Prepared for Judgment: Living for Heavenly Rewards
Summary
In this sermon, I emphasized the inevitability of judgment for everyone, regardless of their status in life or how they lived it. I explained that judgment is not something we can avoid or escape, and it applies to everyone - the great and the small, those lost at sea, those buried in the earth, and even those who have been cremated. I also highlighted the importance of being ready for this judgment, asking the congregation if their names are in the Lamb's Book of Life and if they have given their lives to Jesus Christ. I urged them not to leave without knowing for certain that they have done so.
In the second part of the sermon, I focused on the importance of living our lives in a way that honors the Lord and contributes to our heavenly reward. I asked the congregation if they are doing all they can to spread the gospel and support the ministries of the church. I also emphasized the importance of managing our time, treasure, and talent in a way that converts them into heavenly rewards. I concluded by encouraging the congregation to do all they can to ensure their reward is waiting for them in heaven.
Key Takeaways:
- Judgment is inevitable for everyone, regardless of their status in life or how they lived it. ([52:00])
- It is crucial to be ready for this judgment by ensuring our names are in the Lamb's Book of Life and that we have given our lives to Jesus Christ. ([01:21:04])
- We should live our lives in a way that honors the Lord and contributes to our heavenly reward. ([01:22:15])
- We should do all we can to spread the gospel and support the ministries of the church. ([01:23:25])
- We should manage our time, treasure, and talent in a way that converts them into heavenly rewards. ([01:23:27])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 20:11-15 - #!!50:06!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the "great white throne" and the one seated on it in Revelation 20:11?
2. What are the "books" mentioned in Revelation 20:12 and what is their purpose?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Revelation 20:11-15 describe the final judgement?
2. What does it mean when it says "the dead were judged according to what they had done"?
Application Questions:
1. How does the reality of the final judgement, as described in Revelation 20:11-15, impact your daily life?
2. What steps can you take to ensure your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life?
3. How can you use the understanding of this final judgement to encourage others in their faith journey?
4. In what ways can you actively serve God this week, knowing that one day we will all face judgement?
5. Can you identify an area of your life that you haven't been managing well or haven't been putting at God's feet? How can you change that this week?
Devotional
Day 1: The Certainty of Judgment
The sermon emphasizes the inevitability of judgment day. It is a day when everyone, regardless of their status or deeds, will stand before God. This is not to instill fear, but to remind us of the importance of readiness and the urgency of living a life pleasing to God. [01:23:58]
Hebrews 9:27 - "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment."
Reflection: How does the certainty of judgment day influence your daily decisions and actions?
Day 2: The Book of Life
The sermon introduces the concept of the Book of Life, a record of those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. It is a call to ensure that our names are written in this book, not by our deeds, but by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. [01:24:35]
Revelation 20:15 - "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Reflection: How does the concept of the Book of Life influence your understanding of salvation?
Day 3: The Holiness of God
The sermon underscores the holiness of God, against which our sins are committed. It is a call to repentance and a life of holiness, recognizing that our sins are not just against ourselves or others, but against a holy and perfect God. [01:20:27]
1 Peter 1:16 - "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
Reflection: How does understanding God's holiness influence your view of sin and the need for repentance?
Day 4: The Call to Serve
The sermon challenges us to serve God with all that we have - our time, treasure, and talent. It is a call to stewardship, recognizing that everything we have is from God and should be used for His glory. [01:25:35]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: How are you currently using your time, treasure, and talent to serve God and others?
Day 5: The Urgency of the Gospel
The sermon highlights the urgency of spreading the gospel. It is a call to evangelism, recognizing that we have a responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who have not yet heard. [01:26:38]
Romans 10:14 - "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"
Reflection: How does the urgency of the gospel influence your interactions with those who do not yet know Jesus?
Quotes
1. "Just like you carry a passport or a driver's license that identifies you as a citizen of the State of California, citizen of the United States of America, we have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life identifying us as children of God, as people of the spirit. It's not about religion or going to church or being a good person, we've got the Holy Spirit within us. It's the Book of Life, we don't earn it, it's a free gift." - 01:07:40
2. "Judgment is coming for everyone. You, me, that person who looks like they're getting away with everything in life. It's coming for you, for me, for everyone. No one will be able to avoid judgment. Everyone, even those who don't believe in God, have a sense of justice and fairness." - 52:29
3. "On that day, the books will be opened. This idea of a book with names in it again is found all throughout scripture. Our lives are laying down our record and on that day the book will be open, perhaps a book with your name on it and the record of your life will be laid out before God. The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, the Beautiful, the actions, the motives, the thoughts, the words, everything that you and I have thought and the motivation behind our deeds and our deeds themselves." - 01:00:19
4. "We are still judged now. How we are judged, when we're judged for is different depending on relationship with Jesus. But again, everyone faces judgment. So if your name is in the book of life, it does me just Waltz into heaven and just here you are, no there is still a judgment for us. The judgment is not about our sin because our sin, the book of our sin has been destroyed, but there's a judgment for us." - 01:08:50
5. "God will look at my life again. I will stand before him by myself and you will as well and we will not answer for our sin but God will say listen here's what I gave you. I gave you 80 years on the earth, I gave you x amount of dollars, I gave you spiritual gifts, I gave you time, I gave you influence, now what did you do with what I gave to you?" - 01:09:22
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