Examine Yourself

Real life presents the Jack Kibs podcast with intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints and impact our culture. You could never judge what is evil unless you know what's good. When you say that's wrong, how do you know it's wrong because you know what's right? That's evil over there. That's terrible. How do you know that? Did you know what's good and what is just? And that is a witness of God in your own life, is it not? You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to jackkibs.com slash podcast. Today, if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make sure you leave us one of those five star ratings. To us, that's like saying, amen or yes, then that rating will encourage others to listen. Now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you. Here is Jack Kibs. Second Corinthians 517, begins right there. It says, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, on the count of three, can you say in Christ, want? No, on the count of three. On the count of three, say in Christ, one, two, three. You want to know why that's important? Because a lot of people today say, I believe in God, that doesn't mean anything anymore. A lot of people today can say, I believe in Jesus, it means zero. Look, people today will say, I'm a Christian, we don't know that. But at least for now, in fact, a lot of people will say they're born again. They don't even know what they're talking about. At least for now, there's a little bit of a code word still left. And that is right here in second Corinthians 517, are you in Christ? Are you in Christ? And I've discovered this, that only those who are, no, think about that. To be in Christ is to understand that Christ is in you, that he's actually living his life out through you. And that is our, listen, that is our day to day joy, battle. It's our happiness and it's our terror. You and I are living out Christ in this life right now, but we're living in a world that is hostile toward Christ, isn't it? And how many times, and please, listen, how many times are people angry at you or upset with you all because you've taken the position of Christ? You're saying what Jesus says and somebody doesn't like you. Listen, how do you handle that? Recognize you're in Christ and that you're going to speak truth, in love, and that their reaction is not personal. They're coming against you, yes, they'll persecute you, but you are standing and being a light and you're being salt. Why? Because second Corinthians goes on to tell us, this is what's happened, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new, verse 18. Now all things are God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Now it's awesome. And has given us the ministry of reconciliation, did you hear that? The Holy Spirit's giving you the ability to get people to make up with God by talking to them, having coffee with them, sharing with them. That's on us, all of us, verse 19, that is, that God was, there it is, in Christ on the count of three. Can you say in Christ, one, two, three, in Christ, that God was in Christ, watch this, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing or no longer stacking up or treasuring up, their trust passes against them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, that word in the Greek, ambassador, there's two words. You can be an ambassador as one that is sent to an ally nation or there's a Greek word that you can be an ambassador that is sent to a hostile nation. So if we were to send an ambassador to Afghanistan today, that would be an ambassador to a hostile nation or to China or to Russia, nations that want us to be gone. And this is the word that is used in the Bible for the Christian. You should cheer up. God's word is so awesome and so accurate that you are an ambassador to the Lord Jesus Christ to a world that is hostile toward God. And yet He's given you and I the Holy Spirit's ability to speak reconciliation to those that we come in contact with. I know you're not much appreciated in this world, but you are an absolute treasure to the mind and to the heart of God and to the ministry of God on earth. This is the church you and others that hold to the word of God. This is the greatest thing happening on earth right now is the church of the living God in love and ministry and reaching other people, helping healing, reaching out, caring. The church of Jesus Christ is the off scouring as Paul put it of the world. But listen, once this church, once the church, once the witness of Christ is removed from this earth by virtue of the church, that void will be filled by evil. And I'm very aware that your kids, college students, a lot of young people today, people that are woke, people that are progressive, they don't even know what they're talking about. The church is evil. The church is the problem. Look, I'm not disagreeing with you. Some churches are the problem. They grow up, not all of the churches are the problem. We need to remember that. But God has given us that amazing ministry. Corinthians also goes on to tell us right there about us being ambassadors for Christ, that as though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ, we have to be reconciled to God. Here's the verse 21, amazing. For he, that is God the Father made him, that is God the Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. The theological ramifications of what you just read are shocking. And God, who is just, takes that which is condemned. And in any other arena, it's an impossible situation, but a holy, righteous God can take that which is condemned and ungodly and by him paying the price at the cross and by him being resurrected from the dead, purchases righteousness, not for himself. He is righteous. He is just, he turns and places that upon any man or woman boy or girl who will trust Christ, and he imparts to them his righteousness. Christ became sin for us, it's a powerful statement. He didn't become a sinner, that's who we are. At the cross, God the Father laid on him all the sins of mankind, and he became sin. He is the atonement because he was righteous, because he was pure, because he was innocent, because he was the sacrifice, he had to be the perfect human, but there are no perfect humans. So God came into the world to be that perfect human. And he communicated his righteousness to us. It says in verse 5 here that without walking with God and without forgiveness that we're treasuring up for ourselves wrath and the day of wrath, that's amazing thing to think about, and I won't belabor it, just that the nonbeliever today, if you're sitting here right now and you're not a follower of Christ, the meter is running. The meter that has your name on it is running, and it's recording sin. Think of that. See, that's not true. It is true. Bible says it's true. In fact, it says in Scripture that the sins are being recorded, that when Christ went to the cross, the sins of mankind were nailed to that cross, the accusation, but unless you receive his forgiveness, that benefit doesn't apply to you. You think of that for a moment? Well, if Jesus died for the whole world then, aren't I going to heaven automatically? No. You've got to accept. You've got to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And here's the awesome thing. Don't raise your hand, don't say anything, ask yourself this. Have you repented of your sin and have you accepted Christ? Meaning, did you realize and recognize that what you had done in life and how you had lived in life had come to a point where you said, that's it, I cannot do this anymore. It is wrong. I've offended the Holy Living God and he is righteous and he is good and he is just. And I'm wanting to live my life for him for the rest of my life. If that's happened to you, you are in Christ and you're new. You've been