 
# Eternal Rewards

#### Mike Connell

 Sermon Audio Transcripts

#### Smashwords Edition

#### Copyright 2012 Mike Connell Ministries

#### http://mikeconnellministries.com

Sermons | Collections | 中国

YouTube | Vimeo | Podcast

eBooks | Paperbacks

Transcripts | 成绩单

Facebook | Share

Donations

# Eternal Rewards

Introduction to Eternal Rewards (1 of 6)  
One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches, but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. This message is an introduction to the theme of eternal rewards and the need to build our heart and character on Jesus teachings on the Sermon on the Mount

Key Principles Related to Eternal Rewards (2 of 6)  
One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches, but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to give account for our stewardship as followers of Christ. At stake are position, honor and reward in the coming Kingdom of Christ. This message is an introduction to the Bible Foundations of Eternal Rewards

Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1 (3 of 6)  
One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches, but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to give account for our stewardship as followers of Christ. At stake are position, honor and reward in the coming Kingdom of Christ. This message looks at the Two of the glorious Eternal Rewards that the Bible reveals are prepared for those who love Jesus, overcome in life and serving faithfully.... Eternal Intimacy and Eternal Authority

Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 2 (4 of 6)  
Eternal Rewards are an important part of Jesus teachings, both in the Gospels and also in the Book of Revelation. Eternal Rewards are Jesus generosity to us in the coming Millennium and beyond that acknowledge our love for Him, our transformation to become like Him and the service we have done on His behalf during our life on earth. This series brings understanding of the significance and importance of Eternal Rewards. This teaching continues to explain what those rewards are and its focus is Eternal Glory

Garments of Glory and Beauty (5 of 6)  
Jesus frequently taught about Eternal rewards in the Coming Millennial Kingdom and for the need for Hiss disciples to pursue them and live in preparation for His Second coming. In this series we examine what are the Eternal rewards that Jesus has reserved for those who love Him. The focus of this study are Eternal Garments of Glory and Beauty

Victor's Crowns (6 of 6)  
A Crown is given to the Victor who has won the race or the fight. It is given in recognition and honour to a person because of what they have achieved or overcome. In this message we discover five different Crowns that are promised to believers who meet the conditions. These are the Incorruptible Crown, The Crown of Rejoicing, The Crown of Righteousness, The Crown of Life and the Crown of Glory.

## Audio

Audio: Introduction to Eternal Rewards (1 of 6).mp3  
Audio: Key Principles Related to Eternal Rewards (2 of 6).mp3  
Audio: Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1 (3 of 6).mp3  
Audio: Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 2 (4 of 6).mp3  
Audio: Garments of Glory and Beauty (5 of 6).mp3  
Audio: Victor's Crowns (6 of 6).mp3

## Notes

Notes: Introduction to Eternal Rewards (1 of 6)  
Notes: Key Principles Related to Eternal Rewards (2 of 6)  
Notes: Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1 (3 of 6)  
Notes: Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 2 (4 of 6)  
Notes: Garments of Glory and Beauty (5 of 6)  
Notes: Victor's Crowns (6 of 6)

# Introduction to Eternal Rewards (1 of 6)

## Sun 7 Jun 2020 AM « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. This message is an introduction to the theme of eternal rewards and the need to build our heart and character on Jesus teachings on the Sermon on the Mount
Introduction

Welcome to the first series, and this series is called Eternal Rewards and this message is number one in the series and it's called: Introduction to Eternal Rewards.

Probably when you hear it, you'll think I've taught all there is to be taught about it, but I certainly haven't and today we're going to just give you a big, a broad picture and then within that, there'll be many questions arise and there'll be things that you'll want to know more about.

But in our journey we get revelation right at the very beginning of the teachings around eternal rewards, and they become a motivator for your life. They cause you to set a course for your life that, regardless of what anyone else does, you remain focussed on eternity.

Main Message

Perhaps if I could put it like this: if I were to offer you: $2 now; or $1000 in a weeks' time - what would you take? Children will take the $2 now, because they can't conceive of $1000 in a weeks' time. But anyone who understands the value of things would say: oh man, I'll put off getting my $2 now, because I have in mind something much bigger ahead - and this is what all of this teaching is about. It's being able to lay aside some things now, because there's something much bigger that God has for you. So it brings about an adjustment of what's important, so you place less and less importance on temporary things, and more importance on eternal things.

The first thing then is: God is a rewarder! God is a rewarder, and the first thing is that the hope of a reward is a motivator to pursue God. Hope of a reward is a motivator - it's what motivates us to pursue God.

In Hebrews 11:6, it says: without faith, it's impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He's a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Notice that two things are required: 1) that we must believe that: God is present; God is real; God is interested in us; God wants to access us; God wants a relationship with us; and 2) that God rewards. He is a rewarder.

That says that's something about who He is. He's a rewarder. He rewards those who diligently pursue Him. To be a rewarder is one who pays wages generously, so God is generous in rewarding us for the activities we undertake on His behalf to represent Him. So we see then the first thing then is that God is a rewarder; and the is hope that He will reward us.

As we'll look in another section later on, when we look at inheritance, and we'll see God's promise to Abraham was: I am your shield, I am your exceeding great reward. So not only is God a rewarder, but it's accessing more of Him that comes as one of the key aspects of our reward.

Secondly, Moses was motivated by the hope of a reward. Hope causes you to look forward to something. Hope causes you to anticipate something. Hope causes you to have an expectation. Hope keeps you looking forward; you know, we're hoping for this holiday, we're hoping for this raise, we're hoping for this new thing.

Moses was motivated by the hope of reward. When you look at Moses, you see his life, and how he was in the Pharaoh's Palace - he had everything possible available to him: education, a significant role, riches and wealth, anything he wanted was his. He was a valiant warrior, and he was a great man. However, he forsook it all. In other words, he gave it all up - which people would have thought was crazy, but we understand it when we read in Hebrews 11:24-26.

Hebrews 11 is the book of men who responded to God, who pleased Him. So without faith, without trusting Him and committing our life to following Him, we can't bring pleasure to Him. So our goal is to bring pleasure to Him, but it requires that we exercise faith that: not only that He is; but if I will give my life to His pursuit, He will reward it.

In Hebrews 11:24 - by faith, Moses when he became of age, refused to be called "son of Pharaoh's daughter", and he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures or temporary pleasures of sin - esteeming the reproach of Christ's greater riches, than the treasure of Egypt... for he looked to the reward.

We see very clearly that Moses was motivated by hope of reward, and we see several things... The first thing is about him, is that he refused to identify with Egypt. Now Egypt is a prophetic picture of the world, with its values, its rewards, its incentives... all the things in it which are very temporary in nature. So whenever the Bible refers to Egypt, it always refers to the world dominated by Satan - its values, its culture, all that's in the world - the pride of life, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh. All of those things are enemies in the relationship with God. So we see here, it says first: he refused to identify with Egypt - even though he had access to privilege and position.

Secondly, he refused the convenient, comfortable life - just cruising along in sin, with the temporary pleasure; and he chose instead that he would identify with Jesus Christ, identify with His purpose, and identify with the people of God. So it's a big choice for him. It was the decision to let go a life of privilege, of position, of power; and instead to identify with God, to identify with the people of God, and with the purpose of God... and he totally embraced it! So he chose to accept reproach, and ridicule, and misunderstanding of his peers. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God.

So notice that when you choose to follow Jesus... the people who knew you - they think you've gone crazy, think you've gone weird! You don't do the things you used to do, because you've chosen a different path; and that path has with it, some hardship. It usually has the hardship of misunderstandings and ridicule by people; esteeming the reproach of Christ, for a greater rich than the treasures of Egypt - for he looked for the reward.

That word 'looked' means 'to have respect for' - so he valued, or had great respect for, what God offered. He must have had a revelation of it. God must have shown it to him.

It means: to turn the eyes away from everything else, and fix them on one thing.

So Moses, even though he's surrounded by everything you could buy... he had money, he had position, power, the opportunity to sin, opportunity to have anything - he turned his eyes away from it all, and fixed his eyes on something that God had shown him - an eternal reward! Something that was not temporary, something that would go on into eternity - forever, and ever, and ever, and ever! So he chose the eternal over the temporal.

We find also that the Bible tells of other men and women of faith, who were also motivated by the hope of reward. So in Hebrews 11:35, it says: women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Now it's saying that here that people, by faith, got miracles to happen! By faith, they endured suffering and even death; and what they saw was that there was a better resurrection available for them.

Now this opens a whole lot of questions about resurrection. The word 'better' resurrection implies there's: the better one; and there's a lesser one - one is better than the other! If you're going to have that opportunity to have: something; or something better - you want something better! I always want a bit better for me, I want better for my children, and so on. So 'better', in this case, means: stronger, more noble, more excellent, greater in strength or power - so clearly there are two resurrections, and one of them is a better one! One of them is stronger. One of them is more powerful. One of them has better outcomes for us.

There is the first resurrection; and we may touch on scriptures around the first resurrection, found in Revelations 20. We read on, but back in 8:52, and we're just looking at people being motivated by reward... Here's another one who was motivated by reward: Paul was motivated by the hope of reward.

Reward offers us something to look forward to, that causes us to go through hardship. See, even if you think about saving up for a house, you first have the vision of the house. You pay a price - you sacrifice. Your eyes are focussed to something you're looking forward to, and that causes you to discipline your life, and bring it into alignment, to get the goal - and that's what Paul has in mind here. So we read in Philippians 3:8-12...

"Indeed, I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and I count them as rubbish, in order 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 might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained it, or am already perfected; but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of me.

Brothers, I don't count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forward to the things that are ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore if any of us are mature, have this mind - let us, as many as are mature, think this way, have this mind; and if in anything you think differently, God will even reveal this."

There's a lot in there and that's a passage, si I'll have to go through on its own and open it all up, but I want to just focus on this thought: that he very clearly indicates that there is a prize to attain to - and that he hasn't already attained it.

Notice he uses the words "that I might gain Christ". So he was motivated strongly by the promise of a reward. He said: everything I've succeeded in, all my position, my status, my record, everything I've done... in the light of the prize, I consider it to be just rubbish! Little value! It just... is nothing!

Often when you set out to do a degree, it's a kind of... if I just get that degree, then I've got everything. And then you realise when you've got it... you don't know anything! It's like, it's the other side of it - when you don't have it, it seems like it's everything; but when you have it, you suddenly realise, it's not such a big thing at all!

So Paul was motivated by the promise of a reward. Notice he said "that I might gain Jesus Christ". Now you think, wait a minute... haven't you already received Christ? Yes, he had. He was born again, so he had received salvation. He was saved. He was joined to Jesus, and the prospect of heaven was certain. But he's talking now about gaining a prize, which is a much deeper intimacy, a much deeper relationship, much deeper connection with Jesus Christ!

He says... "if by any means I might do this". In other words, there's a possibility I might not make it, so I'm going to do everything I can, to make sure I get it. If by any means there's a possibility I may not win the prize... and so he goes on... not that I've already attained it, or am already perfect, but I press on to lay hold of this!

He said: now Christ has taken hold of me, because he has this in mind for me. Now I need to take hold of Jesus, that I might be ready, and prepared, and qualify for it. So he says: I press towards the goal, for the prize of this high calling. If there's a high calling, then there's also a low calling!

He said this is a very high calling! It's the calling of God, to every believer - and it has to do with eternal rewards; and he said: it requires that I 'press on' towards that. I make a determined effort; and that I forget the things that have happened, or the successes of the past, or the issues of the past... and I press on towards that goal.

What is the prize? He implies the prize is "winning Christ"; and he implies also that the prize is "by any means, I might attain to the resurrection from the dead".

This resurrection that he's referring to here, is not the second resurrection. In the general resurrection, everyone will rise from the dead. The word used here is different to the word normally used for resurrection; it's the word "ek", meaning: "out from"; and "astasis" - resurrection. That I might attain, or reach out and gain, the "out from" resurrection - the resurrection that will "lift me up", and "out from" everyone else.

He's referring to the first resurrection; and it's a prize that he considers to be won. So every person will rise from the dead. He's saying this: the first resurrection... and even after all he's done, he has no guarantee he will qualify!

In Revelations 20:5, it tells us a little bit about the first resurrection. I don't want to go into that now, because it needs to be taught in much deeper detail later on; but in Revelations 20:5, it says:

"The rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years (or millennium) in Christ was finished. This is the first resurrection; and how blessed, and how holy, is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power; they shall be priests of God, and of Christ - they shall reign with Him on earth for 1000 years."

Now there's a lot in there, and I don't want to go into it all just now, but if you could just understand: there are two resurrections; and the resurrection which is the first resurrection, is a resurrection of reward. It's a prize to contend for, to qualify for; and the outcome of winning that, is that you are resurrected ahead of everyone else! You have a life on earth; and a resurrection body, in which you act as a representative of Christ, bringing order and change to the whole of the earth. I'll talk more about that in another teaching, where we talk about the millennial reign of Christ.

It is a great honour, it's a great blessing, it's a great privilege, it is a prize to be won - the first resurrection. Now regarding this first resurrection, I'll just make one more statement...

Much of the church does not understand that, it's a prize to be won! If you ask them, they don't even know there's two resurrections. They just consider everyone gets raised from the dead... and that's it! However, as we'll see in another teaching, the first resurrection is a prize to be contended with.

He says about the first resurrection: they shall be priests of God, and Christ and will reign with Him 1000 years. Now the promises, all the promises connected to reigning, sharing authority, bringing transformation to this world... always belong to overcomers! This is a promise given only to people who overcome - and that's another series I'll have to do - on the overcomers, and what they overcome, and what's involved in all of that.

The next thing is, number four: Paul describes our life as "a race", for "a prize" or reward, in 1 Corinthians 9:24. There's several verses here...

"Do you not know that those who run in a race - all run, but one receives the prize? So run in such a way you may obtain it. Everyone who competes for a prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. So thus I run not with uncertainty; and I fight, not like one who beats the air. I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection, lest having preached to others, I might be disqualified."

Notice what he's saying... He's saying: our current life is like a race you run, with a prize in mind. Everyone is running this race, and there's an eternal prize to be won. In the Book of Timothy (1 Timothy), he says:

"I have run my race, I have finished my course, henceforth is laid up for me a crown."

He was aware that, at the end of race, at the end of his life, that the prize had been won, and that it was for him! Of course, we have no guarantee that it's for us until we've finished our course. He must have got revelation on it.

He was aware he could be disqualified. The word disqualified means: to be inspected, and not improved - considered unfit to win the prize. Think about that for a moment. If God is Just, then clearly, He must distinguish between people who passionately serve Him, who walk through His process of change and testing... and He must treat them in some way differently, to those who are casual, careless, where there's no prayer life. They're just casual Christians, who turn up at church, but have no commitment to serve... They're inconsistent in their walk. Clearly there's a distinction between those two kinds of people and, to be just, God must address that difference. So Paul motivated people who served with the hope of eternal rewards.

Number five, Paul motivated people by pointing them to the reward. Here's a scripture: Colossians 3:22. He's talking to people who are in slavery - they've been captured, and now they're slaves. He doesn't say: rise up, and throw it off, and rebel. He says this: Bondservants, obey in all things your masters, according to the flesh... (notice this) ...not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do - do it heartily, as if you were doing it to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you really are serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's an amazing scripture there, with a lot in it. I'll just drop a few thoughts out there. He says: servants... now obey, or yield, or submit to those who are over you. So he's talking about their natural serving. They were forced to serve people - and those people were quite brutal, and quite harsh.

He says: in your serving, don't do your serving with eyeservice. What does that mean? Eyeservice means: you show off, when the boss is around. It means: you act in a certain way, when you know people are watching. So eyeservice means: I look out to see if anyone's watching, and then I up my game - that's what eyeservice is. He says: when you're doing eyeservice, you're not genuine, you're pretending.

He says, it's basically, you're doing it as a man-pleaser. You're basically trying to get the approval of men; and he says: in our service, whatever it happens to be, whether it's a big job, a little job, a tedious job, an insignificant job, an unseen job... He said: whatever you do, in all things, don't operate trying to impress people. Don't operate so, you're looking really onto it when they're around, but you're not onto it when they're not there. But he says: rather, have a sincere heart. Do it from the heart, out of a reverence that God is watching; and he said: whatever you do, whatever task you have, do it full-heartedly, not negatively, not reluctantly, not half-heartedly, not with a bad attitude. Do it as if you're doing it to the Lord Himself, not to people.

The reason you can do that, is because you know God is watching you, and you know that you are in the process of qualifying for the reward of inheritance. He starts to now talk about the reward being an 'inheritance' that you have to qualify for. It's a reward. The key thing is, the instruction here is: there is a reward, God is watching everything you do; but more than that, He's watching how you do it.

All of us have had an experience of people who are just slack - they're inconsistent. Their heart is not in things, they don't do things well. They have no revelation that all of that behaviour is noticed by God, and is disqualifying them for eternity. So when you catch that scripture... Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men - knowing of the Lord you receive the reward of inheritance. Now that changes the way you look at every task.

Whether people acknowledge it, or don't acknowledge it; whether they are happy with me, or unhappy with me; whether they see it, or don't see it - is irrelevant! God sees it all; and I am in my process of qualifying.

As we'll see in another session, our life now is not our main ministry. Our life now is our preparatory ministry. In the millennium, and in the ages to come, we enter our primary ministry. So if you can think that: all you do now is your apprenticeship, all you're doing now is preparing you; so no one can make a decision how you will respond to the preparation process. God's got lots of things in His preparation process, including being ignored, overlooked, treated unjustly, people carrying on like you've done nothing, others getting the reward for things you've done... all of that kind of stuff! But it's all about the development of your heart - that your longing, and desire, is to please the Lord.

The last one then, on this theme here, on that point is that Jesus motivated His disciples by the promise of eternal reward. So Jesus Himself moved His disciples. In Matthew 19:27, Peter answered and said: we've left everything, and followed You - so what shall we get? That's a good question isn't it? We've sacrificed. We've given up a lot. We're serving You. We're whole-heartedly following You. We've given up our business, we've given up our lives to follow You. What are we going to get?

And I said I assuredly... (In other words, you can guarantee, you can write this on your shorts, you can guarantee it) ...I say to you that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on His throne of glory... (that when Jesus, that's the Son of Man, when He comes in His kingdom, and in His glory) ...you who have followed Me shall sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

In other words, He's saying that in the coming kingdom, you will be with Me. You'll sit with Me; and He said: there will be 12 thrones, 12 realms of authority and rulership that I will give you - that you will rule over, and govern, on My behalf - the 12 tribes of Israel. There'll be one for each of you. So we know that Israel had 12 tribes; and although they've been scattered, they will be gathered together, and those in charge of them, those who will rule them, those who will guide them, those who will direct them, those who will govern them... will be the 12 apostles.

When are these rewards to come? The rewards that God has in mind are eternal rewards. That means they're not temporary.

God does give temporary rewards. We are blessed with temporary rewards. We have a house, we have cars, friends, we have blessings, and favour - these are all temporary things. In the end, they all pass away, you leave them all behind. So everything you can see... if you can see it, and touch it, then it can be left behind; but there are also eternal rewards.

Eternal rewards are given to us at the second coming of Christ, when He comes again - and that's a whole teaching of its own, what that looks like and what that will involve. But Jesus taught this directly, in Matthew 16:27. He said:

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father and the angels, and He will reward each, according to his works."

How about that? He said: when the Son of Man comes, in the glory of His Father with His angels... (he's talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ, which is the great hope of the church) ...then He will reward each one.

He's talking to His disciples, so every disciple, every follower of Christ, will face an encounter with the Lord; and at stake, will not be whether you go to heaven on earth, or heaven, or not. What's at stake will be: what the level of reward, or not, will be.

In Revelations 22:12, He says the same thing: "Behold, I am coming quickly, My reward is with Me, to give every one according to his works."

Notice there that it's our work, it's what we did; and we'll have to explore that a bit more, what's required of us, in another session. But notice the thing we're bringing out here, is that eternal rewards are connected to the coming of Jesus Christ. Both of those scriptures indicate that, and Jesus also taught the same thing in His parables.

When He taught in the parables, particularly Matthew 24 and 25, He taught about the second coming. They asked Him: when are You coming again; what are the signs of the End of the Age; what are the signs of You coming - and He gave several parables. Each one of the parables has to do with the issue of reward or loss at His coming. We'll look at the parables in another time, but I'll identify them for you, and tell you where they are.

The first one is the Parable of the Wise and Faithful Servant, Matthew 24:45-51. The issue there was how he handled himself in the house of God; and the issue is reward or loss. The reward is authority and responsibility in the coming kingdom.

Then from Matthew 24, it goes on to Matthew 25:1-13, the Wise and Foolish Virgins; and again, the issue of reward - some were rewarded, some lost the reward. What was the reward? It was: entrance to the celebration of the Marriage Supper of Jesus Christ.

The third one He mentioned is in Matthew 25:14-30, and it's about the faithful servant, or the productive servants. Again, the issue is reward or loss; and the reward offered there is authority and responsibility in the coming kingdom.

There are more like this. There's another one in Luke 19:11-27, also about the faithful servant, and the issue again is reward or loss; and the reward at stake is: authority over cities, to rule over groups of people in the coming kingdom, and establish God's order, and peace, and prosperity... in governance.

So you understand then, that in being faithful over little, God responds with much. It's just like the: $2 now; or $1000 in a week. It's like, you just can hardly compare the two! So all of these parables are stories with a lesson, and all of them are parables about the kingdom, about the coming of the Lord, and the need to prepare. In every one of the parables there's reward. Some are rewarded; some lose their reward, and some suffer loss; and in every one of the stories, there are some actions people did, which others didn't do, that resulted in reward. All of these have in common: reward and loss; and the timing of it is to do with the coming of the Lord, the return of the Lord.

John saw it in End Times, in the Book of Revelation. In Revelations 11:15-16, he talks about the seventh angel sounding... "and there were loud voices in heaven, saying: the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ - He shall reign forever."

It says... "We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who was, and is, and is to come - you've taken Your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry. Your wrath has come, the time of the dead, they should be judged. And that You should reward Your servants, the prophets, the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great."

Notice, he connects: the seventh angel sounding, the coming of the Lord, and then... reward for the servants of the Lord. So those who have served the Lord faithfully will be rewarded. That brings us then to the next heading...

All of our works will be Judged.

God will evaluate the works of every believer.

God will evaluate the works of every believer.

God will evaluate the works of every believer.

The first thing is: everyone gives account of their works to the Lord - everyone! There's one appointment we will all keep, and it doesn't matter who we are. Our position is irrelevant; our title is irrelevant; our wealth is irrelevant. Every one of us must give an account of oneself to the Lord.

Romans 14:12 - "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."

2 Corinthians 5:9 - "We make it our aim, or our goal, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him."

This is motivating!

"I want to bring pleasure to Him, for we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the Body, according to what he's done - good or bad. So knowing the Fear of the Lord, we persuade men."

Again, there are not only two Resurrections; there are also two Judgements. The final judgement is the Great White Throne Judgement, found in Revelations 20:11-15; but this judgement, referred to here, is called the Judgement Seat of Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:9. The Judgement Seat of Christ comes at the beginning of Christ's reign on the earth, and it is where believers are evaluated as to whether they qualify to enter that kingdom, that realm, and to be rewarded.

The second thing then is that all our works will be evaluated by Jesus. He's interested in our stewardship. After we got saved... What did you do with what was entrusted to you? In 1 Corinthians 3:10, and Paul is writing. He said:

"According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I laid the foundation, and another builds on it."

Here's the warning: "Let everyone take heed how he builds on it. No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear, or manifest, for the Day - that's the Day of the Lord \- will declare it or it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test everyone's work (what sort it is)."

That's a whole passage for me to go into more detail, but if I can pick up some key things in it...

The first is, his warning: everyone should take heed how you build - what you do. 'Take heed' means: carefully think about what you're doing, how your life is progressing, how you're building. He says: take heed how you build - in other words, the motivation, the principles that you're using to build your life - what lies in behind it.

He warns people; you can build on wood, hay, stubble. These are temporary things. The response of people, the claim of people, temporary reward - things that are just short term; and he says: these are things which are consumed by the fire, because they're all about what I can get. Gold, silver, precious stones... these will survive the fire - they are eternal.

For example, if I serve you in order to get something back - that is wood, hay, stubble; but if I serve you with no agenda but to bless you, and to honour Jesus in doing so - that is gold, silver, precious stones. You understand? The same work may have been done, but the motivation was different.

You think of people you know - they have all kinds of agendas for what they do. God sees all of that, and it's not all the things you do, but what motivates what you do - what is being manifested in what you do. Is selfishness, and self-centredness, and ambition being manifest? Or is there just a genuine love for people and love for Jesus? He can tell the difference. Usually people can too!

He says: so while people may get away with lots of stuff today, at the coming of the Lord, it'll be tried by fire, and the fire will reveal what was concealed, or covered, or that you didn't see. So people may look like they have a great ministry. They may look important. They might look successful. They may look like they've done very well... but God looks on the heart, and sees what motivated them, what's going on - and whether this is built on the foundation of love for God and people; or whether it's built on an ambition, selfish ambition and desire to get themselves ahead. He sees the very core of our motivation, and judges the works accordingly. He sees each work, what sort it is, its quality.

Then of course, he goes on to say: rewards and loss are possible. If anyone's work that is built endures, he will receive a reward. In other words, if you let God test your work, if you let Him access what you do, and He views it, then what He has in mind is: His desire is to reward you.

So basically, if you were to look at perhaps, a chain that's producing something, they do what they call quality testing. They take one out, and test the quality of it; and what they're looking for is: does it meet the maker's standard, or does it fall short? If it falls short, it's disapproved; and then you have to adjust the process. If it passes, then it goes on. So he's saying the same thing.

He said: if anyone's work endures, He'll reward it. Anyone's work is burnt, he suffers loss but he will be saved, yet even by fire. So notice the issue here is not being saved - both of these people are saved. The issue here is: reward; or loss. If the work is burnt, he suffers loss, but he's saved. He's saved, but he's done nothing of great value that would qualify him for the things God had in mind in eternity.

In other words, he failed his apprenticeship. He didn't put in the required labour to prepare himself, that he could be qualified. Take the example of a doctor or surgeon. What if a guy goes through medical school, but he fails all his exams, and doesn't turn up for the practicals - he's away for half of the classes? When he gets to the end of the year - he won't qualify. Now, not qualifying means you didn't meet what was required, to put you into a position where you can be permitted to operate on people. Even when they come to be operating on people, there's still a process of internship around that area as well - same as with a dentist, or anyone doing an important job like that. You're not going to let someone operate on you who failed, and didn't pass - that makes sense.

Neither will God put into positions of authority and responsibility, and bring into intimacy, people who, throughout all their Christian walk, were self-centred, and ambitious, and had no heart for God and for His people. Make sense? It's about our stewardship, and how we've handled it.

What are the rewards? If I can just share with you what He has in mind, what are the rewards at stake, what is it He's offering. Each one of these is very big, and will require me taking some time to show you what it will all be about; but I note firstly, that in the coming kingdom, not everyone is the same. We like to think everyone's the same. We like to think we're all equal. We even try to equalise one another out, or try to get ahead of one another. But in the kingdom of heaven, in the kingdom of God, in the coming millennial kingdom, and all through eternity - people will occupy different realms of intimacy, or closeness and companionship, with Jesus. Now that's quite stunning!

If you've got no love for His presence now, then this is not something you'd want. But the more you are intimate with Him, the more you want of Him, the greater the hunger. So in the coming kingdom, in eternity, people will have different realms of level of access to Jesus. Some will be very near to Him; some will be further away; some will be far away.

A simple way of looking at that would be: you have a prime minister, who runs the country. As a normal citizen, you don't get close access to them. You get access to their representatives - it's just practical. So in the coming kingdom, it'll be the same.

Secondly, there will be in that kingdom, different realms of service and authority and responsibility. So God has in mind that, in the coming millennial kingdom, His people will occupy positions of authority and power and influence, and will guide the courses of the nations. Cities, nations, communities - someone has to guide it all; and when we get on to some of the aspects of the second coming, I'll teach a session on what we will do in the millennium. Man, that's something else! Once you start to think about that, you think: oh my goodness, now I see why I'm just on an apprenticeship. Basically, right now, if I can't handle what I've got, I'm in no way going to be qualified to do anything great in the coming kingdom.

If you see yourself as being in an apprenticeship, then it doesn't matter what your assignment is. Your assignment could be just your one child at school, and that's it - and you've got very little time for anything else, so that's where your assignment is. God watches that, and that's your qualifier. He watches what you do. He watches how you do it, and why you're doing it. He watches what you do in adversity. He watches the way you manage, and handle, and bring His life into it - as simple as that! So I don't need to compete with anyone for their position, or compete with anyone for their assignment. Everyone has their own unique assignment and, even on this earth, as you are faithful and productive in your assignment, you get your assignment enlarged.

I had a season where I gave up a career, gave up security, gave up finances, gave up reputation, in order to start a school, which had a few, just a handful of kids in it - and that was my preparation process, qualifying for a larger, global ministry. So people look at the global ministry, and they think: oh, I want that! How do I get that? What can I do to get there? But they don't see that actually there were lots of little decisions, over the little things. You know, the managing of the tea, the cleaning the building - all the little stuff, cleaning the toilets, all the stuff I did. You understand, that's all part of it.

Then the third area is that there will be different realms of resurrection glory. In other words, people tend to think of just being raised from the dead; but when we're raised from the dead, each of us will be displayed in different levels of glory, in a way that everyone can see what kind of life we've lived.

In other words, no one knows what you're doing in secret. No one knows your secret pain, your secret struggles, your secret temptations, your secret fears, the pressures you've gone through, the loneliness you've walked through. But God sees it all; and in eternity, we will be surprised that He will ascribe to people that we would never have thought of, immense glory, because of the kind of life they lived before Him.

As you understand then, all of this teaching, suddenly you've set your eyes on eternity. Eternity is real, the rewards are real; and everything I'm doing now is either preparing me for it, or disqualifying me from it - and it's got nothing to do with what anyone else is doing. It's got totally to do with my decision to live a life with Jesus at the centre, and I honour Him.

These rewards that He promises - they begin in the millennial reign of Christ, the 1000 years when He rules on the earth literally, and they go on for eternity. So when you come to the point where the kingdom starts, whatever He decides regarding you is irreversible, and unchangeable. You are what you are, and you have qualified or disqualified; or qualified to a certain level, or whatever. So that gives incentive for all of us to be faithful, and productive, and do the very best with what we have.

"Whatever you do, do it from the heart unto the Lord, not with eye services pleasing men, knowing this: that God is preparing you for a reward."

So we just finish then on the last section that I want to look at, which is the Wise and the Foolish Builders. So Jesus' conclusion in the Sermon of the Mount - His famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:6-7, in the context of this. Jesus concluded at the end of it, in Matthew 7:21...

"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father. Many will say to Me, in that day: Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesied in Your name? We cast out demons in Your name. We did many wonders in Your name, and I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I liken him to a wise man who builds his house on the rock: the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on the house. It didn't fall, it was founded on a rock.

Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and doesn't do them, is like the foolish man built his house on sand; the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, beat the house and it fell down. It was a great fall."

So firstly, the context of the teaching - this is the Sermon on the Mount. He's teaching the heart required to operate in the kingdom. He's teaching the core heart values, and lifestyle, of the kingdom. He's teaching about the heart of the kingdom.

So all of His teaching there, in the beatitudes, are about the kind of heart you cultivate: a hungry heart, a humble heart, a meek heart, a pure heart... Then at the end of the sermon, He finishes it off, and He starts to talk about the coming millennial kingdom.

So part of God's kingdom is present with us now. In the millennium all of it will come in its fullness, and in great power, that will be irresistible. So now, He's talking about the entrance. Notice what He said, He uses these words:

"On that day, many will say". So when the Bible uses the term 'that day', it's referring to the second coming of the Lord to establish His kingdom. It's also called 'the Day of the Lord'. It's also called 'the Great and Terrible Day' - it's great for some; and terrible for others.

The Day of the Lord is a period of time, not just a 24-hour day. So when it says 'that day', it's talking about the coming of the Lord; and it refers to the period of time just before the millennial reign of Christ, when He'll shake the nations, and then His kingdom will manifest.

Notice what Jesus warned His disciples: He said 'many'!

"Not everyone who says: Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom, he who does the will of my Father."

What He's saying is: there's something required of you; and not everyone who does things in the church is going to qualify. He said: many will say, in that day... many, many... "Whoa! We did miracles! We prophesied, cast out demons! He's saying: no, you don't qualify. I'll tell you why they didn't qualify, in a moment.

Notice then, that we're all builders, of some kind of house. Every one of us is a builder. The word 'son', and the word 'daughter', both come from the root 'to build the Father's house'. So whenever God calls us 'sons and daughters', He's saying: we are builders.

