In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using our time and possessions to serve others. He shares a story of a woman who bartered her strength, time, and groceries to help her neighbor, highlighting the concept of bartering in our daily lives. The speaker then discusses different judgments mentioned in the Bible, explaining that as believers in Jesus, we are saved from the judgment of the great white throne. He encourages the audience to ask God for a new kind of "eye-sab" that allows them to see the eternal things that truly matter. The sermon concludes with the speaker reflecting on the transformation in a woman's life who had new eyes and had been buying "ISAB" (possibly referring to spiritual insight or understanding) from the Holy Spirit.

I do want you to know how privileged I feel to be with you again. Even though all these years have gone by, I feel as though we've been very much a part of you. So thankful for those of you who've come from a distance to be here this week. I'm really disappointed. I thought Hosea came to hear me. It's a real, real let down. The second part of that is, I'm always intimidated when either Brother Kong or Hosea are in the audience. Because I know the richness of their life and ministry. And while I've been on the way a long time, I know that we are short. I haven't forgotten what we started with. The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. And I'm fearful this morning that if I start explaining that, we won't get any further. And I do have another burden. I need to say this. The main thing always has to be qualified. We're going to talk at the end. Mack has promised, after I'm exhausted and through, to remind me that I still haven't answered it. The main thing in the universe is what we're going to get at. Last night we were talking about the main thing in really finishing the race triumphantly. And that we've been marked out or predestined for two things. To be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. And to be placed or positioned as mature sons who can share something of the reign with him. But this morning, my burden is to talk about another main thing. One of these days, it might not be too far away, we're all going to stand for the evaluation. When we get to the end of the race and we realize that he's going to evaluate what we've done. The fact that we're with him means that we've been saved by grace. But I feel burdened because one of these days, when we all stand before the beam or the judgment seat of Christ. Somebody's going to slip up to me and say, Vern, did you know this? Did you know what was going to take place here? And you didn't tell me. I am relieving myself this morning of that burden. I'll be able to say to everyone here, I told you so. I told you. Now, let me use the overhead again. I don't know how it comes through on the video. Some places it doesn't, but you know that I need it. Let me begin what we're sharing this morning by suggesting that there are different judgments that are pictured in the scripture. Very briefly, we can say that God's great judging work that is passed for us as his children. Is when on the cross he dealt a master blow against sin, the self and the old flesh and all that that represents. The world and the devil in one master stroke. He took care of all of that and judged once and for all. All that needed to be taken care of. And the good news this morning is that if you have trusted the Lord Jesus. We say if you have been to the cross, you will never be at this judgment over here. The judgment of the great white throne. People often confuse this thinking, you know, at the very end of the great assize when all are gathered there to be judged that they will be there. No, good news this morning. If you've been here, you'll never come to this judgment. That ought to say, cause you to say, thank you, Lord. So I need to strip away this very quickly. There are many aspects to what we call the judgment at the cross. But the great white throne after the thousand years will be a time the whole world will come to realize. But the judgment that I want to talk about this morning. You can turn in your Bible to first Corinthians is what is called the Bema judgment. This particular judgment seat of Christ. We will read about it first in. Oh, let us take second Corinthians first. Shall we play second Corinthians five ten. The apostle Paul says in five ten. For we. Must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That everyone may receive according to things done in his body, according to that is done, whether it be good or bad. I need to say to you this morning that once