Heaven?s Oscars - Part 2

Christian heaven Jesus will reward believers will be Christian works in conduct that doesn't have any effect on your body will. Now what should I own Turning Point of Jeremiah provide some practical application to your eternal reload as he continues his series revealing the mysteries of heaven is the conclusion of his message. Heaven's office.

When you know all of us are motivated by rewards in this life. What was that so will our Creator created us that way. That's how we are, we move forward toward goals were goal oriented. We want to accomplish things we don't want to just be floating along in limbo and it's that part of who we are. That is lit up when we learned that heaven is a place where were going to have opportunity to hear our Lord say to us, well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your rest and I certainly call it that.

I hope that will be true for me and I know you feel the same way and when I have some awards there which were talking about here on Turning Point today while yesterday we stirred up the discussion today will try to sell it down as we talk about heaven's Oscars judgment seat of Christ is your service to the Lord Jesus in your Christian experience and ask questions that I get about this is how can someone have since forgiven Christ.

The answer is found in this forgiveness is about justification and which the justified have done in their justification took place. These are not works which are done in order to be saved. These are works that are done because we are saved so that after we become Christians let our light so shine that men will see our good works of your father who is that the distinction is not a final exam. Our eternal destination. According to Bruce Wilkinson is the consequence of what we believe on earth, but internal compensation is the consequence of how we behave on earth, but his behavior and the other is belief there a lot of examples in the Bible guys that are interesting. People started out walking for the Lord and made a big mess out of their life even though they will continue to be Christian Scripture you will see it lot.

Sampson Saul. Ananias and Sapphire started out right. They were Christians.

All right, but they became Christians.

They they just violated the things that were true and suffered some pretty awful consequences when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ is not about what you get in heaven or not you will already be there when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ will be about how how I live my life as a believer, Stewart, have I been for the gifts that God has entrusted to me and it will be a time for you to bring formal accusations against other believers is a strange thing is judgment seat of Christ is when I finally get the mailing guy you know this is all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Each of us giving an account of himself to God. We have no right to judge the work of other believers. Romans 1410 through 12 says that we don't even know what awards we will receive for ourselves how are we going to judge someone else. First Corinthians 45 says therefore judge nothing before the time to come and will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and reveal the councils of the heart. Then each one's praise will come from God. The solid work together not happen to be alive when Jesus comes to be caught up to be dead bodies of the émigré will already be with Jesus and our spirit in a grave will open will be with the Lord and as soon as we get to heaven, while the tribulation is going on down here on this earth. We have our moment before the Lord for him to say to us hopefully well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy that's what I want to happen to me. Amen.

Now interestingly enough in the Bible. There are some Oscars described for us there at least five of them and I want to just run through these so you can see what some of the possibilities are and this is not by any means all of the awards that it be given but there are five crowns that are listed in the New Testament for certain things that might surprise you.

Some of the things that the Lord is going to rule Lord, when we stand before him someday. Number one is the victor's crown is recorded for us in first Corinthians 925 through 27. Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but will do it for perishable crown. Therefore I run best, not with uncertainty. That's I fight, not as one who beats the air but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection list when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Melanie give you a little background and history to this experience that Paul writes about in first Corinthians. Listen up. The Greeks had two athletic festivals the Olympic Games and the games. Games were held at Corinth and would therefore be very familiar to those reading Paul's letter here contestants in the games had to prove rigorous training for 10 months. The last month was spent at Corinth with supervised daily workouts in the gymnasium and athletic fields. The race was always a major attraction at the games and that is the figure Paul uses to illustrate the faithful Christian life.

Those who run in the race run, but only one receives the prize success. No one would train so hard for so long without intending to get out of the large number of runners. Only one wins the prize indicates that the apostle had in mind service and not salvation in life's point is that athletes who expect to win must train diligently and athletes discipline themselves to win an insignificant price. How much more Christians to win an incorruptible non-perishing prize. The thought of course is that of personal discipline with God demands personal sacrifice. Sacrifice of things, not necessarily evil but which prevents the full devotion of our soul to God in an age of luxury like the time in which we live. The words have real significance for serious minded servants of Christ. If you want to win an award you want to be standing there receiving a crown you have to say no to something so that you can say yes to some of you can't live in this pleasure gorged why that we taught ourselves as normal in our culture today.