The first house you build is your own life - your character, your heart. You are responsible for your heart attitudes, your heart values, for your character, and the development of your life. No one can do it for you.

We are builders of marriage. Marriages have to be built, families have to be built, finances have to be built, business has to be built, churches built. Nothing just happens. Ministries are built.

Jesus says then, the wise man and the foolish man - which are you? Both were building; and both of them, on the exterior, looked similar. They had similar materials, but it was the foundation was different. The exterior is what you can see; and the foundation is what you can't see - it's only seen by God. God looks at your heart. You may look successful, but He sees what it really is all made of.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, Jesus (the Lord) said to Samuel: don't look at the appearance, or the physical stature, for I have refused him. The Lord doesn't see like man sees - Man looks on the outward appearance; but God looks on the heart. God always looks on the heart.

No matter what you've built with your life, it's your heart God is interested in. So your exterior success is not nearly as important to God as what motivated it; or what was in your heart, as you did it.

Notice He says then: the storms come upon the wise man, and the foolish man - so no one is exempt from the storms. He said: the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on the house. Rain refers to divinely initiated storms. Rain comes from heaven. The rain that comes means that God initiates a storm, that uncovers what's going on in your life. So some storms come from God, and they expose what our life is like.

Now He says: floods came. Floods often refer to the actions of ungodly people. So some things that come against us - unkind, unloving, and often very hurtful mistreatment by people - they're the floods.

The winds refer to spirits - the pressure of demonic spirits. So we can have storms come into our life that can come from God. They can come from people's behaviour towards us, bad treatment of us; or they can come from demonic spirits directly. But the storms will reveal what the foundation of your life is like, what you're built on.

Storms will come now, currently in life, and they're to grow you. But at the end, every storm is to expose the condition of your heart, to give you opportunity to change. At the end, He's saying that in the coming of the Lord, God's going to uncover the whole deal - what you really built.

Who is the wise man? The wise man built his house on the rock; but the foolish man built his house on the sand - what does that mean? Fortunately, Jesus explained exactly what it means to build your house on the rock. Now the Bible tells us in more than one place, that God is a rock.

Psalm 18:31 - "Who is a God, except the Lord? Who is a rock, except our God?"

In 1 Corinthians 10:4, it says: "the rock is Christ".

When it's using rock - it's something that's stable, that can stand up to storms, because it's eternal in value. But Jesus actually in the passage says exactly what it means. Here's what He says:

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I'll liken them to the wise man who built his house on the rock."

We're not talking about everything Jesus is saying, although it can apply to that. He's saying: whoever hears these sayings of Mine. He's just concluding His Sermon on the Mount, so when He says "these sayings of Mine", it's referring to what He's just taught, which is about the heart values of the kingdom.

He said: whoever hears these heart values of the kingdom - what I require, to establish and build My kingdom - whoever hears, and puts those into his life, and applies them - that man is the stable man. That's the man who'll stand the test of storms.

The teaching He's referring to are the core heart values of the kingdom. In other words, there is a need for a transformed heart.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

If you want to receive from God expansion to your life, and your influence, develop the quality of meekness. Put focus on developing a meek heart. If you want to be lifted up, and given greater promotion, God says: develop a humble heart - humble yourself, and He will lift you up.

There's all kinds of things through the teachings there, that are heart issues; so in other words,in the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, you find constant reference to the motivation; not just What people did, but the Why they did it.

I'll give you a few examples of it that come up in there, and then we'll finish. For example, in Matthew 5:46 - "If you love those who love you, what reward have you? Even the sinners will do that."

Notice he said: if you love those who love you; so basically, you're doing a payback. They gave to you, and you don't want to be indebted to them, so you're paying them back. He said: if that's all you do, there's no reward! There's no eternal reward in that.

In Luke 6:35, he says the same thing. He said: "if you love your enemies, and do good, and lend, and hope for nothing in return, your reward will be great." Your reward will be great! In other words, he's saying that giving, and kindness, that has no personal agenda will be rewarded by God, because it carries the heart of the kingdom. It carries the heart of the King! It represents the King!

He talks the same thing about giving - "take heed you don't do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen of them, otherwise you have no reward, of your Father in heaven."

Notice here: gave money to the poor. Was that good? Was it bad? I don't know - why did they do it? If we do it so people will notice, and say: man, that's great - then you've already got your reward. But if we give, and we don't announce what we've done, if we don't try to get approval from people - we just secretly give, as God directs us, as God leads us, and guides us... He said: I see it! I will reward you!

Remember, you can't have the reward both ways. If you try to get it by impressing people, you can't have it from God. If you want it from God, then don't worry about impressing people. Unfortunately, what happens is that we do things, and we serve, and we give - and often it's overlooked. It's not even noticed - and that tests out whether you are doing it for the Lord; or are you doing it to have someone acknowledging you; someone that's saying: oh, you're great, you're wonderful. And always, it will be withheld. Always, if that's what you're looking for, you'll never get enough; and eventually you get offended - and that's what happens to many people. They get offended, because of what they were looking for - they were not giving, they were not loving - they were trading! Trading means: I give you this, but I expect something in return. So they gave something, but they wanted something in return - they just never said When it didn't come - they got upset!

It's the same for praying. "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who like to pray, and stand in the streets to be seen by men." Notice that the motivation here is to be seen by men, rather than be seen by God.

When we come into the age of the kingdom, we're going to be amazed at people who are honoured by God. They were praying, and giving, and doing things... we never saw them. They never had a position in the church. No one ever noticed them, everyone just walked past them; but they quietly got on with serving God, and doing what they were called to do - and God noticed.

He refers to it too again, in the motivation for fasting. "When you're fasting, don't be like the hypocrites, who put on a sad face and announce everything; but rather, do it secretly, that your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Notice then, that the whole issue here of the foundation, is the motivation for what we do. The motivation flows through, like a river, everything you do. If there's love, generosity, humility, kindness - the characteristics of the kingdom, then it touches everything you do, and it brings God's favour on it.

When you work hard, give, and serve, but always you're looking for something, and trying to get something in return - somehow it never cuts it. It never seems to get a return. It's like, what is wrong? I've done everything. Why is nothing happening? And we haven't seen it's a heart issue.

Then he continues... and who's the foolish man? Well, he didn't align his heart with God. He didn't let his heart be transformed; and so his works were all built with people in mind. So Jesus laid it out very, very clearly.

He said: "many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, did many wonders in Your name." So notice there is prophecy, miracles, and deliverance \- but what was missing? What was missing was the heart motivation.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1-2, Paul says: "if you prophesy, and know all these things, but there's no love, it is like empty and clangy, it profits nothing." What he's saying then is: many are like that! Many use God's gifts, God's grace, and God's resources to impress people, and gain recognition; and he said: all of that will count for nothing!

Then He says: what's going on?

1) I never knew you;

2) You practice lawlessness.

What does he mean by that? He means these things: First, I never knew you. He means they lacked real intimacy with Jesus, and heart transformation. Relationship with Jesus is designed to bring progressive change in our heart. The more we're loved, the more loving we become. The more He touches us, the more we want to touch and bless people.

When He says: "I never knew you", the word 'knew' is the word used to describe the intimacy of a husband and a wife - it's a very deep intimacy. The first priority we have is an intimate relationship with Jesus - to know Him. It's like a life-long journey, deepening my connection to Him, bringing the little things in my life to Him, having it invade the little parts of my life. And it results in heart transformation.

God is looking for people who want to know Him, and want to find what He wants; so you can either live your life pleasing everyone, doing what everyone else wants - oh you're a great person, doing this, doing that - but the key question is: did you do what God designed you to do; or did you fit someone else's plan? It really will always come down to that and so the first reason they were rejected was because of a deep lack of ongoing intimacy that led to transformation of their heart.

Jesus in contrast, in John 17:4 said - "I have brought honour to You, I finished the work You gave me to do and I manifested Your name or revealed Your heart." We see it all in there.

The second thing he says is: "you're workers of iniquity". That word means: to be distorted from God's original intention or plan. Probably, it means: to promote yourself. What He's saying is: you never made Me your first priority, and grew in the knowledge of Me, and had a transformation of heart, so you become like Me. What you did instead was: you promoted yourself, and used the gifts for your benefit, and for your advancement.

You can see then, that the labours had no eternal value, because of what motivated them. Their heart remained; and He said: great will be the fall. The key challenge then is, as we just go through it very simply, just an overview...

1) Eternal rewards are real. God is a rewarder; and people throughout the Bible have been motivated by that hope.

2) God's eternal rewards are rewards that go into the millennium. They start at the millennium, go into the millennium, and right through to eternity. They're given at Jesus' coming, and Jesus taught it directly - that He would reward people at His coming. He also taught it in His parables indirectly. John saw it in His teaching, in His revelation, in the Book of Revelation.

3) God is going to evaluate each one of us. Every person will give an account of themselves; and what we'll give account of ourselves for, is how. What sort of work we've done, and what was the motivation in it. He will check all of our work - what sort, or what value, there was in the work.

If it's motivated by love, and the desire to honour God, and love people, then it's work that lasts the fire. If it's motivated by self-promotion, and self-interest, then it won't last.

4) We saw then that rewards are at stake, and the rewards involve increasing intimacy with Jesus. It involves authority and responsibility in His kingdom. It involved realms of glory in our resurrection body.

5) Finally, we can choose to be a wise, or a foolish, builder. The wise builder understands that the teachings of Jesus, in Matthew 5:6-7 (the Sermon on the Mount), are designed to show us the heart characteristics of the kingdom that will cause a stable life, that will be rewarded.

We saw also when Jesus spoke, that at the Day of the Lord there will be a massive shaking that will uncover everything that people have built. God will see to it that everything we've done will be brought to the light.

The wise one will have built his life on a revelation of Jesus Christ and obedience to Him. The foolish man will have heard all of this stuff, but there's been no transformation, no change. He basically still does his own thing. The key thing is: he that does the will of My Father.

Doing the will of My Father - first thing, is His desire for intimacy; and second, His desire for us to change; and thirdly, His desire to discover and fulfil our assignment.

So there it is: kingdom rewards - the introduction to it. I've just started you off, and once you start, you see it's a huge thing in the Bible. There's many topics that we could just branch out from, in all of these areas.

We can go into the area of the Day of the Lord.

We can go into the area of the second coming.

We can go in to look at the area of: what are the rewards?

The different rewards of the...

\- Wedding feast

\- Ruling and reigning with Christ

\- Different realms of glory

\- Different resurrections.

We could go on to look at some of the things around...

\- The motivation.

\- How do you become intimate?

\- How do you become faithful?

\- How do you qualify

...all of those areas, and that's the theme around eternal rewards.

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_07-06-2020_am.htm#notes) Back to Top »

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 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 Aquire, 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  
1Co 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  
* 1Co 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  
* 1Co 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.  
* he issue at stake is: Rewards or Losses that Jesus distributes for our labors 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?  
* 1Co 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?  
Luk 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   
.  
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

# Key Principles Related to Eternal Rewards (2 of 6)

## Sat 13 Jun 2020 « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to give account for our stewardship as followers of Christ. At stake are position, honor and reward in the coming Kingdom of Christ. This message is an introduction to the Bible Foundations of Eternal Rewards
Introduction

We're looking at our series called Eternal Rewards. Eternal Rewards is the name of the series, and this is Session 2, on: Key Principles Related to Eternal Rewards. We'll find in the series as we go through it, that we'll undoubtedly overlap, and there's no problem overlapping, because what happens is you then you're reminded of them... reminded of them... reminded of them... and then gradually it just gets into your spirit. So here we are, ready to go!

Main Message

So first of all, I'm going to give you a number of principles. Here's #1, and this one we've touched before, but we're going to go back to it again.

The first one is: we must all give account of our works to God. All of us must give account of our works. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and here's the first point under that: every believer must stand before the judgement seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - "We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so every one may be recompensed for his deeds in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

Now this is not the great white throne judgement that takes place at the very end of the millennium. This is a judgement for believers - and it's not a judgement for punishment. It's a judgement for rewarding us for faithful service. So as we have served the Lord, and walked with Him, He is looking for the opportunity to acknowledge our love for Him, and acknowledge our walk with Him, and this is a great incentive for us.

It means whatever we do, whatever we put our hand to, God is watching all of it; and He has in mind, has in view, that He can acknowledge it in a much greater way in the coming kingdom. So notice that scripture says: we must all appear - so that's every person; and everyone gives account. There's no one who doesn't give an account.

Sometimes we'll get discouraged. We see people do things, and we see people treat us badly, and it's even more miserable when it's Christians that treat us badly, but we have to understand that God is watching every action. He watches their actions against you. He watches your response; and every response, every action that we take, God takes notice of. So Jesus will evaluate our life, based upon what we have done.

Notice, He said: He will recompense us for the deeds in the body, whatever he has done, whether good or bad. And the word there for 'done' is a particular word 'prassa', meaning to practice, or perform repeatedly, or habitually. It means to practice, continually practice, or perform repeatedly, or make a habit of it. So you notice then what He's looking for are the things which become a habit; not just the random: "hey, I blew it this time". Those kinds of things really are not important. It's the trend of where our life is going, is what counts - whether the trend is moving in a certain direction. The fact there's ups and downs are not a problem to Jesus. It's where the trend of our life is, what we have practiced, or what we have done habitually. So if you judge people constantly, then that's something that turns up in your life as someone - you've actually been a person who's judgemental. That will be taken into account.

So the second thing we saw, as we looked last time, in the scripture in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, is that, at the Judgement Seat, all our works are tested - so there's a Fiery Test!

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 - "No man can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident, or become manifest, for the day will reveal it, or expose it or uncover it. It shall be revealed by fire, the fire will test the quality, what sort of work each man does. If any man's work is built on remains he will receive a reward; any man's work is burnt up, he will suffer loss; even though he will be saved, yet so as by fire."

We touched on this scripture last week. The first thing we see in this again, is that Jesus Christ forms the foundation of what our life is about - what we do. He said it's like building a house. You lay a foundation, and then you build on the foundation. So the foundation that's laid... we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We have a faith in Him; and the goal of our covenant with Him, is that we would walk with Him in ever increasing unity in life, and outwork His plan. That is, our lives would reflect what He's like, and we'd do what He calls us to do. So therefore, that determines then, how our works are evaluated.

So they're evaluated! Did we build our kingdom, or did we build His? Did we do our own thing, and use the things of God to help us get ahead; or do we actually genuinely and authentically, because we love Him, desire to do something?

So he says that there are different types of materials that you can use - temporal and eternal; and it says: "the Lord will try every man's work" - what sort it is. The word 'try' means literally, "to put it to the test, to see its quality" - like on a manufacturing line, they'll take a sample out, and they'll test it. Now they're not testing it to destroy it. They're testing it to see whether it meets the manufacturer's requirements, so it can go on to then be sold. So in this situation, He says: He will try our works, or look at the quality of what we have done.

So we can fool people, but we can't fool what God sees. God sees!

Hebrews 4:13 - "There is no creature, or no person, hidden from His sight; but everything is naked and open to the eyes of Him, before whom we give account."

So everything - God sees everything! He doesn't just see what you do, He even sees why you're doing it, and what you're thinking as you do it. All of it is open before Him, which is quite extraordinary, isn't it? Then that causes you to start to rethink then - actually, my life is under observation all the time. It is a motivation then to challenge our thoughts, challenge why we're doing things, and so on. It says: "the fire will test the quality of every man's sort".

Here's another scripture in 1 Corinthians 4:5 - "Don't judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels (or motivations) of people's hearts."

That's when people will receive praise from God - 1 Corinthians 4:5. So He says: when we look at what people do, and how they behave, we really don't know what's going on. You don't know why they do what they do. You don't know what's going on in their heart. Sometimes actions which hurt us are not intentional at all. They may come from a person who's just got something else going on in their life. But the Bible says that when the Lord comes, He will bring out to light everything that's hidden, even the motivations of the heart. So people who have got away with a lot of stuff - you can't get away with it before Him. He sees it all!

He sees why we did it; sees if there was a hidden agenda, a hidden motive, or so on. So notice then, the quality of what we're doing is based on our heart - which is why it is important to have heart healing and heart development. Everything flows from the heart. Jesus' interest and focus was on the heart. The Bible says: "out of the heart, flow the boundaries (or borders) of our life".

So what God will be looking for is: is there a love for Jesus burning in our life? Are we on fire for the Lord, and do we love Him? Has the Holy Spirit inspired us; or have we been willing to surrender our works to the Lord, so we're doing the things He calls us to do? So the works could be burned up; and the ones who are 'burned up' are self-centred. There's pride, there's ambition, there's self-promotion - and you see heaps of that around, with so many people.

They may look good now; but will they look so good when He comes, when He puts the light on it? You will see that most of what was done - it looked great before men; but from God's eyes, He sees actually it was done out of pride, and self-promotion. It's all about them! So our works can be burned up, if they're motivated by pride, and self-ambition, and promotion; but our works can also pass the test, and then we receive reward. Our works pass the test if He looks into our heart and sees: actually, there's a motivation of love, genuine love; not trying to get something back, is what motivates us - and whether we've been responsive, and obedient, to what the Holy Spirit said to do.

So you can be busy doing a whole heap of things, but they may not be what God called you to do. They're all just your own stuff. He can tell the difference between the two! That's why He calls us, really \- #1, to have a love for the Lord, and love for people; and #2, to be surrendered to what He wants us to do.

So that means, it's not whether it's a good idea or a bad idea - it's whether: is God directing me that way? In another place it says: those who are led by the Holy Spirit in their choices, decisions and actions - they are the 'sons of God'. So ultimately, if our works pass, they determine then, our Eternal Rewards.

So notice He said: "if any man's work abide, he'll receive reward; any man's work burned up he'll suffer loss, even though he's saved. So notice: reward; or loss - and that's what this whole thing of eternal rewards is about. It's about our activities now, and how we show up when God looks at them. I've found that as I've gone through this study, it just has caused me so much more to sharpen again, my own thinking about my life, and so on.

So here's the second main point then... Rewards are given, according to Works. Rewards are given, according to our Works. I touched on this last week and I'm going to put a bit more in on it this time, because I think it's really important that we don't get caught out \- struggling to perform, and striving to do this, and do that; but that we actually see what God is looking at. Perhaps in another teaching session I'll share how God evaluates what we do. That's very powerful! There's a lot of things that I've just started to see around, related to that. I knew of three, but now I've found a lot more.

So first of all: rewards are given, according to our works. Some Christians don't understand that; and others react to it. But nevertheless, Jesus used that word. Jesus Himself, used the word 'reward'.

He said in Matthew 16:27 - "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, He will reward each one according to his works."

So Jesus talks about reward.

We saw this scripture last week too: Revelations 22:12 - "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according to his works."

Luke 6:35 - "Love your enemies, do good, not trying to get something back. Your reward will be great."

So reward is: something you receive, because you've done something right, or done something good, or done something. Rewards really though, are an evidence that God is really kind - because what He rewards us with, is bigger than what we did - far bigger! It's like... there's no comparison!

Second thing: we're rewarded for the acts we do in this season in our life - acts that are right. We're rewarded for acts of righteousness.

Revelations 19:8 - "Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to Him, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. To her it was granted she would be arrayed in fine linen, for the fine linen are the righteous acts of the saints."

Notice then, you start to see that, in the coming kingdom, what you have done in this life will be visible to people. In other words, even if you did it, and no one saw it - in the coming age, and for all eternity - everyone will see it!

1 Corinthians 3 - "everyone will receive reward according to his own labour" - so what are the works that are involved? The works mean: our actions, the things we did. They involve: things we said. Our works involve: our attitudes; and then, how we spent time and money; what we did with our wife, our family, those near to us; how we handle our relationships - all of those things are included.

In the Book of James, he says that: "if we have no works, then our faith is considered to be dead". So in James 2:17 - faith, by itself, if there's no works, is dead! So the Bible is very strong on this - we are saved by faith in the work of Jesus Christ; but we qualify for rewards by demonstrating our faith is genuine - we actually live out our life. In other words, he's saying: if your faith is genuine, then it should show a changed life. It should show in what you do; the way you treat people, what you do with your life - your priorities all should show.

In Titus 3:8 he said: "this is a faithful saying: I want to affirm that those who have believed in God, should be careful to maintain good works, which are good and profitable to men." Notice he said - he's exhorting us: now that you're saved, don't just sit back and just do whatever you want. He said: be careful to maintain good works.

Also in the Book of Titus, in 3:14 - "let our people so learn to maintain good works, to meet needs, so they may not be unfruitful." He's saying: you just need to make it a priority to be proactive for the kingdom; and you'll see that lots of Christians aren't, but this is contrary to what God says.

Titus 2:14 - "God has redeemed to Himself a people who will be zealous for good works."

God's plan means that not just we get saved, but now we join with Him in becoming passionate, in what He's passionate about - which is people, and changing society, making things different and better. Our faith reveals then, our works. So if you look at our life, you'll see clearly: something mobilised us, and motivated us; and it's these teachings on the kingdom.

Our works include even small things. Sometimes we think works are the big things - going and planting a church, doing some big preaching, something like that; but actually, the works are usually small things.

Hebrews 6:10 - "God is not unjust (or unrighteous) to forget your work, and labour of love that you did in His name, in that you ministered to the saints, and do minister."

God is not unrighteous - it would be wrong for Him to not acknowledge, or reward, what we do. When you look, and see so many slack Christians or believers around, it can be very discouraging. But when you have this truth in you, you know that actually, God is not unrighteous - He sees what we do. He will reward those who do; and there'll be loss for those who don't.

So as you start to look around the church, you see: oh my goodness, people are asleep! People have got wrong motives, they're not understanding! There's a lot for them at stake - eternity, for them, is at stake! So most of our faithfulness is manifested in very little decisions. Most of our decisions are very little. Most of our actions are very little; and our works include all the little things: kind words, a small attitude change, a little act of service.

You helped someone; you did this, you did that. You turned up, when you didn't feel like turning up; giving something, to help someone. It's all the little things! No, it's not the big things, it's lots of little things. What did you do; and why did you do it?

In Luke 21, Jesus looked up, and He saw the rich man putting big gifts into the treasure; and He also saw a certain poor widow, putting in just two mites. And He looked - in other words, He saw it all - saw what she did; and He said: "this poor widow gave more than everyone".

You'll see that, when we touch on how God evaluates. He evaluates partly, not just on what we do, but: what did that represent in your life. So He said here, you've got all these big shots, and they're all putting in a lot of money; but actually, there's this little woman, and for her, what she gave was her very life itself.

He said: I notice that she gave more than everyone! So notice then, God's measuring, is different to our measuring. We tend to measure: there's $1000; and there's $10. We think: oh man, that's great; and oh man, that sucks - it's just the way we think; but God looks at it in relationship to: what did that mean to you? So for the $1000, perhaps he made a million - so for him, this is nothing. For the woman who gave $10, perhaps that's all she had left over - she can't buy something now. You understand? So there's more in this, than just the action you do. It's what it means in your life. That's why, if it's not a sacrifice for us, it doesn't mean much to God either.

So God is attentive to every little thing. He watches; every little deed is seen by God; and no matter how unnoticed people have been.

Matthew 10:42 - "whoever gives just a cup of cold water to this little one in my name shall by no means lose their reward". A little cup of cold water - now that's so little! But God says: I watch all of that, and if I see that it's done out of love for people, and a love for Me - He said: I will reward that.

When you hear this sort of teaching, you realise how Just God is. I think it's a thing that people struggle with, is injustice - it doesn't seem fair, I've done all this, and I haven't done any of that; but actually, you're just looking too close - you're not looking at the long picture!

When you get the long picture, and you come to the Judgement Seat of Christ, you think: oh wow! Did I get all of that, just for that little thing? Man, you're so generous! You're so kind! God will see all of those things.

Our works also include the secret intentions of our heart. God sees *why* you do what you do. We saw that in 1 Corinthians 4:5 - "don't judge anything before the time, the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and the motivations of the heart." And we saw last week in Matthew 7:22 - "many will say in that day: Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy, and cast out demons, and did many wonders in Your name? And He said: 'I never knew you'" - There's been no intimacy, and you practice lawlessness. You actually do your own thing, your own way, to promote yourself.

Then finally, our words will be evaluated, because our words reveal our heart. In Luke 6:45 - "a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things". So out of the abundance of the heart, you speak. Your words can bless people. Your words can hurt people. Your words can bring life; your words can bring death - so all of our words are noticed.

Matthew 12:36 - by your words you'll be justified. "By your words you'll be judged, for every idle word men speak, they'll give account of it, in the day of judgement." Every idle word, every unprofitable word. Think of how people talk, and chitter-chatter, and gossip, and complain, and run people down - God is hearing every conversation! The words are all registering, and carry weight to bless; or they bring about loss.

Here's another principle then, related to eternal rewards - all of our words are written in God's books. I don't know whether they're literal books, or books of some kind, but it's very clear from the scriptures, that God keeps a written record of everything! There's nothing like when you turn up and see a written record - there it is! I don't know whether we'll see a book - I think it'll all happen in a moment of time. In a moment of time, you'll see all of your life; everything you did, why you did, it and the effect it had - just like that! So when it's talking about a book, I don't think it's a book that we open up, and go from page to page - I think there's more to it than that.

So the first thing then is: the works of people are important, and they have a lasting impact. Psalm 139:16 - "Your eyes saw my substance, being unformed. And in Your book was written all the days You prepared for me, when there wasn't even one of them."

So God obviously has a book; and in the book, He writes out every day of your life. So you're not going to die before your time. You're going to die in time, and God has planned every day for your life - He keeps a record of every day.

In Daniel 7:10, he talks about the coming of the Lord, and he says: "the court was seated, and the books were opened". So now, there's not just a book, there's books. So clearly, books, or records, are kept of our actions, and words in our life; and our motivation.

Revelations 20:12, he said: "I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened." There it is again \- books, more than one book; and it says: "...another book was opened, called the Book of Life, and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things written in the books."

In other words, God keeps a record, which is really good - and even our conversations are recorded. That's the bit that's just... whoa!

Malachi 3:16 - "those who feared the Lord spoke to one another; and the Lord listened, and heard them. So a Book of Remembrance was written before Him, for those who fear the Lord and meditate on His name."

How about that! There's lots of books: the 'Book of Life'; and now there's another book called the 'Book of Remembrance'! It says: "every idle word that a man speaks, he gives account of"! Wow! In other words, God keeps a track on our conversations.

Now we'll get to the next point. The next main point is: our works follow us for eternity. This is something that has been a little new to me, as I've gone into it and studied it. Our works follow us, for all eternity! Number one, we'll be known by our works. We will be known by our works.

Revelation 14:13 - "I heard a voice from heaven saying, write: blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours - and their works follow them." Their works follow them, Revelation 14:13. So for all eternity, we'll be known by how we lived in these 80 years. Our works will 'follow us'.

That word 'follow' means: 'to accompany you on the journey' - so your works follow you. For all eternity, we'll be known for: the passion we had for the Lord, and the purity of our motives; or whether we did our own thing, and built our own empire - it will be known forever! It's not like, you get to heaven, and everyone's equal; everyone's the same; and no one knows what went on, it's all covered or concealed... Nope!

Notice here, he's talking about people who have loved the Lord; so it's the positive aspect that is being remembered - those actions and activities that earn acknowledgement by Jesus - those are the ones that we will be seen to have done. The failures, the mistakes... none of that will be visible, or seen. It's actually the way Jesus has seen, and evaluated our life, and chosen to honour us.

Imagine that! Imagine passing into eternity, facing judgement, and the Lord brings back to memory all the little things you did all through your life - and those things accompany you. It's not that your works can come from heaven to earth; or from earth to heaven. No, what'll happen is: the honour of them, is going to be carried in your life, and will be recognisable to people - it's the only way we can interpret that, I think.

He talks about us having 'wedding garments'. Revelations 19:7 - "Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready - and to her was granted she'll be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen are the righteous acts of the saints."

Notice it says that in the glory of the coming kingdom, we will be 'clothed with white garments'; but the nature of the garments reflect the acts that we have done, which have served God. Any works that were not consumed by fire at the judgement time; that survived the fire, because they were operating out of love, and out of being led by the Holy Spirit, then they will form the foundation of our clothing - for eternity! Wow!

Such a short time that we have, so you want to be busy... don't you? Our clothing will reveal to everyone how we lived our life on earth. When people look at your clothing in eternity, they will know you've maintained the First Love for Jesus. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you kept your first love. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you did many things, that were motivated by love, to bring honour to Him. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you were a person who was walking with God.

Now that's a great encouragement! A great encouragement, to see that it's not just now, and it'll all pass away... that we'll just forget all about it. No, God has a way of dressing us, and clothing us in glory, which will reflect the measure of what we were like, and what we did on the earth.

Jesus' warning then, in Revelations 16 and 15, He says - "behold, I am coming like a thief (or I'm coming secretly)! Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

Jesus warned us; and frequently talks about watching and praying... watching and praying... watching and praying... Watching and praying that: you don't fall to temptation; watching and praying that: you're ready for His coming; watch and pray, overcome temptation... all these things.

It says: 'watch and pray', and: "keep your garments, lest you walk naked, and they see your shame". They - that must be: other believers. Notice that He's sayingL we must be careful to keep our lives passionate, or 'on fire' for the Lord; and not become complacent and apathetic, or passive and shut down - or 'lukewarm'. Otherwise, it will be revealed to all.

So if you were a believer who came to Christ, and started out good; but then slowly slacked off, and ended up pretty slack, then it will be obvious that you have no clothing that would bring honour to you.

He says the same thing again, in 1 John 2:28. It says: "Now little children, abide in Him (maintain intimate connection with Jesus), so when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming and shrink away from Him at the shame of His coming."

It's another version of it! So what it's saying is: when the Lord comes, you want to be bold and confident, because of how you lived your life; and not: oh my God, I've been caught out, and embarrassed - that now you're in a bad state.

It says: "He will come at a time when no one knows" - so you've no idea when the coming of the Lord is. When He comes, you want to be passionate - on fire, full of the Holy Ghost, and doing good things for the Lord! It doesn't mean we won't have our ups and downs. Remember, it's the practice; it's the trend of where our life is going.

The next main point then, is: these rewards are Eternal. They're irreversible; and they never diminish. They're Eternal, they're Irreversible - and they will never diminish! So firstly, the rewards are Eternal - they're called Eternal Rewards.

It's called Eternal Judgement, in Hebrews 6:2 - an Eternal Judgement. That means: once it's made, it's made - it's for eternity. There's no reversing the decision. Once you arrive at that point, there's no turning back. There's no: 'give me a bit longer'. There's no second chance! At the judgement seat of Christ, whatever reward we get, is ours for eternity - and our rewards determine the way we spend eternity!

There's quite a lot on all of these things, and we'll just give you enough today; and in another session, I'll go into more detail on what the rewards would look like. What it is, that would cause you to say: man, I want to live passionately for Jesus.

Second thing is: the rewards are irreversible. In other words, you can't change what the judgement is. You can't just... hey, wait a minute, let's have another go at this... You can't reverse it! If our works are burned, and we suffer loss, there's no way to reverse it! You can't reverse it!

You get to the point - you're called to account, and it's going to be eternal. You can't change it, you can't reverse it; and if we're disqualified from ruling with Christ, and being near to Him in eternity, there's no way you can reverse it. It's fixed for eternity, and you can't change that!

When we look at more detail on the prizes, you realise that the prizes are out of proportion to anything we do, because of the generosity of God. If God is so loving, that He gave His only Son, then how much more will He reward us, who serve God - who serve Him Faithfully?

Here's the third thing then: the rewards will never diminish! They never diminish! They can never be taken away, once you've got them. There's three or four scriptures on that.

Matthew 6:20 - "lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth nor rust destroy, does not corrupt, and where thieves can't break in and steal." In other words, whatever treasure you have in heaven can't be stolen, can't be taken away. The Bible talks about crowns, people being rewarded with crowns - and the crowns are imperishable. They don't fade away.

1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul writes about 'running the race' and 'run to obtain'. He says: in the natural world people do everything in order to get a crown, to get an award; and he says: that's a perishable one! Now ours is an imperishable one - in other words, it can never fade, never run away. Heavenly rewards are eternal and they're imperishable. They never go, they never perish, they never diminish.

Let's have a look at the next key principle then. We find that Jesus Himself was motivated by rewards; and He also motivated other believers. There is a lot on that, so I'll just pick up a couple of things, because we touched on that last week...

Jesus was empowered to live His life, because of what He saw ahead. He was motivated by an eternal reward. A temporary reward would be: what do people think of me now; how well am I living now; what income have I got now; what house do I live in now. An eternal reward is something completely different. It's not temporary, it's eternal - and He was motivated by that.

