Main scripture used in this message Mark 9:42-48 (NKJV)

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to send, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-where "Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-where "Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-where "Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched."

Do we really believe in hell? This is a question that is often answered in the affirmative, but if I were to ask, "Do we believe in the hell that is described in the bible?" I often wonder what our response would be. This is a simple and valid question because if you do not live according to the word of God; this will be your eternal resting-place. Also, this is the den of our enemy, this is the very place we are trying to save souls from going. Finally, so many times we focus on Heaven and forget to realize who or where our adversaries may lie.

Two main points that are brought up in these few verses located in Mark. First, if we cause any to stumble it is better for us to die, no for us to tie a millstone around our neck and be thrown into the sea. Second, if our own body causes us to sin, it says that we are better to enter Heaven maimed than going to hell in good health. Now the second part is not talking in the literal sense, surely no one can overcome sin by dismembering his or her body; Jesus is using these terms in a figurative sense. However, Jesus is saying that it is better to endure the hardships in this life, rather than to be in perfect condition and be cast into hell.

I would like for you to ask yourself this question, "Do I really believe in the hell that is described in the bible?" Now before we go one, I want to look at how hell is described, not only here in Mark, where it says, "Where the worms do not die, and the fire is not quenched." Let us look in Mathew 13:42 where it reads, "And will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." This tells us that hell is horrible, but also that we will be conscience of our own torment. In Isaiah 33:14 we see this, "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with the everlasting burnings?" Two important questions that show the intensity of hells fire and the length, eternity! In Revelation 20:10 it reads, "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Once again, the intensity and the length, eternity! Finally in Revelation 14:11it tells us, "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

This is reality people, this hell and what it will be like. God's word is truth, so when He describes hell, you can bet your bottom dollar that these descriptions are very accurate. Now that we have a pretty good idea of what hell is like and let me mention this. This is just a sample of what it will be like. You see, we cannot begin to fathom the perfectness of Heaven and all of its wonders. We cannot begin to imagine all of its glory and magnificence. You must also look at hell in this same way, but to the extreme other end. We cannot even begin to fathom the pain and suffering or the intensity of it, not to mention this is for eternity as well. You see when we are on earth, we have the hope that things will get better. Hope is a big thing, probably one of the main virtues we live by. In hell there is no more hope, ONCE YOU ARE THERE, YOU ARE THERE. Jesus cannot help you, there is no more empowering of the Holy Spirit like on earth. Just you and your torment forever, without hope or any presence of God. Now that we have a better idea of hell, ask yourself this question, "Do I believe in the hell that is described here in the bible?" Now ask yourself this question, "What actions or lack of, could land me in such a place?"

Mark tells us that if we cause someone to stumble, especially someone who is little (not necessarily a child, but a new believer as well) it is better for us to die. That to me is a pretty profound statement, Jesus is telling us that it is better for us to die than to cause someone to stumble. Now what could cause someone to stumble? I am so glad you asked! Anything that may be perceived as okay that really isn't. If you still do not have a clear picture of this, here are a couple of examples. If someone is preaching the word of God and they are making false interpretations, that is a big one! What one is doing is not only limiting the Holy Spirit from the true interpretation, but they are going to allow this one way of interpretation to follow in the reading of other scriptures. I am sorry to say that you cannot interpret the bible to suit your own philosophy, but you need to allow the Lord to speak through you. If you are guilty of this, STOP IT! This will not only cause others to stumble, but you will hinder God from moving the way He wants to in your life. Or if you are seen going into a bar; it doesn't matter what you do in the bar, but if someone sees you gong in and coming out, their interpretation will lead them to think that this behavior is okay. Or if you are preaching on a certain subject that you have not fulfilled in your own life, this is hypocritical and will eventually kill you ministry and turn those from Christianity. How about this one, the people who live in the bar throughout the week and then are in church claiming to be a true Christian. STOP, CONFESS YOUR SINS, AND REPENT! Now to repent does not mean to repeat, even though there is only one letter difference, they are not synonymous.

Let's face it people. We are called to save souls, so how can you do this if you are sinning. We cannot be effective witnesses, if we are always trying to go against the word of God or trying to interpret the word, based on what we think is right. We cannot be effective and then we are of no use to the furthering of the kingdom of God. I encourage you to ask yourself this question, "Do I really believe in hell and do my actions portray my beliefs?

