Our accountability to God and Jesus

            I am led to write this to remind us all that we are accountable to God, specifically the Lord Jesus for all we do in our life on this earth, so we can do it all for His glory and honor, for He created us for that purpose.

(1 Corinthians 10:31)  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(Colossians 3:23)  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

(Colossians 3:24)  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Since we are serving the Lord Jesus we may as well……

(Philippians 2:12)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Philippians 2:13)  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

(Philippians 2:14)  Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

(Philippians 2:15)  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

As these verses say the Father has given all of this judgment to the Son, Jesus

(John 5:22)  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

(John 5:23)  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

We all are judged when are we judged?

(Hebrews 9:27)  And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

(Hebrews 9:28)  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

The verses say we are all judged at least at our death, for we are appointed to die, but it speaks of Christ appearing again, to save those who eagerly await Him- the rapture of the believers, which, by current events and the way society is going, is imminent.

What kind of judgments are there? Here is the judgment of the lost, by Jesus, one that absolutely no man wants to have any part of- the great white throne judgment of the unbelievers

(Revelation 20:11)  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

(Revelation 20:12)  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

(Revelation 20:13)  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

(Revelation 20:14)  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:15)  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Yes, anyone whose name isn’t found in the book of life will indeed be thrown into the lake of fire. The one way to be sure of being in the book of life is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior(see bottom for a sinner’s prayer).

            Believers too will face judgment; nobody escapes it, saved or unsaved- the saved people’s judgment however comes at the judgment seat of Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

These verses give a good idea of what might happen at that judgment-

(1 Corinthians 3:11)  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 3:12)  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--

(1Corinthians 3:13)  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

(1Corinthians 3:14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

(1Corinthians 3:15)  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

In the above all of these works represent good deeds done to others, serving them. I am led to believe whether they are accounted as gold silver, or precious stones, means they are done with a selfless and pure motive, intended to show love to others, and be completely unselfish. The wood, hay and straw represent good deeds done with poor motivation, often self exalting motives. God knows all things and looks into our heart always and knows why we do things, so lets do things for pure motivations so that they survive this trial by fire, for our wrongful motivated things absolutely won’t they will be consumed in this trial, and we will lose as a result(loss of would be rewards).

We are also very accountable for what we speak, and will have to give an account for all our careless words to Jesus Himself(we should repent though now if we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of having spoken carelessly):

(Matthew 12:36)  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

(Matthew 12:37)  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Here are other examples of accountability in different parables:

One the poor manager who is about to be fired:

(Luke 16:1)  He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

(Luke 16:2)  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'

(Luke 16:3)  And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

(Luke 16:4)  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'

(Luke 16:5)  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

(Luke 16:6)  He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

(Luke 16:7)  Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

(Luke 16:8)  The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

(Luke 16:9)  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

(Luke 16:10)  "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

(Luke 16:11)  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

(Luke 16:12)  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

(Luke 16:13)  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

The last verses have life application too, to be faithful in the little, and to be trustworthy, as it says you cannot serve God and money.

Here is a parable of  the minas which is accountability and a test of faithfulness to their master:

(Luke 19:12)  He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

(Luke 19:13)  Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'

(Luke 19:14)  But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

(Luke 19:15)  When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

(Luke 19:16)  The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'

(Luke 19:17)  And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

(Luke 19:18)  And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'

(Luke 19:19)  And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

(Luke 19:20)  Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;

(Luke 19:21)  for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

(Luke 19:22)  He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

(Luke 19:23)  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'

(Luke 19:24)  And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'

(Luke 19:25)  And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'

(Luke 19:26)  'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Here too is a parable in Matthew 25 too which is similar and has a similar meaning:

The it that was referred to in verse 14 is the Kingdom of Heaven:

(Matthew 25:14)  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

(Matthew 25:15)  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

(Matthew 25:16)  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

(Matthew 25:17)  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

(Matthew 25:18)  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

(Matthew 25:19)  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

(Matthew 25:20)  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

(Matthew 25:21)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

(Matthew 25:22)  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

(Matthew 25:23)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

(Matthew 25:24)  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

(Matthew 25:25)  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

(Matthew 25:26)  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

(Matthew 25:27)  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

(Matthew 25:28)  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

(Matthew 25:29)  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

(Matthew 25:30)  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Ouch, the worthless servant is cast into the outer darkness, for being lazy with His maters possessions. Some take that to mean eternal hell, so we need to be careful with what we are entrusted to, to say the least. Others make different things out of it.

Look at the next example in the next set of verses of accountability, the National judgment and the sheep and goats one:

(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

(Matthew 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

(Matthew 25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Powerful warning message here, those who take care of the little ones will be given eternal life, and those who do not will face eternal punishment- these verses say that everyone is accountable, and we must back up belief by deeds. These works though will come naturally by the power, strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit and are evidence of our salvation.

            My next scripture will be a reminder again that we will be accountable and judged by God

(Romans 14:8)  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

(Romans 14:9)  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

(Romans 14:10)  Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

(Romans 14:11)  for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."

(Romans 14:12)  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

(Romans 14:13)  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

To avoid hell, outer darkness and to be raptured we must be sure to be saved for Jesus is the only way to heaven:

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We must confess and believe Jesus as Lord and God raised Him from the dead:

(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

(Rom 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

(Rom 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

So if after reading this  you want to a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus, please pray this prayer with me to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

For more on the rapture please see

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804 ?

I share a link of what is up at the rapture https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039

Also I recommend reading this https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/the-rapture-is-imminent-are-you-ready/206251099517699

Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:

 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!

Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be