ER1: Introduction to Eternal Rewards
I. God is a Rewarder
1. The Hope of Reward Motivates Us to Pursue God
* Heb. 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
* “Rewarder”…..One who pays wages generously
* Our faith is demonstrated by our consistent pursuit of God for encounter and breakthrough
2. Moses was Motivated by the Hope of Reward
* Heb. 11:24 - By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, v26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
* Moses refused to identify with Egypt (The World System)
* Moses refuses the comfortable and convenient life of sin with its temporary pleasure(enjoyment)
* Moses chose to identify with Jesus Christ and His purpose for His life and His people
* Moses chose to accept the reproach, ridicule and misunderstanding by his peers and friends
* “Looked to”……to have respect for, to look towards, to turn the eyes away from everything else and fix them on one thing
* His heart was set on the eternal reward revealed and prepared for him by God
3. Men and Women of Faith were Motivated by the Hope of Reward
* Heb. 11:35 - Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
* “Better”….Stronger, more noble, more excellent, greater in strength and dominion
* There are two resurrections. The first resurrection is a stronger, more powerful resurrection
4. Paul was Motivated by the Hope of Reward
* Php 3:8 - Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
* Php 3:12 - Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
* Paul was motivated strongly by the promise of a reward
* “Gain Christ”…..To Acquire, to win a prize that is offered
* “If by any means”…this implies that there is a possibility of not achieving his goal and the need to do all he could to win the prize
* “Resurrection from the Dead”….literally…the “Out From” resurrection
* Every person will rise from the dead. Paul is referring to the First Resurrection
* Paul does not consider even after all he had done that he would attain the First Resurrection
* Rev 20:5 - But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
* He considered that it was a prize to be contended for and won
5. Paul Describes our Life as a Race for a Prize or Reward
1Col. 9:24 - Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
* Paul considered life is a race to be run with a prize in mind…an eternal prize
* He was aware of the possibility of becoming disqualified for the prize
* “Disqualified”….inspected and not approved, unfit for the prize in view
6. Paul Motivated Servants with the Hope of Eternal Reward
* Col 3:22 - Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ
* “Eye-service”….Acting in a certain way only when you know people are watching
* “Sincerity”….singleness, without self-seeking, hiding under a false appearance
* “Reward”……recompense, reward or pay someone,
* He is encouraging servants to do their work as if they were personally serving watched closely at every moment by Jesus Christ Himself
* “Reward of the Inheritance”...We each have an inheritance set apart for us but must mature to qualify
7. Jesus Motivated His Disciples by the Promise of Eternal Reward
Mat 19:27 - Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
* Jesus response to Peter’s question was to reveal the reward of intimacy and ruling with Him in His coming Millennial Kingdom
* There is an inheritance laid up for every believer
II. Eternal Rewards are Given at Jesus Second Coming
1. Jesus Taught This Directly
* Mat 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. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
* Rev 22:12 - "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
* “Reward”…….The rewards that God will bestow on believers in acknowledgement for their works
2. Jesus Taught This in His Parables
* The Wise and Faithful Servant
Matt. 24:45-5 - Reward or Loss…..Authority and Responsibility in His Coming Kingdom
* The Wise and Foolish Virgins
Matt. 25:1-13 - Reward or Loss……….Entrance to the Marriage Supper of The Lamb
* The Faithful Servant
Matt. 25:14-3 - Reward or Loss….Authority and Responsibility in His Coming Kingdom
* The Faithful Servant
Luke 19:11-27 - Reward or Loss……Authority and Responsibility in His Coming Kingdom
* The Wedding of The King’s Son
Matt.22:1-14 - Reward or Loss……..Entrance to the Marriage Supper of The Lamb
* Parables are stories with a spiritual lesson contained within the story
* Each of these Parables is about The Kingdom of God with a focus on our need to prepare
* Each of these parables is a story of Reward and Loss…some are rewarded and some suffer loss
* In each story it was the actions or lack of action that resulted in Reward or in Loss
3. John Saw This in His End Time Revelations
* Rev 11:15 - Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
Rev 11:16 - And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
III. God will Evaluate the Works of Every Person
1. Each of Us Must Give Account of our Works
* Rom 14:12 - So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
