
I would appreciate help understanding the scripture I wrote about. “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. ” II Cor 13:5-8 (Message)
As I read along, fascinated, touched, thrilled and in some instances recoiling from…I came to this chapter title:
HELL IS BETTER THAN HEAVEN FOR THE UNSAVED !
Whoa! What do you think of that? Does any of our readers and/or writers have a response to that?
MG, my answer would be, “If I hate Jesus and righteousness here why would I love him there?”
So true. And the Angel who was instructing Marietta Davis showed her that it is even greater torture for those with a perverted spirit, who loved darkness and hated discipline to exist in Heaven. They could not stand it. It is of tortuous proportion for evil to try to exist in the Light of Love.
“Paul says, for what fellowship has darkness with Light and Christ with Belial?” (2Cor. 6:14)
If they could not stand it than they must have loved what they were doing in the dark on earth and got to continue doing it in hell because it became a part of them.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. ” John 3:19 NIV
Yes, from what I read, the exquisite torture of an evil soul in Heaven is even worse, if that were at all possible, than the horrors that they will suffer in hell.