The sermon discusses the concept of the 'great gulf' as illustrated in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, emphasizing the importance of humility over pride in determining one's eternal destiny. It highlights the need to walk closely with Jesus to cultivate true humility and avoid being on the wrong side of the gulf. The message warns against the dangers of pride and self-centeredness, urging listeners to consider others as more important than themselves, following the example of Christ's humility.

What is the great gulf? You know, Abraham told the rich man in hell. He didn't have a clue. The biggest surprise of the life he got was as soon as he died. Soon as he died, he said, hey, where am I? Who are these fellows around me? Why is it so hot? He got a surprise. And Abraham said, he wanted to get out of there. Everybody who's in hell wants to get out. And if he can't get out himself, he says, oh Abraham, please at least go and tell my brothers. They also think they're going to go to heaven. They don't have a clue. Please go and tell them to repent of all their pride and their arrogance. So Abraham said, son, remember, you had so many good things in your life. And there's a great gulf between you and me. I can't cross it and come there, and you can't cross it and come here. You know what that great gulf is? It's pride that takes people to hell. It's humility that takes people into God's kingdom. There's a verse in Zephaniah chapter 2, I think it says, pursue humility. Seek for more humility. You've often heard me say the three secrets of the Christian life. Number one, humility. Number two, humility. Number three, humility. Those are the three secrets of the Christian life. And you can make out when you speak to people whether they've got a humble spirit. Everybody can talk humble. But a humble spirit you cannot acquire unless you walk close to Jesus, who was the humblest man that walked on the earth. There's only one way to be really humble, I'll tell you that. It's not by listening to messages on humility. You can hear something right now and say, oh yeah, I want to be humble. You won't be humble. You've got to walk with the humblest man that walked on this earth, and that's Jesus. And that's the great gulf. It's a very big gulf. You can't cross it. And once you're dead and gone, it's over. Well, I want to make sure that I'm always on the right side of that gulf. And that the right side is the side of humility and brokenness. And for myself, I've discovered through many years, there's only one way to be humble, and that is to walk with the humblest man that walked on this earth. And isn't it a great privilege to be able to walk with him every day? I fear that many of us are not walking with him, because you cannot hide your spirit. You can act humble, but you can't hide your spirit. Brother or sister, and I believe there are a lot of proud people in CFC. A lot of them, not one or two. And I have to tell you, I don't know which side of the gulf you'll be on the last day. You can't say, we have Abraham for our father. Lord, we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our church. It counts for nothing. There is a great gulf. Walk in humility. Walk in low thoughts about yourself. Consider others as more important than yourself. It was a command of the Bible. Let this attitude be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2, verse 3 to 5. Consider others as more important than yourself. You live like that every day, I guarantee you'll be on the right side of the gulf on that day. But you get taken up with what God has done for you, and how he has blessed you, and how he has blessed your family, and all that. There may have been a time when you were on the right side of the gulf, but you're on the wrong side today. And if you're going in that direction, I would say you're in great danger. It's happened to other people who are better than you, who were here in CFC once. They were humble brothers. It went to their heads, and everything went well in their home. And they've fallen away. So we should take a warning from what's happening like that around us. I heard a preacher once say that in Job's time, the devil said to God, while Job follows you because you have blessed him so much. You've given him ten wonderful children, and you've given him houses and lands, and business, and good health, and everything, and a lot of money. He's one of the richest people, and naturally he'll follow you. Take it all away, and then let me see whether he'll follow you. And the preacher said, now it is different. Now the devil says to God, these fellows are following you because they're so poor, and they're so helpless, and they don't have much, and they're struggling, struggling, struggling. Just give them money, and make it go well with them financially. Make it go well for their children financially. Then let's see whether they are still spiritual or not. Do you think there's some truth in that? That the devil has changed his tactics? Because he knows in each generation how to ruin people. Honor God, and he'll honor you. In every little thing, honor him, honor him, and he'll honor you. Walk in humility. Take those right decisions in life. That's very important. And he was speaking mainly here to the Pharisees who thought that if anybody would get into God's kingdom, I will. I want you to turn to Revelation in Chapter 14. This is a passage which certain groups say, we are these people. The Jehovah's Witnesses say, we are the 144,000, and I think some other extreme Pentecostal groups also say, we are the 144,000. The book of Revelation is a book of symbols. We must never forget that when we read the book. When it says a sword came out of the mouth of Jesus in Revelation Chapter 1, it's not a literal sword. I hope you know that. It refers to the Word of God. When it says his legs were made of bronze, you know that Jesus' legs are made of flesh, not bronze. It's a picture. I mean, that's right there in the very beginning of Scripture. Sorry, in Revelation it says, the things which he sent and communicated by his angel to, and in one translation it says it was signified. That means with signs, Revelation 1.1. It was signified, it was with signs that God spoke to John. Now in Revelation 14, so when it says 144,000, that's just a way of saying that it's a very small number. 144,000 is a very small number compared to an earlier passage in Chapter 7 where it says, Revelation 7, we read of verse 9, after these things I saw a great multitude which no one could count. See, 144,000 can be counted. But here is a great multitude which no one could count from every nation and tribe and people and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb and they cry out with a loud voice saying, salvation to our God. That means our salvation is entirely due to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. And they fell on their face before the throne and worshipped. And the elders explained to John in verse 14, these are the ones who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, verse 15. So who are this great multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation?