Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
One may be surprised to learn that the Bible has much to say concerning rewards.I think it is well worth the study time and something that every believer needs to seriously take to heart.
This is not a study of salvation.Laying up treasures in Heaven by our own labors has nothing to do with going to Heaven.
We are saved by Jesus’ righteousness alone, and not by any self-righteousness on our part.Salvation is NOT a reward, it is the free gift of God.
We are saved by Jesus’ righteousness alone, and not by any self-righteousness on our part.Salvation is NOT a reward, it is the free gift of God.
A person’s faith is COUNTED for righteousness.
Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”That is the simplicity that is in Christ.We are the SINNERS and Jesus Christ is the SAVIOUR.
As born-again believers God pleads with us to, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
Romans 12:1-2 is not a plan of salvation; but rather, tells us what God expects of believers, i.e., those who have rested in Christ’s righteousness for the forgiveness of sins.We don’t live for God to GET saved; we live for God, Jesus Christ because we ARE saved.
My greatest rewards and treasures in Heaven will be my loved ones, and the souls saved, lives changed and Christians who were challenged to become aggressive soul-winners through my labors in the Lord.
Jesus Christ is everything.God in His sovereign wisdom has chosen humanity as the vehicle by which to reach the souls of men with the Gospel.If we don’t do it, it won’t get done!Romans 10:14 …and how shall they hear without a teacher or preacher?
Jesus Christ is everything.God in His sovereign wisdom has chosen humanity as the vehicle by which to reach the souls of men with the Gospel.If we don’t do it, it won’t get done!Romans 10:14 …and how shall they hear without a teacher or preacher?
Matthew 6:20, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
The Bible tells us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”This is true wealth.So many people have departed from the Christian faith because of love for money, whether it be paper money, gold and silver, real estate, etc.
It’s not a sin to invest; but it is a sin to become engulfed with making money.1st Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
It’s not a sin to invest; but it is a sin to become engulfed with making money.1st Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Jesus Christ taught us to lay up treasures in Heaven “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”Any wealth you may accumulate in this world is vulnerable.
Thankfully, they cannot touch our heavenly rewards.This is exactly why Jesus told us to lay up treasures in Heaven.Notice that Jesus mentioned 3-culprits who rob our wealth:
No matter what material possessions you may have, they will deteriorate over time.You can buy expensive clothes, but they will fade and develop holes in them over time. As you wash your clothes, and wear them, they will become old, torn and unwearable.
If you buy a home, termites will eat away at it, fire will consume it, a tornado will blow it away, or criminal bankers will steal it by forfeiture.
If you buy a fancy automobile, it will eventually rust, parts will break, seals will dry rot, the interior will fade, the chassis will sag, and engine parts will wear old.You can buy a new car every few years (if you can afford to do so), but you’ll have to continue buying cars, because they will wear out.No matter what you buy, it will become old and brittle.
Jesus said that our heavenly treasures WON’T rust, nor will our clothes wear old and torn, nor will things become old and brittle, nor will the possessions we own become broken and unusable.This is quite an amazing truth.The material things which the Lord will give us in eternity will last, retain their good condition and be free from damage.For this fact, Jesus encourages us to work to lay up treasures in Heaven.Amen!
There is nothing more frustrating than to go to work, earn a paycheck, buy something one’s heart desires, and enjoy it for a short time; but then a thief breaks into your home, car or storage area and steals it.Stealing is a sin forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15).
It’s not the petty thief breaking into your back door that you need to worry about the most; it’s the false friends, cruel relatives, criminal bankers, tyrant people who will take away your wealth.There is a way to thwart all of them—by laying up treasures in Heaven where they can’t steal them from us.
This begs the question: How does one lay up treasures in Heaven?
First, you must be a born-again Christian, or you’ll never see Heaven.Salvation happens when a person acknowledges their guilt of sin and comes to God on the basis of being a hell-deserving sinner; believing on Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, to forgive their sins.
Second, as a Christian, everything that you do for Jesus’ sake or the Gospel’s will be rewarded.
Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Even the person who helps a person who serves God will receive a reward from God.If God will reward us for even giving a cup of water, then how much more shall He reward us for preaching the Gospel to lost sinners and helping the poor and needy in Jesus Christ’s name.
Even the person who helps a person who serves God will receive a reward from God.If God will reward us for even giving a cup of water, then how much more shall He reward us for preaching the Gospel to lost sinners and helping the poor and needy in Jesus Christ’s name.
Proverb 19:17, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” The helpless and poor are near and dear to the heart of God.God has promised to reward those who help the poor and helpless.
Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Luke 6:35, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
The Soul Winner will be rewarded.1st Corinthians 3:8, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” God will reward us for our individual labors in the Lord.
God doesn’t reward us for the number of people who get saved; but rather, for the effort we put forth to get people saved.Our part is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is God’s part to convict lost sinners and save those who come to Jesus Christ.
God doesn’t reward us for the number of people who get saved; but rather, for the effort we put forth to get people saved.Our part is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is God’s part to convict lost sinners and save those who come to Jesus Christ.
Everything that one does as a Christian for the Lord Jesus Christ—soul-winning, doing good, helping the poor the innocent and helpless, lending without hope of return, teaching the Bible, contending for the faith, loving our enemies, passing out Bibles—will be greatly rewarded by God in eternity.
So many people these days are absolutely consumed with making money.It’s their life.Although they may enjoy the splendors of this temporary life, they won’t have much in Heaven, if they’re even going to Heaven.
The greatest treasure in Heaven will be the souls of people saved through the preaching of the Gospel.That is the greatest treasure of all.
1st Corinthians 3:7-8, “So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
The Scriptures plainly teach that God will reward every believer according to their own LABOUR.Please note that this has absolutely nothing to do with salvation, for we are solely saved by Christ’s righteousness (Romans 4:5-6; 2nd Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:5).
The Greek word for “labour” in 1st Corinthians 3:8 is “kopos” and means “to toil (as reducing the strength).” It means that the more we labour for the Lord until we become weary and tired, the more He is going to reward us.
Those who stay up late into the wee hours of the morning, going the extra mile, working relentlessly, sacrificing their time for the Lord’s sake and the Gospel’s, will be greatly rewarded.
The Bible teaches that EVERY man will receive his OWN reward for his OWN labour. Every believer will stand before God and give account for the good and the bad done in this earthly body (2nd Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12).
The Church has the responsibility to help the poor (James 1:27).Thankfully, the Bible teaches that each believer’s reward in eternity will be his OWN, and no one is going to deprive him of it, con him out of it, nor confiscate it from him.
It is disturbing when the government confiscates money in the form of taxes, and then uses that money to fund evils such as murder, fornication, sodomy, abortion, and the teaching of Evolution, etc.This is not freedom.Most people do not approve of these agendas, and yet they are forced to support them.God assures us that we will EACH receive our OWN reward for our OWN labour, and it will be OURS to enjoy.Thank you, Lord God, Jesus Christ.
I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to do as much for God as I can while I’m here on earth.And no amount of slander or criticism from our enemies will affect our rewards in Heaven, because God rewards us according to our OWN LABOUR.Amen!
Revelation 22:12, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
The Book of Daniel, in the Old Testament, teaches that Soul Winners will shine as the brightness of the stars in Heaven.I believe this is because the souls whom are led to the Lord through our ministry efforts will thank and admire us in Heaven.Certainly, only God can save anyone (1st Corinthians 3:7).Yet, God uses us as vehicles by which to win those folks to Him.
Carefully notice that Soul Winners will shine as the brightness of the stars in Heaven.Stars stand out in the night sky.In this heathen world—those who strip naked, glorify sin, take God’s name in vain, reject Jesus Christ, commit fornication and live for Satan—are idolized by the masses of society.
It will be a much different situation in Heaven.The evil God-rejecters will not be there (Revelation 22:15).Only sinners saved by God’s grace will be in Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9).Anyone can be saved if they’ll come for forgiveness through the Son of God (John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; 10:43).
The Bible says that they who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars of the universe.The only true righteousness is Christ‘s imputed righteousness, which is by faith (Romans 4:5-6).
What in the world does that big word mean . . . IMPUTETH? The word “impute” means “to pass to one’s account, to count over”It means that Jesus places His righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation.Romans chapter four speaks concerning Abraham, “For what saith the scripture?Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).What a beautiful truth!
Abraham was not saved by good works; but rather, he believed God and was saved by Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s perfection was imputed (placed) on Abraham’s record in Heaven.God the Father viewed Abraham thereafter as having the righteousness of Christ.What a Saviour!
Proverb 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Believers who are “choked with cares and riches and pleasures” of this earthly life (Luke 8:14), who bring forth no fruit to perfection, will not shine in Heaven.In fact, they will be very sad because they failed to seize the opportunity while on earth to win souls to Jesus Christ.Once this life is over, the race is finished.All opportunities to earn rewards in Heaven will be over.The chance to pass the test of our faith will be gone.
