The Master‘s Class, LifeChange Church Wichita

A PASTOR’S ACCOUNTABILITY (Hebrews 13_17)

A PASTOR’S ACCOUNTABILITY (Hebrews 13:17)

The topic of our message is going to be on the accountability of the preachers and pastors that lead our churches.  But, this message is not only for our pastors, it is for each of you as well, because you will also face a day of judgment. The Bible teaches that if the pastor is God’s man, then you ought to follow him; if he’s not, then you ought to fire him. It’s just that simple.  

It is a fact that one of these days, every pastor, every preacher, every minister, must face the Lord, and He’s going to ask them to give an account of their ministry.  But, it’s also a fact that each of us who are a true follower of Christ will one day face the Lord, and we will also have to give an accounting for not only, if we were obedient to God’s command to be submissive to our pastors, but for our own Christian work and ministry that God has given us.

Now, we are saved by grace through faith, and we cannot work our way to heaven.  But, somehow people have gotten the idea that they can live just any way they like, do anything they like, and because they’re saved by grace they can just go to sleep in a Pullman car and just coast into the yards of glory and it will make absolutely no difference how they serve the Lord, what they did, or whatever. But the Bible teaches to the contrary. 

The Bible teaches there is coming a day of accountability. The preacher is going to face an accountability.  He is going to have to answer to God for the way he leads his church. Even though he is saved by grace, he will have to give an account. 

Click on the play button to hear a message that will describe how Christ will hold pastors, and their followers, accountable the work that they have done in the name of our Lord.    

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING (John 13:36 to 14:3)

In today’s message, we are going to cover a set of verses that are as clear a statement that Jesus can make that He is preparing a place for us to spend eternity with Him. He is in heaven today, but someday He is coming for us. Heaven is real, and therefore Hell is real, and I want to be with Jesus in this place that He has prepared specifically for me and everyone else who has made Him their Savior.

This set of verses talks about heaven. These verses tell everyone, who calls Jesus their Lord and Savior, that when your work for God is done on this earth, Jesus Christ has a place for you. It is a place specifically designed for you by the One who loves you like no other. One of these days, Jesus is coming for His bride, and that puts my heart at peace. I don’t have worry about my retirement plan in heaven. Jesus has already taken care of it. I don’t have worry about which medical insurance plan I need for heaven because Jesus has already taken care of that as well. The day is coming when there will be a shout, Behold, the Bridegroom is coming. That is what I am waiting on, Jesus is coming for me.

Click on the link below to hear a message on one of the most blessed truths that I know, Jesus Christ may come at any moment for His church.

John 14:1-3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
KJV

Amen.

THE LAST MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE (Revelation 22:14-21)

The last message of the Bible is choose Jesus. It really is that simple. The whole Bible was given to us so that we might choose Jesus. The last promise from our Lord is Surely, I come quickly. The last prayer of this book is Even so, come, Lord Jesus. In these last words, the Lord Jesus Christ makes a proposal to every person who is alive today. He asks you to choose Him as your Lord and Savior. He is asking you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven, instead of eternity without Him in Hell. Choose Jesus, that is the last message of the Bible.

Who cares if a sinner goes to hell? The Lord Jesus cares. Jesus said, "I sent a message with an angel, and I said to that angel, go to the churches and give them this message. I want them saved." The Lord Jesus cares if you go to Hell. That's why Jesus stepped out of the glories of heaven and walked the dusty shores of Galilee. That's why Jesus left heaven's love for earth's abuse. That's why Jesus was nailed to that horrible cross and died in agony and blood.

Why? With every drop of His blood, He is saying, "I love you and I want to save you." It is a Biblical truth that if you die and go to hell, you will have to climb over the battered, bruised, body of Jesus to get there. He's saying, "Stop! Don't go to hell."

Click on the link below to hear a message on how much Jesus Christ wants you to choose Him.

Amen.

THE LAST PROPHECY OF THE BIBLE (Revelation 22:1-13)

Last words are very important. I can remember the last night I spent with my father. Neither one of us knew that it would be our last night together, but it was. He had been rushed to the hospital after being diagnosed with an aortal aneurism. Surgery was planned for the next day, so I sent the rest of the family home while I stayed with him for the night. We just talked into the night about work, family, and other casual things, but it was an easy, good, conversation. He went to sleep, and before the night was over, he was gone. The words we had spoken were our last words together, and they are important to me. The last words of the Bible are vitally important to us as Christians, but also to every living person who still has a chance to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior.

