Sunday Morning, August 18, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: ¡§The Kingdom Is Near¡¨ [#3]
SLIDE 1
IDENTIFICATION PLEASE
Matthew 7:13-23
Introduction:
1. Our vacation this year introduced our children to something new: Airports and airplanes. With all of the tightened security it took a lot of time and patience before you ever got near an airplane.
2. First, you had to wait in line to get your ¡§boarding pass¡¨ and check in your luggage. When they got to us, we had to tell them our destination (although it was on the ticket) and show them picture identification.
3. Once that was accomplished, you got in another line that lead you to a security check station. There you had to empty your pockets, give them any ¡§carry-on¡¨ luggage you had, show them your identification again, and then walk through a metal detector where you gathered all of your things that had been scanned.
4. Now you would think you were done, but we were not. We then had to go to our assigned gate and wait. Once they were ready to board passengers, they began to call out row numbers. When your number was called you got in line and walked up to an attendant who took your ¡§boarding pass¡¨ and checked your I.D. I had to show that I.D. so often that I carried it in my front pocket. See my picture I.D. card is all I had to prove that I am Shawn Drake.
5. This morning we are going to examine our spiritual identification. Turn with me to Matthew 7.
SLIDE 2
Your Destination
Matthew 7:13-14
SLIDE 3
1. There are only two eternal destinations, Heaven or Hell. The Bible tells us here that the road to Hell is a much easier road to travel and is the road that many will take.
2. Last week I told you how to get your ticket to Heaven, which is through surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. Let me remind you though, that God never promised us that the Christian life would be easy, in fact He is telling us here that it is the harder road to take, but it ends up in Heaven. The road to Hell is easy because you can live and do as you please. You never have to surrender your life to anyone.
3. Let me ask you again, ¡§If you died today, where would be your final destination?¡¨
SLIDE 4
Your Identification
Matthew 7:15-20
SLIDE 5-6
1. Let me ask the familiar question, ¡§If someone walked in our service and began to drag anyone out that was a known Christian, would they drag you out? And if they did, how would they know you were a Christian?¡¨ That is our point here this morning. Your identification as a Christian is the fruit that your life bears. Understand that your life does bear fruit. It is either good fruit or bad fruit. Don¡¦t think for a moment that when your life bears rotten fruit (which is sin in your life) that people do not see that. In fact if they are not saved and they have been told you are, they will dwell on the fact that your life is bearing bad fruit.
2. Now here is the ¡§scary¡¨ part. Verses 18-19 say that good trees do not produce bad fruit and bad trees don¡¦t produce good fruit. Does that mean that as a Christian when your life produces bad fruit that you have lost your salvation? No, but what it does mean is if your life never produces good fruit you better really examine your life today. Yes we all sin even after we are saved, but if there is no evidence in your life that God has changed you, you got a problem. The Bible says that before you were saved you were dead and once you are saved you have been born again. You are a new creation. The old has passed away and you are beginning a new life.
3. The spiritual fruit in your life is your spiritual I.D. It shows if you belong to the family of God or the family of Satan. Verse 20 is clear. ¡§Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.¡¨
SLIDE 7
Your Arrival
Matthew 7:21-23
SLIDE 8
1. When your life is over on this earth, your soul will arrive at its destination. As verse 22 indicates there will be a day that everyone will have to stand before God and give account of their life. As I have told you before, there will be two separate judgments. After the rapture of the church, which is all Christians, believers will be judged for their works.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
2. We will be rewarded with crowns. There are at least five crowns that we can read of in Scripture. By the way, do you know what you will do with those crowns? You will throw them at the feet of Jesus as you worship Him. Let me tell you about these crowns for just a moment.
SLIDE 9
„« Incorruptible Crown (The Victor¡¦s Crown)[1 Corinthians 9:25]
„« Crown Of Life (Martyr¡¦s Crown)[Revelation 2:10]
„« Crown Of Glory (Pastor¡¦s Crown)[1 Peter 5:2-4]
„« Crown Of Righteousness (For Those Who Love His Appearing)[2 Timothy 4:8]
„« Crown Of Rejoicing (Soul Winner¡¦s Crown)[1 Thessalonians 2:19-20]
3. Don¡¦t you want to have crowns so that you can throw them before Jesus as you worship Him? Unfortunately there is another judgment. Turn with me to Revelation 20:11-15. This is after the 1000-year reign of Jesus on this earth with us as believers. There will be a day when all of the lost will stand before God and there will be books opened up that have in them the works of these people and they will be judged by that. There is also the Lamb¡¦s Book Of Life that will be opened up and in that book is the names of all of those who have given there life to Jesus. Those that stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment are lost people and their name will not be found in the book. Notice again what verse 15 says, ¡§If anyone¡¦s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.¡¨ Go back with me for a moment to Matthew 7:21-23. Do you see what I am saying? Just because you go to church or teach about Jesus or act right or act religious or whatever does not mean you will go to Heaven. You must know Jesus as your personal Savior. There is no other way!!!
Conclusion:
SLIDE 10
1. When you die will your name be found in the Lamb¡¦s Book Of Life or will it be blotted out? If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, it will be blotted out.
2. Don¡¦t let the devil deceive you. There is nobody here that wants to hear ¡§Away from me, you evildoers!¡¨
3. Christians, are you going to have any crowns or are you going to be ¡§empty handed¡¨ before Jesus?
