Phil 2 JSC, Use What He Has Given Us

This message originally delivered July 7, 1991am.

Episode Transcript

Kimber Kauffman (00:00):
You know, verse by verse study of Philippians,

(00:01):
we've gotten sidetracked becausewe started contemplating from
verse 16 of chapter two ofPhilippians, the Bema Seat
judgment, Paul said, his wholedesire was at the Philippians
would grow so that he would nothave run or labored in vain. The
stay there, and we'll get toHebrews 11 in just a minute, but
only to say this and I poundedit out again and again. But it

(00:22):
is absolutely essential that youhear this, the you know, friends
that all theology is practical.
As soon as you use the wordtheology or doctrine, a lot of
people automatically goimpractical, as if, as if your
theology does not relate toeveryday living. In fact, I
would say this. Theology is notgood sound theology unless it

(00:43):
affects your life. It's got tohave an impact upon our life.
Just to sit around in some ivorytower experience, and to talk
about and theorize aboutsomething really doesn't help us
if and every day living, itdoesn't cause us to be more like
Christ. I went to school withfriends, when they loved to
contemplate some of these deeptruths. The only thing is, they

(01:04):
lived like the devil. But theylove to sit around and make fun
of Christians who are so simpleminded and believe something
inferior to them. I'll tell yousomething, we may God save us
from such an attitude. But youknow, if there was ever a place
where theology should affect ourlives, you know where it is, is
when it comes to understandingthe judgment, when it comes to
understanding the fact that it'sthe point of the man wants to

(01:25):
die. And after that thejudgment, do you know that the
fact that we have to standbefore God and give an answer of
our lives should have a majorimpact upon the way we live? It
should have impacted the way youcame to church this morning, it
should impact the way you treatyour wife, it should impact the
way you treat people you workwith. It should influence every
single thing you do. In fact,let me say this to you. I
believe in my study of the NewTestament that the greatest

(01:48):
motivation in Paul's life wasthe Bema Seat judgment. I think
it was more of a motivation thaneven his love for Christ. I
think it was more of amortification more of a
motivation than his fear of God.
I think, as you study and you'rejust list verse by verse, how
many times does Paul refer towhat motivated him? You know

(02:08):
what it was the fact that hewould have to give an answer one
day before God that motivatedhim. Now, I say that because you
know, what is the one of themost unmotivated thoughts in all
of Christendom this day? It'sthe fact that you're gonna stand
and give account of your lifebefore God. People sort of go,
it's something so distasteful.
And it's like, oh, let's don'treally bring that up, please. My

(02:30):
friends. Do you know that Jesustalked about the fact that your
life should be lived in light ofthe fact that you're going to
have in a given account to himone day, he talks about it over
and over and over and over? Ican't even get over how many
times he talks about it. It'samazing when you consider in
light of the New Testament, andyet, most people think this Oh,

(02:51):
the judgments that has to do forthe last going to hell? What are
you going to give us a hellfireand brimstone message? Well,
first off, there's nothing wrongwith that, because Jesus gave
those messages and the prophetsgave those messages and
everybody that that was calledby God to preach gave those
messages. But my point is no,I'm saying this. Yes, there is

(03:12):
something to be feared. Yes, itis a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God.
Yes, there is messages ofrepent. In John the Baptist
said, Repent, and Jesus said,Repent. But you know what else
friends, there's also amotivational message for
Christians. It is should help uslive. The Christian life, as

(03:34):
we've gotten turned on to this,there has been an evolutionary
process in my life concerningthis. But I want to tell you
this week, as I've just focusedon the Bema Seat, I have felt as
though I have never read theBible before. As I opened it up,
I see things that haveabsolutely I've wondered, Where
have I been all my life? Howcome I've never heard people

(03:54):
teach on this? How come Ihaven't seen this I can. I
haven't taught on this like Ishould have. And I say it now at
the beginning. And we mustunderstand this because it's
important. Listen carefully.
salvation from God, is by grace,through faith in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and not by any worksthat we have done. We you know,
we're talking about the factthat the gospel messages it has

(04:16):
nothing to do with your works.
It has to do with what Christhas done for you. But please
consider this. And that is thisThe Scripture talks about the
great judgments, one forbelievers, one for non
believers, Marty, could I havethe middle Lights, please? Now
let's just go over this quickly.
Two great judgments, one forChristians, one for non

(04:38):
Christians. Look here. TheChristians it has to do with
heaven. The non Christiansthey're gonna go to hell. This
one you could call the Bema.
This one will call the greatwhite whale here it is Bheema, a
great white throne. And whathappens is appointed in the man
wants to die. And after that thejudgment is You're you die. And

(05:01):
you're either gonna go updepending on what you have done
with Jesus Christ in your life,to stand before God to give
account of your life with theworks that you have done in the
body as a Christian, or if youdon't have Christ, you stand
before God, your ultimatedestination is hell. Now, this
is a very basic breakdown ofwhat we're talking about today.
But let me just take it anotherstep further. In clarification,

