Ready to Go Away

13/10/2019 13:25

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Date: 10 October, 2019
Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Title: Ready to Go Away
 
Introduction:
 
The courts - have been much in the news lately 
 
We've found out that the judiciary is a powerful branch of goverment as it has flexed his or her muscles.
 
The Supreme Court's ruling - The Prime Ministers prorogueing of parliament was unlawful. 
 
Currently - The "surrender act" or the Benn Act - requiring the Prime Minister to ask the EU for an extension of negotiations on Brexit. The court is considering sending something to the EU in the name of the Prime Minister.
 
There is no court more powerful - than the King of King's Court - Jesus is the true Chief Justice who was appointed by God the Father.
Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
 
There are 3 coming judgments over which Jesus will preside.
 
1.) The judgment seat of Christ.
a. Who is at this judgment? (believers)
Rom 14:10  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.
11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2Co 5:10  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.
b. When is this judgment? 
(Soon after the rapture of the church which precedes the tribulation period (7 year judgment.)
1 Corinthians 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
c. What does the judgment determine? (rewards)
1 Corinthians 3:12  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.
2.) The judgment of the nations. 
(After the tribulation and preceding the Millenial reign of Jesus.)
WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS.
3.) The Great White Throne judgment.
a. Who is at this judgment.
Revelation 20:
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; 
b. When is this judgment.
 7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
c. What will be determined at this judgments.
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 second judgment in our list this morning, the judgment of the nations is the one which we are considering.
A. The judgment has both believers and unbelievers.
B. It is as we mentioned after the tribulation and preceding the Millenial Reign of Jesus.
C. This judgment will be a separation of people who will either be....
1. Joining Jesus in His kingdom....
2.  or going into eternal judgment.
D. This is the only judgment where the courtroom is on earth.
 
Our text: Matthew 25:31-46 - is red in your Bible if you have a red letter edition of the Bible which highlights with red ink the recorded words which Jesus spoke.
 
exp. It is possible this morning that most of those who hear this message, will never face this exact judgment.
1.) To get there you would have to miss the rapture.
2.) You would need to survive the tribulation.
 
However, I'm going to preach this message as I would hope to preach it if I was alive during the tribulation and the 7 years were nearly passed.
 
I would entitle the message - READY TO GO AWAY? from v.46 where it says, 
"46  And these shall go away....
ill. Pastor Don Dillman and his wife, Chris fly out tonight for London and then onto the USA. I get to fill pulpit at brother Don's church next Sunday. Wednesday he said they were getting the house ready. I'm sure their bags are packed and at the door waiting for their departure tonight.
exp. When you know that you have a trip coming - YOU GET READY TO GO AWAY. I wonder how many are going to be ready to go away when they face this judgment.
 
YOU NEED TO GET READY TO GO AWAY - THE KING IS COMING!
exp. The king is coming, are you ready to go away?
note -  this judgment is like one station for trains going both directions. Nobody is ready to go to hell and only some are ready to go to Heaven. 
46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous (shall go away) into life eternal.
 
PRAYER....
GET READY TO GO AWAY....
 
I. Get ready - the Son of man, Jesus, is coming in glory.
exp. Jesus did not come in his first coming in glory. He came in humility.
Philippians 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
  ill. I often listen to the instrumental stream on Abiding Radio. As I was preparing this part of my message, A hymn often sung at Christmas was playing. THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE.
 
1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
 
2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
exp. Nobody feared the babe in the  manger, the carpenters son or the meek teacher who like a lamb went to His death on the cross. But, his second coming will be in glory.
A. The glory will be revealed.
31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, 
ill. John the Baptist knew the glory of the Son of God though it was veiled in human flesh.
Matthew 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
ill. He preached of Jesus saying - Luk 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
 exp. Jesus declared of John that Baptist that he was the greatest of men. 
Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: 
 exp. This great man saw the glory of Jesus when it was veiled. All will see His glory when it is revealed.
Philippians 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 app. Get ready the son is coming with revealed glory.
B. The glory of His authority.
and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
exp. When Jesus was taken to be crucified as the song says, He could have called 10,000 angels,... 
Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
exp. He needs not call them now. They are with him and He has all the power and authority which He set aside restored to Him. HE SHALL SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY!
QUESTION -
Would  Pilate say to Him now as he did as recorded in Joh 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 
Would the false witnesses be as bold - Matthew 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Would the soldiers think it a great game to play dress up with the king? Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Would the crowd be so unwise as to jeer? - Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
 app. If you have no concept of the glory of the King, you are not ready.
transition: Get ready to go away - the King is coming in His glory!
 
