Module 7 Lesson 3 - The Judgment Seat of Christ

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Note: Text in grey are transcribed and not part of the notes given.

Today I want to lay some ground work. The second coming is the blessed hope. As a Christian we step over after our three score and ten years it is up into glory. We call this hope beyond the grave. This is what the unbelievers will not have. You can ask those who are not religious and they will not have this hope. They will have uncertainty and fear of the unknown. They may say die die la, but at the last moment, they will be in fear. They have no hope.

When we deal with the judgment seat of Christ, it is beyond hope. How do we feel coming to the judgment seat? I'll put it this way. He who embraces death will truly be able to embrace life.

Embraces death does not mean we wish to die. There is a time God appoints for everyone and we embrace that.

We are all born sinners. And in order to be saved we have to confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour. That part of the gospel and no churches have problems with it. So where is the problem?

So the person who is saved ask what's next? Here lies the problem. Some say, once you become a Christian…

1. You have to follow the law
2. You are blessed with wealth and health
3. You have faith (positive thinking)
4. No more problems
5. Heavenly perspective
6. You are to pursue holiness

You find all of the above has problems. As far as the tenets of the gospel are concerned we have no problems there. It is the what's next that's a big question mark.

Our life will be based on how we define what's next. It will define how we relate to people. There are those who think that if you fall sick you may have some unconfessed sins. I always tell them I fall sick because I don't have a glorified body yet.

HIM

HOLINESS

HAPPINESS

As children of God we can all experience the presence of God. But if you cannot experience his presence it is because you missed out because you did not pursue HIM. We have to put in the effort.

But God is pursued in HOLINESS. When you are in an atmosphere of sin, you will not find him. A holy God is found only in a holy environment. When you keep rubbish in the house the flies will always come and live there.

HAPPINESS is the by-product of holiness. We should be a people who are defined by the presence of God and the peace of God. And people will be able to sense it because we carry the presence of God.

We want to connect heaven and earth. On earth is what I call the temporal blessing. But beyond the temporal is spiritual blessing which is eternal. That we will carry to heaven.

Death. What is so bad about death? The greatest negative element about death is uncertainty. And uncertainty breeds fear. Psychologists say every person at one time or another fear death. Paul writes: for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul had a balanced view of earth and heaven.

Paul's controversial statement is that it is far better to die. But Paul says it in a very positive way. Like Martin Luther King. He broke the threshold of segregation. Before he was assassinated he said the phrase. "He has gone to the mountain top and he has seen what was beyond." He sees the beyond as far better than what is before us.

Philippians 1:21-23

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

2 Timothy 1:12

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

The day when Christ come, when he will be raptured and the day when he will stand before the judgment seat.

When he stands before Christ what did he expect?

2 Timothy 4:8

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

The crown of righteousness is just a description of the reward that awaits him. He is receiving what his whole life he's been struggling for. The far better he is talking about the presence of God. Where we see him face to face.

When we have that is mind then our life will be a purpose driven life. That judgment seat becomes our goal.

The question is are we ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Salvation is totally by grace. But at the judgment seat of Christ let's look at 2 Cor 5.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

We cannot hide behind these two words, God's will and grace. Here Paul is not talking about salvation. He is talking about rewards. So why did Paul use the word fear of the Lord or terror of the Lord?

The judgment seat of Christ is not about heaven and earth. It is more about the fear of the Lord which points to whether we feel shame before the Lord. As much as it is reward there may be this element of loss or shame. Glorification is by grace. Behind the gain or reward, there will be a certain seriousness of the reward by embarrassment or shame.

Are you living with the expectancy of the Judgment Seat of Christ? It will depend on how you have lived your life.

When you stand before a judge, it is based on the law of the land. Not about emotion. And when we stand before Christ it will be about good or bad.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Apostles of Christ

​1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

The keyword in verse 3 is faithfulness. He is more concerned with how God judge him. Verse 5 is to judge the heart. Faithfulness and heart.

Faithfulness refers to the faithfulness of your calling. About the ministry and your work. All Christians have a calling. You cannot say you don't have a calling. There is no high or low calling. Only big or small calling. We are judged according to our calling. Each according to his calling.

The other is the heart. This is about the minister. See question 1.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Example, a person is called to be a pastor. He goes into the seminary to be trained. When he comes out he preaches the gospel. He may be a pastor that preaches positive thinking and he may have a big congregation of thousands. But the Bible says the foundation of our ministry is Jesus Christ. Finally it becomes a positive thinking faith. Here it says your works will be judged. He did not work according to his calling. His work may be burned. Paul is being gracious here. Not him but his work will be burned. The focus of your ministry will be judged. The foundation of the ministry must be Christ.

