I do want you to know how privileged
I feel to be with you again.
Even though all these years have gone by,
I feel as though we've been very much
a part of you.
So thankful for those of you who've come
from a distance to be here this week.
I'm really disappointed.
I thought Hosea came to hear me.
It's a real, real let down.
The second part of that is, I'm always
intimidated when either Brother Kong or Hosea are
in the audience.
Because I know the richness of their life
and ministry.
And while I've been on the way a
long time, I know that we are short.
I haven't forgotten what we started with.
The main thing is to keep the main
thing, the main thing.
And I'm fearful this morning that if I
start explaining that, we won't get any further.
And I do have another burden.
I need to say this.
The main thing always has to be qualified.
We're going to talk at the end.
Mack has promised, after I'm exhausted and through,
to remind me that I still haven't answered
it.
The main thing in the universe is what
we're going to get at.
Last night we were talking about the main
thing in really finishing the race triumphantly.
And that we've been marked out or predestined
for two things.
To be conformed to the image of the
Lord Jesus.
And to be placed or positioned as mature
sons who can share something of the reign
with him.
But this morning, my burden is to talk
about another main thing.
One of these days, it might not be
too far away, we're all going to stand
for the evaluation.
When we get to the end of the
race and we realize that he's going to
evaluate what we've done.
The fact that we're with him means that
we've been saved by grace.
But I feel burdened because one of these
days, when we all stand before the beam
or the judgment seat of Christ.
Somebody's going to slip up to me and
say, Vern, did you know this?
Did you know what was going to take
place here?
And you didn't tell me.
I am relieving myself this morning of that
burden.
I'll be able to say to everyone here,
I told you so.
I told you.
Now, let me use the overhead again.
I don't know how it comes through on
the video.
Some places it doesn't, but you know that
I need it.
Let me begin what we're sharing this morning
by suggesting that there are different judgments
that are pictured in the scripture.
Very briefly, we can say that God's great
judging work that is passed for us as
his children.
Is when on the cross he dealt a
master blow against sin, the self and the
old flesh and all that that represents.
The world and the devil in one master
stroke.
He took care of all of that and
judged once and for all.
All that needed to be taken care of.
And the good news this morning is that
if you have trusted the Lord Jesus.
We say if you have been to the
cross, you will never be at this judgment
over here.
The judgment of the great white throne.
People often confuse this thinking, you know, at
the very end of the great assize when
all are gathered there to be judged that
they will be there.
No, good news this morning.
If you've been here, you'll never come to
this judgment.
That ought to say, cause you to say,
thank you, Lord.
So I need to strip away this very
quickly.
There are many aspects to what we call
the judgment at the cross.
But the great white throne after the thousand
years will be a time the whole world
will come to realize.
But the judgment that I want to talk
about this morning.
You can turn in your Bible to first
Corinthians is what is called the Bema judgment.
This particular judgment seat of Christ.
We will read about it first in.
Oh, let us take second Corinthians first.
Shall we play second Corinthians five ten.
The apostle Paul says in five ten.
For we.
Must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ.
That everyone may receive according to things done
in his body, according to that is done,
whether it be good or bad.
I need to say to you this morning
that once sin has been dealt with.
The flesh.
All that's contrary to God.
The world.
And the devil.
Once this has been dealt with in God's
working at the cross.
There is still a further evaluation.
For every one of us.
The Greek word here is Bema.
It literally means the judgment seat where we
will be evaluated for what we have done
our work.
It's quite a thing to realize in
the running of the race.
Fulfilling the purpose and all that God had.
But someday I'm going to give account.
Like to have you turn to first Corinthians.
And we will read there in chapter three.
Paul says beginning with verse nine.
For we are laborers together with God.
He says then in chapter three and verse
eleven.
For other foundation can no man lay.
That is laid which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones.
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 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.
You see this indicates to us then.
That once we have come to really know
the grace of God.
And we have trusted Jesus Christ and the
finished work.
It's not a matter of our standing before
him to decide whether we can go into
heaven.
That's not the issue.
We're saved by grace.
We have the privilege of eternal life.
But this judgment we call the Bema.
Is for the evaluation of the work.
Some I believe will stand in that day.
They may have a lot as it were
to offer him.
Yet every bit of it will go up
in smoke and flames.
They'll stand with ashes.
Head bowed.
Enter into heaven.
Saved so as by fire.
But that's all.
I need to tell you this.
I've hesitated but I think I will.
I guess the reason this has become so
very real to me through the years.
Is back in my early ministry when we
were still living in Missouri.
God graciously gave a revival that moved through
the area for weeks.
Actually a couple years.
I explained the other night that had been
some ladies who'd been praying.
God answered their prayer.
Hundreds probably thousands were really touched in all
the area.
In the process of this.
With youthful zeal and desire to serve the
Lord.