created new and that's a joyous and awesome fact that here the Bible warns us that without Christ you can be treasuring up for yourselves wrath in the day of wrath. And that's scary. So watch this everybody. Every day that you live without Jesus, the meter is running and you're stacking up. The word treasure is to lay upon layer upon layer upon layer, wrath or judgment when Christ judges the unbelieving world. And that's a terrifying thought. For the believer, that's not true for the believer. That's all gone now for the believer. In fact, the other becomes true. Matthew 6, verse 19, do not lay up for yourselves treasures, layer upon layer on earth where moth and rust and where thieves break in and steal. You don't need to lay up stuff that's of this world for purpose, identity, meaning, verse 20 says, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys nor thieves break in and steal. Verse 21, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What an awesome thing. In other words, what do we do as believers? The context demands this. We're going to read about it at the sin of moment. Is that we want to live a life now for Jesus because we are brand new because we have been given a new life? Lord, what are we going to do today? Lord, what do you want me to do with my life? Show me. Is that the cry of the Christian? God, show me what to do. Just before service, I think Gia had walked into the room and we're standing there and she said something. It doesn't matter what it was. And I said, you know what? I said, I just don't want to get old. Oh, that's what I'm talking about. How crazy things are on the world. And I said, my big concern is I just don't want to be old. And she, because she's been a daughter in our lives. She's been with us forever. She just said, but you are old. And so that's, and I said, that's not what I mean. What I mean is I don't want to get old in here because there's so much to do. I'm terrified that my body, my physical body cannot keep up with what Jesus is wanting to do. And I hope that you're starting or that you do sense that in your own life. We're not afraid of getting old as believers. That means we're closer to heaven, hallelujah. But listen, as long as we're here, oh God, use us by being instruments of love and of grace to execute your will in the world. Listen, God, keep us going, keep us usable. We need to be usable, oh God. Why? Because our treasure is no longer here. Are the things in this world owning you or do you own them? And as a believer, if you own the things that you have in this world, you know that God is really the owner. You're just a manager. But do those things own you? That's a big difference. What drives you? What are you laying upon layer? And the believer, the Christian, is saying something to this effect. Evangelism, I'm helping to support missions and praying about doing this, looking at that stuff, went with those people to do that thing, went, and are you with me? You're looking, you're looking, why listen everybody? Because spiritually speaking, we are investors now. And we're looking to put our efforts and our energy in things that will last forever. I met with a man this week who asked to meet with me, and a very super successful man. He said, listen, I've been listening to the messages. I've been following what's going on in the church, just want some advice. I have this amount of blessings in my hand, and I'm asking you, where do you think those things should go? What ministries out there affect this and that and that and that and the nation? You know that's a smart man. Because you could store it and hoard it up, and then in three months it could all be gone. And so we want to make sure that we're laying up, treasures that serve God. And this leads us to this, look at verses six through nine, crowns or eternal crowns. You read a lot about crowns in the Bible. And so we should, verse six and seven teaches us this, who will render to each one according to his deeds, eternal life to those by patient continuance and doing good, seek for glory, honor and immortality. You can just write down in your margins of your Bible crowns. This is always a funny topic, I get it, I understand this, but the Bible is very clear about this issue about rewards. We're to live our lives here and now so that in the day of judgment for the believer us, that the life that we have lived here now turns out to be a glory and honor to God. It's how you and I live now will turn out to be a gift giving to Jesus. I want that, I want that to settle in for a moment. I don't think for a moment, well the way I live my life right now, right, if I do it right, I can have this in heaven and that in heaven. Oh come on. First of all, you're going to be so happy just to be there, we're going to walk around. But in this time of our lives, God has called you and I to take of our lives and follow him as Lord and to serve him the Bible refers to as our master. The Bible says that we should be busy about our father's business, does it not? Jesus speaks to us over and over again, take what you have and use it for the glory of God and more will be given to you. Jesus said to be faithful and little, I'll make you faithful and more. This is all exhortations that will apply to us in the end and this is exactly what Paul is speaking about here in verses 6 and 7. In fact, write this down if you would Galatians chapter 6, verse 7 and 8, says, do not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatever man sows, that he will also reap for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the spirit will love the spirit reap everlasting life. Imagine that, that there's a day of reckoning and it can be very positive and I pray, listen and I do trust for you here, this church, we've worked hard to give you the truth. This is what this ministry is about to give you the truth so you know what to do, okay? And I believe it s going to be positive for this body of believers. Why? How can you be so confident? Because God s word never returns void. He will accomplish his work. Once he has started a good work, he says he will complete it until the day of Christ. I'm trusting him for that, that gets me out of bed. And I know one of the big trip ups, right everybody? Do we have this problem together? I have this problem together and that is this, the opportunity to do this good thing, right, comes before you. You hear about it. Well, I want to, you know, it s a good thing, but I don't know if my motive s right, because that s not Bible warns about having wrong motives. Do you understand that you can have that, but I've already done it for you by the way, for years. I miss so many opportunities because I debated with myself. Well, that s a really great thing to do, but if I do it for the wrong motive, then that s a horrible thing. And then I d be sinned against God, because I do the right thing with the wrong motive. And then that s terrible. And so you know what? I would talk myself to death. I would think myself to death. I would think and wait and talk and argue about my motive until the opportunity passed. You know what I do now? Did you know my heart? By the way, Jeremiah clears it up for us perfectly. Jeremiah, he says, your heart s desperately wicked. Who could know it? See, I really would like to do this for the kingdom of God. Then do it. What if my motive s not right? Do it. What if my motive s right? And I don't know it. Do it. But what if my motive. Do it. Do it. If God shows you something, do it. Just make sure it s God shown it to you. But do it. If it honors him, do it. This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all the broadcasts out reach opportunities, are listener supported. Will you consider partnering with us through a special gift? Go to jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected.