DEBARRED FROM HEAVEN

A message Delivered by Rev. Moses Aransiola, Ph.D at the RCCG Annual Feast of Esther Programme on Thursday March 14^th 2019.

PART ONE

INTRODUCTION

The Christian journey to heaven begins from the day he or she experiences the new birth or salvation. The Christian experience begins with the initial experience of salvation, which must be worked out practically with fear and trembling until the day of our final salvation when we see the Lord in glory. In other words, a Christian has been saved, is being saved, and will be saved. This puts a responsibility on every born again child of God to labour in practical Christian living in order to qualify for this ultimate salvation or admittance into heaven.

Sadly, the record of scriptures show that not everyone who started well on the journey of salvation ended well. People like Saul, Judas, and Demas in the Bible probably did not end their journey well with the Lord. They were probably barred from heaven.

At the commencement of their Christian race, every Christian purposes and determines to make it to heaven. However, we have no way of proving that these Christians ended their race in heaven. In fact, the manner and condition in which some Christians ended their journey here on earth does not suggest a heavenly destination.

May the Lord help us to live our lives following in the footsteps of the Master, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

15. Anchor Scriptures: I Cor. 9:24-27; I Cor. 6:9-11; Matt. 7:21-23; Rev. 21:2; Rev. 20:11-15.
16. THE MEANINGS OF DEBAR
17. To debar means: to ban, to bar, to preclude, to eliminate, to exclude, to rule-out, to shut-out, to exempt, and to prevent from…
18. To be debarred from heaven simply means to be shut-out, exempted, banned and prevented from heaven.
19. SALIENT FACTS ABOUT HEAVEN
20. What and where is heaven?
21. Heaven and hell are real. Whereas heaven is a conscious place of eternal rest, comfort and fellowship with God, hell on the other hand is a conscious place of eternal torment and suffering – Lk. 16:20-24.
22. Hell was not originally made for man, but for the devil and his rebellious angels – Matt. 25:41.
23. We go to heaven or hell by choice – I Cor. 9:24-27.
24. FIVE CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE DEBARRED FROM HEAVEN.
25. The unrepentant sinner who refused to accept Christ while on earth.
26. The formerly righteous person that hid under the cloak of cheap and misunderstand grace to live in unrighteousness and self-deception – Ezek. 18:24; 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

3        The steward/servant who refused to engage his/her God-given talent, grace and gifting for Kingdom profitability – Matt. 25:14-30.

4        The blessed person who callously shunned or ignore needful social responsibilities – Matt 25:35-46.

5        The one who refused to come to the help of the Lord, as in helping to promote the gospel and supporting or standing for Kingdom causes when required – Judges 5:23.

1. WHY DO BELIEVERS BECOME SUDDENLY LAX IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?

1        Faulty spiritual foundations.

2        Deliberate refusal to grow in faith.

3        Weak word and prayer life.

4        Non-involvement in soul- winning and evangelistic activities.

5        Irregular church and fellowship attendance.

6        No heavenly focus, no eternity in view, and no rapture consciousness.

7        Exposure to cheap and permissive grace messages.

8        Undue reliance and dependence on adulterated Bible versions and questionable Greek, Latin and Hebrew interpretation and explanations of scriptures.

9        No or lack of proper apostolic/pastoral cover.

10      Territorial and environmental influences.

1. MY SAFETY OR FINISHING LINE PRINCIPLES.
2. An iron-clad determination to make heaven at all costs.
3. Daily affirmations, resolve and attitude to make heaven.
4. By remaining strong in the Lord and move from glory to glory.
5. Looking unto Jesus daily for grace and mercy to make heaven.
6. Modelling or patterning my life after my apostolic role models, dead and living.

–        Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin

–        R. W. Schambach

–        Evang. Billy Graham

–        Lester Sumrall

–        Morris Cerullo

–        Dr. T. L. Osborne

–        Pastor E. A. Adeboye

–        Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

6. Having personal moral and relational red-lines that most not be crossed.
7. Inspiration from a minister friend who intentionally placed a curse on himself so as not to fall into adultery.
8. Focus on my reward and inheritance; afraid to forfeit my inheritance like Esau and the prodigal son.
9. Deliberate walk in humility, love and faith.
10. Cultivating and maintaining: “It does not worth it mind-set”. That is weighing the consequences of momentary sinful pleasure in definite and practical terms. Sinful pleasure can result in:

• Loss of sweet communion with the Holy Spirit.
• Loss of peace
• Loss of prayer power and fire
• Loss of unction and anointing
• Loss of spiritual authority
• Loss of prestige and fame
• Loss of personal integrity
• Loss of joy and happiness
• Loss of ministerial grounds and platforms
• Loss of public respect and honour
• Probable loss of health
• Loss of wealth and favours
• Probable loss of physical life
• Probable loss of place in heaven