(05:25):
if we had to break this down alittle bit farther, we could say
this one judgment is called theGreat White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20 talks about this.
The other is the beam ofjudgment. It's in the Greek
because I want to be in theEnglish. And there are some
references there referring tothe Bema judgment. Notice again,
one is for believers, the otheris for unbelievers. And notice
something else. And this isimportant, the purpose, the Bema

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judgment, it has to do withrewards or loss of rewards. The
Great White Throne Judgment hasto do with degrees of punishment
in hell. Now, we talked aboutthis last week, and again, the
destiny, heaven or hell, and themeans the book of remembrance,
or the book of works. Now,before we go, even any farther,

(06:08):
I want to review something toyou last week, we considered the
Great White Throne Judgment aswe sort of took the sidetrack
and, and by the way, we'll be atleast another week on the Bema
Seat, possibly two more weeks, Iusually don't do this, if you
know, we're usually we stayright with the text. But this
has been absolutely captivatingto me. And hopefully, it's going
to be tremendously the same foryou. Notice next, the revelation

(06:28):
2011 through 50. And this isquick review from last week it
was based on works, it will bebased on works and notice the
criterion for judgment, what isthe criterion as unbelievers
stand before a holy God? Whatwill be the criterion of
judgment as to as to the degreesof punishment in hell? You know
that a lot of people didn't evenknow that there were degrees of

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punishment. Hell may say, one ofthe degrees the punishment isn't
sin, sin and Hell the same foreverybody. Jesus clearly says
things different than that. Forinstance, one is this, the
amount of truth known andrejected the amount of truth
that is known and rejected.
Jesus says things like this, Woeunto you, corzan and Bethsaida.

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For if the miracles done in youhad been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have remained untilthis day, he says it would have
been much more bearable, excuseme, it's going to be much more
bearable on the Day of Judgment,for tired sadhana will be for
you. Why? Because so much lighthas been given to you. The same
thing in Romans chapter one, aswe suppress the truth and hide

(07:34):
the truth. And we said, if youremember from last week, it
would be much better to go tohell from some country in which
the gospel has never beenpreached, that it wouldn't be to
go to health and United Statesof America with all the
rejection of life that that musttake place when you live in this
country. Notice something else,the kinds of sin you commit. The
scripture says there aredifferent sins that are more

(07:55):
repulsive to God than others.
Now, a lot of people didn't knowthat either. But yet that is
clearly taught in thescriptures. Let me give you an
illustration of what I'm talkingabout. In Matthew chapter 12. He
talks to the Pharisees, and hesays, Oh, he just tears into the
Pharisees, in fact it so I don'tjust butchered up. I'm going to
read it to you real quickly.

(08:16):
Matthew chapter 12, verses 38through 40. He says this, he
says excuse me, that's Markchapter 12, verses 38 to 40. He
says the same thing in Matthewtwo but wrong passage, we read
to you quickly, Mark 1238through 40. He says this to

(08:36):
them. As he taught Jesus said,Watch out for the teachers of
the law. They like to walkaround in flowing robes to be
greeted in the marketplace tohave the most important seats in
the synagogues, the places ofhonor banquets, they devour
widows, houses and for a showmake lengthy prayers that gets
what he says after all thatlisten, such men will be

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punished most severely, mostseverely. So one sin that
actually is condemned as one ofthe worst sins is this being a
Pharisee having an externaloutward religion condemning
everybody else, the PhariseeUncle, you know, it says in
Matthew 21, that would be betterto be a harlot on the day of
judgment than it would be to bea Pharisee and interesting

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about this Ephesians fiveColossians three talks about
sexual sins, talks aboutidolatry, talks about these
times, and it says, Let no onedeceive you with empty words,
because of these things, thewrath of God is coming.
Something else causing littlechildren to sin. He's it'd be
better for a millstone to behung about your neck than for

(09:42):
you to cause one of these littleones to sin. What's he talking
about? Man? There's somethingsevere about causing a child to
sin. We better wake up andrealize that the illustration is
this. I told you last week I rana traffic light accidentally
complete innocence with a pureheart if you can remember. I
actually I stopped at the lightfor about 20 seconds. My buddy
went like this, I thought hemeant the light changed. I went

(10:02):
through the light, please stopme just like that $55 ticket.
And we're gonna have a specialofferings. I think I said in the
past, take care of that. But youknow what there was yet in the
last week or the week thathappened, actually was two weeks
ago, there was a man arrested inAnnapolis or sexually molesting
his daughter to such a degreethat she died. Two year old

(10:25):
daughter. Now, what if thepolice came to the door and gave
that man a $55? Ticket? We wouldsay unjust, unfair. What if they
took me for running thestoplight and gave me three life
sentences. Hopefully, you'd comedown and try to help me out.

