WEBVTT 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:18.079 Okay. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:28.960 Anyway, it's a privilege for me to come here because uh I see what God's been doing here over the last five years or so, especially. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:50.479 And I've always thought, and as I pray for this church, I every time this truth comes around me that this community around here desperately needs this church to be the light of Jesus Christ and to just show people that we're not perfect people, but we're following him, and it makes a huge difference in our lives. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.200 Makes a world of difference in that. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:58.960 So uh thankful for this church, thankful for Nate and the leadership that he's assembled here. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:03.280 And in fact, uh, do you guys know what the month of October is? 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:06.480 Football? 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:07.280 Yeah, yeah. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.799 Halloween, parties, and everything. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:16.480 It is also unofficially shared as Pastor Appreciation Month. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.799 And I don't know who designated that. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:27.359 Uh that's not a biblical designation, but but there is a principle in the Bible that speaks to this. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:43.200 1 Thessalonians 5.12 says, now we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction to acknowledge them, to appreciate them. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:02:01.359 And so as those who are blessed to receive God's word from uh just faithful servants, I would just encourage you, because it is an admonition in scripture, to appreciate your pastors, to appreciate the leaders. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:12.400 And it can be done just a simple note, basically saying, thank you, thank you for being God's tool in my life to bring me closer to Him. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:16.479 It could be a little note, it could be a little gift or whatever I'm thinking about you. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:18.879 It's not to put them on pedestals. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:24.400 Pastors don't believe don't belong on pedestals because they're servants. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:33.120 And so I know that the staff in this church, they're not people who want adoration to be put on pedestals. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.599 They just want what's best for you. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:42.400 And I think about this as pastors, they're not here to fill a calendar, they're not here to run programs. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:52.800 They are here simply to bring men and women, children and youth, requip them for a face-to-face appointment with God one day. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:56.560 And that's a sobering, sobering calling. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:00.479 And I appreciate their desire to do it in such a good way. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:02.879 So uh we good with that? 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:03.520 Yes. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:04.479 All right, all right. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:05.360 Thank you, church. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.439 Uh, again, Nate didn't ask me to share that. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.080 He probably is not happy that I'm sharing that, you know, whatever. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.840 But but it's it's an admonition in scripture that needs to be followed. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:22.479 Um, the message that uh that I want to share today has been something that God has been growing in my heart for around two years now. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:28.719 Um because of a phone call that I received from a man who was a really, really good friend of mine. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:33.120 Uh, he was part of our church in in Vacaville, an amazing servant. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:37.039 Uh, he was a biologist by trade. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:41.439 Uh moved to University of Texas down in Austin to teach there. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:47.439 Um and uh he called me out of the blue and said, Yeah, I'm just calling, asking for prayer. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:52.639 Just got back from the doctor's office and I've been diagnosed with ALS. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:57.680 He goes, and I'm just shocked. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:02.400 Just don't even know what this means for the focus of my life. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:19.920 And so that began a uh a regular, pretty much weekly conversation between us about his struggles with faith and about his struggles to use whatever he has left in his life to glorify God. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:36.639 And uh he used the incredible brain that he had to do research in the book of Psalms and about where is God and suffering, and he wrote some incredible articles which I've sent and shared with those that I know are going through suffering in their own life. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:49.199 And uh Greg passed just a few weeks ago, and I would say that in the last couple of months, he had long since lost his ability to speak. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.240 We communicated through email and some texts. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:59.759 The last couple of months, our conversations turned to heaven, knowing that he's soon going to be there. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:05.920 And he goes, you know, I'm not all that clear about what God means when he talks about in heaven there are rewards. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:08.639 Isn't it just a reward enough to be with Jesus? 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:13.120 But he talks more and more about rewards in Scripture. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:18.160 So I said, frankly, I'm not all that sure about those either. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:29.759 And so that kind of took me to a place where I wanted to dig in scripture to find out more what these rewards are all about and what should be our attitudes towards heavenly rewards. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:36.480 So, in with that in mind, um I've titled this message Motives for a Passionate Life. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:38.240 Motives for a Passionate Life. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:45.439 And really that began with a scripture that I was trying to uh look at the scripture to encourage Greg. 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.839 And the the one that I fell on is Revelation 22.12. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.160 Uh, if we have that one up there. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:06:01.120 Um yeah, let me before we get to 1 Corinthians, Revelation 22.12. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:21.680 Uh Jesus says this Behold, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:28.319 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:42.959 Jesus says this when he's wrapping up scripture, saying, Hey, look at you guys, be sure that just as I rose from the dead, be sure the fact that I'm coming again, and my reward is with me. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:45.920 What does he mean by that? 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:52.560 Well, Paul understood from his close relationship with God that rewards were important to him. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:59.519 And throughout the New Testament, we are enlightened about heavenly rewards mainly through the teachings of the Apostle Paul. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:08.480 It was his belief that, or it was his conviction that rewards were a major source of the motivation of his life. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:14.240 That one day Jesus was coming back, and when he does, there will be a time of rewards. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.279 Paul lived for that. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:23.199 And he reminds us over and over and over again about the rewards that Jesus will be giving us. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:28.720 Scriptures like 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 24 through 27. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.680 If you have your Bibles, you can turn to that. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.160 If not, they're up on the screen there. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:44.879 He says this, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run? 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:47.360 But only one gets the prize. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.639 Run in such a way as to get the prize. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:54.639 Everyone who competes in games goes into strict training. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:00.160 They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:04.160 Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.639 I do not fight like a man beating the air. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:16.079 No, I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:24.160 Now, when you hear Paul talk about things like this, he's a guy that I wouldn't want to meet on a one-on-one game in a basketball court. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:25.839 You know, it's like, hey, I'm gonna win. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:30.560 I just he just got this intense passion about him to win. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:31.759 What is it, Paul? 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.879 Is it just your own ego that has to win? 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:39.279 And basically, we're gonna see in our study that it wasn't that at all. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:50.639 It's the fact that if Jesus called me and saved me and promised me heaven, then with the rest of my life, man, I want to give him my very best. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:55.440 Wasn't about him, it was about his God. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.360 And it wasn't about trying to earn salvation. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:03.039 I'm not trying to beat my body in the air to be able to be saved or whatever. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:10.799 Because we know that the moment that you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you pass from death to life. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:14.240 That moment, you're not working to save yourself. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:23.120 That happens by belief and by his grace given to you through your belief and faith in him. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.480 It's about love for God. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.399 And so, why is Paul so obsessed with rewards in heaven? 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:39.519 And sometimes I struggle with this because when I look at rewards on earth, much of the time they lead to pride. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.360 You know, if I invite you over to my house and I say, this is my trophy wall. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:51.200 Hey, that trophy right there is when I was in college and I was the MVP of our intramural football flag football team. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:53.200 Wow, that's a good one. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:59.120 Here's another ribbon that I was uh second place in my city spelling bee. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.159 That was a big one. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:06.879 And when we share our rewards, our awards and things like that, we're saying, look at me. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:08.320 I am somebody. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.399 Look at what I've done. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.000 And so it's all tends to be all about me. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:18.000 But Paul's saying, no, these rewards are different than that. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:21.279 Because pride, you're right, God has no place for pride. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:27.360 In Proverbs 16, 5, God says, the Lord detests all the proud of heart. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:36.799 Those who believe that they need to be able to wave their own flags all the time and say, look at me, I'm somebody, I've done something significant. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.840 It's not about that at all. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:44.559 And so Paul talks about rewards mainly. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:48.159 The bulk of his teaching comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 3. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:53.519 If you have your Bibles, grab and turn there, because that's what we'll be at the rest of this time this morning. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:11:00.720 And that basically the background of the book of Corinthians, Paul, God used Paul to found that church. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.159 And he taught there. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:09.360 And he and he and he uh raised up disciples to be able to be part of that church, but that church was stunted in their growth. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:15.519 They were an immature church, they had many, many different problems, but they were still Christ's church. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:16.399 You know that? 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.679 He didn't give up on him. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:20.480 He said, No, let's scrap this one off the face of the earth. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:22.000 Let's try again. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:25.440 No, you believed, and God never lets you go. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:29.279 Reminder that there are no perfect churches, no perfect pastors. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:34.879 And we all struggle, but we're all growing, we're committed to what Christ is doing in our life. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.679 Amen. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:45.919 So, in that same light, Paul is chapter by chapter dealing with some of the problems and the issues of their lives and saying, hey, we need to correct this. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:51.360 Chapter three, the issue was people got into people worship. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.720 You know, and sometimes people in the church can do this. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:57.840 We we try to make celebritize our leaders. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.039 Oh, look at this guy. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.080 Have you heard his tapes? 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.960 Have you read his books? 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:02.159 He's incredible. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:12.480 No, he might be used by God in a great way, but like I said before, they don't pastors don't believe they don't uh uh shouldn't be placed on altars. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:16.080 But but but they were doing that back in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:19.919 They were saying, Man, Apollos discipled me. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.360 He is such a great guy. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:25.279 We'd go out to lunch together and have fun, and oh, he's the best. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.720 Somebody else would say, Hey, look at I hung out with Paul. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.039 He is such an incredible teacher, he is way better than Apollos in this way. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.120 So they're arguing about people. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.399 And Paul's saying, no, no, no, no. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:41.440 Get your eyes not on people, but about Jesus. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:49.840 People are God's servants that he uses, but you're to put your eyes on people, on God, not on people. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:55.519 So Paul starts addressing this right in the middle of this argument in chapter 3, verses 5 through 7. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.320 What, after all, is Apollos and what is Paul? 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:03.919 Only servants through whom you come to believe, as the Lord is assigned to each his task. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:08.240 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:15.360 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:21.120 That is so cool to see Paul's humility here. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:29.519 In fact, if you want to know what the attitude of a godly spiritual leader is, you just look at verse 7. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:37.840 When he says, So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:50.320 I mean, if there's if there's some great work of God, God might have, and he did use godly leaders, but it was God's spirit that caused the growth, right? 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:56.480 So anybody who claims that for themselves, man, I would wonder about them. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:03.840 Because a truly godly servant says, Hey, I'm just a servant of God. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:08.320 I'm a tool of his to build this kingdom in such a powerful way. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.320 So that's Paul's attitude. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.600 And then we go on into verses 10 and 11. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:21.200 It says, By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.919 But each one should be careful how he builds. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:30.480 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:33.759 Stop there for a minute. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:45.039 Paul is saying, remember the church isn't about flashy preachers, it's about the foundation of the church. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:48.639 And Paul says, I laid that foundation, which is what? 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.559 Jesus Christ. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:15:00.080 In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul says, I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.879 That's the foundation of our lives. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.879 That leads to salvation. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:10.080 That's the source of your strength and your direction every day of your life. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:14.159 So Paul's saying, This is the foundation that I laid here. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:18.559 And everybody is building upon that foundation of Jesus. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:22.960 There are other religions in this world that have different kinds of foundations. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.639 Some religions have foundations of traditionalism. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:33.360 Some it's moralism, you know, keeping a standard of rights and wrongs, and that's their religion. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:36.480 So many different things that people can make as their foundation. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.440 Paul says, this is where Christianity is different. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:48.559 In our culture today, we like to be so um multicultural, which is a good thing, but sometimes multi-belief system. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.919 Oh, if that belief works for you, fine, fine. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.159 I believe this, fine, fine. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.519 Paul says, you know what? 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.480 There is one foundation for the church. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.080 It's not Jesus and moralism. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:06.159 It's not Jesus and anything else, it's Jesus alone. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.399 Basically, the points to the New Testament. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.279 The four gospels speak of Jesus' life. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.919 They explain what he did, what he came to do. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:20.720 All the letters in the New Testament interpret Jesus' life and comment on what that should mean for our life. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:24.480 The book of Revelation tells us that Jesus is coming back again. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.559 It's all about Jesus. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.519 That's the foundation of our building. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:38.320 And so if you're keeping any kind of notes, that the first point really is whether you realize it or not, you are under construction. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:44.960 A building that happens every day of your life. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:52.799 It happens through your thoughts, it happens through your actions, it happens through your uh relationships. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:17:00.480 The moment that you began a relationship with Jesus, basically you started this building process. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:04.640 And it will be completed when Christ comes back for you. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.359 Kind of a cool idea. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:13.359 That your life matters to God and everything that you do matters to Him. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:21.359 So Paul makes it very, very clear that this is the foundation that we live, we we live with. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:30.000 And the second point, if you're taking notes, is the quality of your building will be clearly revealed one day. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.039 The building that you're building makes sense. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:44.000 You know, um, several years ago when our kids hit the fourth grade, and how many of you have children have gone through the fourth grade in a California public school? 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:56.079 Yeah, you know what fourth grades, you know, if you happen to remember what you do in the fourth grade, you have a section called California Missions, all about the missions that uh that that came up here. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:04.720 And then the culminations of that mission segment is every kid has to build a model of a California mission. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:12.240 And I'm convinced after going through this twice, that 90% of kids have nothing to do with those projects. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.519 It's all the parents. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.960 It's all the parents. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:18.160 Both of our sons kind of, you know, okay, you have to build a mission. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:18.640 What do you got? 