Learn how to turn off the television, sometimes so you can study to prepare your lesson to learn how to get up when you don't feel like getting up in the morning so you can get into the word of God and be ready for the day you have to take time away from all the things that you want to do so you can get Scripture in your heart.

You gotta take a night out of your weight once allowed to talk to somebody about Jesus. All of this is hard, and it takes discipline in the Bible says that a person won't do that can be a candidate for this award. This award is given to those who discipline their body as part of their body under control and they become candidates for the victor's crown. Most people, including many Christians are slaves to their bodies. Have you noticed that their bodies tell their minds what their bodies decide what to eat when the how much to eat one to sleep when you get up and so on. An athlete cannot allow that follows the training rules, not his body.

He runs when he would rather be resting balanced meal when he would rather have a chocolate sundae goes to bed. When he would rather stay up. He gets up early to try to stay in bed and athlete leaves his body and is not following it is scarcely not the other way around. It is this kind of soldier's crown will be given system is a well picking up five waffles for sausages and bacon for breakfast right.

I'm just getting all of us need to learn is not all struggle every one of us want to be servants that the Lord can use. It takes a certain amount of discipline in our life in the Bible so we have to be perfectly best we have to be in training and training are you in training to serve the Lord, are you trying to ask the Lord to help me become a better servant God honors your heart in this matter.

Then there's the crown of rejoicing. That's the second one you find out in first Thessalonians 219. This is what it says is our whole joy, or crown of rejoicing. Paul asked the Thessalonians. This question, as is our crown of rejoicing and then he answers it in the next phrase he said it is even in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. What is he talking about is saying that the crown of rejoicing is the crown you get because you lead someone to Christ is Thessalonians that me tell you what the crown of rejoicing is if you because we minister to you and someday when we stand before the Lord, you're going to be there because we had a ministry to sometimes it's called the soul winner's crown is the crown that Almighty God gives to us when we get out of ourselves and we stop thinking it's all about me and we start looking around for the people who need a touch from God, and we use the talent and the giftedness he's given us to reach out with the gospel of Jesus Christ was the last time you ever talk to someone about Jesus wasn't a Christian asking another question was last time you thought about doing that with some people in this church who then just witnesses they just talk to people all the time about Jesus and are candidates for the crown of rejoicing personnel from these Thessalonians. Very emotional.

He calls them his joy is hope in his crown and the crown is sometimes so when his grandma's nose.

The third when the crown of righteousness.

It's found in Sega committee for eight watch this finding.

There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that day and not to me only, but also to love his appearing was prepared to meet the Lord certain of his imminent death as he writes this he is content with his record of service and confident of his reception by the Savior. And Paul's use of the athletic metaphors, especially descriptive of the life of a believer because it describes struggle, endurance, discipline, and final tree, the crown of righteousness is reserved for those who have a longing for the Lord Jesus, who look for Jesus to come back, but there are some people who have their heart set on heaven and have your heart set on seeing Jesus Christ and those of the people that will get this crown because they love the appearing of the Lord. Then there's the crown of life. Number four James 112. In Revelation 210.

This is pretty easy to understand. Blessed is the man who endorsed testing for what has been approved. People receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 210 do not fear any of these things which are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you and the person that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Watch this, the crown of life is given in recognition of him during triumphing over trial and temptation and persecution, even to the point of martyrdom, the motivation has to be love for Christ. When you go for all of the struggles and the persecutions that so many have gone through to preserve our faith. Many of those people will be walking around in the early days of heaven with this particular crown of life, because they suffered persecution for the cause of Christ.