The last prophecy of the Bible predicts the sudden return of the Savior. Jesus said, "Look! Listen! Pay attention! Behold, I come quickly..." That is an ironclad promise from the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, none of us know when Jesus Christ is coming. However, we all know, if we believe the Bible, that He is indeed coming, and your destiny is determined by what you've done with Him before He comes. Jesus says that when He comes He is bringing something with Him. He says, “and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

It is a fact that Jesus Christ is coming back. Are you ready for His return? With your eternal destiny at stake, it would be extremely foolish to not be ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Today, not tomorrow or next week. Today!

2 Cor 6:2
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
KJV

We are living in this space of time. The word now speaks of the present time. When your eternity begins after death, you will not have another chance to be saved. Now is the time. If you do not choose now, then there will be no salvation for you. One of these days there will be no more days. If you want to be saved, you can be saved, but you must remember that Jesus Christ is the only hope. There is none other.

Click on this link to hear a message on the last prophecy of the Bible, Jesus Christ is coming again. Amen.

A TOUR OF HEAVEN-PART II (Revelation 21:9-27)

Heaven is a real place. It is not some mysterious, atmospheric, realm of smoke and mirrors. Too many people want to spiritualize heaven, denying that life exists after death, but in order to do that they must ignore the plain words of the Bible. Jesus clearly says that He has gone to prepare a real place for us. Every loved one that we have lost, who had Jesus Christ as their Savior, is in a real place. A place called heaven.

You might ask, “Who is it that will populate heaven?” The Bible is clear that Heaven is a made-new place. If you are not made new, then you are not going to be any part of it. Heaven is going to be a place where there are multiplied millions and billions of people. Who will populate it? First of all, every little aborted baby will be there. The saints of all of the ages will be there. Believers of every nation in the world are going to be there. But nobody is going to be there above the age of accountability who has not received Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord. You just won't be there.

There is an old song that says, "Everybody who is talking about heaven ain't going there." Heaven is a made-new place, if you want to go to heaven, then you must be made-new as well.

2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
KJV

Heaven is not only a made-new place, but it is also a prepared place for a prepared people.

John 14:1-4
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
KJV

Heaven is a made-new place, and heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Have you ever come to the cross? Have you ever repented of your sin? Have you ever really, I mean honestly trusted Jesus. Not trusting in your humanitarianism, not trusting in your charity, not trusting in your religion, not trusting in your membership of some church, but trusting in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?

If you haven’t, and you want to spend eternity living in this beautiful place called heaven, then you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.

Click the link below to hear a sermon on what heaven is going to be like.

Amen.

A TOUR OF HEAVEN (Revelation 21:1-8)

Let me ask you a question here, have you ever been made fun of for believing in such things as heaven and hell? In the really old days, when I was much younger, people would call those of us who believed in a life hereafter, Holy Rollers or Religious nuts. Both were used derisively to describe someone who is overcome with too much Holy Spirit and has lost touch with reality. Today, that is fairly mild compared to the hateful names they call anyone who dares to say that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that heaven is real, and therefore, hell is real. I certainly have gotten used to the tolerant looks from people, when they hear I am teaching through the book of Revelation.

When we as Christians talk about heaven, there are those people who just sneer and say, "Well, you Christians are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good." May I suggest that it is just the opposite? Many of us are so earthly minded we are no good to heaven or earth.

Col 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
KJV

The Bible tells us that we are to be heavenly minded. What did Jesus tell us in Matthew 6:20-21?

Matt 6:20-21
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
KJV

If your heart is not in heaven, if you are not anticipating going to heaven, then it is because your treasure is down here. And to be honest, it is not your treasure that God wants. God doesn't need anything. It is your heart that God wants. So, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. By the way, if you want to know how rich you really are, you add up everything you have that money can't buy and that death can't take away. That is the treasure that you will have in heaven.

The Lord wanted John to write about heaven as He closed out this wonderful book of Revelation. I believe He did so because He wanted us to know about the place that He has gone to prepare for us, so that we could be confident in our future.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the reality of a place called heaven. Heaven is a real place that we are going to spend eternity in.

Amen.

