#14 How to Know If My Works Count (Teaching Series in Galatians) - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Give me in the book of Galatians, Galatians chapter 6.

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

It's been quite some time since we do of into the book of

Galatians. but here we are were finding ourselves near the end

chapter 6 where we left off was verse 1 and 2.

We're going to pray again in a moment, but I want you to just

put your finger there. Galatians 6, chapter 6, verse 1

and 2. Let's pray again.

Can we father in Jesus name? Thank you for the honor of being

in your house, with God's people.

We pray that you would take this word drive it deep into our

hearts Lord, we pray for freedom from confusion, distraction,

Lord, let there be just the pure word empowered by your Holy

Spirit. We ask that Jesus Christ would

be loved and adored obeyed as a result of this word in your

name. We pray.

Amen, where we left off? Galatians in our series of this

book is Paul's instruction in a very practical way of how you

and I as Christians should deal with other Christians, not just

in service, not just in Fellowship, but when another

believer falls into sin, when another Christian actually fails

to Bear the fruit of the spirit is actually Walking In the

Flesh. What do we do?

When that happens? And we summarized it in this way

that the goal is always one thing.

Restoration, restoration is always the goal.

No matter how Grievous, no matter how dark, no matter how.

Filthy the sin might be, our hearts must be like the hearts

of Jesus. Say, I long to see you made

whole again, I long to see you made clean again.

And yet restoration must be coupled with a specific type of

attitude and that attitude is always gentleness.

And we use the illustration of a person who has broken a leg or

an arm. You and I would not rush up to

that person and grab them by the shoulder of grab them by the

foot and say, get up and get. Well, we take our time, we are

gentle in our approach, we are careful and so it is in this

Spirit. We know how to come with a

sincere. Yes.

But also a very soft and sometimes Stern.

But always with an attitude of humility and love to show that

we long for this. And to be coming back to Jesus.

With that in mind, actually many of us are familiar with Jesus in

John Chapter 13 when he showed his humility and striking

John 13 · chapter mention

fashion as he after-dinner stepped on the scene by washing

what the feet of his followers. And I want us to turn there just

for a moment in light of this teaching, to see something very

important. We're very familiar with it.

But in John 13. Verse 6.

Jesus, it says, he came to Simon Peter.

Who said to him? Lord.

Do you wash my feet? So, Jesus went to each of those

disciples one by one, and then he comes up to Simon, Peter and

Peter is going Lord. Are you seriously going to wash

my feet right now? You're the king of glory.

You're the Messiah. You're the leader.

You're the master and you're going to step down and clean my

feet. Jesus answered him.

Verse 7. What I am doing?

You do not understand now, but afterward, you will understand.

And Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet.

Look at Jesus answers. Jesus answered.

If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.

Then he goes on to say, Simon Peter said to him, Lord, do not

my feet only but also my hands and my head.

And Jesus said to him in summary, listen, if you've

already been bathed, you're clean.

If you've been bathed your clean, except for your feet,

your feet and mind continually need to be washed house.

Jesus is speaking symbolically here.

And this act is symbolic, and we know this in that if we are

saved, if we've been washed, we're clean.

We do need to take another bath again.

We don't keep on getting saved. We are saved once but it is our

feet as we Trek through this world, that picks up dirt.

That Strays away that gets cut that picks up twigs and and

Thorns that need to be washed and cleansed continually by

Jesus. And notice that Jesus is not

just eager to wash Us, in the sense of bathing, has

completely, but continually washing us. he's just as eager

to wash our feet as he was, when he first bathed us, But we

stopped at teaching there and we fail to realize that Jesus gave

an ordinance. Jesus gave an instruction from

this symbolic act, you scroll down your Bibles.

He says here in verse 14, if I then your lord and teacher have

washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet for.

I have given you an example that you should also do just as I

have done to you. And so up to this point, we

understand the symbolism, we understand that teaching that

Jesus is bringing through this in the spiritual sense.

But then when we come to when Jesus gives the ordinance, we

make it purely physical. And so you know what some people

do, some people in local churches, actually practice

this, they They met in a in a expression of their humility,

wash other people's feet, and sometimes we've done that here

even. But the Jesus really teach this

for us to just wash each other's feet or is this principle still

continuing and understanding that?

