Rewards in Heaven

You have the same opportunity to equal rewards

There is so much in the Bible about rewards. In Luke 19 Jesus told the parable about a nobleman who gave his servants one pound each and told them to "occupy (or put to use what I gave you) till I come." Here each person was given the same amount and had equal opportunity. One put his to use and gained ten pounds and was rewarded by having authority over ten cities. One only gained five pounds and had authority over five cities. One of them did not put to use what God gave him and he lost what he had and was severely criticized.

The point is that in one respect we are all treated the same and given equal opportunity. Some put to use what God gives them and gain more and are rewarded more.

In Matt. 25:14-29 some are given more than others and are expected to gain more. They do but everyone who puts to use what God gave him, he is rewarded the same. It is so good to realize this and not get COVETOUS or jealous of someone who has more ability than we for we shall be judge according to what we have been given and get the same reward as someone who was given much more ability. Make sense?

There will be degrees of rewards. We shall rule with Christ during the Millennium thus the statement "you will be a ruler over 5 cites and 10 cities." More on this later.

Dear people, we must put to use our gifts and abilities for it will make a lot of difference one day. We are not left here to "endure to the end:" or to serve our time but to serve the Lord God of heaven and make a difference down here so it will make a difference for us up there.

Prayer: Father, bless the one reading this right now. May they put to use what You trusted them to use when you gave them gifts to put to use. In Jesus name

The Crown of Life

There are five crowns of rewards mentioned in the Bible. Last week we looked at the "incorruptible crown" for those who run and finish the race well and the "crown of rejoicing" for soul winners. Now lets look at three more.

"The crown of life."
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" James 1:2,3. "'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" Rev. 2:10.

Life is tough. Life, not God, is often unfair. Life is full of potholes, obstacles, crosses, heart aches, trials, tribulations, and you name it. Too many fall by the wayside. Too many give up, quit, stop and miss the "crown of life." "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy" 1 Cor. 4:2. I look forward to seeing YOU get your "crown of life." Remember Churchill's famous speech, "Never, never, never quit."

"The crown of righteousness."
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" 2 Tim.4:6-8. Let this soak in. It is fabulous, rich and eternal. This affects you and me here and hereafter for eternity. Hope to see you get this one too.

We must look forward to and love His appearing. This is one reason I am doing this series on prophecy. It is far more important to know this truth than who the antichrist is!

"The crown of glory."
"Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" 1 Peter 5:2-4. See also 2 Tim. 4:1,2; Acts 22:26-28.

Having been a pastor, this is one of the most humbling and motivating passages in the Bible. I believe this could include those who teach a Bible or Sunday school class. Feed, don't fleece or fuss at those dear people God gives you. They are starving to be fed and led. They need to loved, not scolded, every Sunday. Please don't try to convict them. The Holy Spirit does a good job. We must not preach at them but for them. There is a lot of difference.

O dear preacher and people, what a privilege to know and serve the Lord of glory. And to think we get a crown just for doing what is the most wonderful privilege in the world. And I love you, all because of Calvary, sumner

Prayer: Father bless Your servants who preach Your Word. May we serve hot meals every time, and not quick little cold snacks, for Your glory. In Jesus dear name.

The Race

I love to watch track meets. I love to see runners go all out to win a race. It is awesome to know how they train, discipline themselves, keep in shape and pay such a price to become winners.

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" 1 Cor. 9:25-27.

O dear people, the Christian life is a race, and we should all want to be winners. That means we must train, sacrifice, go all out, pay the price, and run the race according to the rules God has put in the rule book, the Bible.

The incorruptible crown.
"The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course (race) with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" Rom. 20:23-24. Paul will receive that "incorruptible crown" and so will you if you keep the rules, pay the price, are a faithful steward of gifts and goals God gives you and finish the race.

The crown of righteousness.
"For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy" 1 Thes. 2:19, 20. There is a "crown of rejoicing" for those you have won to Christ.

"He who is wise wins souls" Prov. 11:30. "And they that be wise shall shine as the rightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" Dan. 12:3. This is one of the most awesome verses in the Bible and everyone can be a soul-winner. "The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few" Matt 9:37. Please don't forget this great verse.

O dear people. What a joy it will be to have some crowns to cast at Jesus dear feet Rev. 4:9-11. That will be one beautiful and sweet moment. More crowns next week.

Prayer: Father, bless Your dear people and don't let the world or Satan deceive them into not striving for crowns of rewards to lay at Jesus feet. In Jesus name

You are loved by God and me, all because of Calvary, sumner

Works

Prophecy: works of gold, silver, presious stones

"However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness" Rom 4:5. We must trust God and believe that what Christ did on the cross paid the full debt of our sins. "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" Rom 10:4 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" Rom 3:21. This is just saying in a nutshell, He took all of our sins and suffered as through He himself did them and we receive His righteousness deposited to our account and get credit for what He did as though we did it ourselves.

