1. Outlasting the Darkness Outlasting The Darkness – p.5 “How to Prepare for Your Final” Matthew 25:31-46

2. Easter is about being “astonished and astounded”.Easter is about being “astonished and astounded”.

3. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

4. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

5. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

6. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

7. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

8. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

9. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

10. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

11. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

12. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

13. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

14. Obvious Observations… Judgment day is a coming realityJudgment day is a coming reality “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

15. Obvious Observations… Judgment day is a coming realityJudgment day is a coming reality All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and (vv.31-33)

16. Obvious Observations… The whole event doesn’t begin with us – but with the glory of Jesus (v.31)The whole event doesn’t begin with us – but with the glory of Jesus (v.31) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory…

17. Obvious Observations… Faithful and True, who in righteousness judges and makes war, whose eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

18. Obvious Observations… Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, for He rules them with an iron scepter. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord (Rev. 19: 11-16)

19. Obvious Observations… Jesus, the King will judge all peopleJesus, the King will judge all people All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people… one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

20. Obvious Observations… Jesus, the King will judge all peopleJesus, the King will judge all people he will separate the people –

21. Obvious Observations… The people will be divided into two very distinct groups. (v.32b - 33)The people will be divided into two very distinct groups. (v.32b - 33) he will separate the people… one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

22. Obvious Observations… The people will be divided into two very distinct groups. (v.32b - 33)The people will be divided into two very distinct groups. (v.32b - 33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

23. Obvious Observations…

24. Judgment day is a day of rewards and consequences (vv.34-36; 41-43)Judgment day is a day of rewards and consequences (vv.34-36; 41-43)

25. Obvious Observations… The “sheep” will be rewarded “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

26. Obvious Observations… The “sheep” will be rewarded For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

27. Obvious Observations… The “sheep” will be rewarded I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

28. Obvious Observations… The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46)The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

29. Obvious Observations… The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46)The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

30. Obvious Observations… The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46)The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46) I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

31. Obvious Observations… The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46)The “goats” will be cursed (vv.41-43, 46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

32. Obvious Observations… The curse is three parts:The curse is three parts: Separation – “depart from me”Separation – “depart from me” Association – “satan and his angels”Association – “satan and his angels” Pain – “eternal fire”Pain – “eternal fire”

33. Not so obvious observation… People are separated by who they know not what they did – v.34People are separated by who they know not what they did – v.34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

34. Not so obvious observation… The reward is not something they earned – it is an inheritance.The reward is not something they earned – it is an inheritance. Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance

35. Not so obvious observation… The reward is something that was prepared with God’s “foreknowledge”The reward is something that was prepared with God’s “foreknowledge” the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

36. Obvious Observations…

37. Bottom Line: A living Jesus changes everything!A living Jesus changes everything!

38. Two more not so obvious observations… The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40)The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40) Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

39. Two more not so obvious observations… The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40)The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40. Two more not so obvious observations… The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40)The righteous people are surprised they served their Lord (vv.37-40) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

41. Two more not so obvious observations… The “cursed” people were so self- consumed they did not see the needsThe “cursed” people were so self- consumed they did not see the needs “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ (v.44)

42. Three options: You’re a goat and you know itYou’re a goat and you know it

43. Three options: You’re a goat but you think you’re a sheepYou’re a goat but you think you’re a sheep

44. Obvious Observations…

46. Three options: You’re a sheep living just like the living Christ.You’re a sheep living just like the living Christ.