The First Coming (Calvary) is the centre of the Christian faith

The Second Coming is the peak of the Christian faith

The Second Coming is the background of all NT ideas

By this positioning you will know what's temporal and what's coming and define what you do now because it will have a bearing at the judgment seat of Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What does treasures in heaven means? It's not dollars and cents. Heaven has no currency. Ringgit value drop also never mind. He's talking about those that have eternal value.

Heaven talks about crowns. Like the crown of righteousness or the crown of life, crown of glory. All spiritual words.

Matthew 13:43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

The crowns are a depiction of your rewards. There will be degrees of glory. These treasures goes beyond dollars and cents.

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

The Rapture and the First Resurrection is an event that gathers the church, both the living and dead believers together into the presence of Christ. As believers are with Christ, they await the day when they will come down together with Christ in His Second Coming as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. In the intervening period is when the judgment of believers occurs.

It is Christ who stands as judge (2 Tim 4:8) and all believers (2 Cor 5:10), without exception, are being judged. At the judgment seat of Christ the judgment does not concern our salvation for that status is already affirmed in our being raptured and resurrected. The matter to be judged concerns our faithfulness and our gain of rewards from our good deeds and our reaping of our bad deeds. There is a general understanding that since we are already saved, the judgment seat of Christ is merely a matter of obtaining rewards or loss of rewards. However, the force of Scripture gives a seriousness and severity to the judgment seat of Christ that is often overlooked. Scripture mentions the "terror of the Lord" on that day (2 Cor 5:10,11) and of being ashamed at His appearing (1 John 2:28).

The standard by which we will be judged is our faithfulness (1 Cor 4:1-5). We will be called upon to account not only for our works but also for our walk. The motivations of our heart as much as our deeds will be part of the reference for the judgment. Practical holiness of life and faithful self-sacrificing service will both be taken into account in the verdict of judgment.

The results of the judgment will vary from person to person. Some will be commended and receive rewards commensurate to their life's work while others will have their life's work burned (1 Cor 3:12-15). Salvation depends upon faith while rewards depend upon faithfulness. Finally, all will shine albeit with different degrees of glory and splendor. Scripture mentions five different crowns that will be bestowed on the faithful: the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8), the crown of glory (1 Pet 5:3,4), the crown of life (Rev 2:10), the imperishable crown (1 Cor 9:25-27) and the crown of rejoicing (1 Thess 2:19).

Finally, those of us who have been found worthy of the prize will be made judges of the world (Rev 20:4, Dan 7:18,22). They will rule and reign, together with Christ, in the eternal kingdom of heaven (Rev 22:5). This ruling privilege is accorded not to the individual per se but to the community of believers. The individual, as he is conferred that right, exercises it for the community. Christ rules with His saints. It is Christ, together with His church that reigns.

2 Cor 5:10,11

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the

things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. "Knowing,

therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also

trust are well known in your consciences.

Questions

1. Evaluate 1 Cor 3:12-15, giving an example to show the meaning of this passage of Scripture.

2. Evaluate the statement ''Practical holiness of life and faithful self-sacrificing service will both be taken into account in the verdict of judgment'

Faithful self-sacrificing service applies to all of us. Nothing that you do in the name of the Lord is in vain. And practical holiness covers this. The heart of the minister. You may be the best worship leader but glory to yourself, or you give to be in the board is a matter of the heart. Your heart is related to your spiritual character which is defined by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Which is practical holiness.

That's why God says he will find a man after his own heart. David. You look at the Psalms he wrote. He is a man with a heart for God. God spoke to Samuel, man looks at the outwards but God looks at a man's heart.

How will we be judged at the judgment seat of Christ?

We will be judged in works according to our faithfulness. We will be judged as a worker in terms of our holiness. Everything we do here on earth has continuity in the future.

Conclusion

Judgement Seat of God - What God values

Faithfulness

Service

Presence of God  

Judgement Seat of Men - What man values

Finance

Status

Pleasure

We need to have a sense of what is actually important. Pursuit of holiness is both a duty and a joy.

The Presence of God

 Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I was very blessed. I feel younger. In school they call me apek. Not because of how I look but how I speak. But today after the worship I feel younger.

I believe the message I have is for all. It's called the Presence of God.

We are one of those people around who often missed a little in what we are looking forward to. Like we look for a home but often we end up looking for a house. And as the house gets bigger and bigger, the home gets smaller and smaller.