Just as Christ was, eager to cleanse us from our filthiness

as we walk through this world. That you also ought to be just

as eager to cleanse another that you.

And I towards one another, when we see another person picking up

filth Gathering dirt or walking, another way.

We just like our Master must be wanting and longing to cleanse

the other to play any part that I can to make sure that I can

see your feet be like the feet of Jesus again.

So we don't, we don't take this just in the physical sense that

okay, just like Jesus, humbled himself and physically wash

their feet. Let's do the same.

That's the easy part. It's not hard for you to take

off your shoes and for some, maybe it's harder for some than

others. But what Christ had in mind here

was for us to do. So, in the spirit, But you know,

the other person willing to receive that must be humble

enough to receive it. Peter said don't wash my feet.

Jesus, if I don't wash your feet, you have no part of me.

And so we can't force people's feet to be washed.

In the spiritual sense, people must be willing and repentant

and open to Restoration and cleansing from another brother

or sister. this is where as we go back to Galatians 6 with a

rubber, really meets the road when it comes to our Christian

walk weeping with those who weep Praying for those who request it

counseling with those who are confused.

Restoring someone who has fallen all these things are categorized

under the Christian mandate as what we see here in Galatians 6.

Verse to Bear one another's burdens.

That's a mandate you and I as Believers are called to carry

the load for another person and help them carry.

The burdensome task that they might be facing.

And I love this past weekend. As we re at the conference where

Pastor Madison gave us the very practical teachings that he gave

us. Because we understand bearing.

One another's loads as yes, coming and interceding for

somebody. That is burying somebody else's

load and yes counseling and yes restoring yes, speaking

exhortations. But when it comes to the

practical We shy away from it, don't we?

There are physical burdens and I love the examples he gave

because there are very convicting.

You think about the burden of somebody who is moving.

From one house to another. and we think to ourselves, I'll pray

for you but I don't know about that.

Just different little practical things that he was giving, but

it is yet, we have to understand that it is the Christian mandate

to Bear one another's. Heavy loads and it's not easy.

It's not easy. That's why we need of

empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do this, to come to that

place of bearing. One another's.

Burdens is tiring, is exhausting.

Sometimes it takes up my time. It takes up my energy and if

we're honest, sometimes it gets downright messy.

So I just rather altogether avoid It.

But it is the Fulfillment of something called The Law of

Christ that listen, if you. And I, as we just read earlier

in chapter 5, want to Bear the fruit in the spirit, we better

believe that a part of that packages were going to Bear each

other's loads. In fact, the manifestation of

the fruit of the spirit will be shown as Galatians. 6, is the

sequence and how we deal with one another.

And the beautiful thing is this that I'm not just called to Bear

one another's. Burdens and neither are you?

There's a calling in which you and I are supposed to let others

bear my My burdens. And help me and pray for me and

exhort me and Council me and come to my assistance as well.

It's not just a one-way Street. I have to be open for that to be

true as well. But with keep someone from

doing, this is one main thing and that's what Paul is about to

speak on. We don't touch on this last

time, but there is something that keeps me from bearing,

somebody else's burden. And there is something within me

that keeps me from letting somebody else bear my burden.

We're tempted to live in this individual individualistic,

understanding in this sense of isolation in our Christian walk

and pauses, there's no room for that.

In fact, he categorises it something that's kind of scary.

He says here, look in verse 34. Anyone thinks he is something,

when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

That's just not a random statement.

He's saying this in light of what we call Bearing one

another's, burdens he goes, listen to me.

If you have convinced yourself that you should not for some

reason, help somebody else or you fail to understand that you

yourself, need help, you're deceiving yourself.

You're not actually walking in light as much as you think that

you might be strong. As much as you think.

You might be spiritual, you are, in fact, under a spell, You've

missed it. Paul saying you've lost track of

what this whole thing is really about.

And then he goes on to say that. True Christianity will be shown

and how we understand this truth of bearing one another's,

burdens. Do you ever think that thought

that's important as we move on as a thought ever occurred to

you that especially in this context?

if somebody else is under a burden, even under the burden of

their own sin, suck it up and carry your own cross and Shake

It Off. Get it together, man.

