And where thieves do not break through and steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Amen. Make sense? Right? Life is short. It's but a vapor, right? Here for a little bit, vanisheth away. So why are we worried so much about this life, this stuff, these things that are just going to vanish away anyways, right? It's like a lot of people, they try to worry about what's going to happen to all their stuff when they die and things. But the fact is, your stuff's going to get dealt with, right? It's going to go to this person. These people are going to come over and steal it. The government's going to take this, right? It's going to get taken care of. Amen? Amen. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but. Don't worry about the things this earth. Amen live for yourself treasure in heaven So Jesus said lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven some live their lives hoarding worldly possessions living by the same decisions the rich farmer made in Luke chapter 12 Jesus taught his church members to set their hearts on the imperishable treasures of spiritual things soul winning stores of treasures in heaven Amen So in Psalm chapter 126 verse 5 says they that sow in tears Shall reap in joy he that goeth forth weepeth Goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seeds shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him Amen, what is that precious seed? Bearing precious seed somebody tell me what that means. I Word of God, right? Sharing the gospel with people, letting people know how they can be saved, right? And then it says, bearing precious seed, those who go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, right? So they see the need and they see the cure for the need, I guess you could say. And so they go forth bearing the precious seed. It says, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. What are the sheaves in this sense? What is it? Souls, there we go, good, right? Bring it, sheaves, the fruit of the labor, right? Amen? It's in farmer's terms. It says, Paul looked forward to seeing his treasures in heaven. 1 Thessalonians 2, chapter 19 says, for what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing are not even ye in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that is coming? For are our glory and joy. sorry, for ye are our glory and joy, amen. So the people that were able to lead, the people that were able to pull out the fires of hell, amen, that's our joy. Since those who win souls are wise to store treasures in heaven. Daniel 12, three says, and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteous as the stars forever and ever. Each one must answer the question, are you laying up treasures in heaven? Amen. That's kind of what we're trying to push with this fall program, right? We're trying to do more Christian work, right? Like stuff that we're supposed to be doing anyways. We have community service on there, helping our neighbors. We have sharing the gospel. We have passing out tracts. We have visitation. We have church services, right? These are all things that we should be doing anyways because we took on the name of Christ right and by receiving that forgiveness of sins we understand we have a debt that we can't pay but that we need to try to work toward right showing him that we are grateful for his salvation showing him that we understand that we were lost and that others are lost so we need to try to do something about that right because God's not going to come down here and knock on people's doors and talk to them about Jesus amen but he uses us to do so praise God says the heart determines what one treasures Luke 645 says, a good man out of a good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. For the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh. Right, so whatever's in your heart, that's what's gonna come out, right? That's why in Psalms, I believe it says, thy word hath my hate in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Amen, because his word that we hide in our heart That's what's going to come out. Amen. You guys got to be with me today. This is what is in your heart. When we listen to what we say, we find ourselves talking about the things we love. Are you talking about the treasures in heaven? That's good, right? Because everybody talks about what they love. Go with me to 1 Corinthians. Everybody talks about what they love, but is what you love The word of God is a profitable for heaven is a profitable for somebody else's soul that's already condemned because they believe it's not. First Corinthians chapter three. Verse number 11 says, for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire. And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide with which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. I mean, this does a good job breaking this down, so I'm just going to read through it. It says, Jesus is the foundation of every work that is pleasing and acceptable to God. Amen. It says, for believers in this age, the first command after salvation is scriptural baptism. Church membership is the way God has chosen for His children to serve Him. Members of New Testament churches obey the command to observe the Lord's Supper. Since the Great Commission was given in New Testament churches, church members have the privilege of obeying the Lord's marching orders. The Bible teaches the rewards will be given to those who are faithful servants in their churches. All right, so it says the precious stones represent the works of those who are building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, right? As I said in verse number 11, it says, for other foundations can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if man build upon the foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's works shall be made manifest, right? And so over here it says, the precious stones represent the works of those who are building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Jesus built his foundation upon himself as the only foundation. He said, with reference to himself, upon this rock will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Amen. It says, faithful servants of the Lord are found in the churches. Church members should not view themselves as spectators in worship or in service. Works are pleasing and acceptable to God, must conform to the will and laid, to the will and way, sorry, of the Lord as defined in the New Testament, right? So what's the, after foundation is laid, what's God's will? After we have this foundation of Jesus Christ in our lives, what's the will? Go ye therefore, right? That's what he said. He didn't say, sit in your church queue. He didn't say, now go to church. He didn't say, now sit at home on the couch and think about things, right? He said, go ye therefore, teach all nations, right? Because what we learned, we need to share with others what we've learned so they can share with others what they've learned so that the world can actually be reached, right? It says, works are pleasing and acceptable, and God must conform to the will and the way of the Lord as defined in the New Testament. The poor materials of wood, hay, stubble represent the work of those who do not build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. So these are still good works, right? These are still things that are being done, but they don't have the foundation, amen? Children of God may, may do many things that are considered good or admirable, sorry, works to men, and yet fail to do the spiritual works God has commanded. Romans 12 to say that be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The building materials that will be burned up include works done for the wrong motive, by the wrong method, or that God has not commanded, right? So it's works that we try to do without God in them. It says the judgment seat of Christ does not determine whether one is saved. All judged at this judgment are children of God. The judgment deals with the works of believers, not their sins. It says the sins of the believers were judged once and for all on Calvary, amen? It is possible to do pleasing and acceptable works for the Lord and then lose part or all of the reward. 