>>Announcer: It has stood the test of time.... 00:00:12.00\00:00:14.86 God's book, The Bible 00:00:15.30\00:00:18.43 Still relevant in today's complex world 00:00:18.90\00:00:23.00 It Is Written 00:00:24.13\00:00:25.23 Sharing messages of hope around the world 00:00:25.60\00:00:29.76 >>Chris: Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a 00:00:39.50\00:00:41.33 sheep and goat? Now, I'm no farmer, I'm a preacher. And I 00:00:41.33\00:00:45.46 need to be careful in giving too much careful analysis to animals that I have worked with very 00:00:45.46\00:00:50.76 little. However, with a little research one would find some 00:00:50.76\00:00:53.83 noted differences. For example, goats are considered browsers .. 00:00:53.83\00:00:59.30 They nibble at their food, which is usually leaves, tender shoots, or other soft 00:00:59.30\00:01:03.50 vegetation; often they just eat the tips. But, sheep on the 00:01:03.50\00:01:09.23 other hand are grazers the feed for hours at a time, eating small portions of food all 00:01:09.23\00:01:14.10 day long. They love clover and grasses and eat it right down to 00:01:14.10\00:01:18.63 the soil.Goats are naturally curious curious creatures, but very independent. On 00:01:18.63\00:01:25.30 the other hand sheep, like to be in the flock. In fact when a 00:01:25.30\00:01:30.43 sheep is away from the flock, they become agitated and upset. One other difference is 00:01:30.43\00:01:35.86 that most goats have hair while sheep have wool Now, I am sure 00:01:35.86\00:01:40.46 there are other differences, but why all of this talk of sheep and goats? We have been 00:01:40.46\00:01:44.90 studying about Hope for a Helpless planet. We have looked 00:01:44.90\00:01:50.50 at Jesus' reminder and warning in Matthew 24 to watch and be ready. And in Matthew 25 we now 00:01:50.50\00:01:57.83 look at the third in a series of three parables that are teaching 00:01:57.83\00:02:02.46 us how to be ready for the return of Jesus. Listen to these words of Jesus in Matthew 00:02:02.46\00:02:08.50 25 verses 31-33, 00:02:08.50\00:02:18.20 This parable uses metaphorical or symbolic language to describe 00:02:43.46\00:02:48.50 the judgment. How will Jesus decide who is and who is not going to heaven. He 00:02:48.50\00:02:53.83 makes the comparison to sheep and goats. The sheep He places 00:02:53.83\00:02:59.13 on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Right at the outset, before any information 00:02:59.13\00:03:05.93 is given, we see a difference. In the Bible, the right hand is 00:03:05.93\00:03:10.46 a symbol of power or favor. The sheep seem to be favored for some reason, but why? 00:03:10.46\00:03:16.73 Jesus gives the answer in verses 34-36, 00:03:16.73\00:03:22.83 Wow, did you hear that. We have had several studies on the joy 00:03:48.56\00:03:52.93 of going to heaven. These sheep, which represent God's true people, are invited into 00:03:52.93\00:03:59.00 the courts of heaven. Sheep are often used to describe God's 00:03:59.00\00:04:05.06 people in the Bible. In John 10 verse 4 Jesus uses the 00:04:05.06\00:04:15.90 illustration, Sheep know the voice of the shepherd, the Shepherd is Jesus. Because the 00:04:25.86\00:04:32.20 sheep know his voice they have acts of kindness, they feed the 00:04:32.20\00:04:38.40 hungry, they provide drink to the thirsty, they provide shelter to the homeless, 00:04:38.40\00:04:41.86 clothing for the naked and comfort and healing for the sick. Do you see what 00:04:41.86\00:04:47.06 is happening here? Jesus is inviting those individuals into 00:04:47.06\00:04:51.66 heaven who have provided acts of kindness. 