We built a boot camp.
A training place.
Where we wouldn't qualify folk after the flesh.
But would qualify them.
To be witnesses.
To go out to the world.
And to really touch people's lives.
In the midst of this.
We built 13 buildings.
Very rough.
Like a boot camp would be.
And to shorten the story.
I need to tell you.
You can't move into a community.
Without.
If you're doing something for God.
Without the enemy getting stirred up.
In the course of the years.
There came much persecution.
Probably much misunderstanding.
Because of our lack.
And.
The day came.
I was in the north in meetings.
Everyone was gone from the camp.
Some folks slipped in.
And set a fire.
12 of the buildings.
Only one that remained.
Was the meeting place at the center.
Never forget.
My mother sent the telegram to me.
And said son.
Everything is in ashes.
Except the main meeting place.
I got home a few days afterwards.
Drove out to all that was there.
It was one of those times.
As I was saying last night.
When I got very close to being offended.
Fact is.
There were folk.
Who'd put sweat, blood, labor.
And all of this into the building.
I'm not sure they recovered.
The question was God.
It was yours.
Why didn't you take care of your property?
Well it said all of that to say.
As I drove out there.
Looked over the ashes.
I can never forget that day.
Because God spoke to my heart.
In such a personal.
And a real way.
That it is marked.
Everything from that hour on.
I don't know that it was a vision.
Or a dream.
Or what it was.
But as I looked at the ashes.
I saw myself standing.
Before the Bema.
There he was.
The Lord Jesus.
Sitting on his exalted throne.
I looked and I saw.
All those one by one.
Who were coming before him.
For the evaluation.
I'd been very active.
In Youth for Christ.
Traveling up and down the country.
Speaking to thousands.
And in Revival.
And I would honestly have said.
I felt like I had something to offer
the Lord.
I stood with my arms full.
I looked as individuals.
Some I knew.
Whose names I could give you.
And when they came.
I saw they had.
Like myself.
Arms full.
A lot of activity.
It was pretty much wood.
A stubble.
Each one.
As they stood there.
Suddenly.
All went into flames.
I saw their head bow.
In ashes.
They entered in.
But it wasn't an abundant entrance.
It was saved.
So it was but fire.
I remember Aunt Anne.
I saw her.
She'd been the leader of this little prayer
group.
For 23 years.
Who had prayed.
When I looked.
Her arms were not full.
But her hands had some gold.
And silver.
And precious stones.
And when she stood before him.
There was such a smile of approval.
And the glittering of all of it.
She entered in.
To an abundant entrance.
And then it came my turn.
I took my step forward.
And he dropped the curtain.
And said.
Not yet.
You better believe I sighed relief.
You know why?
Because I had my hands.
My arms full.
When I looked at it.
It was as though the Lord said.
Wood.
Hay.
Stubble.
Didn't mean that we hadn't been doing anything
for God.
But we hadn't been building.
According to God's ways.
Didn't have a sense and a vision.
Of what he really wanted.
And I suppose pretty much of it.
Would have been the siphoning off.
Of satisfaction.
Interest.
Glory.
For myself.
But as the curtain dropped.
And I heard him as it were say.
Not yet.
This is the word that came.
Let your building.
Be in life.
Let your building.
Be in life.
And I could look over the ashes.
That were there.
And I believe I could honestly say.
Lord if this would be a hindrance.
If this would be something that we are
building.
Just for our own work.
Not according to pattern.
According to what you want.
I say amen.
Now I give you this this morning.
On the basis of this.
I've come to realize.
That there are two real gifts.
That we have to deal with.
If you can talk about the main giving.
The first gift that we have to deal
with.
Is God's gracious gift to us.
How many of you know what it is?
He wraps up all his giving.
All that could ever be given.
All that God the Father has ever given.
He wraps it up in one package.
And there it is.
In his Son.
What a gift.
Problem is it's going to take a long
time.
For us to discover what's in the package.
How many have been discovering that already?
All the tumbling ages.
Coming to a new and a full appreciation.
Of all that's in Jesus.
But I need to tell you this.
Generally evangelical people.
And all of us have been so involved.
Thank God for what he's given.
But God's been turning our heart through the
years.
To an adjustment and a rectifying.
What does God get?
What is the gift that I can give
back to him?
Are you there?
What would really satisfy God?
What could satisfy the God of the universe?
Whose determined design.
What would be the main thing that could
satisfy his heart?
Only one thing.
We were speaking of it last night.
And the predestining and the marking out.
The only thing that could really satisfy God.
Is his Son.
Fully conformed into us.
The image of Christ.
I mean he only finds delight in him.
And so if he's going to find further
delight.
It'll be in what?
Christ formed in us.
So I need to say to us this
morning.
It's not so much the things that we
do.
That are important.
But probably in the end.
