Inheritance

Your profession is the bedrock on which use but compassion is what God's will see on the day to verify your confession.

Many of us are all about me.

Pray for me. My needs my sickness my doctors visits my bill my car.

I do believe in prayer and I do believe that we need to pray for your needs. But here's the question, what are you doing for the needs of others portion of the upcoming sermon title inheritance by Dr. Abbott on Shockley church here cleaving our goal is to make Christ visible in the we worship in the way we serve.

Love you to come worship with us here at 3485 Oxford Rd. or visit us online clearly be seen that working for now. Join us for the rest of this week's message couple weeks ago somebody from our church meet you in sheep form anybody been on a sheep farm you guys that she form. It was an incredible experience for me.

What got me was that the sheep knew their owner and it made me remember what Jesus said in John chapter 10 45 which is the sheep will by no means follow a stranger, I was a stranger that you know what I would do them so they stayed at a distance and then the owner he said want to come over here and get a little closer them and just reach out your hand.

Start petting them and I did an amazingly they kind of snuggled up in, and then one of you keep scratching their head that was that have to do with our message this morning to see Jesus is our good Shepherd, and he knows each of his. She does belong to him he knows them by name that you can pretend to be his sheep. You can hang out in the flock there is a day of judgment coming when he himself will identify who belongs to him and who doesn't. That is the day of judgment is coming on this side you can say, Lord, Lord, but on the other side. He gets to decide whether or not you are really his sheep. But here's something very important for us to remember and throughout this message the test on the other side.

Part of this parable will not be our confession. The test on the other side will be acts of compassion that we have done in his name on this side you can say I know I'm a Christian because I prayed the prayer. I'm a Christian because I asked Jesus to come into my life. Forgive me of my sins, on the other side. You can use that confession confession matters. What can the matter is, the acts of compassion that you have done in his name, and those who belong to him will inherit the blessings the treasures that's where message comes from the God has prepared before the foundation of the world, but if you don't belong to him, you are cursed into the everlasting fire this morning.

For those of you be here for the first time were in our series on the parables of Jesus, we come to the parable of the sheep and the goats and the message is called inheritance. You have your Bibles with you, turn to Matthew 25 and let's once again stand as we read God's word. Matthew 25 starting in verse 37.

It's a long passage, so bear with me, but it's very important when the Son of Man comes in his glory. Keep that title in mind when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats and he will set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left and the king will say to those on his right hand, come, you blessed of my father, inherit.

There is our title inheritance inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, but I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me and I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me and the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you are thirsty and give you drink. When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you, or when did we see you said or in prison, and come to you attention to this verse and the king will answer and say to them. Assuredly, I say to you in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me and then he turns to those who are on the left hand.

The goats listen to what he says, depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Why well, the list goes on. Again, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty, did not give me a drink stranger.

He did not take me in naked and did not clothe me sick and in prison and you did not visit me that it was alarming that we see all those things. Listen to the answer in verse 45.

Assuredly, I say doing as much as you did not do it to one of the least of this you did not do it to me and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. This morning which ones are you are you the sheep on the right hand or are you the goats will you receive an inheritance or will you go into the everlasting fire. What will be your final destiny. On the other side is not going to be about your confession confession matters. But as you compassion that authenticates your confession where you stand this morning. If you do not know Christ. What a sad reality to go through your whole life to be in charge to be baptized to have all this knowledge and then on the other side to hear depart from me.

I don't know you as you were not there for me. I will are people sitting here this morning in church all your life. We just got here, but you lost right now joining. Here's a prayer that you need to pray.

Jesus, I don't everything in the Bible, maybe I think I do, but I know one thing, the Holy Spirit just put his finger in my chest. I need to be safe and so I know the plan of salvation or some of you have never heard the plan of salvation it simple so Jesus I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, according to Scriptures, you were married, and he rose again 1/4 Scriptures and seen by men. And today I need you to come into my life be my Savior.

