REWARDS

OUR heavenly REWARds – Part 3

REWARDED FOR OUR WORKS

1 Corinthians 3:11-14 – For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 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.  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:8 – Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Special note: Each of us personally will receive our own personal rewards – not according to others work, but according to our own individual works… & we are laborers (workers) together with God. (Vs 9) . Only the works for the Lord, of the Lord, and with the Lord are the ones that are reward-worthy.

SOWING AND REAPING

Galatians 6:9, 10 – 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

2 Corinthians 9:6– He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

John 4:36 – And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

GREAT REWARDS IN HEAVEN

Matthew 5:12 – Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luke 6:23 – Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

Matthew 6:19-20 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Colossians 2:2-3 – …attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Matthew 6:1-4 – “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

THE PRIZE (Paul)

Philippians 3:14 – I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God (prize of the high calling) in Christ Jesus.

RICH REWARD (MOSES)

Hebrews 11:26 –  …esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

REWARDED AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Revelation 22:12– And, behold, I come quickly; and my REWARD is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

CROWNED

Revelation 3:11 – Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

1 Peter 5:4 – And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

2 Timothy 4:8 – …in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

James 1:12 – •Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

STAY FAITHFUL!! LET NOTHING MOVE YOU!! STAY FOCUSED ON JESUS!!

Hebrews 12:1, 2 – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Special note: …the great crowd of witness “cheer us on”; those saints that have gone before us are roaring out praise to the Lord – roaring in victory” – lifting up shouts of adoration and praises to the King of Kings, the One Who is Life Itself”. Heaven is cheering you on to run the race that was marked out before you.  Let’s see the REWARD OF JESUS come into the fulness of what He had called us to contend for! Let’s run with boldness and courage, knowing that we are not alone! Jesus has already won the victory! We are not losers! There is no defeat through Christ! Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph through Christ…! (2 Corinthians 2:14) A great cloud of witnesses are cheering you on, to enter the REWARD the Jesus paid for by His suffering, and that we would walk in the victory.

Jesus was receiving His REWARD through an act of faith”

Our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ the VICTOR – He has overcome! Heaven roars in celebration of your ‘yes’ to His precious promises! Heaven roars in celebration of your ‘faith’!

KEEP THE FAITH

And when the Son of man comes back – what is He looking for? FAITH!

Luke 8:1-8 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” ⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Special note: Our fight for the faith makes us stronger in the faith. “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). Let’s keep fighting the fight of FAITH, fellow-soldiers!

Jude 1:3 – …to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

OUR FAITH WILL BE REWARDED

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (How blessed is the man or woman who remains firm in their faith, remaining steadfast even under trial.) 

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ⁸ Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

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1. Special thanks and acknowledgement to Evelyn Asuncion for assisting with the preparation of this message, and for sharing it at our online service.