I believe that in our culture today. There are many who are entrusted with a great deal of suffering many of you have to go through it with the right spirit you get bored with God you don't complain all the time and you always asking why would you walk through the suffering in the trial and you carry yourself as a person of integrity in a man or woman of God someday stand before the seed and God will say took it and you took it well and you audit me in the midst of it in the crown of life. Charles Wesley little him. Never heard some before, but these are the words and hope that a miracle crown. I now the cross sustain and gladly wandered up and down and smile at toil and pain. I saw throughout my threescore years till my deliverer, and wipe away conservatives, tears, and take his exile home the crown of life.

And then the last one is the crown of glory in first Peter 54 and a little excited about this because this is the preacher's crown.

This is what it says and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not write this crown is for those who are faithful shepherds of the people of God and for Christian leaders is one out of the five crowns that is reserved for those who are in leadership and who are shepherds of people I know what you have to be a pastor even on the staff may view Shepherd, a small group.

Those of you who are facilitators and you Shepherd. That group and you care about all the people that come every week. You know who they are, what their names are, what their challenges are and you pray for them and you Shepherd them in the running for the shepherds crown for the crown of glory. Now you got all those those are just a few of the five that are mentioned by name in the New Testament. I would give you some idea what this is all about. This is not about being a Christian Yorty are Christian, you wouldn't be there if you're not a Christian, you will not be in front of the judgment seat of Christ. There's another judgment call the great white throne judgment that comes a lot later if you're not a Christian, you get to stand before that but I want Tyson you want to be there. You want to be at this one because you will only be Savior already be in heaven and I will send some of you were going to get to heaven yet so as by fire other words escape and heaven with the smell of smoke on your close minutes, it is what you be in heaven but you know what I want to be there like that for reasons why we come to the end of this message is applications of how this works restless, take note number one remember that the Lord himself is your chief reward and forget that whatever else you may get in heaven. The Lord himself is your chief or work in Genesis 15 one. We read after this things the right of the Lord came to the vision saying to not be afraid. I am your shield and I am your exceeding the Lord. How many of you know the Lord God is your great reward. If you never got anything else you got it all right.

Remember the Lord himself is your chief reward number two resist doing works outwardly just for the purpose of getting an award. The book of Matthew Lord Jesus has diminishing things about posturing and mentioned that earlier posturing and spinning digital Christians are good were really good at posturing and spending in playacting listen to this. Matthew 61 Tempe, but you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no word from your father in heaven. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your charitable deed may be in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you himself openly if you serve the Lord. Just so you can get a reward. It indicates that you don't understand Christian anyone serve the Lord, because you love and Lawrence.

These heavenly Oscars are for people who tell him to the next level and throw themselves into serving the Lord with all their hearts. I don't know very many people have never heard very many people even mentioned serving the Lord just to get a reward. Somebody put this right, it might be possible to pursue eternal rewards with fleshly motives. However, I've never met anyone I've since was guilty of doing so. I've never heard someone say I'm a missionary in the deep dark jungle because when I get to heaven. I want to mention it's bigger than the Joneses or anything like that.

If you let myself I can ever remember thinking if I witness to that guy got me big time think that she has raised all of you know if you're really an athlete, you run the trophy run for the joy of the race and for the discipline and for the victory that comes in your heart trophy. Is this something around and remind you of the blessing of being in the race itself, and then I want to remember. Third thing is this reflect on the ultimate goal of any awards that you will receive. What are we going to do with these crowns I look like, but let me tell you what to do with them.

Watch this and the 24 elders fell down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying, you are really old Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

Did you know that that's going to happen in heaven after we get all our rewards were to be so excited about it then were going to see Jesus take the only thing we have in heaven beside us, which is the crown he gave us to speak to him and say thank you Lord for helping me to be here. Thank you Lord for paying for my sin.