sin has been dealt with. The flesh. All that's contrary to God. The world. And the devil. Once this has been dealt with in God's working at the cross. There is still a further evaluation. For every one of us. The Greek word here is Bema. It literally means the judgment seat where we will be evaluated for what we have done our work. It's quite a thing to realize in the running of the race. Fulfilling the purpose and all that God had. But someday I'm going to give account. Like to have you turn to first Corinthians. And we will read there in chapter three. Paul says beginning with verse nine. For we are laborers together with God. He says then in chapter three and verse eleven. For other foundation can no man lay. That is laid which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones. Every man's work shall be made manifest. For the day shall declare it. Because it shall be revealed by fire. And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon. He shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned. He shall suffer loss. But he himself shall be saved. Yet so as by fire. You see this indicates to us then. That once we have come to really know the grace of God. And we have trusted Jesus Christ and the finished work. It's not a matter of our standing before him to decide whether we can go into heaven. That's not the issue. We're saved by grace. We have the privilege of eternal life. But this judgment we call the Bema. Is for the evaluation of the work. Some I believe will stand in that day. They may have a lot as it were to offer him. Yet every bit of it will go up in smoke and flames. They'll stand with ashes. Head bowed. Enter into heaven. Saved so as by fire. But that's all. I need to tell you this. I've hesitated but I think I will. I guess the reason this has become so very real to me through the years. Is back in my early ministry when we were still living in Missouri. God graciously gave a revival that moved through the area for weeks. Actually a couple years. I explained the other night that had been some ladies who'd been praying. God answered their prayer. Hundreds probably thousands were really touched in all the area. In the process of this. With youthful zeal and desire to serve the Lord. We built a boot camp. A training place. Where we wouldn't qualify folk after the flesh. But would qualify them. To be witnesses. To go out to the world. And to really touch people's lives. In the midst of this. We built 13 buildings. Very rough. Like a boot camp would be. And to shorten the story. I need to tell you. You can't move into a community. Without. If you're doing something for God. Without the enemy getting stirred up. In the course of the years. There came much persecution. Probably much misunderstanding. Because of our lack. And. The day came. I was in the north in meetings. Everyone was gone from the camp. Some folks slipped in. And set a fire. 12 of the buildings. Only one that remained. Was the meeting place at the center. Never forget. My mother sent the telegram to me. And said son. Everything is in ashes. Except the main meeting place. I got home a few days afterwards. Drove out to all that was there. It was one of those times. As I was saying last night. When I got very close to being offended. Fact is. There were folk. Who'd put sweat, blood, labor. And all of this into the building. I'm not sure they recovered. The question was God. It was yours. Why didn't you take care of your property? Well it said all of that to say. As I drove out there. Looked over the ashes. I can never forget that day. Because God spoke to my heart. In such a personal. And a real way. That it is marked. Everything from that hour on. I don't know that it was a vision. Or a dream. Or what it was. But as I looked at the ashes. I saw myself standing. Before the Bema. There he was. The Lord Jesus. Sitting on his exalted throne. I looked and I saw. All those one by one. Who were coming before him. For the evaluation. I'd been very active. In Youth for Christ. Traveling up and down the country. Speaking to thousands. And in Revival. And I would honestly have said. I felt like I had something to offer the Lord. I stood with my arms full. I looked as individuals. Some I knew. Whose names I could give you. And when they came. I saw they had. Like myself. Arms full. A lot of activity. It was pretty much wood. A stubble. Each one. As they stood there. Suddenly. All went into flames. I saw their head bow. In ashes. They entered in. But it wasn't an abundant entrance. It was saved. So it was but fire. I remember Aunt Anne. I saw her. She'd been the leader of this little prayer group. For 23 years. Who