You got to learn how to do this thing on your own.

Pick up yourself. or is there ever the thought of I can't have

somebody pray for me. I can't call somebody.

I can't let somebody speak into my life.

I can't ask questions. How are they going to know?

I'm spiritual? I'm not actually spiritual if

I've come to that place. What Paul means when he says

that we are deceiving ourselves when he's actually trying to say

is that those two things are actually two faces of pride,

those are two faces of Pride to say that I and to spiritual to

help you in the practical. Or I am too spiritual for you to

help me in any way is deception and one of the greatest ways of

being deceived as when we're proud.

And sometimes we think those thoughts.

But if I can give some personal advice according to the word of

God, I think one of the greatest ways to filter our faulty

understanding of helping others are letting others help us.

Is when we look at Paul himself, I love the Apostle Paul.

The greatest Theologian of all time, But this Theologian is one

of the most practical Christians, an example of for us

today. So think of a person who might

be struggling to do the little things and to do the Practical

things and to extend a hand for burden or for assistance Who

here has read the book of Romans?

We were talking about this early on in prayer that you have to

read that book, verse-by-verse very slowly or else you'll miss.

The thought you have to rehearse and you have to return to that

chapter again and again it is a theological Masterpiece

concerning justification by faith.

And then you come to chapter 16. and I would encourage you to to

go there and not sure if you realize this, but you come to

Romans chapter 16 and there's a turn in the writing at least for

Romans 16 · chapter mention

a moment. Look at verse 1 and scroll down

to verse 16. Romans 16 12, 16.

And you would think that Paul could have continued to exhaust

the truth of the Gospel. You think the Holy Spirit would

want to continue to Pummel this truth about how we are saved by

faith through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

But you know what, Paul does by the spirit, he takes the time to

verses, 1 to 16 to name people by name into simply greet them.

And he goes on to just say, greet Mary greet this person,

Rita pelas greet Rufus and to commend them and to thank them.

and I look at that and to be honest, it's a little convicting

Because, as much as this man was caught up in Theology and

teaching and preaching, and traveling, he still had a heart

for the individual. And he knew them by name, and he

took the time out of his letter to make sure that they were

greeted to. Whoever would read this letter,

how encouraging would that have been from Rufus and stakus to

say? Paul is asking about me.

Paul is greeting me Paul, is thanking me?

So, you see, a man who is more spiritual than we can.

Imagine concerning the miraculous concerning Revelation

concerning preaching power and yet he proves his spirituality

in this, he knew how to greet people, it is, simply make sure

that they knew that they were on his mind.

Wow. Is that spiritual to us?

Is this spiritual to thank someone is a spiritual to let

someone know that you're thinking about them is a

spiritual to let them know that you are for them and that you

are ready to serve them in any way possible.

Look at Paul and how he considered the other.

Now, look how Paul how he himself knew he was in need of

the other. That's the second face.

So you have a verse here in 2nd Corinthians, 7 6.

You know, sometimes in our pursuit of spirituality, we

really have trouble understanding this idea of

needing one another. We think that if we're truly

spiritual, we can do this on our own.

Forget you, I can do this. You need me.

Actually, you need me to pray for.

You need me to quote, scripture to you.

You need me to comfort. You, you need me to counsel you,

okay? Is anybody in here more

spiritual than Paul? I doubt it yet.

Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 6. he says but God who

comforts the downcast comforted Us by the coming of Titus, I

love that he says God comforted us how When we were down cast,

he brought Titus on the scene. And so, if you and I need help

to be humbled in our understanding of our need, one

for one, another, let us understand it this way, Paul

knew that when Titus came to comfort him, it was actually God

who sent Titus. So my relationship to my

brothers and sisters and my need for them is actually at the Ruth

my need for God because the body of Christ is connected to the

head and you being the Hands of Christ and you being the feet of

Christ and you being the ears of Christ are actually an extension

of who he is. So to say that I don't need use

to say that, I don't need Christ.

Paul knew that this man Titus Flesh and Blood, who came to

comfort him was actually God, many people, pray God comfort.