It'll be what we become.
Now don't miss the point.
It's in our doing.
We become.
But in becoming.
God gets the doing done.
He does through the reality that there is.
So with that in mind this morning.
I'd like for us to just consider now.
Here's the gift that we have.
All that's been given to us.
What am I going to really give to
him?
When I stand before the Bema.
Before the Lord Jesus.
I need to take you to one more
portion now.
That's over in the book of Revelation.
You will turn there please.
I'd like to build this frame of reference.
For our thinking.
Revelation please.
Chapter 3.
I guess you know.
That in the second and third chapters of
Revelation.
We have seven churches.
And God is speaking to them.
Saying in each letter that he writes.
The same thing.
He says to Ephesus.
Verse 2.
Chapter 2.
Verse 2.
I know thy works.
And he goes on to each.
To Smyrna.
To Pergamos.
Thyatira.
Sardis.
Philadelphia.
And Laodicea.
And to every one of them he says.
I know thy works.
The reason for this is.
Because.
We're all going to give an account.
Whether as individuals.
Or as the representation of the church.
We're going to give account.
For what has been done.
And.
Then he says.
That there is a special word.
That the spirit would say.
To the church.
I believe to each of us.
But I want us to look in.
To chapter 3 now.
And.
We're going to look at verse 15.
He's speaking to the Laodicean.
But he says this.
I know thy works.
And then.
He tells us something.
What I want us to see in this.
This morning.
Is that.
It is possible.
When individuals.
Stand before the Bhima.
That some.
May stand.
Naked.
In that day.
Some.
Very poor.
And some.
Very blind.
You don't know what I'm saying in this.
But let me.
Go on further to explain.
One of the things.
That's most critical.
In the scripture.
And in our understanding of God's way.
Is to know that there are.
Certain things that are free.
And there are certain things.
That you must buy.
I think the great emphasis.
In the church is what's free.
How many can say thank God.
All right.
Thank God for what is free.
But so often.
We fail to recognize.
That there are.
Some things.
That we must buy.
And I believe.
As we unfold this this morning.
You'll see you'll recognize.
What he's saying.
When John writes.
Look at it again.
I know thy works.
Verse 16.
Because thou art lukewarm.
And neither cold or hot.
I will spew thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest.
I am rich and increased with goods.
And have need of nothing.
And knowest not that thou art wretched.
Miserable.
Poor.
Blind.
Naked.
Here's the key.
I counsel thee to buy.
Of me gold tried in the fire.
That thou mayst be rich.
And white raiment.
That thou mayst be clothed.
And that the shame.
Of thy nakedness do not appear.
And anoint thine eyes.
With eye salve.
That thou mayest see.
Let me illustrate this.
Now in explaining that.
When we first come.
To the cross.
And meet the Lord.
One of the things that we receive.
Freely is the robe.
Of righteousness.
It's a robe of our salvation.
How many of you know.
That God is perfect.
Perfection.
Now that's wonderful.
But it's also terrible.
For all of us.
Righteous.
Holy.
Perfect.
And he can be satisfied with nothing less.
The good news is.
That when we come.
To the cross.
And we really trust.
What Jesus Christ has done.
God gives to us.
The perfect righteousness of his son.
Let me illustrate it this way.
I used to know Dr. Walter Wilson.
Back in Kansas City.
Before he went to be with the Lord.
And he tells the story one day.
Of going out in the countryside.
The place where he was having ministry.
He was one of the greatest soul winners.
I've ever known.
Had a unique ability.
To turn every situation.
For the Lord.
In this days they were traveling.
Along the country road.
He saw a farmer.
Standing by the fence.
With a flock of sheep.
In the background.
And he said to the driver.
Let's stop and visit with this man.
For a little bit.
They stopped in the course.
Of talking with him.
Dr. Wilson noticed.
He was an MD.
Noticed out in the pasture.
A little lamb.
That looked so strange.
What's wrong with it?
Looks so different.
The farmer said.
Oh that's very interesting.
A couple months ago.
When that lamb was born.
It's mother died.
I had an orphan.
Which I usually have to bottle feed.
And he said.
It was about the same time.
That I had another mother.
Who in lambing.
Her little lamb died.
And he said.
So I took this little lamb.
Orphan lamb.
And put it in with this mother.
Whose lamb had died.
And I thought maybe she'd nurse it.
Maybe she would care for it.
And he said.
The mother went up.
And took a couple sniffs.
And said that's not mine.
And began to bunt it all over the
pen.
He said I rescued the little lamb out.
And just as I was doing that.
I thought she doesn't recognize.
This is her own.
And I remembered that that little lamb.
Her lamb had died.
Was still in the pasture.
I hadn't had time to dispose.
He said I took my knife.
I skinned the fleece.
From that little lamb.
And brought it in.
And tied it around this little lamb.
