Many believers spend their days thinking about what’s right in front of them—paying bills, managing relationships, getting through work, and handling the pressures of everyday life. But how often do we stop and think about the day when we will stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account for the life we lived? Or, do we assume that paying bills, managing relationships, and handling the stuff of life is what we will be judged on? In this week’s Light on Life Podcast, discover how to live in the shadow of the Judgment Seat of Christ and why that future day should shape the way you live right now. Learn how walking in love, obeying the words of Jesus, forgiving others, and praying with purpose prepares you to stand before Christ with confidence on Judgment Day. If you have ever wondered how to live ready for your future appointment with Jesus and how to develop boldness for the Judgment Seat of Christ, this message will help anchor your walk in love and obedience. How to Live in the Shadow of the Judgment Seat of Christ, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

This Week: Let the coming Judgment Seat of Christ motivate your love, obedience, and faithfulness.

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Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
This weeks call is:

This week:
This week, take an honest look at your love walk. Is there anyone in your life toward whom you are carrying offense, resentment, or unforgiveness?

Your Challenge:
Start right there. Forgive them. Pray for them. Refuse to allow thoughts contrary to love to remain in your mind. Maybe there is someone you have avoided. Maybe there is someone you have stopped praying for. 

But whatever you do—don’t allow unforgiveness to remain in your heart.

Remember:
Love matures where it is tested.

Join the Conversation

Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believers life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).

This week’s question is:

Question:When you think about standing before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what area of your life comes to mind first—your love walk, your prayer life, your obedience, or something else?

Share: Is there a relationship or situation where God is currently dealing with you about walking in love?

Remember:The love of God has already been poured into your heart. The question is not whether love is in you—the question is whether you will let it flow through you.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 49 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 45 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes:

• Well again, welcome.
• Let’s pray.

Father God, we love your name and we love your way. We reference, honor, and respect you and we do it by taking heed to your Word and walking in it every day. Thank for another day to become more like Jesus. We pray all of this in the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.

Living In The Shadow Of The Judgment Seat

1 John 4:16–17 (NASB 2020) — 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world.

• Have you ever thought about the Day of Judgment—what that will be like for you?
• When you ask this question, some might respond, ‘No, I’m only thinking about how I am going to pay my bills this month.’
• I hear that—but that doesn’t make this future day, disappear.
• You will stand in front of Jesus to give an account for your life—that’s a Bible fact.
• So while you are thinking about today, think about tomorrow as well.
• Now here’s some good news for you to lean in on.
• According to verse seventeen, it is possible to have confidence in the Day of Judgment.
• The wise believer thinks often about that day—the Day of Judgment.
• And if that sounds unusual to you, some of the strongest men of God have lived this way.
• My spiritual father, Kenneth E. Hagin, was a model Jesus’ follower in our generation.
• To date, he has 141 books with his name on it.
• His books have been published in the sixty-five million range.
• The Bible School he and his family started has expanded to 298 schools in 56 nations, with 123,000 graduates worldwide.
• Now we are not even talking about the tens of thousands of people that have been filled with the Holy Ghost or healed in his meetings.
• Yet with all of that fruit in his rearview mirror, Kenneth Hagin said he thought about standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ every day of his life.
• You would think that with this kind of fruit that he would be a shoo-in to hear ‘well done, my good and faithful servant.’
• The only shoo-in is the devil going to hell—that’s a cinch.
• You can mark that down.
• This man of God didn’t take a shoo-in approach and neither should you.
• And all of this brings us back to one question: How do you stand before that Seat with confidence?
• Think about that day.
• Live in the shadow of the Seat every single day.

2 Corinthians 5:9–11 (NASB 2020) — 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences.

• The older I become, the more I think about that day, the Day of Judgment.
• I want that day to go well and I know you do also.
• Think about some of the excuses you’ve used for not doing what you know you should be doing?
• Now after the excuse comes the justification for the excuse, that makes ‘skipping what you should be doing’ reasonable.
• “After all, I have a justifiable excuse.”
• Well ask yourself, “How are your justified excuses going to sit with the Seat?”
• I’m at a point where I have banished excuses—and I’m focusing solely on obeying God.
• Forget your excuses, look at Jesus.
• Now, we say ‘Jesus is coming soon’—that means Judgment Day is coming just as soon.
• Does that thought inspire obedience to God today?
• While you are thinking about today, think about tomorrow as well.
• With that in tow, let’s see what we can understand from 1 John 4:16–17.

