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Preached at Riverview on the Evening of January 8, 2017

When I was a young boy in school I hated tests. I particularly hated “Pop Quizzes”. It seems that I was never prepared for them. When the Teacher told us we were going to have a test (Mid-Term, Final, etc) on a certain day I would try and study for it. I hated tests, but I hated more the whippings I received when I did poorly in school.

Everyone will be tested.
Every soul shall be tested.
Every person will stand before God and be judged.

The Bible is clear on this. King Solomon wrote:

Ecclesiastes 12:14 (ESV) For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The things done in the dark will be brought to the Light. The Apostle Paul writes:

Romans 2:5-11 (ESV) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

And to Corinth the Apostle declared:

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The unbeliever and non-follower of Christ shall be judged. The believer in Christ shall be judged. Every person’s works shall be judged in a final exam. Just as there are two types of people:

Sheep and Goats
Righteous and Unrighteous
Saved and Unsaved
Children of God and Children of this World
Holy Sons and Unholy Sinners

There are two Judgments. There is the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment. Let’s read about these two Judgments and compare the two.

The Judgment Seat Of Christ Is For The Believer

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (KJV) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 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. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

We know that this Judgment is for the Christ Follower because it starts with the word “Grace”. The Bible teaches that a person is saved by Grace, not by works. I have heard it been said that “Grace” is:

God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense

The Bible declares Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation is entirely a gift of God. When a person realizes that he or she is Great Sinner in need of a Great Savior – and that Jesus is that One and Only Savior – and turns to Him believing then that person is saved. The Bible declares:

Titus 3:5-7 (KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We are “Justified” or “made right with God” through the shed Blood of Christ. He took our penalty so we can become sons of God. Salvation by faith in Christ is the foundation of our works. The Apostle writes:

1 Corinthians 3:10 (KJV) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.

The Apostle preached salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the foundation that every Child of God is built on. The Apostle goes on to say:

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (KJV) …. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The foundation of every person’s faith is Jesus Christ. But once saved we begin to build on that foundation. The Foundation is Jesus Christ, and everything built on that Foundation is to be honoring to Jesus Christ. We live to bring glory and honor to our Savior. We do the things we do to honor Jesus. Christ is the Foundation of the Church. Christ is the Foundation of the Christian Way of Life. Christ is the Rock on which we are to be built. It is His Word that brings stability to the Life we have.

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV) Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

The Foundation of salvation is Christ. The saved life is built on Christ, on His Words, on His Bible. It is His Spirit that guides us. We are not saved by works but once saved we work for Him, we build on Him.

The Judgment Seat Of Christ Grades The Christian’s Work

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (KJV) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

The Church is the Building of God, a people working together for His Glory. The Christian is the Temple of God. We read later in this text:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The Christian is the Temple of God, founded on the Bloody Cross of Christ. The Church is the Building of God, founded on the finished work of Calvary. Everything we build, we build on the foundation that is Christ. The purpose of the Judgment Seat of Christ is to make every person’s work MANIFEST (φανερός phaneros), to be plainly recognized or made known to all. A lot of the works we do look outwardly righteous but are inwardly self serving. I was listening to a Tim McGraw song this morning – a song I like – called “Live Like You Were Dying”. At one point he sang:

I finally read the Good Book, and I
Took a good, long, hard look
At what I’d do if I could do it all again…

When we Christians stand in front of Jesus at that Judgment Seat every work we did in this life will be tested against the Foundation that is Christ. The works will be manifest:

gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble

There are six materials listed here. Gold, silver, and precious stones are QUALITY materials all found in the building of the Temple in Israel. These are materials worthy of the Foundation that is Christ. Wood, hay, and stubble are POOR materials. When wood was used in the Temple of Israel it was overlayed by gold or precious stones.

