The Judgement Seat of Christ

God's benefits with Dr. Tony Evans is for Christians. Judgment isn't about salvation compensation six things done well it will burn up things you can celebrating 40 years of faithfulness. This is the alternative Dr. Tony Abbott, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the alternative when we became Christian. Jesus saved us from hell. That doesn't mean we won't find ourselves standing before the judgment seat of Christ today. Dr. Evans will tell us what to expect when that happens, and what we can do about it.

Today let's join him for our children to go to college for them to get a higher education in light of the high cost and expense of college and beyond. It is the concern of most parents that their money not be wasted.

You probably have told her I didn't college the party because get pregnant. I continue to college to get on drugs. I didn't see the column sign out with the wrong people.

That's not why I sent you there to learn. I sent you there to study.

I sent you there to maximize this opportunity for the reward that a possible education to bring, so it is probably more than one parent that's been ticked all that your kid is wasting your money because the price is too high for them to be playing around with the gift of the education you will suffer pain what God wants you to know that he picked up a hot For your salvation.

It was okay comes at a mighty high price. The price of the second member of the Trinity, giving his life on the cross for our sins to give us the free gift of eternal life… Price for God wants you to know today that have been given you that higher gift. He didn't give it to you for you to leave them out, exclude him live independently of him, reject him, or simply go to church just like you don't pay for student just go to class even think you just come the church that in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ he have left you here. From the time of your salvation to the time of your death or the rapture, whichever comes first for you to live a life that brings him glory and advances his kingdom because that is the main reason he has left you here. There is coming a day when he is going to have a private and personal conversation with you about the life you live between the time of your salvation, and the time of your death or rapture, whichever comes first, and that event is called the judgment seat of Christ is called the judgment seat of Christ, because we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The Greek word there is the word beam the word beam is a platform that still exist override outside of Karen over in the Middle East. We had the privilege of seeing that platform. It still exist when they did archaeological work and they came across the bebop or the judgment seat. You see, Karen was heavy and the sport. That's why Paul uses so much athletic analogies because the environment he was in was heavy in the sports and they would have games called the Isthmian games you and I will call the Olympics where people would compete for prizes for awards they would compete and that would be the honored citizens seated at this range platform, known as the bebop this judgment seat was where awards were handed out to winners, so whoever won the gold of the silver or the bronze to use our terminology would be publicly recognized for their performance on that that particular event and they would come up to the bebop to receive their reward. That would be judges on the field to judge the activity being competed on. These judges were designed to make sure that when you competed you competed consistent with the rules we have seen athletes stripped of their medals because while they look like they one. They were found to have not run according to the God is big on rewards.

First Peter 117 says that God will reward your work. God is looking at the life we live between salvation and death rapture to determine the benefits we receive this in more detail in first Corinthians chapter 3. Notice what he says beginning in verse 10, according to the grace of God which was given to me like a wise master builder I laid the foundation, and another is building on it. Each man must be careful how he builds on for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build on the foundation with gold, silver and precious stones would hay and straw each man's work will become evident for the day will show it because it will be revealed with five and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned out. People suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire or evidence. Translation by the skin of his teeth he says is only one foundation Jesus Christ but you decide the kind of building you put on the foundation meeting the kind of life you live this building your life. God will look at whether you use this indestructible material, gold, silver, precious stone, indestructible wood hay and stubble and will be tested by five so the holiness of God's eyes are going to look at them like you live to determine whether it was quality or whether it was cheap. That is, you did not value music when you put fire against gold silver and precious to you because it can withstand the heat if you put fire against wood hay and stubble is gone, burned up because it's cheap stuff.

God is saying.

I gave you an expensive foundation Jesus Christ. I don't expect you to live a cheap life based on that foundation that will burn up in my eyes treated with the fire of holiness when he examines us he's going to look at quality of every man's work that anybody work for you will cut corners that work for you and they used sheet material you were not happy why you didn't pay for cheap you pay for quality.

God saved you with quality redeemed you and me with quality and he doesn't want a cheap life being live on top of an expensive foundation because it cost too much. He says that he's going to examine what is he going to examine Scripture says he got examine we just saw your beads.

He's got examine your desires. He's got examine Matthew 12 the words that you said and he got examine the dependability that he had your faithfulness prescriptions for tuition, the steward to be found faithful. So you deed your declarations or desires and your dependability. He's going to look at the quality. So how does this work okay little scary right here because your whole life is on tape ever said you accepted Jesus Christ it's been recorded.