(10:48):
See, so we see also that thekinds of sins you commit should
be rewarded accordingly. Andthen lastly, this, the number of
sins one commits, and that isthis Bible clearly teaches us by
the way that the Romans two,five, you're storing up wrath
for yourself on the day ofwrath. And the word storing up

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there means you're putting intoan account, you're putting into
a bank account, all that willtake place on those days. So
that's a quick review of theGreat White Throne Judgment. But
let's now consider that's forunbelievers. That's for people
that have never repented oftheir sins and trusted Jesus
Christ as their Savior. But nowlet's do something else. Let's
focus upon the Bema judgment,the judgment for believers. Now,

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actually, the Greek word Bhima,when it refers to the judgment
of believers, is found in SecondCorinthians 510. For we must all
give account of ourselves beforethe judgment seat of Christ for
the things done in the body,whether they be good or bad. And
Romans 1410 Why do you judgeyour brother, we must all give
account of ourselves before Godof the judgment seat of Christ.
Those two places actually, inthe Greek language, it says Bema

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Seat of Christ actually the beamit means judgment seat of
Christ, but many other places,many other places, is it
implied, in fact, I want you toknow something is implied so
many places that this is thepart I felt like a kid in a
candy shop for the first time.
And I turned the pages of theScripture, I'm absolutely
astonished at how much the Bibletalks about the way the Bema
Seat should influence our lives.

(12:17):
And one of the greatest goals Ihave for you, my friends, is
this not to beat you down?
Always preaching on judgment.
Oh, man. And once you sit thereand you just sort of leave, oh,
you know, life so terrible. I'mgonna have to have this terrible
judgment one day? No, Paul ismotivated by it. Do you think if
the God who loves you while youare an enemy of his, the God,
who? Who who reconciled you tohimself when you were at MIT

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with him, then he's going tobring you up as his dearly
beloved child on the day ofjudgment, and blew and whistle
and knock you down and say,you're no good and make it some
terrible thing? No. But at thesame time, there should be a
fear in our hearts that we willgive an answer and find out
really who we were bottom line,really what our ministry was
worth, really what our life waslike, Really, if God was

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pleased, well, we'll find out onthat day. So there's that fine
balance between understandinghis love and understanding his
fear. But what I want you to seeis this, do you know that the
Bema judgment is so foundationalto your life that it is the very
basis of your faith? Did youknow that? Look at Hebrews 11
Six, Hebrews 11, six, the famousverse that we quote, when we

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said what is the definition offaith, we always call it verse
one. Now faith is the substanceof things hoped for the evidence
of things not seen. And then weget to verse six years, one of
the most popular verses, and yetin the middle of it is the Bema
Seat, look here. And withoutfaith, it's impossible to please
God, because anyone who comes toHim must believe that He exists.

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And that get this He rewardsthose who earnestly seeking
that, you know, what, I alwaysthought in my life that had to
do with present day life. Youknow, it goes like, Hey, if you
seek God with all your heart anddevotions, he's gonna reward you
and bless your life. And youknow what that is true. I'm not
saying that is not the case. ButI want you to know that the

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context of Hebrews 11. And thewhole setting of Hebrews is
this. Don't let go of yourfaith. Hang on, keep encouraging
one another. Don't give upbecause there's great day coming
in which you will be glad youdid. I did every word is all in
light of an illuminatingpointing towards the BBC. By the

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way. It's used as a verb, herewards those who earnestly seek
Him in verse six, but go back tochapter 10. And look at verse
35. And here's the same wordreward used in a different way.
The noun uses liquid it says, Donot throw away your confidence.
It will be richly rewarded. Nowget this. You need to persevere

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so that when you have done thewill of God, you will receive
what was promised. For just avery little while he was coming
will come and will not delay.
What's he talking about? That'sthe Bema Seat. Don't give up,
live in light of the Bema Seat,live in light of the fact that
you're going to give account ofyourself as a believer for the
works done in the body. Itshould be the very basis of your

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faith, in fact, to divine to theDefine faith. It's like this, I
believe that he will rewardthose who diligently seek Him
who apprehended by faith, whokeep seeking who live a life now
saying, You know what the thingsof this world will pass away,
even though they're worried andnice and comfortable. I gotta
seek a city whose builder andmaker is God, I gotta look out
farther than just this. In fact,go to the Romans chapter and go

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to the 26th verse. And here'sMoses's example. And here's the
same word again, we closed withthis last week. But please get
this. It says, He regardeddisgrace for the sake of Christ
of greater value than thetreasures of Egypt. What did he
do? He made a conscious choicebased on what based on his
understanding of the Bema Seat,he said this, yeah, the

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pleasures of Pharaoh's court,the glories of living life, and
you as the king of Egypt, allthe beautiful women, all of the
luxuries, all the things that Icould possibly have. But he said
this, he regarded that disgracefor Christ has greater value
than that, because he waslooking ahead to his what his
reward, he looked into hisreward, the very basis of our

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faith should be that we willgive account of ourselves before
God and will be rewarded forself denial for making choices
of value system, putting theword of God ahead of the world
of realizing that pay day is notout. You know what I'm gonna get

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into this in a minute myconclusion in particular, but
you know, one of the greatestheresies in the Church of Jesus
Christ today, you know what itis friends that payday is now
they listen, you want to marketyou listen to any teacher that
tells you you do this, and God'sgonna give you all this now. My
friends, there's two thingswrong with that. Number one,
he's already given us His Son.