Me and a brother calls, and they still say, brought God come for

me. God, I need you.

And we come to church and somebody speaks a word of

encouragement. And as though, we think that we

need a specific Divine, showering of God's revelation

upon our minds and hearts for us to experience that when it is

God. Who uses others?

To do that. To express that, touch our

hearts. And so, the mentality of I don't

need so-and-so. I don't need this.

I don't need that because of the fear of seemingly to be less

spiritual or dependent is false. Because to reject the bodies to

ultimately reject the head. God comforted Us by the coming

of Titus. Paul a prayer Warrior.

An intercessor. One, who knew how to count all

things with Joy, says in Romans 15:30, I appeal to you to the

Romans 15:30

Romans. He goes, I beg you.

I plead with you Brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

And by the love of the spirit to strive together, with me, in

your prayers, to God on my behalf.

Paul, can you done it by yourself, aren't you spiritual?

Can you have cried out to God by yourself?

Now, I need the church in Rome to get together and rally in

intercession for me. Because I realize that I'm in

need of them. If we do not believe these

things that we need to help others in the most practical

ways. And that we need to be helped

ourselves in every way. We are deceived.

If Paul showed it surely, we can exemplify it as well.

One proof that I am not walking a deception is that I believe

those things about myself. then we come back to Galatians 6, and

Paul takes a turn in his teaching, he says here in verse

4, but let each one test his own work and then his reason to

boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

We thinking, what is he trying to say here?

The danger of deception is so real.

The danger of me telling myself something to be true when it is

actually false can extend to a Paul is saying now, it could

extend to the place in which, I believe, not only that, I am not

in need of somebody else or that, I don't need to help

somebody else in their fallen state or their broken state.

It can go to the point where I believe listen to this, where my

works are something. When in fact, they are nothing.

Paul doesn't want to just now teach about how we are called to

carry each other's. Loads here, me very carefully.

He now wants to teach the importance of understanding that

we each have a load to carry. Look at verse 5 for each will

have to bear his own load, and so right now, the Holy Spirit

wants to use this opportunity of talking about burden and

responsibility to not just keep it at the other that I'm called

to help carry their burden for know.

Plus has check it out, listen very carefully.

You realize that as much as your call to help somebody else, you

yourself have a load to carry, right?

That you have a responsibility that as much as your responsible

for somebody else to certain degree, ultimately you.

And that other person will be held accountable for how they

live their lives. Will be held responsible and I

want to touch on this pauses. I want to remind you that each

of us has their own load to bear.

Exception of me. Think that I'm someone when I

actually nothing. We're all nothing.

That's what Paul is trying to say, don't think you're someone,

but that extent of, that deception can come to the place

where it affects how I view my life, and how it is live for

Christ. I can actually believe that my

Works. My load, my responsibilities, my

Ministry is something. When, in fact, it is nothing.

Do you think about that? Can you imagine?

Because here is a Christian doctrine that is stable that is

pillar very carefully. We have to understand this, we

know this most of us, maybe we don't, so let's rehearse it

again. There is a day in which Jesus

Christ will judge not the World by his People based on how they

live their lives. We sang the beautiful songs

about the cross about the Divine exchange about how he has given

us salvation by faith solely based on his finished work.

Praise God. But there is a judgment that

will Upon something called our works.

Each of us will be examined evaluated and ultimately judge

based on how we live, this thing called the Christian walk, and

what that will do is not determine whether we get to

heaven or not, that's determined by Jesus Christ.

What it is determining, though is how you and I will experience

rewards in the next life. And what he's saying here in

verse 4 is that I really want you to come to a place where you

are living your life, to a degree and with Clarity.

And with assurance that when you are being tested at the end of

the day, you will rejoice. You will rejoice.

None of us. I hope want to know the

disappointment of coming before the Lord and in the end finding

out as I stand before, the judge of the earth that my whole

Christian Life was actually nothing when I thought it was

something. And if this is going to produce

any sense of fear or guilt, we have understood it wrong because

there is no guilt or fear in Christ.

We have salvation. We have eternal life.

But again that does not negate the truth that we will be judged

based on how we bear fruit. So Paul wants to assure that the

load that you're carrying, which is your life.