Obedience To God’s Idea of Love: The Key

• Listen to the words again from 1 John 4:17.

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment.

• The Greek word ‘confidence’ used here means boldness of speech.
• Boldness of speech does not describe a person who is anxious and needs assurance.
• It’s not a ‘rake by—scrap by, hope it all works out’ kind of speech.
• This speech is a confidence that freely speaks because it knows.
• Your ‘knower’ should be fully charged.
• You should know that you’re believing God.
• You should know that you’re obeying God.
• You should know that you are walking in love.
• If you don’t know, get over yourself and get in the flow.
• So, is it possible to have confidence on Judgment Day?
• Emphatically yes.
• This confidence is not automatic and it doesn’t come cheap.
• There will be days when your faith gets pounded with doubt, and it seems like everything is getting in your way of obeying God and loving people.
• And that’s when you must draw close to God and lean back on First John 4:16.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

• You’ve got to know.
• You’ve got to believe.
• You’ve got to remain in love.

God’s Definition of Love

• So let’s define this love and make sure we understand terms.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB 2020) — 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.

• Simplifying this: love stays in difficult relationships with kindness.
• Love refuses to be envious or jealous of another person’s success.
• It doesn’t put the spotlight on itself by bragging but puts it on God and Jesus.
• It does not operate in the pride of promotion.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB 2020) — 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,

• Love does not act in an inappropriate or rude manner.
• It doesn’t make a scene.
• Love seeks to add value to others instead of itself.
• Love is not touchy or overly sensitive.
• It does not have its feelings on its sleeve.
• Love is not high-tempered or irritable.
• It doesn’t keep score; it forgives and releases.
• Now ask yourself—how are you doing so far?

1 Corinthians 13:6 (NASB 2020) — 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

• Love doesn’t rejoice when the bad guy wins.
• But instead rejoices when the scales of justice balance and truth stands.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB 2020) — 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

• Love does not gossip nor does it use knowledge as power over others.
• Love believes.
• It operates in hope.
• It endures all pressures, pains, and problems.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NASB 2020) — 8 Love never fails…

• This is love defined.
• Now here’s the question.
• With the shadow of the Seat in mind, how is your love walk?
• Will you have confidence in the Day of Judgment?

You Must Know the Love God Has For You

• So now that we have a good picture of what love is and how it does and does not act, what’s next?
• Well, we’ve solved some of the knowing part of 1 John 4:16.
• We have come to know the love that God has for us.
• God’s definition of love is how He acts toward you.
• Love stays in difficult relationships with kindness.
• God will respond to you out of His kindness even when you are acting difficult by walking in sin.
• That doesn’t mean He agrees with your sin.

Romans 2:4 (NASB 2020) — 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

• Did you get that?
• The kindness of God leads you to a place of repentance where He can cleanse you from all unrighteous behavior.
• Now, you can take each one of the verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 and know that this will be how God treats you.
• He will never be envious of you or jealous of you—that is, unless you give your worship to a false god.
• We must know the love God has for us.

Romans 8:32 (NASB 2020) — 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

• If you know that this verse is true, then why would you doubt His willingness to take care of you?
• And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.

God is love. It’s who He is.

There is nothing you can do to get Him to quit loving you. You are not that good that you could sin a sin that would make Him stop being God.¹

• So this first part: knowing the love God has for you is very personal.
• It’s experiential—it is not mental.
• God saved you—that’s the most sacred and personal of experiences.
• To God, you are never just a statistic on some church’s membership role.
• God saved you—God sent Jesus for you.
• He endured the most horrible death for you.
• This is personal—do you know this love?
• Never let this ‘knowing’ become old-hat to you.
• Stay in communion with Jesus and take communion to keep your memory alive and vivid.
• This kind of spirituality is more than wearing a cross around your neck or having a Jesus bumper sticker on your car.
• Do you know the love He has for you?
• Knowing this is essential as you live in the shadow of the Seat.