We find in Hebrews 12:2, Jesus endured the shame of the cross, and it says: "...for the joy set before Him". 'Set before' means: 'to lie in front of you' - as a reward! To be constantly in your mind! So Jesus, in facing the cross - with all its shame, and the pain, and the difficulty, and the rejection of people... all those things, it says: "He endured it, because of the joy that was positioned, or set before Him" - the opportunity to receive reward in the coming kingdom. It was the joy of what He saw ahead - and that's how we need to live our life.

If you've got no vision of what lies ahead, then you've got no motivation for being sacrificial. People look, and they say: oh man \- you do this, and you've given up this, and you've given that.... No, no, no, we see something else here - and we're paying a price for that! We're making an investment... of our lives! If you don't see what is set before you, then you've got really little motivation to keep going.

So understanding this issue of eternal rewards... then you realise: well actually, I'm willing to let Jesus transform my heart. I'm willing to bring out the broken places, the hurt places. I'm willing to humble myself, and let Him bring healing. I'm willing to work on my heart attitudes. Why? Because of something that lies ahead for me!

So Jesus apparently gave... I read somewhere that He gave 50 references to Eternal Rewards - so it's a big, big thing! There are many things that He taught about that - but He did teach His disciples, over, and over, and over again, about Eternal Rewards.

He called them to 'become great', called them to 'receive rewards', called them to 'become a ruler over much', to have 'authority over nations', to 'sit on thrones', and 'gain crowns'. He was constantly moving them with this prospect. His teaching on the 'Five Wise, and the Five Foolish Virgins' - it's all about entering into a 'marriage feast'; about 'eternal intimacy', and a 'close relationship', and a 'joy' with Jesus. He taught a parable about the man with the 'talents' - how he'd been faithful over little, but much is given to you. In Matthew 25, He said: I'll make you 'ruler over many things'. So constantly, He's moving His people, saying that; and of course the most important thing of all, is that we walk in love - that we love Him passionately, and love people.

If you think about it, everything you can see, you will leave behind. So what's left, that's really valuable? It's the things which you can't see - the things which are invisible - things of the kingdom!

The next thing then, is the eternal rewards are Glorious. It's kind of like... it's hard to describe them, so there are many pictures of it through the Bible, and I'll just give you a few things on it...

The first thing is that, the rewards that God has in mind, are beyond your imagination. They're beyond our imagination!

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 - "The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him."

In other words, he said: you've never seen it! No matter what you've seen, that's been magnificent - it's still small! You've never heard it spoken, and you haven't been able to even imagine the possibilities that God has ahead; he says, but the spirit reveals them to us.

So the Holy Spirit, as you hunger for more, will gradually, little by little, reveal more of the wonderful things God has prepared, for those who love Him. Notice it said: 'those who love him'. Also, "If you love Me, you'll keep My commandments"!

Here's another scripture. Paul is praying, in Ephesians 1:17-18. He says: he prayed that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, you might know what is the hope of His calling..." \- and here it is - "...what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints"..

So there's a Glorious Inheritance. The word 'riches' - it's abundant, magnificent. It's full of glory, and it's within us! It's the formation of Jesus' life, and what will become. It's spectacular!

The rewards God's planned... When you have a look at, say, Buckingham Palace; and you look at all the buildings - the detail, how ornate... and there's gold, and jewels, and all those things. When you look at the way that royalty carry themselves, the clothing, and everything that's there... Well, whatever God rewards us with, that's just only a little pale thing, compared to what He has. In 1 Peter 2:9, it says: "you're a chosen generation, a royal priesthood". 'Royal' means that you're descended from a king - you're part of a royal family. You're part of a royal family.

There are different examples in the Bible. You've got to look for different things, and pick out stories in the Bible, to get these kind of pictures, because... you just can't describe it with words - it's so magnificent!

For example, in Exodus 28:2 it says: "God appointed special garments for Aaron, the high priest", and He called this 'garments of beauty and glory'. So Aaron, who was the high priest, who had access to the presence of God - they made special garments for him, with gold and jewels - all kinds of things; so whenever you saw him, his garments were beautiful, and they covered him in glory. There was just... they shone; there was a magnificence about them; such that, the high priest wearing these beautiful garments, is a picture of us, in eternity.

A second picture of it that you can find is in the story of Jesus, on the Mount of Transfiguration; and it says this, in Matthew 17:2 - "His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light, or brighter white than anyone could make". So when Jesus was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration - as He was praying, the glory that was within Him, began to shine forth, and all His clothes changed. His countenance changed. He began to shine. The Bible says: "His countenance was like the sun, in all its magnificence". In other words, there's a glory that has been put into us. Christ has been put into you, and although it can't be seen yet, there is a day, when what God has been doing, will shine out of our lives.

In Matthew 13:43, it says: "the righteous (that's us) will shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father". So God has reserved rewards for us, and they're shown, in different ways.

Another place it shows up is in Solomon's temple; and you remember in the Kingdom age, when Solomon built his temple - it was magnificent! It was the most amazing, beautiful thing. It said: there was so much silver, they didn't bother to count it. They had gold everywhere. So you read in 1 Kings 10:4-13 - now remember this is just a picture - and it says here: "when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house he built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters, their clothing, the cupbearers, the way he went up to the house of the Lord, she fainted."

There was no more spirit in her; and she said: wow! It's a true report, that I heard in my own land, about your words and wisdom. I didn't believe it, so I came and saw it with my own eyes \- and half of it wasn't even told to me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of what I have heard. Happy are your men, and happy your servants, who stand before you, and hear your wisdom. Now Jesus is obviously much greater than Solomon, and yet this is what the Queen of Ethiopia said: Oh! I've seen kings, and I've seen glory... amazing things; but she said: I have never seen anything like this! This is absolutely stunning. So again, there's many pictures in the Bible of it.

Ok, we'll get to the last couple of key points now... There are different degrees of eternal rewards. There are different degrees of eternal rewards; and there are different types of eternal rewards.

Different degrees means: more; or less. So I'm going to go through, and just share with you some of the 'more or lesses', so you realise that there's no 'equal field'. The only equal field we have, is here on earth - when everyone can aspire to be great. That's the amazing thing - all of us have a call to greatness - all of us can be great!

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be great. It's wired into you, to be great. It's wired into you, to want honour. It's wired into you, to desire glory. It's just literally wired in - because you're made in the image of your Father. However, it's how you get it! So in the coming kingdom... the Bible, in many different ways, indicates that not everyone will be the same.

There will be some who are first; and some who are last. Some who are first - and first means: most important; and last means: least important.

Matthew 19:30 - "many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

There are degrees of eternal rewards. Some will be first in authority, and glory, and intimacy; others will be last. Some will be in the throne with Him, others will be watching and praising around the throne - there's a difference! There will be the least; and the greatest.

Revelations 19:5 - "...and a voice came from the throne, saying: praise God, all you His servants - those who fear Him, both small and great."

So there are some 'great' servants of God; and there are some 'small' servants of God. There's greatness, and smallness; so some will be small, some will be great.

Jesus taught in Matthew 5:19 - "In the kingdom of heaven, there are 'least', and there are 'great'. Whoever breaks the least of these commandments, and teaches men, shall be called 'least' in the kingdom. Whoever does, and teaches them, shall be called 'great' in the kingdom.

So notice that even Jesus said: some will be called 'great', and some will be called 'least'; and it has to do with whether you live out what you're saying. So what makes a person 'great', and what makes a person 'least', is actually their life choices. It's got nothing to do with your family of origin, your money, your job, your talents, your gifts... your anything! It has to do totally with: the life choices that you made. Did you make 'great' choices? Did you make 'bad' choices?

Here's another comparison that the Bible points out. Some will sit with Jesus, 'in' His throne room; others will just be saved, they'll be 'around' the throne. We saw in 1 Corinthians 3:15, it said there: "they will be saved, yet so as by fire they'll lose their reward. Yet others will sit with Jesus on His throne and rule the nations with a rod of iron."

Revelations 2:26-27 - "...to him that overcomes, will I give to sit with Me in My throne, and he shall 'rule the nations' with a 'rod of iron'.

Notice there, overcomers are 'ruling' with Jesus, in His throne - sharing His governance, in the coming kingdom; and then there's others, who barely scraped in! So who do you want to be - a 'barely scraped in'; or do you want to be in a position of great honour, great authority?

Here's another one: "...and some believers will shine like the sun, and others will not". In Resurrection Glory, there will be a difference. He uses this scripture, in 1 Corinthians 15:41-42 - "One star differs from another in glory, and so will it be in the resurrection."

Go out at night, and have a look at all the stars. Look at them: there's bright, shiny stars; and little ones, very faint ones - he uses that as an illustration. For example, there's one star there, the Pistol Star, which is 10 million times brighter than our sun! That's really big, it's mass is 100 times greater. Notice then, that it's very, very, very, very big; so just as the stars vary from one another, in their brilliance and their glory, so it will be in the resurrection.

The degree of honour, and glory, and majesty, that we have in the resurrection - that will be determined by the life we live now. It will be directly related to what you do, and what you overcome, in life. No two believers are going to be the same. Everyone, while you're in this life, have got an equal chance; but once you get to the gate... then you can't make any more decisions on that one!

Some believers will enter the wedding feast; some will not. We saw that in Matthew 25:10-13. Some go into a time of celebration and joy and intimacy with Jesus; some do not.

In another verse, Matthew 25:21 - some believers will be commended; some will not. Some will hear the Lord say: well done, you were faithful in a few things - I put you in charge of many; others will hear: you were 'wicked', and you were 'lazy' - and you can't be here!

Here's another one, in Luke 14:10 - some believers will receive 'great honour'; and some will not. "When you're invited in, go and sit in the lowest place; and when he who invited you comes, he can say: 'friend, go up higher'. Then you'll have glory in the presence of those at the table with you." So he's saying: just start off serving, and let God lift you up.

Some will be considered worthy; some will not. Some will attain the prize of a high calling; some will not. In the coming kingdom, there will be different responsibilities, and positions of authority. Everyone will have their own assignment.

Think about this... In the nation of New Zealand, how many cities are there? How many towns? There's many! All of those will require people in roles, and positions, to bring about reformation and transformation. There's going to be millions and millions and millions of roles to fill; and the role you fill will be determined by how you live on the earth now. Everyone has an opportunity! Everyone has the opportunity!

Matthew 20:26 - "If you desire to become great, become a servant. If you desire to be first, be the servant of everyone. Just like the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many."

Notice he's saying then, that what will make you 'great' in the coming kingdom, is: your heart attitude - a heart of humility, and meekness, and serving... and everyone can do that! Everyone is unlimited in their faithfulness - you determine the limit. If it's a gifting, like music; or gifting with business; or gifting with finance - if it's something like that, then we might feel: "oh man, that's not fair, I haven't got enough, and others have got more". But when it comes to the issue... it's just about your heart; and about your faithfulness - then everyone's in the running.

Finally there's different kinds of rewards, in the millennial kingdom. There are many! There's about 18, mentioned in the Book of Revelation; so rather than do a list of them, I felt I'll just touch on them in a bit more detail in another place, another time. Many of them are mentioned there; but perhaps the three most important ones, would be these:

1) Eternal Intimacy with Jesus - a deep intimate connection; and our level of intimacy, or connection to Him, and fellowship with Him, will be determined by our life here.

In Matthew 25, we saw the 'wise virgins' - some went into the feast; some didn't.

2) The second, and this one is a major one, that is spoken of, is: Eternal Authority. Of course, that also means: Eternal Responsibility, as well. Eternal Authority; and what that means is that, in the coming kingdom, God has responsibilities for us. Your life now, is just your preparatory service. Your real assignment comes in eternity - in the millennium! Whatever you're doing now - it's all about your preparation; so you can handle disappointments, you can handle the setbacks.

You invest in people... and they fail away, or they fall away. You can get very overwhelmed, and say: I don't see any results; or you can be doing it unto the Lord, and just maintain your joy, and your happiness, in spite of the disappointments. God is watching all of that; and the Eternal Authority, and Responsibility... it's out of proportion to anything we did!

In Luke 19:11-27, it talks about the wise servants - faithful over little; ruling over much. One was faithful over little - then ruled over 10 cities! Can you imagine being given responsibility for 10 cities - for their reformation and restoration; proper governance; reshaping the culture, the finances - that's a big responsibility! So obviously, there's various levels of responsibility.

3) The last one is: Eternal Glory. Eternal glory; Resurrection Glory. In Revelations 3:5, it talks about how they'll be 'clothed in white garments'. It's indicated that it's a 'reward'. So there are: rewards of Intimacy; rewards of Authority, and with it, Responsibility; and rewards of Glory.

There are other rewards that are mentioned... Perhaps one that I'll mention is the Honour; an Acknowledgement of your life pleasing God. Actually, there's quite a few that come to mind, as I think about it... That God will 'honour' you: "well done, good and faithful servant" - well done! You did well, with what you had.

Remember, it's not about us working hard, to try and get something. It's about our love increasing; and the passion overflowing, in our desire to serve the Lord - and He sees our love for Him, our love is expressed by obedience to Him. He says: I just want to do all I can to acknowledge that - far more than you can ever imagine; so I'm looking to reward you! He's not looking to punish us! He's looking to see what, in our life, that He can acknowledge - that requires honour in the coming kingdom.

Of course, the last thing is that some will suffer 'loss', at the Judgement Seat. Some will suffer loss at the judgement seat!

1 Corinthians 3:15 - "...if their works are burned, then they'll suffer loss, but they'll be saved, yet so by fire."

So 'suffering loss' - it's not physical suffering; it's just the forfeiting of rewards. In other words, it's saying: there was a cheque being offered, of $1 million; but I mucked around - I didn't get to the bank on time, and now I can't cash it! That's really sad \- that's suffering loss! That really is suffering loss. You didn't do it in time, and now it's been taken away from you!

In 2 John 8, for example, he says: "watch out, that you don't lose what you worked for; but you may be rewarded fully."

So he warns us: make sure that you don't be 'cheated out' of what God is wanting to give you. Jesus warned people too....

Revelations 3:11 - "...hold fast what you have, that no man take your crown."

There's warnings in there, in a number of places, about suffering loss! The 'loss' means: not that I'm going to be in pain, I'm not going to be hurt - it's nothing to do with that. No, I will experience the love of God - I'll experience many things in the coming kingdom. However, the thing that will be sad is: the loss of what I could have had.

We have to believe that God is able to reward people brilliantly. It's His nature to be generous. It's His nature to be kind. It's His nature to be gracious. It's in His nature to be Just - to give what is deserving and will be recognised.

As you look around the world, you can see that people are dying for their faith, in some countries. Then you see in the west, for the most part, that people are passive, lukewarm, and indifferent. For many people, the core problem is that they have no passion going on, in their life for Jesus. There's compromise of all kinds; and this is what Jesus talks about, in the Book of Revelation. He talks to the Seven Churches of Revelation, and identifies what's good, and what is lacking, in their lives; and HE encourages them to overcome - and then offers many rewards, for those who overcome.

So this topic is a very big topic. There is a lot more in the Bible, about the nature of the rewards; and there's also quite a lot in the Book of Revelation, about the actual challenges that God calls us to overcome. At some point, we'll look at each of those... What are the specific challenges that will come that you will need to overcome in your life?

For example, with one of the churches, He commended them for many things; but He said: I've got this against you - you've left your first love. In other words, they're busy in church, and busy doing things... but the passion, the fire, the love... their first commitment to Christ had gone; and you see that with many people!

Our desire is that we understand Eternal Rewards; and that we are greatly motivated by the prospect that everything I do is seen, and visible. Therefore, because it's all visible...

What words am I saying? Are they bringing life or destruction?

What are the motivations I've got going on? Is it love of God flowing through me, or am I reactionary, reacting, retaliating?

Is there unkindness in my heart? How am I serving the Lord?

Am I connected to Him in passionate worship? Am I serving Him to the best of what I can?

Remember, it's not 'perfection' that He's looking at. He's just looking at a heart that's towards Him. He's not looking at the individual acts as much as - although they're all recorded. He is looking at: what is the arc of your life? If you keep getting up, keep moving back, keep reaching out, keep going forward... then you qualify for reward.

God, who knows our lives, knows what we've done in secret; and will reward us openly, before all people, and everyone will then know what kind of life you lived on earth - what kind of passion you had for the Lord, and how faithful you were in what you did.

It's an incredibly motivating teaching, around eternal rewards, because you realise then... if you're hurt, knocked back, set back, disappointed, things go wrong... then it's okay, I can turn to the Lord. He will comfort me, and strengthen me. I will deepen my relationship with Him, and I'll carry on. What people do, won't stop me. If failures come, I'll just get up and keep running again. Amen!

Closing Prayer

Father, we just pray right now, that the words we've spoken, will find a resting place in good ground; that Lord, each one that hears this message, will feel the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in them - to renew their first love; and to passionately serve You; and to the run the race - to win the prize, that's laid before each of us.

I pray, Lord, for every member of my family; that Lord, they'll catch a grip: that there's an eternal prize to be won; and will live a life that honours You, and qualifies them for: "well done, good and faithful servant". Amen!

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_13-06-2020.htm#notes) Back to Top »

I. We Must All Give Account of our works

1. Every Believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  
* For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10).  
* We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.  
Every believer will stand before Christ and give an account for the way they lived.  
* At that time, we will be recompensed - or rewarded - for the works that we did while on earth.  
* Jesus will evaluate our life based upon what we have done.  
The Greek word for done is prasso, which means ― to practice, perform repeatedly or habitually.  
That is why it is important to form Christ- exalting, kingdom-building habits now—before it's too late.

2. At the Judgment Seat of Christ our Works will be tested by fire.  
* 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. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15).  
* Jesus Christ is the Foundation for all that we do.  
Our works will be evaluated on whether we built His Kingdom or our own  
* There are different types of materials we can use for building... Temporal or Eternal  
* The Lord is looking and the quality or motivation for what we have done  
"Try"....To test or examine the quality of something so it can be approved  
* The Fire will test the quality of each mans work...what sort it is, its nature and motivation  
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb.4:13)  
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.  
Then each one's praise will come from God. (1Cor.4:5)  
* The Quality of our works will be based upon Heart issues:  
Our love for Christ & Whether we were led by the Holy Spirit, our motivation  
* The outcome is Reward or Loss for Eternity  
* Our works can be burned up... ie. not survive close inspection of the motivation  
If they were self centered, coming from pride, selfish ambition, and self promotion...  
We built our own Kingdom instead of His  
* Our works can pass the test....  
We will be rewarded for every action no matter how small that flowed out pure motives because of our love for Christ and obedience to the Holy Spirit  
* The Judgment seat of Christ does not determine whether we go to Heaven or hell. It is to determine our stewardship....what Eternal Rewards we shall receive  
* It determines our eternal rewards, such as our degree of Intimacy, Authority, and Glory.

II. Rewards are Given According to Our Works

1. Jesus Himself Used the Word Reward  
* 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. (Matt.16:27)  
* "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.(Rev.22:12)  
* "Love your enemies, do good...and your reward will be great". (Lk. 6:35)  
* "But when you give a feast, invite the poor...the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection". (Lk. 14:13-14)  
* "Reward".....fruit that results from tools and labor's, wages  
* Rewards are really evidence of Gods abundant mercy and generosity...they are completely out of proportion to any work that we do

2. We are rewarded for our acts of righteousness done in this age  
* To her [Bride] it was granted to be arrayed...for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev. 19:8)  
* Each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor [work]... If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (1 Cor. 3:8, 14)  
* Our works include our actions, words, attitudes, and how we spend our time and money and care for our families and others.

3. Faith without "works" is consider to be "dead faith"  
* Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (Jam.2:17  
* 'This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men" (Tit.3:8)  
* 'And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful"(Tit.3:14)  
* We are saved as a gift by faith in Jesus' work, but we are rewarded according to our works.  
* Our entrance into heaven is not based on our works, but our role in the Coming Kingdom is.  
* "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  
...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Tit.2:11-14)  
* The Grace of God is His goodness and power freely given by faith  
* Grace is not only to save us but to transform us and empower us to godly living and to good works  
* Some misunderstand the value and importance of their works;  
Since no one can be saved by their works, they falsely conclude that their works do not matter.  
* I will show you my faith by my works. Do you see that faith was working together with his [Abraham's] works, and by works faith was made perfect? .......so faith without works is dead also. (Jas. 2:17-26)

4. Our Works include Small Deeds  
* Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  
* Our faithfulness is manifested in our life choices — 99% of our godly choices and deeds are small.  
* Our works include the small things that we do: Speaking kind words, Small attitude adjustments, Little acts of service (in our family), and sacrificially giving small amounts of money (Lk. 21:1-4).  
* Luke 21:1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."  
Jesus evaluated the giving not by the quantity....but by the quality, what it represented to them  
* Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Lk. 19:17)

5. Jesus Remembers every small act of love,  
* Every deed that we do is seen and rewarded by God, no matter how unnoticed it is by men  
* Even giving a small cup of water is noticed by Jesus  
* And whoever gives... only a cup of cold water... he shall by no means lose his reward. (Mt. 10:42)  
* God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints. (Heb. 6:10)

6. Our Works include the Secret intentions of our heart to love and obey God  
* 1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.  
* 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!'

7.Our Words will be Evaluated on the last day since they reveal our Heart  
* Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  
* For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Mt. 12:36-37)  
For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  
* Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father. (Mt. 10:32)

III. All our Works are Written in God's Books

1.The works of human beings are important and have a lasting impact  
* God keeps detailed records of what each person does  
* Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  
* Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.  
* Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  
* Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2.Even our conversations are recorded  
* Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. conversations   
* But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  
Mat 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  
* God's books contain the names and actions of all believers

IV. Our Works Follow us For All Eternity

1. We Will Be Known by Our Works  
* Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." (Rev.14:13)  
* For all eternity, we will be known for the way we lived the seventy to eighty years of our life.  
Our works follow us"....  
'Follow"....Accompany in the same path, associate with as a disciple  
* For all eternity, we will be known for building the kingdom with pure motives or for building our own empire out of selfish motives.

2.The Wedding Garments that we will receive in heaven will testify to everyone how we lived our life on the earth.  
* Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  
* NB: The fine linen in which we will be clothed ―is the righteous acts of the saints.  
* The works we have done that are not consumed by the fire at the judgment seat form the foundation of our clothing for eternity  
* Our clothing will reveal to everyone how we lived our lives on earth  
* In eternity people will be able to look at us and immediately know:  
i.We maintained our First Love for Jesus  
ii.Our works were motivated by a true desire to bring Glory and Honour to Him  
iii.Our works were done under the leading of the Holy Spirit and obedience to Him

3.Jesus Warning:  
* Rev 16:15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."  
* Jesus warned us about staying awake and keeping our wedding garments unstained  
* If we allow ourselves to grow complacent, apathetic, indifferent, and lukewarm, our works will be burned at the judgment seat of Christ and the ―shame of [our] nakedness will be revealed  
* And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (shrink away from Him in shame at His coming) (1 John 2:28).  
* Jesus paid a great price to redeem us, and to position us for honour. Our daily choices affect our spiritual condition when He returns  
* We can " love His appearing and receive a crown".... Or ..."be ashamed before Him" because of our condition

V. These Rewards are Eternal, Irreversible, and Never Diminish

1.The Rewards are Eternal  
* The judgment seat of Christ will be an ―eternal judgment (Heb.6:2)  
That is, there will be no reversing the decision.  
* At the judgment seat of Christ, the rewards that we receive will be our portion for all eternity.  
* Our rewards determine the way we spend eternity..., the intimacy, the authority, the glory  
Eternity will be better for some believers than for others.

2.The Rewards are Irreversible  
* If our works are burned and we suffer loss, there will be no way to reverse this.  
* If we are disqualified from receiving our fullest eternal inheritance—such as sitting with Jesus on His throne and ruling the nations with Christ — there will be no way to change this.

3.The Rewards Never Diminish  
* Treasure in heaven can never be destroyed or stolen  
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Mt. 6:20)  
* The Crowns of the saints are described as imperishable—not fading away  
...to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (1 Cor. 9:25)  
* Heavenly Rewards are eternal and imperishable—they will never diminish  
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Mat.6:20)  
* Our Resurrected Bodies will shine like stars forever. Their brightness will never diminish.  
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." (Dan.12.2-3)

VI. Jesus Was Motivated by Eternal Rewards.

1. Jesus was Motivated by Eternal Rewards  
* Jesus was empowered to live a consecrated life and endure the suffering of the cross because He was motivated by eternal rewards.  
* ... 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. (Heb.12:2)  
* Jesus endured the shame of the cross by looking at ―"the joy set before Him"  
"Set before"...to lie before in view, to stand forth as a reward, to be present in the mind  
"The joy set before Him"...a multitude of sons & daughters ruling creation with Him  
* Jesus was moved by love for His Father, and desire to Honour and obey Him  
* "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (Jn.17:4)  
* He also was moved by the Eternal Reward that would follow His committed, faithful life  
'And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name" (Phil.2:8-9)

2.Jesus Motivated His Disciples by Teaching on Eternal Rewards

* The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus repeatedly used eternal rewards to motivate people to a life of meekness, purity, and righteousness (Matt. 5-7).  
eg. "Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth".(Mat.5:5)  
eg. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Mat.5:8)

* The Kingdom Parables: Jesus repeatedly used eternal rewards to motivate His disciples  
"And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Lk.19:17)

* In Revelation 2-3: Jesus offered the churches eternal rewards to motivate them to righteousness and to empower them to overcome compromise and complacency.  
eg. Gain Eternal Authority:  
"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations" (Rev.2:26)  
eg. Gain Eternal Glory  
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."(Rev.3:5)  
eg. Gain Eternal Intimacy  
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."(Rev.3:20)  
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne"(Rev.3:21)

3. What God considers First and Greatest.  
* You shall love the LORD...This is the first and great commandment. (Mt. 22:37-38)  
* Loving God with all of our heart is the first emphasis of the Spirit in our lives, and it is the greatest calling on anyone's life.

VII. Eternal Rewards are Glorious

1.Eternal Rewards are Beyond our Imagination  
* "But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."  
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1Cor.2:9-10)  
* ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe,(Eph.1:17-18)  
* They are spectacular and far more glorious than anyone imagines—exceedingly abundantly beyond what we think (Eph. 3:20).

2.These Rewards are Appropriate for God's Royal Family  
* 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  
* We are a priesthood...Royal...descended from a King  
* Eg. God appointed special garments for Aaron the Higfh priest ...garments for Glory and Beauty  
* And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.(Exod.28:2)  
* Eg. Jesus Garments altered on the Mount of transfiguration  
* His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (Mt. 17:2)  
* The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt. 13:43)

3.These rewards are glimpsed prophetically in Solomon's temple  
* And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! (1Ki.10:4-13)  
* Jesus is greater than Solomon...He will manifest His majesty in His Household

4. The glory of the Royal daughter in Psalm 45 symbolically points to the glory of the Bride of Christ.  
* The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold. (Ps. 45:13)  
* We must not limit God's power and creativity in preparing rewards for those that love him  
* "it has not entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for the next that love Him" (1Cor.2:9)  
* Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil.3:21)

VIII. There are Different Degrees of Eternal Rewards.

1.Some will be will be First ...Others will be Last  
* Speaking of eternal rewards, Jesus said ―many who are first will be last; and the last, first (Matt. 19:30).  
* This shows us that there are degrees of eternal rewards.  
* For all eternity, some will be first in authority, glory, honor, and intimacy while others will be last.

2.Some will be Greatest...Others will be Least  
* That is, their life choices will be "called great"—by God, the angels, the saints.  
* Jesus described a great diversity in how the saints' life choices will be viewed in the age to come.  
* In the kingdom of heaven, there are the ―least and the ―great (Matt. 5:19).  
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt.5:19)  
* "Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" (Rev.19:5)

3.Some will sit with Jesus on His Throne...Others just be Saved  
* Some Believers will sit down with Jesus on His throne and rule the nations with a rod of iron  
(Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21).  
* Many Believers will be saved but with No Reward  
Many believers will barely make it into heaven—they will ―be saved, yet so as through fire  
(1 Cor. 3:15).

4.Some Believers Shine like the Sun...Others will not (Resurrection Glory)  
* Some believers will shine like the sun, others like the moon, and others like a faint star  
(1 Cor. 15:41-42).  
* There are many billions of stars, and each is unique.  
* The Pistol Star is 10 million times brighter than our sun and has a mass 100 times greater.  
* In the age to come, there might be several billion people in God's family.  
* The realm of "the resurrection" includes our body, garment, thrones, crowns, and more—each area of our life in the resurrection will express a measure of the glory of God.  
* The degree of glory that we will have is based upon the way we live on earth.  
* The degree of glory in our resurrected bodies will be directly related to what we overcome in this life and the amount of Christ- likeness that has been formed within us.  
No two believers will have the same measure of glory.

5.Some Believers will Enter The Wedding Feast...Some Will Not  
* Some believers will go into the wedding feast while others will not be allowed to enter  
* "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (Matt. 25:10).  
* "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (Matt. 25:11-13).

6.Some Believers will be Commended...Some will not  
* Some believers will hear the Lord say, ―Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things, I will put make you ruler many things; enter into the joy of your Lord  
(Matt. 25:21).  
Others will hear Him say: You wicked, lazy slave-assign him a place with the hypocrites (Matt. 25:26; 24:51).

7.Some believers will Receive Great Honour... Some will Not  
* In heaven, there are ―places of honor, people who are ―more distinguished and there is ―the last place  
* 'If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jn.12:26)  
* Based upon how we live on the earth, we can ―move up higher (Luke 14:10).  
* But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. (Lk.14:10

8.Some Believers will be Considered Worthy...Some Will Not  
* Jesus said that some will be ―considered worthy to attain to that age [the Millennial Kingdom] and the resurrection from the dead‖ while others will not be counted worthy (Luke 20:34-36).

9.Some Believers will attain the Prize of the High calling...Some will not  
* Paul said that there is ―the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, suggesting that there are lesser callings for those who do not  
* It is a "Prize to be won".....prizes are for the victor  
* I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14, KJV).

10.In God's family in the New Jerusalem, there will be different positions, responsibilities, capacities, and experiences.  
* We see similar differences in this age.  
* The distinctions in the age to come are related to our faithfulness, humility, obedience, and diligence, not to our gifting, position or money in this age.

11.There will be different Positions of Authority, Responsibility, Experience :  
* We will all have different work assignments with varying measures of authority and responsibility  
* There are many different roles in the infrastructure of a nation.  
For example, in the USA, there are over 22 million people employed in the infrastructure—federal, state, and local.  
* "...because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities."  
And the second came... likewise he said to him, "You also be over five cities." (Lk. 19:17-19)  
* "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nation" (Rev.2:26)  
* Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" (Rev.19:5)

12.Everyone has the opportunity to be called great in the age to come.  
* Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant, And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mat 20:26-28)  
* The desire to be great, to have honor is in the heart of every person...we are called to this.  
* Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for their desire to be great but for their understanding of what it means and how to obtain it  
* Every person can become great in the Age to come

IX. There are Different Types of Eternal Rewards

1.There are very Many Eternal Rewards Mentioned  
* These are mentioned in the teachings of Jesus especially in Revelation  
* The three Most Important of these are:  
* Eternal Intimacy (with Jesus)  
Math.25 1-13 The Wise Virgins.......... the Wedding Feast  
Deep relationship and personal intimacy with Jesus and the Father  
Great joy and celebration and fellowship together

b.Eternal Authority (and Responsibility)  
Luke19:11-27. The Wise Servant.........Ruling over Ten Cities Cities  
The joy of partnership with Jesus in restoring and rebuilding his creation  
Deep friendship and access to His wisdom and supernatural power

c.Eternal Glory ......Rev.3:5,18. White Garments  
Garments of beauty and glory that display the life we lived on earth  
Great honour and affirmation by Jesus  
"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." (Rev.20:6)

X. Some Will Suffer Loss at The Judgment Seat of Christ

1. Some will suffer loss of rewards that could been received  
* (1 Cor. 3:15; 1 Jn. 2:28; 2 Jn. 8; Rev. 3:11, 18; 16:15).  
* Suffering loss does not mean physical suffering, but forfeiting potential rewards. Imagine discovering what could have been yours but through foolish choices you were disqualified from it  
* Loss of Eternal Rewards comes by neglecting God's will, refusing to repent of sinful activities, and not persevering in our calling.  
* If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved. (1 Cor. 3:15)  
* Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for but that you may be rewarded fully. (2 Jn. 8; NIV)

2. Jesus warned believers not to allow anyone to take their crown  
* "Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." (Rev. 3:11)

# Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1 (3 of 6)

## Fri 19 Jun 2020 « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

One of the major themes of Jesus teachings was the theme of Eternal Rewards. This topic is seldom taught in churches but it provides major motivation for holiness, personal transformation and faithful service. We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to give account for our stewardship as followers of Christ. At stake are position, honor and reward in the coming Kingdom of Christ. This message looks at the Two of the glorious Eternal Rewards that the Bible reveals are prepared for those who love Jesus, overcome in life and serving faithfully....Eternal Intimacy and Eternal Authority
Introduction

We're starting again on Eternal Rewards #3, and this study's going to be called: Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1. There'll be two parts to this part, because there's quite a lot of teaching on eternal rewards, and I think it really helps if you do understand them. We start at the introduction, and we just cover a little bit of familiar ground, and in this study I'm going to actually list for you the main categories of rewards, and then we're going to look at two of them and go through them in more detail. Next time round we'll go through some of the others.