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.920 How do you want to do this? 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:28.319 Uh so thankfully, uh, they had a mother that's very creative, and so she says, let's build it out of graham crackers and frosting. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.359 And I, okay, uh, you know more than I do. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:38.319 And so she's getting this together and putting it together, and it looked kind of like a gingerbread village instead of a mission, but whatever. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:44.400 So we're bringing this over inside the school and we're hoping that it doesn't fall apart, bringing it into the classroom. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:49.759 So we set it up there, and a couple of the walls were shaky, and so we fake patched it up with more frosting. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.079 Just about the time we're setting that down. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:58.960 One of uh our son's best buddies comes in with his parents, and his dad is an architect. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:07.519 And uh and he's built this thing to scale, he's built it out of supplies that will be there long past time, my lifetime. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:10.880 You know, that thing was just like a fortress. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:16.640 And so we kind of sheepishly looked at our little mission, okay, we're done, we're out of here. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:24.960 But but you we build those buildings, and and Paul's saying this, you're building this building, and what you build with matters. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:30.720 He said, Well, I thought that it was just about knowing Jesus when you go to heaven, that's it. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.279 Well, I mean, that's the main thing, right? 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:44.640 But he's saying it's important that the rest of your life is about building this building, and it's gonna be revealed what you've built one day. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:54.480 So when Jesus, he's saying what when he comes for us one day, whether it's the second coming or whether we go to be with him sometime soon. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:20:01.920 Either way, we stand before him, he welcomes us in, and then he takes his blowtorch and basically turns it on our building. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.000 And we're going, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:07.200 This is my building, it's precious. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:16.799 And he and the fire burns up the stuff that wasn't really important anyway. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.079 We're thinking, wow, that's kind of cruel, isn't it? 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:25.839 No, because the purpose of that fire is rewards. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:32.079 He's not doing this to shame you for the stuff in your life that wasn't worth anything. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.440 He says, we're building. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:39.039 We either build with gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:44.799 And he doesn't describe exactly what those really mean in this chapter. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:49.920 But basically, wood, hay, and stubble, it's not bad stuff, it's just not permanent. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:57.440 And Paul's saying, for what Jesus did to save you demands our best. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:02.240 We're not gonna give him stuff that's built with temporal products. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:09.119 I want what's lasting in my life to be built to last for eternity. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.319 And God says, I do too. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.680 I do too. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.519 I want your building to last. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:20.400 And so build with gold, silver, and precious stones. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:26.160 Well, what does it mean to build with gold, silver, and precious stones? 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:35.440 For one thing, we know that God says in Hebrews 11, it's impossible to please me without faith. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:39.039 So, what are you doing in your life that requires faith? 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.680 Do you serve by faith? 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.119 Do you give by faith? 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:51.279 Do you share your faith with other people by faith, even though it might mean that you might be rejected from certain family members or friends? 00:21:51.519 --> 00:22:05.200 But because you love Jesus and because you love them, you're willing to say, Man, I'm willing to put my reputation on the line because I believe that you will stand before God one day to give an account of yourself before Him. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:07.839 And I want you to know Jesus. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:10.400 I want you to know Jesus. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:17.440 So, so when we build with gold, silver, and precious stones, it matters what we build with. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:20.559 First Corinthians 4 verse 5. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:27.440 If you have that scripture to be put up here, there's a hint on what God matters to God. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:44.000 It says, Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the conviction of the heart where each one will receive his commendations from the Lord. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.960 That's a huge clue. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:52.480 God looks at our hearts and motive matters. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:55.759 Why you do what you do. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:09.599 I think that many Christians kind of live their life to please God, almost like someone who has a frequent flyer member card, you know, and and if you know, those frequent flyer members is like you get one dollar for every mile flown, right? 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.039 And you add up those cards, yeah. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.400 Those points. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:14.079 And they think they do that with God. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:16.559 Well, I I attended church today, that's a point. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.160 I read my Bible today. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.000 That's it, that's two points. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:24.640 You know, I even served in the uh in the Halloween of the fall festival. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.000 That's worth a couple points. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.680 God's got to be pleased with me. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:31.039 Now, none of those things are bad to do, they're good to do. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:35.759 But the motive of the heart is most important to God. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.400 Do I do that because I'm earning points? 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:41.359 Or do I do that because I love him? 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:47.839 And he's called me to be a servant, and that's my identity, and I serve and I love people. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:51.680 And if somebody needs me, God send me. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:53.039 That's who I am. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:56.640 That's gold, silver, and precious stones. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.400 That's what that means. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:10.880 Uh something else that it could mean is is when we when we whatever, when you serve in faith, when you give in faith, when you don't know exactly if your job's gonna last for the next couple months, but you know what? 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.960 I give to God thinking, God, you deserve it. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:19.440 I'm not sure what's there, but I'm trusting that you're gonna take care of me because I'm gonna put you first. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.119 I mean, that's faith. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:23.440 And are you living by faith? 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:35.680 I think another area that we can look at, we could we could go on all day to this, but just one more example is that God calls us as believers to be holy even as he is holy, right? 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.680 And that's hard. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.599 It's so hard for every one of us. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:51.920 Not a pastor that doesn't struggle with that, not an individual that doesn't struggle with that until the day that Christ comes for us, we have that fleshly nature that hangs around and wants to be selfish. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:58.480 And every day of our life we look at Jesus so that we can be less selfish and more holy. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:05.359 But in the face of sin, but there are some Christians who say, Yeah, I know everybody sins. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:08.559 This is kind of my sin, and God, I rationalize it. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.759 God knows we all sin. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:12.960 This is my sin, and uh, he kind of winks at it. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:23.519 I think building with gold, silver, and precious stones in this area of holiness says, God, I am not okay in this area of my life because I know you know it. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:27.599 And I want to be holy, and I don't want to hold on to this any longer. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.960 I'll do whatever it takes. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.119 I will gather some godly friends around me to pray with me, hold me accountable. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.519 Yeah, if I need to, I'll go to celebrate recovery. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:44.799 I'll do whatever it is because he's called me to be more like him, and I will never be perfect, but I don't want this sin to define me anymore. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:50.319 And when you say enough, and when you're saying God, it make me holy, even as you are holy. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:55.039 I believe that's building with gold, silver, and precious stones. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:26:03.839 So the idea then, when he puts the fire on that, it makes those precious stones even more beautiful. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.599 What the fire does to that. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:11.519 He says, These are the rewards when you allowed me to work in your life. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:19.759 And we're not gonna compare rewards and say, Oh, look at it, that guy's got a whole handful or arms full, this guy's got one little handful. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:25.200 Say, no, this is what you did to trust me, and I want to reward that. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.720 Because God loves you so much. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:38.319 He wants you to say, This is what you did when you trusted me, and when it was hard, and when it was so difficult, but you hung in there and you remained faithful. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.400 That's why it's so important. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:48.559 So then, the third point then is you will be rewarded for what God has built in you. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:52.160 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 8. 00:26:54.079 --> 00:27:08.480 Uh, he says, This henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who loved his appearing. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:11.200 Paul says it's a crown of righteousness. 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:16.240 Other places he talks about the crown of victory, the crown of faithfulness. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:22.559 God says, Giving you these crowns, which are immensely costly. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:28.799 God, Jesus says, I want you to have these because of the way that you trusted me. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.000 So, what do we do then with those crowns? 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:37.359 Revelation chapter 4, verses 10 and 11. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:51.680 It talks about the 24 elders, again, which is symbolic of the church of Jesus Christ at the throne of God, who were seated at the throne, who worship Him with lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:28:03.599 Worthy are you, Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:08.880 In the end, it's not about saying, Look at my crown, look at what I did. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.960 Jesus, you're amazing. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:14.799 You chose to use me, and I didn't deserve it. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:25.279 But you chose to make something out of my life, and for that I just take the crowns you've given me and give them back to you because you're great. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:38.160 And you use a very fallible human individual like me, full of selfishness and pride, and gradually you work through me to make something beautiful out of my life. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:44.880 So, church, the idea here as we wrap this up is what are you doing to build your building today? 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:52.240 You know, what matters most to you right now is not what happened from the day you accepted Christ till now. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:58.240 What matters most is what you do now till the day that Christ comes back again. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:03.920 You have that choice to say, God, make something beautiful of my life. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:09.200 Help me to make choices, help my motives to be clear to walk with you. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:12.000 I love what a man named David Brainerd said. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:17.119 God, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.839 I don't deserve it. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:24.480 But God, I I desire to point the light to you. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.279 So help me to grow in this way. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:34.640 Last quote is William Carey, who is the father of modern-day missions, spent most of his life sharing Christ in China. 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:42.160 Before he died, he went to one of his assistants and he said, When I'm gone, speak nothing of Dr. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:44.240 Carey, speak only of Dr. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.400 Carey's Savior. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:30:02.480 And we have that privilege, church, the rest of our lives, every day, to say, God, do something in me that would Bring somebody else closer to you. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.119 You can do that, and I can't. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:07.200 So I yield myself to you. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.119 I want to be a servant like you. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.000 Let's pray.