You see out here.
Put the lamb back in the pen.
And what do you think happened?
Now you've been so quiet.
I need your response.
What do you think happened?
How many of you can tell me what
happened?
Well that mother went up.
And she sniffed and said that's mine.
And he said.
She has been nursing it for a couple
months.
Accepted.
Into the family.
Because.
Do I need to illustrate it anymore?
How many have your fleece on this morning?
Are you there?
How many say.
God.
I'm accepted in the beloved.
The gift of righteousness.
The robe of my salvation.
What did I do to get it?
By grace.
Nothing.
There may be somebody who slipped in this
morning.
Often happens on Sunday mornings.
God has brought you here.
I'd like for the Holy Spirit.
To make this so clear to you.
The perfect God.
Who requires perfect righteousness.
Can never accept us.
The good news is.
He never sees us apart.
From his lovely son.
If you don't have that robe this morning.
Never been to the cross.
And accepted fully trusted.
What he has done.
I just say to you.
You can.
It's free.
What did you pay for it?
Nothing.
Trusted him.
What a privilege.
Well.
It's one thing.
To have the robe.
And be accepted.
Because.
It's freely given.
I have the robe of righteousness.
But I need to tell you.
That when you stand before.
The Bema.
You're standing before who?
Jesus.
And you don't put on Jesus.
To stand before Jesus.
Are you following me?
Well.
What does.
What does John mean.
Now when he says.
In our context here.
He says.
I want you to buy something.
I believe.
As we're going to see.
That there is a white raiment.
That he.
Wants us.
To buy.
I counsel thee.
To buy.
Of me.
A white raiment.
I mean.
You like to buy some.
This morning.
I mean.
Would you like.
To really be sure.
That when you stand.
Before the Bema.
The evaluation.
You won't be there naked.
Well.
The scripture.
I believe.
Always explains itself.
And.
You can turn.
If you want.
Back to Revelation.
What is it?
Eighteen.
Nineteen.
Let's peek there for a moment.
Speaking of.
Those who are gathered.
Before the Lamb.
Chapter.
Nineteen.
In verse.
Seven.
It says.
Let us be glad.
And rejoice.
And give honor.
To him.
For the marriage.
Of the Lamb.
Has come.
And his wife.
Has made herself.
Ready.
And to her.
Was granted.
That she should.
Be arrayed.
In fine linen.
Clean.
And.
White.
For the fine linen.
Is the.
I don't know.
What your translation.
Says.
Middle margin.
Probably.
The righteous.
Acts.
Of the saints.
I guess.
What I want to say to you.
This morning.
Is this.
We say.
Lord.
I want.
My.
Life.
Poured out.
My labor.
My work.
I want.
What I do.
To be.
Your way.
Of.
Developing.
White raiment.
I can see.
The Holy Spirit.
Working.
In lives.
Here's.
The wolf.
And the war.
By.
The spirit.
Of grace.
That God works.
And.
White raiment.
The righteous.
Acts.
Of the saints.
All.
I can look.
Back.
Through.
The years.
I didn't.
Understand.
It.
But.
I know.
Now.
That.
The lives.
That I have seen.
God.
Working.
In.
Very.
Special.
Way.
Which.
There.
Was.
The weaving.
Of.
White.
Raiment.
I don't.
Think.
It.
Frustrates.
The purpose.
Of.
The grace.
Of.
God.
If.
We're.
Very.
Clear.
In.
The fact.
That.
Some.
Things.
Are.
Free.
And.
They're.
Holy.
By.
His.
Grace.
This.
That.
We're.
Referring.
To.
This.
Morning.
Is.
The.
Enabling.
Grace.
That.
I spoke.
To.
Last.
Night.
The.
Desire.
And.
The.
Power.
God.
Gives.
The.
Enabling.
Grace.
In.
Order.
That.
My.
Life.
Might.
Be.
Poured.
Out.
For.
Others.
Thinking.
Of.
A.
Sister.
This.
Morning.
Over.
Her.
Testimony.
About.
Two.
Blocks.
From.
Her.
Family.
Had.
Been.
In.
Great.
Difficulty.
Husband.
Was.
Gone.
The.
Mother.
Became.
Sick.
And.
So.
This.
Sister.
Decided.
She'd.
Go.
In.
And.
Do.
The.
Ironing.
And.
Washing.
And.
Clean.
Up.
The.
House.
All.
The.
Things.
That.
A.
Sister.
Could.
Do.
For.
One.
Who.
Is.
In.
Disposed.
Couple.
Days.
Later.
She.
Heard.
By.
The.
Great.
Vine.
That.
They.
Had.
Said.
In.
Home.
We.
Couldn't.
Find.
Anything.
After.
She.
Got.
Through.
Fixing.
Up.
You.
Know.
What.
Happened.
In.