had prayed. When I looked. Her arms were not full. But her hands had some gold. And silver. And precious stones. And when she stood before him. There was such a smile of approval. And the glittering of all of it. She entered in. To an abundant entrance. And then it came my turn. I took my step forward. And he dropped the curtain. And said. Not yet. You better believe I sighed relief. You know why? Because I had my hands. My arms full. When I looked at it. It was as though the Lord said. Wood. Hay. Stubble. Didn't mean that we hadn't been doing anything for God. But we hadn't been building. According to God's ways. Didn't have a sense and a vision. Of what he really wanted. And I suppose pretty much of it. Would have been the siphoning off. Of satisfaction. Interest. Glory. For myself. But as the curtain dropped. And I heard him as it were say. Not yet. This is the word that came. Let your building. Be in life. Let your building. Be in life. And I could look over the ashes. That were there. And I believe I could honestly say. Lord if this would be a hindrance. If this would be something that we are building. Just for our own work. Not according to pattern. According to what you want. I say amen. Now I give you this this morning. On the basis of this. I've come to realize. That there are two real gifts. That we have to deal with. If you can talk about the main giving. The first gift that we have to deal with. Is God's gracious gift to us. How many of you know what it is? He wraps up all his giving. All that could ever be given. All that God the Father has ever given. He wraps it up in one package. And there it is. In his Son. What a gift. Problem is it's going to take a long time. For us to discover what's in the package. How many have been discovering that already? All the tumbling ages. Coming to a new and a full appreciation. Of all that's in Jesus. But I need to tell you this. Generally evangelical people. And all of us have been so involved. Thank God for what he's given. But God's been turning our heart through the years. To an adjustment and a rectifying. What does God get? What is the gift that I can give back to him? Are you there? What would really satisfy God? What could satisfy the God of the universe? Whose determined design. What would be the main thing that could satisfy his heart? Only one thing. We were speaking of it last night. And the predestining and the marking out. The only thing that could really satisfy God. Is his Son. Fully conformed into us. The image of Christ. I mean he only finds delight in him. And so if he's going to find further delight. It'll be in what? Christ formed in us. So I need to say to us this morning. It's not so much the things that we do. That are important. But probably in the end. It'll be what we become. Now don't miss the point. It's in our doing. We become. But in becoming. God gets the doing done. He does through the reality that there is. So with that in mind this morning. I'd like for us to just consider now. Here's the gift that we have. All that's been given to us. What am I going to really give to him? When I stand before the Bema. Before the Lord Jesus. I need to take you to one more portion now. That's over in the book of Revelation. You will turn there please. I'd like to build this frame of reference. For our thinking. Revelation please. Chapter 3. I guess you know. That in the second and third chapters of Revelation. We have seven churches. And God is speaking to them. Saying in each letter that he writes. The same thing. He says to Ephesus. Verse 2. Chapter 2. Verse 2. I know thy works. And he goes on to each. To Smyrna. To Pergamos. Thyatira. Sardis. Philadelphia. And Laodicea. And to every one of them he says. I know thy works. The reason for this is. Because. We're all going to give an account. Whether as individuals. Or as the representation of the church. We're going to give account. For what has been done. And. Then he says. That there is a special word. That the spirit would say. To the church. I believe to each of us. But I want us to look in. To chapter 3 now. And. We're going to look at verse 15. He's speaking to the Laodicean. But he says this. I know thy works. And then. He tells us something. What I want us to see in this. This morning. Is that. It is possible. When individuals. Stand before the Bhima. That some. May stand. Naked. In that day. Some. Very poor. And some. Very blind. You don't know what I'm saying in this. But let me. Go on further to explain. One of the things. That's most critical. In the scripture. And in our understanding of God's way. Is to know that there are. Certain things that are free. And