When you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ it is not the QUANTITY of works that are judged but the QUALITY of the works. When you look at this list it can be divided into two categories:

Fireproof or Inflammable
Eternal or Temporal
High Quality or Made In China
Worshiping Jesus or Pleasing Men
Willing Service or “Let Others Do It, I Don’t Want To”
Generosity with God & His People or Stinginess & Self Centeredness
Honoring God From The Heart or Doing It To Be Seen Of Men
Ministering After Bathing It In Prayer or Doing It In Your Own Strength

A wealthy woman died one day and went to heaven. An angel then took her to her heavenly abode, which was a plain old ordinary building. Right next door to her was her gardener who had a palatial mansion. She said, “How did my gardener get a mansion and I get a plain old ordinary building?” The angel then said, “Well, we only build with the materials you send us.” If you’re sending to heaven junk, junk is then what God uses. He uses only what you send Him! Thus, the time to prepare for tomorrow is today. (Keith Krell)

The Christian Work Is Tried By Fire

1 Corinthians 3:13 (KJV) 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.

What is the “Fire” that judges our work? It is the intense gaze of Christ at what we have done. When the Apostle John first saw Jesus he described Him as …

Revelation 1:14 (ESV) The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

The One Who died for you and I will gaze intently at what we did in His Name on this earth. John saw Jesus:

Revelation 19:12-13 (KJV) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Jesus said (John 5:22) “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”. He Who was pierced with nails and beaten with whips and hung shamefully and nakedly shall judge the works of His people. He shall gaze upon all that we have built on the Foundation of His Sacrifice. Some of our works will – like gold and silver – become more pure under His gaze. Other of our works will burn like wood, hay or stubble.

1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

The works that glorify Christ the Foundation will abide. Abiding works receive a reward. Those who have honored Christ will hear … Matthew 25:21 (ESV) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

What a blessing that will be to see Jesus, to be commended for honoring Him Who saved us. The Bible tells us:

Colossians 3:23-25 (KJV) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

What we SOW we shall REAP. If we build Christ honoring works on the Foundation of Christ Who is our salvation then we will one day be rewarded for our obedience. But the Apostle says:

1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

If the work is destroyed by Christ’s gaze, He nonetheless still looks on those He has saved with love. I have heard people say “Well, at least I will be saved”. Will you? If you are saved you will still be saved because of Christ. But if your heart right now is so flippant on serving the Lord then why do you think you are saved? If you have no concern for loving Jesus or honoring Him then what makes you think that you will stand with the Saved in glory? To the workers of lawlessness Jesus says:

Matthew 7:23 (ESV) …. then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The Great White Throne Judgment Is For The Unbeliever

Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Judgment Seat of Christ judges the works of believers. The Great White Throne of Christ judges the works of unbelievers. We are told …

Revelation 20:12 (KJV) And I saw the dead, SMALL AND GREAT, stand before God;

All judgment is given into the hands of Jesus, but here He is not called “Jesus” but “God”. These people – small and great – it doesn’t matter how they were viewed in this life – they stand equally before God. These people rejected the Cross of Christ, the finished Work of salvation. They ignored God or if they perchance thought of God they thought their works would grant them entrance into Heaven. There is no foundation laid but that which is of Christ. You cannot walk the streets of God if you have rejected the Son of God.

Revelation 20:12 (KJV) …. and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works

Those who stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ are THE LIVING because CHRIST MADE US ALIVE. We have been “born again of the Spirit, redeemed by His Blood”. We have the Promise of Everlasting Life and the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Those who stand before the Great White Throne are The Dead. They have rejected the Gospel of life, and wallowed in their death. The Dead are judged OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN in the Books ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. Everything they did, God saw and recorded. Every work of the flesh done in the dark is brought to the light. According to THEIR works.

Revelation 20:13 (KJV) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

No one is exempt. No one is missed. Every person who ever lived stands before God, and are judged according to their works. Do their works save them? No. The Bible tells us that:

Revelation 20:15 (KJV) And WHOSOEVER was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

“Whosoever”. The Bible tells us that John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

These people heard the WHOSOEVER Gospel of Christ and rejected it. They turned from Jesus to themselves, from the Foundation of Rock to the bed of sand. Rejecting Christ, they stand before God having nothing to rely on but their sinful and selfish works. And now

These Rejectors Of The WHOSOEVER Of Salvation
Have Become The WHOSOEVER Of Damnation

It didn’t have to be. Jesus Christ gave Himself for them as well as for us. But they relied on themselves, which is the same as relying on nothing. Oh Beloved One, do not reject Him that calls you. Come unto Christ. Cling to the Foundation of Everlasting Life. Cling to Jesus.