* 2Co 5:9 - Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
* There are two places of Judgment:
a. The Great White Throne… Rev. 20:11-15
b. The Judgement Seat of Christ… 2Cor. 5:9
2. All Our Works Will be Evaluated by Jesus
* 1Col. 3:10 - According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
* Note Paul’s Warning: “let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
* “Take heed”…. To carefully consider and weigh up
* “How”…In what way, the motivation, and principles that we build with
* He warns each of us regarding how we go about building our lives and ministries
* “Wood, Hay, Stubble…materials that are consumed by fire…temporal
* “Gold, Silver, Precious Stones…materials that survive fire...eternal
* “The Day”…refers to the Day of the Lord, the time of Jesus return
* “Reveal”…disclose, make bare, bring out into view what has been covered
* Fire refers to God himself
* Heb. 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. In Revelation Jesus is described and “having eyes like a flaming fire”
* Rev.2:18 …eyes that see and penetrate into the very core of our heart and its motivations
* “He sees each one’s work, what sort it is” ( The quality or nature or kind)
* He sees into the very core of motivation behind our works and judges them according to the standard of His nature
3. Reward or Loss are Possible
* 1Col. 3:14 - If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (Pay, wages, recompense) If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
* The issue at stake is: Rewards or Losses that Jesus distributes for our labours in advancing His Kingdom
* If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire
* The issue here is not whether we are saved or not…..”he himself will be saved”
* It is not about Salvation …..it is about our Stewardship after we are saved
* What have we done, what have we become that would qualify for reward?
4. What are the Rewards at Stake here?
It refers to different realms of reward in the Coming Millennial Kingdom:
• Different realms of Intimacy with Jesus…closeness and companionship
• Different realms of Authority and Service assigned
• Different realms of Resurrection Glory visible to all men
• Rewards are for the Kingdom Age and for eternity…..they are irreversible and unchangeable
IV. The Wise and Foolish Builders
1. Jesus Conclusion to His Sermon on the Mount
* Mat 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Mat 7:24 - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
and it fell. And great was its fall."
2. What is the Context for this Teaching?
* Jesus is teaching His famous “Sermon on the Mount”
* His sermon teaches the core values and lifestyle of the Kingdom of God…
* He is teaching on The heart of the Kingdom
* At the end of His sermon He talks about Entrance to His Coming Millennial Kingdom
* Some will enter…some will be refused entrance
3. What is meant by “That Day”?
“That Day”…..
* The Second Coming of the Lord to establish His Kingdom
* Also called “The Day of The Lord”
* Also called “That Great and Terrible Day
* Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come
* Zep 1:14 - The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,
* Isa 2:11 - The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up —And it shall be brought low—
* “That Day” refers to the period of time before the millennial reign of Christ on earth when He will shake all the nations.
4. Jesus Warning to His disciples
* Mat 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
* This is a parable….a story with a clearly visible truth to give understanding of the truth Jesus has just taught
* He is warning people of the requirements to enter and experience His Coming Kingdom
5. We are all Builders of Some Kind of House
* Sons & Daughters… both words come from the root…”To Build the Fathers House”
* House = Life, Heart & Character, Marriage, Family, Finances, Business, Church, Ministry
* Jesus describes a wise man and a foolish man….WHICH ARE YOU?
* Both men were builders….Both men built a house
* The Exterior or outside of the house was clearly visible to all
* The Foundation undergirds and supports the whole building
* The Foundations of each house built are unseen….seen only by God who searches the hearts
* 1Sa. 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
6. The Storms came upon the House of Both the Wise man and the Foolish man
* Mat 7:25 – “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beaten on that house;
* Rain…Divinely initiated storms
Deu. 28:12 - The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its
season, and to bless all the work of your hand.
* Floods…Actions of ungodly people
Psa. 18:4 - The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
* Winds…Pressure of demonic spirits
Eph. 4:14 - that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine
* The storms uncovered and exposed the hidden foundation underneath each building
* The nature of unseen foundation of the building was revealed by the storms…stable or unstable.