You Must Believe in the Power of God’s Love

• Not only must you know that God loves you but you must also believe in the power of that love.
• What does that mean?
• Do you believe that love never fails?—that God’s love for you will never fail?
• He will never let you down.
• God will never leave you hanging out to dry.
• Many times the reason people miss the working of God’s love in their life is because they fail to believe it.
• Why do you need to know that?
• God loves you and knowing and believing that is vital for His love to flow out of you to others.
• You know it’s all about others.
• Love never fails—that means love is always the answer to every human relationship problem you have.
• That means no matter how poorly people treat you, love wins the day.
• You have to know it and believe it.
• Your confidence in those ‘love’ verses in First Corinthians thirteen must be your way of life.
• Do you believe love wins in the end—that love conquers hate?

Song of Solomon 8:7 (NASB 2020) — 7 “Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers flood over it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”

• Knowing and believing the love God has for you now gives you a reason to pray.
• I mean, why do you pray?
• Do you pray to God because you love God?
• Do you pray for people because you love people?
• Do you pray for yourself so you can help people?
• All of these are the superior reasons for knowing and believing the love that God has for you.
• This is all the way of God—this is all the way of love.
• You know sometimes we get so caught up with our life that we forget God’s desire is to help others.
• Walking in this, will help you have boldness in the Day of Judgment.

Remaining In Love: The Most Critical Component

• Now here is where the Word becomes not only obedience but becomes the very essence of who you are.

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

• You must not only know and believe in love, you must remain in it.
• The Greek word ‘remain’ means to settle down, and abide in this love.
• Day in and day out the Jesus follower must endure long, remain kind and forgive.
• Consistency is the ticket to great boldness.
• I haven’t arrived here yet—but I sure am pressing towards this mark.
• Every day, we must push back against the fleshly nature that promotes jealousy, envy, and pride.
• Would it be right to say hour by hour, not just day by day?
• It’s tough on your flesh.
• Tough means your flesh is throwing a fit every step of the way.
• Can you see that we need to curb our emotions, guard against our temperament, and be careful what we say?
• A consistent abiding in love—refusing at any time to get out of love becomes the true expression of boldness and confidence towards God.
• Monitor your life.
• Whatever you do, if you miss it—if you get out of love—repent and correct it immediately.
• Every day your testimony before God should be “I walked in your love today.”
• You know this is not a feel-good message.
• Anybody can ride the wave of a feel-good message until the wave breaks onto the sandy shore.
• Then what?
• You see, Judgment Day will not measure how high you rode the wave—it will reveal how faithfully, how consistently you walked after it broke.
• We don’t walk in the emotion of love as much as we walk in our obedience to it.

What Jesus Commanded Us To Do

• And this is not a new struggle.
• People in Jesus’ day wrestled with the same thing—what does it really mean to love God and love people?
• So Jesus got very practical about it.
• If you want to have confidence in the Day of Judgment, you want to do what Jesus said.

Three Questions Jesus May Ask You At The Judgment Seat

• So, put on your visualization cap for a moment and in your mind’s eye see the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• See Jesus walking into the room.
• He is clothed in a robe that reaches His feet.
• A golden sash wraps around His chest.
• His head and His hair are snow white.
• Jesus’ feet are bare and bronze.
• The scars in His feet and His wrists are still evident.
• Jesus still bears the marks of His passion.
• His eyes, oh my, His eyes shoot out like flames of fire.
• He takes His seat on the Throne and you come and stand before Him to give an account.
• Jesus speaks, ”I said while I was on the earth, if you love me keep my commandments.”
• Already knowing the answer, Jesus asks, “Did you love your enemies?”

