Phil 2 JSC, Motivation

Kimber begins this message by reading from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  This message originally delivered July 21, 1991am.

Episode Transcript

Kimber Kauffman (00:00):
We looked at this passage in the last several

(00:01):
weeks, from a couple differentperspectives. Read it follow
along as I read it now. Do younot know that in a race, all the
runners run, I'm sorry, FirstCorinthians nine, starting with
verse 24, might help you if Itell you the verse. Do you not

(00:23):
know that in a race all therunners run, but only one gets
the prize, Run in such a way asto get the prize. Everyone who
competes in the games goes intostrict training. Now please get
this. They do it to get a crownthat will not last. But we do it

(00:45):
to get a crown that will lastforever. Therefore, I do not
want like a man runningaimlessly. I do not fight like a
man beating the air. No, I beatmy body and make it my slave so
that after I preach to others, Imyself will not be disqualified
for the prize. When I was insecond grade, my sister was in
sixth grade. And we went to apublic school in Indianapolis.

(01:07):
And they had as they did everyyear of candy selling contests.
And if you sold so many bars ofcandy or boxes of candy, I can't
remember, you got some awards.
And they would show you underthe first day. The way that
introduce it is they would passout the sheets of paper and they
would show you all the differentawards. There was the all school
award and they all school awardsfor the person that sold the

(01:27):
most candy in the entire schoolwas a clock radio. Well, back
then, right after electricitywas invented, that's when I was
a kid, it was a big deal to havea clock radio. Then they had the
second grade prize. And thesecond grade prize I'll never
forget it was a white plate in aplastic case a white transistor
radio with a couple of neatdials on it in a black leather

(01:48):
case is about this big. That wasthe second grade price. And I
remember looking at that andgoing home, and my sister and I
made some plans. She says Jim,you listen to me, we'll get
those awards. That's what shesaid. And you know, something,
she was right, she won the clockradio for the whole school. She
also won the sixth grade award,whatever that was, but I got
that little black transistorradio. And I want to tell you

(02:09):
something, I'm not sure what wewere trying to raise money for
anymore. Back then it wassomething to do with the school.
But I want to tell yousomething, I did not work so
hard, and give up a lot ofthings that I used to like to do
after school in order to sellcandy. And because I love the
school. Now I like my school.
But that's not the reason that Idid it. I had one thing in my
mind. And that is this. I wantedto get that little transistor

(02:32):
radio in the black case. And Igot it. But you know, that is
things that perish because itwere that thing is, I don't know
years ago and crushed awaysomeplace in the trash probably.
But you see, it is so importantto understand as we are doing
the study if you're with us forthe first time, we are doing a
study on what the Scripture saysabout rewards of what the

(02:53):
Scripture says about the Bema.
Now we'll consider this. WilburSmith said this, the whole
subject of rewards for thebeliever is one I am afraid,
rarely thought of by theordinary Christian or even the
average student of thescriptures. But it is both a
joyous and solemn theme. Youshould serve as a potent

(03:17):
incentive for holiness of life.
Now please get that it should bea potent incentive for holiness
of life. It is both joyous as wetalked about in some ways as
last week as we consider loss ofreward it solemn. And then
through the history of thechurch, many people have talked

(03:37):
about this subject of reward,that the way we live now is
going to impact all of eternity.
Now, let me remind you quicklyby this way of review, that the
great judgment, really, you cansay has two aspects to it one
for believers, one for nonbelievers, after you die, there

(03:58):
is the Bema Seat for believersand it has to do with reward or
loss of reward. There is thegreat white throne judgment for
unbelievers it has to do withdegrees of punishment held to
two quick comments that need tobe made. Kevin will not be the
same for everyone. And hell willnot be the same for everyone.
And the Scripture clearlyteaches those two things which

(04:19):
we have often forgotten duringthis day. And when it comes to
the aspect of judgment, peopledon't want to hear about it or
think about it today. The worldsays God doesn't know what I'm
doing. But the word says he doesknow everything. He can't know
what everybody is thinking. Thescripture says opposite. The
world says you can't remembereverything we say not according
to the Word of God. He remembersevery word it will be a towel

(04:39):
for every word. He couldn't beconcerned with all the little
things that happen. Oh, he is.
God doesn't keep track of thethings I do. Yes he does in the
scriptures. God couldn't uspossibly care about the details
of who I am. Oh no, quitecontraire in the Scriptures. He
is extremely involved in ourlives now. Having He said that I

(05:00):
want to tell you this story lastSunday, after the first or
second service, I can't rememberwhich lady in our church gave me
a book that she had purchasedwhile on vacation. She was on
vacation before we started theseries. And she said, I think
you'd be interested in it. Shetalked to me on the phone, I
said, You got to give me thatbook. And you know what the
title of the book is? It'sentitled going for the gold. In
fact, isn't it interesting. Inhis book going for the gold

(05:22):
liquid, it says reward and lossat the judgment of believers
going for the goal by Joe wall.
Now, in this book, here's whathe says in the introduction that
listen to this, this is amazing.
He says, some years ago when Iwas passionate Church in
Houston, Texas, I delivered apreaching series on the subject
of heavenly rewards in thejudgment seat of Christ. My
original plan had been to preacha short series of three to four

(05:45):
messages. But as I prepared mymessages, my plans began to
change. I was confronted in anew way with passages that shed
light on the subject of rewardsand was struck a new by how many
references and allusions thereare in the New Testament to
rewards and the judgment seat ofChrist. My four week series
expanded the five months takeheart was this, my interest in