The other example is when we come to church we reach a stage where we want God to speak to us. A prophetic word so that we can tell what is going to happen. What he needs is not a prophetic word but an assurance that God is with him regardless of what he goes through.

Or we come looking for a good sermon. But what we need is a word from the Lord. The sermon is a preacher's task but it is only the Lord that can speak to the heart.

Or worship we look for an uplifting service but what we need is the touch of God.

The gathering of God's people means nothing if God's presence is not there.

As Christians we all have God's presence in our heart. But what I want to ask is if you have that subjective awareness that God's presence is with you. Can you on a daily basis sense the presence of God? Can you feel and is aware and conscious that there is a still small voice talking to you.

Many many years ago when my father accepted the Lord, I moved away from the signs of things. I'm a physic teacher so I need evidence. What broke that thinking was my brother who was a pastor in KL who is the complete opposite. When I went with my brother, in prayer he said that this is the day my father will accept the Lord. I say you say but in my heart I felt otherwise. But that day in the room my father cried. I've never seen that because he never cried. And then I cried. My brother cried. Two grown man and one old man hugging one another and crying.

Outside are all the idols. But within the wall I could sense the presence of God. In my head I tell myself even my dad can accept Christ, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. My scientific mind readjusted. I begin to see differently and even when I read the bible I could sense the Lord speaking to me.

As I share today I want to impart this to all of you. Experiencing the presence of God continuously is what God mean for a Christian life. Our eternal life is a continual awareness that God is with us.

I want to quote from one old timer.  Bro Lawrence. He was in the army but the change came to him as he was walking on a country road. It was winter so the trees were botak but he saw that and knowing that when spring comes around, that botak tree will bloom and be lush and colourful again. And he realised that life is in his hands and every life is sustained by God. And so is his life. That is how he was one man of God in the past that brought us these classics that at the end of the day our spiritual heritage is God walking with us and us being conscious of him all the time.

He is one of those men that did not accomplished much in terms of his life but to him any task great or small, if God is there with him it is more than enough.

If you are working a job and you think there is something better, my answer to you is that if you have the presence of God is with you, brother Lawrence is telling you, it is enough.

Exodus 25:23-24

The Table for the Showbread

“You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around.

Exodus 25:30

And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.

This is the furnishing in the Tabernacle. The table of showbread is the bread of his presence. The twelve loaves represents the twelve tribes of Israel. The acacia wood represents mankind. That the humanity of Christ is represented by the acacia wood and the deity of Christ by the gold.

It symbolises the desire of God to fellowship with us. We Penangite is famous for our food and we are experts in makan. We fellowship during food. He wants to fellowship with Israel, his prize possession.

That at all times means continuously. The heathens cannot have the presence of God. Only his children. But we compartmentalise his presence. In church we seek his presence. Like today I preach, I seek his presence but after this it's over.

Do we come to God for interest or intimacy. This is what separates from the person who is walking with God. I say this, are we riding with God or taking God for a ride.

In Exodus, the bread of his presence is only available to the priest. The priest representing Israel. But when Jesus says he is the bread of life, it's not only pastor Gideon taking and we watch. We don't do that. We all take the communion. In the NT there is no longer someone partaking of the bread as a symbol representing us but we all partake of it.

The presence of God is available for all of us.

John 15:4-5

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

The key word is remain or abide in me. When Jesus says that he is affirming that his presence is ours to experience continuously. The continual presence of God is our heritage. That is what bro Lawrence is trying to convey. Do you think often on God?

Bro Lawrence says do you think of God by day or by night? He was talking about a continual thinking and reflection on him. Even in our diversions, like playing badminton or our business. Bro Lawrence says he is always near you. He is always with us and waiting to fellowship with us.

Today if you want to experience the presence of God continually you must desire him and not leave him alone.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

When you read that he is waiting for us to come near to him so that we can draw near to him.

John connects abiding in him to fruits. A person who draws near to God is someone who will inevitably bear fruit.

To bear fruit we must share the gospel. We are to reap the harvest. That is a fruit but not just that, it also includes the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This year I made a resolution. To be more kind. I think we live in an unkind world.

Yesterday I went to watch Cinderella. I must confess but after I finished my sermon notes. I felt that even at my age as an apek, it still touches my heart. But of course I already have my Cinderella, the mother says take courage and be kind and it touched me.

If you are unkind, or is someone who is bitter, you try sharing the gospel, it won't work. People see through you. Your character and charisma have to go hand in hand.

In salvation God works for you but in sanctification God works in you but in sharing the gospel it is God working through you.

When you exhibits the fruit of the Holy Spirit you are not doing it by yourself. God works in you. But when you share the gospel, you open your mouth but salvation is God's work, not yours.

