We are going to deal with a couple of questions dealing with two topics so we are going to shift gears during this message:

  1. Is being filled with the Holy Spirit and Speaking in other tongues necessary to be born again?
  2. Is there a difference between the terms Holy ghost and Holy Spirit?
  3. What is death ?
  4. What happens to the soul after we die?
  5. Is hell really eternal?
  6. And then the second most popular question always asked, What about my pet?

 

  1. No idea what happens to our pets biblically
    1. Why not be in heaven?
    2. No soul so they can be recreated and it is not reincarnation.
    3. There are animals in heaven according to Isaiah — so why not?
  2. What is death?
    1. to define this term, lets look at the opposite of this:
      1. John 14: 6 I am the way the truth and the Life No man can come to the Father except through me.
      2. Jesus is Life so the opposite of Jesus is death.
      3. 1 Corinthians 15: 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam. (Death has reigned since Adam Romans 5: 14)
        1. Belong to Jesus we have life
        2. Belong to Adam we all die.  Problem is we all belong to Adam.
      4. I’m breathing, how can you say I am dead?
        1. Life more than eating and body more than clothes. Matthew 6: 25
        2. No lasting satisfaction in the things we pursue
          1. EXAMPLE: Metal for 30 years work in company
        3. We are dead because we are no longer in relationship with Jesus Christ who is life.
        4. We break rules because it is stimulating to us forget the consequences.
          1. Make the most of this life
          2. Make a difference
          3. History filled with billions of people who have made a difference in others and are now gone from memory
        5. The consequences which we choose to forget result of this is Death. (Wages) Romans 6: 23
          1. We are dead because of our state in which we live so it is more than just our bodies passing away, but eternal separation from God. (LIFE)
  3. Hell
    1. Sinners want a life of rejection of God and having their own way = hell
    2. Description of hell is metaphors which we do not understand.
      1. Darkness
      2. Fire
      3. Torture
        1. EXAMPLE: It would not matter if hell was a condo on beach front property, if God is not there.
    3. We lived in this world separated from Christ… don’t know the covenant promises… living in this world without hope and without God. Ephesians 2: 12
    4. Paul talked more on judgement (80 times) than forgiveness (7) mercy (27) or heaven (21)
  4. Hope
    1. Without God, without hope; with God, with hope.
    2. Back to first verse: I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life, No man comes to the Father except through me.
    3. “Except through me”?
    4. Dead in our trespasses and sins Ephesians 2: 1
    5. Man born to die once and then face judgement. Hebrews 9: 27, 28
    6. We are dead so there is nothing in front of us but judgement
    7. I have been crucified with Christ I no longer live but the live I live is by faith in the Son of God who loved and gave himself for me. Galatians 2: 20
    8. Stay dead and face a second death (Lake of Fire) Revelation 20: 13 – 15
    9. Accept Christ’s death on the cross
      1. Crucified with him fulfill the must die once
      2. Face judgement. Christ fulfilled it on the cross
      3. That is our hope.  Nothing else I can add to it.
    10. Filled with Spirit and speak in tongues? Acts 4
    11. Facebook: “If you share this post of me on Facebook you will prove you love me and you will receive answers to prayers and money.  If you do not repost a picture of me then you prove you don’t love me signed Jesus.
    12. 2 Peter 3: 11 Because there is a destruction coming, live holy, godly lives.
  5. Empowered to share
    1. Go and make disciples
    2. The cause is so great it is worth it to even attempt to share the Gospel then you can look into Jesus eyes and say I tried.
    3. Be empowered by my Holy Spirit or Ghost same wording to be my witnesses.
    4. Essential for salvation? No
    5. Essential for witnessing? Most definitely
    6. Ask God to fill us and do more than we can do in our own power.