Is actually a value and is not brought down to dust when it is

tested by fire. And if you and I want to know

how we can make sure before that day, that our works and our life

and our character, and our days spent on the earth will have

some value. All we have to do is what he

said in verse 4. Look at your Bibles and see what

it says. He says here, but let each one

test his own work. Just test it.

So it's possible for me in this life to test my own work before

it is ultimately brought to Christ who will ultimately test

it and see if it actually has value.

So that here's the biblical question that we can all.

Ask remember Revelation comes from questions, asking the text

questions, I'm reading this last night and I go but let each one

test his own work. And here's the question I have,

how do I test it? What questions do I ask my Works

in order to know if they will pass the ultimate test before

the judge of the Earth. How can I assure that?

What I'm doing on a day-to-day basis is actually going to be

pleasing to the master and I think there are three simple

questions that you and I can ask, but before we get there, we

have to determine this truth As Christians, we bear fruit, as

Christians. We actually do something called

works as Christians. We actually live out in a

different way when we receive Christ.

Do you know when Jesus came on the mission to die on the cross?

It was not reduced to just simply redeeming us and bringing

us to heaven, right? Him being nailed upon the tree

that motive behind that is not simply wrapped up in this

understanding that he's going to take us to a place in the

future. It is true that he will do

though, do that? But he is also having in mind

that it will affect our present in the now I'm talking about the

motive is not a byproduct. It is one of the motives than

when Christ died that it would just go beyond Redemption and it

would be practical in every sense of the word.

Here's some scripture for that. Titus 2:14 Look at this verse

Titus 2:14

and realize the motive in which Jesus went to the cross and

maybe it will shock us more. And we thought who gave himself,

this is what the verse says, who gave himself for us to.

So, here's the reason who gave himself for us to do what redeem

us from all lawlessness. Let's sing about it to redeem us

from all lawlessness. Absolutely.

Not just that, though, to purify for himself, a people for his

own possession, or we know that he's going to call us his own.

He's going to take us home one day but it doesn't stop there.

Who are zealous for? Good works.

So he gave himself up for us to do.

What redeem us purify us and not just that make us a people that

are bubbling with Zeal to do. Good works.

That is a result of salvation. That now, your whole life is

centered the planning of your future.

How you view your outlook on your day-to-day is centered

around this truth, I long to serve him.

I long to do things for him. I long to walk like him Works.

Can I just simply be reduced to just doing Ministry.

It's also manifested in character character that are

ultimately manifested in Deeds. Yes, but it encompasses all of

that. See if you don't have a Zeal to

serve Christ, if you don't have a longing to walk in his ways,

if there's not a reprioritizing to how you You your day-to-day.

We have to understand that. I know true redemption in my

heart. Are there Seasons where there's

some more zealous times than others.

Absolutely. That's why there's exhortations

to be zealous. But you know, when you got saved

that, there is this Breath of Life that came into you, to say,

I long to do things for him, from this moment on with the

rest of my life. I love that because many people

that I've met, especially guys, when they first get saved, they

everybody thinks they're going to be a preacher.

Isn't that true? You talk to anybody that saved

up to the first two months? In the like, I'm called to

Ministry? And in four months, I was like,

I don't know about that. No, I think I'm gonna stick with

my career here, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, because

you see a desire to serve God in that there's this.

This is new beat in the heart, to say, I long to just live for

him. But that being establish, how do

I know now? If my works are going to be

something in which Christ will smile over and reward?

Very simple, it's not complicated.

I praise God. That it's not complicated.

Number one, here's a simple question to ask is my life,

being measured, according to God's word.

Am I measuring my life? According to God's word, look

what he says here in the second part of verse 4.

And then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not

in his neighbor. The reason for your joy will be

in your personal relationship with God and not in how you

compare yourself to your neighbor.

Unfortunately a lot of people have based their faithfulness to

God on how they see other believers and how they live

Faithfully for God. So many people try to soothe

their own conscience through comparison Without even

realizing they're doing it. And listen, if you, and I

compare our walk with the Lord, and the measuring the standard

in which we live for him, based on his how somebody else is

doing it. The Bible calls that unwise You

don't have to turn there, but let me read this verse To You,

Paul criticizes, these false teachers and second Corinthians

because they were doing. Just that in second, Corinthians

10:12, listen to this. And the second party says, but

when they measure themselves by one, another, and compare

themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

The King James, I believe it says they are unwise.