II. Get ready - you will be summoned to the King's court.
32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: 
exp. Jesus is going to illustrate this story with livestock as he identifies these nations as sheep and goats. If they were cattle, this would be a round up.
 ill. In the United States, there were some cattle called mavericks. They were basically wild cattle who were unbranded. A cowboy would have to go into the brush and their quarter horse would push these cattle into a pen (they would round them up) and then do a cattle drive to take them to market.
exp. It didn't matter much if a maverick cow didn't want to go - it would be gathered up.
note: Our world has a bunch of mavericks who don't want to be gathered - but it doesn't matter. Before him will be gathered.....
Idolaters - those who worshipped the beast and the false prophet.
false religions and cults - the ecumenical one world church
Humanists 
- who think they can legislate immorality 
- killing babies
- legislating sexual perversion while shaking their fist in the face of God.
 exp. They will have to face the king.
ill. I attended a christian school - when I was in S1 I made several bad decisions. Our Bible class homework was not graded - but if it was incomplete 3 times you got detention. I decided to copy someone's work with someone else to avoid detention. I can remember the sinking feeling in my stomache as the principle in all this glory and authority stepped up to our desk. (Made me copy something like 11 typed pages over the coming school holiday.)
exp. I meet people every time I do evangelism who think they don't have to get ready because there is no way they are going to stand before the king. THEY ARE WRONG. 
- If they die now - they will face King Jesus at the Great White Throne judgment.
Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
- If they make it through the tribulation they will be present at this judgment.
app. Would your stomache sink to find yourself in his presence guilty? Or would you rejoice to see Him? 1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
transition: Get ready to go away - the King is coming in His glory! You will be summoned.
 
III. Get ready - you will have a designated place.
and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
exp. They are all together when they enter but are immediately separated by Jesus into two groups. 
1.) All and only sheep on the right.
2.) All and only goats on the left.
 ill. I Recently read part of the life story of Dr. Ben David Lew. He said being young and strong saved his and his brother's life. When the nazi's took his family - they were divided into groups. Where other groups were murdered. His group was put to work.
note: These were sober lines. One line meant horrible life and the other line meant certain death. The nazi's were arbitrary making whimsical decisions which were matters of life and death.
app. Those at the judgment seat of Christ are not brought there by a wicked ruler BUT BY THE GOOD KING JESUS - the groups gathered there are sober groups.
- They are not arbitrarily assigned - sheep on the right - goats on the left.
- The good king knows exactly where EACH DESERVES TO GO.
John 10:25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
app. Does Jesus know you as His sheep? He won't get it wrong. If you are with the goats - you are a goat.  
transition - Get ready to go away - you will have a designated place. You will be summoned to appear before the King in His glory.
 
IV. Get ready - you will be judged.
 
A. The first judgment will be like a award ceremony. 
34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,
ill. Shepherding has been a picture throughout God's Word. A famous shepherd king said of the great shepherd of the sheep, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul."
 exp. None could so appreciate this picture as King David who knew what it was to gently care for his sheep.
exp. One can imagine the loving smile upon the lips of the king as he with gentle eyes expresses eternal love to these his sheep. 
1. The smile of the Father is upon these sheep.
Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
exp. This is reminiscent of his words to the believers upon his departure - Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
 app. Now - he is welcoming them into His Kingdom and the King has come! Come, ye blessed of my father.
2. They are in the will of the Son of God.
inherit the kingdom 
exp. They have not earned the kingdom. They have inherited the kingdom. Why? Because God in His rich grace have made them heirs.
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
 app. You'll see in this passage what looks like works salvation. But, here we see that their entry is not by works but by grace through faith.
3. God prepared this beautiful place for mankind.
prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
exp. The lamb was slain and this kingdom was prepared for it's citizens FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
 Ill. Man - God kind of messed it up didn't he? Making man and man rebelling, the curse....
app. No my friend....
God's plan was always the way of the cross for mankind.
God's plan was always the kingdom of God for those who come through the cross.
4. Their life proved the reality of their faith in Jesus.
35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
exp. During the tribulation - you'll remember that there are 144,000 Jewish preachers and those who would believe on them - these it would seem are the brethren of the Lord Jesus here mentioned. When the mark of the Beast was instituted they had no way to provide for themselves. To harbor them, feed them, care for them, would be to risk all for Jesus. You would be a part of the group and providing for this group.
 ill. In our day - this groups comprises people like....
The Tenboom family in Holland rescuing jews.
God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew and his fellow workers - sneaking Bibles into communist countries.
app.  If your faith is real you will pay a price to serve JESUS.
 transition - The first judgment is like a wonderful award ceremony.
B. The second judgment will be like a court sentencing the guilty.
exp. The goats had to stand and hear the blessing which will never be their own.
41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 
exp. No doubt these would hope that he had forgotten their presence. But, now he turns to them....
1. With the curse of God He sends these away from him.
Depart from me, ye cursed, 
question: Who are they departing from....
Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
 app. He is life and they will not be allowed to remain in His presence.
2. They are not written in the lamb's book of life.
into everlasting fire, 
exp. Only those who have no entry in the lamb's book of life are sentenced in this way.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
 note: HELL IS ETERNAL.
Ill. They will be spending the next 1000 years with Satan - then Satan will be released - 
Rev. 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
 exp. The beast and the false prophet are men - "where the beast and the false prophet are..... shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
3. They must live eternally in a place prepared for Satan and his host.
prepared for the devil and his angels:
exp. No man can blame God who enters into Hell. God didn't prepare hell for them. He prepared the Kingdom of God for men and hell for the devil and his angels. They chose hell when He offered them heaven.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
4. Their life proved their disregard for Jesus.
42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
exp. They didn't care about the followers of Jesus who were suffering - hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned - THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THEM OR CARE TO BE LIKE THEM.
ill. The love of the disciple of Jesus showed that you were a disciple of Jesus
Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
 app. THEY REJECTED the followers of JESUS and they rejected Jesus. Their life testifies that they never put their faith in the Son of God. 
 