JUDGMENT DAY (Revelation 20:13-15)

As we think about this final judgment of the unsaved dead, I sometimes wonder what those who read my posts, or listen to the podcast think. Do they ask themselves, “Is this real? Is a judgment day when I will stand before God real, or is it just something religious nuts talk about to make people scared enough to come to church? It just seems so theatrical, like the stuff of fairy tales, or an Edgar Allen Poe story, to talk about heaven and hell, fire and brimstone, and eternity. It is simple, you live, you die, you are buried, and that is it. Party while you can, because life is short.”

I want you to listen to me, with every single fiber of my body, I want to tell you that this judgment day is real. Every single person who has ever lived is destined to meet Jesus Christ. You will meet Him as your Savior, or as your Judge. You get to choose, but you must choose now, before you die, before your heart stops beating. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation, now is the time to choose Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord. You do not want to stand before Christ at this final judgment, for everyone who does, everyone, will be condemned to spend eternity in the lake of fire. Forever, and ever. It is as simple as that.

The Bible tells us over and over again that there is a judgment day coming. There is coming a time when God will put the final period, upon the final paragraph, upon the final page, upon the final chapter, upon the final book of human history. This judgement will include every person who has ever lived that rejected God’s free gift of salvation. If during your life on this earth, you said no to the gospel message of Jesus Christ, then you will stand before Christ to be judged and condemned to an eternity in hell. The key to who will stand at this judgment is not how bad you were, or how good you were. It is whether or not you made Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord while you lived on this earth. That’s it, that is the determining factor and to which judgment you will go to, and where you will spend eternity.

For all those who have said that they don’t believe in hell fire, 30 seconds after you get there, you will believe. This is what God’s Word says, and it is as sure as the God that wrote each word. There really is a lake of liquid fire, and the sadness of it is, that you don't have to go. C. S. Lewis brilliantly said that everybody in the world is in two categories. Those who are like Satan who say to God the Father, “not your will but mine be done.” And those who are like God the Son who say to the Father, “not my will but thine be done.”

Now those in the first category who say to the Father, not your will but mine be done, who are autonomous and live self-concerned, self-controlled lives, will one day drop into that Lake of Fire and a broken-hearted God will say, "Not my will, but thine be done." God doesn't want you to go to hell.

The truth is, that if you die outside the Lord, then you are going to come to a judgment and you will find out for yourself that the Bible is indeed true.

But I have got wonderful news for you. The Bible says of the Lord Jesus Christ, “He that believeth on him is not condemned. Now there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Click on the link below to hear a message on the final day of judgment.

Amen.

THE FINAL JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:11-13)

The simple truth is that we live in a world full of evil. Evil lives in the heart of man. Evil doesn’t care who it harms, it just wants to harm someone or something. When a young man takes a gun to school and kills other students, that is evil living in the heart of that young man. I don’t care what you believe you are a victim of, there is no rational reason for killing others. It is just plain evil. No law can change the evil that lives in our hearts. Creating a perfect environment to live in cannot change the evil that lives in our hearts. You can make the world a Garden of Eden, and evil will still bubble up out of the heart of man.

There is only one way to change the heart of man, and that is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Yet, this world rejects the free gift of salvation, and being given a new, godly, nature that the gospel of Christ offers to a lost world. So, evil grows and grows. The world gets darker and darker with sin. It seems that there is no answer to the problem. It seems that evil will eventually win and shut out the light of all that is good.

As believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we know that the answer is not to be found in man, but in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes again, He will deal with evil of every kind. He will deal with Satan and all of his followers, and He will deal with the evil that resides in the heart of man. A day of judgment is coming, when Christ will deal with the evil of this world, forever.

Today’s message is about that final judgment of the unsaved dead. It is called the Great White Throne Judgment. Satan has persuaded mankind for centuries that there is no future punishment, no final accounting before God. It is a lie that has allowed evil to grow. The Bible tells us over and over again that there is a judgment day coming. There is coming a time when God will put the final period upon the final paragraph, upon the final page, upon the final chapter, upon the final book of human history. This judgement will include every person who has ever lived that rejected God’s free gift of salvation. If during your life on this earth, you said no to the gospel message of Jesus Christ, then you will stand before Christ as your judge at this final judgment.

The time of this final judgment will come and every scheme, every plan, every desire, that men sold their souls for, will turn to rust, and dust, and mold, and corruption. The unsaved dead will be raised from their graves to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged.