May God lead you to a deeper love of Christ through this Word.

Preached at Riverview the Morning of January 8 2017

Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV)  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  [2]  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

January 6^th 2017 is a little known Christian Holiday called The Feast of the Epiphany. This was a day set apart by the early Church to remember the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. This was a great event! The night that Jesus was born and laid in a manger (for there was no room for Him at the Inn) the Bible tells us that the Angel of God told (an unknown to us number of) Jewish shepherds

Luke 2:11-12 (KJV)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  [12]  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

These shepherds left their flocks and went to town. They carried no gifts with them, but ran to receive the Gift of God laying in a manger. They found the Christ as a newborn baby (the Greek word for “BABE” is βρέφος brephos) cared for, but lying in a manger for want of a crib. Though many “Nativity Scenes” show the Shepherds standing with the Wise Men the Bible is clear – the Wise Men came later.
When the Wise Men came to see Jesus the Bible tells us that they brought three gifts to Jesus – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrhh. The Bible does NOT tell us how many Wise Men there were. Further, the Wise Men did not find Jesus in a manger, but in a house. We are told:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)  And WHEN THEY WERE COME INTO THE HOUSE, THEY SAW THE YOUNG CHILD with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Furthermore the Wise Men did not see a BREPHOS or a BABE, but a YOUNG CHILD (Greek παιδίον PAIDION). When Herod wanted to kill Jesus he sent soldiers to Bethlehem. We read:

Matthew 2:16 (KJV)  Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Herod was looking to kill a “young child” not necessarily an “infant” or “newborn”. Why is all this important? Because we need to read our Bibles to understand the will and work of God.

What has caused these “Wise Men” or “Gentiles From The East” To Come To Jerusalem?

These undetermined number of “Wise Men” have, we are told, “come from the east”. They have been traveling for some time. Dr. Charles Stanley suggested that this unknown number of “Wise Men” were very probably astronomers who lived somewhere in Mesopotamia near the city of Babylon (In Touch, December 2011 pg 8). Five hundred years before the birth of Christ to Mary, the Prophet Daniel lived in Babylon and spoke of the Coming King. In Daniel 9:24-26 he prophesied that the Messiah – God in the flesh – would be crucified after 69 Sabbatical Years (or 483 years) after the decree was given to rebuild Jerusalem. These Magi knew of Daniel’s prophecy of the Coming of Messiah and His subsequent death. They had been watching the skies for signs of the Savior, knowing that the Scripture says that God put the stars in the skies not only to provide light for the earth, but also “to serve as signs” (Genesis 1:14). These “Magi” or Wise Men came seeking the Messiah. Their journey was not easy, but extremely difficult.

The Wise Men From The East Traveled 500 Miles To See Jesus

We don’t know exactly how many wise men there are, but if they came from Babylon (which is what many believe) they traveled 500 miles through rough terrain to see Jesus. They entered Jerusalem and started asking people:

Matthew 2:2 (KJV)  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east ….

Think about the question they ask. “Where is He that IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS”? Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, the place where the King of Israel would rule from. This is the “City of David”. Surely someone in the “City of David” would know where the “King of the Jews” was. But neither Herod nor Jerusalem was interested in the King of Kings. We read:

Matthew 2:3 (KJV)  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was TROUBLED, and all Jerusalem with him.

The Wise Men were excited. They have come from afar to worship the King of Kings. But Herod was troubled, (ταράσσω tarassō), disturbed, agitated, restless. He and all Jerusalem was filled with fear and dread. Why was Herod so upset? Because Herod the Great (as he liked to be called) was declared King of the Jews by ROME, not by God. This Herod had rebuilt the Temple, and ruled Israel for Rome though he had no right to rule Israel. Only those born of Judah were to be rulers, specifically those descended from King David. Herod was an Idumean, a descendant not of Jacob but of Esau. Though a cousin to Israel he was not even an Israelite. Herod was troubled! This troubled Israel. When Herod was troubled, he clinched his iron fist over Jerusalem. The people expected bloodshed, and wanted to do nothing to rock the boat.

The Wise Men were JOYOUS.
Herod was THREATENED.
Jerusalem was FILLED WITH FEAR.

