WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN –
LIFE ON THE NEW EARTH
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You would
think that Living in God’s presence forever on the new earth would be reward
enough – but the Bible talks about additional rewards awaiting the faithful
Christ follower.
Matthew 5:11-12 says:
11"Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Revelation
12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
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Apparently we
will be rewarded in heaven according to what we have done here on earth.
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The Bible
says we will be judged for our actions.
2 Corinthians
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in
the body, whether good or bad.
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The Christian’s
salvation is not an issue – Heavenly rewards are.
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So the
believer need not fear losing eternal life ant the judgment seat.
1 Corinthians 3:10-16 (pg.
808) says:
By the grace God has given me, I laid a
foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each
one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can
lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver,
costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be
shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be
revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be
saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
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Salvation is
not at stake here, spiritual rewards are.
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All true
believers who stand before the Judgment seat will ____________________(qualify) for Heaven based on Christ death on the cross,
but not all will receive the same __________________(reward).
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Wood, hay and
stubble burn, but precious medals do not.
·
The picture
painted here is a person who was a bad steward of the resources God entrusted
them with.
·
They are
going to Heaven, but a great deal of their activity here on earth was useless
and had no significant eternal value.
·
QUESTION:
Will your activities you are currently involved in be rewarded by God one day
in Heaven or will they burn up in the fire?
2 John 8 says:
8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked
for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Luke 19:11-27 (pg. 743) says:
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell
them a parable, because he was near
14"But
his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want
this man to be our king.'
15"He
was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to
whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16"The
first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
17"
'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been
trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
18"The
second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
19"His
master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
20"Then
another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid
away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because
you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did
not sow.'
22"His
master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You
knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and
reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my
money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with
interest?'
24"Then
he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the
one who has ten minas.'
25"
'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
26"He
replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for
the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But
those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here
and kill them in front of me."
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Everything
God has given us here on earth is a resource to be invest
back into the
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Christians will
be _________________________(rewarded) based upon what they ___________(do) with the _______________________(resources)
God has _______________________(entrusted) them with.
GOD’S RESOURCES TO US INCLUDE:
1) Our ________________(talents) –
spiritual gifts.
2) Our ________________(time)
3) Our ________________(treasure)
Matthew 6:19-21 (pg. 685) says:
19"Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy,
and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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God’s love to
me is proven by all the _________________(resources) he has _________________(entrusted)
me with including my gifts, talents, abilities, finances and even my personality.
·
My love to
God is proven by what I _________(do) with the resources He has entrusted me
with!
You can tell where your
priorities are by looking at your:
1. ______________________(Checkbook) –
Where you spend your money.
2. ______________________(Calendar) –
Where you spend your time.
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There are
____________________(rewards) in Heaven referred to as ________________(crowns)
waiting for the “Christ follower” who has been a good ___________________(steward)
of the _____________________(resources) God has entrusted them with here on
earth.
2 Timothy 4:8 says:
8Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
QUESTION: What do the
promised crowns signify?
·
The rewards
promised in Heaven are sometimes represented by the ________________(symbol) of
a __________________(crown).
·
In the Greek
culture a crown might be either an:
1) Ornamental ______________________(headdress)
worn by a __________________(king) or ___________________(queen).
·
“Diadema”, is
a royal turban worm by Persian kings.
·
It is always
the symbol of kingly or imperial dignity.
It refers to the kind of
crown that Jesus receives.
2) A ___________________(wreath)
worn as a symbol of ___________________(victory) in a race.
·
“Stephanos”, the victor’s crown, “a symbol of
triumph in the Olympic Games or such contest – hence by metonymy, a reward or
prize.
·
It was a
crown of leaves or vines, beautifully woven.
·
This is the
word that is used to denote the rewards of heaven.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF
DIFFERENT CROWNS:
1. The Crown of _________________(Life)
– Given to those who triumph over suffering and persecution, perhaps even
martyrdom.
James 1:2 says:
2Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
·
This crown is
bestowed in recognition of enduring and triumphing over trial and persecution
even to the point of martyrdom. The motivation must be love for Christ.
Revelation
10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I
tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will
suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I
will give you the crown of life.
2. The Crown of ______________________(Righteousness)
– give to those who long to see his face.
2 Timothy 4:8 says:
8Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
·
Perfect
righteousness is a requirement for seeing God’s face and without it no person
can see God’s face and live.
·
Those who
long to see God’s face, will be given the robe of
righteousness that will qualify them to be in his presence.
3. The_________________________(Incorruptible)
Crown - This crown is won by those who strive for mastery, for excellence.
1 Corinthians
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever.
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Paul is using
the figure of the pentathlon with its tremendous demand of physical stamina.
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The crown is
awarded to the disciplined.
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4. The Crown
of _____________________(Rejoicing) - This is the crown of the soul winner.
1 Thessalonians
19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which
we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
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The Bible
says that even the angles in Heaven rejoice when one sinner repents of their
sins and comes to faith in Christ.
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It will be cause for rejoicing when, in heaven, we meet those who have
been won to Christ through our ministry.
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This crown is
open to every believer.
5. The Crown of ____________________(Glory).
1 Peter 5:1-4 says:
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,
a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be
revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under
your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are
willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
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This
promised award for spiritual leaders in the church should provide strong
motivation for sacrificial ministry.
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None of these
crowns is awarded automatically - There are ______________________
_________________________(qualifying conditions) attached to each, and it is
possible to ___________________(forfeit) a crown through complacency.
Rev. 3:8-13 (pg. 869)
says:
8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an
open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you
have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will
make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they
are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and
acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept
my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial
that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have,
so that no one will take your crown. 12Him who
overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he
leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my
God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will
also write on him my new name. 13He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
NOTE: THE BEST MOTIVATION FOR SERVING
OTHERS IS NOT THE REWARD WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE IN HEAVEN, BUT THE
___________________(LOVE) AND __________________________(GRATITUDE) WE HAVE FOR
GOD!
Luke 17:7-10 says:
7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or
looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the
field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8Would he
not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I
eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9Would
he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So
you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We
are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Jonh McAthur says:
“Believers’ rewards
aren’t something you wear on your head like a crown…your reward in heaven will
be your capacity for service in heaven…Heaven’s crowns are what we will experience,
eternal life, eternal joy, eternal service and eternal blessedness”. John McAthur
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Today is
Mothers Day.
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Moms – You
will be _____________________(rewarded) accordingly for
your love, sacrifice and servanthood to your children in the Kingdom to come.
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I hope you see
a reward here on earth in the form of your children growing up to be mature,
responsible Christ followers who advance the
Luke 6:37-39 says:
37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do
not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed
down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Galatians 6:7-10 says:
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps
what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful
nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to
please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to
the family of believers.
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You may not
receive the recognition and appreciation you deserve from your children and
from others, but at the very least, you will get it from God Himself one day in
the form of Heavenly Rewards.
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Moms, quit
focusing on your _____________(perceived) ______________________(limitations)
and your children’s _____________________(accusations) and the Devil’s ______________________(condemnations)
– instead focus on planting good seed into your children’s life and trust God
to grow it in due season for his Glory!
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Moms, leave
the ______________________(judgments) up to God – He
is the only one that really knows what is really happening with your child –
cast your ____________________(anxiety) onto God because He want you to.
Philippians 4:4-8 (pg.
832) says:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
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Moms, keep on
keeping on and one day when you enter God’s Kingdom you well here the words:
“___________ _____________________ _________________ ____________
___________________ _________________” (Well done good and faithful servant).