To look at my life and to compare it to somebody else's as

the measure of my faithfulness. To theirs is actually a person

who is walking with a failure of understanding.

What this is all about. So what is the wise thing to do?

Listen, the scriptures are the standard you continually come to

the word of God. And you see how the word of God

describes my speech, my axe, my thoughts, my ambitions, my

Pursuits, and you stay there because this is what you and I

are going to be judged by at the end of the road.

It's not going to be how so-and-so did it or how your

leader even Did It. Ultimately it's going to come to

this place. Does the word of God stated and

I've heard some people even make remarks like this.

Well, So and so doesn't do it and they're a Christian, so it's

not a big deal if I don't do it. Well sister.

So and so talks like that and she dresses like that and she

goes to those kind of places. So what's the big deal?

If she calls herself a Christian she posted on Instagram reverse,

their numbers, their what's the big deal?

If I do it? Here's the problem, brother

so-and-so and sister. So and so is not the standard

Jesus. And so sometimes we can soothe

ourselves by saying the majority of Christians don't do it like

that so why do I need to do it? The Bible says hmm you are

actually not going by the curriculum so to speak.

You're not looking at what the word of God States and when you

come to facing him, he's going to bring this up and didn't

measure up to that. And the context here is that a

person might find joy in their walk with the Lord when they see

somebody else failing, right? This context speaks about

somebody who's fallen and some people can make the mistake to

say, look, he felt I didn't fall.

Praise God, more points for me, less points for them.

I'm more spiritual when you put a side-by-side.

Listen, if we all want to be humbled in this place and if we

all really want to walk and true spirituality, forget the person

who fails, forget the person who's inconsistent, forget the

person that preaches. One thing in this in practice

line yourself up beside the perfect man Christ, Jesus.

That is the standard to which you and I will be judged.

Have you ever wondered what were the final words of Jesus in The

Book of John? In that chapter, I love that

chapter 21. Peter is restored, and when

Peters restored Jesus prophesized him how he's going

to die. And as they're walking away,

Peter looks and he sees John the disciple and he goes, as he's

looking to goes, hey, Jesus what about him?

He told me how I'm gonna die. What about him?

What's going to happen with his life?

so many Christians are like that their eyes are off of Jesus in

the looking at John, And Jesus turns around as he staring at

John and these are some of the final words Jesus gives the

Peter in the whole book of John. Jesus said to him, it is my

will. If it is, my will that he remain

until I come. What is that to you?

Hear the words you follow me. Stop worrying about how I'm

going to lead somebody else. Stop wearing a Bahama to use

somebody else. Stop worrying about somebody

else's failures and their inconsistency.

All you need to do is follow me. That's your job.

You'd be amazed to know how many people are measuring their

faithfulness based on the faithfulness of others, or the

faithlessness of others. See, if you and I go there, we

put ourselves in danger into extremes.

One of the extremes is that we will find ourselves in extreme

legalistic rituals and recommend.

And rehearsing because why? Because a person here has come

to a place where they've taken the word of God beyond the

measure in this, and the standard that it is set and you

have people that are thinking that they are spiritual, when

they have placed tradition above, the word of God.

And the second issue is, if I continue to compare myself, I

can now follow someone's faithlessness who has little to

no, understanding of true biblical Holiness.

So just stick to the book. Is my life measured by the word

of God or by somebody else's walk with the Lord.

Secondly, it's not about now. Questioning other works.

But questioning my Works in terms of motive.

Turn your Bibles to First Corinthians 4.

And see what Paul says in verse 3.

The first question is, am I measuring my life according to

God's word, and secondly, am I motivated to live a certain way?

With the wrong purpose. First Corinthians 4 and 3.

Look what Paul says, but with me it is a very small thing that I

should be judged by you. Or by any human Court.

In fact, I don't even judge myself.