Forgive me of my sins and take over our falling as you help the message of the heart parable this morning. The parable of the sheep and the goats.

Is this Jesus is coming again you got. Be prepared to use what God has given to you and build his kingdom and expanded, but this time in Jesus, he is coming to judge and his judgment is not based on our confession but are compassion towards the least of these, so let's look at this parable carefully so listen again to verse 31, when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, that he was sent on the throne of his glory. In other words, Jesus is coming again but this time he is not coming to be late in the manger like a little baby. This time he is coming to sit on the throne. The judgment seat. Let's talk about the importance of judgment for a few moments repeatedly.

Old Testament refers to God as the judge, I can give you many references but just for our benefit him and give you three. The first one is Genesis 1825. This is Abraham's pleading with God for the life of his nephew Lot and listen to what he says to God, he says in verse 25. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right means his designation for God as you are the judge of all the earth is another reference Psalm 75 or seven but God is the was the word judge he puts down one and exalts another is a reference Isaiah 30 verse 18 for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him know why is judgment so important for God, you many times we talk about God's love and God's mercy and God's sovereignty and God's wisdom and power. But we don't focus as much on God's judgment. Why is judgment so important for God. Listen carefully, because God's judgment is the natural outflow of God's holiness is that why is judgment necessary judgment is necessary because of 13 letter word which is sin. Sin has brought disruption in God's world. Sin has brought disruption to the holiness of God in their. The reason for that is, you know the story you know what happened with Adam and Eve, but Santa has disrupted and judgment is straightening things out.

It has to happen you so I don't know about that both you don't understand the holiness of God.

Neither the understand the horribleness of sin. Of course he has done that judgment on the cross where he has judge sin. And when you and I receive Jesus as our Savior. What were saying is I can pay the penalty for my sins but Jesus held the penalty of my sin on the cross he is done it and has satisfied the wrath of God. You know when this holiness is disrupted. What comes this wrath is anger over sin. Sin has to be parched.

Sin has to be punished, but you and I can take it so he did it on his own son and hands judgment. But don't forget, there is still judgment coming based on what we did with Jesus Christ and what we did with his word. There is a connection between holiness and judgment. Let me give a couple references very quickly. Isaiah 516, but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in was the word judgment. God's will be exalted and judgment to keep that word in my judgment and God, who is holy, you see the connection between the holiness and the judgment of God. This is Psalm 50 verse one, the mighty one God, the Lord has spoken and call the earth from the rising of the sun was going down out of society and the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth perfection. Another name for holiness. The perfection of beauty, God will shine forth our God shall come in shall not keep silent. Our God shall come first time he came it was to take the judgment of sin upon himself. Second time is coming is to judge us what you do with what I did for God shall come in shall not keep silent. A fire shall devour before him in shall be very tempestuous all around him, he shall call to the heavens from above and to the ER that we may email what charge is people judges people gather my things together to meet those who have made a covenant with my with me by sacrifice, that the heavens declare his righteousness for God himself is judge is because God is holy God is also judge most if we don't believe that. Go home. Why be here right but it all goes back to the holiness of this is a problem for you. Of course you believe this, but was unique in this parable. This is where it becomes back to the parable. What is unique in this parable is not just that God is the judge but now Jesus is given the role of the judge. Listen again to verse 31, when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory is not just God when he comes, but is the Son of Man.

The same thing is found again a chapter later. Matthew 26 verse 64. Listen to this. Jesus is talking back to the high priest, and he says to him, it is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the was the title Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. Designation Son of Man. Many of you study the Bible is coming from Daniel is a fulfillment of a prophecy that he is coming, the one who was prophesied who was promised is coming Son of Man. You may think it just means Jesus was also humanoid means that Jesus was God, and who gave him this authority well listen to John chapter 5 in verse 4026 is on the screen. Listen to this. Whereas the father who is who we talk about the father bliss. In verse 27, has given him authority to execute judgment. Also because he is the Son of Man. He is the only one authorized and has earned the right to set in the judgment seat before us because of the judgment day. None of us can say yeah you can judge us. Then again, your God, you understand what we've been through.