Her.
Spirit.
She.
Said.
Well.
If.
That's.
Way.
They.
Appreciate.
It.
I.
Won't.
Do.
It.
Again.
Until.
The.
Lord.
Said.
Who.
Did.
You.
Do.
It.
For.
Are.
You.
There.
Who.
Did.
You.
Do.
It.
For.
Well.
Yes.
Or.
For.
Me.
She.
Said.
As.
I.
Went.
Before.
The.
Lord.
God.
Said.
What.
A.
Privilege.
To.
Give.
And.
Be.
Poured.
Out.
What.
A.
Privilege.
To.
Share.
Did.
You.
Want.
Your.
Reward.
Now.
Or.
Then.
Make.
Your.
Choice.
Lots.
Of.
Times.
We.
Get.
Our.
Rewarding.
And.
Our.
Now.
There's.
A.
Lot.
Of.
God's.
Children.
Who.
Believe.
In.
Their.
Poured.
Out.
Life.
Their.
Service.
Their.
Love.
And.
Giving.
God's.
Developing.
Some.
White.
Payment.
Only.
He.
Really.
Sees.
It.
I.
Don't.
Need.
To.
On.
Are.
You.
With.
Me.
So.
Far.
How.
Many.
Say.
Lord.
I'm.
Ready.
To.
Buy.
I.
Don't.
Want.
To.
Stand.
Naked.
You.
Don't.
Need.
To.
That's.
Good.
I.
Don't.
Want.
Naked.
Don't.
Stand.
Naked.
You.
Don't.
Stand.
Naked.
Don't.
But.
John.
Goes.
On.
To.
Say.
I.
Counsel.
You.
To.
Buy.
Of.
Me.
Gold.
Tried.
In.
The.
Fire.
Here.
Is.
Faith.
That's.
Imparted.
The.
Measure.
Of.
Faith.
That's.
Given.
Initially.
Then.
As.
God.
Begins.
To.
Take.
Us.
Through.
The.
Race.
Course.
The.
Tribulations.
The.
Trials.
The.
Circumstances.
Of.
Life.
I.
Believe.
He's.
Working.
Out.
Something.
Of.
His.
Own.
Character.
And.
Nature.
In.
Our.
Lives.
How.
Many.
Have.
Sensed.
God.
Beating.
Away.
On.
The.
Gold.
Do.
You.
Wonder.
Why.
In.
The.
Tabernacle.
That.
Talk.
About.
Beating.
Gold.
I.
Always.
Wondered.
Now.
Know.
Are.
You.
There.
How.
Many.
Know.
What.
Beating.
Gold.
Is.
I.
Need.
To.
Pick.
On.
Somebody.
This.
Morning.
And.
Won't.
Do.
It.
Mac.
This.
Time.
How.
Many.
Sense.
Of.
Beating.
On.
Your.
Gold.
Sister.
I.
Seen.
You.
For.
A.
Long.
Time.
But.
I.
Sense.
God.
Has.
Been.
Beaten.
Away.
Why.
Something.
Of.
The.
Glory.
The.
Lord.
Shows.
Up.
You're.
Gonna.
Go.
Home.
And.
Say.
Oh.
God.
Thank.
You.
For.
The.
Beating.
Keep.
On.
Thank.
You.
For.
Putting.
Me.
Through.
The.
Trials.
The.
Things.
Go.
Through.
In.
Order.
That.
In.
The.
Midst.
Of.
It.
Faith.
Can.
Reach.
Out.
I.
Can.
Say.
Lord.
This.
Is.
Your.
Way.
Of.
Developing.
More.
Of.
The.
Character.
And.
The.
Qualities.
Of.
The.
Lord.
Jesus.
I.
Want.
To.
Buy.
Some.
Gold.
Tried.
In.
The.
Fire.
What.
Kind.
Of.
A.
Testimony.
Do.
You.
Think.
You're.
Going.
To.
As.
You.
Finally.
You.
Know.
Pass.
The.
Evaluation.
And.
You.
Start.
To.
Talk.
About.
What.
You've.
Been.
Through.
Down.
Here.
And.
You.
Meet.
Noah.
And.
He.
Doesn't.
Say.
A.
Word.
All.
Those.
Long.
Years.
He.
Obeyed.
God.
Tested.
And.
Tried.
What.
Kind.
Of.
A.
Testimony.
Will.
You.
Give.
When.
You.
Stand.
With.
Noah.
He.
Probably.
Doesn't.
Say.
Much.
All.
He.
Has.
Is.
Beaten.
Gold.
I.
Just.
Believe.
That.
Something.
In.
My.
Own.
Heart.
Says.
Oh.
God.
I.
Never.
Cease.
To.
Thank.
You.
For.
What.
You.
Freely.
Give.
But.
More.
I'm.
Beginning.
