THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

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THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

(2 Cor 5:10) For 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.

It is an awesome thing to go before a judge in a court of law. Whether it’s for a traffic violation or a major offense the atmosphere is intimidating knowing the judge can make a determination that will affect your life. But did you know that as believers in the Lord we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ?

Now you might say that you’re already saved and that you won’t be judged by the Lord because Jesus took your judgment for sin on the cross. You are correct on that. The redeemed of the Lord will never face the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). Only the unsaved will face that judgment because they never repented of their sins and put their trust in the Lord and what He did in His death and resurrection. (John 3:16)

But there is a judgment we will face as Christians. The Word of God says we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. So what is that judgment in particular? First we must look at the word “judgment seat”. It is from the Greek word bema. It was the elevated place of judgment in a city where the accused had to stand before. Jesus appeared before Pilate at a bema seat (John 19:13) and Paul stood before king Festus before a bema seat (Acts 25:6). In the city of Corinth, a stone platform was constructed to support the bema seat of the local officials. The seat was used to give out awards to athletes for their competitive performances (usually a crown wreath of leaves), but also to address legal charges brought against individuals. This is where Paul was brought before Gallio, who was the proconsul of Achaia (Acts 18:12).

So yes, the Christian will be judged by Christ. But this judgment is not for salvation but evaluation. Each and every one of us will spend time with Christ after the rapture to evaluate what we did (or didn’t do) in our relation to the Lord while on this earth. Rewards will allotted for the good things done and there will also be a reproving of the bad things done.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 speaks of building on the foundation of Christ with materials that are enduring (gold, silver, precious stones) and not with worthless materials (wood, hay, straw). It will all go under the fire of judgment and will either stand the test or will be destroyed. (1 Cor 3:14-15) If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Are you ready to stand before the Lord right now and give an account of how you lived your life for Christ? Did you live for the Lord or did you live for self? Make every moment count for the Jesus and you will hear “well done, good and faithful servant!” (Mat 25:21; Rev 22:12)

Louie

REDEDICATION

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REDEDICATION

(Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

You hear so much from preachers and evangelists about the need for Christians to rededicate their life to the Lord after they have strayed. But if you think about it, rededication is something we must do every day! Paul said to present your body a living sacrifice to the Lord. It is an ongoing exhortation because as someone has said…the only problem with “living” sacrifices is that they have a tendency to crawl off the altar!

It is so easy to drift away from the Lord: (Heb 2:1) Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. Have you ever been in the water at the beach enjoying yourself when you finally look at the sand and find you drifted far away from your beach towel? That’s how it is in our relationship with the Lord. Little by little we drift away from our closeness with Him because we get caught up in a sea of details and lose our focus on Christ!

I find that every morning I must present myself to the Lord as a living sacrifice. I can’t rely upon yesterday’s blessings! (Phil 3:13-14) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, {14} I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Today is a new day and I must look to the Lord for His mercies and faithfulness: (Lam 3:22-23) Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

That Bible study I had last night? That was good but what about today? My devotions were so sweet yesterday but I can’t live on that past meal. Today I need nutrition. If I don’t crack open that Bible in the present tense then I sure will be tense presently!: (Pro 19:27) Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

I want to be close to the Lord. (James 4:8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you… But when you are close to somebody that means you are communicating with that person frequently. You always feel out of touch with someone if you haven’t talked with them in a while. Have we prayed today? Have we told the Lord we love Him? Have we given Him our concerns or are we allowing the worries of the day to crowd out our relationship with the Lord? (Mark 4:19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (See Luke 9:23; 1 Cor 15:31)

Rededication is not just for those who have walked away. Rededication is for me today!

Louie

WHY SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?

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WHY SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?

It is very common for those who are outside the household of faith to comment negatively about all the Christian denominations that exist. Perhaps the feeling is that they appear to be splinter groups working against each other and that they should be working in unity. Even believers can be confused on all the differences in Christendom and wonder how did it all get this way to begin with?

We know from the beginning there was one church. Jesus had his twelve apostles and the early church was all one in the faith (see Acts). Then as time went on the apostles died and this catholic (universal) church began to develop differences. The big divide happened in the eleventh century when the church split along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political, and geographical lines. This fundamental breach has never been healed between East and West… Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. As time went on the church needed reforming and the Protestant Reformation began headed by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. Later on the Protestants splintered into various groups according to doctrine and practice issues.

The bad part about all the various denominations is that too often there is a lack of unity and distrust of one another. Jesus prayed that his followers would always be one which would impact the world: (John 17:21) that they all may be one…that the world may believe that You sent Me. It must grieve the Lord to see His church divided and struggling to maintain its witness in an ungodly world that needs redemption through Him.

On the upside of multi-denominationalism is the variety it provides for different people. Not everyone is the same in their make-up. People will be attracted to a certain church because it’s a “fit.” They identify with the constitution of the church body and the way they worship. Some are attracted to the liturgical church. Others like a more casual approach. Some want more emotion and some want it more intellectual. Kind of like deciding at lunchtime what you are in the mood for. Down the street are many food choices. Instead of seeing all these offers as bad competition you actually see it as wonderful variety you can benefit from.