Main Message

One of the great things that Jesus had was the teaching on Eternal Rewards. He constantly talked about it, because it motivates us to look beyond temporary, and to eternal. So in Matthew 16:27 he taught: "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father and with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." So the word reward means to recompense, or to pay what is appropriate and what is due. So what he's saying then, is that there is a day when the Lord will come, and He'll come in power! He'll come in glory; and that will be a time when He will reward, or acknowledge in a very specific way, the labours that we've done in serving Him.

The second thing is, there's many different kinds of rewards. When you start to read through the Book of Revelation and then through other places in the Bible, you find many rewards that are listed are different kinds - and it makes sense. God is extremely creative, and if He can create the universe, and create all the details of creation, then He's got unlimited resources to find ways to reward us, which are appropriate for us, and to recognise what we've done. In Revelations 2-3 He describes a number of rewards. He talks in Revelations 2-3 to the churches, and firstly He reveals Himself, an aspect of His character; then He talks about knowing their works, and honours them for the works they've done; then He points out the bit they need to come to grips with or overcome - and then makes promises to the overcomers!

So if we're familiar with the significance and importance of different rewards, then it's a huge motivation; so becoming aware of it requires a response. Once you're aware of it, you then need to actually then do something - having the information won't be enough! It's meant to change our life, and give us motivation.

In Colossians, for example - Colossians 3:22-24, we saw this verse last week: "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. For whatever you do, do it heartily, as though you were doing it to the Lord and not to men, knowing... (and here it is - you do it this way) ...knowing that from the Lord you receive the reward of inheritance, for you serve the Lord Jesus Christ."

What he's saying there in the verse is that, when we know that God is watching every detail of our lives, every aspect of our heart and thoughts and motivation, and that He will recompense us, then we can boldly face up to the difficulties that we have with people, with working with people, with serving people. And of course he's talking to slaves who are constantly, or frequently, abused by their masters. He didn't address the issue then, of the slavery or the injustice. He put in their heart an eternal perspective, so they could overcome in the midst of their difficulty.

Third thing is, rewards are not given automatically. There would be many Christians who would like to think, well: we'll all be equal; or everyone's the same. But actually, although we're of equal value to God, nevertheless He relates to us differently based on our response, so rewards are not automatic. They come if we fulfil specific conditions. So for example, Revelations 3:21 - "to him who overcomes I'll grant with him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and am sat down with My Father on His throne."

Here's a second one, from John 12 - "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour."

So notice there, in both of those passages there is a promise to someone who does something - to him who overcomes, I'll give this place of authority with Me. The second passage there, in John 12 - anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and then He says My Father will honour him.

He talks then about Authority in the first passage, and then He talks about Honour in the second passage. God desires to raise our level of responsibility and authority in the coming kingdom. God desires to honour us in the coming kingdom. Notice there in that first verse, to 'overcome' means to 'subdue' or 'get the victory over' something. So at some stage we'll go and look at the Churches of Revelation, but in each one, there was something to overcome; and the last one of all, was the church that was lukewarm. If you look of course at the church now, you will see Lukewarmness is a significant problem, but one of the greatest promises are to those who overcome Lukewarmness, passivity and apathy.

Number 4, the small sacrifices made now have a huge recompense in eternity - small things. It may seem big to you, and for some people little is very big, but this is what Jesus said in Matthew 25:21 - "If you are faithful over small things or few things, I'll make you ruler over many things." Notice the contrast: few things, many things. The key is being faithful. Here's another one in Luke 19:17, in the Parable of the Pounds. "Well done, you were faithful in very little, have authority over 10 cities." Notice: very little... 10 cities! Wow, that's just no comparison right there. What He's trying to do is, using the stories to say, the recompense will far outweigh any sacrifice. When you understand what He's offering, it so overshadows the cost and sacrifice, that people are motivated and willing then to lay down things.

In Hebrews 11:6 we saw before that God is a Rewarder. That means He recompenses, or He is extremely generous and extravagant. We can trust that God is going to give a big pay day. You know how people at work - they look forward to getting a big bonus at the end of the year? Well for a believer, we get blessed in the journey, but then there's a massive bonus at the other end, a massive bonus, and its out of proportion to everything. So even though we may have temporary difficulties, we are persuaded because of what we know to persevere, because today's not my pay day - it's still coming! So Jesus promised the disciples in Matthew 19:29 - "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. Notice He said 'a hundredfold', meaning the maximum possible return.

So He's trying to convey to us that if we have to sacrifice, if following the Lord means alienation from people, if following the Lord means we lose or leave behind things, He says: nevertheless there will be a hundredfold return! Frequently there's a portion of it is in this life; and so we see, if you look at our lives you can see the blessings that abound, the blessings are actually tangible, and visible in lots of different ways. However, they're not the real rewards. The big ones are to come. That's what makes you then excited about living every day, and not afraid of death, because how could you be afraid of death when your big pay day's ahead? You can't be! So now we've talked about the rewards, I want to give you a summary of them.

This is an overview and it's just one way of grouping them together. There's so many mentioned, somewhere between 18 and 30 in different ways, that they do cross over and connect with one another in different ways. So here they are, so #1, Eternal Intimacy. Reward #1, Eternal Intimacy, which means that there is a realm of intimate relationship with God that's reserved for those who overcome. In a scripture here in Revelations 3:12 - "He who overcomes, I'll make him a pillar in the temple of My God, he shall go no more out. I'll write on him the name of My God, the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven from My God. I'll write on him My new name."

I'm going to talk and explain what that means shortly. So when He talks about writing the name on someone, He's talking about having a deep intimacy with God as a Father, and a deep intimacy with Jesus Christ. We're going to go into this area or passage of eternal intimacy in more detail shortly.

The second significant reward that's offered is Eternal Authority. What that that means is that, we are given different work assignments with different levels of Authority and Responsibility and Power - and that will be forever! It's not like a temporary thing. Right now what you have is temporary, and it keeps changing, and when you see that what you do now is just your assignment for now, it's your training assignment.

So every time your assignment changes, it's just more training, different assignment and how we fulfil our assignments determines then what God entrusts in eternity. So when I look at my journey, there was an assignment to teach in a high school, and run Christian outwork there among the children. Then there was a new assignment, so I had to leave that behind - have an assignment with a Christian school... and then the time came for that to end. There was an assignment pastoring, and then that time came for that to end. There was a new assignment then, and it involved starting and planting another church; and there was an assignment leading a movement... and then the assignment shifts - it comes to an end. So if you understand your life is just a series of assignments, then you stick with your assignment until God says it's time to let it go. Then when you let go, it's easy to let go. It's just so simple. It's just having the right perspective. If your identity is tied up in your assignment, you can't let it go. You just use everyone to make yourself feel better, because you've got a lack inside that God wants to meet.

The third - and we saw the scripture in Luke 19:17 - if you're faithful over very little, you'll have rulership over cities. So thirdly, Eternal Glory. God intends to manifest His glory. It'll be in a number of ways. One will be through a resurrection body. There'll be other ways God will manifest His glory, but it'll be in different measures. In Matthew 13:43, it says: "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Reward #4, the Bible describes Eternal Garments. There's quite a number of scriptures that refer to garments of different kinds, and the garments will vary in glory depending on how the believer lived. If you go to a special function, you'll notice how everyone dresses up - they dress up in their best. If you go to a graduation for example, you'll notice how they dress up, and they have different kinds of aspects to their clothing, and when you look at it, you know: oh wow, oh that's a Master of Science. Oh wow, that's a PhD in arts. You can recognise it from the different clothing they're wearing, and so it will be that in eternity we will be clothed in garments - garments of glory, and they will probably have different kinds and styles and colour, and God's creative in all of that. But they will indicate the life we've lived on the earth.

In Revelations 3:4 -"he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments". We're not clear exactly what the garments are, but they will be aspects of God's nature and His glory.

Reward #5, the Bible describes Victor's Crowns. We'll look into this next week, but a crown is a reward, or an acknowledgement, than you've run a race and won - you're the victor. You've won! Always with a victor's crown, there was something you overcame. Some will receive crowns because of their private victories. James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he's been approved he will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to those who love Him." Our love for the Lord is demonstrated by obeying Him, and overcoming temptations which are frequent in life. Each temptation is a chance to prove the quality of our love, and our faith, so when we overcome or endure temptations and pressures, then God's approval comes, and we receive reward in the next life.

Reward #6, Honour and Praise. In the eternal kingdom, or millennial kingdom, we will receive varying degrees of praise from the Lord. God doesn't say "well done" to everyone. He actually will be quite specific, and acknowledge each person's life. 1 Corinthians 4:5 - "don't judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes, then each one's praise or affirmation will come from God, because God knows the hearts." He knows the intents. He knows what's really going on.

What he's saying, or the context of it is: don't judge people. Don't think that you know what's really going on in their life. You don't really know their heart and intent - but God does, so leave judging to Him, and when the time comes, then everyone will receive the praise that's appropriate, because God, who sees all, will reveal and acknowledge what's worthy of acknowledging. So there's varying degrees of praise, and we saw in Luke 19:17-19 how the man's commended: "well done good and faithful servant, you're also over five cities". So there's honour and praise. In other words, God will publicly, and openly, honour each of His children for what they've done.

Reward #7 is Riches and Treasure, or treasure in heaven. Jesus spoke about laying out for yourselves treasure in heaven, which is incorruptible. Neither moth nor rust destroys it, and it can't be stolen - Matthew 6:20. Jesus called us to lay out for ourselves treasure in heaven, so what that must mean is: there's things you can do, which cause an accumulation of wealth or reward from God in heaven. So it's quite good to study the scriptures: what are the true treasures then, what are the real treasures of life - and you'll find that they're not what you think they are. The real treasures are usually not what you can touch with your hands, because you've got to leave them behind - they're corruptible; they're the things that can't be touched. For example, wisdom is better than riches and gold, because if you have wisdom, then wealth and whatever will come to you. That's a whole other series of studies that we'd have to look at, as to what are the true treasures in the kingdom of heaven, because if you'll labour for the true treasures, then you'll gain other things as well.

Finally then, Vindication. There will be vindication before one's enemies. Listen to this, in Revelations 3:9. He says: "indeed I'll make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and they're not but lie, I'll make them come and worship before your feet, and know that I have loved you." What He's basically saying is that people misunderstand us. People shame us. They accuse us, they criticise, they laugh, they mock, all these kinds of things; then some people actually persecute, and oppose Christians and believers.

What He's saying is that there will come a day when God will vindicate, or He will validate, the choices we have made, before those who have made fun of us, or laughed at us, or belittled us, or even persecuted us. That means, it doesn't really matter what people are doing - you can bless them - because there's one day you'll stand in a place of honour; and they'll be in a place of shame, and God will be saying: well, you had your day, and you laughed, but here I want to tell you My opinion, which is an eternal opinion. So this enables you then to... if you get the concept of these rewards in your heart, you can walk through all kinds of stuff, because they just run off you - they're not important.

So in looking at the rewards, the first three deserve special attention:

* Eternal Intimacy

* Eternal Authority

* Eternal Glory

They require us we have a look at them especially, because they are things particularly related to our original design as sons. When God designed us to be a son or a daughter, when He created man, He created us for these things:

(1) Intimate Relationship - notice then, one of the major rewards is intimacy with Him.

(2) Secondly, He created us to exercise Authority and Dominion on His behalf; and in the coming kingdom one of the rewards is the level of authority and dominion that are appropriate for what we've done on the earth.

(3) The third one is Glory. We're called on the earth to represent the Father, or show His nature, what He is like; and doing that now on the earth, allowing Him to transform us so we represent Him in His nature. In the age to come, there'll be a glory on our life. We'll go into those in more detail.

So now we have got an overview of the seven kind of broad categories of rewards, and now we want to look at the first two rewards, and I want to go into them in a bit more detail. The first one we're going to look at is the issue of Eternal Intimacy. Eternal - what does eternal mean? Eternal means: it goes on, with no time limit on it. It goes on, and it does not cease, it does not stop - it is forever ongoing. Intimacy means a close personal relationship, where you become known by someone, and they become known by you. There's a revealing of hearts to one another at a greater depth.

Of course you can understand, in all relationships, intimacy or close connection grows and develops. Even when you think you know your wife... you don't really know her. There's more to learn! So with God, no matter how much we think we know of Him, there is more to know. Paul describes it as the 'unsearchable riches of Christ', or the 'excellent knowledge of Christ'. So in looking through this area of Eternal Intimacy then, clearly it's related to our preparation now, so I want to go through several descriptions of it. In the Bible they don't just have a heading 'Eternal Intimacy', and then explain it all underneath - no topic is like that! The way God lays out the Bible is, He puts a little bit all over the place, like seeds in a bag - and you've got to hunt for it; and when you hunt for it, and bring it together, you'll find there's a bit on it here.

There's a bit on it there, there's a bit on it there, there's a bit over here, there's a bit - in fact there's been a bit right through the whole Bible, if you just knew what to look for. So they use often (because this is a spiritual concept), stories to help you: oh that's what it is, wow! If you look in the Old Testament, there's stories like: the story of Isaac and his father, who sent out the servant to get a bride for him. There's all these details about the bride, and the finding of the bride, which is a referral to God Himself searching to find people who'll have a love relationship with Him, and there's all sorts of characteristics about the bride. Then you find there's the story of Ester; and Ester's a story about a bride, about a person who was selected. Why was she selected? There must have been some reason for being selected for the role of greatest intimacy with the King.

So you see many stories like that; and there's the natural story, and then, when you look beyond it, you see it's a prophetic picture of something in the future. So all through the Bible they've got these stories. One of the stories we've already seen, so I won't go into it too much, is the Parable of the 10 Virgins, in Matthew 25:1-13. "Then at the end times, when Jesus comes, the kingdom of heaven shall be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom, five were wise and five were foolish..." I've taught a little bit on this, but the parable reveals that some will be given access to great intimacy, into the marriage feast; and some will be excluded.

So the things that we need to see in that story: they were all virgins \- they were all believers. They all had lamps, they all had oil, they all were waiting for the bridegroom. The lamps are our life that we live before men. They are the overflow of the life of God within us - the oil represents the presence, tangible presence of God in our life. The bridegroom is Jesus. The wise ones were wise because they prepared ahead of time, and paid the price to have oil. The foolish ones were foolish because they failed to anticipate the coming of the bridegroom, they failed to prepare. The key issue in the parable is really simply this: there is a need to prepare for the coming of Jesus - and if we are prepared, we enter into the marriage supper of the lamb, into a season of rejoicing, celebrating, festivity, of honour and communion with Him. If we're not prepared, we don't enter - it's as simple as that!

The key thing in that was, the foolish one said: give us what you've got; and they said: no, we're not going to do that - you have to pay the price to have the oil. There's a price to prepare your heart. It's a price you pay daily, little by little, when you keep your heart right before God, you remain soft and tender and responsive to Him. There's the price in prayer, the price in surrender to Him, and becoming filled with His presence, so you become a presence carrier. So that's one story, and clearly, if you look in that story: some entered; some did not. There was a distinction between people who were believers.

There's another one here - another promise is found in the Book of Revelation, and it's found to the Laodicean Church. In Revelation 3, Jesus spoke this.

Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears My voice and opens the door... I will come in to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me."

So what is He saying there? Clearly, this is a church. There were things to overcome; so He's talking to people who overcome, who respond to Him. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" - so the key thing here is, the door represents our heart or our life - do we hear Jesus speaking? Notice the strange thing is: Jesus is outside of the church, when He should be inside the church. He's seeking access to come in. So believers can live a life where they're living, and they're in church, and they're doing whatever - but they're not in intimate relationship with Jesus. He constantly is seeking access to our heart, access to different areas of our life.

So it says, the promise here is: "I will come in to him, and dine with him" - so what does that mean, to dine? Again, frequently, if you look at just the natural thing, and what it would mean to you, you then get insight of what He's saying. Dining with others, if you think about it - it's an opportunity to relax. You laugh together, you enjoy one another. People talk, they open up their hearts, they build relationship around a table - and the early church was really built around a table - so Jesus said: I will dine with them, and them with Me. What He's saying then is: He's promising one of increased access and intimacy to Him - and we have that now, to some degree; but in the millennium, we will know Him in a much greater way. He will reveal more of Himself.

Ever know when you can be with someone, and they don't give away much; and then they suddenly one day, open up and let you know a whole lot of things? You think: oh my, I thought I knew you, but I hardly know you at all! He's talking about something like that. The word 'dine' that's used there is the same word in Revelation 19:9 that refers to the marriage supper of the lamb. The word 'supper' - it comes from that same word, dine. So when He says: I will dine with him, He's saying: I will bring you into the marriage supper, where there'll be celebration, and a place of intimate conversation and friendship. So He's really offering the opportunity for us to enter into a deeper intimacy with Him - and that requires that we overcome something.

It's hard to describe what that will be like - it's hard to find words for it! You can think of the happiest meal you've had, the funnest time you've had at a meal, and maybe that gives an indication. But this is... let me give you a couple of things. Firstly, David. David said this... He said that intimacy with Jesus is an indescribable pleasure.

Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness or extreme joy, and at Your right hand, or sitting next to you, there are pleasures that are forevermore."

You'll find many of these verses in the Bible. So he's saying... and he's obviously experienced a measure of it on the earth. He said: when you come into the presence of the God, there is an immense joy that comes. There is a deep sense of pleasure and fulfillment that comes that makes everything else seem very, very trivial. Here's another one that he wrote...

Psalm 36:8 - "They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."

So he's saying: God's ability to bring pleasure to us is like a river that can't be stopped. So you can see the trouble in finding language to describe the depths of intimacy, and what it will mean to be in His presence - most amazing. Now when Paul writes about it, writing about intimacy, he writes and says: it's a prize that you win. So yes, we're given a relationship with Jesus now, but you can neglect that relationship. You can take it for granted. You cannot really do anything to build it - or you can pursue a greater intimacy.

Philippians 3:8 - "I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ my Lord, and I've suffered the loss of everything and count them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Notice two statements in there: the excellence of the knowledge of Christ; and everything else is just junk. I want to win this prize of gaining Christ! The key thing in there is that intimacy is given to us in a measure; but the fullness of it is a prize to be won. So he says... and he's just listed all his achievements, and how great he was, and then immediately he says: but really - that's all junk, compared to this! It's all comparative. So people looked at him, and he looked like he had his life all together; he looked like he's really reached the peak. He's a Rabbi - highly respected. He's got a high place in society, and in the system; but he said: it's all junk compared to this. This is really something! I've had a taste of this - and this has ruined my life; that the more we taste the Lord, the more it ruins our life.

There's an example of it there, and another scripture that refers to intimacy is found in the promise to the church at Pergamon. This promise is made also to overcomers - they had to overcome something in that church; and this is what he said: "he that is near to here, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches" - which is really a common statement in the Book of Revelation. What he's saying is: you need to develop a heart that listens and responds to God.

Revelation 2:17 - "To him that overcomes, I'll give him some of the hidden manna to eat".

Now you see again, the use of a picture language. If you're not familiar with the pictures or stories in the Bible, then it doesn't mean anything. But when you look, just look up 'manna' in the Bible. Notice he says: I will give him 'hidden manna' to eat. So you've really got to ask the questions: what is manna; and what is hidden manna? What does he mean by it?

Well, the first reference to manna is found in the Old Testament, in the Book of Exodus 16:15, and manna was a food that was supplied supernaturally by God, to nourish the people of Israel. It was supernatural food. So Jesus is saying: I'm offering supernatural food to you. In Exodus 16:15, when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another: what is it, because they didn't know what it is; and Moses said: it's the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

In Psalm 78:24-25, the manna was called: 'the bread of heaven'; and 'angels food'. In other words, whatever it was they ate supernaturally sustained them. It was a provision of God that kept them healthy, kept them alive, kept them vibrant in a difficult journey through a wilderness. Jesus Himself said: Moses gave you that manna; but actually, I'm the real manna. He uses this story of manna, saying: actually, the real manna is a person - I'm the bread of life! So He's talking then about intimacy with Him - its like a supernatural food for us.

So what's hidden manna? So is there any reference to 'hidden' manna? Well, the word 'to hide' - hidden means just 'to conceal'. So, is there any place where manna was hidden or concealed? It tells us that, after the manna was gathered up, they put a portion of manna in a pot - and they concealed it, or hid it, in the Ark of the Covenant - in the Holiest of Holies of the Tabernacle. It was a reminder to Israel, of God's miracle provision. So in the Ark of the Covenant, which was a wooden box covered in gold, in which were placed the 10 Commandments (the word of God) - the hidden manna, secret food, hidden supernatural food - and Aaron's rod that budded supernaturally; all of these things are supernatural. The tablets were supernaturally given, the manna was supernaturally given; and Aaron's rod was a dead stick that suddenly leaved, and had fruit and budded, budded and had fruit - so all of that is supernatural.

And the only place it was to be found - no one saw it, because it was hidden! It was hidden in the Holiest of Holies - in the furthermost part of the Tabernacle, where the glory of God dwelt. So when he says: I'll give him 'hidden manna' - everyone who was listening understood what that meant. Oh man, hidden manna! That means He will take us into the very throne room of God, and we will have fellowship, and will be fed and nourished supernaturally there. This is a promise... and it's a promise to overcomers! So notice then, he's using different pictures to describe an important promise.

Here's another promise also to Pergamon and this is the promise of a 'white stone', in Revelation 2:17. It's virtually the same verse again. He says:

"I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written that no one knows except him who receives it."

Again, to us that has little reality. You look at it, and it doesn't have any meaning. But the people there knew exactly what it was; so we've got to ask the questions then: what does the white stone refer to; and what does it mean to have a new name written on it? "I'll give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, and no one knows it except the one who receives it". So this is a secret! What he's going to get... it's got an element which is open, the white stone; and there's a part of it which is secret - the name that's written on it. It's a new name!

So what's the white stone? Well, to the people who were listening to this, they were aware that there were competitions. There were the gladiators and the competitions and so on. Anyone who won a great victory in the races, or a great victory in the competitions, or a great victory in the games or the battles - they were given a white stone. Probably the best thing you'd say is: they got an Olympic medal. You've all seen an Olympic medal - the guy gets the gold! You want to go for gold! When you go for gold, you're put up on a dais, the medal's put on, they sing the national anthem... and it's a very emotional, moving thing. Here's a thought: Why is it when, in New Zealand, our country wins a gold medal, and you see them on the dais, and our national anthem's sung... why does it stir something in our heart? What is it in our heart? I mean just a person won a gold medal, what the heck?

And yet when you watch it and hear it there's an emotion stirs in us, because deep in our spirit there is a knowledge of a day to come when you will stand on a dais and be given the white stone, that will acknowledge what you have done. So it was given as an award of honour; and people who had the white stone were given privileged access to special events, and to special meals. So if you had won a white stone, or won an Olympic medal - if I use that language, if you'd won your Olympic medal - then everyone knows who you are! Everyone wants to have their picture taken with you! Everyone wants to connect with you; and the access, or 'having the stone' gave them access to games. It gave them access to festivities, all kinds of things.

That word 'white stone' - the 'white' means to 'shine', or 'glisten', or to be brilliant white. Probably, the different stones will be different degrees of honour. Even if you look now at stones, you see different sized stones, and different quality of diamonds. I can tell a good diamond - You can tell it! Its colour... its sparkle... you can see it! So clearly, the stones themselves will acknowledge - they're a form of honour; and it says: He has a 'new name' written on it. So what does it mean, that God's written a new name on the stone? So firstly again, you have to ask: the 'new name' - what does a 'name' mean? Then when you look at what a 'name' means, then you can go back and then work what a 'new name' might mean.

So first of all, your name is the means by which you're identified. Steve, there's Steve. There's Dave. There's Josephine and so on. So we call your name, Steve, you'll know who we called. Everyone knows who we called. You're identified by your name. In the Bible, names always signify the character of a person, or something to do with their destiny - both for good and for bad! There was a Nahash - that meant: 'the serpent'! He was an Ammonite, who came against the people of God - so names meant something. There was Jephthah, the one that 'breaks through'. So frequently names meant their character, what they're like - Peter, the 'rock'; or their destiny \- what they were called to do. So names then, have a meaning.

If God gave a person a new name, you ask the question: a new name means a different name. Did Jesus or God give new names or names to anyone? Yes, He did. What did that mean, when He gave them a new name? A new name means a change in relationship, or a change in status, or a change in role in the kingdom. If God gave a person a new name, it meant there was a change in relationship, a change in status, or a change in their role in the kingdom. Think about the stories we know - you'll know them straight away...

* Abram was renamed Abraham, meaning: father of a multitude.

* Sarai was renamed Sarah, meaning: princess.

* Jacob was renamed Israel, meaning: prevailing with God.

* Simon was renamed Peter, meaning: the rock.

Notice that each time we saw someone in the Bible that got a new name, there was a changed status; or there was something to do with the destiny that they were called into - so quite amazing really. Now here's a thing: Jesus Himself was given a new name! Wow! So again, you look up 'new name', and every time you find 'new name', you'll see some insight on it.

Philippians 2:9-10 - "Therefore God has highly exalted Jesus, and given Him a name which is above every other name - that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, of those in earth, of those under the earth"

So notice that Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient to death. He's humbled Himself, and served the purpose of His Father; and now, there's an exalting! What is the exalting? The exalting is being given a new name. He's lifted up, and given a new name; and it says: we'll still know Him as 'Jesus', but the new name then refers to His status. Notice what it says: He's given a name above every other name. In other words, the name of Jesus, or His name, has been given a high new ranking or status - that at the name of 'Jesus', every knee will bow - in heaven, and in earth, and things under the earth - everyone will bow and acknowledge who He is. In other words, God has taken Jesus, who has humbled Himself, become obedient to death - and now elevated him up to the highest possible place that could ever be had, in authority and ranking. So the 'new name' that He receives then... His name is still known as 'Jesus', but His 'new name' then refers to His new exalted status.

He is the King of Kings! He is the Lord of Lords! He is Emperor over all of creation; and He has won that, because of His death. He's the Eternal Emperor! So for God to give you a 'new name', it will reveal to people - giving you a new name means a change in your status or character, or God's destiny to you. Interestingly, it says a 'new name' that only He knows. That means that God has a secret with you. Secrets are a part of friendship. So the giving of a new name is an altering of status and friendship.

Here is #5. Jesus made this promise, the promise of Jesus' new name. Revelations 3:12 - "I will write on him My new name."

So what does it mean? So remember, you just ask the questions... What does it mean: 'write' on him? What does it mean: My new name? What does this whole phrase: write on him My new name, mean? What could it possibly mean? So write on him... To 'write' means you take a pen, you write something down.

2 Corinthians 3:3 - "you are an epistle, or you are the letter ministered to by us, not written with ink but written by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is the heart." Notice he's saying that: you've become the letter, because God wrote on your heart his life, or his character. To 'write on your heart' means: the Holy Spirit gives revelation to you. Things you didn't know, God writes in your heart.

So Jesus' new name and identity and rank is: He's now the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, He's the Emperor. He had a name that no man knew except Himself. In other words, He was also awarded a prize for the victory, the white stone. We are following Him. So what it says, when He says "I'll write on you My new name when you overcome", He's saying I will share with you a deeper level of intimacy. I will lift you to a greater status, and I will share some of My authority with you. So again, a lot of these pictures or images overlap with one another, but it primarily speaks of a much greater intimacy. "I will write on him My new name" - so He will impart revelation to us, of who He is; and not only who He is, but also a deeper revelation of Father God. So one of the prizes to be won is a much deeper revelation and intimacy - both with Jesus, and with the Father.

Here's another promise - and again, all of these are to do with intimacy. He said in Revelations 2:25-28, "I will give him the morning star" - so it's the promise of the Morning Star. So what does it mean, the morning star? Again, just ask the question, what could that possibly mean? Firstly, in nature, what does it mean; and secondly, is there a reference to it in the Bible? So firstly, in nature, the morning star is the brightest star in the sky. You see it just before the dawning of a new day. It's usually the one lowest on the horizon, and it's the beginning of the new day. But the morning star in the Bible is a reference to Jesus Christ Himself.

It says in Revelations 22:16 - "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." See? Jesus Himself! So in other words, He's saying that He Himself is your reward. So what does it mean - He is your reward? It means: a greater level of intimacy, and relationship, and knowing. He will reveal more of Himself. So you can see then, if one of the significant rewards in eternity is a much deeper closeness, intimacy, knowledge, and revelation of Jesus, that brings fulfillment and honour into our life - now's the time to develop intimacy. If intimacy with the Lord is not your passion now, it's hardly ever going to be a reward, because you won't seek it. So I put this one first, because rather than just wanting this and that from God, He wants us to want Him.

He said to Abraham: I am your Shield. I am your Exceeding Great Reward. Abraham had just given up everything, and He said: it's okay, I'm your reward. When you've got Me, you've got access to everything; so don't seek the everything, seek Me! So I've put a few questions in the study to get you think about your relationship with the Lord and intimacy; and that brings us to the second one. I need to move on on this. It's got a bit in this one too.

The second one that we mentioned is the area of Eternal Authority. So eternal again - what does eternal mean? Eternal means: there's no time limit on it. It never expires. It goes on and on and on and on, once you're on that journey. Right now, we're in time; but when you go into the millennial kingdom, you're in eternity - then it never stops. It just goes on. So right now, we're ruled by time; then we're not ruled by time.

The Bible makes it clear that believers will rule with Christ for 1000 years. I saw thrones and the saints; they sat on them, and judgement was given to them, and they lived and reigned with Jesus Christ for 1000 years. Revelations 20:4-6 - "...they shall reign with Him 1000 years". So in the Book of Revelation, it says there is a 1000 year period, a millennium; it means a 1000-year period, and Jesus will come to the earth and rule over the earth - but it's not just on His own. It will be in partnership! So when we understand more about the millennium, and what will happen, and what will precede it, and then our part in the millennium, it inspires us then to actually overcome the trials of life.

So the first thing to see about the millennium is that: it's a 1000 period. The second thing to see is that Jesus, in that period when He returns, will be King over all Kings. He will be King over all Kings. That means He will exercise rulership over all the kings of the earth. Right now, we don't see that. Right now, He has the title to it, but when He returns He will exercise it. In Ephesians 1:21 it says, after His resurrection... "He's been raised far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, the one that is to come." In other words, He's being made King over everything.

Revelations 19:16 - "He's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."

Psalm 72:11 - "All kings will fall down before Him, all nations will serve Him."

Now you look at the news, you look at all the things that are happening in the world, you think: wow, something dramatic has got to change for that to happen - and it is! We'll touch on it tonight; and it says: Jesus, right now, is at the right hand of God; and rules, but His leadership in the earth is not fully manifest yet. So its like when we cast demons out, then there's a little of His leadership is seen. When we see miracles, a little bit of His leadership's seen. When people's lives are transformed, saved and healed and delivered, you see His kingdom advancing, and so on - but we haven't seen what it will look like when it manifests fully!

When He comes, His authority - He will manifest authority with consequences. We're not used to seeing that, but when you look in the Bible, you will see it. What I mean is this: authority with consequences means He has the power to enforce His will on the earth. Now right He's demonstrating that His kingdom is a kingdom of love, and He draws people into a love relationship - to honour Him, and serve Him, and become like Him; but when He returns, it will be with power, and it will be with majesty. He came to earth the first time as the lamb; but He will return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. There is a change! He's still the same person, but there's a change in the aspect we will see of Him; and that means all will yield to His authority, and His right to rule, or they will face the consequences.

That's an extraordinary thing to consider. If you look at the paper, you see all these people, and you see their pride, the arrogance, the posturing, the manipulation - you see all the injustice. But there is a time when all will yield to His authority... or face consequences!

Psalm 110:5 - "The Lord is at your right hand. He shall execute kings in the day of his wrath."

That means: if leaders of nations won't yield, they'll die!

Psalm 110:6 - "He shall judge among the nations. He shall fill the places with dead bodies. He shall execute the heads of many countries."

Notice that He's talking there about, not the aspect of God which is the kindness and mercy and compassion. He's talking now about how He's coming to impose His kingdom in the earth. He's coming to exercise His right to rule. He won the right to rule - first by creating. He won the right to rule by His death on the cross; and by God honouring Him, and giving him that right. He holds it back to grow a people who will work, be prepared ready for Him. And int that time in His coming, there's going to be manifestations of power we haven't seen before.