conclusion: The trains will leave the stations to a final eternal destination.
 
Some will be ready to go away and some will not.
46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
 
Are you ready to go away? You may not face this judgment. But all of us will face a judgment.
 
If you are saved - you will face the judgment seat of Christ.
 
If you are die before the tribulation or during it - you will face the judgment seat of Christ.
 
If you live through the tribulation you will face this judgment.
 
Get ready - the King is coming in glory!
Get ready - you will be summoned to the King's court!
Get ready - you will have a designated place.
Get ready - you WILL be judged.
It will either be like an award ceremony.
Or a guilty verdict at a criminal trial.
 

Date: 10 October, 2019

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Title: Ready to Go Away

 

Introduction:

 

The courts - have been much in the news lately 

 

We've found out that the judiciary is a powerful branch of goverment as it has flexed his or her muscles.

 

The Supreme Court's ruling - The Prime Ministers prorogueing of parliament was unlawful. 

 

Currently - The "surrender act" or the Benn Act - requiring the Prime Minister to ask the EU for an extension of negotiations on Brexit. The court is considering sending something to the EU in the name of the Prime Minister.

 

There is no court more powerful - than the King of King's Court - Jesus is the true Chief Justice who was appointed by God the Father.

Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

 

There are 3 coming judgments over which Jesus will preside.

 

1.) The judgment seat of Christ.

a. Who is at this judgment? (believers)

Rom 14:10  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.

11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2Co 5:10  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.

b. When is this judgment? 

(Soon after the rapture of the church which precedes the tribulation period (7 year judgment.)

1 Corinthians 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

c. What does the judgment determine? (rewards)

1 Corinthians 3:12  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.

2.) The judgment of the nations. 

(After the tribulation and preceding the Millenial reign of Jesus.)

WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS.

3.) The Great White Throne judgment.

a. Who is at this judgment.

Revelation 20:

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; 

b. When is this judgment.

 7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

c. What will be determined at this judgments.

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 second judgment in our list this morning, the judgment of the nations is the one which we are considering.

A. The judgment has both believers and unbelievers.

B. It is as we mentioned after the tribulation and preceding the Millenial Reign of Jesus.

C. This judgment will be a separation of people who will either be....

1. Joining Jesus in His kingdom....

2.  or going into eternal judgment.

D. This is the only judgment where the courtroom is on earth.

 

Our text: Matthew 25:31-46 - is red in your Bible if you have a red letter edition of the Bible which highlights with red ink the recorded words which Jesus spoke.

 

exp. It is possible this morning that most of those who hear this message, will never face this exact judgment.

1.) To get there you would have to miss the rapture.

2.) You would need to survive the tribulation.

 

However, I'm going to preach this message as I would hope to preach it if I was alive during the tribulation and the 7 years were nearly passed.