What did Herod do? Did he pick up the Scripture and seek the guidance of God? No! The Bible says:

Matthew 2:4 (KJV)  And when (Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Herod did as many people do. Rather than search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life – and they testify of Jesus (John 5:39) Herod called for others and asked “what do you think?” Now there’s nothing wrong with calling for others, but we must study our Bibles for ourselves. Herod called all the chief priests and scribes of the people and that’s not a bad thing.

But Beloved, YOU must study YOUR Bibles.

The Chief Priests and Scribes told Herod:

Matthew 2:5-6 (KJV)  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,  [6]  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

They are quoting the Prophet who wrote:

Micah 5:2 (KJV)  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

“Bethelehem” which means “The House of Bread” is where
the Living Bread of God would be born.

Gathering this information Herod calls for the Wise Men and:

Matthew 2:7 (KJV) … enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Herod wanted to know how long these Wise Men followed the Star of the Messiah. He wanted to know about how old the Christ Child was. After finding out how old Jesus was the Bible tells us:

Matthew 2:8 (KJV)  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

I Want You To Compare The Mind Of Herod And The Minds Of The Wise Men

• The Wise Men have traveled over 500 miles through harsh terrain to worship Jesus. Herod, on the other hand, will not travel 5 ½ miles to Bethlehem to look for Christ.
• The Wise Men studied the Scriptures that Daniel left in Babylon, and based on what they learned followed Christ’s star to Jerusalem. Herod relied on others to study the Scriptures, and relied on others to see Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is not to sit back and be idle, but to believe that God is, and that God is a Rewarder of those that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

• The Wise Men DILIGENTLY SOUGHT Christ. Herod DILIGENTLY SOUGHT the Priests and the Wise Men.
• The Wise Men SUFFERED to get to Jesus. Herod wouldn’t STEP outside of his Palace.
• The Wise Men wanted to WORSHIP Jesus. Herod wanted to WIPE Jesus out.

The Wise Men stepped out in faith to find the Lord. When you step out in faith, God will bring you to blessing.

When Goliath shouts, faith finds a rock and a sling, and God guides the rock.
When the Red Sea blocks, faith lifts a staff, and God parts the waters.
When fire threatens, faith looks upward and Christ stands in the furnace waiting.
When false gods abound, faith trusts God on the mountain
& God sends fire from the sky.

Faith looks up before it looks around. The Wise Men heard the little “k” king:

Matthew 2:9-10 (KJV)  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  [10]  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The Wise Men followed the star, and God caused that star to stand over where the young Christ Child was. God is faithful! God is faithful! God is faithful! The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are faithless, but God is faithful. He will not lead us to the Promised Land without taking us through that Land. God does not take us to a wilderness to abandon us. No, God is the God of all comfort. He cares for us!

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him …

The Wise Men Worshiped Jesus

They saw the Young Child (παιδίον paidion) with Mary His mother. What was their response?

They fell down.
They worshipped Him.

Though they saw Mary they didn’t worship Mary. They DIDN’T see Joseph nor did they see any Shepherds or a manger. They came into the HOUSE and SAW JESUS. Their eyes were focused on Jesus. Their bodies responded to Jesus. They FELL DOWN. There is no worship of God without falling down, the humbling of self. John the Revelator saw in Heaven:

Revelation 4:10-11 (NKJV) 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, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

There is no worship of God from Herod because Herod would not bow down to God. The lost will not worship Christ. God fell down and lowered Himself for us, coming to a manger, to a state of childhood, to poverty, to the dirt roads of Israel, to the hiss of the Pharisee and the mocking of the crowds, to the beating of the Roman soldier, to the nails of Calvary, to the agony of desertion, to “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, to the borrowed Tomb.

God humbled Himself to save us.
Why should we not bow down to God?

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The Wise Men worshiped Jesus with their bodies, then they worshiped Jesus with their possessions. The Wise Men were led to Christ by Prophecy, and now their gifts are also prophetic. The Bible tells us that they gave three gifts worthy of a King.