That brings us to the next thing, point #3. He says: before His coming there'll be a time of great tribulation on the earth.

Matthew 24:6-8 "You will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not come. Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places. These are just the beginning of the sorrows. For then there'll be great tribulation, such as never been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, and shall never ever be."

He's saying that, before His coming, there will be a period of vast destruction; and suffering in the earth, before He comes. The Bible describes in Revelation: He will open seals in heaven and this will unleash on the earth all kinds of devastation. The Bible talks about a third of the earth's population being destroyed by the things that come on the earth. Now that's another whole teaching of its own, when we teach about the day of the Lord.

It's hard for us to comprehend that, until you go into the Bible, and see. Have these things ever happened before? When you go back and ask: did these things ever happen before? Did God ever bring judgements into the earth like that? The answer is: yes, He did! In the days of Noah, which is also a picture of the coming of the Lord \- "As in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man." He said: "the flood overtook them all". So in the days of Noah, the whole earth was covered with a flood, and a handful were saved. There are other examples of that as well. So because there's a period of vast destruction, there's going to need to be a period of restoration - that's where we come in. We are part of the judgements in the earth; and we're part of the restoration!

When Jesus returns again, as I mentioned before, He'll come as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelations 5:5). In the Book of Revelation, it describes Him coming.

Revelation 19:11-16 - "I saw heaven open and behold, a white horse and He who sat on him was Faithful and True (that's Jesus), and in righteousness He judges and makes war."

So when He comes back next time, it won't be peace to all men - it is war! So, good to be on His side; not good to be not on His side. He said: His eyes were a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no man knew except Himself; clothed with a robe dipped in blood, His name is called The Word of God. See - it's very clearly Jesus!

Now look at this: "...The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses". The armies of heaven, white linen, clean and white - that's what the bride is given, in Revelation 19. "...Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword (that means: His word), that He should strike nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron." That means His rule will be unbending, people will have to yield to it. "He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God. He has a robe and on His thigh a name written: Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords".

So notice then, He's saying: there will be an inevitable confrontation, and conflict with anyone who resists Him. When He came the first time, it was to demonstrate the 'lamb' nature - meekness, humility, the suffering servant. When He comes back again, He will come as the 'lion'. He will come to confront kingdoms, He will come to transform the earth.

There's a couple of examples, more than one example, in the Bible of it. Here's one: Moses' confrontation and conflict with Pharaoh over the release of God's people from bondage. Pharaoh was a natural ruler, of the most wealthy and influential empire in the world; yet one man forced him to bow and let go everything. How did that happen? He carried Sonship Authority; he carried Sonship power! The guy had to yield, or lose everything. We see it in Elijah's confrontation with the false prophets of Baal - he called fire from heaven! So you understand, when God is backing you, and supernatural power is available at this kind of level... people can't say no! If they say no, there's a big problem! You understand that? Once you start to look in the Bible, and start to see the stories then, of these confrontations of kingdom against kingdom - they all have pictures of the end time of kingdoms in conflict; and Jesus Himself will overcome all resistance to His rule, and establish His kingdom on the earth. He will partner with believers to do that.

So here's the fifth point, #5 and it says: Jesus will establish His rule over the world - over a worldwide kingdom. So there will be a one world government; it will be in Jerusalem; it will be Jesus in charge - and He'll have a team! He'll have a people who help Him administer His government - all governments require people to administer it. He has a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

In Revelation it says: "Jesus Christ was the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth". So He will establish rulership over two types of kings. There will be resurrected kings, resurrected believers - so that'll be you and me, resurrected in a resurrection body; therefore can't be hurt, can't be killed, can't be even captured. Can you imagine? So you're living in a resurrection body - in an earth where people are not resurrected. There's nothing can harm you! There's nothing! You can move, transport from one place to another - there's nothing can hold you back. No sickness can touch you, no one can kill you. It's like impossible to cause any problem to you! So you understand then, Jesus will have a company of people in resurrection bodies; but then there'll also be natural kings, and they will be guided by and directed by people. They may not want to yield to them - but they will have to, just like all kings have advisors.

Isaiah 61:4 - "They will rebuild the old ruins, raise up the former desolations, repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."

So in the season of the millennium, every aspect of society will be changed. Now just think about the task of doing that, the task of changing government just alone: laws, the legal system, the financial, economic systems (which are manipulated), the education systems, the media systems, the entertainment, the sports, community, religion... Think of all the aspects that make up a society - someone has to change all that! Who is going to change all of that? Well, God is preparing believers! He has them from every age since the beginning. He will have people prepared. The thing that will differ will be: what role you have.

So #6: Jesus' government won't be instantaneous; it will be progressive, will progressively increase. He's not going to click His fingers and make everything change. He could do that now; but He doesn't want to do that. He wants to raise you up. He wants to raise people up. He wants to raise people up, who He can share His authority with, who will partner with Him - and they'll come from every generation that have ever lived! There will be people arise; some resurrected, and some changed, now that they're alive. In Isaiah 9:7, it says: "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." In other words, His government or His kingdom will increase without ever stopping; so that opens up the prospect that, even what we see is not the limit of what God is going to create, or have for us to rule over.

In Daniel 2:35 he says: Daniel had a vision of the end times, and it was a vision - an image he saw; and he saw a stone come and shatter the image, and he said: the stone that struck the image became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. That stone is the kingdom of God. In the vision that Nebuchadnezzar saw (he was the ruler of Babylon), there was a vision of a head of iron and so on, silver and gold, right down through to feet of clay and brass... Then he saw a picture of a small rock come and shatter the feet of this image, and the whole thing collapsed. So when you look historically, every one of the parts of the body that were mentioned represent a kingdom; except when we get to the last ones, which refer to a kingdom originating in Europe from Rome, probably made up of 10 countries, that hasn't yet come into being. Many people thought it would be the EUC, then the EU and so on; but it's a collaboration of nations that hasn't yet come. And he says: in the days of those kings, God will set up a kingdom, and it will invade the whole earth. So in other words there's going to be massive conflict; massive, massive, massive conflict - there's no other way! As David was saying, if you can't run with the footmen, how are you going to handle the horsemen? This is really little stuff compared to what's coming!

Daniel 7:27 - "Then the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High; and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."

He's saying that all of the kingdoms will become His kingdom; and every dominion, every realm over which anyone rules, will become His domain; and they will serve and obey Him. So we get then to the applications of this, and of course, faithfulness in this life determines the level of authority you'll carry in the millennial reign. So everyone of us has got a different responsibility and assignments in the millennial kingdom - everyone, everyone. Think of what it takes to run a nation - you've got to have people doing all kinds of jobs, all kinds of places, and so there's going to be a place for everyone. God's big enough to make that happen.

In Revelations 20:6, it says: we'll be priests and Gods, and reign with Him 1000 years - that means we'll have an authority to bring about change or transformation. In Luke 19:17, someone was put over 10 cities; in Luke 19:19, someone was over five cities. In Revelations 2:26 - some will get power over the nations. Revelations 3:21 - some will sit with Me in My throne. Now the thing I want you to see from there is this: there are many different realms of authority. Some will sit in His throne with Him. Some will have authority to change nations.

Well, there's only so many nations of the world, a couple of hundred, so there's only a couple of hundred people going to be doing that! And then there'll be others who have authority over ten cities, over five cities, and then over less and less and less and less. So He's saying then, that what we do now determines the level we will operate at in the coming kingdom. So faithfulness now, in serving, determines what responsibility and authority we have in the coming kingdom.

I'd like you to read Luke 19:11-27, which is the parable, not unlike the Talents parable which is a slightly different one. It's the Parable of the Pounds, or Minas.

"And a certain Nobleman when to a far country to receive a kingdom for Himself and return."

The Nobleman is Jesus; the country is heaven. He's gone to receive a kingdom, and return. He tells His servants: occupy, or do business, until I come. In other words, every believer... God doesn't want you just mucking around - enjoying a nice service! He wants you to be busy with your gifts, your time, your resources - engaged in advancing the kingdom, and representing Jesus. When He returned, having received the kingdom, He commanded the servants who He'd given money to, and called them: I want to know how much each man had gained by trading - Luke 19:13. So everyone will be called when the Lord returns: what did you do?

In another session, I will show you what He takes into account, which is quite a relief really! He takes our weaknesses into account. He takes lots of things into account, in working this out - He's a Righteous Judge! So everyone will give account; and our faithfulness will be acknowledged, and then rewarded. So if you've been productive and fruitful in this life, you will then be productive and fruitful, and given authority, in the next.

What about people who are not? What about people who resist Him? He said: bring these enemies of mine, that did not want Me to reign over them - and slay them before Me! So people who fight against God in this age - there's going to be a problem for them, when He returns. They'll meet an untimely death!

That's a great parable to study. It's a parable of the coming kingdom. There's lots of truths hidden in the parable. The core of it, is that faithfulness now is required - well done, good and faithful servant; faithful over few things, ruler over many! So in order for us to participate in ruling with Jesus, we have to overcome now. Now is the day! Every day presents a new challenge to overcome. It's a great honour that we have been given! Our eternal destiny is the throne of God Himself.

Revelations 3:21 - "To him who overcomes, I will grant with him to sit in My throne, as I also overcame."

Overcoming is the big issue.

"He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, I'll give him power over the nations".

Notice how, in all of these great promises, they're very, very big, mind-blowing promises. But at the core of them, always - you have to overcome! There's always something to overcome. Revelation 2 & 3 tells you what all the end time churches have got to overcome. So it's not automatic, it doesn't come to every believer; it's promised for those who overcome! You overcome losing your first love; you maintain passion; you overcome in trials, and don't quit. Think of people you know in church - one little thing, and they quit! What? You - it's like, you don't understand what's at stake here. Compromise - think of many people are compromised. They're just living one foot in the church, one foot in the world; one in the kingdom, one outside the kingdom - that's not going to cut it! We need to live strongly!

The Book of Revelation says that we must overcome the works of Jezebel; and right now, in this current seaso,n there's been an increasing emphasis on the activity of the spirit of Jezebel - that controlling power. We have to learn how to overcome that in our personal life, and whatever we're doing. So there's all these things we need to overcome: spiritual apathy, indifference, and complacency. There are huge and immense promises made for us. These promises are eternal; eternal intimacy, pleasure being in His presence, joy forevermore. Can you imagine being in His presence - everything fades away. Think of even the meetings we've had, where you've felt overwhelmed by the presence of God.

Everything that worried your life fell away, as you enjoyed His presence, and wept when you felt His love. Now imagine multiplying that 100, 1000, 2000, 10,000 - multiply that. It will be worth it! That's why He talks about the pleasures of sin for a season. Sin is enjoyable. You know, you enjoy it; but it's only for a season. It says for Moses: he turned away from the pleasures of sin for a season, because he had respect for the reward. So Moses got a revelation of this reward - that's why he gave up Egypt! It tells us in the Book of Hebrews 11: "he forsook Egypt by faith, and choosing to endure affliction with the people of God, rather than the pleasures of sin for a season - for he had respect for the recompense of the reward". See, there it is, right there! Moses understood: there is a big reward, for me giving up.

Imagine what he's actually giving up! He's giving up: sitting in a throne next to Pharaoh; ruling over a nation; wealth; everything at his disposal. He's in charge of armies! He's got everything you could imagine - and he gave it all up, because he saw what God was offering. For a season, or eternal - that's what the choice is; seasonal, or eternal. When you fix your eyes on the eternal, it motivates you to overcome, no matter what anyone else is doing. I will be faithful. I will develop intimacy. I will hold my ground. I will overcome the challenges of life, because I have respect for the reward that God has, the reward of eternal intimacy, the reward of eternal authority! Well bless you - there's the study.

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_19-06-2020.htm#notes) Back to Top »

ER3. Overview of the Eternal Rewards Part 1

I.Introduction

1.A Great Theme of Jesus Teaching was Eternal Rewards  
\- Jesus constantly taught about seeking Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them  
\- "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."(Mat.16:27)

2.There are very Many Different types of Rewards  
\- In Rev.2-3 Jesus names many different rewards for those who Overcome specific challenges and trials  
\- The many Eternal Rewards that are described potentially form an important part of our Eternal Destiny  
\- We need to be familiar with the significance and importance of the different rewards revealed.  
\- Understanding what is at stake gives us great motivation for perseverance and transformation  
"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.  
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality" (Col.3:22-24)

3.Rewards are Not Given Automatically...Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions  
\- "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev.3:21)  
\- "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jn.12:26)  
\- Note that in each of these scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in response to Jesus

4.Our Small Sacrifices Now have Huge Recompense Eternally  
\- "You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things." (Mt. 25:21)  
\- "Well done...you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Lk. 19:17)  
\- God greatly values our small expressions of obedience in our mind , emotions and will  
\- He remembers them and rewards them in a much much greater proportion  
\- God is a "Rewarder" ( Heb.11:6) and He is extremely generous!  
\- "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." (Mt. 19:29)

5.A Summary of these Many Rewards  
\- The many Rewards mentioned in the Bible could be listed under the following possible headings:  
\- Reward 1. Eternal Intimacy  
Our communion with God will vary according to our spiritual capacity.  
Jesus will reward some by writing the Father's name on them. This includes receiving insight about God.

\- Reward 2. Eternal Authority  
We will all have different work assignments with varying measures of authority and responsibility  
"...because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Lk.19:17)

\- Reward 3. Eternal Glory  
God's glory will be manifested in our resurrected bodies in varying measures.  
"The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Mt. 13:43)

\- Reward 4. Eternal Garments  
Garments will vary in glory according to how believers lived  
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,"(Rev.3:4)  
There may be many different types of clothing with unique designs, fabric, brightness, color, etc.

\- Reward 5. Victor's Crowns  
Some will receive crowns to publicly honor their private victories  
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him"(Jam1:12)

\- Reward 6. Honour & Praise  
Each will receive varying praise from God  
The Lord comes...then each one's praise [affirmation] will come from God. (1 Cor. 4:5)  
"....likewise he said to him, "You also be over five cities." (Lk. 19:17-19)

\- Reward 7. Riches & Treasure  
Jesus' call to gain treasure in heaven includes many different things  
"...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Mt.6:20).

\- Reward 8. Vindication  
Being vindicated before one's enemies  
"Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you" (Rev.3:9)

6.The First Three of these Rewards Deserve Special Attention  
\- This is because God's original design for man is to be a Son  
Having Intimate Relationship with Father....Knowing the depths of His heart and communing with God  
Exercising Authority on behalf of Father......Working with Him to extend His Kingdom  
Representing Father........................................Revealing through words and actions His Character and Glory  
\- One of the Rewards mentioned more than any other is Ruling and Reigning with Christ

II.Reward 1. Eternal Intimacy

1.The Parable of The Ten Virgins (Mat.25:1-13)  
\- This parable reveals that some believers will have greater intimacy with the Lord than others.  
\- All were Virgins  
Because of the blood of Christ, every believer is a ―pure virgin who has been betrothed to Jesus as His Bride (2 Cor. 11:2 ).  
\- All Ten Virgins had lamps, and oil and were waiting for the Bridegroom  
That means all ten virgins are genuine believers.  
\- Only the five wise virgins paid the price to purchase the oil in order to make themselves ready  
\- " but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps" (Matt. 25:4, 9-10).  
\- The foolish virgins, on the other hand, lived an undisciplined life. They did not pay the price for the oil  
"And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." (Mat.25:8-9)  
\- They ran out of oil, their light went out, and they did not make themselves ready as a worthy Bride  
\- Jesus clearly revealed the reward for the wise virgins when He said,  
"Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut" (Matt. 25:10).  
\- Because the wise virgins paid the price to purchase oil and to make themselves ready, they were rewarded with eternal intimacy with the Bridegroom.

2.The Promise of Intimacy (Laodicean Overcomers)   
\- "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.(Rev.3:20)  
\- Dining with others is an opportunity to relax, laugh together and enjoy one another. It is a time where communication at a deeper heart to heart level occurs  
\- This promise of dining is one of increased intimacy with Jesus in this life, but mostly will find fulfilment in the Millennial Kingdom at the extended celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb  
\- "Dine".... Is the same word used in Rev.19:9 referring to the Marriage Supper  
\- In the Bible culture dining is a place of intimate conversations and the developing of bonds of friendship and companionship  
\- "I will dine with him".... Jesus is offering us the opportunity to experience deep communication and oneness with Him, to celebrate with Him and enjoy His close friendship  
\- The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a Highlight of History. It will be a wonderful time of celebration and enjoying close relationship with Jesus  
\- It is impossible to describe in words the joy and pleasure of this deeper intimacy with Jesus  
\- David: Intimacy is Indescribable Pleasure  
"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps.16:11)  
"They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures" (Ps.36:8)  
\- Paul: Intimacy is A Prize to be Won  
Paul described this intimacy as a prize to be won greater than any other pursuit or achievement  
"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"(Phi.3:8)

3.The Promise of Hidden Manna (Pergamon Overcomers)  
\- "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. " (Rev.2:17)  
What is Manna?  
\- Manna was the food supernaturally supplied by God to nourish Israel in the wilderness  
\- "So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat" (Exod.16:15)  
\- And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" (Exod.16:31)  
\- Manna represents revelation we receive personally from Jesus who is the Bread of Life (Jn.6:48-51)  
\- The Manna was called "Bread of heaven" and "Angels food" (Ps.78:24-25)  
What is Hidden Manna?  
\- The Manna was hidden on a golden pot in the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies  
\- This Hidden Manna could only be seen by the High Priest once a year in the Holy of holies  
\- Hidden Manna means being fed revelation knowledge of Kingdom mysteries by Jesus personally.  
It means a privileged much greater depth of intimacy with Him

4.The Promise of a White Stone with a New Name written upon it (Pergamon Overcomers)   
\- "I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." (Rev. 2:17)  
What is the White Stone?  
\- Precious stones were given as awards of honor to those who did valiant service, won victories in the Games, or who performed courageously in battle  
\- Those receiving these stones with their name on it were given privileged access to special events including games and feats offered by the Roman Empire  
\- "White".....to shine or glisten, brilliant, dazzling white  
\- "White Stone" probably refers to varying degrees of honor and status and privileges at the Marriage Supper of the lamb  
New Name Written on it  
\- Your Name is one of the means by which you are identified.  
\- Sometimes people are renamed or given a nickname as a sign of endearment and friendship  
\- Bible names all have a meaning which describes their character or personality  
\- When God gave people a new name it meant a change of relationship, of status, or of role in the Kingdom  
Eg. Abram was renamed Abraham........Father of a Multitude, Nations (Gen.17:5)  
Eg. Sarah was renamed Sarah ................Princess (Gen.17:15)  
Eg. Jacob was renamed Israel..................Prevailing with God (Gen.32:28)  
Eg. Simon was renamed Peter.................The Rock (Mat.16:18)  
\- Jesus Himself was given a New Name  
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth"(Phil.2:9-10)  
\- "Exalted".... To lift or elevate to the highest possible rank or position, Supreme Majesty and Authority  
\- Jesus new name reflects that He humbled Himself being obedient to death, and now Father has exalted Him to the highest possible rank........Eternal Emperor  
\- Our New Name will characterise who we are, how we lived our lives in the secret place with Jesus, and the rank or position that Father has exalted us to in His Kingdom  
\- The new name which no one else but God knows describes an intimate , private and deeply personal relationship with Jesus and Father God ( Close friends have secrets they share)  
The White Stone with a New Name written upon it means Jesus has raised us to a new level of  
deep personal intimate relationship with Him and given us a new rank of status and honor

5.The Promise of Jesus New Name  
\- "I will write on him My new name." (Rev. 3:12)  
\- "Write on him" refers to the Holy Spirit bringing personal revelation to our hearts  
\- "... clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2Cor.3:3)  
\- Jesus new name is the new identity and rank that He now has as King of Kings and Lord of Lords who overcame. He is Supreme Emperor  
\- "He had a name written that no one knew except Himself". (Rev. 19:12)  
\- Jesus will reveal his heart and beauty and glory in a much deeper way to those who overcome  
\- "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."(Rev.3:12)  
\- Jesus will impart and share with us a deep revelation of Father God and lift is up to a new realm of loving intimacy, an exalted rank of honor and authority in the Kingdom

6.The Promise of The Morning Star  
\- "I will give to him the morning star." (Rev. 2:25-28)  
What is the Morning Star?  
\- The Morning Star is the brightest star in the sky seen just before the dawning of a new day  
\- The Morning Star is a reference to the Person of Jesus Himself.  
\- "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.  
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." (Rev.22:16)  
\- God revealed to Abraham that he Himself was his "exceeding great reward" (Gen.15:1)  
\- Paul referred to intimacy with Jesus as being a prize to be won (Phil.3:8)  
\- Overcomers are promised the exceeding great reward of a deeper personal intimacy and relationship with Jesus. He will reveal much much more of His presence and of Himself

7.Now is the Time to Cultivate a Deeper Intimacy with Jesus  
\- Each of the promises of greater intimacy with jesus in the Millennial Kingdom were give to Overcomers  
\- "Overcome"......to subdue, prevail, gain the victory  
\- There are always obstacles to us developing intimacy with Jesus on a daily basis  
\- Some of these obstacles are External (circumstances) and some of these are Internal(the flesh)  
\- Intimacy is a progressive journey of deepening connection, openness and responsiveness to Jesus  
\- We pay the price daily to cultivate Intimacy with Jesus...The rewards are indescribable

Questions for Personal Reflection  
1.What has the Holy Spirit impressed upon you in this study?  
2.How would you describe your current relationship and intimacy with Jesus?  
3.How consistent and fruitful are your times of prayer?  
4.What could you do to cultivate an atmosphere of worship in your home and life?  
5.Are you experiencing Jesus in Daily Worship Encounters?  
6.Are you journaling to develop a two way relationship with Jesus?  
7.What external circumstances are hindering your relationship with Jesus?  
8.What internal blocks or issues are hindering a deeper intimacy with jesus?  
9.What steps of action do you need to take to deepen your relationship with Jesus?

III.Reward 2. Eternal Authority

1.Believers will Rule with Jesus for 1000 years.  
\- I saw thrones, and they [saints from Rev. 19:14] sat on them, and judgment [decision making] was committed to them...and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  
...but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4-6)  
\- The Millennium is a 1,000 year period in which Jesus will rule the earth in partnership with resurrected believers  
\- Understanding the Millennium gives us insight into what the Lord is preparing His people for.

2.Jesus is King over all Kings  
\- Jesus has been raised to a position of supreme authority and power by God the Father  
\- "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church" (Eph.1:21-22)  
\- Jesus has been made King over All Kings  
\- He has...a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:16)  
\- " Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him". (Ps. 72:11)  
\- Jesus reigns now at God's right hand over the kings of the earth, yet His leadership over these kings is not fully manifested to all.  
\- However, in the Millennium he will come in glory and power and will fully manifest His Kingship and Authority on the earth.  
\- He will Manifest Authority with Consequences  
\- All will yield to His Authority, His right to Rule, or face consequences  
\- The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.  
Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries" (Ps110:5-6)

3.Before His Coming there will be a Time of Great Tribulation on the Earth  
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mat.24:6-8)  
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Mat.24:21)  
\- There will be a period of vast destruction and suffering in the earth in the period before Jesus return when the seals in revelation are opened.  
\- The Earth will Need Restoration having been devastated by events preceding the Coming of Christ

4.When Jesus returns it will not be as the Lamb but as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah(Rev.5:5)  
\- He will return to establish His Kingdom on the Earth  
\- "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev.19:11-16)  
\- There will be inevitable confrontation and conflict with those who resist His Rule  
\- Eg Moses confrontation and conflict with Pharaoh over release of God's people from bondage in Egypt  
\- Eg. Elijahs Confrontation with the false prophets of Baal  
\- Jesus will overcome all resistance to His Rule and establish His Kingdom on the Earth  
\- He will partner with Overcoming Believers to accomplish this

5.Jesus will Establish His Rule Over a Worldwide Kingdom.  
\- He has...a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:16)  
\- "....and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth (Natural).  
\- He will establish His rule in partnership with two types of kings—  
Resurrected Kings ......Believers with physical, resurrected bodies walking in great authority  
Kings of the Earth.......People with natural, non-resurrected bodies  
\- Together they will establish a godly social order that will transform every sphere of life in the Millennium.  
\- "And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations" (Is.61:4)  
\- Every aspect of society will be transformed to become aligned with the the Kingdom of God  
\- This will involve major transformation ....government, law, finance, education, media, entertainment, sports, community, religion,

6.Jesus government will not be instantaneous but will progressively increase  
\- Eg. "Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.(Is. 9:7)  
\- Eg. Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth" (Dan.2:35)  
\- It will take time to transform the Kingdoms of this world. It will not happen in an instant.  
\- Natural processes will continue but deeply impacted by the presence of God and His glory  
\- "For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea" (Hab.2:14)  
\- What an enormous honor to be chosen to work with Jesus to establish true peace and prosperity upon the earth  
\- "Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him." (Dan.7:27)

7.Faithfulness in this Life determines the Level of Authority we have in the age to Come  
Each of us will have differing responsibilities and assignments in the Millennial Kingdom  
\- Note these scriptures indicating different levels  
\- They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years (Rev. 20:6).  
\- "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' (Lk.19:17)  
\- "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' (Lk.19:19)  
\- " And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations" (Rev.2:26)  
\- "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Rev.3:21)

8.Faithfulness in Our Serving now Determines our Responsibility and Authority in the Age to Come  
\- Your life now is your preparation for your eternal Ministry in the coming Kingdom  
\- The Parable of the Pounds(Minas) Luke19:11-27)  
\- " A certain nobleman went to a far country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return" (Luke 19:12).  
\- Jesus is that Nobleman and the far country is heaven. He will receive the Kingdom at His Heavenly Coronation and Return (Dan.7:13-14)  
\- " Do business until I come (Luke 19:13)  
\- Every believer is entrusted by Jesus with gifts, resources, time, ministries, and opportunities and commanded to engage in advancing the Kingdom of God  
\- "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading" (Lk19:13)  
\- Every one of us will be called to give account of our stewardship at the judgment Seat of Christ(Bema)  
\- Our faithfulness in serving Jesus in His absence will be acknowledged and rewarded  
\- Our rewards will reflect how faithful and productive we have been during our brief life on earth  
One was given rule over ten cities, one was given rule over five cities  
\- There will be a multitude of levels of responsibilities for people to serve in the coming Kingdom  
\- But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me." (Lk.19:13)  
\- Jesus enemies who refuse His rule over them will meet an untimely death  
\- Jesus will give his faithful servants authority to rule over literal cities in the Millennial Kingdom.  
\- With such a High Calling of God upon our lives we must become faithful in all areas of our life  
\- We need to be faithful Jesus and His call upon our life even in the dry and difficult seasons  
\- These difficult times " work for us an eternal weight of glory" as we remain faithful to Christ  
\- We need to be faithful in the small things especially when no one but God is watching

9.To Participate in Ruling with Jesus we Must Overcome in this Life  
\- Jesus has invited us to sit down with Him on His throne and to rule the nations with a rod of iron in the Millennial Kingdom and for all eternity.  
\- What a Great Honor we have been called to participate In....everything else pales in significance  
Our eternal destiny is the Throne of God  
\- To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne"(Rev.3:21)  
" And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; THEY SHALL BE DASHED TO PIECES LIKE THE POTTER'S VESSELS'—as I also have received from My Father;" (Rev.2:26-27)  
\- To qualify for this high calling, Jesus says that we must overcome.  
This reward of eternal authority is not for every believer.  
These rewards are reserved for those who overcome losing their first love, trials and tribulations, compromise with the world, the works of Jezebel, spiritual slumber, apathy, and being complacent  
\- Those granted authority will participate with Jesus in judging the nations in the Millennial Kingdom.  
Not only will the overcomers sit down on the throne with Jesus, but the Bible says that ―judgment [will be] given to them (Rev. 20:4).  
\- "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?" (1 Cor. 6:2-3).  
\- The overcomers will assist Jesus when He judges the nations and evaluates their role in the Millennial Kingdom (Matt. 25:31-46).

Questions for Personal Reflection  
1.What has the Holy Spirit impressed upon me in this teaching?  
2.In what areas do I need to repent of being unfaithful, inconsistent, resentful ?  
3.In what areas do I need to cultivate greater faithfulness to The Lord?  
4.In what areas do I need to overcome passivity, lack of motivation, complacency?

# Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 2 (4 of 6)

## Sun 21 Jun 2020 AM « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

Eternal Rewards are an important part of Jesus teachings, both in the Gospels and also in the Book of Revelation. Eternal Rewards are Jesus generosity to us in the coming Millennium and beyond that acknowledge our love for Him, our transformation to become like Him and the service we have done on His behalf during our life on earth. This series brings understanding of the significance and importance of Eternal Rewards. This teaching continue to explain what those rewards are and it's focus is Eternal Glory
Introduction

Welcome to the study. We're looking at the series, Eternal Rewards. In the last session, I did an overview of what the eternal rewards are. This is Part 2 of that, so I'll just touch on and review where we went last time, and then we're going to get into the new teaching today.

What you believe about the future will greatly affect how you prepare, and how you live, your life. One of the things that Jesus taught a lot about was eternal rewards. He taught about Eternity, He taught about a coming kingdom. His message was on The Kingdom. The Kingdom is here now. It's available now, but it's also a coming kingdom as well. So there's a measure available now; and by faith we can stretch into the kingdom age, and pull some of what God has prepared in the ages to come, into the age we live in now.

The dilemma you have, when people get some of these end time teachings, is they put everything off until the future, and do nothing now. But throughout the Bible you find people, God showed them what was to come, and their life showed they stretched into that age, and pulled it into where they lived; and you see it in many different people that ministered.

So when we look at this teaching on Eternal Rewards, Jesus talked about us coming into relationship; and then He talked about our life, in other words, what we live, our stewardship.

Matthew 16:27: "now the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father and His angels, He will reward each man according to their works".

Jesus is talking about Eternal Rewards, and He associates the rewards we receive with the works that we do - in other words, our activities, as a steward for Jesus. Secondly, we saw there are many different types of rewards; and in almost every situation, the rewards were for overcoming some particular challenge or difficulty. We saw in Revelations 2 and 3, how there are many, many different rewards that are mentioned by Jesus, and they all relate to overcoming something. At some stage we may look at the Churches of Revelation, and in every one of them, Jesus reveals Himself in a certain way. He reveals an aspect of Himself. He commends them for what they've done; and then He begins to talk about where there's a lack, or what He wants them to do; and then gives a reward associated with it.

So we need to be aware, or familiar with, what is at stake. If nothing is at stake, then you don't get interested in this - it doesn't mean anything to you; but if there's a lot at stake, then that changes the way you look at it. I used the illustration last time: would you rather have $10 now, or $1000 at the end of the week? The issue is: can you delay gratification now, in order for the bigger thing. You can imagine, if the end of it all is a massive prize, then you're motivated then to lay your life down.

The third thing we saw was: rewards are not given automatically - it requires that we meet specific conditions. For example...

Revelations 3:21 - "to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down My Father on His throne"

Jesus is saying: I have modelled the life of overcoming, and as a result of overcoming, I've been elevated to this particular realm, as a man. He had the realm of glory, had a realm of rulership, before He came into the earth. Now He's been elevated, as a man, into that; and He says: if you overcome, likewise you will be lifted up, and share the throne with Me. That means to share a position of honour, to share a position of authority and to be a friend of Him, in advancing His kingdom, in the ages to come.

John 12:26 - "If any man serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also, for if anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.

So notice, He then talks about God, the Father, honouring people who meet certain conditions; and the two conditions are: #1, serving Jesus; and #2, following Him.

Serving has to do with: performing activities on His behalf, as His representative. Following Him means: letting His word transform our life. So to follow Jesus, or to follow a rabbi, meant you walked with them, and learnt how they lived their life, and applied the word of God to their life; so it's a life-transformation process. Notice He says: "Whoever serves Me..." \- that means you're involved in the work of ministry of some kind.

The second thing is, then He says: "...let him follow Me", which seems weird. You would think that if you're following Jesus, then you'll serve Him. He's saying: no, "if you're serving me", in other words you're already in-relationship, and you're serving, He then goes on to say: "then you must follow Me". In other words, you must commit to letting Me teach you how to do life, and how to apply kingdom principles to the way you do your life in ministry. So you notice then, in both of those scriptures, receiving the reward is conditional on our response. Him who overcomes, gets the reward; he who follows Me and serves Me, gets the reward.

Then we saw in #4, that small sacrifices on our part now, will have huge recompense eternally. Small things now, big things later. For example, He used it in Matthew 25:21. He says: "you were faithful over a few things...", so what we have now in this life are 'few' things. Then He says: "...I will make you ruler...", or give you a position and a role of responsibility "...over many", and that's 'a multitude', it's 'mega'.