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If somebody gave you a billiondollars tax free, wouldn't you
feel a little weird about goingback up and ask him to borrow
the car, his car. He's given usHis Son, for our sense. But the
second thing is this. People aretrying to tell you this, you
give money and you're gonna getback right now. And you know

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what, there is some truth there.
But I will challenge you rightnow the over whelming promise is
this. At the Bema you will berichly rewarded for the way you
give your money, or yousacrifice for some cause. And
what's going to happen is God'sgonna bless you, I listen, you
turn on channel 40, you know,send this money to God, here's
God's address, and it's got thatguy's name on it. In my my
friends, the point here is thison that day, second, Timothy

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four six says, On that day, Ifought the good fight, I
finished the course on that day,there's a day coming. When God
rewards you, there's a daycoming when you receive the
crown, there's the emphasis isthis we're not always gonna get
it. You read Hebrews chapter 11.
You know what it says a lot ofthem die without getting what
they thought they were gonnaget. But they kept looking
forward to the promise. And nowthey got it because this world

(18:11):
wasn't even worthy of them. Whata way to live. This thing is so
exciting to think about this,Hey, everything I do every
decision I make every person Italked to all that I do in my
life. It's the privilege to beable to lay up rewards in
heaven, foundational to ourfaith. Now, not only is the
foundational faith, but I wantyou to see something else which
shows you how foundational is goto Matthew and then in the sixth

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chapter. Turn over to Matthewchapter six. You talked about a
purpose to live, we talked abouta reason to be alive. It is
exciting to consider thebiblical view of life from this
perspective. Look what he saysJesus is talking here in Matthew
chapter six and starting withverse 19. He says this, do not

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store up for yourselvestreasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy, and wherethieves break in and steal But
store up for yourselvestreasures in heaven, where moth
and rust do not destroy, andwhere thieves do not break in
and steal. For where yourtreasure is there will your

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heart be also you know, listen,friends, the Bible commands you
in verse 20, to lay up treasuresin heaven. It's
a command. We are commanded tolive lives laying up treasures
in heaven. But secondly, I wantyou to notice something which is
a little shocking. The Biblecommands you to lay up treasures
in heaven for yourself. That'swhat it says, lay up treasures

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in heaven for yourself. There isthis attitude today in Christian
circles that has been sounbiblical and I'm telling you
here's the most guilty guy I hadit for years, that pious sort of
attitude that says, well I justserve the Lord because I love
him and I don't expect anythingin return. My friends great I

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love the Lord to and you lovethe Lord and we ought to serve
Him because we love him. But youknow, that the motivation and
Philippians 216 of Paul wantingthe Philippians, to grow into a
unified and to get along and tofurther the cause of Christ was
that on the day of Christ, hewould not have run or labored in
vain. And you know, that thereis a tremendous honor, if we

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were to give an award tosomebody, it's the giver of the
award, it's an honor for him togive that award. In other words,
it brings glory to God, you havefought the good fight, you have
kept the faith Well done, mygood and faithful servant God
rejoices in that we always thinkof, well, I can't wait to hear
those words. That would be nice.
But the fact is, for his sake,in other words, for His glory,
that's why it's so wonderful.

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And the thing that is so amazingthat I want you to understand is
this we're commanded to lay uptreasures for ourselves make
decisions. They don't like this,Hey, I desire rewards on that
day. What the Bible is sayinghere is this the way you live
here now does one, you eitherlay up treasures for yourself in

(21:02):
heaven, or you're storing upwrath against the day of wrath.
Something amazingly struck methis week, I looked up the word
in Matthew 619, for store up orlay up, guess what it is? It's
the exact same Greek word asRomans two five, which says
you're storing up wrath againstthe day of wrath. You know what
it means this? Listen,unbelievers, by the way, they

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live forsaking God and keepingthem out of their life and not
doing anything to bits, livingselfishly, and what can I do?
What are my plans for today, myplan for today is to do what I
want to do when I want to do it,how I want to do it. And guess
what happens? The Bible says,It's like putting into a bank
account every day. You'reputting up money, it's rising,
it's rising, it's rising, andwhat is it wrath, the wrath of

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God is building and building andbuilding on the Day of Judgment.
There'll be so fearful andterrible, the standing for a
holy God with your sins not paidfor. That's what Romans say, a
revelation six talks about methe mountains fall on us
anything but hide us from theface of him that sits on the
throne. But for the believer,get this for the believer every
day, as you do biblical thingsand think biblically and act

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biblically and say, God, help meand as you struggle when you get
back up, and as you fight thegood fight of faith, guess what
happens? You're laying up in abank account, storing up exact
same word treasures in heaven.
is absolutely amazing. It isabsolutely. In fact, while we're
on this, flip over real quick,the first Timothy chapter six, I
want to show you something.