Thank you Lord for being my Redeemer got much to give you but here's my crown and friend. I want to be left out of. I want to be standing in the background watching everybody that I knew on this earth bring in their crowns and Lord Jesus and because I was so lazy as a Christian, someone disciplined as a child of God. I've got nothing to offer that will be a moment outside what that is, before he wipes away all tears wipes away all tears.

After this is over is not going to be tears, she will. I'm pretty excited about heaven and what the Lord has in store for us. There's a story that I've heard over the years almost and want talk to you because I'm sure some of you. But I don't know a better story. In this sermon within this solicitor missionary couple who had been working in Africa for years and they were returning to New York City to retire.

They had no pension. Their health was broken. They were defeated, discouraged and afraid. They discovered as they got wardship that they had the same ship is Pres. Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from Africa and one of his big game hunting expeditions. No one paid attention to them.

They watch the fanfare that accompanied the president's entourage with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of this great man wherever he was aboard ship is moved across the ocean. The old missionary said to his right, something's wrong. Once we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa. All these many years and have no one care thing about us here this man comes back from a hunting trip and every body makes much of your students about us in this man's wife said you shouldn't feel that way I can nobody's doesn't seem right. Well, the ship docked in New York and was waiting to greet the president.

The mayor and other dignitaries were there papers were full of the president's arrival, but not one single person. Notice this missionary couple, they slipped off the ship found a cheap flat on the side, hoping the next day to see what they can do to make a living in the city of New York that night was missionary man's heart broke.

He said to his wife. I can't take this God is not treating us fairly.

His wife replied just go in the bedroom.

Tell that to the Lord and fortune. If you have a wife like that short time later he came out from the bedroom and now his face was completely different. His wife asked him what happened. He said well the Lord settlement with me. I told him how bitter I was, that the president should receive this tremendous homecoming when no one met us as we return home and when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, which are not home yet or not it's rewarding to serve Christ and there are many rewards that we receive in this life. People being thankful letters of appreciation testimonies from the baptistery that we've had a little party but I want to tell you something, albeit words are not given out down here the best awards are being reserved for the award ceremony. If you been serving the Lord faithfully. Nobody seems to be noticing. Just remember you're not home yet or something, and that you don't want to miss out on you.

I have been interesting, as I'm sure you have been the stories of people who said they've gone to heaven and come back and they want to tell us what it was like I don't know how much stock you put in any of those and those sold a lot of books for some people, but Paul did want to heaven and came back in and he had some interesting things to say about his experience. What I know is this. If you put your trust in Jesus Christ today you will be in heaven when you die and if you haven't done that. Why wouldn't you do that.

Why would you put your trust in Jesus Christ ones that mean you simply acknowledge that you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God that he is perfect son of God who came to this earth and died on a Roman cross.

And in doing so paid all the penalty for your sin.

For the wages of sin is death, he took your death upon him so that he give his life to you. When you accept him as your Savior. You ask him to forgive you of your sin. He will come and live within you is Holy Spirit will take up residence in your heart and you will become a whole different person from the inside out. You will become a new creature so let me encourage you. Let me encourage you today. If you've never put your trust in Christ to do it right now. Just find a place where you can be alone for a moment of your head.

Tell the Lord God in heaven that you need him in your life. Ask him that Jesus Christ might come in your life telling you repent of your sin and you want to be a Christian. He will hear your prayer in your life will be changed if you let us know that you made that decision. We have two booklets we want to send you absolutely free help you get started once called your greatest Turning Point in the others called for steps of faith, let us send those to you today and will see you right here tomorrow. Their message today from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. Jeremiah. Please write and tell us how God is using Turning Point in her life right through us. It deployed PO Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at Jeremiah, Dr./ready copy of the mysteries of heaven formed the bathroom. I think it's a gift of any amount purchased Jeremiah study Bible and the English standard and new international version standard or lodgment in the new King James was helpful not that articles by Dr. Jeremiah visit Jeremiah adult/radio potato. I'm very honest tomorrow as we continue the series revealing the mysteries of heaven here on Turning Point for taking time to listen to and from these increased in