LET…. MY…. PEOPLE…. GO !!
Chapter twenty-three
In your preaching/teaching, why do you ignore “the judgment seat of Christ”? You know it’s coming. You know it’s more certain than christmas or easter or your next birthday. And yet you evade the subject. Why?
I think I know….
Foreboding: to have a strong inner feeling or notion of (a future misfortune, evil, catastrophe, etc.); have a presentiment of. (Dictionary.com)
The christian has a stronger sense of foreboding than non-christians. Jesus: “He [the Holy Spirit] will tell you things to come.” One might conclude “things to come” would certainly include the upcoming “judgment seat of Christ”. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” and all relevant truth. Thus the foreboding. And thus your silence.
In my opinion, the judgment seat of Christ is going to be a bust (embarrassment, major disappointment) for every evangelical, especially evangelicals who have assumed leadership over other evangelicals. Said another way….
In my opinion, the judgment seat of Christ is going to be a bust (embarrassment, major disappointment) for every religionist, especially religionists who have assumed leadership over other religionists. (Remember, I define a religionist as one who has given himself over to a religion. And I define religion as adherence to an assortment of “commandments of men”.)
Because your encounter with Judge Jesus is both certain and crucial, I present to you Bible truths regarding that encounter your respective Bible colleges evidently haven’t taught you….
2 Corinthians 5:10: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
You must stand, individually, before Judge Jesus. Him and you. There may be an audience, perhaps a huge audience, but you will be alone with Jesus.
The Amplified says it this way, “For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives – the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].”
ERV: “We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will get what they should. They will be paid for whatever they did – good or bad – when they lived in this earthly body.”
This is a good time to come to a conclusion as to what Jesus considers “good” and what He considers “bad”. Surely it is not difficult to classify what you do and teach as being either “commandments of men” or “commandments of God”.
Matthew 6:19: Do not lay up or yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
When the Truth speaks (Jesus: “I am the truth”) His saints ought to listen. Yes, ought to but, generally speaking, don’t. Because christians experience healing and strength, we are quite capable of laying up for ourselves “treasures on earth” if we so choose. The number of shoes in the closet is one of many indicators of obedience or disobedience to Matthew 6:19.
Matthew 6:20: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
I conclude our “treasures in heaven” will be revealed at the judgment seat. That’s where “each one may receive the things done in the body.” These “treasures” will be eternal (“where neither moth nor rust destroys”). Our heavenly treasure will be relative to our dedication/obedience to Jesus.
The more of Jesus here, relationally speaking, the more of Jesus there. Our reward will be more of Jesus. Our loss of reward will be less of Jesus. All in heaven will be happy, but some happier than others.
Will there be a hierarchy of saints in heaven or will we all be of equal ranking? Let’s look at….
Luke 19:16,17: Then came the first, saying, “Master, your mina has earned ten minas.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities”.
Are faithful servants here going to be given “ten cities” (or whatever) there? And then there is….
2 Timothy 4: 8: There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
A crown denotes authority, doesn’t it?
(Question: What is “that Day”? The words “the righteous Judge” suggests “that Day” references the judgment seat.)
Revelation 4:10: The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.
The twenty-four elders are saints privileged to abide in the awesome presence of Lord Jesus in the throne room; were these twenty-four elders those who most seriously abided with Christ when here on earth?
John 15:5: Without Me you can do nothing.
Without a strong attachment to Jesus we cannot expect to be joyful at the judgment seat.
1 Corinthians 11-13: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
“The Day” is that day we must give an account to Jesus. We all have accumulated “gold, silver, precious stones”. And we all have accumulated “wood, hay, straw”. All our works, which are being meticulously recorded, will be before each one of us. There will be a fire. (Will Jesus be carrying a torch?) Before our eyes the wood, hay and straw will be consumed, exposing the gold, silver and precious stones.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
The religionist (one who has given himself over to a religion) will receive a reward, but that reward will be much less than that of the disciple (one who has given himself over to Jesus Christ).
1 Corinthians 3:15: If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss.
Everyone of us will suffer loss because everyone of us has laid up “treasures on earth”.
Mark 12:42: Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites.
You know the story of the widow who gave her last. I am sure that Jesus (Judge Jesus) not only notices how much we give but also how much we keep for ourselves.
Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
We decide how much “it will be given unto” us. Give little, receive little. Give abundantly, receive abundantly.
Luke 18:28: Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed you.”
Jesus: “When the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones.” Yes, we reap what we sow.
Hebrews 4:13: All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
“Give account” indicates a conversation. The CEB says “the one to whom we have to give an answer”. And the ERV says, “to him we must explain the way we have lived”. Try to imagine what that conversation with Judge Jesus will be like.
James 3:1: My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
The Amplified says it like this: “Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly.]”
Philippians 4:16,17: For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
The Amplified expresses 4:17 this way: “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].”
Our heavenly account is like our bank account; sometimes the balance is higher, sometimes lower. A deposit (obedience, generosity, kindness, etcetera) enriches our account; withdrawals (boasting, disobedience, selfishness, etcetera) reduce our balance. (Suggestion: Give strong
consideration that your constant salary is a constant and substantial withdrawal.)
Titus 1:11 (AMP): They must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching things they should not teach for the purpose of dishonest financial gain.
In Paul’s day many false teachers taught “things they should not teach”. Today many false teachers teach “things they should not teach”, often motivated by “dishonest financial gain”. For example….
The awful evangelical tithe that almost every one of you imposes upon your people is nothing less criminal than theft. You embezzle the very people you claim to shepherd. Jesus: “And many such things you do.”
Now back to foreboding….
Is the reason for your foreboding regarding the upcoming, momentous judgment seat of Christ, and your silence on the matter, simply because you are not prepared to meet your Judge? Suggestion: ask the One you call, “Lord, Lord” how to be better prepared. (“If any of you lacks wisdom [or knowledge? or understanding?], let him ask of God.”)
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My friend Richard, though certainly not catholic, often accompanied me while attending the People of Faith thursday evening gatherings.
Richard was outgoing and often engaged catholics in conversation. One evening I overheard him say, “David Wilkerson said that God will use the man who meets with Him every day.” Although not speaking to me, I paid attention. Weeks passed, and I overheard Richard saying to another, “David Wilkerson said that God will use the man who meets with Him every day.” Hmmm. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to me?
A few weeks later I again overheard my friend say a third time, “David Wilkerson said that God will use the man who meets with Him every day.” Yes, the Lord really is speaking to me.
David Wilkerson’s meeting time with the Lord, if I remember correctly, began at midnight. God used him mightily, calling him to leave his family and congregation and drive to Brooklyn, New York to make inroads into teenage street gangs. His book, The Cross and the Switchblade, gives an account of the amazing work of the Lord in those gangs and has sold over 15 million copies in 30 languages. David founded Teen Challenge (now Adult and Teen Challenge) which helps multitudes conquer drug addiction. There are about 1,500 such centers throughout the world. David’s “much fruit” borne over several decades resulted from a healthy relationship with Lord Jesus. which he credits, in large part, to his daily one-on-One meeting times. So….
So I made a firm decision to meet with Jesus first thing every morning for two hours. And God has used this non-credentialed nobody in most unusual ways. I have since increased my two hours to three (in response to a definite leading of the Lord) and with that increase comes more plentiful fruit.