Gold

Gold has forever been a precious metal. The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-17) was overlaid with gold, and gold was used throughout the Temple to honor God. God knew the evil that was in Herod’s mind. Herod had no intention of worshiping Jesus, but wanted to destroy Him as he saw Christ as a threat to his throne. Right after the Wise Men left the Bible tells us:

Matthew 2:12-13 (KJV)  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  [13]  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

God spoke to both the Wise Men as well as Joseph in a dream and told them “stay away from Herod”. God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We are told in:

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV) I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 139:1 “O Lord, You have searched me and know me”. God knew what Herod planned before he ever whispered it. God had the Wise Men bring Gold, I believe, because Joseph and Mary would need Gold for their trip to Egypt.

Listen Beloved: God knows your needs. Submit to Him as Mary, Joseph, and Jesus did, and God will meet your needs! He will give you victory over the enemy. He has promised!

Frankincense

Frankincense is a white resin or gum that comes from a Boswellia Carterii tree not native to Israel but commonly grown in Somalia (Africa) and lands to the east of Jerusalem. It is obtained from the tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. Highly fragrant when burned it was used in worship of God:

Exodus 30:34-37 (KJV)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:   [35]  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:  [36]  And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.  [37]  And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.

Frankincense was used by the Priests in the Temple Israel. Jesus Christ is not only the King of His people, but He is our High Priest. The Bible says that:

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  [15]  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  [16]  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Chief Priests of Israel came and went, but the Christ Child would grow up to be both King and Priest of His people. The Bible says that He:

Hebrews 7:23-27 (ESV)  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,  [24]  but {Jesus} holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.  [25]  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.  [26]  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  [27]  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

The Frankincense of the Wise Men remind us that our way to God is through Christ. He is the High Priest of God. If you receive Him and worship Him, you will one day see God in glory!

Myrrh

Myrrh also comes from Arabia and was obtained much like Frankincense was. Myrrh had two uses. When someone was to be crucified the Romans discovered that they could mingle it with wine as a pain killer. Their intent was to extend the agony of the sufferer making death linger. When our Lord Jesus went to the Cross to die for our sins the Bible says:

Mark 15:23 (KJV)  And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

Matthew 27:34 (KJV)  They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with {myrrh}: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Jesus refused to let His crucifixion be a matter of sport for the Romans. Jesus refused the wine mingled witg myrrh, but ….

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus tasted death for you and I so that we do not have to taste death. He has conquered death in His Cross.

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

Taken down from the Cross the Bible says that He was embalmed with a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39). The myrrh of the Wise Men speaks to the coming sacrifice of this Child, this Lamb of God. He would die for you and I – but rise again on the third day!

Herod could not destroy Jesus, for His time was not yet. The Apostle said in Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  [5]  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Have you received the adoption of sons? Have you, like the Wise Men, found Jesus to worship Him? If you have, praise God! If not, beware. There is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. When you come to Christ you are blessed. Rejecting Christ, you are not. May God touch your hearts to receive Him by His Gospel!

Good article

Preached at Riverview the evening of January 1 2017

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (KJV) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Many years ago some men on a leaky old ship were in the middle of a rough and stormy sea. One of them asked the Captain “Are we safe”? The Captain replied, “The boilers are weak and may explode at any minute. The ship is constantly taking on water. To be honest with you, we may go up, or we may go down, but at any rate we’re going on!”

Those are not encouraging words, but they tell us a truth. If your faith is in man or the things that man does then your faith is in a leaky ship. I grew up listening not to Country Music but to Rock Music. The Beatles – a wildly popular group – made a remark in March of 1966 that:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I’ll be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now”

Just four years later the group broke up, never to be again. On December 8, 1980 the Beatle John Lennon – the one who made the remark – was shot to death by Mark David Chapman. But Christ and Christianity marches on. Our Lord’s Kingdom has not diminished in power or in eternality.

What will make our Church stand strong until the Coming of the Lord Jesus? We must be ever vigilant to follow the leading of God’s Spirit and God’s Word. In Chapter 2 of this Book of Books we saw the necessity of following the Holy Spirit of God. When we stay in God’s Word and let His Spirit lead us, the Apostle said,

1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV) …. we have the mind of Christ.