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First Timothy, in the sixthchapter, and here is the same
Greek word found again, aboutstoring up putting into the
bank. And look what it says inFirst Timothy, chapter six. He
says, starting in verse 17, toplease get this first Timothy
six and starting with verse 17.
He says, command to those whoare rich in this present world,

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you get the emphasis there, thispresent world now the here and
now. Not to be arrogant, not toput their hope and wealth, which
is so uncertain that comes andgoes so quickly, that Psalm 49
says it flies away like it haswings. We could ask Donald Trump
if that's somewhat true. Getthis, but to put their hope in

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God, who richly provides us witheverything for our enjoyment,
command them to do good, to berich in good deeds, to be
generous and willing to shareand get this if you're if you if
you do good, if you're rich ingood deeds, if you're generous
and willing to share get this inthis way, they will lay up
treasure for themselves as afirm foundation for the coming

(23:40):
age. So they may take hold ofthe life that is truly life,
same word. Same word, as you dogood as you share your wealth as
you do those kinds of things. Myfriends, guess what happens?
You're laying up treasures foryourself in the coming age. It'd
be like, be a Christian, thathad fame and fortune. And this

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life it was selfish with yourpossessions and die. And as you
stand and start eternity, youreverything is reversed. The
first had been made last and thelast had been made first, which
is what that passage is talkingabout. But how much for us that
have been blessed with theriches of America to be able to
share and to give away in thesacrifice and not go for the

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greed of all the materialisticways. Listen, how great will it
be to stand before God he'll saywell done. You shared your
wealth. Here are more here'smore for you. Did you know this
random Americans spend 30% oftheir income on luxury items. 40
years ago we spent 10% on luxuryitems 477% increase since 1970.
On spending on recreation. Thelast 17 years giving an

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evangelical churches has gonedown steadily Almost half of all
charitable giving in the UnitedStates come from households
making under $30,000 a year.
We've just got this thing allbackwards. We've got the real
life who's going to be gettingthese things real life is giving

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away willing to share beingwilling to do good for others.
So if you were to say to me,Pastor, how can I, practically
speaking lay up treasures inheaven? How can I know? Well,
listen, do good. Share yourwell. sacrifice for others. By
the way, you see that we're nottoo far off Philippians what's

(25:35):
Philippians? About? Unity?
Esteeming others better thanyourself? Not being selfish.
Remember, by the throat? Well,we came out of chapter two. And
there it is, again, sheergiveaway, in fact, didn't even
see more. How can you lay uptreasures in heaven? By the way,
there is so much I want to justtell you, there is no way a one
or two messages can cover all ofthis. That's how much the New

(25:56):
Testament talks about it. I'mamazed, go to just but we're
going to try and just start onit today. All right, so go over
to Luke 14. I want you to seethis over to Luke in the 14
chapter. Luke chapter 14. Now,this is amazing to me. You're
ready. The 14th chapter it saysin the first verse, one Sabbath,
when Jesus went to eat in thehouse of a, I'm reading from the

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NIV. Now prominent Pharisee,please get this prominent
Pharisee that's key word there.
Okay. Now, he goes to the houseand he talks okay. And then he
does a he'll he does a littlehealing there. Okay. Not to make
it an important but I'm tryingto move down here to get to the
text, right? Look at verseseven. When he noticed how the

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guest pick the places of honorat the table, he told them this
parable, when someone invitesyou to a wedding feast do not
take the place of honor for aperson more distinguished than
you may have been invited. Ifso, the host who invited both of
you will come and say to yougive this man your seat, then
humiliated, you will have totake the least important place.

(27:03):
But when you're invited, takethe lowest place so that when
your host comes He will say toyou friend, move up to a better
place, then you will be honoredin the presence of all your
fellow guests and to get thisfor everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, and he whohumbles himself will be exalted

(27:23):
my friends, what's he talkingabout? Know what he's talking
about? He's talking about theBMC judgment. Now you say it
PMRC written into this, you'regetting little ridiculous. Now,
can you read everything beingthat you're seeing beam
everywhere? No, no, no, this ishere. This is right here. I'll
show you how we know that. Lookat verse 12. Then Jesus said to
his hosts, when you give aluncheon or a dinner, do not

(27:45):
invite your friends, yourbrothers, your relatives or your
neighbors. If you do, they mayget this get this now they may
invite you back and so you willbe repaid. But when you give a
banquet, invite the poor, thecrippled, the lame and the blind
and you will be blessed up getplease get this the last verse

(28:07):
14, although they cannot repayyou, you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous.
What they're talking about theBina at the judgment you'll be
repaid person. Do you want tolay up treasures in heaven, then
get this be rich and good works.
Be generous and willing toshare. Don't seek prominent

(28:27):
places in societal situationslower yourself, put yourself
back let others bring you ablood God exalt you in due time,
seek the lowest place or theleast what is Philippians
talking about the same thing,the same thing. Listen, do nice
things. sacrifice for those whocannot repay you. Go out of your

(28:49):
way to help the lame the cripplethe blind the poor, go out of
your way to get to listen. Notjust financially now not just
financially. Yes, yesfinancially, but not just
financially. How about this? Howdo you talk to after church?
Remember how it was in school?
Everyone made fun of the personthat was sort of down and out.
You always want to seek friendswith the cheerleaders or this