The average churchgoer is so brainwashed with religion that they aren’t even saved themselves, let alone telling others how to be saved.We are saved by faith, and then we live the Christian life by faith.We are saved solely by Christ’s righteousness, which is only by His precious, literal, physical, blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12,24).
Then as born-again believers, Christ lives the Christian life through us as we yield to His Spirit day-by-day in obedience to the Scriptures.
Please understand that living a consecrated life for God has absolutely NOTHING to do with being saved.You are saved because you come as a helpless, guilty, sinner and trust on Christ to forgive your sins and save you.
The Bible plainly teaches that Soul Winners will shine in eternity as the brightness of the stars.Our duty as Christians is to turn men unto the righteousness of Jesus Christ that they may be saved.
2nd Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
2nd Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Jesus the Christ said “great” shall be the reward in Heaven of those believers who are persecuted for His names’ sake.If you are a God-fearing Christian who loves the Lord, then you know that the unrighteous hold you to an unfair standard.
A wicked man can do evil a hundred times and no one cares; but just let a child of God make one mistake and every hypocrite will condemn him as a fraud and a phony. In the eyes of the wicked, a righteous person has to be perfect or else suffer severe slander or brutal persecution.
The chief priests, scribes and Pharisees were continually trying to accuse Jesus (Mark 12:13; John 8:5-7; Matthew 12:10; Luke 11:53-54; Luke 23:2,10) and find fault in Him. They hated Jesus because He spoke the truth, was perfect in all His ways, and many of the the people followed Him. Yet, Jesus the Christ overcame this hateful, malicious and sin-cursed world (John 16:33). Amen!
Thus, Jesus tells us to rejoice because we are on the winning side.Jesus said in John 16:33 to “Be of good cheer.” Of course, the more we shew forth the love of God, and any form of joy, the more the miserable world will hate us.
The Bible foretold in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 “that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” This accurately describes the world today.What a hellhole of iniquity!
Jesus said that the world would hate us (John 15:19), just as it hated Him; but our reward will be great in Heaven.The more grief that evil people cause us because we are a sin-hating Christian, the greater will be our reward.It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.God is going to make it all up to us.
Jesus promised to prepare A PLACE for us in Heaven, so “that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). Praise God, Jesus Christ! I want to live with God and my family in Heaven!You can have this world and all the splendors it has to offer, because it’s all a temporary illusion.
Jesus Christ mentions FOUR different types of persecutions in Luke 6:22-23:
If you carry a Bible, the world will hate and avoid you. Just start giving out Gospel tracts, or share the Gospel of Jesus Christ online and watch how fast you lose friends, relatives and acquaintances.2nd Timothy 3:12 says that they who live godly in Christ Jesus, SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION!!!
Please understand that the Bible is not talking about mere charity.If you help the poor and give handouts to the needy, even the vilest sinners will accept you; but if you take a Biblical stand against sin, you will be hated and persecuted.
Just because you help the poor doesn’t mean that you’re serving God.What about their souls?A lot of apostate Christians do nothing but feed the poor; but never preach the Gospel, never contend for the Biblical faith, never preach against sin and never make a difference for Jesus Christ.
Just because you help the poor doesn’t mean that you’re serving God.What about their souls?A lot of apostate Christians do nothing but feed the poor; but never preach the Gospel, never contend for the Biblical faith, never preach against sin and never make a difference for Jesus Christ.
Please don’t misunderstand, helping the Innocent and poor is a wonderful thing; but God will reward the Soul Winner extra.
2nd Corinthians 5:11 says, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”This Scripture speaks of the judgment of believers, which is clearly evidenced by 1st Corinthians 5:10. Soul-winning is good; not soul-winning is bad.
2nd Corinthians 5:11 says, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”This Scripture speaks of the judgment of believers, which is clearly evidenced by 1st Corinthians 5:10. Soul-winning is good; not soul-winning is bad.
You will be persecuted if preach against animal cruelty, fornication, domestic violence, sodomy, Evolution, abortion, adultery, false religion, bullying, and all other forms of wickedness.Ephesians 5:11 commands us not to fellowship with darkness; but rather, expose it.
The lifestyle and conversation of the born-again Christian who loves God, Jesus Christ is drastically different from that of the sin-loving world.They will condemn us, and hate us, and place us under their magnifying glass for scrutiny.Any fault we have will be used to destroy our credibility and slander us.
The Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:8, “we be slanderously reported.”If evil men slandered Jesus and the Apostle Paul, then you can rest assure they will slander us too. And so, it is.Jesus said our reward is great in Heaven.
The Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:8, “we be slanderously reported.”If evil men slandered Jesus and the Apostle Paul, then you can rest assure they will slander us too. And so, it is.Jesus said our reward is great in Heaven.