(06:11):
the biblical teaching and thejudgment seat of Christ is more
than academic. This doctrine hashad a profound impact on my life
in a number of ways. It hasbecome a framework for making
decisions. It has served andcontinues to serve as a
purifying truth in my life. Andit is a continual basis for
encouragement in the face ofunfair criticism. He goes on to

(06:32):
say about a man taught in theBible, he was just a teenager,
still in high school. And hesaid, under his instruction, I
first heard what the Bible hadto say about the judgment seat
of Christ, and began tounderstand that every thought,
every word, every dean, andevery motive will one day be
evaluated by Jesus. So whilestill in high school, I began
making life decisions based onthe awareness that someday I

(06:54):
would have to give account of mylife to Jesus. Over time, this
truth touched every area of mylife, where I should go to
school, what I should study whatI should seek to accomplish in
life, I found myself sortingthrough my habits, my decisions,
my activities, trying to seemyself and my wife just as
Christ might when I stand beforeHim on that great day. Now to

(07:14):
get this, please listen, as Icontinue to study my Bible, I
became convinced that thereality of Christ judgment seat
is good, this an essentialdoctrine that should inspire
godly living. Not only did thisgreat doctrine affect my
decision making in my dailywalk, it also provided great
encouragement on a nun onnumerous occasions. To think of

(07:38):
this, the subject today'smessage is motivation. I came to
see that Christ will not onlyjudge my shortcomings, he will
also vindicate me, where othershave wrongly accused me or
convicted me. If no one elsecomprehends what I am doing or
what motivates Jesus does. Andone day, he will make known the
truth about my life, bothreproving me and rewarding me

(08:00):
accordingly. One last paragraphwas When one accepts leadership
responsibilities, the ministryas in any business or
profession, criticism, andunfair accusations come with the
territory. Even in hard times,when difficult decisions have to
be made. There are still thosewho are quick to judge your

(08:20):
wisdom and even your motives.
During those times. One majorbiblical truth can provide
reassurance and encouragementand that is this the biblical
teaching that Jesus will somedayset the record straight if the
judges praise God for that.
Think about this. If we so manytimes we look at the idea of
judgment. And we've been so longbecause we thought that, oh, I'm

(08:42):
a believer, God will never judgeme. No, no, no, he will judge
us. He says the believers Hethat has done wrong will be
either don't do it wrong willhave to be repaid to the wrong
he has done. He shall sufferloss, it says in first
Corinthians three, yet hehimself will be saved. So the
beam of judgment is not a matterof losing your reward, it's a
matter of the extent of yourreward that you will receive.

(09:05):
But you know, there was a surveydone of Christian high school
students. They said, What do youthink of when you What would you
say to God, if you stood beforehim at the beam and judgment
after they explained what thebeam of judgment was? And you
know what they said across theboard? They said this almost
unanimously, they said this?
Well, you know, I'd have toLord, I'm not really living the
way that I should. But I knowthat you have forgiven me and

(09:26):
then I'll never be heldaccountable for what I have done
nothing wrong. You know, if youhear that, intuitively, you know
that there's something missingan answer like that. And yet,
many adult Christians would haveto answer that the same way I'm
afraid. Now,we will be held responsible and

(09:48):
the Bema Seat needs to beremembered that it is both now
listen to this. It is both as wehave put up here on the board, a
subject that should give us sometremendous incentive for living
but it also is something that isjoyous as we think about all the
wrongs being made right, butalso solemn in that we are
better be careful the way welive our lives. Every day, every

(10:09):
decision, everything that we dois going to be brought up one
day. And so we better be very,very careful. Now there's lots
of Christians these days thatdon't want to hear about that
part of it. All they want isthis tickle my ears tell me how
I sins are forgiven, and there'sno more responsibility. I'm
saved by grace. I don't have todo anything anymore. No, my
friends, Christians have donesome very stupid, very mean very

(10:31):
bad things. And what theScripture says about the
judgment is this. Live your lifein such a way with this
realization, Jesus constantlypounds this out live your life,
realizing that the way you livenow is an investment in
eternity. Boy, if somethingought to shake us up and get us
away from inauthenticChristianity, and from external

(10:53):
type of Christianity, you oughtto do this. Because the way you
live is an investment. Now, letme tell you something, we love
to talk about investments in oursociety, don't we? We have
people in our church and allthey do is talk about
investments. And that's theirjob. And there's nothing wrong
with that. We have other peoplesell insurance when they want.
Hey, make sure you're ready forretirement. Make sure you take
care of your kids. Listen tothis investment opportunity that

(11:14):
one man wrote about deer art. Idon't know if you'd be
interested in the following butI thought I would mention it to
you because it could be a realsleeper as regards to making a
lot of money with very littleinvestment. So I'm pretty good.
Listen, this, by the way willhave sign up if anybody's
interested in this will sign youup right after service. Listen,
a group of us are consideringinvesting in a large cat farm,
you're Bogota, Colombia andSouth America. It is our desire

(11:37):
to start rather small with about1 million cats. Each cat
averages about 12 Kittens eachyear. skins can be sold for 20
cents for white ones and 40cents for black ones. This will
give us 12 million cat skins peryear to sell at an average price
of around 32 cents, giving usannual revenues of approximately
3 million a year. This averagesout to a gross profit of $10,000

(12:00):
a day excluding Sundays andholidays. In Bogota, a good
scanner can skin about 50 Catsper day at a wage of only 350 a
day. It will take only 663 mento operate the ranch so the net
profit would be over $8,200 perday. The cats would be fed on
rats exclusively. Rats multiplyfour times as fast as cats. We