(29:10):
person or that person with me itwas the cheerleaders nominee my
friend.
Would you say what is it? We thewhole attitude of life ought to
be this give myself to thosepeople who need me give myself
to those people who are done outnot to those people hey, if I
talked to this guy and work theright deal, I bet you my

(29:31):
business will really boom Hey,I'm gonna check and work this
outward you know, such as thejoin me I'll be friends them
I'll get in the right circlesand then bang, bang, bang up a
football go. No, the Scripturesays this. You want to lay up
treasures in heaven. Do good tothose who can't repay you. And
here's this the think of this,you get a cup of water in his
name. And he'll remember it. Ifhe's gonna remember a cup of

(29:54):
water in his name. He's gonnaremember when you go out of your
way to love invite over andminister to people Although
we're down and out, that I'lltell you what excites me at the
same time, it just rebukes me.
James chapter two is so true forall of us. Where we, you know,
say to the to the rich, I got aplace for you right here. How
you doing, buddy? Good friendand we said, hey, man, get lost.

(30:14):
I'm busy over here. I got somereal ministry. We've got to be
careful here, friends. Solisten, that's one way you can
lay up treasures in heaven, andyou want to see something else.
You got to go back to Matthewsix, go back right where we were
back to Matthew six. You can seethis in Matthew six. This is
again, amazing. Look what hesays in Matthew chapter six.

(30:39):
Here's how you by the way,remember what we just read in
Matthew 619. It says this layingout for yourselves treasures on
earth. Remember that? Okay,let's go back to verse one. Now,
go back to verse one. It saysthis. Be careful not to do your
acts of righteousness before mento be seen by them. If you do,
you will have no reward fromyour Father in heaven. Wait,

(31:04):
what's the Bema he saw what theBema here Why do you think
Matthew 619 20 says love foryourselves treasures in heaven
the way you read your storythough? Here's one way don't do
acts of righteousness inparticularly hear the way you
give. Don't do it so everyoneknows about it. Do it in secret.
Please get this look at versetwo. So when you give to the

(31:26):
needy do not announce it withtrumpets as the hypocrites do in
the synagogues on the streets tobe honored by men. I tell you
the truth they have their rewardfool you know the old story.
Here's poor old Rob Hall's. Weall know Rob's hurtin you know,
Hey, Rob here. I know you've hadsome trouble without anything. I
want you to give this everybodyyou see this? Here you go, you
know, I wanted to see it. Or,you know, here comes the

(31:47):
offering. Here comes theoffering plate
you know how this now I'm makingfun of something. But you know
what, you all know that we liketo let people in on that stuff.
We like to let people know.
Yeah. Well, the $17,000 offeringyou know, I was there that

(32:09):
Sunday when it came in thebuilding fund. So make your
giving secret because look atthe last verse it says this
verse for verse four last verseof that section, it says this,
so that you're giving may be insecret, then your Father who
sees what is done in secret willreward you. So give secretly,
you want to have treasures foryourself and heaven good so that

(32:30):
the only person that knows aboutit is God about this verse five
and forward about prayer. Andwhen you pray, do I be like the
hypocrites they love to praystanding in the synagogues in
the street quarters as seen bymen, I tell you the truth they
have received the reward andfull. Well, when you go into
your room, close the door, prayto your Father who is unseen and

(32:50):
your Father who sees what isdone in secret will reward you
beat him up. You know, we've alldone this. I told you about my
friend who named his bed theword he would say I spent four
hours in the word thisafternoon. You know the people.
We all do this about prayer.
What you don't know I've justbeen praying. You know, we
talked about that we've droppeda little secret about our prayer

(33:12):
cards, our list this has andmake ourselves look as if we're
really hey, here's what itmeans. Give pray. And one last
thing when you fast. Look atverse 16. When you fast do not
look songbirds, the hypocritesdo. They disfigured their faces
to show men their fasting. Itell you the truth they have
received the reward and fold.
You know when it comes to prayerwhen it comes to giving when it

(33:32):
comes to fasting, you know whatit says they receive the reward
for you know what your rewardis? If you do the spiritual
disciplines of the Christianlife, fasting, prayer and giving
if you do those kinds of things,in order for men, guess what,
there is some reward in it. Andthat is this, people will think
you're pretty cool. And that'sit. You've lost it in heaven.
We're going to talk in the nextcouple of weeks about what

(33:54):
there's like 12 verses I havefound about what you do to lose
your reward. Here's one of themright here. You've lost your
reward at the Bema by being sopious in front of other people.
So here's the point that listen,it's very interesting, how we're
talking positively here today.
How can you lay up well, givepray and fast and don't let

(34:19):
anybody know about it. Now, thatis there's something very
interesting I want you to seehere. We'll go over to chapter
five, in Matthew five rightthere and look down with me to
verse 14. And it says thisbecause this is an important
distinction that needs to bemade. Verse 14, and Matthew
five, you are the light of theworld, a city set on a hill

(34:42):
cannot be hidden. Neither dopeople light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead, they putit on a stand and it gives light
to everyone in the house in thesame way. Let your light shine
before men that they may seeyour good deeds and praise your
father in heaven. Now look atverse 16 says this let your
light shine before men letpeople see your good works now
go to chapter six and verse one.
And look what it says. It saysthis, be careful not to do your

