FRIEND DAY Philippians 3:20 April 29, 2012 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

 6 “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;” Isa 11:6

Thank you for serving at the: Thank You for Serving Banquet

Waiter and waitress comes from the word “wait” which means:serving based on what you know needs to be done.

"Praying For Our Jerusalem" Acts 1:8

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Philippians 3:20

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

Isaiah 40:31 31  “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength;(the major message of this passage is about strength)

They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”Isaiah 40:31

The literal meaning of the Hebrew word qavah (wait) is: “to bind together like a cord”

Now imagine that One of those strands in the rope is Unbreakable!

That One would be none other than Jesus Christ!

So our strength comes through being united with Christ. “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Insecurity = building your life around someone or something that can be taken away from you.Women – beautyMen - job

Security = building your life around SomeOne or something that can never be taken away from you.

JESUS CHRIST!

*When a rope is not being used, what is it doing? The rope is “waiting.”

*It “waits” for its Owner to put it to use. .

When a rope lifts or pulls a load, it stretches a littlewhile it is working. As it stretches, the individual strands are pulled closer together.

While this “stress” is on the rope, the individual strands are pulled closer together, closer to the Unbreakable One - to lift or to pull the load.

The figurative definition of the word “qavah” is: “to hope, to expect.” The figurative meaning of “qavah” conveys anticipation.

It is the same type of waiting that a little girl does when told that her Granddaddy built her a playhouse and is coming to pick her up and take her to

play in it for the first time!

So she stares out of the window expectantlyanticipating the arrival of the One who loves her.

Marriage of the LambRevelation 19:7-8 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His

bride has made herself ready. 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Philippians 3:20

20 “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

We are not waiting for an event but for a Person!

So while we are waiting, we are to entwine our lives around His life!

*The hope of Christ's return provides us with:

1) motivation 2) accountability and 3) security

In His promise to come back there is positive motivation to be found faithful when He returns to reward believers; to be accountable to God for

living lives that produce works (eternal, good fruit) that survive the fire.*People don’t do what you expect, they do what you inspect. (Fruit Inspector)

John 15:5

“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;”

 1 Corinthians 3:6-15  

6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 

7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one whowaters is anything, but God Who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but

each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful

how he builds on it.

11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will

show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains,

he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-15

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what hehas done.” Revelation 22:12

3 things going to Heaven:1) God’s Word (Isa 40:8)2) Some people (1 John 5:13)3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)

3 things going to Heaven:1) God’s Word (Isa 40:8)2) Some people (1 John 5:13)3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)

1 John 5:1313 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

3 things going to Heaven:1) God’s Word (Isa 40:8)2) Some people (1 John 5:13)3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)

12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will

show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains,

he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Your gold, silver, and costly stones are works done for the glory of God, with the right motive, and in dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Lasting works are done: 1) for the glory of God, 2) with the right motive, and 3) in dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:10 10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body,

according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

2 Corinthians 5:10

The "judgment seat" before which all believers will one day stand is the Greek bema, a tribunal. Romans 14:102 Corinthians 5:10

Bema is a Greek term meaning "judgment seat." In the city of Corinth, a stone platform was constructed to support the bema seat (judgment seat)

of the local officials. The seat was used to give out awards to athletes for their competitive performances (usually a crown wreath of leaves), but

also to address legal charges brought against individuals.

12 “But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat (bema),” Acts 18:12

Romans 14:10

10 “But you, why do you judge your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Paul explains to us that this is where the Christian will receive an evaluation for works done in the body, whether good or bad.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is not to be confused with The Great White Throne Judgment.

Paul wanted the Lord's highest reward because that would be the most pleasing to the Lord, and would most graphically demonstrate his grateful love.