* This happens in our life now….giving us opportunity to repent and make changes
* This will happen at the Coming of Christ and the assessment will be unchangeable and irreversible
7. Who then is a Wise Man?
* Wise: Thoughtful, discreet
* Pro 24:3 - Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;
* Pro 13:1 - A wise son heeds his father's instruction(correction), But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
* The Wise Man Built his House upon a Rock
* Jesus Himself is called the Rock….something substantial and unshakeable
* Psa. 18:31 - For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?
* 1Col. 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
8. What Does it Mean to Build your House Upon a Rock?
* Jesus explains exactly what it means to build your house or life upon a Rock
* Mat 7:24 - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
* Note: “These sayings of mine”…refers directly to His teaching on Kingdom values and lifestyle, that preceded this story
* These teachings are on the Core Heart values of the Kingdom…The Need for a Transformed Heart
* Jesus teaches that it is not just our actions but our heart…the motivation behind the actions
* Eg. Motivation for Kind Acts
Mat 5:46 - For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
* Eg. Motivation for Giving
Mat 6:1 - "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. 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. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
* Eg. Motivation for Prayer
Mat 6:5 - "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
* Mat 6:6 - But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to
your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
* Eg. Motivation for Fasting
Mat 6:16 - "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
* This story identifies two kinds of followers of Christ at the end time
* This story points out the consequences of our choices: Reward or Loss
9. Who then is a Foolish Man?
* Foolish….Moros….from which we get the word Moron
Dull, stupid, little or low understanding
* He built upon a foundation of sand
* Note: When an earthquake comes sand will liquify and the building collapse
* He heard the teachings of Jesus on the Kingdom and its eternal heart values
* He did not surrender to the Lord to do what Jesus directed
* He did not align his heart with the will of God but carried on …busy but unchanged in heart
* When we hear the Word of God and do not do it we deceive ourselves Jam.1:22
* “Deceive”….mislead, cause to believe something that is not true
* Hear….but fail to respond, to assimilate and to act on
* He persuades himself that he is doing ok and not required to do anything more
* Pro 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
* Pro 15:5 - A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
“Instruction” = correction, discipline,
* Mat 7:27 - and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
* “Great fall” ……all that he had invested his life into was exposed and revealed as unstable and ruined
10. Jesus Teaching (Instruction)
* Mat 7:22 - Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
Mat 7:23 - And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
* Many….a great multitude or great number of people
* They are operating in the supernatural power of God…prophesy, deliverance, miracles
* They call Jesus Lord… they recognize Him
* These are spirit filled believers who are serving and ministering
* Jesus knows the works that they have done….but refuses them entrance to the coming Kingdom
* Jesus refuses to reward their service, but uncovers its foundation as being sand.
V. Why were they Rejected?
1. Lack of Intimacy with Jesus and Heart Transformation
* “Never Knew you”
* “Knew”…… is the word for a husband and wife being intimate
* Our first priority is intimacy with Jesus to know Him and become known by Him
* Intimacy is a lifelong progressive revelation, the goal of which is heart transformation
* It is to discover His heart and will for us and to surrender and do it
* David: “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID THE SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART, WHO WILL DO ALL MY WILL.' Act 13:22
* Jesus: “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do…I have manifested your name…revealed heart and character of God”. Joh 17:4
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2. Self-Promotion
* “Workers of iniquity”
* Iniquity…twisted , distorted from Gods original intention
* It originated in Lucifer himself….I will ascend
* They used the gifts and resources of God to advance their own will, and for self-promotion instead of fulfilling the purpose and will of God for their lives
* All their labours had no lasting or eternal reward personally because of the motivation of their heart
* Their heart remained not transformed …their works unacceptable
This is a Time to evaluate our life and service for the Kingdom…Time to Reset!
Action:
1. What are you building your life upon?
2. Are you cultivating ongoing intimacy with the Lord……
Becoming vulnerable before Him?
Seeking to Know Him… Hear His word?
3. What is God speaking to you about?
4. What do you need to Surrender?
5. What changes do you need to make?