The document contains a sermon given at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi on Friend Day. The sermon discusses several biblical passages about waiting for God and the return of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that believers' citizenship is in heaven and they are waiting expectantly for Jesus to return. When he does, each believer's works will be tested and evaluated, and they will be rewarded or suffer loss depending on the eternal nature of their works. The sermon encourages believers to remain united with Christ and build their lives around him alone.

1. PHILIPPIANS
CHAPTER 3
Verse 20
April 29, 2012
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
FRIEND DAY

2. Isaiah 11:6
6 “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young
goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will
lead them. Isaiah 11:6
Until Isaiah 11:6 is fulfilled we must be aware of wolfs in sheep's clothing.

3. Thank you for serving at the: Thank You for Serving Banquet
Waiter and waitress comes from the word “wait” which means: serving based on
what you know needs to be done.
"Praying For Our Jerusalem" Acts 1:8
Praying For Our Jerusalem is a prayer effort by
which we attempt to go into every home of our
church family for the sole purpose of praying
with the people in that home. No gimmicks, no
signing up for something, just to pray. Prayer
Warriors will visit up to four homes and pray with
our church family from April 1-30.
BREATH OF LIFE
What: A Sunday School Class for those with a chronic cough.
When: Sundays @ 8 a.m.
Where: At FBCJ in the Chapel Parlor

4. Sunday School Lesson!
Commentaries Consulted:
 The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and
John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007
 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ;”
Isaiah 40:31
31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with
wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become
weary.” Isaiah 40:31
(the major message of this passage is about strength)
The literal meaning of the Hebrew word qavah (wait) is: “to bind together like a cord”

5. Now imagine that One of those strands in the rope is Unbreakable!
That One would be none other than Jesus Christ!
So our strength comes through being united with Christ.
“I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Insecurity = building your life around someone or something that can be taken away
from you.
Women – beauty
Men - job
Security = building your life around SomeOne or something that can never be taken
away from you.
JESUS CHRIST!
 When a rope is not being used, what is it doing?
1. The rope is “waiting.”
 It “waits” for its Owner to put it to use.
When a rope lifts or pulls a load, it stretches a little while it is working.
As it stretches, the individual strands are pulled closer together.

6. While this “stress” is on the rope, the individual strands are pulled closer together,
closer to the Unbreakable One - to lift or to pull the load.
The figurative definition of the word “qavah” is: “to hope, to expect.”
The figurative meaning of “qavah” conveys anticipation.
It is the same type of waiting that a little girl does when told that her Granddaddy
built her a playhouse and is coming to pick her up and take her to play in it for the
first time!
So she stares out of the window expectantly anticipating the arrival of the One who
loves her.
Marriage of the Lamb
Revelation 19:7-8
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come and His bride has made herself ready.
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is
the righteous acts of the saints.”

7. Philippians 3:20
20 “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ;”
We are not waiting for an event but for a Person!
So while we are waiting, we are to entwine our lives around His life!
 The hope of Christ's return provides us with:
1) motivation
2) accountability and
3) security
In His promise to come back there is positive motivation to be found faithful when He
returns to reward believers; to be accountable to God for living lives that produce
works (eternal, good fruit) that survive the fire.
 People don’t do what you expect, they do what you inspect. (Fruit Inspector)

8. John 15:5
“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;”
1 Corinthians 3:6-15
6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God
Who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own

9. reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I
laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how
he builds on it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be
revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet
so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-15
Revelation 22:12
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man
according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12
3 things going to Heaven:
1) God’s Word (Isaiah 40:8)
2) Some people (1 John 5:13)
3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)
3 things going to Heaven:
1) God’s Word (Isa 40:8)
2) Some people (1 John 5:13)
3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)
1 John 5:13
13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so
that you may know that you have eternal life.”

10. 3 things going to Heaven:
1) God’s Word (Isa 40:8)
2) Some people (1 John 5:13)
3) Some of our works (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be
revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet
so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Your gold, silver, and costly stones are works done for the glory of God, with the right
motive, and in dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lasting works are done:
1) for the glory of God,
2) with the right motive, and
3) in dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit

11. 2 Corinthians 5:10
10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether
good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
The "judgment seat" before which all believers will one day stand is the Greek bema,
a tribunal.
Romans 14:10
2 Corinthians 5:10
Bema is a Greek term meaning "judgment seat." In the city of Corinth, a stone
platform was constructed to support the bema seat (judgment seat) of the local
officials. The seat was used to give out awards to athletes for their competitive
performances (usually a crown wreath of leaves), but also to address legal charges
brought against individuals.

12. Acts 18:12
12 “But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up
against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat (bema),” Acts 18:12
Romans 14:10
10 “But you, why do you judge your brother? For we will all stand before the
judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10
Paul explains to us that this is where the Christian will receive an evaluation for works
done in the body, whether good or bad.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is not to be confused with The Great White Throne
Judgment.

15. Paul wanted the Lord's highest reward because that would be the most pleasing to
the Lord, and would most graphically demonstrate his grateful love.