Then in Luke 29:17, He says: "well done, you were faithful in very little, now have authority over 10 cities". Now you just can't compare 'very little' to 'authority over 10 cities'. He's saying: the comparison between what you're responsible for now, and what God has planned for you, is enormous - there is no comparison! But it does require that we be faithful, in the fulfilling of what He gives us now; and He doesn't say: that's a ministry. He doesn't say: it's pastoring. He doesn't say anything about what that might be. He just says: faithful in the little you've been given. So that applies to every person; whatever our opportunity, whatever our talents, whatever our giftings - we all have the opportunity to win, to have authority in the coming kingdom.

In Hebrews 11:6, God says that He is a 'rewarder'. He that comes to God must believe that He is; that He's available, that He cares about us; and #2, that He's a rewarder - that He recompenses us for every little thing we do: our attitudes, our choices, the things we've overcome, the way we've represented Him, the sacrifices we've made, the things we've walked through and kept a good, loving spirit. When you start to get this revelation into your heart, it helps you very much to overcome the petty stuff that goes on in life with people, because you look past it all. You realise that whatever you're experiencing now, God has got His eye on the little details of it; and particularly, how you respond, and what you do with it.

Matthew 19:29 - "Anyone who 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. Notice He's saying: a hundredfold!

Main Message

So we just reviewed where we've been, and the last time we looked at some possible categories of the many rewards, and there are many described, which means God is just unlimited in what He can do for you; so He's got your back. He's thinking about you.

I put them under some categories:

\- Eternal Intimacy

\- Eternal Authority

\- Eternal Glory

\- Eternal Garments

\- Victor's Crowns

\- Honour & Praise

\- Treasures & Riches

\- Vindication

We found that the first three are the three perhaps the most important ones, but the others are also important, and I'll get on to them at another time. We saw that one of the most important ones is: the sharing of governance over creation - because that's what we've been made for. We've been made for intimacy, an intimate relationship with our Father in heaven. We've been made to represent Him, and that means: to show His glory in nature and character, which means we need to be transformed; and we know that we're designed to partner with Him, in the expanse of His kingdom. In Isaiah 9 it says: "Of the increase of His government, there is no end". That's amazing. That means that God will forever be expanding His government.

So if He could do what He's done for a planet called Earth, He could do that for many of the stars of the galaxy, or many places in the galaxy. We've got no concept of how great the things are, that God has ahead; and we saw that in 1 Corinthians 2 - "The eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of the man, the things God has prepared for them that love Him". We also saw that love is not to do with feelings; it has to do with our willingness to yield to obey Him.

So in this study, I was going to do a couple of the different rewards, but as I did this one I thought: it's actually better I focus on this one, because it's of immense interest, immense importance, so I'm going to make this one the focus of today's study.

So I want to look at reward #3, which is Resurrection Glory, or eternal glory. We'll call it Eternal Glory. It means that for age after age after age, there is a glory, or an honour. The word 'glory' in the Bible is the word 'kabod' - weight, honour; so it has many ways it expresses itself, but it means weight. God will put eternal weight, or a weight that lasts for eternity. It cannot be taken away from you once you've got it, it will be there forever, it will be seen by all, forever. So right now, you are preparing yourself for how you will be in the coming eternity. The millennium kingdom is where everyone on earth will see what you are, and in the coming eternal ages. We've got no concept of what God may have laid out ahead for us!

We're going to focus then on eternal glory, and that refers in many ways, or primarily, to Resurrection; or the Glory of Resurrection. Today I'll focus very much on Resurrection: what that looks like; and the First Resurrection. There's many aspects we could teach about it, particularly in relation to the current resurrection life we have, but I want to focus on the coming resurrection, the First Resurrection.

2 Peter 1:16-17 - "We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice, which came from heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain."

Now this is an amazing scripture. All of the scriptures we do today... you will want to go back and look at them, mark them, go through them and study them, make them your own. So the first thing in that one is that the three disciples were eyewitnesses. An eyewitness is a spectator. They saw it personally; saw it with their own eyes, they were eyewitnesses. They were spectators, personally present, and they saw it. That's why he said: we didn't make up a big tale. This is not a fable. It's not some fiction. It's not some myth. We saw it. We were there. So they're eyewitnesses; and what were they eyewitnesses to? They were eyewitnesses to the power, and coming, of the Lord Jesus Christ - we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

The word majesty - get this - the original word is 'mega'; mega liotes, l-i-o-t-e-s, meaning: 'magnificence'. We saw His magnificence. It means visible splendour. We saw His superbness. We saw His brilliance. We saw His royal dignity. That's the only word he could use that would describe it: it's mega! It's mega, mega, mega! Very, very big. So they encountered the glory of Jesus, the majesty of His second coming, when He comes in resurrection glory.

Interesting, just a side note to think about: only three of the 12 saw it all, which - it's just an aside, but it does point out: not all will participate in this.

So they visibly encountered Jesus. They saw Him transformed to become full of glory, and they saw what it was like; so they tried to describe that, and they identify in that scripture where they saw it. They saw it on the Mount of Transfiguration. There are three good scriptures on the Mount of Transfiguration - Matthew, Luke and Mark all talk about it.

The second thing then is: Jesus' resurrection glory was revealed to them; His Resurrection Glory. Firstly, Matthew wrote about it, in Matthew 16:27 - 17:2; then Luke wrote about it, in Luke 9:29; and Mark wrote about it in Mark 9:2-3.

Matthew said: (this is what Jesus said) "For the Son of Man will come, in the glory of His Father, with His angels". He's saying: He will come in great Glory; and then He will reward each one, according to his works. Then He says: "assuredly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. And then after six days He took Peter, James and John his brother, led them to a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as light".

What He's saying is: He prophesied to them, that some of you, some of you won't die before you see the Son of Man coming in glory. Straight after that, He took them up the mountain, and they saw it! What they're seeing is: the coming of the Son of Man; and they're seeing the Resurrection.

Luke wrote it like this: "As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered. His robes became white and glistening". Then Mark wrote of it, in Mark 9:2-3 and he says: "After six days, He took Peter, James and John, let them up the high mountain apart and was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white like snow, there's no launderer on earth that can whiten them".

It says Jesus was transfigured. That's the word 'metamorphu'. It's a Greek word - we get the word 'metamorphosis' from it, which means you change from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Think of a caterpillar: earthbound, limitations galore; and then a butterfly: heaven-bound! The word 'transfigure' means to totally change your form - from something earthbound, to something heavenly-bound. That's why they use that word - it means a complete change of form. So when Jesus was transfigured... yes, they could recognise His body; but it had been completely changed for a moment, by the power of God. That word metamorphosis describes His transformation, a complete transformation. They were just overwhelmed by it.

I want to just pick up a second thought, and then we'll go on and look at Jesus' resurrected body. The Bible tells us that we will have a resurrected body, like Jesus. It'll be like His. That's what God's design is for you!

Philippians 3:20-21 - "Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working, by which He is able to subdue everything to Himself."

Notice He says: "He will transform our body", so whatever body you've got now, God's not going to get rid of it. He's going to transform it, and that's that same word, to change the form totally, a complete transformation of our body. What is He transforming it to become? That we might be conformed, or become like, something that's not there yet.

He says: it'll be exactly like Jesus' body. The only thing that will differ is: not the resurrection, but the glory that you carry; but everyone's body will be transformed to become like His body. We'll come back to look at what He could do - this is what really makes this so interesting to study.

So there will be a transformation; there'll be a demonstration of God's power, that totally transforms our physical body - spiritually transforms it. Our physical body, it will become like Jesus' resurrected body - totally changed! So what was it like? What was His body like? I'm going to go through and give you a range of things that Jesus' body was like.

Now just think about this; try to think ahead, what it would mean for you, if you entered into resurrection. Also think what it would mean to you, if everyone around the table, except you, entered into it. There would be great joy if you entered in; and there would be considerable grief and loss to realise that you are part of a body of people, and God called you to become something, but you didn't enter it, at that time. So here's some things about the body of Jesus... What was Jesus' body like?

#1) He had a physical body with flesh and bones. He actually had a physical body; so you could go out and touch Him, and you could feel the bones, you could feel the flesh. If you reach out and touch someone now - His body felt like that. It was that real.

In John 20:27, He said to Thomas: "Reach your finger in, and look at My hands; and reach your hand, and put it into My side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing."

In Luke 24:39 - "Behold My hands, here's My feet, here's Me, handle Me". He said: 'touch Me'. See, touch Me and see - a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones. He said: I'm not a spirit; actually, this is what a resurrection body looks like. So they could see His body, and touch His body, but it was a resurrected body.

#2) The second thing about Him is: the disciples could touch Him, and they also ate with Him, and drank with Him. In other words, in your resurrected body, people can touch you, and you feel like the real deal. You feel like a real person. They can feel the bones, they can sense there's a real person there. You can also eat!

John 21:12-13 - "Jesus said to them, come and eat breakfast, for none of the disciples dared ask Him, who are You? - knowing it was the Lord. And Jesus came and took bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish". So they had breakfast on the beach, which Jesus prepared for them.

Acts 10:40-41 - "Jesus, God raised Him up on the third day and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses that God chose".

So God selected the people He would reveal Jesus to; and even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. He's saying now: we sat down, we had a meal. We could touch Him. We could eat with Him. He's as real as you are. He's not some ghostly apparition. It's not some weird spirit thing. It's a real, real physical person in front of him.

#3) Here's the third thing... There's something different about His body. It looked like, you know, it's just another person - except: Jesus could materialise, and dematerialise His body; His physical body. Oh man, when I read through these things, they read like something out of a superhero story! They really do! You read some of the things He could do, and you think: oh my goodness, no wonder all these movies are coming up, all this superhero stuff. They're preparing us for great things, but this is so much better!

He was no longer controlled by time or space, or physical world laws or any limitations. Nothing - He's not constrained by the physical world, because He now has a spiritual body that supersedes the physical world. That means: you could enter the natural world, and then leave it, and that's just so crazy! He could supernaturally move from one location to another. He could be here now, and then suddenly, He's in another place, another country. It's interesting to read the descriptions of all of that, and Luke described His sudden disappearance. You've just got to try and put yourself in the story, and think: what would I feel, if suddenly someone just disappeared; they were there, sitting at the table, then they were gone, like that. That is so staggering!

Luke 24:31 - "Their eyes were opened, and they suddenly recognised Him".

Now they've been sitting there having a meal with the guy, they didn't even know it was Jesus. They were just sitting having a meal, with a regular guy, who's been walking with them on a journey, then He breaks the bread, and gives it to them, and suddenly... it's Jesus! Then, the moment they knew who it was... He's gone! That is such a freaky thing that happened, He just - it says: "He vanished from their sight". That means literally, to become invisible, or suddenly just disappear from sight.

Luke described the appearance; and then John described Jesus' sudden appearance. So he describes the disappearance: He's there, and suddenly, He's gone; then John describes the appearance. Here's John's description, and possibly He walked through the wall, because in one of them it says: "the door was shut" - so we're in a locked room!

"The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, the doors were shut". See, everyone's got the doors shut. Maybe they're locked? They were assembled, for fear of the Jews - so probably they're locked... and Jesus suddenly, He came and stood in the midst, and said: "Peace be to you". So they're in a locked room, and suddenly... He's there! I don't know whether He just walked through the door. He's just suddenly... there!

There's another one, in John 20:26 - He did it more than once! It says... "After eight days, the disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them, and Jesus came, the doors being shut, and suddenly stood in the midst, and said: "Peace be to you".

Notice they described: "the doors were shut". In other words, there's no way to get in. Suddenly... He's there - appeared; and disappeared! Man, oh man! Then Mark describes it...

Mark 16:14 - "Later, He appeared to the 11, as they sat at the table, and then rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn't believe those who'd seen Him, after He'd risen."

So they're all sitting at the table having a meal, probably talking about: where do we go from here... and then 'poof' - He appears! Guys, I told you about this... What's wrong? You didn't believe me? Now the shock of seeing someone physically, after you watched them die... You ran away, because it was scary, and then suddenly... it's so hard to comprehend - it's just mind blowing!

Paul makes a list of the appearances that he knew of, and it's found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 - "I delivered to you first of all which I received - and this is the gospel. Christ died for our sins according to scriptures. He was buried, He rose again the third day according to the scriptures".

Now look at this list... "He was seen by Peter, then seen by 12, then seen by over 500 at once, and mostly they're still alive, some of them have died. After that, seen by James, then by all the apostles. Last He was seen by me, like one out of due time."

He had his own encounter and saw Jesus, so he identifies the different occasions. Jesus - this is what He did: He appeared, then He disappeared! So you see that regularly, after Jesus rose from the dead, He made appearances - just sudden appearances; and he himself had a face-to-face encounter, in Acts 9.

Luke also shared some things about these ongoing daily appearances. As you read this, you think: oh my goodness! What kind of atmosphere must have been around the disciples, when this was happening?

Acts 1:1-3 - "The former account I made, Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to both do and teach, until the day he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit gave commandments to the apostles He had chosen, to whom He presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them during 40 days".

So He kept appearing, for 40 days; and what was He doing? He was speaking things, pertaining to the kingdom of God. Can you imagine: Jesus died; and then suddenly, He turns up; and now you don't even know when He's going to turn up. He's going to turn up, and share with you about the kingdom of God; and you don't know when that's going to be! Wouldn't you be hungry? Wouldn't you be excited, waiting for that to happen? Wouldn't everything else take on a whole new kind of, oh wow! When is it going to happen, today? I suppose they gathered to worship; and when they're gathering, worshipping, suddenly... He appears! Whoa, worship's over, He's here! He's here; and then He would teach them - teach them about the kingdom... If only they'd written down what He taught them! That would be good - or they'd taken a video of it or something.

I'd like to see Him appearing and disappearing. I think that would be so just amazing; and you know, I don't know whether He just went 'poof', and He was gone; or whether He turned, and just walked through a wall, and was gone? Hard to know, isn't it? But suddenly, your perspective of the real reality of the physical world would alter enormously. The invisible world of the kingdom would suddenly become a great reality for you; and of course the impact of someone doing that is overwhelming. I mean, it's all very well to talk through a list about it here, but if someone suddenly does it... the effect!

Luke 24:36-37 - "Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them: "Peace be to you".

He says: "Peace, guys", but they were terrified and frightened, thinking they were looking at a spirit. That word 'terrified' means to be overcome with astonishment, and to fall down prostrate on the ground. So you understand, this is enormously impacting. What Jesus is doing is, He's actually giving a little view of what the millennium's going to be like - except it will be on a much bigger scale, because there will be lots of people! Man oh man, I'm so looking forward to that!

It says: they were frightened. He says: they trembled in fear! So this is not some little deal; and you can read it, but then.. If you watch anything on the TV, and a ghost appears, or some kind of thing in one of the stories... God, it's frightening! You get a scare out of it! So someone doing this is just... even though He says 'Peace'.

Here are some more things about Him... He could materialise, He could turn up or disappear. He could go wherever He wanted. That's what you can do, in a resurrection body, because you're no longer bound by the physical laws or the physical world or time. You can go anywhere! So here's another thing: Jesus' body could change form.

Mark 16:12 - "after that, He appeared in another form, to two of them".

That's a visible shape or appearance - so He could alter how He looked. Oh man, isn't that something! Being able to alter how you look! He could alter how He looked, so they didn't recognise Him! Just... didn't recognise Him! So obviously, He could alter His physical appearance, or the way He fronted up.

He could front up differently, because they just thought He was another traveller. Could it be another skin colour? Could He turn up as an Asian? Could turn up in any kind of form?

That word 'form' means: a visible shape or appearance. He could alter His appearance, so people couldn't recognise Him... and they didn't!

Luke 24:15-16 - "While they talked and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them and their eyes were constrained, they didn't know who He was."

How could you be with someone for three years, every day with them, living, eating, breathing... and then they turn up next to you, walking, and you're talking... you haven't got a clue! You can forget names, but you can't forget faces.

[Female speaker] But it's about their eyes, not about His form at that point. Is that right?

[Mike Connell] Well, no. Mark 16 says the same story, and he says "in another form". So one says: "their eyes were withheld so they couldn't see"; but the other one says: "it was another form", so you've probably got to put the two together.

If someone is in another form, and they talk to you, you usually recognise their voice or recognise how they're talking. They didn't recognise anything. Everything was withheld...

Mary Magdalene didn't recognise Him! Jesus appeared outside the tomb, and said to her: woman, why are you weeping? And she said: because they've taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they've laid Him. Now when she'd said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and did not know it was Jesus!

In fact, in another one, it says: she thought He was the gardener. His form is different. How could you mistake Jesus for a gardener? The fact that He came as a gardener of course, is symbolic, that He is of course, a great gardener - you know, sows and reaps, and so on.

Anyway - ...and Jesus said: "Mary"; and she turned and said to Him: "Master". So she saw Jesus standing, and it was so unimpressive that she turned away again - until He said: Mary! Then suddenly, she realised: it's the Master - she hadn't even known!

[Female speaker] So do you think at that point His form changed to what she knew?

[Mike Connell] Ooh, I don't know, I wish I knew. She knew who He was, but her first thing she thought: He was just a gardener. It's helpful if you move past just a simple concept: one day we get a resurrection body; to actually have insights from the word: this is what it looked like; this is what it's going to operate like. Remember, He's going to make our body like His body - able to do these same things!

Here's the next thing then; the next characteristic of it: Jesus' resurrected body radiates glory. It radiates life and glory out of it. In other words, it's like a bright, shining lamp.

Matthew 17:2 - "He was transfigured before them, His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as light".

Mark 9:3 - "His clothes became shining, exceedingly white; face like a sun, clothes exceedingly white, white as you could ever get it".

Luke 9:29 - "As He prayed, the appearance of His face altered, and His robes became white and glistening".

Notice the key, they all describe a little different aspect of it - it was as He prayed, the glory shifted and changed.

It says: His face shone like the sun. That word shine is the word "lampo" - to beam, or radiate out light; brilliant light. His face shone like the sun - so in other words, you couldn't look upon His face, because of the brilliant light, and it's coming from the inside out. It's from the glory within, shining forth like rays; brilliant rays, like the sun. His garments, His clothes, become white. That word 'white' is the word 'leukos', which means: brilliant, or dazzling white. The guy says: you couldn't launder your clothes to look that white; this is beyond white! This is better than anyone could do.

It also means: to radiate dazzling, bright rays of light. So you see His countenance radiating light, bright like the sun. Used to look at the sun, it's that brilliant light, and you can feel the light and the warmth - that's what it's like; and it says: His clothes were glistening. That means they shone out lightning. So the glory of God, which was within Jesus, began to radiate out through His whole body, changing all of His body. It was what was in Him, expanding out, and changing what was outside.

So His body, and His garments, and His countenance, all radiated brilliant rays of light. Now when John saw Jesus in the Book of Revelation, he had an encounter with Him, and said a similar thing...

Revelation 1:12-16 - "I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands, One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment to the feet, and girded with His chest with a golden band. His head and His hair were white like wool (here it is again) \- white like snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire."

In other words, His eyes are burning like there's a fire. That's the only way he could describe it, was it's like His eyes are on fire, a blazing flame of fire. And he says...

"His feet were like fine brass, as if you'd refined it in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of many waters; in His right hand, seven stars; out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was like the sun shining, in its strength".

Again he's seeing the glory, and he says that it's like looking into the sun - the brilliance of His face... it's too much to handle. So Jesus' countenance was shining with brilliance; and it tells us about God's people in Matthew 13:43 - "...then the righteous will shine forth like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father".

So it could be just prophetic statements; or it could actually be literally, the glory is so brilliant, that it shines right through us. Here's another thing about Jesus' resurrection...

Jesus could veil His glory. He could fully cover it, so you couldn't see it; or just partially, so you could see it. So sometimes He appeared in glory; other times He appeared like a gardener. Sometimes you could recognise Him; but other times, you couldn't recognise Him. He could appear, and He could vanish. So we need to see then, the glory of God that's within Him - as He walked no one recognised it; but when He was on the Mount, it suddenly shone forth, and you could see it.

The last thing is this statement here, a scripture that says: Christ in us, the hope of glory. So in Colossians 1:27-29, but I'll read 2 Corinthians 4:7 first... "We have this treasure in an earthen vessel, so the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

In other words, as a believer, the Bible describes you as having a treasure in you. Most times people are trying to get God to come down from somewhere to do something, and they lose awareness that we are one with the Spirit of God, when we're in Christ. We have a treasure within us, which we have to grow and cultivate. We have this treasure, which is Christ in an earthen vessel; so even though we may be frail, may have limitations, may have weaknesses and so on and so forth, nevertheless it's not about the vessel. It's the treasure inside the vessel that counts. Then Paul, talking about that same treasure, says this, in Colossians 1; he says: "to them, God willed to make known, what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory".

Christ has put a deposit of His life in you, which gives you hope of a glory, yet to come. I'll say that again. God has put a measure of Christ in you, and that gives you hope, that this is a glory yet to come; so no one sees it, because it's veiled. Remember how with Jesus, the glory was within Him, but it was veiled; yet they were on the Mount, it was revealed. It's the same for us - the glory is hidden; but there is a day when it will be revealed; and our job is to walk with Him, and serve Him now, so we qualify for that day.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - "In Him you trusted, after you heard the word of truth; the gospel of salvation, whom having believed (here it is, here...) you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise...".

That word 'sealed' means: 'to put an ownership mark on you'; and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee, or it's called the 'earnest' of our inheritance - "...until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory".

What does that mean? Well that word 'guarantee', or 'earnest', is the deposit you give someone when you're buying a house. So if I'm going to buy your house, then we seal the deal by paying a deposit. That means, if you have the deposit, it's the guarantee that I will return with all the money, and it will all be completed. I will take ownership of the house fully, and what you will receive is the rest of the money. So what he's saying is: the anointing, or presence, of the Spirit of God, that you have in you now, is the down-payment.

It's the down payment until God redeems your body - the rest of the glory comes at that time; so he connects then, that coming glory, or that hope ahead of us, with the coming day of resurrection. So you all have a 'deposit' of God. It's not a matter of how big it is, it's what you do with what you have, is what counts. So the glory that is within us, reminds us of a greater glory, that we're called to take hold of.

Notice what Paul said: that it's 'until' - so we've got that measure... 'until'. Paul then says: "...about therefore we preach, we warn every man..." - that means: confront them with the truth. "We teach every man with all wisdom". Notice what he's doing? Preaching, proclaiming the truth, warning, or talking about people, to get them right in their lives; teaching every man, with all wisdom. Why? So we may present everyone as perfect in Jesus Christ.

So what he's saying then is: Paul was motivated by this prize, to persevere, in his calling to mature people. The hardest thing in pastoring is just to mature people. They forever want to stay childish, but the work of the ministry is to preach; to proclaim the word of God, believing God to honour it. It's to confront, or to warn people; to face them up with what's going on in their life; and it's to teach them, instruct them in how to walk and become mature in God; presenting every man perfect.

All believers in the coming kingdom will manifest different levels of glory. We saw Jesus manifested a full glory, but we will manifest different levels of glory. No matter where you are now, it doesn't matter what it looks like to everyone, or how important or whatever you are - only Jesus really knows what you're qualified for. No one can say! It's got nothing to do with anything external, it has to do with your journey.

Philippians 3:21 - "He will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body"

So in the coming resurrection, we will have a body like Jesus. He's going to transform our body.

1 Corinthians 15:47-49 - "Just as we've borne the image of the man of dust, we'll also bear the image of the heavenly Man".

What he's saying is that yeah, when we look around, we can see that we're carrying the image of the fallen Adam. However, it's absolutely certain that one day, we will carry the image of God. We'll just be like in the image of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:2 - "Beloved, we are children of God now, but it has not yet been revealed what we shall be".

You don't know; but we do know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him. I've given you three scriptures that indicate very clearly: we will be like Him, in our resurrection body; and then it says: whoever has this hope in himself, purifies himself. In other words, knowing that there's a hope of being like Him, in resurrection, we are responsible to get our life right; to walk with Him, to allow our life to be purified, to become clean vessels, with no compromise.

In the resurrection all of our abilities will be enhanced, so it's not just your body that changes. Everything about you changes; so your mental abilities will be enhanced - no memory problems! Your ability to understand; your ability to think... They say only about 10% of our brain is currently used, probably as a consequence of the fall, which means 90% remains unused. So I presume the Lord, in resurrection, since our body is transformed, the full capacity of our creativity and thinking will be released.

Our emotions will be enhanced. The ability to feel love, to feel peace, to feel joy, to feel all those things; our abilities to communicate will be enhanced, because you won't just be words. You know, communication of the spirit is - it's telepathy, pretty much. When God speaks, you don't hear the words, you just pick up the thought inside you. The nearest thing to that is telepathy, I suppose.

Strength, there'll be enhanced strength; you see glimpses of it in the Bible, with the 'spirit of might' coming on people, like Samson. He could do extraordinarily strong things; so you see glimpses in the Bible, of these characteristics.

Endurance, your ability to do things without being fatigued or sick. Transportation will change. You'll be able to move from one place to another, without any problem. Material, you'll be able to pass through walls; so there's nothing physical that will constrain you. Beauty, we'll be enhanced in our beauty; and incorruptible, unable to get sick, or die, or be damaged. Doesn't that sound great! You never get sick, no teeth go, no hair fallout. No back problems, nothing like that; no memory problems either.

It's like everything becomes immensely enhanced in that coming age; and then as you look at that, you realise: oh my, sin has really reduced us, and humbled us, and we're wearing a garment that's so corrupt! You see hints of this in the scripture...

1 Corinthians 15:40-44 - "There are celestial bodies and terrestrial. There's heaven and earth, and the glory of the heavenly is different to the glory of the earthly".

It says that right now, you're in an earthly body; but there's a totally different dimension of glory in the heavenly body. Just look up at the sky, and see how vast it is! That's how different it's going to be, in that coming day. He said: there's one glory of the sun, another of the moon. If you look at the glory of the sun... wow, brilliance! Look at the moon... it's like a cold light at night. It's quite different. He says: another glory of the stars, and one star differs another in glory; so he's saying: if you just look at creation, it's all yelling at you, that in the coming kingdom, we'll all be in different levels of glory.

God can do it. I mean look at the stars. Some are really bright and shine, some are quite faint, very faint. He said: it'll be the same in the coming kingdom - just extraordinary! He said: the resurrection of the dead is sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonour, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power. So notice then, these things, now in corruption, will be incorruptible - no sickness, no death, nothing going downhill, like it does now. Glory, he says; purity and honour; so in other words, there will be just a glory that's unchangeable. Power; instead of being vulnerable, and in pain. Spiritual body, with capacities that surpass everything; and immortality, unending life and love. It's just extraordinary - and you see little glimpses of it.

You see Samson, with all the strength; and you see Elijah, who ran ahead of a chariot. How do you run ahead of a chariot, for goodness sake? He just did that in his physical body, under the power of the Holy Ghost, and you see so many things like that. So our physical body will be completely transformed; our sight, we'll be able to see near and far; hearing, be able to hear with clarity at great distances. It's like everything changed: your taste, you'll enjoy things better; touch; everything will be enhanced to another level.

Then finally in that area, every believer will have a different level of glory in that resurrection. Jesus talked about it in Matthew 5:19 - we see there's 'great' and 'least' in the kingdom. There will be greatest, and there will be the least; so that means there's a range of ranks. We saw in 1 Corinthians 15 that there's different degrees of glory; so in the resurrection, everyone will have a different degree of glory, and you won't be envious of someone else's, because you will see why they deserved it. I'll get onto that when we get to garments.

So there's different degrees of glory; and the degrees of glory relate to three things: our intimacy with Jesus; what we overcame in life; and the degree of inner transformation. In other words, to those key things of sonship, that's why they're so important.

Let's then look at the first resurrection - I want to just do a section on the first resurrection. This is really quite an important area here now. So we see what Jesus was capable of; what His body looked like; and how we're going to be conformed to that same image. Now I want to now touch on the reward aspect of this; and I want to talk about the Resurrection. In this section, we'll look at the First Resurrection, and I'm calling it: the Resurrection of Reward.

So firstly, the Bible reveals there are two resurrections...

Revelations 20:5-6 - "The rest of the dead lived not again, until 1000 years were finished. This is the first resurrection"

So for the millennium, there's a whole lot of people who are dead; but there's others who are resurrected.

"...So blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection, on such the second death has no power. They shall be priests of God and of Christ and reign with Him 1000 years".

So there's a First Resurrection; and if there's a first one, then there's also another one. The First Resurrection takes place at the beginning of the millennium; then there's 1000 years, and at the very end, then there is a General Resurrection. So the second, or general, resurrection takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, at the Great White Throne Judgement.

Revelations 20:11-15 - "Then I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great..."

(there it is again, different degrees)

"...standing before God and the books were opened, and another book was opened which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

(we saw before, that God keeps a detailed record).

"...The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hell were delivered up their dead which were in them. They were judged, every man according their works, and Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire".

Notice in the first resurrection, it says: they become priests and kings; but it doesn't say that about the second resurrection. In the first resurrection, we become priests and kings to God; and we reign for 1000 years, working with Jesus for that 1000 years. And what are we doing? What happens?

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 (at the end of the 1000 years ) - "He will then hand over all the kingdoms of the world to God the Father, then He'll put an end to all rule and authority".

In other words, for 1000 years, Jesus will be working to establish the kingdom on earth; and when it's all done, then comes the end, and He hands it all over to the Father; and the Father comes and inhabits the earth, fulfilling what God has always wanted to do: to dwell on earth, with His people.

So the first resurrection, I believe, is a resurrection of reward. I believe that participation in the first resurrection is reserved for those who are overcomers. It would be helpful for you to understand that there is a significant point of difference of doctrine about this issue, and not everyone will be happy if you take this position; but I believe it's a true position, and here's why... Some Christians don't even know there's two resurrections; so if you ask them about the resurrection, they're not even sure about that, let alone that there's two! Did you know there's two resurrections? Which one will you be in? Will you be in either? People don't always know.

The second thing is, some believers, or some Christians, think that the first resurrection has already taken place. They think it's already happened! I don't believe that at all; and then some Christians, that's another group of them, believe that all believers will be in the first resurrection. That's a position, and there's some scriptural support for that; but others believe that the first resurrection is a prize, and therefore not automatic. That's the position I've taken, for many, many years: that the First Resurrection is a Resurrection of Reward - a prize to be won. If you think about it, that's an enormous prize: to come into a resurrection body; to share in changing the earth with Jesus; and to be never able to die again - yet living among a world where people live and die.

I'm going to give you some scriptures in support of that... that it's a resurrection of reward. What evidence is there, in scripture, that would point towards the first resurrection being a reward? It's quite a subject of its own of course... Firstly, Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 3:7-11 - "The things that were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ; and indeed I count everything loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ..."

I thought he already had Christ? He's a Christian. Yet he's talking about 'gaining Christ', so he's not talking about our salvation experience. He's talking about winning, or obtaining something, he doesn't yet have.

"...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 made conformed to His death..."

And here's the key line: "...if by any means, I might attain to the Resurrection from the Dead".

Notice that Paul considers that all his achievements are meaningless, compared to the prize. The prize is 'winning Christ'. Since he has already received Christ into his heart and life, and he has a relationship with Him, including encounters, he must be talking about something ahead to be won. It's a prize.

Notice there, the word 'resurrection from the dead' - this is the only place in the Bible that used this term. When they use the term 'resurrection', they use the term 'anastasis', which is the Greek word for resurrection. "Anastasis ek nekron" is the normal statement - Anastasis, meaning 'resurrection'; ek, meaning 'from'; and nekron, meaning 'the dead'.

So normally, if it's talking about resurrection from the dead, it will be "anastasis ek nekron"; but this one is different. He uses "ek anastasis". He puts the two together, so it reads something like this: if by any means I might attain to the "out-from" resurrection from the dead. He's saying: this resurrection is a different resurrection; this is the thing I want to win!

I believe when he talks about this resurrection, he's referring to the First Resurrection, when people are resurrected for the millennium, to rule and reign with Christ. Notice he says: "if by any means". That statement means: there's a possibility I may not make it!

In the Book of Acts they said: if by any means, we might reach Crete. Well, they didn't - they sank! They didn't make it! So "if by any means" means: I'm going to do the very best I can, any means possible, so I might get there. You have to realise then, it's clear he's not convinced he qualifies yet; and he's been in ministry for quite a while. This is six years before his death. He's been planting churches, and doing all kinds of things, yet when it comes to this reward, he's saying: everything I've done doesn't mean anything much, compared to qualifying for this. This is what my life is for; I want to qualify for that. So he's indicating it's a possibility that it may not happen. It's a prize to contend for, it's the high calling of God and Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:12-15 - "...not that I have already attained it, not that I'm already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of what Jesus Christ lay hold of me. Brethren, I don't count myself to have apprehended it; one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, reaching forward to the things that are before, I press towards the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. Now let us, as many be mature, have that same mind, and if you think otherwise God will show it to you surely."