Matthew 5:44 (NASB 2020) — 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

• What would your answer be?
• You breathe a sigh of relief because, after all, “I am just visualizing.”
• “If this was real, I would have no answer.”
• Your mind snaps back to the Seat.
• Jesus says, “When I was on the earth, I saw the great harvest of souls and I instructed you to pray for laborers for my harvest. Did you do it?”
• You don’t dare offer an excuse.
• His fiery eyes lock on you.
• “Well…, did you, Jesus asks?”
• “No Lord, I prayed about my family but I didn’t pray about that.”
• Jesus responds, “Why do you call Me Lord if you weren’t going to do what I say?”
• Silence is the only response.
• Your head is bowed and tears begin their descent down your face to the floor.
• You think to yourself, “Oh man, I better get myself together.”
• You try to get away from this scene in your head but your mind stays locked on.
• And you hear Jesus say, “I was on the earth teaching one day and told my disciples to refuse to quit praying because of discouragement. Did you refuse to quit praying?”
• “Why did you give up? Why would you not trust Me to help you overcome?”
• The phone rings and snaps you out of your day dream.
• Once again, your life gets crowded with the matters of the day.
• You look for a relief valve—anything to bury these unpleasant thoughts.
• It’s easier to do that than face reality.
• And so you refuse to even go there again in your mind’s eye.
• How much time will you lose before you apply yourself to the matters ahead?
• Do something today about what you visualize tomorrow.
• Don’t let it just be a dream—instead turn to the concrete action of doing what Jesus said.
• God’s love is not going to flow through you just because it is in you.
• You know it is in you by the new birth.

Romans 5:5 (NASB 2020) — 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

• It will flow out of you when you take the words of Jesus seriously.
• If you want to have confidence in the Day of Judgment, walk in obedience to God’s Word.
• Don’t daydream—do what you know you ought to be doing.
• Obey God—walk in love.

How Love Matures You for the Judgment Seat

• Now comes the most important assurance you can receive for your meeting with Jesus at His Judgment Seat.
• It’s found right at the end of verse sixteen.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

• Remain in love.
• The word ‘remain’ is THE MOST CRITICAL part.
• And with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
• The word remain means to abide or dwell with persistence.
• Think of your feet cemented into 10,000 gallons of super glue.
• You’re completely fixed in love—totally unmovable.
• You can’t walk in love once in a while, you must walk in it persistently.
• Set your feet in God’s love, period—exclamation mark!
• Walking in love is the deepest form of spiritual communion with God.
• It is the highest expression of God to other men.
• As you dedicate yourself to always be moved by this love, something marvelous happens.

1 John 4:17 (NASB) — 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world.

• Love is perfected—love matures.
• Bottom line?—The more you love, the more you become like Jesus—the more you become like Jesus, the more common ground you will have with Him on the Day when you appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Start Where Love Is Being Tested

• So, where do I start obeying God where my love walk is concerned?
• I want to be more like Jesus—I want to live ready for my appointment with the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• Start where your love is being tested.
• Ask yourself this question right now.
• Is there anybody in my life that I have ill-will or negative feelings toward?
• Start right there and forgive every one of those people.
• Do not permit any thoughts contrary to love to remain in your mind.
• When I say ‘any thoughts,’ I mean not even a crumb that falls to the floor.
• If negative thoughts come, and they will, cast them down and say, ‘No, I have forgiven that person.’
• Pray for them with sincerity.
• Desire God’s best for these people.
• Now the slate is clean and you are back in step with the Word of God.

1 John 1:9 (NASB 2020) — 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• Now, as you read the Word, look for opportunities to give.
• Allow love to flow out of you to others.
• Pray for people.
• If they are unsaved, pray for laborers.
• If they are saved, pray for wisdom and revelation so that the Word can become more real to them.
• Look to lift—instead of looking for faults.
• Think about how you can bless others.
• Above all, make sure your motives for working for God are rooted in love. Love to God—love to men.
• That’s the ticket to living in the shadow of the Seat.
• Are you ready to seal all of this with your commitment to the Lord?
• If you are, then get busy and do not relent until you confidently say, ‘I am walking in love today.’
• If this episode helped you, share the good news with someone else.
• These and other podcasts are available at emeryhorvath.com for your continued growth in your walk with God.
• How to Live in the Shadow of the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• You guys have a great God-week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

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