You understand what Jesus does a stop right there. I know what you go through because I became man, I became fully man. I walked in your shoes have heard people say that you don't know what what it's like to be me.

Unless you walk in my should use a date. I walked in your shoes. He has earned the right to be our judge first time he came to give his life but this time he is coming to judge and what will this judgment be about. Listen to verse 32 all the nations will be gathered before him. The Old Testament does talk about a judgment of the nations. A judgment of the nations listen to Joe chapter 3 verse two says I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them on account of my people, my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations have also divided up my land means. This judgment is coming because of how people and nations have treated God's people through history. There is a judgment coming close. I don't understand everything there is to understand about prophecy and eschatology, but I know this much. There will be this judgment based on how nations and peoples and even civilizations have treated the people of Israel. That's why you always hear me say be careful, especially about our day in which we live by anti-Semitism. Be careful get back to the parable in the midst of this judgment of the nations. There will also be a judgment of compassion. The sheep are put on the right side and the goats are put on the left side. By the way, this does not mean the sheep are better than goats. Okay, but what is a positive judgment towards the sheep again like we read verse 34 it says you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world to get the inheritance on what basis. As we read. I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty, you gave me drink, I was stranger you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me was in prison and you came to me and their question is why I never do these things to you the listen to his response in verse 40. Assuredly, I say to you as much as you did it to one of the witnesses, least of these my brethren are my brothers go back to the beginning of this sermon on the Mount of olives, he is talking to his disciples. He's telling them how things will be at the end of the age when he returns. But if you picture in your mind what it look like Jesus was always surrounded by a multitude houses followed him and who are the multitude the sheep without a shepherd. Who are the multitude the hungry, the person see the poor, the destitute dust sank waiting for a miracle.

Please do a miracle for us. He lists so when Jesus is saying here. Listen again to the first verse 40. Assuredly, I say to you in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren who is he talking about his talk about the poor are the less fortunate who are around Jesus and throughout history when you're meeting their needs your meeting my needs. But now, how about the goats on the other side. I hope we just read that passage, verse 41 people say to them what depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Did you know that God did not prepare health for you. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. When you reject Christ when you reject the gospel you're going to the same place where the injunctive angelic beings who disobeyed God are set in their responses. When did we not do these things. What is essay very simple. When you refuse to help those who are hungry when you refuse to help those who are thirsty when you refuse to help the stranger when he refused to help the naked or the sake of those in prison. In the process, you can help Christ and what will be the reward.

Listen to this. These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Few weeks back, we did the I am the neighbor project.

The project involved. These tiny crosses and her family or per family unit may be a single person that's your family.

You may be a couple you live your family with many kids, but each family got a cross with $100 bills. You know that Sunday that we can begin with $25,000. Based on this means you use your money, your resources to help those in need. I don't know why it is, but God keeps bringing that same truth back in this morning that truth comes in a way that you cannot reject you cannot deny because on the day of judgment is not our confession. We are descendents of the Reformation right the confession of faith. I'm saved by grace through faith, justification by faith on that side. That's not what Jesus is looking for because many will come and see what Lord, Lord, what is it based on the acts of compassion and we gave you those hundred dollar bills to go help people in need simply to prime the pump so you will start doing those things.

On the day of judgment. God can say yes when you give that money over there that homeless man or you help the family that have been through a fire or you help that couple that was having a tough time or you help someone pay their bills, that in the process you were helping me welcome to the inheritance and when you have said no. Many of us are such that we think were CIA agents. We know how to figure people out on know what he is up do not know what he is. He is going to do with that money. When we become that you listen carefully, because on the other side. The question is, when did we not splendidly see you and didn't do it when you didn't do to the least of these my brothers you can do it for me to ask you this morning. Will your acts of compassion that you've done the things you've done for others. Are they enough for you to enter into heaven sometime back I was preaching at a charge towards the Outer Banks, actually three years ago and the Carruthers County seat Methodist Church.