You may make the choice not to be a Christian. You may choose to never give your heart to Jesus Christ, but one day you are going to meet Jesus Christ. Every person who has ever lived has an appointment already set on the calendar to meet Jesus Christ. He is inescapable, and He is unavoidable. You will meet Jesus Christ. If you don't meet Him as Savior, then you will meet Him as Judge. You may have ignored Him, you may have denied Him, you may have disbelieved Him, you may even have cursed Him, but one day you will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the Final Judgment.

Amen.

RESURRECTION AND REBELLION (Revelation 20:5-10)

The title of our message today is Resurrection and Rebellion. In the first part of our message we will talk about the order of the resurrections of the just and unjust. Contrary to what many will tell you, the Bible does not teach of a single resurrection. Instead, it teaches of two resurrections. The first resurrection is for those saints who have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The second resurrection is for those who have rejected Christ as their Savior. Instead of joining Christ in heaven for eternity as the saints will do, these who have rejected Christ, will now stand before Christ as their Judge.

The second part of today’s message is about God’s plan to bring a final resolution to sin on this earth. Jesus Christ is going to come and rule for a thousand years. This will be a literal period of one thousand years when man will live in a perfect society. The animal kingdom will be changed, the mineral kingdom will be changed, and the earth will become a regenerated Garden of Eden. Men will live for a thousand years, they will be but youngsters at the age of 100 years old. Satan will be removed from the scene and cast into the bottomless pit, where he will remain chained until the very end of this one thousand year period, when God will let him loose for a little while.

The people of the earth will have been living in blessing for a thousand years. They will have children during the millennium. The population of the world will grow again. Even though they are living with the Son of God right before them, in blessings, in peace, many of them will reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron. There will be no uprising during that time. There will be no Satan leading in rebellion. But down in the human heart, latent in the human heart, there will still be sin if it has not been washed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is these children, who, after a thousand years, are going to rebel against God when Satan is let loose. God is demonstrating to the world two great principles when He does this.

Number one: Punishment is not the final answer. Satan has been in the prison house doing hard time for one thousand years and he comes back to rebel one more time. Even a thousand years of punishment did not reform Satan. Punishment is not the answer to reform the heart of man.

Number two: Environment is not the final answer. Make your environment as good as you can, but after one thousand years of peace and righteousness down in the human heart this latent sin comes bubbling up. That is the way it is with sin in the human heart. There is only one answer to sin and it is the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God will deal with this rebellion and He will deal with Satan, bringing a final resolution to sin. Sin will be no more.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the order of the resurrections and how God deals with rebellion against Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE KINGDOM AGE (Revelation 20:1-4)

We have come to the point in our study of The Book of Revelation for the setting up of the Millennial reign of Christ. The time of the Kingdom Age has come. For a thousand years there will be peace on earth. Men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, their tanks into tractors and their missiles into silos for grain. The centuries will roll by, and the words for war in human speech will become archaic fragments of a language dead to mankind. The armies of the nations will be disbanded, and the great military academies will fall into ruin and decay, for they will teach war no more. The machinery of war will all be smelted down and converted into the implements of peace.

Jerusalem will be the world's capital. The throne of David is there, and the twelve apostles are there ruling the twelve tribes of Israel, for Israel will be the premier nation of the world. The millennial Temple will be built on Mt. Moriah, and the nations of the earth will come there to worship the living God. Prosperity will extend to the four corners of the earth. Poverty is unknown, and every man has all that his heart can desire.

There are no prisons, no hospitals, no mental institutions, no barracks, no saloons, no houses of ill repute, no gambling dens, no rest homes, and no nursing homes. Such things belong to a past and lesser age. The flower of youth is on everyone's face, for a man is but a youngster at a hundred years of age. Cemeteries are crumbling relics of the past, and tears are rare. The wolf and the lamb, the calf and the lion, the cow and the bear, the child and the scorpion, are all at peace. Jesus has come, and the Millennium is here.

The Kingdom age, so frequently declared by the prophets of Israel's past, will come at last, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God. Jesus is Lord, and He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. His reign is righteous, and the nations obey. The principles of the Sermon on the Mount are the laws of the kingdom, and men obey them because infractions are not allowed. Sin is visited with swift and certain judgment. This period lasts for a thousand years.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan will be bound and the light of our Lord Jesus Christ will fill the world.

Amen.