(35:03):
acts of righteousness before mento be seen by them. Now all of
us could do it this wait aminute, once he said it, chapter
five, verse 16, says, Don't letyour light shine before men,
chapter six, verse one, he says,Don't let anyone said, here's
the difference. The quality oflife that the Beatitudes call
for is the kind of life thatshows forth Christ and is to be

(35:25):
revealed to the world. Forinstance, being poor in spirit,
being a peacemaker, being meek,doing righteousness and hungry
and thirsty for it. Those arethe type of things that the
Beatitudes talk about that areto be seen by the world. But
what is to not be seen by theworld and not to be shown off in
any way or the Christiandisciplines? I have found I've

(35:48):
wondered, often it why is itthat I have found when I've
really had a hot time anddevotions for a period of time
that when I've shared that withpeople, I've always lost it.
There are things that you don'ttalk about. And one of them is
be careful. I mean, you got toshare in principle, and it

(36:10):
things what's going on in ourgiving in our private life
things. But we've got to be socareful lest we lose the reward.
So I want you to see that. Now,I'm going to close we've
basically just done two thingsso far. Now we're ready to
close. Number one, we've saidthis, we've said that the Bema
is foundational to our faith andour whole Christian life. Number

(36:31):
two, we've said how can we layup some treasures in heaven?
Well be rich, be willing toshare. Don't be rich, be the
rich and good works, be willingto share and take the lowest
place and societal situations donice things for those who can't
repay you do your Christiandisciplines in secret. These are
just some there's much morethese are just some. But well,
let me ask you this, we considerlast week the criterion of

(36:53):
judgment for the Great WhiteThrone. Let's consider now just
just to introduce it just to geta taste in our mouth, the two
basic principles for thecriterion of judgment, the Bema
Seat, they are found first inMatthew 25, verses 14 through
32. And you can turn there ifyou'd like. And the other place
is First Corinthians chapterthree, verses 10 through 13. Now
there are two things here I wantyou to get. Without taking the

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time to read the passage inMatthew 25. If you turn there
starting with verse 14, he's theparable of the talents. He gives
one man five talents, one mantwo talents and one man one
talent, he comes back after along journey. And the man with
five talents has five moretalents, the man with it gives
them back and he says well donegood and faithful servant. And

(37:37):
he takes the man with twotalents who gives back to more,
he says, Well done, he's againstthe same combination to the man
that gave that five than the guythat gave back to becomes the
man that had one. And who hit itout of fear. And said, I know
you're a hard man harvestingwhere you have not sown, which
shows you a wrong view of God,that somehow the Bema Seat is
going to be intolerable. Is is awrong perspective there for

(38:00):
sure. But anyway, I want you tothe whole picture is this. What
don't you think you should havetold the story like this now?
Not that I need to correctJesus? But if I did, I would say
here's one place you made amistake. You know, I'm being
facetious, okay. It's a Jesus,you shouldn't have the story go
like this. The guy with the fivetalents blows it. And the guy

(38:20):
with the two talents and the onetalent, you know, that's the
thing. But why did Jesus tell usthat the guy with the one talent
blows it? I'm gonna tell youwhy. Because of this, the
criterion for judgment, the BemaSeat will not be based on what
you excuse me, it will be basedon the faithful use of what you
have been given, not on theamount of what you've been

(38:41):
given. And the clearest way toillustrate that is to show the
guy that has the one has beenthe wicked man, because we will
all take pity on that guy whosay, Oh, this poor guy didn't
have much. The fact is, nobodycan say they can't be used of
God. Nobody can say, Well, whatI have is an important. In fact,
it's even right in here in achurch newsletter. I read it

(39:03):
this morning. I love this churchnewsletter. It says if you think
you're too small to do a bigthing, try doing small things.
The big way was that and thefact here is this. It's not.
You've heard it all your life.
God is not looking for abilitybut for availability. You know,
that's true. Is was this to uswhat he's given us? You will not

(39:24):
get this. I am so glad to knowthis. You will not be judged by
comparison with others. But withwhat you did with what you had.
I'm so glad he's not gonna sayall right, it's time for
judgment. Right the preachers ofthe 1990s John MacArthur, Chuck
Swindoll Charles Stanley Jamescandy Kim coffin, will you

(39:44):
please take the stand? Now whatdo you see? Are these five who
did the best? How are you? Oh,no. You see, it'd be terrible,
but that's why the Scripture isclear the beam each man will
give a cow I have him self toGod, you will be judged for what

(40:06):
you have done with what God hasgiven you, not with how
successful your life has been,such as this gets to the last
point. And the last point isthis First Corinthians chapter
three. Real quickly, this is thefamous passage, I want you to
show you one phrase out of this.
And remember, we're going tocontinue this study now, in the
weeks ahead, but firstCorinthians chapter three, he's
talking about the Bema. He talksabout the gold, silver, costly