To.
Realize.
The.
Things.
That.
You.
Counsel.
Us.
To.
Buy.
Let.
Me.
Ask.
You.
A.
Question.
How.
Many.
You.
Can.
Remember.
When.
First.
Day.
Of.
Your.
New.
Life.
You.
Had.
New.
Eyes.
All.
Things.
Passed.
Away.
Everything.
Looked.
Different.
I'm.
Always.
Amazed.
At.
The.
Testimony.
Of.
Focus.
I.
Just.
Things.
So.
Differently.
New.
Eyes.
Jesus.
Touched.
The.
Fellow.
And.
He.
Had.
New.
Eyes.
He.
Saw.
A.
Tree.
He.
Touched.
Him.
Again.
And.
He.
Saw.
More.
Clearly.
You.
Remember.
Your.
New.
Eyes.
I.
Remember.
What.
God.
Did.
I.
Remember.
A.
Sister.
I.
Was.
Speaking.
In.
A.
Church.
God.
Had.
Been.
Working.
For.
Days.
I.
Closed.
The.
Meeting.
Night.
Just.
As.
I.
Was.
Stepping.
Down.
From.
The.
Pulpit.
She.
Walked.
Down.
The.
Aisle.
I.
Could.
See.
As.
She.
Came.
She.
Had.
A.
War.
In.
Her.
Eyes.
A.
Long.
Day.
And.
I.
Said.
Oh.
God.
Help.
Never.
Forget.
It.
Closer.
She.
Got.
You.
Could.
Just.
See.
That.
She.
Was.
Under.
Terrible.
Conviction.
God.
Been.
All.
Week.
Knew.
It.
When.
She.
Got.
About.
Three.
Feet.
From.
Me.
She.
Said.
I.
Got.
A.
Thousand.
Questions.
I.
Want.
To.
Ask.
You.
And.
I.
Felt.
To.
Say.
To.
Her.
Good.
But.
Before.
We.
Take.
Up.
Your.
Questions.
Let.
Me.
Ask.
You.
A.
Question.
And.
It.
Was.
This.
When.
Are.
You.
Going.
To.
Put.
Up.
The.
White.
Flag.
Of.
Surrender.
And.
Say.
Yes.
Lord.
Jesus.
And.
Let.
Him.
Have.
Your.
Life.
Very.
Straightforward.
She.
Said.
Right.
Now.
And.
She.
Knelt.
At.
The.
Front.
Peel.
Guess.
Who.
Was.
Surprised.
Never.
Forget.
It.
You.
Know.
Why.
She.
Weighed.
About.
Three.
Hundred.
Pounds.
Tremendous.
Didn't.
Take.
Long.
God.
Meant.
The.
Need.
She.
Came.
With.
Face.
That.
Was.
So.
Changed.
When.
She.
Stood.
Up.
I'll.
Never.
Forget.
Max.
She.
Reached.
Out.
And.
With.
Those.
Big.
Eyes.
She.
Grabbed.
Me.
I.
Knew.
She.
You.
Didn't.
Love.
You.
Didn't.
Really.
Care.
For.
Suddenly.
They.
Didn't.
Look.
So.
Bad.
Dry.
New.
Eyes.
That's.
Wonderful.
We.
Had.
Her.
Funeral.
Forty.
Years.
Have.
Gone.
By.
Never.
Forget.
Not.
Too.
Long.
Ago.
She.
Went.
On.
To.
Be.
With.
The.
Lord.
All.
The.
Change.
And.
Transformation.
In.
Data's.
Life.
We.
Dropped.
In.
Occasionally.
To.
See.
Her.
And.
She'd.
Up.
Her.
Bible.
And.
Say.
I.
Want.
To.
Show.
You.
Some.
New.
Things.
I've.
Been.
Seeing.
And.
I.
Began.
To.
Realize.
Through.
The.
Years.
She.
Not.
Only.
Had.
New.
Eyes.
But.
She'd.
Been.
Buying.
Eye.
Sav.
She'd.
Been.
Buying.
Some.
Eye.
Sav.
And.
With.
This.
Eye.
Sav.
The.
Spirit.
Of.
God.
Was.
Making.
Things.
Real.
And.
Precious.
Her.
What.
Am.
I.
Gonna.
Become.
That.
Will.
Please.
God.
What.
Can.
Offer.
Him.
I.
Don't.
Know.
Maybe.
Jose.
Or.
Brother.
Kong.
Will.
Help.
Me.
In.
This.
I.
Just.
Wonder.
If.
I'm.
Gonna.
Be.
Fixed.
For.
Eternity.
With.
The.
Garment.
I'm.
Weaving.
Now.
Do.
You.
Think.
After.
During.
The.
Thousand.
Years.
I'll.
Get.
To.
Add.
More.
White.
Raiment.
Or.