You go to verse 5, therefore do not pronounce judgment before

the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the

things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes

of the heart. Then each one will receive his

Commendation from God. The test of our works will not

just be in quantity but will be in the quality in terms of the

reason why we're doing it, it's not just the action that Jesus

is looking for. It will be the motive.

Paul says, it here that there's a day in which the light will be

so bright that what's going to show?

Not just my Deeds, but the purposes of the heart will come

forth before him. So that's another terrifying

thing. I mean, you can have a person

who has a worldwide Ministry and they did it all for the wrong

reason. And when it comes to the

Judgment seat, he'll come down to nothing because they did it

for what for self-glory for money.

Oh, do you know how many people are Ministry for money?

They might have started out well but then the Love of Money took

root in their hearts and now their invitations and now

they're speaking and other worshipping for what the check

at the end of the meeting. The praise of, man.

Wanting to be wanted. Etc.

Etc. Etc.

Christ, at the end of the day is going to look at the purposes of

the heart and part of the battle of this is that we want to do it

for God's praise, but God's praise is not shown right away

in the moment, God's Commendation is not express.

Every time we come to church and we serve wouldn't that be nice

if he told us. Great job.

Wonderful. You're a faithful servant.

Well done. His Commendation of Reserve is

reserved for a specific day to come, but that does not mean he

is not currently observant. And the reason why people fish

for the praise of man, is because it provides immediate

satisfaction you're stroking. My ego now, you're feeling my

heart now. And what Paul saying is, there's

a day in which one person's praise will be louder than

anybody else's will have more weight and significance than the

person that you esteem to impress the most The beginning

of verse 3, look. But with me it is a very small

thing. That I should be judged by you.

Do you see that? It's a very small thing.

Of what you think about me. That's it.

Is it a small thing or is it a big thing?

DePaul little no significance for that matter.

I'm not concerned if you judge me or for human courts.

Judge, I know this one thing that there's a day coming in

which God will validate my Ministry.

God will put a ribbon so to speak on my efforts and my Works

in my life. So Corinthians, measure me up to

these false teachers Corinthians.

You can line me up to any other person.

You don't think I'm a good speaker.

That's fine. You think that I'm a better

writer than I do and that's okay.

If you're not impressed with this, you're not impressed with

my looks, you're not impressing my eloquence, that's totally.

Alright, what you say is very small to me, but what God says

is everything and that's what I'm ultimately living for.

So, here's a very practical thing if you and I want to test

our works, Paul says it in one simple, verse in a specific

context of First Corinthians 11 31, he goes.

But if we had judged ourselves, we ourselves would not be

judged. He's saying that in light of

approaching the Lord's table, he goes, examine your heart before

you come and partake of communion.

Lest you be judged by coming flippantly to this holy

ordinance. And I think that's a principle

not just for the Lord's table, but for everything.

If I had judged myself before performing something or before

doing something or continually evaluating my day-to-day life, I

would not be judged. It's as simple as that.

All the Lord is asking you and I to do is to look into our hearts

and say, why am I really doing this?

Why am I really talking, like this?

Why am I really serving in this way?

Why am I displaying myself in such a manner?

And if we judge ourselves, And see those things in our hearts

that are not truly for God's glory of God's praise.

You know. Awesome.

God has you and I can come into a place in which we open our

hearts before him with those motivations.

And God says, thank you for coming to me and I let me wash

your feet. Let me sanctify your motives and

let me sanctify your hard. Let me sanctify your mind.

It's going to be a struggle, but bring it before the Lord and let

him wash it. And guess what?

He does not just washes it. He builds in you, he builds

within you. A concrete desire, more and more

as the days go by to realize, it's simply for him, it's simply

for him. Am I measuring my life?

According to God's word? Am I motivated to live in a

certain way? But with the wrong motive,

Lastly. And my set on living

consistently in Good Works. Here's our last scripture Titus

Titus 3:8

Chapter 3 Verse 8, Look up. Paul says here.

Titus 3 and 8. The saying is trustworthy and I

want you to insist on these things.

He's talking to a pastor named Titus, he's saying Titus, when

you preach, can you bring this up a lot?

I want you to bring this up a lot in your sermons.