When you abide in Christ, as in John 15, you have answered prayer, the love of God will overwhelm you and the joy of God will fill you.

Moses went up Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. Moses was enjoying the presence of God. But down there the people were enjoying the revelry with the golden calf. God was incensed. But in the next chapter, Moses asked God if he will go with them. Moses says if your presence won't go with us we will not go into the promise land. No wonder Moses is called a friend of God.

David is another instance. David says in the preserve of God is the fullness of joy. In another one, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, he could not sense the presence of God for one whole year. And after that he cried "do not take your presence from me." 

What is the place of holiness in the presence of God? In the cell we are doing the book of Amos. What exactly was in God's heart in the minor prophets. First, God is a holy God. He says be you holy as I am holy. God cannot have a people that is unholy. So when wayward Israel go from one sin to another, you'll find that all the punishment of God is restorative rather than punitive.

In the presence of God you will become holy and in your holiness you will draw closer to God.

But I what to qualify what I say. The interacting dynamics is that you must have the desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and in it you are purified by God. God only needs you to take one small step in acknowledging God that you need help and his presence is there to help you. A Chinese proverbs is, one small step is the beginning of a thousand miles.

Tell God today you want to experience his presence. I want to end with Enoch. Enoch walked with God and he was no more.  God took him away. But two verses before that, Enoch walked with God. It was recorded twice. Enoch walked with God in a continuous presence and in holiness.

Worship by Grace ELELYON team, Youth Sunday

Testimonies by Nick and Sam

Trust not in Horses or Chariots

Rev Gideon Lee

I just came back from Klang by bus last night to be with you all this morning. How is your Chinese New Year? I noticed even in Klang that celebration is a bit subdued. I have not even seen one lion dance yet. Have you seen? You have! Wah, I should be in Penang. 

This is the year of the horse. So this morning I have a very horsy message for you. I am going to be talking about the horse. 

What does the horse represents? Success. We want the horse to run faster. The horse is also strong and elegant. Back in those days if you come from an agricultural background the horse is very important. It is also a means of transport. There is so much Chinese movies this New Year especially the fighting ones. When they go to war they depend on the horse. So the horse is very important as you can see. 

I am also going to look at the horse in the bible. Let's look at Isaiah. 

Isaiah 31

The Folly of Not Trusting God

1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

And rely on horses,

Who trust in chariots because they are many,

And in horsemen because they are very strong,

But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

Nor seek the Lord!

2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,

And will not call back His words,

But will arise against the house of evildoers,

And against the help of those who work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;

And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out His hand,

Both he who helps will fall,

And he who is helped will fall down;

They all will perish together.

God Will Deliver Jerusalem

4 For thus the Lord has spoken to me:

“As a lion roars,

And a young lion over his prey

(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,

He will not be afraid of their voice

Nor be disturbed by their noise),

So the Lord of hosts will come down

To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.

5 Like birds flying about,

So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.

Defending, He will also deliver it;

Passing over, He will preserve it.”

6 Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

8 “Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man,

And a sword not of mankind shall devour him.

But he shall flee from the sword,

And his young men shall become forced labor.

A Reign of Righteousness

9 He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,

And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,”

Says the Lord,

Whose fire is in Zion

And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

This morning we just read Isaiah chapter 31. 

This verse one is also reflected in the book of Psalms. You can go back and read Psalms 20:7. 

This morning I want to talk about a very important word called trust. Apart from pride our lack in trust of God comes next. Our trust in God is limited to what we know or experience in God. If God has helped or provided for us then we can trust him. If we have not experienced healing from God it is very difficult to trust him for healing. It is conditional. We trust him when we see him working. But many times God is silent. And we think God is not there. And because he is not there we find it difficult to trust him. 

We must learn to place our trust in God and God alone. 

Proverbs 3:1-6

Guidance for the Young

1 My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;

2 For length of days and long life

And peace they will add to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart,

4 And so find favor and high esteem

In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

In Proverbs we are told to trust the Lord. 

In Isaiah we see they are considering putting their trust in Egypt. When we talk of Egypt what does it represent to them. It is actually representing their slavery or captivity in Egypt. It is actually a bad place, a place of bondage so how can they go there for help? Their horses and chariots were famous. Egypt's strength lies in the number of horses or chariots they have. So Israel were so desperate going to them for help. 

But Isaiah told them not to put their trust in Egypt. Don't rely on their horses or chariots. But to put their trust in the Lord God. In the Holy One of Israel. I feel this is what the Lord is telling some of us. Don't put our hope in the year of the horse. Or that fire crackers will chase away bad omens. Put your trust in Jesus. 