A lot of people came.

I said you know I need to leave. I want to have something to do Thursday morning.

I need to go it in the past are good for monies that look, there's a big snowstorm coming. There's no way to make one. I got ago. I think I can get out. But guess what all these people, hundreds of them are there talking to me, shaking hands with me and one of the families that can be taken out for a cup of coffee before you leave the keep in mind the girls had already left Nicole and the two girls had already went back that afternoon so I had the two boys with me as this will get a cup coffee and got some donuts and whatnot, as is all said this, if you look it doesn't look good were watching the weather channel does not look good may want to stay is not in a work so I left and 10 minutes down the road realize what a big mistake. I could not even see from here to that queue arming the snow was coming down and then I had to get on this narrow bristly on the world talking about this narrow bridge, and the sides are no higher than this something that I repair that bridge and build up the sides. Finally I get off the bridge but the snow is worse now. If you been that side toward the Outer Banks or swamp on both sides and I cannot see the lot.

I don't know. This is the road I'm about to go into the small okay. I mean that they have bears and they have snakes and alligators swamp over there you go on like this great older hibernating there wake up for us. You know fresh fresh food so I'm thinking this is so bad so that I'm driving coming miles and miles of nothing and then I see a light I see a line on the there's a home there so so I hold in their making sure I don't go off the side door get into a drain so I get up there knock on the door. God comes to look. So I just need to park here. I can even see where I'm going us out. When you worry about me.

I would just below are tolerable.

My boys are here with me dear really young and I just just cannot just park yelling come to your house will need to use a thing stay here until morning that will drive off to figure out what to do it when he said to me know that you keep on going to think about it for a moment that man on the street that person that you knew needed help and he walked away could be that you said no to Christ. I made this up, this is not me. The big question is does on this controverted the doctrine of justification by faith. This is the old Paul versus James debate but listen to what Paul says in Galatians 513 near the defense of the gospel going adulterated.

Even if an angel comes don't mess with it. Listen to what Paul says because we missed this for you, brethren have been called to liberty only. Do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love.

Don't use this as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another for all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this you shall what love your neighbor you select what Ephesians doesn't it say in Ephesians chapter 2 verse eight for by grace you have been saved through faith in the not of yourselves as a gift of God not of works is not what you done for people in a matter lest anyone should boast world the very next versus what, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The good works. Post your confession is the bedrock on which you stand, but compassion is what God's will or see on that day to verify your confession doesn't say pastor in Romans chapter 8 and verse one there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. My suggestion is keep reading who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit folks this morning there people sitting here this today who will hear on that day, depart from me, because when you saw people in need you to do anything. I'm really blessed to be pastor of this church because you know in this church were doing a lot for the community, especially the inner-city communities, especially the underprivileged were doing a lot of work fixing homes where providing homes of people where were giving people things like dentures. I can imagine living your whole life.

You can even shoot well were providing those kind of things for people that bear care ministry jackets for children jackets for adults near the line of the witch and the wardrobe.

CS Lewis display. This can be on the eighth.

I hope all of you will be here for that of the phenomenal but we have a fill the wardrobe ministry there so bring your gently used and I would prefer you jackets if you can give it to people who are in need to try to go to ask our soup kitchen.

Find ways to get people nice Jack finding ways because in the process we are serving Christ. Thank you so much for listening this message are you among the sheep and goats on that day will God see what you've done for others, or will he say depart into everlasting fire. For more information and for the Sims notes check out Dr. Shah's blog@outonshop.com and find out more about Clearview visit our website@clearbbc.org. We would love for you to join us this Christmas season for Christmas play. The lion the witch and the wardrobe on December 8 at seven or for Christmas concert gift on December 14 and 15th at seven. We hope to see their