He's going on to say: I haven't made it, so it's not my experience yet, and I'm not sure I'm actually going to be qualifying for it. He says: he has not apprehended the prize, meaning 'to take possession of it' or to be certain he's got it. He says: so I press towards the mark. That word 'press' means: to flee, to run swiftly, to take hold of a prize; so you see in the whole language of it, there's a certain resurrection ahead, and it's a prize to be won.

It consumes me. Everything is nothing, in comparison to getting or losing this. Everything is nothing. I want to get this; and so he said: I press on towards the mark, for the prize of this high calling of God in Jesus Christ. So if there's a 'high calling', then there's probably a 'low calling' as well. This is a high calling - that we will live our life, and qualify to rule and reign with Christ; and Paul expresses it there.

In the letter to Hebrews, it's talking about the people of faith; and it slips this one-liner in there...

Hebrews 11:35 - "Women received their dead raised to life, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance".

Why did they allow themselves to be tortured, but refused to be delivered? It says: "...that they might obtain a better resurrection."

So everyone knew about the general resurrection. Everyone's going to be raised, so don't worry about being raised from the dead. Everyone's going to be raised from the dead. But they're saying: this is a better resurrection, and it caused them to endure everything, even to the point of dying. Why? To get a stronger resurrection. The word 'stronger' means: a 'more excellent' resurrection; a 'nobler' resurrection; a 'having dominion or power' resurrection.

So notice now, when you look at the first and second resurrection, on the one hand you've got people who become 'priests and kings' to God, and rule and reign with Him for 1000 years. On the other, it doesn't say anything. It just says: they're all raised from the dead, and they will give account for their works; and if their name is in the Book of Life, that means they're believers. They go through into eternity in a resurrection body. The big issue is: whether we're in that first resurrection.

Here's another one, from the Book of Revelation - the promise that's made to the overcomer...

Revelations 2:26 - "Whoever overcomes, and keeps My work to the end, to him I will give power over the nations".

So notice: 'power over the nations', to rule and extend Christ's kingdom and nation; and they're not given to anyone, but an overcomer.

Revelations 3:21-22 - "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. So if you have an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Notice again: to sit in the throne with Jesus; or to share His authority and dominion, and rule with Him in eternity, or in the coming kingdom - you have to be an overcomer. That means, you've got to have something to overcome; and Revelation 2 and 3 tells us the various things we must overcome, the challenges all of us must overcome ,and of course there's many other kinds of things.

We're getting towards the end of the study, just the last couple of thoughts related to it now... So where will we live in our resurrected body? If you've got a resurrected body, you've come into that resurrection... Where will you live? Where will you be? Will I need this house, for example? There's lots of things that you question, of course.

When you start to look at eternal things, the glory of the eternal, He says: I go to prepare a place for you. So those with resurrection bodies... the Bible indicates that they will 'live' in the new Jerusalem, and 'reign' on the earth. That means they will have instant transportation anywhere in the earth, just to carry out Jesus' commands.

If Jesus has declared He will 'rule from Jerusalem, over the whole earth', there will be the natural Jerusalem, and there will be the new Jerusalem, the City of Our God. He will be there. So you must have the natural realm, and the supernatural realm, very close and interacting with one another. So it looks as though, for all extents and purposes, God is reigning through the world through natural Jerusalem, just like He did with David. He reigned over the known world, through David, and then through Solomon.

But heaven was on earth. Heaven - there was an [immeasure. The veil will be lifted. There will be the natural dimension.. so people carry on: they eat, they drink, they work, they sow, they plant, they do all the kinds of things they do. They study, they learn, they grow, they die. There will be all of that sort of thing happening; but all the human processes will be greatly enhanced by the glory of God being present - that's what will make a difference. Everything will grow better. Everything will work better, everything - the devil has been put in chains for 1000 years, so there's no demonic interference, no demonic structure. I think people will be amazed at just that one thing, what that does.

Then when you start to fill the place with the glory, things accelerate in the glory. Things thrive in the glory. Everything will thrive. The whole of the millennium will be a time of unprecedented world peace, prosperity and productivity, so who knows what things will be created? If you look at what's been created in Israel since they came back as a nation, and all the Nobel Prizes in Israel, you realise: creativity will be released; new ideas! New sources of energy will be released.

Those with resurrected bodies will interact with people on the earth, like Jesus did. Probably the best way to see what it looks like, is to go back to the 40 days between Jesus rising from the dead, and then when He ascended into heaven, and say: what happened then? That's one little glimpse you get of what this could be like.

Acts 10:40-43 - "God raised Him up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God - even to us who ate and drank with Him, after He rose from the dead".

So He was teaching them; He sat at a table, they ate together, they drank, they probably hugged Him; and He's appearing and disappearing all the time! Every day He disappears; everyday appears again; turns up, has a meal with them, teaches them, shares things of the kingdom with them. No doubt He prayed for them, and blessed them... then He's gone! He doesn't need to stay in the house; has got some other place, some other dimension. My goodness, isn't that exciting?

You can imagine then, the joy and excitement. Imagine living every day, and Jesus is going to turn up sometime today - physically! Imagine then having the meal with Him, and He's sharing with them things from the word of God, sharing with them about the kingdom, sharing with them about His plan for the world. Oh my goodness! The joy and the excitement must have been enormous - that whole dimension of heaven and earth connecting like that. It must have been phenomenal; and every time, they can just touch Him like that, they can give Him a physical hug. Then suddenly... gone; and they don't know when He'll come back - when He's ready, so they just carry on. What are they going to do? They're going to carry on with their lives. So that's an insight - the joy and excitement!

The last thought I would have on it is: intense joy; or great sorrow? God's purpose has always been that heaven would come to earth, that the two realms would overlap. Can you imagine what it would be like to be part of it? Imagine what it would be like to be disqualified, for some reason. Intense joy; a really intense, eternal joy; being resurrected, part of the first resurrection; part of the eternal ministry of Jesus. Great sorrow to think: I've been in church all these years, I've just sort of been carrying on and whatever, but I missed out on what I was really called for.

So we have to make a daily choice how we're going to live our life: whether we'll live it for the 'now'; or we live it for eternity. Will He live it now, for His kingdom, advancing His kingdom, allowing Him to work in our life?

Numbers 14:21 - "As truly as I live (in other words, you can take this one to the bank), all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord".

So we hunger for that glory in meetings. We long for that glory in meetings. We have waves of it, and levels of it, when it's really heavy; where you can't get up off the ground, when the weight of that glory is on you - you can't move, you cry; things happen, healings and deliverance. Imagine the whole earth full of the glory of the Lord - everyone knows about it, it's not hidden.

There's a company of people with Jesus - the Sons of God, transforming the earth, bringing justice, and setting everything right. You and I are called into that! It's called the high calling of God, in Jesus Christ. What a calling that is!

I encourage you to go through the notes, and have a look at them; study the scriptures, make them your own scriptures; and when you've done that, then they become your message. The more you look at them and see it, the more you will then have it as a part of you.

Not everyone, as I say, agrees or believes these things. There will be other people who have a different view: from those who don't know there's two resurrections; to those who think it's already happened; those who think everyone gets resurrected in that first resurrection. Then you will find there are some, a remnant, that believe: no, it's a prize to be won! This is why you lay your life down! This is what it is about. It's all for something, and even if there's frustrations in the short term; in the long term, there's a prize, that you will never want to have taken away from you.

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_21-06-2020_am.htm#notes) Back to Top »

Overview of the Eternal Rewards (Part 2)

I. Review:

1. A Great Theme of Jesus Teaching was Eternal Rewards  
\- Jesus constantly taught about seeking Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them  
\- "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."(Mat.16:27)

2. There are very Many Different types of Rewards  
\- In Rev.2-3 Jesus names many different rewards for those who Overcome specific challenges and trials  
\- The many Eternal Rewards that are described potentially form an important part of our Eternal Destiny  
\- We need to be familiar with the significance and importance of the different rewards revealed.  
\- Understanding what is at stake gives us great motivation for perseverance and transformation  
"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. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality" (Col.3:22-24)

1. Rewards are Not Given Automatically... Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions  
\- "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev.3:21)  
\- "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jn.12:26)  
\- Note that in each of these scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in response to Jesus

2. Our Small Sacrifices Now have Huge Recompense Eternally  
\- "You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things." (Mt. 25:21)  
\- "Well done...you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Lk. 19:17)  
\- God greatly values our small expressions of obedience in our mind , emotions and will  
\- He remembers them and rewards them in a much much greater proportion  
\- God is a "Rewarder" ( Heb.11:6) and He is extremely generous!  
\- "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." (Mt. 19:29)

3. Possible Categories of these Many Rewards  
The many Rewards mentioned in the Bible could be listed under the following headings:  
1. Eternal Intimacy  
2. Eternal Authority  
3. Eternal Glory  
4. Eternal Garments  
5. Victor's Crowns  
6. Honour & Praise  
7. Treasures & Riches  
8. Vindication

\- The first three of these rewards deserve special attention  
\- One of the Rewards mentioned more than any other is Ruling and Reigning with Christ  
\- This is because God's original design for man is to be a Son  
* Having Intimate Relationship with Him  
* Working with Him to extend His Kingdom with Power and Authority  
* Representing Him... His Character and Glory

II. Reward 3: Eternal Glory

1. Jesus Manifested Resurrection Glory  
"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  
For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  
And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain" (2 Pet. 1:16-17)  
\- Three disciples were eyewitnesses to the Majesty and Glory of Jesus in His resurrected Body  
\- This is not a fable...some form of fiction or myth that has been invented  
\- "Eyewitnesses".....spectators, personally present to see with our own eyes  
\- "Majesty"...megaliotes....magnificence, visible splendor, wonderful, superbness, brilliance, regal dignity  
\- The disciples visibly encountered Jesus in the Glory and Honor of His Resurrected Body  
\- Not all the disciples were given this revelation of His Glory  
\- They identify clearly when they saw His Majesty and Glory...on the Mount of Transfiguration

2. Jesus Resurrection Glory Revealed  
\- By Mathew  
"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."

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matt.16:27 - 17:2).

\- By Luke:  
As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening" (Lk.9:29)

\- By Mark:  
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them" (Mk.9:2-3)

\- Jesus prophesies in Mathew that some of His disciples will be eyewitnesses to his resurrection glory and His second coming before they die  
\- As Jesus prayed on the mountain He is transfigured before His three disciples  
\- "Transfigured"... Gk. metamorphoo ...to completely change into another form  
Metamorphosis....a change of form or structure by supernatural means (Miriam Webster)  
In nature this word is used to describe the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly... radical transformation

3. We will Have a Resurrected Body Like Jesus Body

\- "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil.3:21-22)  
\- "Transform".....to change the figure of, totally change the external condition  
\- "Conformed" ...to bring something into existence that was not there previously  
\- "Like"................Gk summorphos... to have exactly the same form as another  
\- There will be a demonstration of the supernatural power of God that totally changes our physical body  
\- "Working" .......supernatural energising by the Spirit of God  
\- "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Rom.8:11)  
\- Our physical body will be made like Jesus resurrected physical body, it will be totally transformed by the supernatural power of God

4. What Was Jesus Resurrected Body Like?

(i) Jesus had a Physical Body with Flesh and Bones (Jn. 20:27).  
"Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." (Jn.20:27)  
"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Lk.24:39)  
Jesus gave evidence that he was the same person as before when He went to the cross His body retained its scars, perhaps as eternal badge of Honor  
Jesus body was a real physical and spiritual body, able to operate in both the physical and spiritual worlds

(ii) The Disciples Touched Jesus and Ate and Drank with Him Jesus Disciples Touched Him  
"And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him" (Mat.28:9)  
Jesus Disciples Ate and Drank with Him "Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.  
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish " (Jn.21:12-13)  
Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead" (Acts10:40-41)  
\- Jesus body was tangible, physical and material...it was a real physical body. It had been transformed, transfigured to become a glorious spiritual body without limitations

(iii) Jesus Could Materialise and Dematerialise in His Physical Body.  
\- Jesus was no longer controlled by time, space and physical laws or limitations of this world  
\- He could enter and exit the natural world at will  
\- He could supernaturally transport from one location to another location  
\- Luke describes Jesus Sudden Disappearance  
"Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (Lk.24:31)  
"Vanished"... vanish out of sight, become invisible, disappear from sight suddenly  
\- He sometimes vanished from their sight suddenly... there physically one moment and then suddenly gone  
\- John describes Jesus Sudden Appearances

Jesus possibly walked through walls on two occasions when doors were "shut"  
"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." (Jn.20:19)  
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" (Jn.20:26)  
Mark describes Jesus appearance "Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen" (Mk.16:14)

\- Paul Lists Jesus Many Appearances after His Resurrection  
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (1Cor.15:3-8)  
\- Paul identifies several different occasions when Jesus appeared and then disappeared before people.  
\- Paul himself had a personal face to face encounter when Jesus appeared in blinding light. Paul's companions heard Jesus voice but saw no one (Act.9:1-9)  
\- Luke also Lists Ongoing Daily Appearances of Jesus.These appearances and disappearances took place daily over a period of 40 days  
"The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Act.1:1-3)  
\- Jesus continued sharing His message regarding the Kingdom of God over 40 days in a resurrection body  
\- No doubt He appeared as they gathered in worship, taught them and then suddenly disappeared.  
\- Can you imagine how that must have felt to those experiencing this happening?

\- The impact of Jesus appearing could be mentally and emotionally overwhelming  
"Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit" (Lk24.36-37)  
"Terrified"..........to be overcome by astonishment, fall down prostrate on the ground  
"Frightened"......to cause to tremble in fear.  
The sudden appearance of Jesus out of nowhere must have been a deeply disturbing experience

(iv) Jesus Body Could Change Form  
\- The Disciples on the Road Did Not Recognize Jesus  
\- "After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country" (Mk.16:12)  
"Form"....visible shape or appearance.

Jesus body appearance could alter so people not recognize Him  
"So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (Lk.24:15-16

\- Mary Magdalene did not Recognise Him  
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."  
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus"  
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (Jn.20:13-15)

(v). Jesus' Resurrected Body Radiates Glory  
\- "and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Mat.17:2)  
\- "His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them" (Mk.9:3)  
\- "As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening " (Lk.9:29)  
\- "Shone"...........lampo....to beam or radiate forth light, to radiate out brilliant light  
\- "White"...........leukos....brilliant, dazzling white, radiating out dazzling bright rays of light  
\- "Glistening"....To shine out lightning  
\- The Glory of God transformed Jesus face, His body and His garments so they radiated out lightning and rays of brilliant white light

(vi) John saw Jesus in His Resurrected Glory in a Vision  
\- Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev.1:12-16)  
\- Jesus countenance shone with the brilliance of the sun...He displayed His resurrected glory to John  
\- The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt. 13:43)

(vii) Jesus Could Veil His Glory—fully or partially.  
\- Sometimes Jesus appeared in His Glory...other times He did not  
\- At times, Jesus was not recognised as He veiled or concealed His resurrection glory  
\- He could suddenly appear or vanish from sight.  
\- Jesus' resurrected body has "supernatural flesh" with bones and has the capacity to eat and drink  
\- "Jesus Himself drew near and went with them [to Emmaus], Their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him." (Lk.24:15-16)  
"Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (Lk.24:31)

(viii). Christ In Us, The Hope of Glory  
\- "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2Cor.4:7)  
\- Each believer is joined to the Spirit of God. He is the treasure dwelling within us  
\- To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" (Col.1:27-29)  
\- Each of us has a measure of the Glory of God within us. It is veiled and is not visible to people  
\- That measure of Gods presence and Glory is like a down-payment on what He has planned ahead for us  
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph.1:13-14)  
\- "Guarantee".....earnest......the deposit given in advance as a downpayment or pledge that the final payment will be completed  
\- That Glory within us is a reminder of the Greater Glory we are each called to take hold of, to possess  
\- This motivated Paul to persevere in his ministry calling mature believers for their Eternal Destiny so that they would qualify for their Reward

5. Believers will Manifest Different Degrees of Glory

\- We will Have a Body Like Jesus Body  
\- "who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil.3:21)  
\- :The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.(1Cor.15:47-49)

\- Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1Jn.3:2-3)

\- We Will Have Supernaturally Enhanced Abilities  
1. Mental: Enhanced abilities to understand, remember, and reason  
2. Emotional: Enhanced abilities to feel: Love, joy, peace, etc.  
3. Communicate: Enhanced abilities in speech, song, music, writing, poetry, etc.  
4. Strength: Enhanced abilities in speed, endurance, lifting objects without fatigue or sickness  
5. Transportation: Enhanced abilities in flight and speed, transportation Eg Elijah, Philip  
6. Material: Enhanced ability to pass through walls or crowds like Jesus  
7. Beauty: Enhanced physical appearance ....physical countenance, fragrance, light, color, etc.  
8, Incorruptible........Unable to become sick, injured or die

\- Our Five Senses will be Enhanced by the Power of God.  
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1Cor.15:40-44)

Note the changes to our physical body:  
Incorruption: .......Vitality and strength replace sickness and decay.  
Glory: ....................Purity and honor replace failure, shame, and dishonor  
Power: ..................Safety and strength replace pain, vulnerability, and addiction.  
Spiritual body..... Supernatural capacities replace natural limitations.  
Immortality: ........Unending life and love replace physical death and loss.

Our Physical Body will become Transformed and Greatly Enhanced  
\- Our current physical bodies are limitation and deterioration. Our resurrection body will be gloriously transformed  
\- Our spiritual body (Resurrected body) will not be subject to the physical limitations and laws that govern the natural world  
\- Our new body will be glorious and have amazing abilities  
1. Sight: Ability to see at a distance and at close range  
2. Hearing: Ability to hear with clarity and perception at great distances  
3. Taste: Enjoyment of food and water to the fullest degree (1 Cor. 10:31; Rev. 22:1-2)  
4. Touch: Glorified physical senses  
5. Smell: Supernatural ability to enjoy and discern heavenly fragrances ...will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body... (Phil. 3:21)

\- Each Believer will Receive a Different Measure of Glory in their Resurrected Body (Mt. 5:19).  
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. There will be least and greatest in the coming Kingdom..ie different realms of glory "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption" (1Cor.15:4)  
There will be different realms of Glory for each believer based upon their life and stewardship.  
Believers will not have the same degree of glory in their resurrected bodies  
\- Just as there are great differences in the bodies of the Animal Kingdom there will be great differences in the coming Heavenly Kingdom  
\- Believers will have varying degrees of glory in their resurrected bodies just as stars differ from other stars in brightness. The degree of glory that we will have is based upon the way we live on earth.  
\- The degree of glory in our resurrected bodies will be directly related to what we overcome in this life and the amount of inner transformation to become like Christ.

6. The First Resurrection: The Resurrection of Reward

(i) The Bible Reveals That There are Two Resurrections  
The First resurrection  
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev.20:5-6)  
\- If there is a First resurrection then there must also be another resurrection  
\- The First resurrection takes place at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth The General resurrection  
\- The Second or General Resurrection takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ at the Great White Throne Judgement  
\- "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev.20:11-15)  
\- Those who take place in the First Resurrection become Priests and Kings to God and reign on earth for the 1000 years working with Jesus to establish His Kingdom and Rule over the earth  
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet" (1Cor.15:24-25)

(ii) The First Resurrection: Resurrection of Reward  
\- Participation in the First Resurrection is Reserved for those who are Overcomers  
This would be a significant point of difference of doctrine or belief among Christians  
Some Christians do not know that there are actually two resurrections  
Some Christians believe that the First resurrection has already taken place  
Some Christians believe that All believers will participate in the First Resurrection  
Other Christians believe that The First resurrection is a prize to be won. It is not automatic

(iii) Evidence that Points to the First Resurrection being a Reward  
Paul's Letter to the Philippians:  
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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" (Phil.3:7-11)  
\- Paul considers all his achievements meaningless compared to the prize ahead....winning Christ  
\- Since he has already experienced Christ indwelling, he is referring to a future prize to be won  
\- "Resurrection from the dead...." ekanastasis ...literally the out from resurrection  
\- This refers to the First Resurrection when a people will be resurrected out from among the dead at the beginning of the Millennium  
\- "If by any means" tells us that he is uncertain that he will attain to this prize of the First Resurrection.

\- Paul, six years before his death, wanted to make sure that he was qualified to participate in the resurrection of the dead....The First Resurrection  
\- Paul tells us that there is a possibility that this will not happen...  
\- It is a Prize to contend for, a prize to be won  
\- It is the High Calling of God in Christ

\- "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." (Phil.3:12-15)  
\- Paul goes on to tell us ....he has not yet attained to that "out from resurrection"  
\- He also tells us he has not apprehended that prize but makes it the motivation for his life and ministry  
\- "Attain"...........to take in the hand  
\- "Apprehend"..to take possession of, to lay hold of so as to make one's own possession  
\- "Press".............to run , to flee, to run swiftly in order to take hold of a prize

The Letter to The Hebrews:  
\- Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Heb.11:35)  
\- All knew of the general Resurrection when all people would be raised from the dead  
\- These people by faith refused to deny Christ even to the point of death  
\- Why? ..." In order to obtain a stronger resurrection"  
\- "Stronger".......more excellent, nobler, having dominion or power or strength  
\- This refers to the First resurrection.....reward for remaining faithful to Christ

Paul's Letter to the Thessalonians:  
"When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: (2Thes.2:10-11)  
\- Note Paul's prayer that believers would be counted worthy of this calling to manifest the glory of God  
\- He would not be praying this if He did considered it to be guaranteed

The Book of Revelation: The Promise to Him that Overcomes  
\- "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (Rev.2:26)  
\- "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev.3:21-22)  
\- The promise to rule with Christ in both Revelation ch.2 and 3 is s given to those who Overcome  
\- Those who rise in the First resurrection " shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him one thousand years"(Rev.20:6)  
\- These means that those participating in the First Resurrection must be Overcomers in life

8. Where Will We Live in Resurrected Bodies?  
\- Those with resurrected bodies will live in the New Jerusalem, but they will reign on the earth.  
\- There will be instant transportation from the New Jerusalem to any place on the earth, just like angels can move back and forth between the realms effortlessly.  
\- The veil will be lifted between the realms. Limitations on travel will be removed  
\- There will be a Supernatural dimension merging with the Natural world  
\- In the Millennium, the natural human processes will not be suspended, but will be significantly enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit.  
\- People with natural bodies, not resurrected will continue life on earth as before with all the the natural realities and processes of life.  
\- Those with resurrected bodies will be interacting with them, but will have government and exercise leadership over them.  
\- A Brief Glimpse:  
\- We see brief aspects of this natural and supernatural realm flowing together during the forty days after Jesus resurrection and before He ascended into heaven  
\- "to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.'  
(Act.1:3)  
\- Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead" (Acts10:40-41)  
\- He was teaching them. He was eating their food with them. He was hugging them and ministering to them. He was appearing and disappearing. What an unbelievable time!  
\- They would have been overwhelmed with joy and excitement  
\- This is just a brief insight to what life will be like in the Millennial kingdom Intense Joy, or Great Sorrow?  
\- God's purpose has always been that heaven would come to earth....that the two realms would overlap, and that God would dwell among us  
\- Imagine what it would be like to be part of this, to see and experience this. The Intense Eternal Joy of being resurrected and part of the Fist resurrection and this Millennial ministry. The Great Sorrow at missing out on what you had been called to participate in!  
\- We have to make the daily choice.....Run our Personal Race to Win this Prize of The High Calling of God  
\- Num 14:21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD

III. Questions For Personal Reflection  
1. What has the Holy Spirit being speaking to you about during this session?  
2. What response or actions do you need to make?  
3. Why would building your inner spirit life be so important\/  
4. Why is embracing personal inner transformation so important?  
5. What issues currently hinder you running passionately for Christ?

# Garments of Glory and Beauty (5 of 6)

## Sun 5 Jul 2020 « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

Jesus frequently taught about Eternal rewards in the Coming Millennial Kingdom and for the need for Hiss disciples to pursue them and live in preparation for His Second coming. In this series we examine what are the Eternal rewards that Jesus has reserved for those who love Him. The focus of this study are Eternal Garments of Glory and Beauty

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_05-07-2020.htm#notes) Back to Top »

ER5. Garments of Glory and Beauty

I. Introduction

1. A Great Theme of Jesus Teaching was Eternal Rewards  
\- Jesus constantly taught about seeking Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them  
\- "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."(Mat.16:27)

2. There are very Many Different types of Rewards  
\- In Rev.2-3 Jesus names many different rewards for those who Overcome specific challenges and trials  
\- The many Eternal Rewards that are described potentially form an important part of our Eternal Destiny  
\- We need to be familiar with the significance and importance of the different rewards revealed.  
\- Understanding what is at stake gives us great motivation for perseverance and transformation  
"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.  
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality" (Col.3:22-24)

3. Rewards are Not Given Automatically...Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions  
\- "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev.3:21)  
\- "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jn.12:26)  
\- Note that in each of these scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in response to Jesus

4. Our Small Sacrifices Now have Huge Recompense Eternally  
\- "You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things." (Mt. 25:21)  
\- "Well done...you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Lk. 19:17)  
\- God greatly values our small expressions of obedience in our mind , emotions and will  
\- He remembers them and rewards them in a much much greater proportion  
\- God is a "Rewarder" ( Heb.11:6) and He is extremely generous!  
\- "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." (Mt. 19:29)

5. Possible Categories of these Many Rewards  
\- The many Rewards mentioned in the Bible could be listed under the following headings:  
1. Eternal Intimacy  
2. Eternal Authority  
3. Eternal Glory  
4. Eternal Garments  
5. Victor's Crowns  
6. Honour & Praise  
7. Treasures & Riches  
8. Vindication  
\- The first three of these rewards deserve special attention  
\- One of the Rewards mentioned more than any other is Ruling and Reigning with Christ  
\- This is because God's original design for man is to be a Son:  
Having Intimate Relationship with Him  
Working with Him to extend His Kingdom with Power and Authority  
Representing Him... His Character and Glory

Reward 4: Garments of Glory and Beauty

II. What are the Garments of Glory and Beauty?

1. Some Places in the Bible Where Garments are Mentioned  
\- God Himself:  
God is clothed with Honor and Majesty. (Ps.104:1)  
God clothes Himself with Light as a Garment. (Ps.104:2)  
God is clothed with Majesty and Strength. (Ps.93:1)  
\- Adam and Eve:  
God clothed them with animal skins because of their nakedness (Gen.3:21)  
They had lost their garments of Glory and Beauty  
\- Angels:  
Angels are clothed with white linen. (Ezekiel.10:1-2)  
Angels are clothed with white linen. (Dan.10:5)  
\- The High Priest: Clothed in white linen. (Lev.6:6)  
\- Jesus Transfigured: Jesus robes were brilliant dazzling white. (Mk.9:3)  
\- The white linen garments that shine brilliantly refer to supernatural clothing, suitable for access to the realm of heaven

2. White Garments are Not the Same as the Free Gift of Righteousness.  
\- 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.  
\- Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."  
\- Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  
\- "The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" ...Note: Acts(plural) of the saints  
\- These garments express each believer's devotion to Christ and their acts of service.

\- Justification is a Gift Received by Faith, Based on Jesus' Worthiness, not ours  
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast  
Tit 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  
Tit 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  
\- Our faith in the work of Jesus Christ saves and justifies us before God  
\- Our garments begin with the gift of righteousness that is imputed to us by faith (2 Cor. 5:21).  
\- However if our faith is alive and growing should produce a fruit of character and works that can be seen  
\- Our Salvation depends upon our faith in His Work....a Free Gift  
\- Our Eternal rewards depend upon our works: How we have lived out our life as a steward...A Reward

3. Who Receives the White Garments?  
\- (i). The Overcomers Receive White Garments  
Rev 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.  
Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.  
The Overcomers are awarded white Garments as an prize, or honor for overcoming in life  
\- (ii). The Bride, The Lamb's Wife Receives White Linen Garments  
Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  
The Bride of Christ has "made herself ready", she has prepared herself for the coming of the Bridegroom  
\- (iii). These are People from Every Tribe and Nation  
\- Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

4. What are The White Garments?  
\- (i). The White Garments are Eternal Rewards  
\- The White Garments are supernatural clothing awarded to believers to acknowledge the quality of their love and walk with Jesus during their lives on earth.  
\- Walking "with Christ in white" is one reward for being faithful. The reason for receiving these white garments is given—"for they are worthy."  
\- Rev 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.  
"Worthy"......Having weight, having value, one who has merited something, deserving reward  
\- (ii). The Word "White" Describes the Brightness of these Garments.  
White........ (Gk., leukos) ...Bright, brilliant dazzling, emanating light  
Mar 9:3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.  
Mat 17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  
\- (iii). Each Person will be Clothed Uniquely, Having Differing degrees of Light and Brilliance  
The brightness will depend upon the Person's Rank and Stature in the Kingdom  
Dan 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.  
Mat 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  
1Co 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead  
\- (iv). It is Possible that the Garments will be Diverse and Vary Depending on the Occasion  
In the natural world leaders dress differently for different occasions  
"who cover Yourself with light as with a garment... (Ps. 104:2)  
"clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. (Rev. 15:6)

III. The Priestly Garments  
1. We Are All Called to be Priests to God  
\- 1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  
\- Priests stand before God to offer sacrifices of praise and worship  
\- Priests make intercession on behalf of men  
\- Priests come before men to bless them

2. The Priestly Garments in the OT give insight to the Importance God Places on Garments  
Exo 28:1 "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron's sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
Exo 28:2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.  
Exo 28:3 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.

3. The Purpose of The Priests Garments  
(i). Glory and Beauty  
God designed the Priestly Garments to show His Glory and reflect His Beauty  
"Glory".......Gk. Kabod.....Splendor, Honor, Dignity, Majesty, Nobility  
"Beauty".... Glory, Honor, Rank, Splendor, Highly Attractive, an attribute of God  
(ii). Consecration of the Priest  
"Consecrate"....to set apart for a special purpose  
(iii). Ministry Personally to God  
To enter into His presence, and engage with Him face to face

4. The Details of the Priests Garments  
\- These are described in detail in Exod.28:1-43  
\- God gave exact directions regarding the design of the Priests Garments  
\- They had distinct parts (trousers, coat, girdle, bonnet, robe, ephod, breastplate, tunic, turban hats, sash, and crown).  
\- Exo 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.  
\- Exo 28:42 And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.  
\- Exo 28:43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.  
\- These Garments had to be worn by the priest when he entered the presence of God to minister  
\- The OT priestly garments were made of fine linen  
\- The garments had different colours, each with significance (gold, blue, purple, scarlet.).  
\- The breastplate was worn over the ephod and had shoulder-pieces with onyx stones.  
\- The ephod of blue was worn over the robe, which was worn over the coat and girdle.

5. The Details of the Seals  
(i). The Breastplate...........................Worn over the Heart (Transformed heart)  
\- Exo 28:29 "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually.  
(ii). The Two Memorial Stones.........Worn on the Shoulders ( Responsibility as Son)  
Exo 28:12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.  
(iii). The Gold Crown ..........................Worn on the Forehead (Mind of Christ)  
Exo 28:36 "You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD .........So it shall be on Aaron's forehead,  
\- Each aspect of the Priests Garments prophetically point to Jesus Christ and Manifested The Sons of God (Rom.8:19)  
\- Eg. The Engraved Stones with the names of the tribes of Israel in order of birth (Exod.28.10)  
Names are always associated with character, nature and destiny. These names identify the new creation  
Reuben: "Behold a Son".........Sonship. We are born into a relationship with God as our Father  
Simeon: "A Hearkening"........Sonship means hearing and obeying the voice of our Father, pleasing Him  
Judah: "Praise"....................Sonship means that we constantly thank and praise our Father

6. Only Overcomers will receive these Priestly Garments of Glory and Beauty  
\- What is an Overcomer?  
"Overcome"......To subdue, to conquer, to prevail or gain victory over temptation and difficulties  
\- Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,  
\- Rev 20:6 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.

IV. The Change in Priesthood  
1. Overcomers will Be Priests to God  
\- The Overcomers who are raised in the First Resurrection are called Priests of God and of Christ  
\- Rev 20:6 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.