Now in Chapter Three the Apostle chastises the Church at Corinth. Paul doesn’t say that the Corinthians are not saved, but that they have stayed at a state of babyhood. When a baby is born that baby needs to be fed, needs to be changed, needs to be lovingly disciplined. Babies do not understand congregational meetings, and so often impose themselves on everyone around. The parent must deal with this, as babies are in the flesh, willful, all about themselves. It is the same way when a person is first born again into the Kingdom of God. That young Christian needs to be taught that the world is no longer about YOU. That young baby needs to understand that the Christian way of life is to Imitate Christ. To not elevate yourself, but to love others as you would be loved. The Bible says:

Philippians 2:3-5 (KJV) Let NOTHING be done through strife or vainglory; but in LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The Mind of Christ is the humble mind, the sacrificial mind,
the mind that lowers self and elevates others.

The Apostle told the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (KJV) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

The Corinthians were not SPIRITUAL or SPIRIT DRIVEN people. The Holy Spirit was given, but they still relied on the flesh. Founded by the Apostle Paul this Church should have been THRIVING where it was. The people of the Kingdom should have been understanding the DEEPER THINGS of Christ, making an impact on their community. Instead the Church was a picture of what a Church should not be. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

They are not SPIRITUAL but CARNAL. What are the marks of the carnal? The Apostle lists four marks of the carnal believer:

• Envying (Greek ζῆλος zēlos) which refers to passion for the things of others. This is a violation of the Tenth Commandment which states:Exodus 20:17 (NKJV) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

  No child is the same, and no parent gives every child the same thing. God loves you, and has given you what is best for you. The world clamors for STUFF, but the Child of God knows that – like it was with the Levite of old – the Lord is our portion.

  Lamentations 3:24 (NKJV) The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him!

  Psalm 16:5 (NKJV) O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.

  Psalm 73:26 (NKJV) My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

• Strife (Greek ἔρις eris) which means “to fight or quarrel”. Strife always follows envy. Two babies playing in the sandbox see a toy they both want, and both grab for it at the same time. In a few moments the physically stronger toddler gets control of the toy and hits their playmate over the head. Momma comes, and all lose the sandbox. No one wins. This is strife.Where strife is, the flesh is at work. One of the seven deadly sins is strife.

  Proverbs 6:16, 19 ESV (the Lord hates) …. the one who sows discord among brothers.

  Proverbs 16:28 ESV A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

  Galatians 5:19-21 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, STRIFE, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• Following envy and strife comes DIVISIONS (Greek διχοστασία dichostasia) which means “a breaking apart”. The Church is to be One Body in Christ, with every member in that Body working toward a common goal of glorifying God. The Body is called to be One in Christ.Ephesians 4:1-6 (KJV) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
• “And walk as men”. Saved by Grace by Christ we are not to walk as the lost walk, but to walk as Children of God. The lost behave the way they do because they are lost. There is no reason for a Christ follower to follow the darkness. We are toEphesians 5:8 (NKJV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

The Church at Corinth was not walking as the Body of Christ but was broken up into pieces. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 3:4 (KJV) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

It would have been easy for Paul to be drawn into this controversy, for who doesn’t like a little praise, a little bragging on oneself? We all love a little applause, and in his flesh Paul is no different. But Paul learned a lesson that every one of us need to know.

The Flesh Does Not Give Increase. God Gives The Increase.

1 Corinthians 3:5 (KJV) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Both Paul and Apollos were gifted men, but their gifts did not come from themselves but from the Lord. “Even as the Lord gave to every man”. Whatever gifts we have, whatever abilities we possess, we do not have them because we are special. We have our gifts because God bestowed them. Paul planted the Church at Corinth by preaching God’s Gospel. God gave Paul the Gospel, the hands and feet, the lungs, everything that he needed to plant the Church. Nothing that was done at Corinth was because Paul was better than anyone else. Paul was a conduit by which God blessed others. Apollos was a great preacher, a gifted speaker. When Apollos started preaching the Bible says:

Acts 18:24-26 (NKJV) Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Apollos knew about the COMING Messiah – mwhich the Baptism of John emphasized – but did not know that Christ had come. Priscilla and Aquila – two great Christ Followers – took Apollos to the side and explained that Jesus HAD COME. Hearing the truth the Bible says that Apollos ..