(12:21):
anticipate starting a rat ranchadjacent to our cat farm. If we
start with a million rats, wewill have four rats that the
each cat each day. I thoughtyou'd be laughing a lot harder
at this point. The rats in turnwill be fed on the carcasses of
the cats we skin. This will giveeach rat a quarter of a cat per
day. You can see by this thatthe business is a clean

(12:46):
operation self supporting andreally automatic throughout the
cats will eat the rats and therats will eat the cat and we
will get all the skins.
Eventually it is our hope tocross cats with snakes, because
the resulting mutation wouldskin itself twice a year. This
would save the labor cost ofskinning as well as give us two
skins for each cat. If the aboveprogram is not of interest to

(13:09):
you, I would be one of the firstto understand your hesitancy.
Now think about that we haveportfolios investment
opportunities, are you planningfor the future making sure that
you're ready. But guess whatJesus said this plan farther
than just your retirement. Hesays plan for eternity. live
beyond just investing your lifefor something to Here and Now In
the Quick the quick turnoverthat live in light of eternity.

(13:33):
Now, let me ask you somethingthat you turn to Matthew chapter
19. As you turn to Matthew 19, Ihave a question for you.
Especially for those businessmenand women that are here in our
church. If someone came to youand said, I will give you 100%
return on your money guaranteed.
Would you do it? What if someonecame and said this? You know,

(13:56):
we're talking about 15% 15%?
Deal? That's great. They talkedabout how about this 100%? Or
for example, this one if someonesaid look at the highest
authority in the entire worldguarantees your money at 1,000%
You will get 1,000% back on yourmoney. Would you do it? You're
glad to shake your hands thoughyou weren't even shaking your

(14:17):
head. You guys must really besuckers. 1,000% Let me How about
this? How about this? What ifsomeone said the highest
authority in all the world? Theone who can never break his
promise? guarantees your moneyat 10,000% 10,000% Would you do
it? Well, look what happenshere. Matthew chapter 19. And

(14:40):
look to verse 27. This is rightafter the rich young ruler,
turned back, the rich youngruler turn back because he had
great possessions he went awaysorrowful. Look what happened
starting in verse 28. Excuse mestarting in verse 27. Jesus
answered him or she's been Peteranswered him verse 27. We have
left everything to follow you.
What then will there be for usto hear as someone that has left

(15:04):
all to follow Christ given uptheir occupation, they gave up
their job, they gave up theirhomes, they gave up their
families, they gave upeverything to follow Christ. Now
look what happens. Jesus said tothem, verse 28, I tell you the
truth, at the renewal of allthings, when the Son of Man sits
on his glorious throne, you whohave followed me will sit on the

(15:26):
12 thrones, judging the 12tribes of Israel, and everyone
to get this everyone who hasleft houses, or brothers or
sisters, or father or mother, orchildren, or fields, for my
sake, will receive 100 times asmuch and will inherit eternal

(15:47):
life. But many who are first inthis life will be last than and
many who are last in this lifewill be first, then you know,
100 times as much as figured outit's 10,000% 10,000% interest on
your investment. Now, I willtell you something that on a
motivated, you ought to bemotivated for how you live now

(16:09):
as regards how it's going toaffect eternity. Can you imagine
this 10,000% Return on what youdo? By a God who absolutely will
not forget even a cup of watergiven us his name. Tell you that
Oh, to encourage us, or inspiredus. But I want to ask you this
question. If the motivation forserving God, one of the major

(16:32):
motivations taught in theScripture, if I can prove it to
you was to be that you are toserve in order to get a reward.
I didn't say it was the onlymotivation, but it was one of
the major motivations in thescriptures. I mean, I said that,
would you somehow feel that thatwas wrong? Would you somehow
feel that sense? Somehow? It'seasy, obvious. Chris is also
going to wait a minute. Thatjust doesn't quite make sense?
No, that's not right. Becausethat would be selfish to do it

(16:53):
that way. Well, we'll talk aboutthat in a minute. But I will
tell you something. If Satan isgoing to attack on an area, he
is going to attack in the areaof motivation, especially
biblical motivation. Because ifhe can get his unmotivated from
a biblical perspective, the Nowonder there's going to be such
apathy. Let me ask you, parents,what is one of the greatest
challenges of your life? That isto motivate your kids to get

(17:14):
them to do what you want them todo? Right? How do you do that?
Let me ask you a question.
Parents, if you took awaypunishment and rewards from your
family upbringing right now, andyou can no longer use it? How
would it affect your kids? I'mgonna tell you, if you're good
parents, it would drasticallyaffect your kids. Because our
children are to be motivatedaccording to the Scriptures by

(17:35):
the rod and plus by praise andreward. And so you already have
a big effect upon us, but tellyou something. What is so great
about life is having motivation.
We read the life of the apostlePaul, and we say, Man, Nick, I

Unknown (17:46):
was so motivated, how can he do it?

Kimber Kauffman (17:49):
I will tell you, we just read about it. They
do it to get an incorruptibleground, I do it to get it. They
get it to get a corruptiblecrown, I do it to get an
incorruptible crown. Paul wasmotivated by the fact that
getting the reward, he says atthe end of his life, I fought a
good fight. I kept the faith Ifinished the course. Henceforth,
I can't wait. There's a crown ofrighteousness awaiting me.
excited about it. I had abaseball coach, that I'm telling

(18:13):
you, I am affected. The man wasnot a Christian. I'm still
affected to this day. But thethings that I learned from him,
here is what makes a good coach.
And they say, well, he is aplayer's coach. What? He's a
motivator. I'm telling you. Thisguy looked at me one day, and he
said to me this during practiceone day, by the way, we had we

(18:34):
had all star practice. He wasthe all star coach. The the
other players from the othercoaches said, you know, it's
like we've never even been topractice before when you were
just dying. And you know, hesaid to me one day, he was
hitting ground balls takinginfield and I was screwing up
and I was throwing the ballwrong. I was trying but when he
goes, Tim, come here.