Yes, churches split over the dumbest reasons like the color choice of the sanctuary carpet, etc. But what if your church went liberal and threw out the Trinity and wouldn’t budge after they were challenged by you and a constituency of others? You would probably go across town and begin another church that is sound in doctrine. So it’s bad what happened but God can still use it for good. (See Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas split over the John Mark issue)

Let us strive for unity, celebrate diversity, and remember the love that binds us together in Christ! (read 1 Corinthians 12-13). “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Louie

9-11 ANNIVERSARY

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9-11 ANNIVERSARY

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

It’s almost been a year since the terrorists struck America on 9-11-2001. Who will ever forget? Many friends and loved ones perished and think of the lives and families that will be changed forever. We’ve been picking up the pieces and trying to make sense of it all ever since. We’ve been hunting down terrorists all across this planet, pursuing them from their enclaves to their caves. We’ve been tightening security at the airports and public places. Ground zero is free from debris but forever it will be a memorial of lives lost but not forgotten, of the brave who risked all, and of the resolve of America to move on in spite of adversity.

Now here’s a question to ponder as we approach the first anniversary of 9-11. Where is our resolve to glorify God in it all? Do you remember how our churches were full after the 9-11 attacks? How people were reaching out to the Lord for answers to this national crisis? Pastors and Christian leaders were speaking the Lord’s comfort and declaring the soon return of Christ. People were returning to the Lord and pressing in as never before. But eventually we saw a cooling off and things quickly got back to “normal”. This has been discouraging to us as Christians! But we’re not giving up on America! We can’t give up on our country and the people that the Lord loves and died for. We have to keep holding out the answer for America . . . which is Jesus Christ! The Lord is there for people when they need Him and we have to be there for people when they’re ready to really give their lives to Christ. God is patient and will hold out to the end. Let’s keep praying for America and believing God for a great move of His Spirit in these last days before Jesus returns and takes us home!

Louie

CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE

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CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Let’s study the seven pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle and see how they are a prophetic picture of Christ in His person and work.

BRAZEN ALTAR (Exo 27:1-8) - This is where the animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people and the blood would atone for the people. It was made of bronze which always speaks of judgment. Significance in Christ...Jesus took the judgment for our sins on the cross. (2 Cor 5:21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…

BRONZE LAVER (Exo 30:17-21) - After the priest would sacrifice they would need to clean up with water before they could enter the Holy Place. Significance in Christ...Jesus washes us when we are born again and regenerated through the new birth. (Tit 3:5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,... (See also John 15:3; Eph 5:26)

LAMPSTAND (Exo 25:31-40) - When the priests would enter the Holy Place they would see the golden lampstand off to the left. This would light up the rest of the room for the priest to attend to his duties. Significance in Christ...Jesus gives illumination to mankind so all may see the way of salvation and walk in His light. (John 8:12) … “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (See also Mat 5:14)

TABLE OF SHOWBREAD (Exo 25:23-30) - Every seven days the priests would change out the twelve loaves of bread that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Significance in Christ...Jesus is the bread of life. And as we take Him in to our lives we will have eternal life and the strength to live for Him on a daily basis. (John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

ALTAR OF INCENSE (Exo 30:1-10) - The priests would offer incense on this altar in the morning and evening so it would burn perpetually before the Lord. Significance in Christ...Jesus acts as an advocate on our behalf to the Father stating that we are redeemed through His blood and fit for a relationship with a holy God. (Heb 7:25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

ARK OF THE COVENANT (Exo 25:10-22) - In the Holy of holies was the box that held the Ten Commandments. The lid of the ark was called the MERCY SEAT. Once a year the priest would enter the Holy of holies on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) and apply the blood on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of Israel. Significance in Christ...God’s righteous anger against sin has been satisfied and the sinner who trusts Christ for salvation is now justified before a righteous God. (1 John 4:10)…He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Louie

HAPPY LABOR DAY

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

LABOR DAY

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Over the years, it has developed from a purely labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festival. School is starting and fall is around the corner. Everyone loves the day off enjoying BBQ, beach, or baseball and in a general sense feels honored for their hard work.

But is your labor feeling more like toil and drudgery? Do you feel more like a slave than a happy worker? Do you work hard and feel no one appreciates what you do? Then take heart because God sees how hard you are working and values your labor of love! Be encouraged through these words of scripture:

• (Heb 6:10) For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love . . .

• (1 Cor 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

How can we find new energies and fresh inspiration for life’s tasks?

• (Psa 127:1) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it . . .

• (Col 1:29) To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

• (Mat 11:28-30) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

And remember that the work of salvation is free and you don’t have to work for it!

• (John 19:30) . . . Jesus . . . said, "It is finished!" (The work has been done on the cross)

• (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast.

So work hard but at the same time rest in the Lord and enjoy the work of your hands!

• (Eccl 2:24) Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

Louie