When you said before Jesus Christ at the judgment seat of Christ is completed.

Take his goldplated tape of everything you've done is complain. Think of every word you said go play the tape of every thought you thought goldplated tape of your time and talents and your treasures and he's going to play the tape that I don't know about you but that's scary right there, especially when you go look at not only what I did what I said and what I thought since he will test the Bible says the motives of every man's heart takes a look at all of that, he's running the tape becomes a something in the tape that interested. He pushes pause, he says explain that to me. Explain why you did that why you went there why you said that you said that that way why that person you undercut that of the person explain that to me explained to me the language you use the word you said. Explain that to make. I want you to interact with me and you get a little nervous right now he's gonna play the tape of your life and he's going to look at it with you. Nobody will be able speak up for you.

Nobody will be able to defend you and you try to defend yourself.

It will be able to get the defense and so it will be a moment when you and I stand before him to explain how much you value the cross of the price paid for the life lived at the bema seat of Jesus Christ that would explain why Paul says in second with his chapter 5 verse 11. Knowing the fear of God, knowing that this will be a serious meeting because in verse 10, he just talked about the judgment seat of Christ, knowing that this is no small meeting that this in fact is a big deal and it is a big deal to Hilton Hebrews 4 says to him who I will lay bare all the motives of man's heart. Some photos I would charge which is gonna say I'm saying you go to church. I say due to impact. I can save you said so concerned about what I did save you a holdup of space in the sanctuary, I saved you to be my representative in history. I saved you to use your time, the talents, the giftedness not given you the resources I provided you to advance my thoughts. Dr. Evans will come back in a moment with some practical advice about how we can live up to her calling and produce a return on God's investment in us. The first is personal reflection from Tony on seeing God's hand of faithfulness, even during rough times. There were times when I was overwhelmed with the burdens of life or what I didn't know that I can keep going. That God would bring someone or something. To speak words of encouragement to me during difficult times. Cost 2019 was one of those times when I loss my wife 40/49 years. How do you keep going during that season, one month after I lost my father, and yet God provided string that I needed to keep proclaiming his word. During those difficult days.

I'm very grateful 40 years we've seen this kind hand of fate on this ministry.

The growth and impact God has blessed this ministry with is nothing short of a miracle. None of it would be possible without the faithful contributions of people like you and that's why I want to let you know about a special package we put together is her way of saying thank you, when you make a donation to help keep this outreach going. It starts with our current two volume 12, message, audio collection, prophecy, and our world that also includes a copy of Tony's popular book prayers for victory in spiritual warfare. Together, this powerful package will help you better understand what's in store for our future and give you the tools to help overcome spiritual attacks as you walk through is unfolding plan would like you to have a copy of prophecy in our world and prayers for victory in spiritual warfare is our gift to make a donation to help support the work of the alternative. But don't wait. This offer will only be around for a short while details are available for you@tonyevans.org you can also sign up for Tony's free weekly email devotional again as Tony Evans.org or call our 24 hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 and let one of our friendly team members help you.

That's 1-800-800-3222. Right now Tony's back with part two of today's lesson when this judgment seat of Christ comes that we all face will be a time of reckoning and report 11 six says he that cometh to God must first believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him, please, and rewards.

Jesus is the reason rewards because he says in Hebrews chapter 12 verse two for the joy set before him endured the cross, someone to take a moment and speak to those of you right now who are hurting and who are suffering in life is not been for is not fair that you were raised that way you will raise. It was not fair that you were abused when you abuse is not for somebody walked out on you.

It's not fair that you were mistreated at work is not fair in your living under the brunt of unfairness. You are all across what you have to understand is what what God is saying is if you have to suffer now if you have to go through some stuff that doesn't get fixed in this life that he doesn't accident in this life is is increasing reward, and the like to come to Understand that that's why Paul says I reckon that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed to me. The Bible says if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. So when God allows you to go from something that's not and you remain faithful to the Lord decided all until he gives you a bigger reward later so you do not lose when you lose your losing, you remain committed to the loss. So, for the joy set before him. Jesus endured because he knew the great war, the kingdom would be his resurrection. God is in the rewards and even the big rewards.

On the other hand, the Bible says in first John 228 I don't want you to be ashamed of him and his company. Many of us don't want Jesus to come back today to take would look pretty. We don't want Jesus to come back today because it would be much on the tape that is of value to him. John says I don't want to be ashamed at his comments he shows up in the right thing to show you what the charge, but anything that had the total value is to let that happen because of me in a lab set up and improve because of our relationship with you victory over what is coming.

