WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.719 Welcome to this week's message from the church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.800 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.359 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.760 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:29.679 You know, I can't help but every time I watch football and I watch it every Saturday, I love football, love sports, and I see all those thousands of people. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:37.920 By the way, in in Michigan, there was 102,000 in the rain for hours watching a football game. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:42.640 So coming to church in a building when it rained outside is not too bad, is it? 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.119 I mean, let's just kind of get our priorities in order here. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:56.880 But uh I can't, I can't understand why we can't get more excited than what we do about Jesus. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:10.319 An eternal, I'm talking about an eternal being that one day we're gonna spend eternity together with millions of people, your loved ones, your friends. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.920 And it's never gonna end. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.280 Have you ever thought about that? 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.719 That football game ends within three hours. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:25.519 And you three hour three hours, hey, hey, three years after that football game last night, most of the time you don't even know who won. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:27.920 That's the truth. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:29.840 Unless you're a fanatic. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:40.959 And uh so I I've said that because today, when we look at the beam of judgment seat, it's gonna be eye-opening. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.680 Because what people don't realize, I have this said to me all the time. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.280 By the way, if you do not have a worship God, raise your hand. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:59.840 I'll be sure you get one because I want to make sure you have the notes, because you'll go home and restudy this, and everybody loves the book of Revelations. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.799 It's it's it's I say everybody, not everybody. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.359 A lot of people are frightened to death of it. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:08.080 And they don't study it, they don't preach it. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:16.400 Most of the time, I think a lot of it has to do, they don't uh, they can't understand it humanly speaking. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:21.840 They can't grip uh transitionally how all this works. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.159 So they just say, well, I'm just not gonna deal with it. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:27.439 And then here's the other thing. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:31.439 They they say, well, I'm just I'm just glad I'm gonna be there. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.560 Especially when it gets to the works. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.879 I'm just glad I'm gonna be there. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:42.479 Well, after today, you may be glad, and I'm glad you're gonna be there too. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:50.560 But I want you to know, most people don't preach very strongly at all about the works and the beam of judgment seat. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:54.560 But I've got news for you. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:01.360 I really believe with all my heart that's gonna be a very trying time for all of us. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:21.360 Not just a trying time because he tries our works, but but, hey, it's gonna be a shameful time when we really see the opportunities that we neglected and the things that we, hey, God had opened the doors in Revelation 3:8 for us to do and to accomplish, and we didn't do it. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.719 I think it's gonna be a time of maybe even tears. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.759 And then somebody said, Oh, but there'll be no tears in heaven. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:32.080 That's correct, the new heaven. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.520 Didn't say anything about the beam of judgment seat. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:40.960 And by the way, that verse is Revelation 21, verse 4, at the end of the millennium. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.240 So today's gonna be. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:51.520 If you've ever heard any preaching on the beam of judgment seat, uh most people haven't. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:55.360 But today we're gonna look at it and the title of the message. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:56.719 I'm in heaven now. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:57.680 What? 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.159 What happens next? 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:01.759 Well, chapter 4. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.719 We got through verse 1 last week. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:07.840 And boy, was that not exciting. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.919 We saw that in verse 1, John was caught up. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:25.519 After this, I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard was as it was a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither, and I will show you these things which must be here after. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.120 And we took that whole verse apart last week. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:36.079 But literally, I think this is a foreshadowing of the rapture, the way he was taken up, presented into heaven. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:40.000 And then verse 2 says, And immediately I was in the spirit. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:47.120 In other words, he was in a spiritual domain, a spiritual transformation at that time. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:53.120 A very spiritual transformation that we will experience at the rapture of the church. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:59.759 I believe he had that at this moment because he's literally a standing in heaven. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:01.519 Wow. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:02.879 Now, you know what? 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.199 I kind of thought about John. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:08.639 I don't, you know the hardest thing about poor John? 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:22.399 He's in heaven, he sees all this glory, he sees God sitting on the throne, he sees Jesus standing right next to him on the throne, he sees all the glory of God and who Jesus is and who God is. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.319 I meant the purity, the stones, everything, the glory. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.000 And then he's got to come back. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:32.160 What a bummer. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.600 He's got to come back. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:45.519 But he had to come back to finish writing, to share with the church, hey, hey, the church age of today, what's gonna happen? 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:53.040 Hey, after the church and the Holy Spirit's taken out of the world, all hell's gonna break loose. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:59.199 And we'll start that next Sunday as we look at the horses. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.519 That'll start next week. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:02.639 But what happens? 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.399 I'm in heaven! The rapture's taking place, and what happens? 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:12.560 There's a transformation of a spiritual, we take on a spiritual being, body. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:22.319 And notice verse 3, and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and sardin' stone, a ruby, and there, and the jasper was like a diamond. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:23.759 We talked about that. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.720 Uh uh a rainbow around the throne. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:39.759 We know what a rainbow literally means that it's not gonna rain, or really what it means is it's gonna be a peacefulness, there's gonna be a calmness, there's gonna be a completeness, and that's what that means. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.240 And then around about them was 24. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:46.639 I love it. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:53.920 Four and twenty seats, twenty-four seats, and upon the seat I saw four twenty elders sitting clothes in white raiment. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:59.279 The elders representing all of us that know Christ, the whole church age. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:00.560 I really believe that. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:04.000 And they had on their heads crowns of gold. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:15.759 And out of that throne proceeded lightnings and thundering and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire and burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:17.360 There was lightning and room. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.279 I mean, it's just unbelievable. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:27.920 And I really believe some of this is when you look at the eyes and the fires of God, we know that it stands for judgment and penetrating power. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:36.959 And you're gonna see this penetrating power taking place at the beam of judgment seat as we stand before Him and our works are judged. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:38.959 What a day that's gonna be. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:42.000 It's gonna be it's gonna be a trying time. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:08:02.160 And then he gets in verse 6, and before the throne there was a sea of glass, beautiful like crystal, and in the midst of the throne, around about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind, and the first beast was like a lion, and each of them represent who uh the Lord was, the lamb was, the lion was. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:06.399 It just represents the power and majesticness of God. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:11.680 And the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:16.160 They all represent four four different uh categories. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:20.800 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and all of that. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:34.559 And then the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and the rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, here we see Isaiah 6, the cherubim's Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:09:00.559 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, and the forty and twenty elders fell down before him, sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:04.320 Wow! What an event. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:15.919 The first thing I see here is the events that are clearly defined in number one, the open door into heaven. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:19.840 And how could anybody really describe God? 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:39.200 But we see he tried, but with the stones, by the way, those those two stones, the diamond and the ruby, the jasper and and the ruby, uh really describes God's glory in a more perfect than the hey, God's glory is more perfect than any gem uh or Tiffany displays. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.320 I guarantee you. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:45.759 But it stood for God's justice, God's mercy, God's purity, and God's love. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:48.320 And we see all this. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.000 Now, let me tell you, God, this he's we're describing God. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:56.000 Now, chapter 5, verse 6, we see where Jesus is. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:03.519 And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, watch this. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:21.039 And of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, as it had been, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.960 So now look right here. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:30.960 We have not only God sitting on the throne, but we have Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing right by on the throne of God. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:39.039 So you've got Jesus and God right there on the throne, and Jesus having his throne as well, standing there. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.120 Wow. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.879 That's what he sees. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:46.159 And then he saw a lot of other stuff. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:55.200 The 24 elders and our personal, which are our personal representatives of us and the church, and they're dressed in white and they have crowns upon their heads. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.720 They're the leaders. 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.360 But I want you to understand something. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:19.360 The Bible says these crowns is the jumping off part of that whole chapter, and I read through it so you could just see this magnify for you to kind of catch this picture, this magnificent throne that elevated, and you got God the Father sitting there on the throne, and you got Jesus standing there. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:29.120 And this is where I believe once we are raptured out, is what we call the Bhima judgment seat of God. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.080 Now, you said, but I've never seen the word Bima. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:33.200 I understand that. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:40.480 Now, uh, Jason, is do I have 2 Corinthians 5, 10 there? 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:42.480 Because I want, yeah, I thought I did. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.360 All right. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.279 Listen to what it says. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:56.720 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body according to what he has done. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:14.320 Now, what you've got to realize right here is that the word judgment seat of Christ represents an elevated platform like this, where a judge would sit. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:16.159 The judgment seat. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:29.200 A judgment seat was where, one, for example, Pontius Pilate, twice in the Gospels, he was on an elevated throne himself, what, bestowing judgment. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:39.279 In fact, if you remember, he bestowed the crucifixion upon Christ that day when he said he had washed his hands, and he even asked him, Who would you whom do you choose? 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:45.120 Will you choose Barabbas or you will choose the Galilean, and they chose Barabbas? 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:50.879 But he was sitting on an elevated throne making judgment. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:53.919 That's what judgment seats represented. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:13:06.639 Another thing a judgment seat represented, and you see it throughout the Pauline epistles with Paul, is that it was an elevated judgment platform for athletic events. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:18.399 In other words, the chief referee, the final judge that would announce who had won the race, first, second, gold, silver, and bronze. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:21.519 That he would sit there so that he could see everything. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.759 Nothing could be hidden from him. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:33.840 He could, hey, you couldn't cheat, you couldn't get away with anything, you couldn't cross over a line or touch a line, you had to stay in your, hey, your what? 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:38.240 Lane or your position in that race. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:42.399 Whether it was a running race, horse race, whatever. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:48.879 So you had a raised platform that was used for what? 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.320 Issuing crowns. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:14:02.000 Now back then they called them Reefs, and the Reese would perish, and that's why Paul uses uh incorruptible crowns compared to corruptible. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:11.200 They would fade away for the winners, the gold medals that we have today, the silver medals, eventually they too will pass away. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:21.679 But so we see that now God and Jesus are sitting on this throne ready to judge those that have what? 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.960 Been raptured out. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.320 He's ready to judge, here's a better way of saying it. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:32.799 He's ready to judge the church for their works, not their salvation. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.399 And we'll see that. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.919 So here's the setting. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:37.759 I really believe with all my heart. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.879 They're there. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:48.159 And as I said, and I want you to put this there, the 24 elders are our representation, Revelation 4, 4. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:58.240 In other words, it's it's it's looking at there as we are standing there in the throne room of God, ready to see the church to be judged. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:03.039 And the judgment seat, really, the crowns, is what I want us to look at this morning. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.639 There's five of them. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:10.320 The judgment seat will be a time of truth for each of us. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:18.159 It'll be a time that we have to and we will give an account of all that we've done. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.759 There's five different crowns. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.000 In fact, 2 Corinthians 5.10. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:26.399 Now, Jason, take me to Romans 14, 10 and 11. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.240 I think it's on there. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.759 And here's what it says. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.799 Is it up there? 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.320 It's very important. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:36.000 If not, I'll just flip over. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.519 Romans. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.759 Got it? 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.799 Watch. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:51.840 For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:59.840 Then, hey, we see, then each of us shall give an account of himself to God. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.559 This is this beam of judgment seat. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.879 God's on the beam of judgment seat. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.200 We are about to be judged. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:09.840 And then there's one other verse I wanted to read. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:12.720 1 Corinthians chapter 3, I think, is next. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.600 And we'll look at that more in a moment in detail. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.879 But notice what it says. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:22.080 Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:25.120 In other words, you and I, the church is building. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:36.399 The church is at work, and we're either building a church with gold, silver, and precious stones, or we're building it with wood, hay, and straw. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:41.759 And if you're building it with wood, hay, and straw, the church will be no more. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:46.879 And we saw those as we went through the seven churches of Asia Minor. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:54.080 So here we see that we're fixing to be judged about our works, our foundation. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.159 What did we build our lives on? 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:01.519 Did we build our lives with gold and did we silver and precious stones? 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:04.319 Or did we build our lives with wood, hay, and straw? 