I want to thank Bob Coombs and his drama troupe for ministering to us and speaking God’s truth to us in a way that only drama can bring. I also want you to know that Bob has studied the doctrine of rewards in heaven. He has written an extensive Bible study that may be valuable to you. I can not cover all he has in one sermon or even 3 months worth of sermons. God has put such things on Bob’s heart. I know that if you asked him, he would probably open his home up to a Bible Study for a few families. And, I believe you will be blessed if you have never considered the rewards God has for you in heaven.
Intro: Story of the woman going to heaven taken by pearly gates, street of gold, River of life, the Throne room of God. The angel explained in detail each and every feature in heaven but one. But there was a room with gifts and packages the angel just walked past. The lady tugged on the angel’s robe and said, “What is that big room with all the packages with bows glitter?” Oh that is the room with all the gifts God desired to give you, but because of your choices you missed those rewards.
I want to assure you today that God is a great gift giver. He wants you to have good things. The primary role He wants to be known as a benevolent Father. I want my children to know that I love them and want the best for them. They will always have the GIFT of my love! That comes without charge. Sarah and I freely give them our hearts. But,
I Cor. 3:9-15
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, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon 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 upon 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 upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.
I. “WE ARE” A POSSESSIVE.
We are “God’s fellow workers.” We are “God’s field.” These are terms of possession. When you “claim” God through Christ, if you have honestly received Christ’s forgiveness and been reborn by the work of the Holy Spirit, you are God’s possession. He owns you. He will not let you go.
A. 1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
B. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS IS A GIFT OF GOD WHILE REWARDS IN HEAVEN ARE EARNED BY OUR WORK AFTER CONVERSION HERE ON EARTH. (EPH. 2:8-10)
Perhaps you worry that people might take advantage of God’s gracious gift. First off, let me assure you that such a question was tackled by God and the early church, especially Paul. He addressed that every They want to tie salvation into works and in their theological gymnastics they have to mash in verses that deal with the nature of a Believer verses the nature of the unregenerate MAKE-BELIEVER or they confuse the passages that speak of the believer’s rewards with the punishment of unbelievers.
When someone is truly converted, their inward nature is changed. Sure they might be distracted by this world, but their underlying longing is for God’s rule and the resurrection. Satan does a good job at buffeting us and that is why God encourages you and I to really seek
NAS Romans 6:1-7
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
A GIFT A REWARD
UNEARNED EARNED
BASED ON THE GENEROSITY
OF THE GIVER BASED ON THE WAGES SET
UNLIMITED IN LOVE LIMITED BY QUALITY
CAN NOT BE TAKEN AWAY POTENTIAL CAN BE LOST
II. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REWARDS WE ARE WORKING FOR?
A. GREATER INFLUENCE IN RULING (LUKE 19:15-17)
Note what the text says, “After receiving the Kingdom… Heaven has been inaugurated. The King had been away and some people had played, but the one rewarded kept busy. And he had stewardship over money before, now he will be in charge of 10 cities.
Boy, there is going to be a great change of perspective in heaven. In America where we have great homes, clean drinking water, people hoard their money from God. They would never dream of giving God His tithe, that is too much money and yet they spend, spend, spend on stuff that fades away. Then you have Mike Patterson and his family who work with the Shan in Burma. Those believers do not have much. They live in huts, have rudimentary furnishings and clothes. But, if they have 2 chickens to provide for their family and God needs one, they give half of what they have, literally. I just imagine how big their home will be in heaven. But, then I think of what God might reward stingy believers in heaven. And, I had the distinct picture of person sitting on the doorstep of a hut with one chicken he has to take care of. Wouldn’t that be just like God?
B. CLOSER DAILY CONTACT WITH THE SAVIOR (MATTHEW 20:20-23)
(All will have equal access to the Lord, not all will work on regular projects with Him). I tend to think that the prayer warriors who were unnoticed here on earth will receive these spots because they have been working in secret for Him here on earth, God will EXPOSE them and their work in heaven.
C. STEWARDSHIP OF VALUABLE HEIRLOOMS. (REV. 7:14-15)
D. SEAT OF PROMINENCE AT THE LORD’S TABLE. (LUKE 22:28-30)
E. GREAT FRIENDSHIPS IN HEAVEN THAT WERE FORGED THROUGH FAITHFULNESS HERE ON EARTH. (LIKE DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN IN 2 SAM. 23)
F. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. (MATTHEW 25:34)
Often kids want to know if they will see their favorite pet in heaven. Well, because of our platonic views inherited from the Greek and Western influence on our faith, we often say, “No, never.” We assume that our affections for animals and worldly things are bad and that we should simply love God apart from any other relationship or material thing. Well, in one sense animals will never be resurrected like we are. They do not have the capacity for sin like we do and they are not of the same type of creature that we are. We are the crowning pinnacle of creation made in God’s image.
But there is something Joni Ericstata said, …. It would be just like God to RESTORE my beloved pet out of His kindness. I had never considered that. The Bible never says that God would do that, but to do it would certainly be in his nature. What father would not restore a lost pet if he could? There is nothing keeping a restored pet that has been brought out of the curse from heaven. While I would not stand on my head for such a belief, I would certainly not rule it out any more.
III. “ACCORDING TO THE GRACE”
God will only hold you accountable for the Spiritual gifts and personality strengths He gave you. In the parable of the talents, each man was only held accountable for the amount given to him. God did not ask anyone else about the other money. That was between them and God. There is a danger of looking around at someone to whom God has not given as much in a certain area and saying, well look at how much I am giving. Listen, I worked on my voice for 1 year. I had a neighbor who wanted to help me and we would meet weekly and I improved, but it was very stressful to me! Now my wife has had to work on her voice but, even in her raw untrained state, she could sing circles around me. But, she took what God gave her and worked at it.
Now it is also easy to look at someone who has more of a natural ability or affinity that it God given in some area and getting discouraged, thinking I am no good. For example, have you ever been around those people who just have a knack with animals? They never met a dog or cat who did not like them. They can train a horse as simple as you and I take a walk. Don’t compare yourself to others in seeking to serve God unless it ENCOURAGES you to give God your best where He has “Gifted” you. That doesn’t mean that it will ALWAYS come easy, but if it is where God gifted you, you will find delight in it.
I remember an old evangelist talking to us young bucks once. He said, “Gentlemen, as I grow older, I admit that I grow weary IN the work, but I am never tired OF the work.” He’s point was that pastorate and full time Christian ministry is a calling. If you are called, you will love it. There will be times when you might be overwhelmed, perhaps God is testing you. Sometimes your reward will just be a matter of withstand that test. Did you ever want to just give in and call it quits? Sure? We all do. There are things we do for the Lord that we will never see results or rewards here in heaven for. There are people I have prayed for year after year and I have not seen.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Saved by the skin of his teeth?” Well, I believe that it has a history from the last verse. There are those of you here who really do not trust that God has a reward for you. You do not think church, giving, ministry, prayer, or participating in corporate worship are bad things. In fact, you agree that such things are important. You encourage you wife, your husband, boyfriend/girlfriend. You believe such things are important, but they are not your priority. And I am here to tell you that if you do not put God and His Kingdom first, He will effectively become last. And, you may even become first on the earth, but you will lose out on your reward in heaven.
A wealthy lady on Safari came to a remote village and happened upon a missionary who worked with those suffering in the horrible diseases. (Imagine leprosy, HIV, malaria, TB, malnutrition). The People she worked with were dirty and smelly. The wealthy lady looked with disgust and said the lady missionary, “I wouldn’t do what you do for all the money in the world.” The missionary replied, “Neither would I.” Matthew 6:33.