He said I don't want that to be your legacy witness. Ephesians 687 God will pay for the good things done well. He will burn up things he can use woman once died, went to heaven. She was very wealthy on earth.

Saint Peter said, let me show you your new home and it was a shack all of her friends were much poor than her had mansions when we met, I got a little ragged in Shakopee said what we only use material you sent out. And if all you stand up his junk stuff that was only for you, stuff that had no benefit to God, no glory to God in the kingdom benefit the nasty stuff is going to see happen is not equal. The place is equal, but the rewards are not just like hell out of medical every person in health is not in the same location. There is maximum-security minimum-security medium security heaven has different levels. Everything is not equal know we got the concept but the Bible does teach is just the opposite. That's why he is concerned that you don't lose your reward Scripture that brings this out is a story Jesus told in Matthew 25 Matthew 25. It's the story of the talents and I can go to the whole story, but I will highlight something to you about rewards talk about the kingdom and he says in verse 14, for the kingdom is just like a man about to go on a journey called his slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 20 gave five talents, to another to into another one, each to his own ability, which means God not hold you accountable for what he gave somebody else accountable for what he's given you so one with I went out and he made five because the master return verse 19 and settled accounts with them 1C5 came and brought five more. The master said well done good and faithful servant. I put you over if you never put you in charge of much now. Verse 21 we seek to balance when I became a tool master said well done good and faithful servant. They flow a few things. I will put you in charge of verse 24 the one that received the one talent came and said master to be a hard man, reaping what you do not so and gabbing when you're scattered mostly and I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground see you have what is yours but his master answered and said to him, you wicked lazy slave you knew that ivory where I did not so SC think you ought to put my money in the bank. On my arrival, I would've received my money back with interest. The master says you wicked slave you don't want to give any of your effort for me lazy for you lazy for me. Now watch the strategy of this one is true God berries. Why is this plan in the middle. If the master returns to have his talents on the what happens if the master does not return. I got the Soul to see whether he's going come back because back then I didn't lose it and come back. I got it. Some of us aplenty against the middle.

We heard about this return to Jesus, but he wanted long journey and I don't know Jesus is coming back and so let me play.

Let me not invest too much in and I get little church given our 45 minutes on Sunday. So when Casey comes back. I got some angle go whole the case. This is a real I want to spend my life wasted my time with plan end against the middle so it depends on how strongly you believe when you are serious about the future. It affects what you do in the present. If you want to be a doctor waiting to start with college and medical school and all. If you want to make it in the principal start working out with 50 because you're the future will activity now and the reason why so many Christians on the Navy and wicked is because this is not important to the future they will believe the future is real so they don't live in light of that future. So that's why they're not concerned about this and that's what am I concerned about the compromise is not repentant that not repent, because they will put a stop in this return that the Masters coming back, but the master did come back and Jesus is coming back and when he does come back, it's going to be a day of reckoning. He said you lazy slave you could if you are serious about me at all.

You could at least put it in the bank that would leave them enough concern about my return, that you won't even give me cheese bank interest.

See once you have made the decision that heaven is real. Christ is real, the judgment seat of Christ Israel is scholarship what you do with talent decision send circumstances to because it Dr. Tony Evans talking about preparing for the day when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and if you'd like to get the full-length version of today's message to reviewing your own or share with your small group family or friends. It's available as a part of Tony's two-volume series, prophecy, and our world. And don't forget, for a limited time will send you all 12 messages in this collection is a way of saying thanks when you make a contribution to help keep this program coming your way. Get the details before time runs out. When you visit Tony Evans.org and as an added bonus will also include a copy of prayers for victory in spiritual warfare. A proven resource that's already being used by over 100,000 readers in the special keepsake addition includes a luxury cover that looks and feels like leather so don't wait contact us right away to make all the arrangements@tonyevans.org again that's Tony and.org or if you prefer team members can help you with your resource request.

When you call any time of the day or night at 1-800-800-3222 that's 1-800-800-3222 debacle prophecy tells us that in the end God wins in his kingdom last forever. It also says there are some pretty scary things destined to happen along the way. Dr. Evans will tell us about one of them tomorrow as he explores the coming tribulation. Don't miss the alternative with Dr. Tony have since brought to you by the urban alternative celebrating 40 years of faithfulness, thanks to the generous contributions of listeners like you