Unknown (18:54):
I love this guy.

Kimber Kauffman (18:55):
I said on every word. He said he said to be at
his house at seven o'clock. Iwas there at 630 innovate I just
wanted to be around him. He saysKim it's a good thing you can
hit the ball I'll never forgetit. As we said the reason he
said that is because how bad Iwas doing pickup playing third
base. I'll tell you you knowwhat I did? I ate dust and ate

(19:17):
dirt the rest of that practiceevery foul ball I ran across the
parking lot get zero back then Iused to be able to get the ball
I did everything I possiblycould to police him because of a
motivator. I'm gonna tell yousomething. What a motivator
Jesus Christ is one a person tolive for. What a person to be
inspired by. Am I so know what'swrong with Christianity today?

(19:38):
What is wrong with I'm gonnatell you apathy lukewarmness
lack of motivation. Why is go toa pastors conference and listen
to him talk. You know what theytell you? The pastor says we are
burned out from trying to getpeople to do work of Christ. No
one wants to do it. Everybodywill tell you 10% of the people
do all the work of Christ in thechurch. Well listen, what is

(20:02):
missing? In America? Is this anunderstanding of eternal rewards
that should lead to a motive youknow what the church is used?
You know what the church is usedmost Bible teaching church and
you know what they've used as amotive for Christians, guilt and
fear. guilt and fear has beenthe main motivation. And I'm
gonna tell you, what happens isthis, you just get a steady diet

(20:23):
of guilt and pyramid, there'snot much to be motivated out
about anymore. You're sort ofbeaten down constantly. It's
like a it's like a kid that allthey would do is get yelled at
and spank and told how bad theyare. And they never get any
praise or encouragement or anyhope.

Unknown (20:37):
What happens that?
Yeah,

Kimber Kauffman (20:38):
there's sort of walking around like this. We've
got Christians just like that.
Because our focus has been somuch on than there are some
Christians and say this No, no,the only reason we ever do
anything is because we love God.
Let me tell you something thatis the most noble of all goals.
But if you take away thebiblical balance, that a desire

(21:00):
for reward at the Bema is to bea part of it, then you're also
going to have a wrongmotivation. Let me ask you this.
How do people motivate you atwork? Come on, tell me how do
they motivate you work? Don'tactually tell me, let me tell
you, Okay, money, bonuses,incentive programs, recognition,
right? You get a vacation? Whatdoes that make? You do? Hey,

(21:26):
we're gonna give you a 15%Raise, because we appreciate
what you do here. Yeah. One ofthe hardest working men I know,
just told me recently, that he,one of the one of the keys to
his hard working continual hardworking is this He rewards
himself. Alright, I'm going todo this for these many days. And

(21:46):
on this day, at this time, ifI've accomplished what I wanted,
I'm taking that break for acouple of days, I'm going to get
to go do this. I have found itin my life. If I say alright,
I'm going to be in the office.
If I'm going to study from hereto there and at this hour,
that's when I'm going to go takethis break and get to go play
tennis or get through to some ofyou those those hours you want
to make the most of because youthink hey, it's good. There's
gonna be a reward here. Why didpeople stop serving God? Listen,

(22:09):
why did people stop serving God?
Bottom line, they don't thinkit's worth it. That's a true
Christian, stop serving Godbecause they don't think it's
worth it. I missing out onsomething. The psalmist in Psalm
73 are referred to all the timehe says this man i in vain I've
kept my heart pure in vain. I'vewashed my hands. If it doesn't

(22:32):
make sense, the wicked are beingprospered their blessing and
look at me. And you know whatturned them around the very
opposite of what I'm saying.
What turn them around was notthe ultimate reward. But to
realize this, the severepunishment coming upon the
unbeliever, then it turned hiswhole perspective around he was
forever changed the same idea,eternity change them around.
Don't be weary in well doing indue season you shall reap if you
think not, the Scripture says,Don't give up. This ought to be

(22:56):
something that the ones that youshall reap a reward. You will be
blessed by God. Don't give up.
People stop serving God. I had abrother friend of mine tell me
that just this week, he says,I've tried to witness to some of
my friends, neighbors,relatives, and they look at me
and they say,

Unknown (23:16):
Look, man, what has God done for you? Look at your
problems. Look at your trouble.

Kimber Kauffman (23:21):
You know what they're saying? There's a Christ
isn't worth it. Life isn't worthit. It doesn't pay to serve God.
That's one of the greatestquestions that Satan us from the
beginning and he still use it.
God knows that you're going tobe better off if you eat of that
tree. So don't eat of that tree.
In other words, it's not worthserving God, he's somehow bad.

(23:41):
That's the lie of the devil thatis so permeated the church, and
it's so permeated Christianity.
It's caused such suchwickedness, it does pay to serve
God, there's a wonderful day ofjoy coming for those that
faithfully endure by faith tolive for Him, you shall receive
100 To listen, can you imagine?
When I say 10,000% return? Itdoesn't even make sense friends.