In the next few verses, Jesus goes on to tell us that if there is anything that causes us to sin, we are to remove it from our body. He says that it is better to enter into heaven maimed than into hell in good health. There are two main points I would like to bring out here. First, we need to eliminate the things in our lives that cause us to make the decision to sin, or bring temptation into our lives. This is not limited to yourself, but to your company and your "things". Company, meaning friends and things meaning items that do not allow you to focus on the Father. I am not saying to stop being friends, but you need to realize your mission, you are to witness to them, not necessarily hang out with them, do you understand. Personally a person that would help me into getting to hell, I would not look at as a friend anyway. Also, you do not need to throw out your televisions, but you need to prioritize what is most important. If the television is getting into your time in the word or your time in prayer, I would learn to limit my time with the television. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 it reads, "Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Paul tells us that we are to separate us from all filthiness in the flesh and the spirit. We need to direct our focuses on those things that will be profitable to our relationship with Christ. The second thing we need to look at is that there is a reaction for our sinful action. Jesus tells us that we are to stop and eliminate these things, because if we don't we will end up in hell. The hell that we described earlier, the hell that is forever, the one that has a cloud of smoke from all of the torment! This is real people, in Romans, Paul tells us that the wages of sin is death. He is not talking about physical death, but a spiritual death, which means separation from the Father or a life in hell for eternity.

Sin as defined by the Greek word, hamartia, is any act that violates or transgresses the religious or moral law of God or the way of righteousness. To put it simply, anything that is unrighteous or anything that may cause separation from our Father, is sin. I feel we need to look at sin because it is sin that put Jesus on the cross. It is also sin that condemns one to hell and causes us to be separated from God. Now we may not see some of these things as sin, but according to the word of God, these things are sin. Sexual immorality, this is to include premarital sex, same sex sex, adultery or things of this nature. Idolatry, to include the worshiping of those things which are false gods, or putting anything before God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. So if you practice Buddhism, Dowism, Allah, or even yourself, this is idolatry. Drunkenness, which is to be drunk or to be clouded with alcohol, drugs, or anything for that matter, is a sin. It is possible for you to be clouded with pornography or even with other people. This is to be clouded or to have your mind totally focused on things that are not holy. Selfish ambitions are a big sin that much of us may not truly understand. For instance, if you bring you kid to practice three or four nights a week and then let them sleep through church that is selfish ambitions. If you make the decision to be at work when you can be at church, this is also considered selfish ambitions. Or how about this one, if you miss church to watch the Superbowl, these are selfish ambitions. To put your interest or goals above the Fathers is to be considered selfish. This is sin whether we agree with it or not.

I urge you to ask yourself this question again, "Do I really believe in hell that is described in the bible and do my actions portray my beliefs?" This is not a game people, this is real life, and God says that man not noeth the day or the hour of Christ's return. Better yet, do you know when you are going to die? My brother has a friend named Leroy Adams, well he was my brothers friend. You see, he died on his way home from a bar one night. He was drunk and lost control of his car and die instantly. Now I bet he did not expect for that to happen, or better yet, what if he would of hit someone else. We do not know people, so we need to get our hearts right with God, it says in His word that He knows the hearts of men.

Now no one can save you from the pits of hell and God says that he does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. This is why he sent His Son Jesus, to die on the cross for us, so that we may be redeemed through His sacrificial blood. In 1 John 1:9 it reads, "that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Now this does not give us a free right to sin, but if we fail in our walk, or lose to temptation every now and then, God provides us a way to heal the wounds caused by sin. If we go out and deliberately sin, I really do not think that we believe in the hell that is described in the bible. Not only that but three other things are evident: we do not care about the separation from our Father, we make a mockery of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we present ourselves as stumbling blocks to others. I would encourage you to ask yourself this question one more time, "Do I really believe in hell, the one that is described in the bible?" "Do my actions relay my beliefs?"

People, heaven and hell are real places and first thing you need is Jesus. You first need to accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. Without His cleansing blood, you have no way for your sins to be forgiven, you are not protected by the blood of Jesus Christ. Second thing you need to do is if you have sin in your life, confess it to God the Father. Then repent of those sins in order for the blood to wash your sins away. Folks that is it, God is a loving and gracious God, we just need to live according to the whole word of God.