 

I would entitle the message - READY TO GO AWAY? from v.46 where it says, 

"46  And these shall go away....

ill. Pastor Don Dillman and his wife, Chris fly out tonight for London and then onto the USA. I get to fill pulpit at brother Don's church next Sunday. Wednesday he said they were getting the house ready. I'm sure their bags are packed and at the door waiting for their departure tonight.

exp. When you know that you have a trip coming - YOU GET READY TO GO AWAY. I wonder how many are going to be ready to go away when they face this judgment.

 

YOU NEED TO GET READY TO GO AWAY - THE KING IS COMING!

exp. The king is coming, are you ready to go away?

note -  this judgment is like one station for trains going both directions. Nobody is ready to go to hell and only some are ready to go to Heaven. 

46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous (shall go away) into life eternal.

 

PRAYER....

GET READY TO GO AWAY....

 

I. Get ready - the Son of man, Jesus, is coming in glory.

exp. Jesus did not come in his first coming in glory. He came in humility.

Philippians 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  ill. I often listen to the instrumental stream on Abiding Radio. As I was preparing this part of my message, A hymn often sung at Christmas was playing. THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE.

 

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

 

2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,

And in great humility.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

exp. Nobody feared the babe in the  manger, the carpenters son or the meek teacher who like a lamb went to His death on the cross. But, his second coming will be in glory.

A. The glory will be revealed.

31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, 

ill. John the Baptist knew the glory of the Son of God though it was veiled in human flesh.

Matthew 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

ill. He preached of Jesus saying - Luk 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

 exp. Jesus declared of John that Baptist that he was the greatest of men. 

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: 

 exp. This great man saw the glory of Jesus when it was veiled. All will see His glory when it is revealed.

Philippians 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 app. Get ready the son is coming with revealed glory.

B. The glory of His authority.

and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

exp. When Jesus was taken to be crucified as the song says, He could have called 10,000 angels,... 

Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

exp. He needs not call them now. They are with him and He has all the power and authority which He set aside restored to Him. HE SHALL SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY!

QUESTION -

Would  Pilate say to Him now as he did as recorded in Joh 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 

Would the false witnesses be as bold - Matthew 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Would the soldiers think it a great game to play dress up with the king? Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Would the crowd be so unwise as to jeer? - Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

 app. If you have no concept of the glory of the King, you are not ready.

transition: Get ready to go away - the King is coming in His glory!

 

II. Get ready - you will be summoned to the King's court.

32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: 

exp. Jesus is going to illustrate this story with livestock as he identifies these nations as sheep and goats. If they were cattle, this would be a round up.

 ill. In the United States, there were some cattle called mavericks. They were basically wild cattle who were unbranded. A cowboy would have to go into the brush and their quarter horse would push these cattle into a pen (they would round them up) and then do a cattle drive to take them to market.

exp. It didn't matter much if a maverick cow didn't want to go - it would be gathered up.

note: Our world has a bunch of mavericks who don't want to be gathered - but it doesn't matter. Before him will be gathered.....

Idolaters - those who worshipped the beast and the false prophet.

false religions and cults - the ecumenical one world church

Humanists 

- who think they can legislate immorality 

- killing babies

- legislating sexual perversion while shaking their fist in the face of God.

 exp. They will have to face the king.

ill. I attended a christian school - when I was in S1 I made several bad decisions. Our Bible class homework was not graded - but if it was incomplete 3 times you got detention. I decided to copy someone's work with someone else to avoid detention. I can remember the sinking feeling in my stomache as the principle in all this glory and authority stepped up to our desk. (Made me copy something like 11 typed pages over the coming school holiday.)

exp. I meet people every time I do evangelism who think they don't have to get ready because there is no way they are going to stand before the king. THEY ARE WRONG. 

- If they die now - they will face King Jesus at the Great White Throne judgment.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

- If they make it through the tribulation they will be present at this judgment.

app. Would your stomache sink to find yourself in his presence guilty? Or would you rejoice to see Him? 1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

transition: Get ready to go away - the King is coming in His glory! You will be summoned.

 

III. Get ready - you will have a designated place.

and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

exp. They are all together when they enter but are immediately separated by Jesus into two groups. 

1.) All and only sheep on the right.

2.) All and only goats on the left.

 ill. I Recently read part of the life story of Dr. Ben David Lew. He said being young and strong saved his and his brother's life. When the nazi's took his family - they were divided into groups. Where other groups were murdered. His group was put to work.

note: These were sober lines. One line meant horrible life and the other line meant certain death. The nazi's were arbitrary making whimsical decisions which were matters of life and death.

app. Those at the judgment seat of Christ are not brought there by a wicked ruler BUT BY THE GOOD KING JESUS - the groups gathered there are sober groups.