(24:01):
I mean, it's greater than that.
Why? Because it's the 10,000%return in heaven, where their
streets of gold where the I havenot seen either the or hurt
either going into the heart ofman the things which God
prepared for them love him? Howmuch greater is it going to be
on that day? You see the greatmajority of time God doesn't
reward a president activeobedience adequately enough to
keep us going. Because we are tolive by faith. And if you study

(24:26):
Hebrews 11 the Bema is the focusof a city whose builder maker is
God. Moses did it so that hewill be rewarded one day, that
ought to be a part of our heartsand lives that we will give an
answer to God for how we live.
I'll tell you it makes adifference in my life. It should
make a difference in the way youmake decisions. I hear people
today and they say this all thetime. Listen, oh, I'm just gonna

(24:49):
I'm just going to you know, geta go ahead and divorce this
person cuz I'm just too unhappywith them. If God wants me to be
happy, I'm telling you, you'regonna get When answered the
Beamer and you better make sureyou were in God's Will when that
thing happens. All thisrationalization also starts to
go out the window. Listen towhat John Calvin said, as to how
motivated him, it is myhappiness to have served him who

(25:14):
never fails to reward hisservice to the full extent of
his promise. Ha, why, why didJohn Calvin accomplish so much
for God? Listen, me even at thispoint, the sermon many of you
might be going now I know Wait aminute, there's still just
something not quite rightpastor. You see, I would think
this, it's got to be selfish.
For me to do something to get areward. If I do something just

(25:36):
to get a reward, somehow that'sselfish. Let me tell you. If
what you did this week you didto get a reward. You know what
God calls it? Obedience. Moseschose rather to suffer friction
with the people of God and enjoythe pleasures in preseason. Why?
Because he was looking ahead tohis reward.

(25:57):
How much clearer can that be?
You're doing it because God saysrewards are good. Listen to
this. Let me illustrate to youlike this. You got a son, your
father, you say to your son, allright, sonny boy. You bring home
all A's and B's on your reportcard. And if you bring home all
A's and B's on your report card,I'm gonna take you to that

(26:18):
special thought fishing. I knowhow much you love the fish. And
so sonny boy comes home. And youknow what? Sonny? Boy comes home
all excited dad, I got all A'sand B's I get to go fishing, and
the father will tend to hear soselfish. Does that make sense?
It's not selfish, to dosomething to get a reward.

(26:38):
Because the reward is this. Itmeans it's God's pleasure to
give it to you. You say, PraiseGod. For this, we've got to
remember that God does not use aless than perfect reason to
reach a perfect end. And it isimportant for us to understand
that if God says the rewardshould help motivate you, then
my friends it is good to seekthe reward. Because it's going

(26:59):
to bring pleasure. It was hard.
So let's get down to some brasstacks now listen to this. How
often would you miss church?
Yeah. Every time you can youreceive the $1,000. Shot family,
family of six $6,000 Boom, boom,boom, boom, boom. $6,000 You got

(27:22):
the door. But now listen tothat. Also, you receive the $250
bonus if you sang with all yourheart that day, when you came.
In other words, if you sayingpraise Him Praise can't wait to
see that baseball. Alright knowto enter for the dollar bonus.

(27:48):
Of course, if you got 1000become and you probably wouldn't
care about the two or $3 Bonus.
What happens about this? Whathappens if you got an additional
$200 for taking notes of thesermon? If they were at least
somehow in line with thepastor's notes? How often would
it change your life? My friends,listen, the fact that rewards

(28:10):
ought to change our life thatbecause joy now look at this.
This is amazing to me. How doesGod motivate? Let's consider
from a biblical perspective. Howdoes God motivate now, this is
so much material that we're notgoing to be able to just take
our Bibles look at each of thesepassages, but you can write them
down. You can ask for this frommy secretary. And you can see

(28:30):
now let's consider how Godmotivates in the whole Bible.
First off, let's consider in theOld Testament how God motivates.
Okay, first off, I want you toconsider this. He motivates by
fear of punishment. Turn toDeuteronomy 28, would you but if
you turn to Genesis two, I wantyou to consider something no
doubt Deuteronomy 22 I want youto go but as you're going there
consider Genesis two right atthe beginning, before sin

(28:53):
entered the world to get thisbefore Senator the world God
motivated by fear of punishment.
He says, if you eat of thistree, this day, you shall surely
die. You'll die. What is that?
That's a threat. You eat of thetree, you're gonna die. That's a
threat, fear of punishment. Letme tell you something. You know

(29:14):
that people are more afraid ofAIDS today than they are of God.
They are. There's a change ofpeople you know, they're gonna
be so careful about how theyhave sex, who they have sex with
all of these things. You knowwhy? Because we're afraid of
AIDS but we're not afraid ofGod. Not to be a fear of
Governor heart that causes us tochange. I heard women say this

(29:35):
weekend study of this. He says,Look, you always been told all
your life the fear of God issomething reverential or he
goes, that is true. But if youreally study it, you'll find it
means this you're scared todeath to sin against the Holy
God. That's the fear of God. Soin Genesis two he says, You're
gonna die now in Deuteronomychapter 28. I want you to see
something else. Deuteronomy 28Look at verse 58. It says this

(30:00):
In Deuteronomy 28 Old Testamentuse, it says, If you do not
carefully follow all the wordsof this law, which are written
in this book, and do not reverethis glorious and awesome name,
the Lord your God, what willhappen? The Lord will send
fearful plagues on you and yourdescendants harsh and prolonged
disasters, and severe andlingering illnesses. Now, you

(30:23):
think this is one place in theOld Testament? Those of you that
have read the Old Testament, no,this is more than one place.
This is all through the OldTestament. Alright, stay right
there in Deuteronomy 28. So whatis fear of punishment, but
notice something else, hope ofreward. Exodus 20 says, Honor
your father and mother, that youmay have length of days. The New
Testament Oh, that's the NewTestament New Testament says the

(30:44):
same thing. Joshua one eight,you'll be successful. God bless
Minos this, Deuteronomy 28. Goback in that same chapter to the
second verse. Hope a reward.
Verse one of Deuteronomy 28. Ifyou fully obey the Lord your God
and carefully follow all thosecommands I give you today, the
Lord your God will set you highabove all the nations of the