(40:28):
stones, wood, hay or straw, hiswork will be shown for what it
is because the day will bring itto light, it will be revealed
with fire and get this look atthe last part of verse 13. It'll
be revealed with fire and thefire will test the quality of
each man's work. Number one, youwon't be judged upon how much
you've been given will be judgedby what you've done with what

(40:50):
you have been given. Number two,the criterion for judgment, the
Bema Seat will be quality, notquantity. He's not gonna stand
up and say hi, all the peoplewith churches over 500 Are you
gonna get this reward? No,because it's not quantity, its
quality. And listen, that'simportant. Understand. Jesus

(41:11):
said this. I love this story. Inmy chapter 12, Jesus is there he
goes into the synagogue, and hepurposely sits across the place
where people are giving money.
And he sits there and he watchesand his disciples are all
sitting there. Just imagine nowI picture Jesus sitting there,
the disciples are sittingaround, and he's watching, and
he's watching intently. What'shappening? Here comes some rich
people. Here come some moreretrieval. All of a sudden, here

(41:33):
comes the little old lady withthe two mites. And she walks up.
And she throws in however shedoes it for point and he goes
Hey, fellas. Skinner? Did yousee that? Did you see what
happened? I want you to know,she has given more than anyone
else. What do you mean to givemore to that poor lady? She gave

(41:55):
all that she had?
Aren't you glad? Friends? Aren'tyou glad the judgment is based
upon the quality of life, notthe quantity that you have.
We've got to remember when westand before Him, that that is
going to be the case. Listen. Italked to a man this week, the
new a man that ministered to theCree Indians in Canada for 30

(42:18):
years. After 30 long years offaithful ministry, he had his
first convert. I know of placesin South America, where people
leave 30 people to Christ aweek. But you know what? The
Judgment will not be based uponquantity, but upon quality. It's

(42:40):
not that the guy that lived 30to Christ, he's gonna get less
judgment. I'm just saying, Godknows the field. God knows the
heart, and the test will bequality. I heard a story of a
missionary in Africa who was afaithful, hardworking
translator. And every year hegot totally embarrassed. You
know why he had to turn in hisstatus reports. And I said this,

(43:01):
how many people have you led toChrist? How many people have you
baptized? How many people haveyou done all this? And all I can
tell you is this friends. Youcannot put on paper? What the
Bema Seat will really be aboutbecause we don't know. It's a
matter. We do know this. It's amatter of quality. I said
earlier all theology that's badtells you that the Pay Day is

(43:23):
now no there's a pay day comingin. You know what the Bible says
things like this, are yousuffering? Well consider this. I
reckon that the sufferings ofthis present time are not worth
comparing with the glory thatshall follow. Don't you love
that? You cleanse. myaccountability partner and I met
this week for breakfast. Thislittle men's group that we have

(43:44):
going we have candles Mark madean amazing statement. In light
of all this. Bible says this TheI have not seen, neither has the
ear heard, neither has enteredthe heart of man the things
which God has prepared for themthat love him. Heaven is so
fantastic. I had such a boringview of Heaven most of my life.
Think of this, the I have notseen the angels must think

(44:05):
there's these people that areloving the world and really into
this world. They are so sick.
That's what they must bethinking. Because heaven is so
fantastic. The light waves wecan only see a certain spectrum
of light waves. Can you imaginebeing in heaven, the AI is not
seen. You cannot imagine howbeautiful heaven is. It could be
a whole other spectrum of visionand sight that we can't even
begin to imagine. Well this yearhave not heard you know, I can

(44:29):
blow dog whistle and the dogswould come running but none of
you would even hear it. Iimagined music that takes a full
spectrum bigger than we've evereven known in our life. And the
beauty of it. Maybe there couldbe a musician or how about this
neither has entered into theheart of man. He ought you ought
to leave here this morning afteryou go to Sunday school. You got

(44:54):
to leave here this morning. Sofired up that you Have a God
that as you've trusted Christ,though you've not seen him, you
love him. And you live by faithin that Christ as you just go
out and just love Him and obeyHim and just say, I want to put
you first just lead my life takecontrol of me. And whatever I
do, I just want to do for youand follow the scriptures make

(45:14):
your decisions, in light ofthat. There is an eternity with
incredible undescribable beautyand rewards and a life of
existence that is so muchsuperior, that we're going to
look back now and say, Why werewe ever even tempted in this
stupid life? I tell you, thisthing has got me on fire. It is
God has just been describingthis in my heart. I'm excited

(45:36):
about living. I'm excited aboutconsidering what we're supposed
to be doing with our lives. Inlight of all that the Scripture
says about the Bema let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we are sothankful to you for the love

(45:58):
that you've shown us and yourson Christ. And we are thankful
father that we know that why weare here we've been created by
you. And we're going a placewe're going ultimately to
heaven. We're going to the Dayof Judgment when we find out
what we really were like I praythat you would motivate
Christians in this church as aresult of what's been said that

(46:22):
changed their life so that theyput Christ where he needs to be
so that there would be adecision making and and a giving
of effort, time and money tothose things which will lay up
treasures in heaven. Start withme father. pray this in Jesus
name.