00:04:51.66\00:04:57.26 Right now, I know what someone is thinking. Wait wait wait. Are 00:04:59.10\00:05:05.36 you saying that people are saved by their works? No not at all. I 00:05:05.36\00:05:11.50 fully believe the words of Ephesians 2:8-9, 00:05:11.50\00:05:14.00 I also believe the words of Paul in Titus 3:5, 00:05:26.63\00:05:37.86 Those who will go to heaven are saved by the grace and mercy of 00:05:53.83\00:05:59.36 God alone. I want you to notice something very interesting 00:05:59.36\00:06:06.83 though, while we are not saved by our works, listen to these words from the book of 00:06:06.83\00:06:12.33 Revelation in chapter 20:13, 00:06:12.33\00:06:19.43 Now wait that seems a little confusing. And I don't want to 00:06:31.90\00:06:36.60 confuse you more but listen to the very words of Jesus in 00:06:36.60\00:06:48.16 Matthew 16:27, Now here is the principle and I want you to listen very carefully. We are 00:07:00.40\00:07:05.36 saved 100% by the grace and mercy of God - it is His gift to 00:07:05.36\00:07:11.06 us as we make a decision to follow Him. But we are judged by our works. How does that work? 00:07:11.06\00:07:24.63 You see, as Jesus enters our life and saves a sinner like me, 00:07:24.63\00:07:28.73 who doesn't deserve His salvation - His grace and mercy 00:07:28.73\00:07:33.66 makes me worthy. Jesus makes my imperfect heart and life perfect. He invites me to come 00:07:33.66\00:07:41.46 as I am, but He doesn't want me to stay that way. He invites me 00:07:41.46\00:07:49.10 and gives me the power to change. As we make a decision to follow Jesus, He cleanses us and 00:07:49.10\00:07:56.00 takes away our sin and the Holy Spirit enters our life. As the 00:07:56.00\00:08:01.80 Holy Spirit enters our life, He begins to change us. How so? In Galatians 5:22-25 it tells 00:08:01.80\00:08:18.43 us, 00:08:18.43\00:08:20.83 As we walk with Jesus and give our life to Him, the Holy Spirit 00:08:57.50\00:09:01.56 enters our life and produces fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. This is why Jesus says in 00:09:01.56\00:09:06.43 Matthew 7:20 00:09:06.43\00:09:09.10 Several years ago I learned the art of grafting trees, 00:09:14.03\00:09:17.30 specifically apple trees. Over the years I have probably tried 00:09:17.30\00:09:22.20 close to 100 different varieties of apples. And you know, if I go into an orchard, I am 00:09:22.20\00:09:27.83 pretty good at identifying what is an apple tree and what is a 00:09:27.83\00:09:31.60 peach tree. But you know, I really wouldn't know with absolute certainty until 00:09:31.60\00:09:38.06 those trees produced fruit. And here lies the principle of the 00:09:38.06\00:09:45.50 Christian life, the fruit we bear demonstrates who we are. This is why the Bible can 00:09:45.50\00:09:52.13 say we are saved by the grace of God, but judged by our works. 00:09:52.13\00:09:59.13 This is why Solomon wrote the words of Ecclesiastes 12:14, 00:09:59.13\00:10:09.60 Our works or our actions speak to who we really are. What is 00:10:20.73\00:10:26.66 that old saying.actions speak louder than words. Which is why 00:10:26.66\00:10:30.60 Jesus further emphasized in John 5:29 00:10:30.60\00:10:40.50 The sheep in this parable have done good. But remember our 00:10:52.80\00:11:07.63 doing good isn't putting together some kind of checklist of good deeds where I try and 00:11:07.63\00:11:12.93 try to accumulate enough good deeds to offset the bad deeds. 00:11:12.93\00:11:19.00 No, we are saved by grace and as the grace of Jesus works in us, it changes us to be a 00:11:19.00\00:11:24.10 person who naturally does acts of kindness, because it is the 00:11:24.10\00:11:33.03 fruit we bear. God has changed them so much, that they don't even recognize that they are 00:11:33.53\00:11:41.03 doing these things it comes naturally, Matthew continues in 00:11:41.03\00:11:54.10 verses 37-40, What a beautiful message of hope, those who are being transformed into the 00:12:26.50\00:12:31.70 likeness of Jesus do the works of Jesus and now He invites them 00:12:31.70\00:12:37.73 home to be with him eternally. 00:12:37.73\00:12:40.13 We could stop the teaching right here, but friend, it wouldn't be 00:12:40.76\00:12:44.56 complete. There is another group, those on the left, those who are referred to as 00:12:44.56\00:12:50.23 goats. Their story isn't as bright and is in fact very sad. 00:12:50.23\00:12:58.93 The words of Jesus are almost painful to read, listen in 00:12:58.93\00:13:06.66 verses 41-46, Those on the left hand are judged by the same principle; they are judged 00:14:03.20\00:14:07.66 by their works. But this group has neglected the hungry, 00:14:07.66\00:14:12.93 ignored the thirsty, shunned the homeless, overlooked the naked, and disregarded the 00:14:12.93\00:14:18.60 sick. Interestingly enough - they too didn't know, but for 00:14:18.60\00:14:26.40 them a different reason. They were oblivious to the needs in their community around 00:14:26.40\00:14:31.36 them. They didn't have a life giving relationship with Jesus. 