there are certain things. That you must buy. I think the great emphasis. In the church is what's free. How many can say thank God. All right. Thank God for what is free. But so often. We fail to recognize. That there are. Some things. That we must buy. And I believe. As we unfold this this morning. You'll see you'll recognize. What he's saying. When John writes. Look at it again. I know thy works. Verse 16. Because thou art lukewarm. And neither cold or hot. I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest. I am rich and increased with goods. And have need of nothing. And knowest not that thou art wretched. Miserable. Poor. Blind. Naked. Here's the key. I counsel thee to buy. Of me gold tried in the fire. That thou mayst be rich. And white raiment. That thou mayst be clothed. And that the shame. Of thy nakedness do not appear. And anoint thine eyes. With eye salve. That thou mayest see. Let me illustrate this. Now in explaining that. When we first come. To the cross. And meet the Lord. One of the things that we receive. Freely is the robe. Of righteousness. It's a robe of our salvation. How many of you know. That God is perfect. Perfection. Now that's wonderful. But it's also terrible. For all of us. Righteous. Holy. Perfect. And he can be satisfied with nothing less. The good news is. That when we come. To the cross. And we really trust. What Jesus Christ has done. God gives to us. The perfect righteousness of his son. Let me illustrate it this way. I used to know Dr. Walter Wilson. Back in Kansas City. Before he went to be with the Lord. And he tells the story one day. Of going out in the countryside. The place where he was having ministry. He was one of the greatest soul winners. I've ever known. Had a unique ability. To turn every situation. For the Lord. In this days they were traveling. Along the country road. He saw a farmer. Standing by the fence. With a flock of sheep. In the background. And he said to the driver. Let's stop and visit with this man. For a little bit. They stopped in the course. Of talking with him. Dr. Wilson noticed. He was an MD. Noticed out in the pasture. A little lamb. That looked so strange. What's wrong with it? Looks so different. The farmer said. Oh that's very interesting. A couple months ago. When that lamb was born. It's mother died. I had an orphan. Which I usually have to bottle feed. And he said. It was about the same time. That I had another mother. Who in lambing. Her little lamb died. And he said. So I took this little lamb. Orphan lamb. And put it in with this mother. Whose lamb had died. And I thought maybe she'd nurse it. Maybe she would care for it. And he said. The mother went up. And took a couple sniffs. And said that's not mine. And began to bunt it all over the pen. He said I rescued the little lamb out. And just as I was doing that. I thought she doesn't recognize. This is her own. And I remembered that that little lamb. Her lamb had died. Was still in the pasture. I hadn't had time to dispose. He said I took my knife. I skinned the fleece. From that little lamb. And brought it in. And tied it around this little lamb. You see out here. Put the lamb back in the pen. And what do you think happened? Now you've been so quiet. I need your response. What do you think happened? How many of you can tell me what happened? Well that mother went up. And she sniffed and said that's mine. And he said. She has been nursing it for a couple months. Accepted. Into the family. Because. Do I need to illustrate it anymore? How many have your fleece on this morning? Are you there? How many say. God. I'm accepted in the beloved. The gift of righteousness. The robe of my salvation. What did I do to get it? By grace. Nothing. There may be somebody who slipped in this morning. Often happens on Sunday mornings. God has brought you here. I'd like for the Holy Spirit. To make this so clear to you. The perfect God. Who requires perfect righteousness. Can never accept us. The good news is. He never sees us apart. From his lovely son. If you don't have that robe this morning. Never been to the cross. And accepted fully trusted. What he has done. I just say to you. You can. It's free. What did you pay for it? Nothing. Nothing. Trusted him. What a privilege. Well. It's one thing. To have the robe. And be accepted. Because. It's freely given. I have the robe of righteousness. But I need to tell you. That when you stand before. The Bema. You're standing before who? Jesus. And you don't put on Jesus. To stand before Jesus. Are you following me? Well. What does. What does John mean. Now when he says. In our context here. He says. I want you to buy something. I