The child of God, who has a pure and tender heart, will never mix with cold-hearted people.Unfortunately, we have to work to eat and oftentimes have little choice in the matter.Let me encourage you, whoever you may be in the Lord, to rejoice in knowing that God has great rewards laid up for you in Heaven; where neither moth, rust, nor thieves can take them from you (Matthew 6:20). God, Jesus Christ is precious and He has promised to reward us, even for giving a cup of water in a disciple’s name (Matthew 10:42).Likewise, men will be judged for every word spoken on Judgment Day (Matthew 12:36).
What a day that will be
when my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon His face
the One Who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand
and leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day, that will be!
1st Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Every believer who has worked long, toilsome hours for the Lord, often into the wee hours of the morning, knows the feeling of being overwhelmed at times with weariness.I think we all feel tired at times; while the rest of the world is having fun, doing nothing for God.In fact, most believers do nothing for God (Luke 8:14).
The Bible assures us that our labours are never in vain IN THE LORD.God will reward us according to our OWN labour, and we will receive our OWN reward (1st Corinthians 3:7-8).
Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”Amen! Even a cup of water given in a disciple’s name guarantees a reward in Heaven.Everything that one does to help a man or woman or children of God, who’s preaching the Gospel, God will reward that person.
There are so many ways to earn rewards in Heaven—you can go soul-winning yourself, you can help someone else who is a Soul Winner, you can help an organization which is committed to soul-winning, etc.Even if you simply drive the Soul Winners to their soul-winning destination, God will reward you for helping them.Just as God will hold men accountable for every idle word spoken on Judgment Day (Matthew 12:36); so, shall God reward people for even a cup of water given in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:41).
Good and bad, God is recording everything in Heaven (2nd Corinthians 5:10).What happens in NYC or NC is recorded in Heaven!No good work will go unrewarded for the believer; nor any evil work unaccounted for (Romans 14:12).You can rest assure that God will reward each and every believer for every keystroke, every footstep, every word, every writing, every design, video, charity work, every work, which is done in God, Jesus Christ’ name.
Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
Nearly all religious work done today is in vain because it does not hold forth the WORD OF TRUTH as God commands.The Bible is the Word of Truth.John 17:17, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” If the truth of God’s Word is not being preached, then all work is done in vain.God will not reward anyone for labor done that doesn’t center around the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many people have a sincere desire to help others, but there is no concern for where their soul will spend eternity.The biggest lie of the Devil is that we are all God’s children.Scripturally, no Christ-rejecter will ever step instead Heaven’s gates.In fact, the Bible teaches that all Christ-rejecters will be punished in the flaming fires of Hell forever.
2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
It is tragic that so many people work tirelessly in vain. Their labors will amount to nothing 100-years from now. There are millions of people in this world who are committed to an empty cause, who spend their lives on things that are worldly and shallow, having no regard for the truth.God’s Word is truth.
This is why I defend the integrity of the trustworthy King James Bible.All modern Bibles are corrupt.
Philippians 2:9-10, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Why would anyone use obvious degradation of the Scriptures that repeatedly removes the name of our precious Saviour?
The Word of God is the Word of Life.The gospel is not merely the most important part of what we do, it is absolutely essential and mandatory!
The good news of Christ crucified and risen for our sins is not only the greatest message in history, it is the only way anyone will ever get to Heaven.Ye must be born again.John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The good news of Christ crucified and risen for our sins is not only the greatest message in history, it is the only way anyone will ever get to Heaven.Ye must be born again.John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The only labor which God will reward is labor centered around holding forth the Word of Life, i.e., the saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Most religious work done today is done in the flesh and is completely void of the gospel.There are thousands of charities that help the poor but have absolutely no concern over the souls of people.The gospel means nothing to them.If they teach a religious message at all, it is unbiblical and a false gospel.
Are you laboring in vain? The only thing that we can take with us into eternity are the souls saved, lives changed and our labours for the King of kings.If the good news of Jesus Christ is not preached, you will receive no reward. Philippians 2:16 speaks very plainly that if the Word of Life is not upheld, then all labor is for nothing.You will have run the course in vain.
Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” There will be millions of people on Judgment Day, who labored tirelessly throughout their earthly life, who will receive no reward from the Lord, and most of them will be cast into the Lake of Fire as religious Christ-rejecters.
In Philippians 2:16 the Apostle Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, said that all our labors will be in vain if we fail to hold forth the WORD OF LIFE. May all of our labors center around the preaching of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, that we may receive a full-reward as Christians at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