2 John 8 says, look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. John warned believers who participate in false worship and did not abide in the doctrine of Christ about losing rewards. It's in Revelations chapter three if you want to look there. It says the judgment seat of Christ is for rewards to be given. No child of God will lose his salvation at this judgment. Even the judgment of the biblical doctrine of the security of the believer is still upheld by the promise of God. This is 2 Timothy chapter one, verse 12. It says, for I know in whom I believe and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. God's assurance of the eternal relationship of the saved with God at the judgment seat of Christ declares he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so by fire. As we read in 3.15 there. Amen. So it's that fire that burns up that hay and the stubble and the works that were done without God in them, right? But it leaves what was pure, that foundation. Go with me to Romans chapter 14. Romans 14. Verse number 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, sayeth the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me. Every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stomach block or occasion to fall in his brother's way. Amen. Interesting part about that verse there is, as I live, say, Lord, every knee shall bow to me, right? It doesn't say if you believe in me, you're going to bow to me. It doesn't say that if you're saved, you're going to bow to me. If you go to church, you're going to bow to me. It's every knee, right? It's whether people believe in God or not. Everybody's going to stand before him. And when they do stand before him, I mean, you ain't going to have a choice but to fall to your knees. I mean, I'm sure just the gravity of standing in the presence of God is going to make us fall to our knees. Amen. but it says, so every one of us, right? It doesn't say everyone saved, everyone that goes to church, every one of us, every knee shall bow and every one of us shall give an account of himself to God, amen? Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, right? What's the reason? God's gonna judge them, no reason for us to. It says, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in his brother's way, right? So no, don't judge them, but make sure that you're not stumbling block to cause judgment on them. It says, believers must not judge one another. Jesus is the judge. At the judgment seat of Christ, every child of God will give an account to the Lord. This account is for works or deeds. One way children of God may prepare for the judgment seat is to be careful not to be a stumbling block to others. Amen? So there's always somebody watching. Second Corinthians chapter five, go with me there. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. 2nd Corinthians 5 verse 10 says, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that he had done, whether it be good or bad. Amen, for we must all appear before the judgment seat. Since every child of God has an appointment he will make at the judgment seat of Christ, we must all appear. We will receive the things done in our bodies. This refers to works. This judgment is an accounting of the believer's works. Some work will be good and acceptable. Others will be bad and unacceptable to the Lord. uh... tightest chapter three get to work for this one actually was good going to first peter first peter jeff report Verse number 17 says, For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if at first begin at us, then that what shall the end of them that obey not the gospel of God. Amen. Says, there's no general judgment for all. The judgment seat of Christ for the saved is by God's principle. Judgment must begin at the house of God. The great white throne is the other judgment for unbelievers. Peter asked, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel? What's the answer for that? Condemnation. Condemnation, which is what? Hell. Hell, right, for eternity. is they will be cast into the lake of fire, right? Those who obey not the gospel, those who receive not Christ as their Savior, those who don't have a just payment for their sins, right? They have to stand before God and try to pay for themselves and there's nothing we can do to pay for our sins, so we get cast into hell to pay for our sins for all eternity. Revelation chapter four, go with me there. But praise God, amen, and we don't have to go through that. Revelation 4 chapter 10, or Revelation 4 verse 10, sorry. It says, the four and 20 elders fell down before Him and sat on the throne and worshiped Him that liveth forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. The greatest tribute to Christ by his servants in heaven will be to cast their crowns before him. Crowns are only mentioned in the New Testament for the church-age believers. The 24 elders represent the faithful servants of the Lord in this age, right? So these crowns they cast down, these are the rewards that we got at that judgment seat, right? For the good that we did, we were rewarded for the spiritual things that we've done. And when we get to Christ, we actually, we just give them to him, amen, because that's our work for the work that he did for us. It says, the judgment seat of Christ is for those who have been removed from the condemnation of sin. Their sins were judged on Calvary. All children of God will appear at the judgment for an examination of their works, the deeds done in their bodies. God has saved people for the purpose of doing good works. Ephesians chapter 2 10 says for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Make sense. That's what we're supposed to do, right? We're supposed to be doing good things in the name of Christ says many believers are not working for the Lord many Others do not work for the Lord according to his methods Paul warned the Galatians. He said but let every man prove his own work God is a fair judge, and Galatians 6, 7 says, be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. God demands the best quality of works to be done according to the commands by his methods and for his glory. Only Christ can determine the motive and the quality of a believer's works. We must think we have done acceptable works. If our works agree with God's standards, they will not be lost. Those whose works do not meet God's standards will be destroyed. Amen. Questions, comments? Comments on the judgment seat of Christ? Amen. All right, let's pray. Lord, we thank you for today, God. We thank you for the work that you've given us, Lord. We pray we may be good ambassadors for your name's sake, Lord, that your salvation may show forth to others, Lord, and our good works may lead others to you, Lord, to draw closer to the cross, Lord, and just accept the gift that's given to them of salvation, Lord, that they may repent of their sin and trust you as Savior, God. Lord, I pray that you may use us greatly, Lord, that when we stand before you in the judgment seat, God, we may have many crowns to cast before you, God. Just help to direct our minds and direct our thoughts and our actions, Lord, that we may be focused on laying up treasures in heaven and not on this world, Lord. And God, I just pray that you may do a great work in us and praise you, may we be glorified. In the name of Jesus, amen.