00:14:31.36\00:14:38.30 These are those that are self-centered, they sense no need of Jesus and thus 00:14:38.30\00:14:43.76 don't bear good fruit. But I want you to notice that this group, the lost, they 00:14:43.76\00:14:52.36 don't have to be lost. See there in verse 41 and 46 it describes 00:14:52.36\00:15:00.93 the destination of those who won't go to heaven, it calls it 00:15:00.93\00:15:04.40 "the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels or everlasting punishment." 00:15:04.40\00:15:12.63 This word everlasting describes the permanence of their 00:15:12.63\00:15:16.46 situation and that it can't be undone. But did you notice that hell is prepared for a 00:15:16.46\00:15:29.80 very specific group. Who does the verse say it is prepared 00:15:29.80\00:15:35.16 for? The devil and his angels. Hell is prepared to be the final destination of destruction 00:15:35.16\00:15:41.86 for the devil and his angels. Hell was and is never intended 00:15:41.86\00:15:52.96 to have one human being there, but what happens? In life we have two choices, to 00:15:52.96\00:16:00.36 follow Jesus or to follow our own way. Our own way is ultimately choosing the 00:16:00.36\00:16:05.26 way of Satan - rebellion. The final destruction of hellfire 00:16:05.26\00:16:10.20 was never prepared for humans, but humans cling to their sin so 00:16:10.20\00:16:18.26 much that they are destroyed with their sin, which is destroyed with the devil. 00:16:18.26\00:16:24.43 How sad friends. The reason this is a tragedy, is that it doesn't 00:16:28.36\00:16:33.50 have to be this way. Jesus stretches out his arms and says come to me, come and 00:16:33.50\00:16:38.73 I will offer you life eternal. But there seems to be a whole 00:16:38.73\00:16:45.40 group that seems to be familiar with a theory of religion, but the gospel has effected no 00:16:45.40\00:16:51.83 change in their lives. And there is no fruit. Jesus cries out to 00:16:51.83\00:16:59.26 us and says that He offers salvation for free. Romans 10:13 makes this promise, 00:16:59.26\00:17:16.10 When Jesus calls us, He invites us to come as we are - then He 00:17:23.36\00:17:31.40 changes us that we might bear beautiful fruit. Jesus does wonderful work for us 00:17:31.40\00:17:39.00 and in us. Then that mighty saving power will stir in us 00:17:39.00\00:17:49.66 dramatic change and the Holy Spirit will work in us so that we might produce an abundance 00:17:49.66\00:17:53.80 of good fruit. Those good works that Jesus mentions in the parable. Maybe this 00:17:53.80\00:18:03.33 year you're thinking about going and buying a fruit tree for your 00:18:03.33\00:18:07.36 back yard. Maybe you're going to buy an apple tree. The tag says it's an apple tree, 00:18:07.36\00:18:12.20 it looks like an apple tree and in fact you believe it is an 00:18:12.20\00:18:16.63 apple tree. But here is the reality; you won't really know that it is an apple 00:18:16.63\00:18:22.76 tree until it produces fruit. In the same way, we can confess to 00:18:22.76\00:18:30.53 be a Christian, we can attend church, we can even look the part.but what does the 00:18:30.53\00:18:36.80 fruit say about us. Oh friend it's time. Jesus is coming soon. 00:18:36.80\00:18:46.30 And He is saying watch and be ready. Part of getting ready is to have a real living 00:18:46.30\00:18:53.33 faith that is active and producing good fruit. The fruit we bear doesn't save 00:18:53.33\00:18:58.86 us, it just clarifies who we are and whom we serve. Can you 00:18:58.86\00:19:06.93 imagine friends, what would happen in our communities if each of us watching today took 00:19:06.93\00:19:12.43 the charge of Jesus seriously? Could you imagine what might 00:19:12.43\00:19:18.06 happen all across Canada in the large cities, the small cities, 00:19:18.06\00:19:25.50 the villages and communities? What might happen if every believer in Christ felt 00:19:25.50\00:19:32.30 compelled to look around in his or her communities and provide 00:19:32.30\00:19:38.73 for the needs that exist there? 