Bricks Or Sticks (The Choice Is Yours)

Bricks or Sticks

(The Choice Is Yours)

Bishop David Ibeleme

1 Cor. 3:11-16; 9:27.

Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement – Heb. 6:2-4.

 The basic principles of the doctrine of Christ include eternal judgement and resurrection of the dead – Heb. 6:1ff.

 There is indeed an eternal judgement which shall follow the resurrection.

 There are two (2) major dimensions to the resurrection of the dead.

1. The First Resurrection

 This involves the dead and the living saints, hence it will include;

 The resurrection of the dead in Christ – 1 Thess. 4:13ff.

 The rapture of the glorious church – 1 Thess. 4:13ff.

 The rapture of the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists and their converts; these are also referred to as the great company – Rev. 7; 14.

 The resurrection (rapture) of the two witnesses – Rev. 11.

 Those who are part of this resurrection will escape the second or eternal death.

 They will also not be part of the great white throne judgement – Rev. 20:5ff.

 This is because the first resurrection does not deal with sin nature because this was already dealt with in the lives of these people by the Lord – 2 Cor. 5:16ff.

2. The Last Resurrection – Rev. 20.

 This is the resurrection of all the wicked dead of all ages.

 These folks will be judged at the great white throne judgement.

 These will be judged according to their works and if their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 Those whose names are not found there would be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

 They will also experience eternal death and would NEVER be saved.

Eternal Judgement is essentially two-fold

1. The “Great White Throne” Judgement.

 This was described earlier – Rev. 20:5ff.

 It also deals with the sin question or issue forever.

 At this, all the things one ever did (all sins ever committed) would be replayed and then judged.

 All those who didn’t get an opportunity to receive Jesus would be part of this.

2. The “Great Works” Judgement – 1 Cor. 3:10ff; 2 Cor. 5:10ff.

 This deals with the judgement of believers.

 There is no replay of all the things one did (all sins ever committed).

 God’s grace and mercy took care of the believer’s sin nature – 2 Cor. 5:16-21.

 It basically deals with one’s works as a believer.

 It is the judgement for rewards – Col. 3:24; 2 Tim. 4:7ff; Rev. 22:12.

 This is designed to ascertain our rewards in Christ – Heb. 11:6; 2 Jn. 2:7-9.

The Believer and Works

 We are not saved by works but by grace through faith – Eph. 2:8-9.

 However believers are expected to perform works of grace following salvation.

 Faith without works or corresponding action is dead – Jam. 2:17.

 Our works determine whether we are vessels of honour or not – 2 Tim. 2:19ff.

 As believers our rewards are based on the nature of our works of grace/faith.

 This reflects what we use to build on Christ the foundation – 1 Cor. 3:11.

 Our works; precious stones (bricks) or wood, hay etc. (sticks) will be tried by fire.

Bricks (Precious Stones) or Sticks (Wood etc.) – 1 Cor. 3:11; 2 Cor. 4:17ff.

 Sticks speak of temporary works which can’t withstand the fire of God’s judgement.

 Bricks speak of eternal works which can withstand the fire of God’s judgement.

 Everything that we can see is temporal hence they are part of the sticks.

 Everything that we cannot see are eternal hence they are part of the bricks.

 The sticks are therefore carnal or natural, while the bricks are spiritual.

 This means the bricks are actually matters of the heart – fruit of the spirit – Gal. 5.

 It deals with our motives which can only be seen by God – Prov. 20:24; 20:27.

The Bricks – Your Treasure; Your Heart

 The bricks speak of things of eternal value or treasure – Matt. 6:20.

 Where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also – Matt. 6:21; Lk. 12:15, 21.

 The bricks are matters of the heart, hence spiritual.

 You cannot judge the bricks primarily by the things you see – 2 Cor. 4:17-18.

Three (3) things locate your treasure or your heart.

Your Calendar

 This speaks of your time.

 What you spend most of your time on is a reflection of your heart.

Your Capital

 This speaks of your money – Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:10, 17.

 What you spend most of your money on is also a reflection of what’s in your heart.