More.
Beaten.
Gold.
Or.
More.
I.
Sat.
Or.
Am.
I.
Gonna.
Be.
Fixed.
Once.
I'm.
There.
Let's.
Take.
A.
Vote.
This.
Morning.
Tell.
Me.
A.
Hope.
You.
Can.
Go.
On.
By.
You.
Think.
We'll.
Get.
To.
All.
During.
The.
Thousand.
Years.
I.
Hope.
So.
I.
Hope.
So.
I.
Hope.
I'm.
Not.
Fixed.
I.
Hope.
I.
Hope.
I.
Hope.
I'm.
Not.
Fixed.
I.
Hope.
I.
I'm.
I.
Hope.
I'm.
Fixed.
Not.
Think.
Back.
Of.
Yeah.
It.
My.
I.
Babies.
My.
I.
I'm the expert.
If I'm wrong, I just need to be
adjusted.
But here is treasure that one's buying.
What's the principle of buy?
Don't miss it now.
He sold all that he had.
Sold all that he had.
To get to heaven, to buy what?
Read on to verify it.
45.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to
a merchant man seeking goodly pearls.
Who when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he
had and bought it.
What's the pearl?
Is it eternal life?
Can't buy it, can you?
We keep the consistency of things.
What is the treasure?
And what is the pearl?
What's the principle of buy?
Found something that was so far more valuable.
Ready to sell all, bartered, ready to give
up all this for this.
We're trying to figure out how I could
simplify what we have to barter with.
What do we have this morning as a
company of people that every one of us,
every one of us can barter?
What is an inclusive way?
Well, you may know what STP is or
you ought to.
It's an oil additive, but that's not what
I'm talking about.
But I want you to think of STP
because there are three things you can barter
with.
Everyone this morning has strength, the energy.
Every one of us has time, 24 hours
a day.
And every one of us have at least
some possessions.
I can't think of anything that doesn't fall
into those three things that I can barter
with.
That little sister who went down to the
neighbor, gave her strength, some time, and even
bought some groceries, was bartering.
I need to be honest with you this
morning.
Affluent America.
I wonder when we stand before the Bema
and those from other nations who in a
very simple way have given themselves lives that
have been poured out.
They bartered what they had.
Not what we have, but what they had.
And God on the basis of this is
going to see either naked or poor or
blind or clothed or rich or seen.
Something in my heart says this morning, oh
God, give me a new kind of eye
salve.
Give me a new kind of eye salve
that I can really see the things that
are eternal.
The things that really count.
What's the main thing now as we stand
before the Bema?
You talk back.
What's the main thing when we get there?
The reward I'm going to get?
If I got a crown, it'd only be,
somebody said this morning, something I could lay
at His feet.
The thing that I'm concerned about, the main
thing is that He will be pleased.
He will be satisfied.
That if He sees anything that we've become,
clothed, rich in the experiences, the reality of
the character of the Lord, and an eye
that sees, eye salve, somebody who's been willing,
there's a cost.
There's a cost.
I hate to tell you this because the
more you know this morning, the more accountable
we're going to be.
But I have to do it.
I'm talking to some people whom God wants
to move in with a new measure of
consecration.
A new measure of dedication in your life.
A new measure of being poured out, not
for what you can get, but for what
He can get.
And in the process, what should become for
His pleasure, His delight, His glory?
Do I hear you say in the quiet
of your heart, Oh God?
I hear John as he's speaking.
The Spirit says to the church and to
each of us, I counsel you to buy.
I counsel you to buy.
Got a runaway clock up there.
I need to finish, don't I?
What is the main thing in the universe?
Some of you weren't here, you'll have to
forgive us.
I don't usually, I don't just try to
keep things, but never was that we could
get to it.
First night we started out by saying the
main thing is to keep the main thing,
the main thing.
You all know what the main thing is,
according to you.
Now let me give you the main thing
according to what the Bible says.
I'd like to say, this is, you know,
open for all your evaluation, but if you're
going to start with God and what's really
relevant and important to Him, the main thing
is the ultimacy of the Father, His purpose
in Himself and for Himself.
I mean, if the one who starts it
all, begins it all, everything in the universe
has been made and created and planned by
Him, who do you start with?
The Father and His ultimacy.
What did He purpose?
In Himself and for Himself.
Anybody agree so far?
You're not very sure.
Maybe we ought to go back and read
Ephesians 1.9. But this is where I
am this morning.
You start with the one who starts it
all and what's it all?
This is the main thing in the universe.
The Father saying, I have a plan and
a purpose.
Well, let's see what that also includes.
The main thing then includes the centrality and
the universality of the Lord Jesus Christ in
fulfilling the Father's purpose.
What do you mean?
Oh, you can read this in Ephesians 1
.3. Most of you know what I'm talking
about.
This is not new to you.