00:19:38.73\00:19:40.70 Friend do you sense Jesus calling you today? Do you sense Jesus appealing for 00:19:42.16\00:19:47.33 you to enter into a serious and committed relationship with Him 00:19:47.33\00:19:51.76 today? Maybe you feel overwhelmed because you think you are just to far 00:19:51.76\00:19:57.00 away. Jesus calls and says not by might, nor by power but by my 00:19:57.00\00:20:06.10 Spirit says the Lord. We can't change ourselves by simply digging our heals in and 00:20:06.10\00:20:10.90 trying harder. But we give our life to Jesus and He changes us. 00:20:10.90\00:20:17.83 Do you want to invite Jesus into your heart today? Do you want to recommit yourself to 00:20:17.83\00:20:22.36 Him today? Do you want to clasp His hand in faith and say Jesus 00:20:22.36\00:20:31.33 save me and make me a fruit bearer so I am prepared for your kingdom? Today, I invite 00:20:31.33\00:20:43.30 you to look to Jesus. And as you listen to this song, Do they see 00:20:43.30\00:20:49.96 Jesus in Me, I would encourage you to pray and ask Jesus to come in and change, that 00:20:49.96\00:21:01.80 others around you might see Jesus in you. 00:21:01.80\00:21:06.83 Is the face that I see in the mirror 00:21:15.46\00:21:22.03 The one I want others to see? 00:21:22.66\00:21:28.33 Do I show in the way that I walk in my life 00:21:29.23\00:21:36.06 The love that You've given to me? 00:21:36.73\00:21:42.66 My heart's desire is to be like You 00:21:44.06\00:21:49.86 In all that I do, all I am 00:21:50.26\00:21:57.76 Do they see Jesus in me? 00:21:58.30\00:22:04.96 Do they recognize Your face? 00:22:05.40\00:22:11.03 Do I communicate Your love and Your grace? 00:22:11.30\00:22:22.93 Do I reflect who You are 00:22:23.23\00:22:29.43 In the way I choose to be? 00:22:29.73\00:22:35.46 Do they see Jesus, Jesus in me? 00:22:35.90\00:22:49.46 Well, it's amazing that you'd ever use me 00:22:55.00\00:23:00.86 But use me the way You will 00:23:01.20\00:23:06.16 Help me to hold out a heart of compassion and grace 00:23:06.46\00:23:13.03 A heart that your spirit fills 00:23:13.30\00:23:18.70 May I show forgiveness and mercy 00:23:19.03\00:23:24.86 The same way You've shown it to me 00:23:25.16\00:23:33.20 Do they see Jesus in me? 00:23:33.70\00:23:39.36 Do they recognize Your face? 00:23:39.66\00:23:45.33 Do I communicate Your love and Your grace? 00:23:45.63\00:23:56.93 Do I reflect who You are 00:23:57.36\00:24:03.36 In the way I choose to be? 00:24:03.73\00:24:09.46 Do they see Jesus, Jesus in me? 00:24:09.80\00:24:21.76 Well, I want to show all the world who You are 00:24:22.53\00:24:28.50 The reason I live and breathe 00:24:29.10\00:24:33.76 So You'll be the One that they see 00:24:34.03\00:24:39.53 When they see me 00:24:39.86\00:24:44.90 Do they see Jesus in me? 00:24:45.33\00:24:50.76 Do they recognize Your face? 00:24:51.13\00:24:56.70 Do I communicate Your love and Your grace? 00:24:57.10\00:25:08.46 Do I reflect who You are 00:25:08.83\00:25:14.66 In the way I choose to be? 00:25:14.93\00:25:21.10 Do they see Jesus, Jesus in me? 00:25:21.40\00:25:41.26 >>Chris: Let's pray. Oh Father in heaven we know we are far 00:25:50.73\00:25:56.73 short of the standard that you have set up. We need you, we want to reflect you. We want 00:25:56.73\00:26:03.40 people to see your son Jesus in us. Today we give our hearts and 00:26:03.40\00:26:07.83 lives to you. Please change us into your likeness. We pray in 00:26:07.83\00:26:16.00 Jesus name. Amen Friend, I hope and pray that you are sensing Jesus' call to enter into 00:26:32.86\00:26:36.20 a deeper relationship with him. Today's program is only one in a 00:26:36.20\00:26:41.50 series of eight, "Hope for a Helpless Planet." Today, we want 00:26:41.50\00:26:46.53 to offer you as a resource in your spiritual library the whole DVD set of "Hope for a Helpless 00:26:46.53\00:26:51.93 Planet." Here's the information you need to get that DVD set. 00:26:51.93\00:26:57.56 <