1. PRAYER FOR GRACE TO MAKE HEAVEN

PRAYER GUIDE:

1. Father, I thank you for the great privilege of knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour.
2. I thank you my Lord for the earthly privileges you have given me in order to make it to heaven.
3. I thank you Lord for the grace to live above sin and worldliness.
4. I repent Lord of any friendship or compromise I have made with the world already.
5. I repent of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, in Jesus name.
6. I repent of any inordinate love for money, status, position, and power.
7. I repent of every secret sin or little foxes that may be lurking in my soul.
8. Father, deliver me from secret evil desires that are preying upon my soul.
9. In whatever way I have brought reproach to the name of Christ: I repent and plead for mercy, in Jesus name.
10. Father, have mercy on me and forgive me, in Jesus name.
11. Now, I renounce and reject any moral or spiritual attitude that may cause me to be barred from heaven.
12. I bind and cast out of my life any spirit that may be programming me for hell to fire.
13. I reject and renounce any strange gospel that is intended to damn my soul.
14. I resist every moral pressure intended to compromise my Christian faith, in Jesus name.
15. Father, deliver me from every trap the enemy has arranged to draw my soul into perdition.
16. Lord, please deliver me from the deceitfulness and the delusions of my sins, in Jesus name.
17. Let my Christian conscience and spiritual sensitivity be awakened again, in Jesus name.
18. I command fire to consume any altar raised to rubbish my Christianity, in Jesus name.
19. Anointing and power to make heaven, fall on me now, in Jesus name.
20. Father, empower me by your Spirit to resist and desist from the sinful pleasure that is killing my spiritual life gradually.
21. Father, bring me out of every spiritual and moral stupor in which I find myself.
22. Lord, wake me up from the spiritual sleep of death and eternal damnation, in Jesus name.
23. Father, let the hair of my Samson grow again and help me to recover from my spiritual coma, in Jesus name.
24. Father, by your matchless grace and mercy, make it impossible for me to miss heaven, in Jesus name.
25. I thank you Lord because I know You will keep me by your power unto the day of Christ’s appearance.

PART TWO

MINUTES BEFORE AND MINUTES AFTER DEATH

INTRODUCTION

The dying words of men in their last moments say a lot about how they have lived their lives and the hereafter that awaits them. For those who have lived their lives in Christ, it is the moment of vindication and celebration of their final victory over this present evil world. For those who lived their lives in denial of Christ and in the indulgence of the flesh and its lusts, it is always a moment of regrets, and the shocking realization of their foolishness and their wrong choice of a godless eternity.

• Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!(Num. 23:10).
• For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (M 8:36).
• And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27).

1. SOME BORDERLINE OR AFTER LIFE EXPERIENCES
2. Evangelist Chidozie

Evangelist Augustine Chidozie is a well-known Nigerian evangelist who died as a sinner and was later restored to life after four days. He recounted his experience of hell fire before he was revived by the mercy of God. He became a Christian after his resurrection and later became an evangelist and soul winner.

2. Stephen, the First Christian Martyr

Stephen the first martyr in the early church had a borderline experience shortly before his martyrdom by stoning. This is what he saw minutes before his death.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:54-59).

As we shall shortly see in this message, dying screaming, yelling and crying was the lot of men/women who in their lifetimes, either denied Christ or chose to live in sinful pleasure without repenting of their sins and accepting Christ as their Lord and Saviour. One may then ask, what really informed their screaming or crying at death? The answer is simple: They were face to face with the stark reality of hell-fire and the vicious evil angels sent to whisk them there.

Pray this death condition determinant prayer very loud and clear with one of your hands placed on your head: “As Jehovah God liveth before whom I stand, I shall not die in the way(s) I came into this world in Jesus mighty name”.

1. SOME FACTS ABOUT LIFE AND THE AFTERLIFE

People may deny, argue, speculate or philosophize about the existence or reality of heaven and hell. But the undeniable truth is that both exist. From the natural stand point, and since all truths are parallel, human governments all through the ages have always designated certain places called prisons or jail houses for the incarceration of convicted and condemned offenders and criminals.

Prisons or jail houses are never meant to be places of comfort and pleasure, but places of isolation, judgment, punishment, torture and death.

It is my view that human rulers got the inspiration for the prison institution from God and the Bible.

Therefore, to erase every doubt about the existence of heaven and hell, Jesus told this fascinating story.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented       (Lk. 16:19-25).

Facts about Lazarus and the Rich Man

• Lazarus and the rich man were once living as humans on earth
• They both died. Both the rich and poor are leveled by death. Death is common to both. All men are doomed to die one day.
• No man will live forever on earth.

      And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27).

• They both transited to the afterlife to be judged ( 20:11-15).
• Their position and location in the afterlife differed just as their status and choices on earth differed.
• Lazarus went to paradise, while the rich man transited to hell.
• Hell is a place of torment in fire (Rev. 14:9-11).
• The other entered into eternal regret, damnation and lamentation.
• The rich man didn’t go to hell because of his wealth. He went to hell because he never knew God, acknowledged God, nor served God while He lived. He lived for himself alone. He was not even bothered about the poor man that begged at his gate.
• Lazarus also didn’t go to paradise because of his poverty. He probably knew God, even in his beggarly state.

1. SOME SINNERS LAST WORDS: WHAT THEY SAW AND WHAT THEY SAID

These people were not insured by the Saviour’s blood. They said “NO” to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Caesar Borgia: “While I lived, I provided for everything but death; now I must die, and am unprepared to die.”
2. Thomas Hobbs political philosopher (1588-1679): “I say again, if I had the whole world at my disposal, I would give it to live one day more. I am about to take a leap into the dark.”
3. Thomas Payne the leading atheistic writer in American colonies: “Stay with me, for God’s sake; I cannot bear to be left alone, O Lord, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much? What will become of me hereafter? “I would give worlds if I had them. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! …No, don’t leave; stay with me! Send even a child to stay with me; for I am on the edge of hell here alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one.”
4. Sir Thomas Scott (1808-1878), Chancellor of England who wrote over 200 books and booklets to destroy Christianity said: “Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty.”
5. Voltaire (1694-1778) the famous anti-Christian atheist: “I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life.” (He said this to Dr. Fochin, his doctor, who told him it could not be done). Voltaire then said: “Then I shall die and go to hell!” (His nurse said: “For all the money in Europe I wouldn’t want to see another unbeliever die like that! All night long he cried for forgiveness.”
6. SOME SAINTS (SAVED) CHRISTIANS LAST WORDS: WHAT THEY SAW AND SAID.

Glorious is the end and last moments of God’s saints; those who in their lifetimes insured their lives through the blood of the Lamb. This end is what soothsayer Balaam appeared to have prophetically seen that made him to declare in Numbers 23:10 that he desired to die the way the righteous ones die.

1. Patriach Jacob (Gen. 49:1-2, 28-23)

Patriach Jacob had such peace and presence of mind and assurance of paradise that enabled him to gather his 12 sons to his death-bed for last minute patriachal and prophetic blessings.

2. Prophet Moses (Deut. 32:48-49, 31:1, 34:1-5).

The prophetic grace upon Prophet Moses was still very active and strong till his very last hours and minutes. As he was literally facing death squarely while he walked towards Mount Nebo, Prophet Moses was totally caught-up with the pouring of very profound prophetic blessings upon the different tribes of Israel. He spoke as he saw into the realm of the future of God’s people. His was a glorious end.

3. Apostle Paul (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
4. Augustus Montague Toplady (1710-1778)

He will ever be famous as the author of one of the most evangelical hymns of the eighteenth century, “Rock of Ages,” which was first published in 1776.

Near his last, awaking from a near-death sleep, he said: “Oh, what delights! Who can fathom the joy of the third heaven? The sky is clear, there is no cloud; come Lord Jesus, come quickly!”

He died saying: “No mortal man can live after the glories which God has manifested to my soul.”

During his final illness, Toplady was greatly supported by the consolations of the gospel as he exclaimed: “The consolations of God, to so unworthy a wretch are so abundant; that he leaves me nothing to pray for but their continuance.”

5. Dwight L. Moody (1837 – 1899)

“Dwight L Moody awoke from sleep shortly before he breathed his last and said;

“Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” And Moody’s son said, “No, no, Father, “You’re dreaming.” And Moody replied, “I am not dreaming. I have been within the gates. This is my triumph; this is my coronation day! It is glorious!”

6. John Bunyan (1628 – 1688)

Author of the famous Christian book, “Pilgrim’s Progress” said at his death: “Weep not for me, but for yourselves. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receives me, though a sinner. We shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy.”

7. David Brainerd (1718 – 1747).

Some of Brainerd’s last words were: “I am going into eternity; and it is sweet to me to think of eternity; the endlessness of it makes it sweet. But oh! What shall I say of the future of the wicked! The thought is too dreadful!”

8. A Deaconess in USA:

A few years ago, a sister and a former deaconess of our church (Gethsemane Chapel of Life), in her dying minutes in a hospital room in America asked for her pastor husband, their church’s zonal pastor, and some Christian leaders of their church to come and stand by her bed side. Then she raised a chorus: “For this God is my God, forever and ever; He will be my guide, from now, even unto the end…” while they all sang, she ‘flew’ away in that song… A GLORIOUS END INDEED!