People were cutting back on their spending. I hope you don't cut back on your coming to church. Thinking that you need to pump petrol to come to church. Instead of coming every week, you come only on alternate weeks. Save petrol. I think this year you should come to church more often. You cannot put your trust in all these things. If you are going to put your trust in your Ang Pows this year you will be disappointed. 

Our trust must be in the Holy One of Israel. This is what you must remember this morning. 

There are some reasons why sometimes people don't put their trust in God. These are three main reasons though there are more. 

1. They are impatient. 

We want to quickly see results but if you have been a Christian for many years you know God don't answer immediately. But often we want a. solution like yesterday. We don't want to spend the time waiting on the Lord. The bible says he makes all things beautiful in his time. We may prefer to go to Egypt because it is quick but it may not be the best for you. Like going to the loan shark to get a loan. They make it so easy for you to get your money. Easy solution to your needs. But it may not be the best solution for you as you will enter a deep deep hole. 

When God helps you it is for your best. When blessings comes from the Lord there is no sorrow that comes with it. Learn to wait upon the Lord. If you want something fast and quick, it may not be the best for you. 

2. They are ignorant. 

They are ignorant of what the Lord can do for them or the promises of God in the bible. And so because they are ignorant they go elsewhere for help. If your children have problems who do they come to first? I hope it's not their friends. I have been a youth pastor and often I tell them if they have a problems they should go to see their parents. Unfortunately many comes to see me. But they should be able to go to their parents as they are the ones that can help you. 

Parents, do you reveal very things to your children? Do you tell them exactly how much you have in your bank account? You don't tell but you have the resources to help your children. Why? Because they are your children. There is a relationship. What if it's other children? Once in a while you may help out of the goodness of your heart. But can you help them all the time? They are not your children. 

But your children are different. But we are ignorant of what the word of God says so we don't go to him. 

3. Unwillingness to pay the price of obedience and holiness. 

We know he can help but we are not willing to live a life without sin. God not only deal with your problems but he deals with you. Because often you are the problem. And we are often not willing to let God deal with us. If you have a financial problem, you may think God want to deal with your circumstances but God wants to deal with you first. Your problem may not be your finance but how God wants to deal with you to be a good stewart of your finance. 

We are ignorant of the help that is available from God. Unwilling to live a life of obedience. Friends, like I mentioned, these are three reasons only but there are many more. 

Like in Isaiah, do not put your trust in Egypt. Only God can deliver them from their problems. He will save and defend their people. Later in that passage it shows what God can do for them. Whatever comes your way in 2014, put your trust in Jesus and Jesus alone. 

Put your trust not only on your material need but also your spiritual needs. During Chinese New Year we often give Ang Pows. Do you know God gave us the biggest Ang Pow? It is Jesus. It is bigger than all the money you will receive. All the Ang Pows you get will finish. Jesus never fails. He is the greatest Ang Pow that I have received in my life. Peace beyond understanding. Money cannot buy wan. More important is that you receive eternal life. The biggest blessing that comes from Jesus. It can only happen when you put your trust in him. This is my message for this new year. Put your trust in God. He can meet all your needs including your spiritual needs. 

You may say you are not so bad. You don't kill, steal or rape. But the bible says we sin in our thoughts or our words. Mankind have been dealing with this problem a long time but no solution. Thank God he gave the solution in Jesus, his Son. He paid the penalty for our sin. We can understand this because in our country there are laws. You drive pass 110 and you get a ticket. For your wrong doing there is a penalty. And the word of God says the penalty of sin is death. But God loves us so much that he paid for your sins through his Son. 

What qualifies Jesus to pay for your sin? Because he is the son of God and he knew no sin. And death paid your penalty of death. All you need to do is put your trust in him. Put your trust in him completely. Put your faith in him completely. You are saying God come and take over. All this while I am driving my own life but now I want you to come in and take over. Don't put your trust in any other thing. 

I end by this story. How many of you know Indiana Jones. It is quite an old movie. There was one in the series that talked about the holy grail. If you remember one scene when they came into a chamber and there was an old knight guarding the holy grail. All the bad guys were also there and the knight asked them to chose the holy grail for themselves. The bad guy picked the one with jewellery and looked so nice so he picked that and drank from the cup which was supposed to give him eternal life but he died. The knight said he chose poorly. 

But Indiana Jones picked an old wooden cup which was the right one. 

This morning who will you pick? I pray the Lord won't say to us you chose poorly. But that we all make the right decision.