believe. As we're going to see. That there is a white raiment. That he. Wants us. To buy. I counsel thee. To buy. Of me. A white raiment. I mean. You like to buy some. This morning. I mean. Would you like. To really be sure. That when you stand. Before the Bema. The evaluation. You won't be there naked. Well. The scripture. I believe. Always explains itself. And. You can turn. If you want. Back to Revelation. What is it? Eighteen. Nineteen. Let's peek there for a moment. Speaking of. Those who are gathered. Before the Lamb. Chapter. Nineteen. In verse. Seven. It says. Let us be glad. And rejoice. And give honor. To him. For the marriage. Of the Lamb. Has come. And his wife. Has made herself. Ready. And to her. Was granted. That she should. Be arrayed. In fine linen. Clean. And. White. For the fine linen. Is the. I don't know. What your translation. Says. Middle margin. Probably. The righteous. Acts. Of the saints. I guess. What I want to say to you. This morning. Is this. We say. Lord. I want. My. Life. Poured out. My labor. My work. I want. What I do. To be. Your way. Of. Developing. White raiment. I can see. The Holy Spirit. Working. In lives. Here's. The wolf. And the war. By. The spirit. Of grace. That God works. And. White raiment. The righteous. Acts. Of the saints. All. I can look. Back. Through. The years. I didn't. Understand. It. But. I know. Now. That. The lives. That I have seen. God. Working. In. Very. Special. Way. Which. There. Was. The weaving. Of. White. Raiment. I don't. Think. It. Frustrates. The purpose. Of. The grace. Of. God. If. We're. Very. Clear. In. The fact. That. Some. Things. Are. Free. And. They're. Holy. By. His. Grace. This. That. We're. Referring. To. This. Morning. Is. The. Enabling. Grace. That. I spoke. To. Last. Night. The. Desire. And. The. Power. God. Gives. The. Enabling. Grace. In. Order. That. My. Life. Might. Be. Poured. Out. For. Others. Thinking. Of. A. Sister. This. Morning. Over. Her. Testimony. About. Two. Blocks. From. Her. Family. Had. Been. In. Great. Difficulty. Husband. Was. Gone. The. Mother. Became. Sick. And. So. This. Sister. Decided. She'd. Go. In. And. Do. The. Ironing. And. Washing. And. Clean. Up. The. House. All. The. Things. That. A. Sister. Could. Do. For. One. Who. Is. In. Disposed. Couple. Days. Later. She. Heard. By. The. Great. Vine. That. They. Had. Said. In. Home. We. Couldn't. Find. Anything. After. She. Got. Through. Fixing. Up. You. Know. What. Happened. In. Her. Spirit. She. Said. Well. If. That's. Way. They. Appreciate. It. I. Won't. Do. It. Again. Until. The. Lord. Said. Who. Did. You. Do. It. For. Are. You. There. Who. Did. You. Do. It. For. For. Well. Yes. Or. For. Me. She. Said. As. I. Went. Before. The. Lord. God. Said. What. A. Privilege. To. Give. And. Be. Poured. Out. What. A. Privilege. To. Share. Did. You. Want. Your. Reward. Now. Or. Then. Make. Your. Choice. Lots. Of. Times. We. Get. Our. Rewarding. And. Our. Now. There's. A. Lot. Of. God's. Children. Who. Believe. In. Their. Poured. Out. Life. Their. Service. Their. Love. And. Giving. God's. Developing. Some. White. Payment. Only. He. Really. Sees. It. I. Don't. Need. To. On. Are. You. With. Me. So. Far. How. Many. Say. Lord. I'm. Ready. To. Buy. I. Don't. Want. To. Stand. Naked. You. Don't. Need. To. That's. Good. I. Don't. Want. Naked. Don't. Stand. Naked. You. Don't. Stand. Naked. Don't. But. John. Goes. On. To. Say. I. Counsel. You. To. Buy. Of. Me. Gold. Tried. In. The. Fire. Here. Is. Faith. That's. Imparted. The. Measure. Of. Faith. That's. Given. Initially. Then. As. God. Begins. To. Take. Us. Through. The. Race. Course. The. Tribulations. The. Trials. The. Circumstances. Of. Life. I. Believe. He's. Working. Out. Something. Of. His. Own. Character. And. Nature. In. Our. Lives. How. Many. Have. Sensed. God. Beating. Away. On. The. Gold. Do. You. Wonder. Why. In. The. Tabernacle. That. Talk. About. Beating. Gold. I. Always. Wondered. Now. Know. Are. You. There. How. Many. Know. What. Beating. Gold. Is. I. Need. To. Pick. On. Somebody. This. Morning. And. Won't. Do. It. Mac. This. Time. How. Many. Sense. Of. Beating. On. Your. Gold. Sister. I. Seen. You. For. A. Long. Time. But. I. Sense. God. Has. Been. Beaten. Away. Why. Something. Of. The. Glory. The. Lord. Shows. Up. You're. Gonna. Go. Home. And. Say. Oh. God. Thank. You. For. The. Beating. Keep. On. Thank. You. For. Putting. Me. Through. The. Trials. The. Things. Go. Through. In. Order. That. In. The. Midst. Of. It. Faith. Can. Reach. Out. I. Can. Say. Lord. This. Is. Your. Way. Of. Developing. More. Of. The. Character. And. The. Qualities. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. I. Want. To. Buy. Some. Gold. Tried. In. The. Fire. What. Kind. Of. A. Testimony. Do. You. Think. You're. Going. To. As. You. Finally. You. Know. Pass. The. Evaluation. And. You. Start. To. Talk. About. What. You've. Been. Through. Down. Here. And. You. Meet. Noah. And. He. Doesn't. Say. A. Word. All. Those. Long. Years. He. Obeyed. God. Tested. And. Tried. What. Kind. Of. A. Testimony. Will. You. Give. When. You. Stand. With. Noah. He. Probably. Doesn't. Say. Much. All. He. Has. Is. Beaten. Gold. I. Just. Believe. That. Something. In. My. Own. Heart. Says. Oh. God. I. Never. Cease. To. Thank. You. For. What. You. Freely. Give. But. More. More. I'm. Beginning. To. Realize. The. Things. That. You. Counsel. Us. To. Buy. Let. Me. Ask. You. A. Question. How. Many. You. Can. Remember. When. First. First. Day. Of. Your. New. Life. You. Had. New. Eyes. All. Things. Passed. Away. Everything. Looked. Different. I'm. Always. Amazed. At. The. Testimony. Of. Focus. I. Just. Things. So. Differently. New. Eyes. Jesus. Touched. The. Fellow. And. He. Had. New. Eyes. He. Saw. A. Tree. He. Touched. Him. Again. And. He. Saw. More. Clearly. You. Remember. Your. New. Eyes. I. Remember. What. God. Did. I. Remember. A. Sister. I. Was. Speaking. In. A. Church. God. Had. Been. Working. For. Days. I. Closed. The. Meeting. Night. Just. As. I. Was. Stepping. Down. From. The. Pulpit. She. Walked. Down. The. Aisle. I. Could. See. As. She. Came. She. Had. A. War. In. Her. Eyes. A. Long. Day. And. I. Said. Oh. God. Help. Never. Forget. It. Closer. She. Got. You. Could. Just. See. That. She. Was. Under. Terrible. Conviction. God. Been. All. Week. Knew. It. When. She. Got. About. Three. Feet. From. Me. She. Said. I. Got. A. Thousand. Questions. I. Want. To. Ask. You. And. I. Felt. To. Say. To. Her. Good. But. Before. We. Take. Up. Your. Questions. Let. Me. Ask. You. A. Question. And. It. Was. This. When. Are. You. Going. To. Put. Up. The. White. Flag. Of. Surrender. And. Say. Yes. Lord. Jesus. And. Let. Him. Have. Your. Life. Very. Straightforward. She. Said. Right. Now. And. She. Knelt. At. The. Front. Peel. Guess. Who. Was. Surprised. Never. Forget. It. You. Know. Why. She. Weighed. About. Three. Hundred. Pounds. Tremendous. Didn't. Take. Long. God. Meant. The. Need. She. Came. With. Face. That. Was. So. Changed. When. She. Stood. Up. I'll. Never. Forget. Max. She. Reached. Out. And. With. Those. Big. Eyes. She. Grabbed. Me. I. Knew. She. You. Didn't. Love. You. Didn't. Really. Care. For. Suddenly. They. Didn't. Look. So. Bad. Dry. New. Eyes. That's. Wonderful. We. Had. Her. Funeral. Forty. Years. Have. Gone. By. Never. Forget. Not. Too. Long. Ago. She. Went. On. To. Be. With. The. Lord. All. The. Change. And. Transformation. In. Data's. Life. We. Dropped. In. Occasionally. To. See. Her. And. She'd. Up. Her. Bible. And. Say. I. Want. To. Show. You. Some. New. Things. I've. Been. Seeing. And. I. Began. To. Realize. Through. The. Years. She. Not. Only. Had. New. Eyes. But. She'd. Been. Buying. Eye. Sav. She'd. Been. Buying. Some. Eye. Sav. And. With. This. Eye. Sav. The. Spirit. Of. God. Was. Making. Things. Real. And. Precious. Her. What. Am. I. Gonna. Become. That. Will. Please. God. What. Can. Offer. Him. I. Don't. Know. Maybe. Jose. Or. Brother. Kong. Will. Help. Me. In. This. I. Just. Wonder. If. I'm. Gonna. Be. Fixed. For. Eternity. With. The. Garment. I'm. Weaving. Now. Do. You. Think. After. During. The. Thousand. Years. I'll. Get. To. Add. More. White. Raiment. Or. More. Beaten. Gold. Or. More. I. Sat. Or. Am. I. Gonna. Be. Fixed. Once. I'm. There. Let's. Take. A. Vote. This. Morning. Tell. Me. A. Hope. You. Can. Go. On. By. You. Think. We'll. Get. To. All. During. The. Thousand. Years. I. Hope. So. I. Hope. So. I. Hope. I'm. Not. Fixed. I. Hope. I. Hope. I. I. Hope. I'm. Not. Fixed. I. Hope. I. I'm. I. Hope. I'm. Fixed. Not. Think. Back. Back. Of. Yeah. It. My. I. Babies. My. I. I'm the expert. If I'm wrong, I just need to be adjusted. But here is treasure that one's buying. What's the principle of buy? Don't miss it now. He sold all that he had. Sold all that he had. To get to heaven, to buy what? Read on to verify it. 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls. Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. What's the pearl? Is it eternal life? Can't buy it, can you? We keep the consistency of things. What is the treasure? And what is the pearl? What's the principle of buy? Found something that was so far more valuable. Ready to sell all, bartered, ready to give up all this for this. We're trying to figure out how I could simplify what we have to barter with. What do we have this morning as a company of people that every one of us, every one of us can barter? What is an inclusive way? Well, you may know what STP is or you ought to. It's an oil additive, but that's not what I'm talking about. But I want you to think of STP because there are three things you can barter with. Everyone this morning has strength, the energy. Every one of us has time, 24 hours a day. And every one of us have at least some possessions. I can't think of anything that doesn't fall into those three things that I can barter with. That little sister who went down to the neighbor, gave her strength, some time, and even bought some groceries, was bartering. I need to be honest with you this morning. Affluent America. I wonder when we stand before the Bema and those from other nations who in a very simple way have given themselves lives that have been poured out. They bartered what they had. Not what we have, but what they had. And God on the basis of this is going to see either naked or poor or blind or clothed or rich or seen. Something in my heart says this morning, oh God, give me a new kind of eye salve. Give me a new kind of eye salve that I can really see the things that are eternal. The things that really count. What's the main thing now as we stand before the Bema? You talk back. What's the main thing when we get there? The reward I'm going to get? If I got a crown, it'd only be, somebody said this morning, something I could lay at His feet. The thing that I'm concerned about, the main thing is that He will be pleased. He will be satisfied. That if He sees anything that we've become, clothed, rich in the experiences, the reality of the character of the Lord, and an eye that sees, eye salve, somebody who's been willing, there's a cost. There's a cost. I hate to tell you this because the more you know this morning, the more accountable we're going to be. But I have to do it. I'm talking to some people whom God wants to move in with a new measure of consecration. A new measure of dedication in your life. A new measure of being poured out, not for what you can get, but for what He can get. And in the process, what should become for His pleasure, His delight, His glory? Do I hear you say in the quiet of your heart, Oh God? I hear John as he's speaking. The Spirit says to the church and to each of us, I counsel you to buy. I counsel you to buy. I counsel you to buy. Got a runaway clock up there. I need to finish, don't I? What is the main thing in the universe? Some of you weren't here, you'll have to forgive us. I don't usually, I don't just try to keep things, but never was that we could get to it. First night we started out by saying the main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. You all know what the main thing is, according to you. Now let me give you the main thing according to what the Bible says. I'd like to say, this is, you know, open for all your evaluation, but if you're going to start with God and what's really relevant and important to Him, the main thing is the ultimacy of the Father, His purpose in Himself and for Himself. I mean, if the one who starts it all, begins it all, everything in the universe has been made and created and planned by Him, who do you start with? The Father and His ultimacy. What did He purpose? In Himself and for Himself. Anybody agree so far? You're not very sure. Maybe we ought to go back and read Ephesians 1.9. But this is where I am this morning. You start with the one who starts it all and what's it all? This is the main thing in the universe. The Father saying, I have a plan and a purpose. Well, let's see what that also includes. The main thing then includes the centrality and the universality of the Lord Jesus Christ in fulfilling the Father's purpose. What do you mean? Oh, you can read this in Ephesians 1.3. Most of you know what I'm talking about. This is not new to you. This is why, as we were saying the first night, all the things that attract and divert and bring us into the whirlpools and the eddies, they're not wrong in themselves, but unless they all come to fulfill what the Father is working out through His lovely Son, place Him at the center of all things, and then the extent, the universality to which it all reaches out. Well, I'll just leave that with you. This needs more explaining, but finally we come to the Holy Spirit. The imminent and the intimate place and ministry of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling this purpose of the Father. I'd like to talk about imminent as well as intimate, but I won't. How personal. How real. Always there. Everything He's doing is to lift up and exalt the Lord Jesus, who in turn turns us to the Father. Have you ever been like I was for a while, wondered, you know when I pray, I'm not sure whether I'm slighting the Father or the Son. I just want to make sure that when I come, everything is real. Anybody ever been through that? How do you really pray? One day as I was looking through it, it was as though the Lord said, if you're going to be preoccupied with the Holy Spirit, center in on Him, His whole objective and ministry is to point us to the Son. He didn't come primarily to unveil or reveal Himself, but just to exalt and uncover the Lord Jesus. So I go to the Lord Jesus. I say, Lord, I'm centering in on You. The Spirit sent me. And I get all preoccupied with the Lord Jesus. You know what He says? Have you ever seen my Father? Look, I'm here. I'm the window. I'm revealing the Father. So He says, I just want you to see my Father. So I go to the Father. Say, I've been sent here. Father, I just want to worship, want to be focused and centered in You. And you know what I hear Him say? Have you ever seen my lovely son the way I want you to? Really? What does he do? He turns us back to who? Everything I'm doing, all I purpose, all that I'm working on, it's centered in... Do you know why there's no trouble in heaven? There never will be. Because none seek their own. None seek... How are we going to get there? None seek their own. Do you know what He's doing in our lives? Same thing. Same thing. That's why the cross is the tool that He uses to make very sure that none seek their own but Him. The ultimate thing in the universe, then, what the Father purposes in Himself, for Himself, through the Son, worked out by the Spirit. What does the Father finally get? A vast family of sons that all look alike. Isn't that good news? Ephesians, Paul speaks of the vast family. All in heaven and in earth. That's the ultimate. That's what the Father... That's the main thing, bringing into being all that He's wanting. What does the Son get? He's the head. We're members of the body. A vehicle for expressing His purpose, His authority, all that He's doing. Are you part of the body this morning? Sure. What does the Son get? Not only the head gets a body to function but the bridegroom gets a bride. What does the Holy Spirit get? The main thing that the Spirit... What does the Holy Spirit get? Now we're talking about what God gets. How many of you know He doesn't really have a body of His own? But He does have one. We are the temple. And these living stones that God's fitting together to be a glorious temple that's growing up and developing. The Spirit dwelling within. Did you know when it says ye are the temple, I'm not sure it's singular so much as the ye is plural. Ye are the temple. Well, we need to quit. And I'm not through but we'll have to. I do though. We have children downstairs. Anyway, here we are. Can I ask you a question this morning? What is your heart set on? Are you buying anything? Or just living it up? Thank God for everything that comes to us free. Thank God. There's another side of the story. It's the only thing that makes the grace of God complete and full. The grace, the enabling grace by which we're able to buy. It is not in ourselves but He gives the desire and the power by which my roots can take of the full supply. Father, this morning I thank you for my brothers and sisters. We've been together through the years at various times. And now we come to this morning. I want to exhort once again and just say thank you for those with such open hearts and the responsiveness that I see. I believe you this morning. I believe you to plant some encouragement. That when they go through the circumstances and the beating of gold, tried in the fire, all of this, there be an, oh Lord, this is what you're doing. I want to become something that will please you. When we walk a more lonely way because not everybody understands, but we've seen something. And each bit of new eyes have requires new obedience. Help us to be faithful. Because we'll never see anymore, we'll never buy anymore until we walk out and obey the light of what we've seen. Here we are this morning. You know whom you brought. Don't let us take an easy way. Don't let us come that day. And it may not be very far away. Maybe sooner than we realize we'll be standing before you Lord. And we want your smile of approval. All that we brought by the energy and the work of our own flesh and for ourselves. Would Hainstubble. Help us to build on the foundation according to divine pattern. By the enablement of the Spirit. And we'll give you the praise, the honor and the glory. For we ask it in Jesus name. And everyone said, Amen.