Rewards & Judgement

August 28, 2001 PM
Pastor Chris Abernathy
Columbus, Georgia




If you would, open up your Bibles with me to the book of Revelations chapter twenty. Revelations chapter twenty.

We have been teaching on Revelations for the past three meetings. Amen? Praise the Lord. And these are just some of the messages that God has for His people in this hour. We thank God that He gave John the revelation while he was on the isle of Patmos (amen?), while he was in exile, while he was all alone with the Holy Spirit.

Revelations chapter twenty, and verse one.

1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Let us pray.

Most holy and gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for this time of fellowship together with You in Your Name. Father, hide Your son behind the cross that Your people would see You and not me. Father, as I decrease, I truly ask that You would increase. And Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Father, I thank You that every principality, ruler of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places is bound and forbidden to operate. And every one of them I loose from their assignment. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Many of us have been led to believe that the judgment is just one big event taking place at the end of the world, when saints and sinners will stand up before the great white throne of God to be judge.

But this is not the way that it is. Glory to God. As we read in our Scripture (glory to God) there is a first resurrection. And then there is the second resurrection.

I don't know about you tonight, but I plan to go in the first resurrection. I don't plan to go in the... You don't hear me. I don't want no part of the second death. I don't want any part of the second resurrection. I want to be caught up in the first resurrection.

When we look at the Scripture, it speaks (glory to God) of five different judgments. And tonight we will talk about the subject of each of the judgments. We will talk about the place of each of the judgments, and the result of each of the judgments. Glory to God. And what I have done is, I have chosen to go into it just like this.

The judgment of the wicked and the dead is a determined day after the millennium, after the thousand-year reign of Christ. Come on and pray with me tonight. This judgment (glory to God) is for the wicked and for the dead.

When we look at our Bible (glory to God) in verse eleven and chapter twenty, John said,

11. 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 the 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.

According to Scripture, as saints of God, we don't have to worry about the second death. According to Scripture (glory to God) we're going to be caught up in the first resurrection. I don't know about you, but when He cracks the sky, I'm going to be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. This moral will put on immortality. This corruptible will put on incorruption. Glory to God.

This second death is not for true saints. This second death is for the wicked and the dead. When we look at Revelations twenty and verse fifteen, it said,

15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the result of that judgment, the time after the millennium, the place before the great white throne, and the result-cast into the lake of fire. This is the judgment of the wicked and the dead.

Then we have the judgment of the nations. If you would, go with me to Matthew chapter twenty-five. Glory to God. The judgment of the nations. In Matthew chapter twenty-five, verse thirty-one and verse thirty-two, it reads as thus and such.

31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

This is the time at the glorious appearing of Christ. Where is the place? If you will, turn with me to Job chapter three. It is in the valley of Jehosaphat. Glory be to God. This is the place of the judgment of the saints, I mean, excuse me, of the nations. And what is the result? According to Matthew twenty-five and verse forty-six, some will be saved, and some will be lost. He's going to separate the sheep from the goats.

You see, in the house of God, a lot of pastors try to separate the sheep from the goats. But it's not the pastor's job to separate the sheep from the goats. The goats got to... Oh, you don't hear me tonight. The goats got to grow up with the sheep, because every now and then a goat is going to turn into a sheep. But in the mean time, saints of God, the pastor's got to allow the goats to be milked. You don't hear me tonight.

The goats and the sheep will be separated at the judgment of the nations. You don't have to worry about the goats in the house of God. You don't have to worry about those that want to buck. You don't hear me tonight.

You don't have to worry about those that always got something to say. You don't have to worry about those that don't have a teachable spirit. You don't have to worry about those that can't agree with anything. You don't have to worry about those that won't stand for anything. They'll be separated at the judgment of the nations.

Next we have the conduct or works of believers that are to be judged. If you would turn with me to Hebrews chapter ten. Glory be to God. We're not going to be here all night. But I just want to show you a few things. The time is going to be when Christ comes. The place is going to be in the air. The result to the believer is a reward or loss. But he himself shall be saved according to Hebrews chapter ten and verse seventeen. It said,

17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

They will be saved (glory to God) but their works will be burned up by the fire. But every work will be judged for what it is (glory to God) according to the Word.

Our lives and our works must both line up with the Word of God. Do you hear what I'm saying tonight? I can't do what I want to do for me. Only what I do for Christ is going to last. I can't stand before you (glory to God) for me. I've got to stand before you for Christ. I can't come to you in my own name. I got to come to you in the Name that's above every name. Oh, you don't hear me tonight. Only what I do for Christ is going to last.

I can look good all I want to look good. I can be eloquent all I want to be eloquent. But only what I do for Christ is going to last. Our lives and works will be reviewed by the Lord.

In Second Corinthians five, verse nine and ten, it says,

9. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

You see, we're going to be judged in the body according to whether it was done good or whether it was done bad. We're going to be judged (glory to God) for our works sake. But we ourselves will be saved.

You see, when we get to heaven... You see, my reward may be a little bit different from your reward. You see, everybody's not going to get all the same thing. Some of us are going to get (glory to God) more than other people get. But still there'll be no jealous... You don't hear me tonight. I won't be jealous of you, and you won't be jealous of me. Because Satan has no place there. Glory to God.

Give Him all you got while you can. Work for Him while you can. Work for Him while you have strength.

Many of us have callings on our lives, but we have not answered that call. We've heard Him call, but we have not answered. Don't be caught with your work undone.

Many people are trying to decide whether or not they want to preach the Gospel. Paul said, "I count it a privilege and an honor to be called to preach." Many people are called to the ministry, the five-fold ministry, but they're still running from it. God help them on the last day. Listen at what I'm saying. Do what you can do while it is day, for the night is going to come when no man can work.

If you got people that are trying to help you get where you're going, then let them help you. Many of us are receiving help, but we're pushing the help away. And then when we feel like we're ready, then we want to come. But it may be too late then. Your season in that place to get your help may be over. Oh, you don't hear me tonight.

Your work is going to be judged for what manner it is.

In Romans fourteen and verse ten, it says,

10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

It's talking about believers. We judge ourselves by ourselves more than the world judges us. The Bible says they that judge themselves by themselves are not wise. We judge ourselves by ourselves. Glory to God. We judge their anointing. We judge how well they sing. We judge how well they preach. We judge even the clothes that they wear.

Why do we judge each other so harshly? We judge each other so harshly. But yet when it's our turn, we want to cry, "Mercy. Have mercy on me." The Holy Spirit will judge. Our Father will judge. Jesus will judge. Let's stop judging ourselves by ourselves.

This is one of the major problems in the body of Christ. This is one of the reasons why people leave churches hurt. Jesus said, "If any man come to Me, I won't cast him out." So then why do we cast each other out?

The only way you ought to leave a brother or sister alone is for a little while, for the destruction of the flesh, when they're in the flesh, and they refuse to come out of the flesh. But we judge each other for everything.

Wave your hands to Jesus tonight.

Saints of God, listen. All we have to do is keep on working. Keep on working. And when we make a mistake, then the Lord will correct us of those mistakes. But if a brother's not mature, then ye that are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness. Restoration is of God. Restoration is of the Lord.

But as soon as someone makes a mistake, they're not worthy any more to do the work of the Lord. Judge not and ye shall not be judged. For the same measure ye mete, it will be met back to you again.

The Word of God will convict and it will judge. When someone's in sin, they will judge themselves. Saints, the Lord is speaking to us. We go fast and slow. But every now and then He wants you to meditate on something.

He's coming back soon. He's coming back soon. You don't have time to talk about me, and I don't have time to talk about you. All we have time to do is live holy and do what the Word of God says to do.

It's in Matthew sixteen and twenty-seven that tells us that we shall be rewarded according to our works. Revelations twenty-two and verse twelve says

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

All of these Scriptures are talking about rewards and judgment.

Listen, saints. Many of you that are sitting out there, you come to church, but you just sit down in church. But you've got something to do for the Lord. Let Him use you. Let Him use you.

The fourth one is the judgment of sin in the believer. The time is any time. The place is anywhere. The result, the chastisement by the Lord, if we judge not ourselves.

In First Corinthians eleven, verse thirty one and thirty two, it says,

31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged,

32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Our judgment is not with the world. The only thing He is going to judge is our works. He's going to judge your works for what manner it was, if you're a real saint of God.

In Hebrews twelve and seven, it says,

7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Listen, saints. Many of us are being chastened of the Lord, and we don't know that we're being chastened. And sometimes we think it's the enemy that's on our track, when it's the God Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that's really dealing with us to get us out of our sin. Glory be to God.

In John nineteen, verse seventeen through eighteen, it tells us what Jesus did for us as saints, as saints. It said,

17. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha:

18. Where they crucified him...

In First Peter two and twenty-four, it says,

24. Who is own self bare our sins in his body on the tree...

In First Peter three and eighteen, it says,

18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God...

He's coming back soon for a church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. He's coming back not for just True Vine Ministries, but He's coming back for His Bride, those that have extra oil in their lamps, those that are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those that have a testimony of who He is. That's who He's coming back for.

In Galatians three and thirteen, it said He became a curse for us by hanging on the tree.

In Second Corinthians five and twenty-one, it said He became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him.

With all that He's done of us, there's nothing that we should not do for Him. We should be ready, and we should be willing, no matter what the time, no matter what the season, no matter what's going on in our lives. We should be ready and willing to do whatever it is that the Lord is calling us to do.

In John five and verse twenty-four, it says,

24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

If you're a saint of God in this place, do the work that He's called you to do. But if you're not a saint of God, the Bible says that He doesn't hear sinner's prayers. But there's an opportunity before He comes back for you to give your live to Him. The Bible says He gives us a space to repent. He gives us a season to get it right.

Close your eyes in this place tonight.

The Lord is here for His people. But He said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." That's what He's done. He's come to call sinners to repentance. The Bible says that no man knows the hour that the Son of man cometh. He can come any time now.

I don't know about you, but I want to be ready. I want to be ready when Jesus comes. I want to be ready when Jesus comes. Yes, Lord Jesus.

You may be someone here tonight that knows that they're not ready. But you want to be ready for Jesus. You want to give your life to Him, that you don't have to stay down here and go through the tribulation period, and that you'll have no part of the second death.





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