PREACHER IN THE PIT

 

There will be preachers in hell. Judas Iscariot is the prototype. He stands as a warning that the externals of religion—the appearance of being a follower of Christ with much religious activity—does not make us regenerate. Here is the solemn warning:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  (Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭23‬‬)

Sadly, there are wolves wearing sheep’s clothing—and even masquerading as shepherds!  

I must search my own heart—inviting the Spirit of God to shine the spotlight of Scripture into my soul. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;” (II Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬‬).

It is a sobering fact—there will be people who sat in a pew on Sunday who will be in hell someday. It is also a grave reality that there will be those who stood in a pulpit on Sunday who will be there as well!  Judas Iscariot is one. What about you?

Lord, I care not for riches,
Neither silver nor gold;
I would make sure of Heaven,
I would enter the fold.
In the book of Thy kingdom,
With its pag­es so fair,
Tell me, Jesus, my Savior,
Is my name written there?

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,
Is my name written there?

Lord, my sins they are many,
Like the sands of the sea,
But Thy blood, O my Savior,
Is sufficient for me;
For Thy promise is written,
In bright letters that glow,
Though your sins be as scarlet,
I will make them like snow.

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,
Is my name written there?

Oh! that beautiful city,
With its mansions of light,
With its glorified beings,
In pure garments of white;
Where no evil thing cometh
To despoil what is fair;
Where the angels are watching,
Yes, my name’s written there.

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?  (Frank M. Davis)

OFFERING HOPE TO THE HELL-BOUND

 

Paul told the young pastor, Timothy, “do the work of an evangelist,” (2 Timothy 4:5). The gift to the church of the pastor-teacher is not the same as the gift of the evangelist (cf. Eph.4:11). Seeking the lost may not come as freely to the pastor as shepherding the flock, and the effort in evangelism may not be as fruitful as those gifted in it, but this does not absolve us from trying.  The truth is that if the pastor-teacher does not stir a passion for evangelism by his model and equip the saints in his teaching, then few souls will be reached by the local church. God has put us here to offer hope to the hell-bound.

Consider the GRAVITY OF OUR EVANGELISM,  “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire,” (Rev.20:15).  What a dreadful day for the damned!  Hell is a reality, and those who do not receive Christ as Savior are doomed to spend eternity in the flames!  May they have to climb over us to get there!  This is an awful future, and yet an avoidable fate.  Our witness may be the only impediment to their everlasting suffering!

So, there is the URGENCY OF EVANGELISM. John records, “And the dead were judged,” (Rev.20:12c). Scripture is clear, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Heb.9:27). We do not know when that appointment is set for an individual, we only know that it is a certainty. What if it is today for someone we know or meet along the way?  God puts people in our path that we might warn them of the judgment to come and offer them hope in Jesus Christ, “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many,” (Heb.9:28a).

I am ashamed at opportunities I have missed. I am alarmed at the prospect of souls I have not warned—of those hell-bound who were not told of the hope in Christ!  All I may do is grieve those missed opportunities and resolve by God’s grace to be a better watchman (cf. Ezek.3:16-19).  I am sick to my soul that as I type these words there is blood on my hands—stained from the sinners I failed to warn. May God have mercy on them, and send someone to share before it is too late, and have mercy on me for shirking soul-winning!

DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST!

THE MAIN THING

 Repeatedly, I have preached from this text when I have been considered by a church to serve as their pastor. I wanted them to know up front, before they extended a call to me, the focus of my ministry. Keeping the main thing the main thing is a challenge. Yet, by God’s grace these must be our priorities in ministry.  

THE PRIORITY OF BUILDING, “building yourselves up on your most holy faith.”  We are to be body builders. While it is true that Jesus builds His church, we have a choice to practice the spiritual disciplines that will build our faith and that of others. It is foundational to ministry—a passion to grow the people in spiritual health and God will bring the numerical growth.

THE PRIORITY OF PRAYING, “praying in the Holy Spirit.”  All our efforts will be in vain unless energized by God’s power—and that power comes through prayer. Otherwise, we are on a religious treadmill—running hard but never getting anywhere.  The pastor must be a man of prayer and call the church to be a house of prayer.

THE PRIORITY OF LOVING, “keep yourselves in the love of God.”  To love God and our neighbor is the great commandment. We must fuel the fire of love. Recall Paul’s words, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal,” (1 Cor.13:1). Eloquence in preaching cannot mask the absence of love from a preacher’s heart.  Never compromise your convictions, but stand and speak them with compassion.

THE PRIORITY OF LOOKING, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”  All we do is meant to be in view of eternity.  We must serve as those who will give account at the consummation of the age. The precious souls in our charge are to be reminded that this world is not our home. They are more likely to be looking up and looking ahead, if we demonstrate that ourselves and declare it in our messages.

THE PRIORITY OF REACHING, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”  Some sinners we reach are broken people, open to the Gospel, and will respond to the good news eagerly. But, we must make a distinction, for others are hardened in apathy, or will even respond with hostility to the Gospel. We must prioritize the former, while not neglecting the latter.  

As they are on the precipice of a fiery hell, we must pull them out of the inferno of iniquity. Yet, as we reach out to them in their wicked environment, we must be cautious about being defiled by the same. Loving sinners means hating sin—as we see its destructive nature.  Be as sure of their true repentance and seek evidence of regeneration before bringing them into the church, lest they be wolves in sheep’s clothing and bring harm to the flock. This calls for discernment and it is our duty as shepherds.

My prayer for you:  “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”  (Jude‬ ‭1:24-25‬‬)

THE GRAVITY OF THE GOSPEL

 

Preaching is serious business. There will be a severity in the preacher’s judgment before God for there is a gravity in his assignment to men. Paul’s strong rebuke here is not for a church member who strays into sin, but for the pastor who errs in his sermon.

Improper motivation may be the spark that ignites the hellish fire of Gospel distortion.  The desire to please men may temper our passion for reproof and cause us to tailor our proclamation to suit the congregation’s fancy.   Pride goes before a fall,  and the Apostle does not mince words when he calls upon such ear-tickling, man-pleasing preachers to fall into the abyss!  It is horrible to consider that a pastor might end up in hell—and far worse, be the pied piper who charms others to follow!

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

We can fear God or fear people.  We can seek God’s approval or man’s. We can speak in view of earthly gain or eternal reward. We will choose one to the exclusion of the other.  “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬)

If we please God, it is certain that we will displease many people. Our intent is not to be obnoxious preachers whose goal is to offend, but that the approval or censure of man is immaterial—rather we pursue the commendation of God. Just know that there is a price to pay for that. But, the cost of perverting the Gospel is infinitely more. This is the gravity of the Gospel—the difference between heaven and hell.