(31:05):
earth. All these blessings willcome upon you and accompany if
you will obey the Lord to God,you'll be blessed in the city
and blessed in the country, thefruit of your womb will be
blessed the crops of your land,the other of your livestock, the
calves of your herds, the landsof your thoughts, your basket,
your need, and Trump will beblessed you'll be blessed when
you come in and bless when yougo out. Blessed, blessed blessed
is a blessing, All right, hopeof reward. Love of God

(31:26):
Deuteronomy 11 One Go Go back tothe 11th chapter. Just look at
verse one. You can look at theseother verses later. When it says
Love the Lord your God and keepHis requirements is decrees as

(31:47):
laws as commands always. All theway through the love of God, but
we get many other places thatuse just a couple these are just
scratching the surface. Manyother great places on this
Alright, let's go though to meekand lowly loving Christ. Surely
the meek and lowly loving Christis not going to threaten anybody
with fear of punishment is he?

(32:08):
That's typically a conceptunderstood today. No, listen,
the fear of punishment. Yes.
Look at the Matthew sevenpassage. Look what it says. I'll
tell you it to you. You can lookat it if you want. It says this
many she'll say to me at thatday, Lord, Lord, have we not
done this and done that and donethis and cast out demons and
done miracles you name he'sgonna say depart from me ye that
work iniquity, I never knew you.
What is that? That's a warningduring the sermon of the mount

(32:31):
to watch out for authenticChristianity, a threat of
punishment. What does he saylater on? You go to the 11th
chapter. You know what he says?
Jesus says, Woe unto you corzan.
Wallander, you Bethsaida for ifthe work is done in you had been
done an entire inside and theywould have repented long ago.
What is that? A threat? He says,he says, such men that are
Pharisee of Pharisees,hypocrites shall be punished

(32:52):
most severely. What is that,from our loving Lord, a threat
of punishment. But also he givesa hope of reward. This Matthew
1929 passages where he tellsPeter you shall receive 100
times more. In Matthew 16, hesays, When the Son of Man comes
back, you'll have his rewardwith him to give each man a coin
as he has done in Matthew 1617to 20. You know what it says?

(33:15):
laying it out for yourselvestreasures in heaven and earth
where moth and rust have creptaway for yourselves treasures in
heaven. And also, love of God,if you love me, you will keep My
commandments. My friends, here'swhat I'm saying is this on all
of these? Here's what we haveheard. We have heard God's gonna
get you if you don't obey. Andwe've heard Oh, just do things

(33:36):
because you love. But very fewevangelical Christians during
this day and age in our churchesheard anything about the hope of
reward. And my point is we'reout of balance. So I'm trying to
straighten that balance up alittle bit. We've got to
understand there is a tremendoushope that we have. How about the
apostles in the New Testament?
fear of punishment? Passage, Iquote all the time, a Feagins
five he says this, let no onedeceive you with empty words

(33:58):
where because of these things,the wrath of God is coming upon
the children of disobedience.
What is it talking about?
blatant sin, watch out don'twant anyone to see you God will
the deeds done in the bodywhether they be good or bad?
You're storing up wrath againstthe day of wrath. There's
definitely the apostles teachfear of punishment, but they
also teach hope of reward. Manyother places Galatians six,

(34:19):
nine, Be not deceived. God isnot mocked. What's your answer
with that? You also read thatverse eight, I believe seven and
eight. And then he says, Don'tlose hope. Don't be weary and
deuces you shall reap if youthink not. In Love of God, the
love of Christ constrains us.
God motivates us by telling usthe watch out if we disobey Him,

(34:43):
you know, I find it sointeresting how we throw the
baby out with the bathwater.
There is such a just a quickthing. There's such a emphasis
today about hellfire andbrimstone preaching and watching
Alia let's just say that that ishonest, good, biblical way to
motivate And people say, Oh, Ijust came to Christ because of
fear of hell. Okay.

Unknown (35:05):
That's what a crisis points. That's all right.

Kimber Kauffman (35:10):
Let's just be balanced and all this so we
don't throw anything out. Andone last thing, I want you to
see what that does mean I'mclosing the sermon, I just mean
one last thing as far asoverheads go. And that is this.
Let's consider as far asmotivation, all the things the
New Testament talks about whenit comes to rewards, look at
this. treasure in heaven. Andone one description is a

(35:33):
treasure in heaven, where mothand rust does not corrupt and
thieves can't break through andsteal something you can never
ever lose. Once you've gottenit, inheritance, the New
Testament talks continuallyabout this great inheritance.
Now, we like that in our circlestoday, don't worry, you get the
you get the notification, thatUncle so and so died, and you're

(35:56):
gonna get the inheritance, Rest.
Rest is this the full benefitand pleasure of your inheritance
and heaven. The book of Hebrewstalks about that over and over
about entering the rest. It's adescription of heaven, it's a
description of reward, see to itthat you don't have a sinful
unbelieving heart to turn awayfrom living God, make sure that
you keep on so that you enterthe rest it says, how about this
rule and dominion? Now, thinkwith me a second on that one

(36:23):
ruined dominion is a term of oneof the rewards in the New
Testament she was talking about.
You take charge of 10 cities,you take charge of five cities.
What do you have authority andrule that's going to be
something about the rewards isgoing to be as you've lived now,
that's why he says this, thelast person now the little

(36:44):
widow, no one respected her, shemay have greater authority in
Heaven. How about this divineand public commendation? You
know, what? Do you ever thinkabout it, that it's going to be
a public commendation, when youget a reward? He's not going to
call you over to the side andsay, Hey, come here. I don't

(37:05):
really want to see this. Buthere are some rewards. You know,
here's a couple of crowns forincorruptible. Here's some stuff
in your pocket full of heavenlyjewels, you know, don't tell me
but so you know what it says? Itsays Luke 12, eight, he will
commend you before all of theheavenly hosts of the angels
Majan, the heavenly host of theangels. Here's a special award.

