Here lately I have wondered why I do not hear ANY sermons preached on hell. I grew up Pentecostal and all those years I would hear preaching on hell fire, repent and give your life to Christ. Many times I saw the Holy Spirit convict people during these sermons and they would practically run to the altar. It seems here lately and has been happening for years now that preachers no longer preach on this matter. Why has everything turned into a pretty package, tickle your ears service?? Why have we strayed away from this? The preacher used to pour out his heart to the congregation, pleading the case of Jesus to turn from the wickedness of this world for there is a heaven and there is a hell, choose today who you will serve, repent for the time is drawing near. What happened to this teaching and preaching, it seems it has all but vanished?
Today many turn away their ears from the truth and want to heap to themselves teachers having itchy ears and they still hate him that rebukes in the gates as they did in the OT. They hate the prophets today as much as they did then and Jesus said which of the prophets have not their fathers persecuted.
Today we have physcology and philosophies and positive thinking mantras and false teachers everywhere that make everything about the person, making the person feel good. With good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple.
Today many false teachers and so called pastors seek more to get from the people a livelihood and need to pay the bills and be popular and seen of men, that many do not want to offend anyone with truth, or scare any away. It is easier to flatter them and give them what they want and then they build up their base and financial income and make a larger name for themselves.
Many today follow famous TV preachers who smile all the time and who are not sober, grave and temperate and who say they don't preach about sin or hell, thats not their ministry.
Many today have a wrong understanding of the Old time preachers as being some legalistic men who just scared the hell out of people and tried to frighten them into the kingdom
But Jesus often spoke of hell and the dangers of it. he was even very descriptive of the pain and horror to come.
Its not just enough though to preach about the dangers of hell. Sin needs to be exposed and the gospel as well given. But when sin is exposed and the rebellious stand in defiance and care not the dangers of hell and whats to come will be known and preached.
Why did Jesus say to some "How can you escape the damnation of hell?"
also we see in a prophetic sense the laodicean church in Revelaltion. They are rich and increased with goods and think they have need of nothing , but don't know that they are wretched miserable poor blind and naked. Why don't they know? because it is not taught and exposed.Jesus said he would spew them out of his mouth and he said in whom he loves he rebukes and chastens. But today many false teacher would rebuke such talk by Jesus to the laodiceans as unloving and not the way to win friends and influence people. But they would be wrong.
Some look at preaching about sin and hell as legalism, which it is not
John Wesly said this,
"... Love the strictest preaching best. That which most searches the heart, and shows you wherein you are unlike Christ. That which presses you most to love Him with all your heart, and serve Him with all your strength."
From
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
"O Sinner! Consider the fearful Danger you are in: 'Tis a great Furnace of Wrath, a wide and bottomless Pit, full of the Fire of Wrath, that you are held over in the Hand of that God, whose Wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you as against many of the Damned in Hell: You hang by a slender Thread, with the Flames of divine Wrath flashing about it, and ready every Moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no Interest in any Mediator, and noth- ing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the Flames of Wrath, nothing of your own, noth- ing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one Moment. "
AND i DO NOT EVER WANT FEAR AS SALVATION....thats not the point, its love