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.039 Our works. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.440 And when we're talking about that, our works. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:13.839 So with that said, there are five different crowns that are available as rewards for the believer. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:19.119 Number one, the crowned of incorruption. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.119 The crowned of incorruption. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.519 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.279 And this is given to those who live a disciplined life. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:35.279 Competing in the game of life means that winners do not run, hey, like a man with no purpose, with no goal. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.559 I want you to see this. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:42.720 Paul is talking about this race in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and what a race it is. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.079 Look at what he says. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.359 Unbelievable. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:57.279 And he says this know ye not, verse 24, know ye not, they which run in a race, run all, but one receives the prize. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:59.119 So run that ye may obtain. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:06.240 He enters the race, hey, to run, but also to win, to secure, say, to secure the prize. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.200 What prize? 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.880 Hey, that crowned. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.240 That crowned. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.920 And notice what he says. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:16.480 And every man that strives, that means, hey, does not give up. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.960 He keeps running the race. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:22.880 He doesn't allow anything to sidetrack him. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:28.240 For the mastery is temperate, self-control, self-restraint, and all things. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.440 In all things. 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:34.319 Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:42.960 There's what I was talking about, the reefs or the gold medals that we, you know, when you see the Olympic Games and when you see all this, those are going to fade away. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.480 But he's saying, we're not doing that. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.680 That's not our purpose. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:53.599 We are running the race of life for Jesus Christ so that our crowns will be able to be eternal. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:58.720 And not only will we obtain them, we will cast them at Jesus' feet. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.680 Wow. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:02.160 What a picture. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.000 What a picture. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:06.400 And therefore run not as uncertainly. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.160 You know what uncertainly means? 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.519 Let me give it to you. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.079 It means you've got a purpose you've got to go. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:18.720 It doesn't mean that you're just walking around saying, well, I'm a Christian today and I'll do what I want to do, I'll do my own thing. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:29.119 No, you got a purpose in your own life as a disciple of Christ, as an ambassador of Christ, to live with testimony that exalts Christ in everything that you do. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:36.480 I'm not just, you know, well, today let me just open my Bible, whatever God tells me to do, I'm gonna do it. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:42.319 Now that's a good, that's a good notion, I would say, but you've got a plan. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.160 You've got a daily Bible plan. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.960 You're going through the Word of God, you're going through a proverb a day, you're going through the Bible, you've got a plan. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.119 You're in a Sunday school that's teaching the word. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:55.200 You're listening to your pastor, taking notes, and God's speaking directly to you. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:57.839 You're asking God, God's opened the door for you. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.000 How can I accomplish what you've done? 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.599 Hey, what you've called me to do, and how can I do it to the best of my ability? 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.279 You've got a goal. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:08.160 You just don't come to church when you want to. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.119 That's what he means there. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:14.960 I'm set on a course, and I'm gonna do it. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.920 That is the crown of incorruption. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:22.960 He's not a man running aimlessly, but has a purpose and goal in life. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:31.599 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall run and faint not. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.440 You don't give up, you've got a goal. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:37.759 Let me ask you, do you really have a goal this morning in your Christian life? 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.240 Do you really? 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.160 What is it? 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.880 If you don't have a goal, right now, if you can't think of a goal, you're running aimlessly. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.720 You're you're fighting like this. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:57.039 You're not you're not down and ready, and you know you gotta hit who you gotta hit and how hard you gotta hit him and when you gotta hit him. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:01.359 You're just standing there swinging like this. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.480 That's what it means. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.160 Notice second crown. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.240 The crown of life. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.920 James chapter 1, verse 12. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.759 Powerful. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.559 Powerful. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.720 And what does it say? 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.519 Look at it. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.440 James 1, 12. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.960 Blessed is the man who endures temptation. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:33.839 For when he has been approved, that means when he's been tested, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.480 Wow, what is this? 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:43.519 It's given to those who, hey, with patience endures the trials of life. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:46.000 Most of us have a trial every day. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.519 Can I get an amen? 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.039 You really do. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:53.440 Your first trial is to decide whether or not you're gonna get up and go to work. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:57.839 This morning we had a lot of people have a lot of trials. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.839 Do I get up and go to church? 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.200 Church or do with the weather men said, Stay home, I'm staying home. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:10.400 And that was a good gesture, and I'm not, but I'm just giving that as a good example. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.920 You have a choice. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.279 You have to choose. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:29.920 And but in the context, he's saying that it doesn't matter what happens, the goal that you've set, that incorrupt, hey, that that goal, that purpose right here that you've set, that crown of incorruption, nothing's gonna keep you from reaching that goal. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.759 And you're gonna be patient about it. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.960 You're gonna endure. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.559 You don't care how long it takes. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.640 Hey, and by the way, let me just say something. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:40.559 Christian life is not a hundred-yard dash, it's a marathon race. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.680 Can I get an amen? 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:51.119 In fact, I've seen a lot of people, hey, almost burn out real quick in a hundred-yard dash. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.359 So that's what he's talking about here. 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.519 We're patiently enduring. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.839 Um, the ministry that God's, hey, we've received from God. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:03.200 We don't faint, we don't give up, 2 Corinthians 4 1. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.640 We endure. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:06.720 God, let me help you right here. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.359 Every one of you, are you ready for this? 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:13.599 Every one of you this morning have a ministry. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:16.640 I don't know what it is for you, but you will. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.279 You will. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.119 God, you say, well, I don't know yet. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:25.440 Well, if you stay faithful and if you stay pressing toward the mark, God will open the door for your ministry. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.559 You will know. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.799 And you don't go to a Ouija board to find out. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.519 Hello. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:36.000 You go to the Word of God to find out what your purpose is. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:40.079 You stay in the book, He'll show you every step of the way. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.839 Then crown number three. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:44.400 Crowned of life, you endure temptation. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:57.119 There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man, but God is faithful and just, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you're able, but that with that temptation and trial make a way to escape. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.960 1 Corinthians 10 13. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.599 Amen? 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.039 You can do it. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:09.279 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust until the ungodly until the day of judgment. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.720 1 Peter 2.9. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.440 So we see we've got the crowns of incorruption. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:20.079 I meant we're talking about a disciplined person, a person that's disciplined. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:29.920 When Paul said, I beat my body and bring it under subjection, what he was saying, whatever it takes, I'm gonna be disciplined enough to fulfill God's calling in my life. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:32.000 Nothing else matters. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.000 Nothing else matters. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:40.559 And then, hey, once you make that decision, all hell's gonna come against you to keep you from doing it. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:44.000 And that's where the second crown, the crown of life, comes in. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:52.720 When you and I endure, hey, and we stay disciplined and we stay focused on what God's called us to do, then we're gonna receive the crown of life. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.720 Wow, that's good. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:03.119 But if we're sidetracked, we're taking off our path every time, then we're gonna lose that crown. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.519 We're gonna lose it. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:08.559 Hey, and I really believe this. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.680 Now, this is my belief, uh, but but it fits. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:19.359 You start out, you're running, you you get the crown, you're taking off, but then you then you get sidetracked. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.799 Then you lose it. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:29.119 Now you can get back on track, gain it, get it back, then lose it. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.799 But all I'm saying is you say, Well, I've done that a lot of times. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.480 We all have, have we not? 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.680 Come on, come on. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:41.119 You make a New Year's resolution January the 1st, and by the 1st of February, you're in and out. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:45.759 You're gonna lose 15 pounds this year. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:48.640 By the end of February, you've gained 15. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.119 Hello. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.480 Amen. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.640 But I made a resolution. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:59.440 The only problem was you forgot to beat the body. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.960 Amen. 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:08.559 But really, so, and then, and I think here's where it's gonna be tough at the beam of judgment seat. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:11.680 You and I, and that's where I think the tears will come. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:18.640 We're gonna see all those opportunities that we did that and we failed, and it's gonna break our hearts. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:26.079 It's gonna break our hearts that we didn't fulfill what God told us to do. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.680 It's gonna break our hearts. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.200 I really believe that. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.839 And then thirdly, there's the crown of rejoicing. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:38.799 It's given to those who joyfully express their faith and the joy of leading a person to Christ. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:50.480 And not that you have to lead someone, and a lot of people think this crown of rejoicing is for people that take the word of God, take them through the Romans road, and lead someone to Christ. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:52.160 Listen to what it says. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.839 This is awesome. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:59.519 Or what is our hope or joy or crowned of rejoicing? 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.079 Oh, it is not even you. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:08.480 Hey, is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ that is coming? 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:13.359 Hey, you, verse 20 says, for you are our glory and joy. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:23.759 In other words, he's talking about the people that God allowed you to witness to, whether it was sharing the gospel, whether it was living it in front of them, but you shared it both. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.839 And by the way, I think you have to do both. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:30.960 I don't think you can just say, Well, I don't, I'm not gonna share the gospel, I'm just gonna live the gospel. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.839 That's great. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:35.039 But you still, the Bible says, say, hey, speak up. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:39.119 If any man, hey, hey, he says, speak up in 1 Peter 4.11. 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:42.079 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:45.680 He says, hey, he says, speak it out, cast forth. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.759 Have you not received, hey, the what? 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:52.319 You've received power after the Holy Spirit's coming upon you to be witnesses for me in Jerusalem. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.880 All you did is Samar to the other most parts of the world. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:57.200 Acts 1.8, you are to share. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.319 Acts 4.20. 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:01.920 I can't help but speak the things that I've seen and heard. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:16.000 That's when you and I get to heaven, we're gonna be able to see the people that God, through your witness, came to know him. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.079 Wow. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:25.839 Deedra, all the people on those missions trips you've done, all those years, they're gonna be lined up. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:30.000 You and you'll see the faces next next Sunday is gonna be our mission Sunday. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.799 Don't miss it. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.400 It's gonna be fabulous. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:39.279 In fact, we got a little uh minute thing we're gonna show you here right after I get through. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:41.440 But next, you you just wait. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.480 You can't miss. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:47.839 I want you to see what our church, our people, do when they go on these short-term mission trips. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:50.400 And it's gonna so encourage you to go. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.839 It really will. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.960 It's phenomenal. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.079 It'll change your life. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:57.359 Every time I've gone, it's changed my life in an area of my life. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:59.039 Let me tell you what it will teach you. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:07.119 You'll come back to this America, and you won't have, if you're a Christian, you won't have any problem pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.279 That I guarantee you. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:15.599 When you see how they're treated, you'll thank God for America. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:22.480 But here's, hey, what we're seeing here, all the people, can you imagine? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:24.720 Everywhere I go, I always ask them. 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:29.359 Whether I'm a waitress, waiter, I always get them to look at my bracelet. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.480 Jesus is awesome. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.599 And usually, most of the time, I preach the word awesome to them. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.480 He's all sufficient, he's a word, he's eternal. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:40.720 And it's amazing the reaction that you get. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.559 But you share the gospel. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.319 You share it wherever you go. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.400 Leave them a little life and death track. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.400 You don't have to say anything. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:53.440 Leave a tilt with the life and death track, but leave a good tilt. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:56.640 Don't leave 50 cents and put the card down. 00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:00.079 Don't do that, please. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:05.440 Those old cheap Christians, please give us, give us a chance. 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:11.680 Then number four, the crown of glory. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:19.279 I I discussed this a little bit a couple of about three or four weeks ago, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:21.920 But this is a crown for faithful ministers. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:24.720 Faithful ministers that minister the word. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:27.200