2. Two Priesthoods  
\- There are two priesthood's mentioned in the Bible: Levi(Aaron) and Melchizedek( Jesus)  
\- Levitical Priesthood  
\- The Levitical priests were chosen to minister the Old Covenant  
\- The Levitical priests were all descendants of Aaron  
\- Levi was violent and cruel and came under the curse of Jacob.  
Gen 49:5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.  
\- The Levitical Priesthood was replaced by Melchizidek, who was chosen to minister the New Covenant  
\- Melchizedek Priesthood  
\- Gen 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.  
\- "Melchizedek".....HB. Tesdeq ... Justice, Righteousness: King of Salem..."Shelem"...King of Peace

3. The Levitical Priesthood has Been Replaced  
Heb 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?  
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.  
Heb 7:13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar  
\- Both Jesus and David were from the Tribe of Judah. They are Melchizedek Priests  
\- The Order of Melchizedek has replaced Levi and taken over the duties they were given  
\- The Overcomers who descend not from Levi, but from every tribe and nation are also Melchizedek priests. This priesthood no longer includes blood sacrifices because they have a "better" sacrifice....The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross

4. Levi Replaced by Zadok  
\- God declared to Eli, a Levitical priest and descendent of Aaron, that He would replace him  
\- 1Sa 2:35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.  
\- Eli was replaced by Eleazar (1Sam.7:1) and Eleazar was replaced by Abiathar. Solomon replaced Abiathar with Zadok  
\- 1Ki 2:27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.  
\- 1Ki 2:35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

5. Why Did the Sons of Levi Forfeit their Priesthood?  
\- 1Sa 2:29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'  
1Sa 2:30 Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed  
\- Why They Forfeited the Priesthood: Dishonoring God, Honoring Themselves  
(i). Lack of Intimate Relationship  
They had no relationship with the Lord, they did not know or respect Him and His Ways  
(ii). Selfish Ambition and Self Promotion  
They dishonored God by taking the best offerings for themselves.  
They used their position to exploit people and to advance themselves  
(iii). Immorality  
They dishonored God by sexual relationships with women who came to worship  
\- They took advantage of vulnerable people and abused their position of power  
\- God saw it all and held them to account!...The loss of the Priesthood

6. Change in Priesthood means Loss of Millennial Inheritance  
\- The Bible uses the Story of Eli and Zadok as a prophetic picture of the Priesthood in The Millennial Age  
\- Ezekiel uses OT pictures off the temple and sacrifices to describe NT Kingdom realities  
\- God will not reintroduce natural sacrifices again. These have forever been replaced by Jesus sacrifice  
\- The Old Covenant and its sacrifices have been replaced by the New Covenant and the sacrifice of Christ  
\- Notice what God says to the Levitical priesthood through the Prophet Ezekiel:  
Eze 44:10 "And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.  
Eze 44:11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.  
Eze 44:12 Because they ministered to them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them," says the Lord GOD, "that they shall bear their iniquity.  
Eze 44:13 And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.  
Eze 44:14 Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it.  
\- The Sons of Levi  
\- In the Millennial Kingdom they will not receive a glorified resurrected body that can go back and forth between heaven and earth such as the body Jesus had following His resurrection  
\- They will not have access into the realm of heaven and the throne of God, nor reign with Him on earth  
\- They will be limited to ministering in the earthly realm, they will have a role serving the house  
\- These represent believers operating under Old Covenant legalism, who dishonor God, and who have refused heart transformation

7. The Inheritance of the Priests was God Himself  
\- Num 18:20 Then the LORD said to Aaron: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.  
\- To inherit God means to inherit a glorified body and have access to Face to Face encounters with God  
\- The Sons of Zadok  
Eze 44:15 "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD.  
Eze 44:16 "They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.  
Eze 44:17 And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house.  
Eze 44:18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.  
Eze 44:19 When they go out to the outer court, to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments; and in their holy garments they shall not sanctify the people.  
\- Linen is made from plant and wool comes from animals, sheep  
Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  
\- Linen then represents the glorious resurrected body and garments the Overcomers will receive  
\- Wool represents the fleshy physical human body  
\- These priests of God and of Christ will be given resurrected bodies like Jesus and be able to pass easily between heaven and earth just as Jesus did after His resurrection  
\- They will "put on linen garments" to enter into the Throne Room of God and minister to Him, and then "put on other garments....Wool" to return to earth and interact with and minister to people  
\- " Cause sweat"...means human effort and toil, the consequence of the curse upon the earth(Gen.3:19)  
\- This is exactly what Jesus himself did after His resurrection  
Luk 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."  
Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.  
Luk 24:38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  
Luk 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."  
Luk 24:40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  
Jesus appeared to His disciples in a body of flesh and bones that they could see and touch. He ate with them.  
The overcomers will be able to do exactly what Jesus did, travel between Heaven and earth  
This is what is will mean to be a Priest after the Order of Melchizidek  
\- These overcomers will instruct people and judge difficult situations  
Eze 44:23 "And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.  
Eze 44:24 In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.

V. Jesus Warning and Counsel Concerning Garments

1. Jesus Warning: No Garments  
\- Rev 3:17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—  
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  
\- " Need of Nothing"....reveals pride and lukewarmness and blindness to spiritual condition  
\- "Naked".......................is a term that means to have sin exposed, and hidden things revealed  
\- Gen 3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."  
\- Rev 16:15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."  
\- " Keep garments" ...stay abiding in Christ and produce fruits that reveal the character and love of God  
\- To be naked or shamed in eternity is to be devoid of the reward of heavenly garments.  
\- All believers have the robe of righteousness, yet Jesus warns us of the shame of nakedness or "lacking the reward of clothing" that reveals one's commitment to Jesus in this age.  
\- 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.  
\- Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.  
\- Mat 22:11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  
So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.  
Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

2. Jesus Warning: Defiled Garments  
\- Rev 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.  
\- "Worthy".....deserving of praise, having the suitable qualities  
\- Jesus closely checks our garments (acts) to see if they are defiled or if they are worthy of His Close companionship and reward  
\- "Defiled"...pollute, stain, contaminate, soil  
To contaminate or make unfit by the addition of something unsuitable or unwholesome, lower quality  
\- Clean garments means clean hearts, and being clothed on the outside with righteous works  
\- These are works that flow out of love and faith and humility and are not stained with selfish personal agendas  
\- Our garments become stained by the presence of selfish agendas, hidden expectations, legalism, duty rather than love, lawlessness, doing our own thing rather than seeking Father's will (Mat.7:23)  
\- Eg. Luk 14:12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."  
\- Eg. Luk 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. Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.  
\- Eg. 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

3. Jesus Counsel: Buy of Me White Garments  
Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  
\- What are the Garments?  
The Garments are the "Righteous Acts of the Saints"  
Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  
The accumulation of our acts of righteousness on earth forms the foundation for the garments we will be clothed with in the ages to come  
\- Jesus evaluates all of our acts with a desire to acknowledge our devotion to Him and acts of service  
\- Jesus Counsel: "Buy of Me"  
"Buy of Me"......Jesus alone is the source of what is lacking our missing. We must trade with Him  
"Buy"...................To pay a price, or make an exchange in order to obtain something of value  
The Foolish virgins failed to pay the price of intimacy to obtain the oil and were excluded (Mat.25:8-13)  
There is a price to following Jesus.  
It takes many different forms daily as we seek to represent Him and obey Him  
We must die daily to self, trust and surrender our lives to Him, and develop a serving heart and lifestyle  
"Heb.6:11 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him  
Jesus counsel is to "buy of Him gold tried in the fire"  
\- What is Gold Tried by the Fire?  
1Pe 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  
Gold is a precious metal of high value. Gold is refined (purified) by passing though fire  
Faith is compared to physical gold. It is refined (purified) by trials and testing  
Faith comes by hearing but it is refined and becomes authentic when we hold onto God and His Word in the face of opposition, hostility, difficulties, delays, contradictory circumstances, resistance by loved ones  
Faith is refined when you apply it to your life and do the works, persevering and speaking of faith  
Jas 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead  
Our authentic faith is revealed by works of love

4. Different Types of Garments  
Garments will vary in glory according to how believers lived  
\- (Rev. 3:4-5, 18; 19:8).  
\- There may be many different types of clothing with unique designs, fabric, brightness, color, etc.  
\- To her [Bride of Christ] it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev. 19:8)

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.

VI. Questions to Reflect Upon  
1. What has the Holy Spirit been speaking to you about through this study?  
2. What has been the area that has challenged you personally?  
3. What impact does this have upon your motivation to serve God?  
4. Are there any areas your motivation has defiled your works?  
5. How will this teaching affect your attitude as you face difficulties, and hardships?  
6. How will this teaching affect what works you say "Yes" to taking on?  
7. How will this teaching change your response when your service is not acknowledged and honored by people

# Victor's Crowns (6 of 6)

## Fri 17 Jul 2020 « Back to Top

Notes» Audio» Website»

A Crown is given to the Victor who has won the race or the fight. It is given in recognition and honour to a person because of what they have achieved or overcome. In this message we discover five different Crowns that are promised to believers who meet the conditions. These are the Incorruptible Crown, The Crown of Rejoicing, The Crown of Righteousness, The Crown of Life and the Crown of Glory.

##  **Summary Notes**

Formatted »_Mike+Connell_17-07-2020.htm#notes) Back to Top »

I. Introduction

1. Jesus Taught about Eternal Rewards  
* Jesus taught directly or through parables the reality of Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them  
* "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." (Mat.16:27)  
* Jesus is looking to see that our love for him and life qualify us for the Eternal rewards he has offered.

2. Saved by Faith... Rewarded for Service  
* Receiving a Reward is not the same as receiving the Free Gift of Eternal life, by faith in the work of Jesus on the cross

* Free Gift:  
* Eternal life is a free gift offered to all men by faith and faith alone  
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph.2:8-9)  
* Our salvation is totally based upon the work that Jesus did as our representative.  
* By that work we are completely justified before Our father in Heaven and become part of His Kingdom and family. We cannot add or contribute to that work in any way  
* Once we have been born again and become children of God He purposes that we grow and that we serve our father

* Reward for Service:  
* "Reward"... to recompense, to give something by way of compensation for service or damage incurred  
* A Reward or prize is something we receive because we have done what was required to qualify for it  
* 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.

3. Rewards are Not Given Automatically... Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions  
* "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev.3:21)  
* "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jn.12:26)  
* Note that in each of these scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in response to Jesus

4. Three Main Categories of these Many Rewards  
* There are very many different rewards mentioned in the Bible, especially in the Book of Revelation  
* These different rewards can be understood most easily under three different headings. Each of the rewards that are promised to those who overcome fall under one of these categories  
(i). Eternal Intimacy - God invites us into the same intimacy and fellowship the Father Son and Holy Spirit have always experienced  
(ii). Eternal Authority (Responsibility) - God invites us to share in ruling with him and in expanding His rule throughout His creation  
(iii). Eternal Glory (Honour) - God invites us into His throne, to see Him face to face and to Radiate His Glory  
* These different rewards correspond to God's Sonship Design for each of us

5. Sonship Design  
* Sonship is a key part of God's Eternal Purpose  
* Sonship will be the subject of a further series of studies.  
* Here are some Key Concepts of Sonship Design. Each Function relates closely to a Category of Eternal Reward  
* Joh 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  
Joh 17:4 - I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  
Joh 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.  
Joh 17:6 - "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  
* Once we are born again into the Family of Our Father we have three key area of function as Sons  
(i). Intimacy  
Joh 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  
We are called to ongoing intimacy with our Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ who represents Him  
(ii). Assignment  
Joh 17:4 - I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  
A son in the Bible means a " Builder of the Father's House"  
We each have a personal assignment to complete to bring honor to our Father, and to develop faithfulness, and fruitfulness  
(iii). Transformation  
Joh 17:6 - "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  
To "manifest your name" means to accurately represent the character and nature of God as a Son  
Each Son is called to accurately represent what their Father is like, to represent Him on earth  
This requires that we embrace the work of personal transformation to become like Christ (Rom.8:29)  
* Each of these three functions interact with the others like interlocking circles. All are necessary for balance

II. Reward 5: Victors' Crowns

Some Believers will Receive Crowns  
* A crown is bestowed as a reward or as an honour, to give the recipient recognition and honour because of what they have done or have achieved  
* In order to have value and worth a crown must be earned. It is given for a reason  
* Two different words are used for Crown in the New Testament... "Diadem" and "Stephanos"

(i). The Crown of a Ruler... (Gk. Diadem)  
* Rev 19:12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  
* The concept of the crown originates from a cap, turban, or more formal metallic crown that was decorated with jewels. Its placement on one's head indicated that one was set apart for a particular task or calling.  
* This Crown symbolises the Royal Position and Honour as a King ruling over a Kingdom  
* Jesus in Revelation has many crowns... He is the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. He is the Emperor who rules over an Empire made up of kings ruling over kingdoms  
* Christ now reigns as the King of the Universe and will do so forever. He is the Centre of God's Purpose "which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church" (Eph.1:20-22)  
* Christ is far above all forms of rule or authority or power in the universe... "far above"  
* He is above all rulers in the Natural realm and all rulers and powers in the Spiritual realm  
* "For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet." (1Cor.15:25)  
* He makes victory possible for every one of us in our personal lives and callings  
* "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place" (2Cor.2:14)

(ii) The Crown of a Victor... (Gk. Stephanos)  
* "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." (1Cor.9:24-25)  
* The second term for Crown (Stephanos) means a wreath or garland given as a prize to a victor in the public games  
* "Stepho"... a twine or wreath encircling the head and it refers to winning a race or winning a fight  
* It also refers to the sovereign crown that a Roman Conqueror wore after triumphing in a battle and overcoming an enemy. It is a cause for glory and great joy  
* Paul declared that a crown was laid up for him... reserved in heaven and awaiting him (2Tim.4:8)

Five Different Crowns(Stephanos):  
* There are Five Different Victors Crowns (Stephanos) referred to in the New Testament.  
There may be more but these are the ones referred to in the New Testament  
Some of these crowns may refer to the same thing  
* Each of these crowns represents a Prize or Eternal Honour to be contended for and won.  
* These are possibly literal crowns but certainly they will be a recognisable eternal honor bestowed upon people for their distinctive service as a believer.  
* Crowns are always worn as a sign of recognisable or tangible honor or distinction, and are highly prized.  
* Crowns are worn by Kings, Rulers, Victors, and often, by a bride at her wedding.  
* Crowns are important to God. He designed them for beauty and glory and honor (Exod.28:2, 36-37)  
* The Crown will be a highly treasured and valued possession for the believer who receives one!

1. The Incorruptible Crown

1Co 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.  
1Co 9:25 - 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.  
1Co 9:26 - Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  
1Co 9:27 - But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  
* "Run the Race": Paul uses the Roman Public Games as an illustration of how we must live our life  
* Not everyone who enters the race wins the prize. It will require personal discipline and effort  
* "Prize"... (Gk brabeion)... The crown awarded to the victor in the public games, a symbol of the heavenly reward  
The prize in the Public Games is corruptible....perishable, temporary....and yet people strive to possess it  
The Crown set before us as a prize to win is "incorruptible"....can never perish, continues on forever  
* Paul's Exhortation: "Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize"  
"Obtain"... (Gk. Katalambano) to eagerly possess, to take hold of and make your own

Four Criteria for Obtaining the Incorruptible Crown  
(i). Value the Prize  
* Unless a believer knows there is a prize, and places value on that prize he will not pay a price to win it.  
* Eg. Paul: Knew the value of the prize and gave his whole life for it  
* Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  
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  
* Eg. Esau: Placed no value on his spiritual inheritance, and traded it for a bowl of beans  
* Gen 25:34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  
"Despised".....MW...to look down upon with disrespect, to regard as negligible, worthless  
* Heb 12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.  
Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

(ii) Run with Determination  
* 1Co 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.  
* "Determination"......a firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end, a judicial decision settling and ending a controversy  
* Runners in a marathon must fix their mind on completing the course and winning the prize  
* "Not uncertainly"...not clearly identified and defined as the goal of the race  
* A Runner must begin with the end or prize in mind, or he will be distracted and fail to put in the necessary discipline to win  
* There must be a mental determination at the beginning of the race of running to win

(iii). Engage The Enemy  
* 1Co 9:26 Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  
* Paul changes the analogy from running a race to fighting with an opponent.  
* "One who beats the air" ......refers to shadow boxing  
* What is a "Shadow Boxer"?..........Shadow Boxer is a person who:  
Practices boxing with an imaginary opponent. He is not facing a real opponent  
Has the appearance of fighting, but he is not engaging anything.  
Just pretends to fight, but never faces the risk of being hit  
Will practice in the safety of a gym, but will never engage in the real conflicts of serving Christ  
* Many believers are just shadow boxers. They have an appearance of being spiritual, but have no impact.  
* They never really engage the invisible spiritual realm, never engage and overcome spirits  
* They never actually get involved with the real difficult work of ministry to people  
* They never get engaged in the real work of advancing the Kingdom of God with its risks  
* They control personal risk and sacrifice by limiting the Lord's influence to their own agenda  
* Paul declares that we are all involved in a fight against invisible spiritual beings.(Eph.6:10-13)  
* The opponent and the resistance are real, and we must be willing to engage and take a blow or two

(iv) Develop a Focused Lifestyle  
* 1Co 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  
* Temperate in all things"....to exercise self restraint, self control, to master desires and passions  
* Temperance means moderation...refusing to come under the control of anything  
* Temperance is a fruit of yielding to the leadership and training of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22-23)  
A person who is in training for the Olympics does not live the same lifestyle as a non athlete  
* 1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  
* "Discipline"....literally....To hit under the eye so as to disable vision and ability to resist  
* Paul strongly disciplined his body, like a fighter in training so he could always be in peak spiritual condition  
* Paul disciplined his body through fasting and he practiced self discipline lest he should be disqualified  
* "Castaway".....Disapproved, not standing the test, unfit for the victors crown..the Incorruptible Crown

Weights and Besetting Sin  
Heb 12:1 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,  
Heb 12:2 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.  
* We are exhorted to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and to focus upon Jesus  
What is the sin that so easily ensnares us?  
* "Ensnare"....Literally to stand all around, or surround and distract like a competitor hindering you winning  
* It is a sin that surrounds us at every moment and presses upon us to defeat us. It hems us in on every side and seeks to defeat us.  
* This most likely refers to the sin of unbelief....loss of faith in God as a result of hardship and opposition  
* It could also refer to a particular problem or stronghold that a believer struggles with.  
What is a Weight?  
* A weight is different to a sin  
* Weight: (Gk. Ogkos)...a Burden or a Hindrance.  
In the Roman races the runners cast aside all clothing so nothing would hinder them being a winner  
A burden is something that weighs us down so that we cannot perform our best.  
A Hindrance is something that holds us back or interferes with our progress  
There can be many things that burden or hinder us running our race and fulfilling our calling  
* "Lay aside".......to put away or to cast off (anything that hinders and obstructs you running strongly)

Examples of Weights:  
(a). Unresolved Issues  
The heart is the center of our life and directs the course of our life  
Unresolved sin or relationship issues burden the heart and keep people trapped in cycles of failure  
Unresolved issues include: Unforgiveness, bitterness, judgments, grief, failure, abuse, betrayal, fear, addictions  
We must be determine to face and to process the issues in our heart so we run freely (Ps.84:5-7)  
(b). Ungodly Heart Beliefs  
Beliefs are formed in the heart as a result of how we interpret life experiences good and painful  
Ungodly beliefs are beliefs we hold that are contrary to the truth of God's word... they are a lie  
Those heart beliefs then trigger ungodly responses or reactions to things that we experience  
(c). Ungodly Relationships  
Relationships can either accelerate us towards our destiny or become a hindrance and a weight  
God blesses us by introducing new relationships, the devil hinders us by using relationships  
Ungodly relationships consume time, energy, resources and produce no lasting fruit  
This includes relationships that are controlling, abusive, without healthy boundaries,  
Codependent, idolatrous (where the person is set up on a pedestal to be served), ungodly yoking to unbelievers  
It also includes relationships involving rescuing, enabling people to avoid responsibility or consequences  
(d). Wrong Focus  
Whatever we focus upon, our heart and life opens up to...eg focus on offense and you become bitter  
God desires to be the focal point of our lives...he wants us to place Him first  
Failure in life frequently comes through having a wrong focus. These are idols of the heart! Eg. Self, pleasure, entertainment, social media, making money, pleasing people, being needed, avoiding risk  
Wrong focus will produce fatigue, weariness and constant irritation in our lives  
Loss of focus through distractions is a key strategy of the enemy against us.  
* Heb 12:2 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.  
We are exhorted to intentionally fix our focus upon Jesus as our example and on the reward to be won  
"Looking"... to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them (upon Jesus)

(v). Finish Your Course  
Heb 12:1 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,  
* "Endurance" ...persevering, remaining constant, not swerving from deliberate purpose, loyalty and faith  
* It means to bear up under trial and difficulty and keep going courageously when the going is tough  
* It is not how we start the race it is how we finish our race. We must finish, and finish strong in faith  
* Many start out strong and enthusiastic, but drop out in the face of pressure, opposition, disappointment, and difficulty, and delays in seeing fruit for their labour  
* 2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith.  
* At the end of his life Paul testified that by holding faith, he had finished his race strongly and was ready to receive a crown of honor and recognition of his life and works

2. The Crown of Rejoicing  
* 1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  
1Th 2:20 For you are our glory and joy.  
* Father places great value on each person. There is rejoicing in Heaven over every sinner that repents  
* The Crown of Rejoicing is the Reward for Leading People to Christ  
* Every person you have helped lead to Christ in this life will be a crown of rejoicing in the next.  
1Th 2:2 - But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  
1Th 2:3 - For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.  
1Th 2:4 - But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.  
1Th 2:5 - For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.  
1Th 2:6 - Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.  
1Th 2:7 - But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  
1Th 2:8 - So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.  
1Th 2:9 - For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.  
1Th 2:10 - You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;  
1Th 2:11 - as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,  
* Paul modelled what is is to be a successful soul winner. He describes key characteristics  
(i). Pure Motives  
"No error, uncleanness or deceit"  
Paul operated out of a genuine interest in people and not trying to prove a point, or claim a soul  
(ii). God Honouring  
"We speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts"  
Paul sought to represent God and please Him alone, and he was willing to face rejection by men.  
He refused to flatter people, ie. Speak with the intention of gaining their money, acceptance or approval  
As God's entrusted representative he spoke the truth boldly, in spite of reactions and hostility  
(iii). Gentle  
"But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children"  
Paul was gentle in how he treated people, kind, friendly, easy to talk to.  
He had a tender heart, and genuine love for people, like a mother is gentle with her children  
(iv). Authentic Lifestyle  
"Laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,"  
Paul worked to support himself so he could be generous, sow into evangelism, and place no demands upon people for money  
"You are witnesses, and God also how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you"  
Paul lived a lifestyle that was above reproach. He was a living letter.  
People could see that he lived the message he preached and were attracted by the life and power  
(v). Endured Conflict  
"Even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  
Paul maintained boldness in the face of conflict through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit  
It takes courage and commitment to maintain boldness in the face of the deep hostility Paul faced  
A Crown of Rejoicing awaits the Soul Winner. He will be honoured for continuing Jesus Work

3. The Crown of Righteousness  
* "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, 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." (2Tim.4:7-8)  
* Paul declared how he had lived a righteous life:  
He actively engaged evil spirits and persevered in his fight to resist and overcome temptation  
He completed his course... he completed the assignment and ministry Jesus had entrusted him  
He maintained his faith in spite of circumstances, he held onto first love, trusting Jesus and His Word  
* The Crown of Righteousness is the Reward for Longing for His Appearing  
* What does it mean to "love His Appearing"?  
To love His appearing means to live in expectation of the coming of Christ, to behave as if He were coming today.  
* It refers to a Bride waiting in expectation for her Bridegroom and making herself ready( Rev.19:7-8)  
* To love His appearing means  
(i). Pursue ongoing Intimacy with Christ...  
"But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.(Matt.25:6)  
"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1John 2:8)  
(ii). Commit your life to His ongoing work of transformation, preparation... healing,deliverance, character shaping  
1Jn.3:3. "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure"  
Rom.8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren"  
(iii). Make the seeking the Kingdom of God our first priority ...."  
Matt.6:33 "Seek first The Kingdom"  
Col.3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  
(iv). Serve the people of God.....  
"Giving them "food in due season" (Matt.24:45-46)  
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.  
* This Crown is laid up for us... as a prize to be won... in view but not yet in possession  
The Crown of righteousness is reserved for those who love it enough to let the truth shape their lives.  
* It will not be given to those that say they love Christ but hate their brother  
1Jn 4:20 - If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  
1Jn 4:21 - And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.  
* It will not be given to those who say they love Christ but do not obey His Commandments  
* Joh 14:21 - He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."  
* Paul lived his life from the point of view of Resurrection and Eternal Reward  
* Act 20:24 - But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

4. The Crown of Life  
* "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved(tried), he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (Jam.1:12)  
The Crown of Life is the Reward for Persevering through the tests of their faith (Trust in God)  
* "Temptation"... to put to proof, to be put to a test, to have your character and heart tested by adversity  
* "Endure"... to bear ill treatment bravely and calmly, to persevere, suffer patiently without reacting  
* "Tried"... to test the quality of something so that it can be approved... i.e. Quality tested  
* The testings of life have the purpose of revealing the quality of our faith and developing character. Vs 2-4  
* Those who love Jesus remain steadfast in the face of trials and temptations  
* " Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev.2:10)

Many Believers Suffer Persecution and even Death for their faith in Christ  
* All of the apostles apart from John were put to death for their ministry  
* In many parts of the world today Christian believers are also severely persecuted and suffer much. Every week there are reports of Christian men women and children being put to death rather than renounce Christ.  
* It is right and just that God would place an eternal honor on those who love Him and give up their lives for Him. We will rejoice with them at the honor they receive  
* When you take a stand for your faith you may face reaction, hostility and possibly persecution  
* Those who receive this crown do not blow hot or cold depending on circumstances  
* Father is watching how you respond, to see if you qualify for rewards for your consistency.  
* "Losing your life for Jesus sake"...may not mean physical death, but death to self-centeredness

* Every Believer will experience their Faith being Tested  
Jas 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  
Jas 1:3 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  
Jas 1:4 - But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  
Jas 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  
Jas 1:6 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  
Jas 1:7 - For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  
Jas 1:8 - he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  
* (i) Rejoice  
* When people experience trials or difficulties their first response reveals their heart condition  
People choose to Complain and Blame, or they choose to Praise God  
When our faith is put to the test it becomes strengthened in the process and our character developed  
* Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  
"Patience".....Endurance, a characteristic of a man who does not waver in purpose or loyalty  
* When people go through trials of life they usually cry out for God or someone to rescue them  
* God tells us to rejoice in trials because of they work for our good, and to ask for wisdom from God  
* (ii). Pray for Wisdom"  
* "Wisdom"... Understanding what God is doing and knowing how to respond to Him  
* People usually want God to fix the circumstances or rescue them out of painful circumstances  
* God wants us to be developed and become mature through painful circumstances.  
Parents who rescue children from negative consequences of bad choices do not help them mature. They enable them to avoid the painful consequences and they do not learn and grow mature  
* When we ask God for wisdom we must believe that He will give us the resources to handle the hardship  
* 1Co 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  
* God is faithful. He will provide a way through each trial so we can handle it correctly and grow because of it  
* (iii). Expect to Grow  
* "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Cor.4:17-18)  
* "Affliction"... the pressure, troubles, difficulties we experience as a believer  
* These pressures are light... light in weight, easy  
* These pressures are temporary... very brief in the light of eternity. They have an expiry date!  
* These pressures "work for us"... to form, shape, render you fit for something  
* These pressures prepare us for Eternal Intimacy, and Eternal Authority, and Eternal Glory  
* The condition is that our focus remains on Christ and Eternal reward and not on temporary pain or difficulty and longing for rescue  
* "Look"... to fix your attention upon  
* For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)  
* The Crown of Life is reserved for those who love Christ more than their own life, and comfort, and who hold onto Christ through the trials of life and grow

5. The Crown of Glory  
* "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (1Pet.5:2-5)  
* The Crown of Glory is reserved for those who faithfully shepherd Gods people  
* Jesus is the Great Shepherd. He entrusts the pastoring of His people to under-shepherds to represent Him. The importance of this role cannot be overstated  
* Shepherding people is a very difficult and sometimes a frustrating and grief filled work.  
* There can be great personal sacrifice and very little result for the work invested into shepherding people  
* Often the people you have loved, cared for, sacrificed for, become offended, react and walk away when you try to help them face the truth and grow. It takes great courage and perseverance to shepherd  
* Not all who hold leadership roles will receive the Crown of Glory

The Responsibilities of the Shepherd:  
(i). Shepherd the Flock  
* "Shepherd"......To tend a flock, provide pasture, be a friend to, to rule, to defend, to give your life for.  
* A major role of Shepherding is providing a balanced diet of truth...not just what people want to hear  
* This includes reproving and correcting as well as encouraging and instructing (2Tim.4:2).  
* Often people react and become critical when they are faced with truth that would help them change.  
* People who are fed only on motivational messages (sugar) will never mature  
* Shepherds must build a spiritual atmosphere or praise, worship, and unity where there is a flow of revelation and moving of the Holy Spirit  
* Shepherds are called to mature believers for the work of ministry and growth to Sonship (Eph.4:11-13)

(ii). Lead Willingly  
* "Willingly".....embracing the ministry of shepherding others by active choice and without reluctance or  
feeling compelled, or out of a sense of duty or obligation  
* Shepherds must embrace people in their heart and see their role as a assignment and honor

(iii). Lead with Pure Motives  
* "Dishonest gain"....eagerness to exploit people for personal financial gain  
* Shepherds who rule well should be financially rewarded for their service (1Tim.5:17-18)  
* This is about heart motivation....serving and ministering to people without hidden agenda of gain  
* Motivation to use ministry and exploit people for personal financial gain is called dishonest gain, "filthy lucre"

(iv). Serve as an Example  
* Jesus rejected leadership "lording over" people, dominating and controlling them.  
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  
Mat 20:26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  
* "Being Example"... model a Kingdom lifestyle of Sonship and service for people to see and imitate.  
This is what following Christ looks like... character, faith, passion, focus, relationships  
* 1Co 11:1 - Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.  
The Crown of Glory is also Available to Followers  
* Mat 10:40 - "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  
Mat 10:41 - He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  
* Jesus reveals that the person who receives and rightly responds to the person He has sent to lead them will receive their reward  
* The leader's reward is also available to those who respond to that leader and the Holy Spirit working through them  
* Leadership is one assignment. There are many other assignments that people have, some in the church but most in the world  
* Receiving, honoring, and responding to leaders whom Jesus has sent, positions us to receive their reward

III. Jesus Warned of the Possibility of Losing Your Crown.

* Rev 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. "Hold fast".......use strength, hold or retain from loss, to keep carefully from loss, to master, to rule over  
"Take"... to take away or seize by fraud, to claim or procure

Eg. Saul lost His Crown:  
* "So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord." (2Sam.1:10)  
* Saul acted foolishly and lost his crown... lost his Authority, Honour, & Position as Gods Representative  
* How did Saul lose his Crown?  
"And Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, Then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering."  
And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  
But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." (1Sam.13:11-14)  
* His heart and character were not shaped... Pressure and testing exposed his condition.  
* He was motivated by desire for the approval of by people, and he feared their rejection of him  
* He blamed people and circumstances for his actions, instead of being responsible  
* He was impatient, and would not trust God and await His timing,  
* He was fearful at the growing enemy opposition to him  
* He tried to control the situation instead of trusting God. He took on a role or function that he was not called to....offered sacrifice and worship to appease people....  
* God desired a man after His own heart....who would seek to please and obey Him  
* Saul lost the presence and anointing of The Holy Spirit ....before he physically lost his crown and his life

Eg. Adam lost His Crown  
* "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  
And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  
Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." (Luke4:3-5)  
* Delivered to me... to give into the hands (of another)  
to give over into (one's) power or use  
to deliver up treacherously  
to betray and to cause one to be taken  
* Adam lost his crown....he lost his Intimacy with God, his Authority, his Glory,  
* Trading....He exchanged something of great value for something of no value..suffered great personal loss

Eg. Don't Lose Your Crown  
* "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."(Rev.3:11)  
* "Hold Fast".....To use strength, to hold or retain from loss, to rule over  
* It is possible to lose your crown....to lose the Eternal Reward that Jesus has prepared for you, for fighting your fight, and running your race  
* Rewards are Eternal....They are the prize for winning your personal race and overcoming  
* You crowns will be recognized, and will be a source of joy and honor for all eternity.  
* They will not be a cause for pride...Jesus will be honored as the one who empowered your victory  
"... the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:  
"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Rev.4:10-11)

IV. Summary: Eternal Victors Crowns are Rewards Presented to Believers for:  
1. Practicing Self Discipline...Running to Win  
2. Leading people to Christ  
3. Cultivating Intimacy with Jesus  
4. Embracing His process of heart and character transformation  
5. Remaining constant in the face pressure, opposition and temptation  
6. Faithfully Shepherding God's people  
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, 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." (2Tim.4:7-8)

#### http://mikeconnellministries.com

Sermons | Collections | 中国

YouTube | Vimeo | Podcast

eBooks | Paperbacks

Transcripts | 成绩单

Facebook | Share

Donations