(37:26):
Matthew 2521, well done, goodand faithful servant. About
this, what a passage. The reasonI have much circled there. I
don't know if you can even tellI've got a circle. But it's
because that's not right. It'srich, a rich, royal welcome to
Bible says in Second Peter 111.
If you continually toprogressing your sanctification,

(37:48):
that there'll be an abundantentrance and a rich royal
welcome for you. By the way, italso talks about the Gospels. If
you give your money in such away that it blesses other people
that when you go to heaven,you'll be richly welcomed by
those that you give your moneyto. Are you ready for this one?
You talk about rewards, this oneshocks you? Are you ready? Would

(38:10):
you believe me if I told youthis, the New Testament teaches
that if you are faithful now,that Jesus Christ Himself is
going to come and serve you inheaven. That's what it says in
Luke 1237. It talks about if themaster comes home and finds his
servant faithfully working themaster puts on the apron takes
off your shoes washes your feetand ministers to you. That'd be

(38:32):
hard to take when. But as you'regonna say, I am so in love with
what you've done, thankfully foryour faithfulness. And Jesus
actually served you I'm tellingyou something. That would be
something never Peter didn'tlike that. Now you're not going
to touch me. How about this?
rejoicing? Rejoicing, wonderfulprivilege of rejoicing? We're

(38:57):
not going to get those awardsand and you know how they have
it, they come up there. Well, Ithank you for this and I'd like
to thank my producer and mydirector. And I'd like to thank
all those that worked with meand especially you know, my
wife, I'm tell you something,and then you sort of walk off
here on quietly class, it'sgonna be, it's not gonna sound
to Baptist. All right, there'sgonna be rejoicing, people are

(39:17):
gonna be praising God, there'sgonna be fantastic joy that we
have faithfully serve the Lordand forever we're in heaven in a
sinless place. How about this?
The overcomers reward thatfriends, I'll tell you, this is
quite amazing. But if you studyrevelation one through three,
and here's the verses two 710,and 1117 20 835 12, and 21, I
want you to consider and he saysthings like this, if you

(39:40):
overcome you will have the rightto eat of the tree of life and
the paradise of God that's goingto be one of the privileges eat
of the tree of life and theparadise of God. Don't ask me to
explain what all this is.
Exactly. How about this Youshall not be hurt at all by the
second death. That's theovercomers work you'll be given
the Hitman and Anna will you begiven the hit hit man if you
have a white stone with yourname written on it. So the Bible

(40:02):
says, I will give you theMorningstar. 228 says that
Hyndman overcap I'll give theMorningstar to him. I mean, you
talk about rewardsincorruptible, it's
unbelievable. How about this,you'll never be blown out of the
book of life, you'll be a pillarin heaven. And you'll have the
right to sit on my throne. Imean, there is something special

(40:25):
going on here. And one lastthing, which we can't even get
to this week development is thereef crowns, the special reef
crowns for overcoming forenduring suffering for being a
sole winner for all these otherthings, their special awards.
I'm telling you, it ought tomotivate us. Now. Come on. Some
of you are ever in differentsales teams and ideas and they

(40:45):
say this, Hey, look, if you workyour way up to this level, then
you're gonna be able to get somuch a month you work up to this
level, you're gonna get so muchvacation, you get this much,
you're gonna increase yourretirement plan. Hey, we'll take
all the sellers here. What'sgoing yeah,

Unknown (40:56):
I'm gonna work harder.

Kimber Kauffman (40:58):
Friends wake up out of our apathy. Let's
consider all that the Scripturesays we ought to be motivated in
order to serve God because Hewill not forget your labor.
Listen, now get your Biblesready. We're just gonna have
five more minutes, look up someverses, but I were to tell you
something, the Bema. And therewards in heaven should
motivate you when in troublewhen you're slandered against,

(41:19):
remember the introduction I readfrom Joe wall and he told about
that. One of my favorite quotes,I've used it before, and you'll
grow weary of me using it again,but I'm gonna use it anyway. And
that is by George Whitfield. Hewas slandered against him. He
was preaching Calvinism, themyth the Armenians were
crucifying them. And by the way,Calvinists have crucified the
Armenians too, so I'm not tryingto make it one side of their but
I'll say this. He said they saidanswer answer answer. He said,

(41:43):
It was what Bill said I amperfectly willing to wait until
the judgment day for the clearenough of my character. When I
am did I deserve another epitaphbut this here lies George
Whitfield. What kind of man hewas the great day we'll
discover. Now, I will tell yousomething. If you aren't
thinking about the Bema and youget criticized and slandered you
know what you're gonna do?
You're gonna do this. Oh, yeah.

Unknown (42:07):
I got on your face Powell. Right.

