Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Mr Peter Lee was unknown this time last week. A man who had retired from his naval career. I am sure he had settled down and was enjoying retirement his life will never be the same

After a few questions on ITV’s " Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"- he walked off with a cool £500000 the sort of money it would take a Baptist pastor a couple of years to accumulate!!!!

His last question was about cricket. He hadn’t a clue so he didn’t bother trying to answer.

If he had, and was wrong, he would have lost a staggering- £468000, the answer to that question had much hanging on it.

I wonder have you ever had a stinker of a question?

My ‘O’- level English Language paper contained this question, "The course of true love never runs smoothly, discuss with ref. to under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy". What a nightmare! By the way I got a "u" grade.

That question carried a lot with it but I blew it.

You never know what could be riding on the answer you give to a question. When a girl asks you out or vice versa, it could change your life forever.

A lot can be riding on a question

There are many questions in scripture that we could look at.

1. Question about reality

Genesis 3:9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Will you honestly confess your standing before God?

2.A question about what is required

Deut. 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee?

3. A question about his return

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming?

4. A question about reassurance

Luke 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Romans 10:13 for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

These are all important questions let us take a look at a few questions that had an awful lot hanging on them.

I hope tonight as we look at the word of God, perhaps we can find a question that suits you.

Consider a man called Judas he had listened to a lot of preaching he had listened to the greatest preacher in the world the Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I can read the sermons from the mouth of the Lord, Judas heard them.

You and I can read about the miracles, Judas witnessed them.

Judas sat beside the Lord, walked with him, talked with him but Judas had one question on his mind and one day he let it out.

Matthew 26:14 then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

The religious leaders in Christ’s time wanted to get rid of the Lord. They didn’t want to hear the truth. They wanted to keep people in the dark, many religious leaders are still happy today to keep the lost in the dark.

What did Judas say to them?

Matthew 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Now Judas had put the question and he received an answer.

A lot was riding on this question

Well, we know he took the money. We also know what happened Judas.

Acts 1:18-19 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. [19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

This was bad but there was worst to come.

Acts 1:25That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

Judas asks a question, he received an answer. On that question rested more than he ever reckoned on.

Notice he went to his own place, yes hell is a real place a terrible place.

What a lot was riding on that question, Tonight it could be that there is a young person here and you are putting that question to Satan

What will ye give me?

If we look at the temptation of Jesus Christ by Satan, we see the sort of thing the devil offers that he might see to it that you, like Judas, go to hell.

Matthew 4:1-2 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Notice that Jesus in his humanity was hungered, here we find the Lord with a need.

Matthew 4:3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Satan had a way for the Lord to find satisfaction, an answer to his need. Let me say Satan will promise you satisfaction, he will convince you that he can meet your needs.

"You don’t need a saviour, you don’t need this Christianity, you don’t need this you can make it on your own." He will promise to meet your need and give you satisfaction.

Oh but truly none but Christ can satisfy

What will ye give me?

Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Here the Lord is tempted to put on a show, the spectacular

Could I say that the devil would promise many spectacular things.

Pleasures galore, all the enjoyment you can imagine. Yes there is pleasure in sin and so many people are hooked on Satan’s spectacular pleasures.

You can have what you want and do what you want, no restrictions what a spectacular offer, none can refuse. It is truly buy now- pay later.

Christianity is dull, boring, dead it is for sickos, pansies and wimps

Tell me is this how you feel?

What will ye give me?

Satisfaction.

Spectacular.

Matthew 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

He offered Christ a short cut to rule the world avoiding Calvary.

The devil will offer you many shortcuts in life dishonesty, immorality, and corruption.

What will ye give me?

Satisfaction.

Spectacular.

Shortcuts.

This is truly what he delivers, separation from Christ in hell for all eternity.

We are considering questions with a lot hanging on them. A question we could ask Satan.

Abraham and Lot had been successful it was now time to separate and a choice would have to be made. Abraham said to LOT-

Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Abraham says, "Is not the whole land before thee?"

This question involved a choice, this question had a lot hanging on it.

As John Philips puts it, "This time it was not a question of heaven or hell but a question of heaven or earth."

Both Lot and Abraham were believers. This was a question about their spiritualness. Look at Lots choice.

Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

He had a religious reason, "like Eden".

He had the real reason.

It was like the land of Egypt. Egypt in scripture is always identified with the world. Lot chooses earth and not heaven.

Lot ends up in Sodom.

Lot was more interested in raising cattle than his family.

Yes, he was saved but what a price his backsliding cost him.

A lot hinged on that question, "Is not the whole land before thee"?

Dear Christian friend have you made the choice yet. Are you going to live for heaven or earth? A lot hinges on that question.

Col. 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We have looked at two questions with a lot hanging on them. Let us look at a third.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Notice the secret to receiving an answer to that question. Paul obeyed the word of God.

How much hinged on that question he asked, Lot a life of backsliding and disgrace, Paul a life of service and honour to the Lords name. This was Paul’s final farewell.

2 Tim. 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

What hinges on the question you are asking tonight?

Finally and most importantly.

Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

This is the question I want in your mind’s tonight, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?"

Your soul’s eternal destiny hinges on the answer to this question.

Consider again before you answer what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

With this in mind consider the question once again.

"What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?"

There is much more riding on this question than one million pounds. The word of God teaches that nothing is more valuable than your soul.

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Let us consider the options or the answers you might give to this important question.

It could well be that you just have no interest.

Mr Peter Lee didn’t have to answer his final question thus avoiding loosing a lot of money. Maybe you think you can avoid the question, but this is a question you cannot avoid.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

There is a lot hinging on this question, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Many of you who watch this programme will be aware of the helps that are available. If you are not sure you can.

Let’s ask a different question.

Who wants to be a Christian?

Your friend could lead you astray

You could take a chance like Felix who said, "Go thy way when I have a more convenient season I will call on thee."

He took his chances and went to hell.

That is dangerous because scripture reminds us that the crowd could be wrong.

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

The only advice you can trust is found in Gods word.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

What an important question.

Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?

There is a lot hinging on this question.

I can’t say like Chris Tarrant.

"Take your time"

"Never mind it’s not important"

This is the most important question and your soul’s eternal destiny hinges on it. Consider it carefully.

Who wants to be a Christian?

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.



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