I. THE HONEST EVALUATION OF GOD
Rev 2:3-4 you have persevered and have patience and have labored for My name’s sake…4nevertheless I have this against
you, that you have left your first love.
Rev 2:19-20 I know your works, love, service…the last are more than the first 20nevertheless I have a few things against
you…
Rev 3:1 I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev 3:17…you say,’ I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -- and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked...
A. The evaluation or judgment of God is clean and completely honest. In God’s perfect love He gives us complete
truth that has power to save and bring ones forth whom are worthy to bear His name. There is no hidden agenda, no
manipulation.
Psalm 19:9-11 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb, 11Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward
B. The letters from Jesus in Revelation 2 & 3 are a foreshadowing of you and I standing before the Lord and offering
up our works and lives. Jesus confronts (evaluates) them then and us now with perfect truth in hope that there would
be no confrontation with truth on the final “Day”.
C. The rich young ruler asked a wise question and we should all ask the same question. “What do I still lack?” The
Lord will answer us because His desire for us to be perfect and complete in truth is greater than our own desire.
Matt 19:20 The young man said to Him... What do I still lack?"
D. Lord shock me now don’t shock me then! We need to open up our lives and ministries to the Lord and soberly
ask His evaluation of our lives (individual heart) and work (servant-heart towards others).
E. Paul speaks to believers that have experienced salvation in Christ. Ones that have had the foundation of the
gospel laid in their life and gives a strong warning to “take heed” how you live your life in God because it will be tested or
evaluated by the fire of God on that “Day”.
1 Cor 3:9-15 ...you are God’s building...10...I have laid the foundation...But let each one take heed (move forward
carefully) how he builds (how he spends his life) on it. 11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13each one's work (life) will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will
test each one's work (life), of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
F. His warning in verse 10 is that there will be an evaluation of how we built upon the foundation of our salvation in
Christ. The way we build our lives matters to God. He calls us to be found without spot or blemish. He calls us to be
found worthy and faithful vessels.
Col 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord…pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work…
Eph 4:1 I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling…
Phil 1:27 …let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…
1 Cor 4:2 it is required in stewards that one be found faithful
Rev 2:10…be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life
2 Cor 5:9…we make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him
G. There are two completely different groups of elements mentioned: (1) gold, silver, precious stones and (2) wood,
hay, straw of which people will build their lives with:
1. Gold, silver and precious stones are sought out and mined. You have to dig deep to produce them (long,
consistent, hard, focused, difficult work).
Luke 6:47-48 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48He is like a
man building a house, who dug deep…
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate... 14narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are
few who find it.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire…
Luke 8:15…having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience
2. Wood, hay and straw require no work at all. They are natural elements that exist with no labor whatsoever (exist
on the surface).
Mark 4:18-19 these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word 19and the cares of this world,
the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Luke 8:14 the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares,
riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
1 Cor 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned he will suffer loss (wood, hay and straw are burned away in fire…nothing to show
for the way they built their life)
3. The contrast is that of one who puts no work or focus upon building a life in God and one that does. Some are in
a hurry because of too many things and take no time to go deep in God to produce “gold, silver or precious stones”.
They built on their foundation in haste and with little focus. Yet the other group resisted several things and gave priority
to the difficulty of going deep in God.
Mt 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…
Prov 19:20-23 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21There are many
plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD's counsel -- that will stand (endure)...23The fear of the LORD leads to
life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.
H. There is a day for all believers when the worth of the way you spent your life will be tested by the fire of God to see
what sort it is... precious stones or stubble.
1. On what “sort” are you giving priority to?
2. With what “sort” are you building your life in God?
I. Verse 15 paraphrased is “saved but wasted”. These will be saved yet will experience deep regret for squandering
their chance to produce something of eternal value in the time they were granted on this side of time. How we live life
matters.
J. Howard Pittman story: 35 years of ministry that was all self-seeking and not worthy of the next age.
1. The tone of His anger knocked me on my face as God proceeded to tell me just what kind of life I had really lived.
He told me what He really thought of me... He pointed out that my faith was DEAD, that my works were NOT ACCEPTABLE,
and that I had labored in VAIN. He told me that it was an abomination for me to live such a life and then dare call it a life
of worship (Placebo, the death experience of Howard Pittman).
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. 11Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we
persuade men.
K. We are called to wholeheartedly pursue the Kingdom of God, His righteousness and the values of His Kingdom for
our whole life.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence (courage, boldness)
and not be ashamed (regretful) before Him at His coming.
2 John 8 Look to yourselves (carefully observe, be realistic), that we do not lose those things we worked for (attained
spiritually), but that we may receive a full reward.
Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we
must give account.
1 Cor 4:5 ...the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each
one’s praise will come from God.
L. The Lord warns us that wisdom is a very serious matter for the church. Those who are wise will have already
cultivated oil (inner-life in God) at the time of the events leading up to the return of Christ. Those who are foolish will
experience a “lamps are going out” crisis and be void of authentic oil on the inside.