- They are not arbitrarily assigned - sheep on the right - goats on the left.

- The good king knows exactly where EACH DESERVES TO GO.

John 10:25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

app. Does Jesus know you as His sheep? He won't get it wrong. If you are with the goats - you are a goat.  

transition - Get ready to go away - you will have a designated place. You will be summoned to appear before the King in His glory.

 

IV. Get ready - you will be judged.

 

A. The first judgment will be like a award ceremony. 

34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,

ill. Shepherding has been a picture throughout God's Word. A famous shepherd king said of the great shepherd of the sheep, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul."

 exp. None could so appreciate this picture as King David who knew what it was to gently care for his sheep.

exp. One can imagine the loving smile upon the lips of the king as he with gentle eyes expresses eternal love to these his sheep. 

1. The smile of the Father is upon these sheep.

Come, ye blessed of my Father, 

exp. This is reminiscent of his words to the believers upon his departure - Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 app. Now - he is welcoming them into His Kingdom and the King has come! Come, ye blessed of my father.

2. They are in the will of the Son of God.

inherit the kingdom 

exp. They have not earned the kingdom. They have inherited the kingdom. Why? Because God in His rich grace have made them heirs.

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 app. You'll see in this passage what looks like works salvation. But, here we see that their entry is not by works but by grace through faith.

3. God prepared this beautiful place for mankind.

prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

exp. The lamb was slain and this kingdom was prepared for it's citizens FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

 Ill. Man - God kind of messed it up didn't he? Making man and man rebelling, the curse....

app. No my friend....

God's plan was always the way of the cross for mankind.

God's plan was always the kingdom of God for those who come through the cross.

4. Their life proved the reality of their faith in Jesus.

35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

exp. During the tribulation - you'll remember that there are 144,000 Jewish preachers and those who would believe on them - these it would seem are the brethren of the Lord Jesus here mentioned. When the mark of the Beast was instituted they had no way to provide for themselves. To harbor them, feed them, care for them, would be to risk all for Jesus. You would be a part of the group and providing for this group.

 ill. In our day - this groups comprises people like....

The Tenboom family in Holland rescuing jews.

God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew and his fellow workers - sneaking Bibles into communist countries.

app.  If your faith is real you will pay a price to serve JESUS.

 transition - The first judgment is like a wonderful award ceremony.

B. The second judgment will be like a court sentencing the guilty.

exp. The goats had to stand and hear the blessing which will never be their own.

41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 

exp. No doubt these would hope that he had forgotten their presence. But, now he turns to them....

1. With the curse of God He sends these away from him.

Depart from me, ye cursed, 

question: Who are they departing from....

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 app. He is life and they will not be allowed to remain in His presence.

2. They are not written in the lamb's book of life.

into everlasting fire, 

exp. Only those who have no entry in the lamb's book of life are sentenced in this way.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 note: HELL IS ETERNAL.

Ill. They will be spending the next 1000 years with Satan - then Satan will be released - 

Rev. 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 exp. The beast and the false prophet are men - "where the beast and the false prophet are..... shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

3. They must live eternally in a place prepared for Satan and his host.

prepared for the devil and his angels:

exp. No man can blame God who enters into Hell. God didn't prepare hell for them. He prepared the Kingdom of God for men and hell for the devil and his angels. They chose hell when He offered them heaven.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

4. Their life proved their disregard for Jesus.

42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

exp. They didn't care about the followers of Jesus who were suffering - hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned - THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THEM OR CARE TO BE LIKE THEM.

ill. The love of the disciple of Jesus showed that you were a disciple of Jesus

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 app. THEY REJECTED the followers of JESUS and they rejected Jesus. Their life testifies that they never put their faith in the Son of God. 

 

conclusion: The trains will leave the stations to a final eternal destination.

 

Some will be ready to go away and some will not.

46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

Are you ready to go away? You may not face this judgment. But all of us will face a judgment.

 

If you are saved - you will face the judgment seat of Christ.

 

If you are die before the tribulation or during it - you will face the judgment seat of Christ.

 

If you live through the tribulation you will face this judgment.

 

Get ready - the King is coming in glory!

Get ready - you will be summoned to the King's court!

Get ready - you will have a designated place.

Get ready - you WILL be judged.

It will either be like an award ceremony.

Or a guilty verdict at a criminal trial.

 

 

The train going to depart - are you ready to go away?

The train going to depart - are you ready to go away?
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