I want you to insist, I want you to hammer this point for your

people to hear. What are we supposed to insist

on that? Those who have believed in God,

may be careful to devote themselves to Good Works. so,

Pastor tea, Could you make sure that your congregation

continually hears from your mouth through the word of God?

That if they've chosen to believe in God that they have

the responsibility to be careful to make sure that not just in

one season but in all seasons I am swimming in.

Good Works. Why would he have to give that

instruction? Because we can have a season of

that and then offer sudden lose it, walk away from it and what

we can do is that our works were there and then for a good

portion of Our Lives Are not there.

And when it comes to our works being tested, there was so much

that God wanted us to do. There was so much that God

wanted us to develop in. There's so much gifting that God

wanted us to mature it. But because we've not been

careful to give ourselves to these things.

The measure of our reward will not be as great.

I must be careful. I must watch my life.

Listen, because you and I both know this.

That when we come to the Lord, It's All About the Lord.

My life is rearranged, but that can start in such a way but not

finish it. So he says, keep a watch on

yourself in All Seasons. Some of you in here, you're in

different seasons than others and that requires you to, maybe

pull back a little bit more, but that doesn't mean that you don't

in your mind. Still give God what you can give

him and plan for the future. I love when I meet a Christian

couple, that has a young family. I love when I hear from a

husband and a wife that they are planning where to live, they're

planning their jobs, everything around, how they're going to

solve serve the local church. How are we going to serve God as

a family? How are we going to give him?

What we can give him? And so marriage.

Didn't change that. Children didn't change that new

job. Didn't change.

That We must be careful because Seasons come and go and they

require different timing and different energy and different

Focus. That's fine.

And God is so gracious. But in my life, may everything

be planned and surrounded around how I can serve him with the

gift things that he has given me.

Why? Look what he says, these things

are excellent and profitable for people.

Because the reason why I want you to be careful is because

there's so much benefit for people, which people number one,

for the very ones that are doing The Works.

Can we all testify in this place that the greatest joy and the

greatest sense of purpose and the greatest sense of excitement

is when you and I know we're serving God, there's nothing

that can compare to that when you and I are doing something

with the knowledge that it's advancing, the kingdom of God

with a certain degree, that is excellent to us and it is

profitable for our own souls and for our own Lines of her own

sense of being and not just for me.

But for others who are receiving the works that I am giving it's

a process, you will fail to see that sometimes you fail to see

how it is profitable, and excellent for both yourself and

for others. So be careful and determined

that I am willing to be consistent in this thing walking

out with the Lord day by day, my character, and my Ministry.

So, that I have a full platter of fruit to give him at the end

of the road. Let each one test his own work

because we will all have a burden to bear for ourselves and

in the end, bring to the Lord himself.

And if you, and I simply asked those questions throughout our

lives, we can make sure that when we stand before him, he

will look at us and say you bore it.

Well, well done, you didn't compare yourself.

You stay to the word the motives, when I bit into that

fruit because sometimes people have fruit and outside, it looks

well. But when you bite into that

peach, it's all black and rotten inside.

He goes, no, but I see your motives and it was for my glory.

And lastly, you came with a lifelong?

Servanthood. And fruit.

You didn't give up, you didn't turn aside, you didn't have it

for a season and for most of the rest of your life, you walked

away from it. It's all here.

You finished. Well, that's it.

And the way you and I will be reward will blow our minds based

on our faithfulness, it'll be amazing.

Now, Paul is about to go into some more practical, teaching

concerning this law. Not just the law of bearing.

One another's burdens, but the law of sowing and reaping, it's

a law. Just like gravity is a law.

What I put into something, I will eventually reap, but that's

for another message for another time.

Let's pray Lord. In this moment, we choose to

test their own works. And the floor.

We've been looking at another disciple rather than looking, at

you, forgive us and Lord, if we've been doing something for a

long period of time for the wrong reason, forgive us.

And Lord if we've lost our Zeal for good works and I've kind of

walked away from the ambition and the pursuit of serving you

with our lives, forgive us. Wash your feet again.

And we pray and ask that you would receive our works as

something that would be fragrant that our lives would be an

incense unto you. And Lord help us hear the words

that you gave at the end of The Book of John, you, follow me.