Matt 25:1-8 "Then (end-time generation) the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3Those who were foolish took their
lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps…8And the foolish said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
1. It’s impossible to buy an inner-life in God at the last minute when the end-time events begin to unfold. This is one
of the principles of the parable. When the cry goes out that the time is extremely near (v. 6)...one will not be able to
prepare in the midst of chaos. We must have oil/preparation already in our lamps. God calls this wisdom.
2. When God evaluates a life and calls it wisdom it guarantees no shame or regret. The world’s evaluation of such a
life will be negative and that of foolishness. Yet God will vindicate wisdom.
1 Cor 1:27-28 But God has chosen the (so-called) foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has
chosen the (so-called) weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the (so-called) lowly
things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen…
Mt 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating
and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is
justified by her children (what it produces).
M. There will be some that were not faithful at giving 100% at what they were given with a grateful heart. In bitterness
they were always waiting to be given what those “who had been given more” had received.
Matt 25:15-29 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability;
and immediately he went on a journey...19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts (the
Day of settling is coming) with them...24"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to
be a hard man, (didn’t know the heart of the master and was bitter at what he was dealt) reaping where you have not
sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed...28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten
talents. 29'For to everyone who has (oil, faithfulness, meekness: precious stones, gold, silver), more will be given, and
he will have abundance; but from him who does not have (wood, hay, straw), even what he has will be taken away.
1. In each season of our life it is critical to see what we’ve been given (grace upon our heart to pursue God & gifting
to serve God) and give 100% at being faithful and whole-hearted.
2. Acknowledging what you’ve been given from God awakens thanksgiving in our hearts and then fuels us to serve
faithfully & wholeheartedly in that area(s).
Colossians 3:22-24 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-
pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
II. HIS COUNSEL TO US: LIVE IN WISDOM & THE FEAR OF THE LORD
1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves
throughout the time of your stay here in fear
Ps 90:7-12 For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. 8You have set our iniquities
before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We
finish our years like a sigh. 10The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
A. Moses in his revelation of God has understanding that God is God and He is holy and awesome. In light of this he
cries out for a heart of wisdom and understanding to live worthy of God...a request for the counsel of the Lord.
Jeremiah 32:19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work...
B. To number our days means to live with the fear of the Lord at the forefront of our lives...having awareness of the
standards of God and that He has given us a small 70-80 year span to be wise and faithful.
C. Psalm 111:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord equips us to live in this
age with the wisdom that enables us to build in a manner worthy of that age.
1. Our first reaction to the fear of the Lord is usually resistant. The Bible says that this is actually the beginning of
wisdom. As Divine wisdom settles in our hearts we begin to truly see our life and the bigger picture from God’s
perspective for the first time and our confidence in God grows.
2. We are so thankful for Divine wisdom confronting us. He is saving us from our own blindness and our own wisdom;
producing poverty of spirit within us. Sometimes we think we know ourselves better than God knows us so we naturally
resist His leadership. He knows us perfectly, we can trust Him.
Job 28:27-28 Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. 28And to man He said,
'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom (wisdom from heaven) and
instruction.
D. Those who choose to live without the wisdom of heaven alive in their hearts will not be safe when terror breaks in.
The fear of the Lord now is our guarantee for safety then.
Prov 1:24-33…I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25…you disdained all my counsel, would have none
of my rebuke…27…when distress and anguish come upon you. 28"Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; They
will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me. 29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the
LORD, 30They would have none of My counsel and despised My every rebuke. 31Therefore they shall eat the fruit of
their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32…the complacency of fools will destroy them 33But
whoever listens to me (obedient lifestyles) will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.
E. Those who don’t live in the counsel of the Lord will have leanness of soul or shallowness on the inside (wood, hay
and straw of 1Cor 3)...hardened hearts and a spirit that doesn’t soar in God.
Ps 106:13-15 They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14But lusted (lived according to their own
interests) exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15And He gave them their request, but sent
leanness into their soul.
F. We must carefully move forward with things that consume our time.
Prov 19:20-23 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, [that] you may be wise in your latter days. 21There are many
plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the LORD's counsel -- that will stand…23The fear of the LORD leads to life…
1. We live in the land of many, many options and good ideas. Plans to grow in wealth, grow in ministry, grow in
influence...lots of good things. But only the Lord’s counsel will stand.
2. We must begin to steward everything in light of the fear of the Lord and turn away from things that consume our
time and ultimately lead to wasting our life.
3. We need to invite the Spirit of wisdom to confront any wisdom from this age that is at work in us.
III. WISDOM = SERMON ON THE MOUNT MATTHEW 5-7
A. Quote from Mike Bickle, “The Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of God’s Kingdom. It is useful to us as the
litmus test to measure our personal spiritual development and ministry impact. We measure our impact in ministry (family,
work, friends) by how those that we minister to walk out these values. These values should be the most emphasized
theme in the teaching ministries in the Kingdom. These are weighty yet unpopular themes that describe the entry point
lifestyle of all new believers.”