Acts 18:28 (NKJV) … (Apollos) vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

If Priscilla and Aquila hadn’t taken Apollos to the side he would have kept preaching John’s Baptism and the Coming Christ. But Priscilla and Aquila did what God bid them do. Do they receive glory for this? No, but God does. And Apollos, gifted by God to preach, do we commend him? No, we commend God. The Lord gives to every person.

Who is Paul? Who is Apollos, but ministered by whom ye believed. Neither Paul nor Apollos are honored guests seated at the table. They don’t own the house of God. They are table waiters, servants, just as you and I are. They are conduits by which the blessings of God are delivered. The copper piping in the house cannot take credit for the water delivered to its occupants. If the pipes are not attached to the water source the copper tubes are useless.

1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Paul planted, but he did not create the seed nor till the soil. He planted the Gospel given to him by God. He went where God told him to go. He spread the Gospel seed on good ground and bad, on thorny ground and rocky soil. He broadcast the seed of the Cross of Christ where ever he could. But all Paul did was PLANT. Apollos came along, and he had the ministry of WATERING. Paul planted, but Apollos watered. Apollos watered where ever he could, and when ever he could. He trusted God just as Paul trusted God, and did as God told hi to do.

But God gave the increase.

If Paul had no planted, and Apollos had not watered, there would have been no increase. If Paul and Apollos had acted like the Corinthians there would have been no Church in this pagan city. The Apostle Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Focus on the gift that God has given you. Do what God has called you to do. In time, God will give the increase. We are told:

Galatians 6:7-10 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Four thousand Churches close their doors every year in America. Why? I suspect it is because the members of the Church turn away from the Way of the Cross. The Gospel is not preached, and the people do not “take up their Cross and follow Christ”. The Gospel and God’s Word must be the good seed that we sow.

When the Gospel is sown in word and deed, God gives the increase.
When we sow pseudo seed and neglect the Word of God there is no increase.
God will not bless a false seed planted.

The Apostle Paul sowed the seed of the Gospel, and Apollos watered the seed that was sown by Paul. If Paul had sown the wrong seed no amount of watering would have brought increase. If Apollos watered the weeds and not the seeds no amount of planting would have brought an increase. Both Paul and Apollos, two different people with different callings, had to work together for the glory of God.

Pride Brings Disease Into The Garden Of God

1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

One of the greatest blessings to the Church of God is a five letter word called G-R-A-C-E. One of the greatest dangers to the Church of God isa five letter word called P-R-I-D-E. Under GRACE a person recognizes themselves as a great sinner in need of a Great Savior. Under PRIDE a person sees themselves not in need of God, but in need of a mirror so they can worship their God.

The Apostle Paul said “neither is he that planteth anything”. Do you know the best thing you can do every day? When you wake up in the morning and are brushing your teeth, spit, rinse, look up at your reflection and say:

I am nothing, but God is everything.
Only God can give the increase.

This is how Paul became successful in his life. He didn’t buy into what the devil whispered into his ear. God loves you, but the Bible tells us that success in the Church and in life begins with HUMILITY before God. The Apostle Peter said:

1 Peter 5:5-11 (NKJV) Likewise you younger people, SUBMIT yourselves to your elders. Yes, ALL OF YOU BE SUBMISSIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Church of God magnifies God, not itself. We humble ourselves realizing that God gives the increase. The Word of God is:

Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

And

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) … ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

It is God Who gives the increase. So we follow our Savior, and look to His Cross. We trust His Blood to save us. We preach His Gospel, and live submitted to His Kingdom. We reject pride and selfishness, knowing these are works of the flesh that destroy us.

And we remember that everyone will give an account unto the Lord. The Apostle said – and I’ll close with this:

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (KJV) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

There should be no conflict between the members of the Church. Some plant. Some water. Some teach. Some sing. Some lead children, others young people. Together we are to glorify God and be as one. We are laborers together with God. God sees what you do, how you do it, and the intent of your heart. And every person shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. There is a Judgement Seat of Christ and a Judgment Seat of the Damned. Every person will stand before God, and be rewarded according to their works.

Which seat shall you stand before?

I hope you will stand with the righteous and the Blood bought at Christ’s Seat. I pray that you have received Him as Lord and Savior! May God touch your hearts with His Word.