This is why, as we were saying the
first night, all the things that attract and
divert and bring us into the whirlpools and
the eddies, they're not wrong in themselves, but
unless they all come to fulfill what the
Father is working out through His lovely Son,
place Him at the center of all things,
and then the extent, the universality to which
it all reaches out.
Well, I'll just leave that with you.
This needs more explaining, but finally we come
to the Holy Spirit.
The imminent and the intimate place and ministry
of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling this purpose
of the Father.
I'd like to talk about imminent as well
as intimate, but I won't.
How personal.
How real.
Always there.
Everything He's doing is to lift up and
exalt the Lord Jesus, who in turn turns
us to the Father.
Have you ever been like I was for
a while, wondered, you know when I pray,
I'm not sure whether I'm slighting the Father
or the Son.
I just want to make sure that when
I come, everything is real.
Anybody ever been through that?
How do you really pray?
One day as I was looking through it,
it was as though the Lord said, if
you're going to be preoccupied with the Holy
Spirit, center in on Him, His whole objective
and ministry is to point us to the
Son.
He didn't come primarily to unveil or reveal
Himself, but just to exalt and uncover the
Lord Jesus.
So I go to the Lord Jesus.
I say, Lord, I'm centering in on You.
The Spirit sent me.
And I get all preoccupied with the Lord
Jesus.
You know what He says?
Have you ever seen my Father?
Look, I'm here.
I'm the window.
I'm revealing the Father.
So He says, I just want you to
see my Father.
So I go to the Father.
Say, I've been sent here.
Father, I just want to worship, want to
be focused and centered in You.
And you know what I hear Him say?
Have you ever seen my lovely son the
way I want you to?
Really?
What does he do?
He turns us back to who?
Everything I'm doing, all I purpose, all that
I'm working on, it's centered in...
Do you know why there's no trouble in
heaven?
There never will be.
Because none seek their own.
None seek...
How are we going to get there?
None seek their own.
Do you know what He's doing in our
lives?
Same thing.
That's why the cross is the tool that
He uses to make very sure that none
seek their own but Him.
The ultimate thing in the universe, then, what
the Father purposes in Himself, for Himself, through
the Son, worked out by the Spirit.
What does the Father finally get?
A vast family of sons that all look
alike.
Isn't that good news?
Ephesians, Paul speaks of the vast family.
All in heaven and in earth.
That's the ultimate.
That's what the Father...
That's the main thing, bringing into being all
that He's wanting.
What does the Son get?
He's the head.
We're members of the body.
A vehicle for expressing His purpose, His authority,
all that He's doing.
Are you part of the body this morning?
Sure.
What does the Son get?
Not only the head gets a body to
function but the bridegroom gets a bride.
What does the Holy Spirit get?
The main thing that the Spirit...
What does the Holy Spirit get?
Now we're talking about what God gets.
How many of you know He doesn't really
have a body of His own?
But He does have one.
We are the temple.
And these living stones that God's fitting together
to be a glorious temple that's growing up
and developing.
The Spirit dwelling within.
Did you know when it says ye are
the temple, I'm not sure it's singular so
much as the ye is plural.
Ye are the temple.
Well, we need to quit.
And I'm not through but we'll have to.
I do though.
We have children downstairs.
Anyway, here we are.
Can I ask you a question this morning?
What is your heart set on?
Are you buying anything?
Or just living it up?
Thank God for everything that comes to us
free.
Thank God.
There's another side of the story.
It's the only thing that makes the grace
of God complete and full.
The grace, the enabling grace by which we're
able to buy.
It is not in ourselves but He gives
the desire and the power by which my
roots can take of the full supply.
Father, this morning I thank you for my
brothers and sisters.
We've been together through the years at various
times.
And now we come to this morning.
I want to exhort once again and just
say thank you for those with such open
hearts and the responsiveness that I see.
I believe you this morning.
I believe you to plant some encouragement.
That when they go through the circumstances and
the beating of gold, tried in the fire,
all of this, there be an, oh Lord,
this is what you're doing.
I want to become something that will please
you.
When we walk a more lonely way because
not everybody understands, but we've seen something.
And each bit of new eyes have requires
new obedience.
Help us to be faithful.
Because we'll never see anymore, we'll never buy
anymore until we walk out and obey the
light of what we've seen.
Here we are this morning.
You know whom you brought.
Don't let us take an easy way.
Don't let us come that day.
And it may not be very far away.
Maybe sooner than we realize we'll be standing
before you Lord.
And we want your smile of approval.
All that we brought by the energy and
the work of our own flesh and for
ourselves.
Would Hainstubble.
Help us to build on the foundation according
to divine pattern.
By the enablement of the Spirit.
And we'll give you the praise, the honor
and the glory.
For we ask it in Jesus name.
And everyone said, Amen.