Kimber Kauffman (42:13):
When it comes to being judged and slandered
against Paul said in FirstCorinthians four is quoted
Whitfield Paul goes along withthem, actually, with a one on
one with Paul, I suppose. But hesaid this, just nothing before
the time, I'm not even gonnajudge myself. In fact, on that
day, the secret motors of heartswill be judged. So I'm gonna I'm
gonna have to answer you peoplethat are criticizing me. So he
says in first Corinthians fourwill be about this. When lonely

(42:35):
from sacrifice. Listen, yourlabor in the Lord is never in
vain. First Corinthians 1338.
There has been a lady missionarythat has come to our church. I
believe she's in Colombia, waydown in South America, and way
back in the tribal language, andshe's a single lady. And when
she came to our church yearsago, she spoke. And she said
several interesting things, oneof which was this. She said, she

(42:59):
talked about the decisions shefinally had to made realizing
this, I will probably never bemarried, going to where I'm
going and serving the way I'mserving. I'll probably never
bear my own children. And shetold the story about here she
was from America, in all theriches of what we had, and she
goes down into the Columbia andshe got into a pond, or in some
kind of canoe boat, and the guypaddling the canoe that had to

(43:22):
take her back for six hours, twodays in a row had no clothes on.
And she just looked back up athis buttons the whole time, and
he just didn't tell you thetruth. And she said to herself,
what am I doing here? And thereshe goes, giving up all Do you
remember what Jesus said, yourlabor in the Lord is never in
vain. Remember what Jesus said,if you forsake your family, and

(43:44):
your children and all of that,for my sake, you're gonna get
100 times more, you believe thesaint is gonna come along and
whisper to her and reason weought to pray for our
missionaries and support guysthat are coming like Jeff Cook
cook tonight, is because they'vegiven up and sacrifice and said,
Okay, I won't live with myfamily. I'll miss all the
Christmases and holidays, I'llgive up the money that I could
have made as a business. BecauseI want to serve them. Do you

(44:06):
think we ought to go behind themand encourage them? How much we
should? How about where are youfrom struggling and sin? Some
some of you I know, because Italk to these your pastor and at
times I have been there manytimes I've been there. You're
weary from struggling in sin.

(44:27):
You realize the difficulty ofit. You just wonder Oh, wretched
man that I am. You say? That'sthe whole motivation of self
denial in First Corinthians ninethat we would receive an
incorruptible crown. How aboutwhen your enemies hate you? Do
you know there's a specialreward if you love your enemies?

(44:47):
Come on. Listen, let's just behonest here. So many Christians.
We are so far off thisprinciple. We've completely
missed it. I've often talkedwith Christians and they say and
this person is doing that to meand that person is doing this to
me and you And in what they'replanning, they're planning their
whole scheme of revenge. Here'sthe Bible says, don't take
revenge. Let God take revenge.
You love your enemies, you prayfor them. And guess what happens

(45:11):
if you do that? There's a greatreward according to Luke chapter
six, for the person that we'lldo that. How about this? When
you feel you're the only one whocares about the particular
ministry you're in? This is thesorrowful pastor complex. I'm
familiar with it. I may haveinvented it. No one else cares.
These guys don't really have aburden for what they're doing.

(45:35):
I'm the only one that cares,dead gone. If I don't do it,
it's not gonna get done. Whichyou lose about 28% of your
Bheema with that attitude rightoff the bat. But listen, listen
to what it says, Oh, what ablessed verse concerning the
Bima, Hebrews six and verse 10.

(45:56):
Listen to what it says. It saysthis. God is not unjust. He will
not forget your work, and thelove you have shown him as you
have helped his people andcontinue to help them he won't
forget it. Matthew 1042 wasquoted many times even you give
a little cup of water, theselittle ones, you'll be rewarded

(46:17):
for it. investment into thelives of people, even little
everyday things will berewarded. Well, friends, Are you
motivated by the below I hopeyou are able to change your
life. Jesus said, laying it upfor yourselves treasures in
heaven. Shoot me, he said, layup for yourselves treasures in
heaven. I always call it that.
Well. Paul said, they do it toreceive a corruptible crown we

(46:38):
do it to receive anincorruptible crown Moses chose
rather than suffer affliction,because he looked forward to his
reward. Jesus for the joy setbefore him endured the cross.
Peter exhorts the ministers tobe faithful so that they can
receive a crown of glory oneday, all through the Bible.
We're told that this but youknow what friends is because of
this, we have made hell if ifChristian preachers and teachers

(47:02):
had made heaven, half asdelightful. When it comes to
heaven, we don't know much aboutit. There ought to be a joy set
before us that we will one dayreceive a reward in heaven and
living by faith is that we werealize he's a rewarder of them
to diligently seek him. By theway, I don't mean to put down

(47:25):
how bad hell is. I'm just sayinglet's equaled out. Let's have
the goodness of hell preachedalong with the you know what I'm
trying to say.
So you're not gonna get paid forgoing to church today. I'm sorry
to tell you that if you had yourhopes up. But in everything you

(47:46):
do this week, you remember thatthe Bema should motivate you
because your labor in the Lordeven the smallest, little
insignificant kindness that youdo for your wife will be
remembered by God. Oh, Father,how are we thank you, and how we

(48:06):
praise You for the motivation,the encouragement and in the
strength that comes fromconsidering what your word says
about rewards at the beam. Ipray that you will do a work
from this message in the heartsof people. Jesus name Amen.
Please keep your heads down. Iwant to ask this question. Are

(48:29):
you here today my friend justlisten. Just don't walk me out.
Listen for five more seconds to20 more seconds. Are you here
today? And you have not firstoff, you'll never go to the Bema
because first off you have notaccepted Christ as your Savior.
Would you please right now.
Consider that the only hope youhave of having your sins

(48:50):
forgiven and having arelationship with God and be
able to even go to the Bema forrewards is if you will repent
and acknowledge to God thatyou're a sinner and trust Christ
as your Savior. And if you'rehere and you're under conviction
from what I'm saying then pleasedo me a favor. Come up and see
me and let's talk we'll havelunch or breakfast. I'll meet
you sometime. I'd like to talkwith you about it.