Faith in the work of Christ brings salvation and work for Christ after we are saved brings rewards in heaven.

We saw the other day that our works are to be tried in fire. If we build out of wood, hay or stubble, we have no reward. If our works are of gold, silver, or precious stones we shall receive a reward. 1 Cor 3:14.

Works of gold
In side the Holy place of the Tabernacle where the deeds of worship took place everything was made of gold. The wise men brought gifts of Gold. They came to worship Him. The golden candlestick was made of pure gold. It illumined the holy place so they could see to worship God. The Holy Spirit is essential for us to worship God in Spirit and truth" John 4:23. It seems this represents our worship of God and doing what we do for the glory of God.

Works of silver in Scripture is associated with redemption Num 3:46-51. Most believe this is our works in evangelism. It involves the "sowing of seed" Matt 13, and some shall fall by the wayside, some on stony ground, some among the thorns but some on good ground and we shall be rewarded no matter what the results may be. One plants, another waters but God gives the increase 1 Cor. 3:6-8 "and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor." And so it is all for His glory and lo and beheld we are blessed and rewarded for it all.

Works of precious stones
The priests wore the breast plate of the costly stones with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel as the priests went to the altar of incense, the place of prayer. "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD" Ex. 28:29. What a fabulous description of intercessory pray for others. Great will be the reward thereof.

Learn about the rewards of crowns on Friday.

O dear people. It does matter how we live down here after we are saved. You can get a spanking down here or a reward up there.

Prayer: Father, may we live so that we get a "full reward" and have treasures in heaven and crowns to lay at Jesus feet. In Jesus name.

An Amazing Story

An amazzing story and most encouraging, U'll weep
I have never sent something like this before. You will rejoice and weep with joy. ABC sumner

A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share . His Name was Robert Matthews.  These are his words: "A few weeks before Sept 11th, 2001, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said, "Amen," we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently.  We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home. I received a call from my father who was retired FDNY.

He asked what my wife's flight number was, but explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak.

My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. "This is not something I can just sit by for, I have to do something." I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, "take good care of my grandchild."

Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort. My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger.

Anger at God, at my father, and at myself  I had gone for nearly 2 years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye.

Then something happened.  About 2 months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said,  "I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son."

He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.

My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, "there is something else you need to know." His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and lead him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves."

When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so mother and baby could live.

This story should help us to realize two things: First, that though it has been several years since the attacks, we should never let it become mere tragic memory. And second, but most important, God is always in control.

We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.

Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love.

You may never know the impact it may have on someone.

Prophecy

Prophecy: works tried by fire to determine rewards
At the judgment seat of Christ, the believers works shall be tried by fire to determine his rewards.

Works tried by fire
"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. 3:12-15.

Wood, hay, stubble
Fire will burn these in a moment. What are these works?

Wood:
"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Cor. 10:31. Don't do your good deeds to be "noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven...so that they may be honored by men Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." Matt. 6:1-4. That comforts me. I don't have to try to judge their motives. God knows and it is built out of wood and will be burned up. I just have to do what I do to the glory of God whether I get any credit down here or not! WOW that says it all.

Hay
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" Col. 3:17. Sometimes I am afraid we do what we do in the name of Baptists or Methodists or whatever instead of the Lord Jesus. That is hay and will be burned up. There wont be any Baptist in heaven just blood washed Christians and I am a Baptist here.

Stubble:
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing" 1 Cor. 13: 1-3. If it is not done in love in profits nothing, no rewards. It is stubble.

Judge yourself
We must judge ourselves of our motives and manner or all we do will be worthless and wasted. It will be burned up.

Prayer: Father, help us to be transparent and do all we do for Your glory alone. In Jesus name

God loves YOU and so do I, all because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again so we can be forgiven and go to heaven, sumner.

"First of all, pray for Kings (yours and mine) and all in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life" 1 Tim. 2:1-4. Oh how we need to do this today. God is holy and would never tell someone to blow themselves up and murder innocent people with them and they will go to heaven, first class. "As in the days of Noah" "The earth was filled with violence" Gen. 6:11. Oh, that you would "be men that have understanding of the times to know what (God's people) ought to do" 1 Chron. 12:32.

What about our sins?

What about our sins when we stand before God?

 

THANKS for your questions and comments. They help me. Here is the answer to one important question from one of you. What about our sins when we stand before God?

 

Our sins are remembered no more but our works are rewarded forever. The bottom line is, did the Lord Jesus suffer and die for ALL of our sins, pay the debt in full or didn't He? More on this later.

 

"FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE" Heb 8:12. Why? "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" 1 John 1:7.

 

"He has not dealt with us according to our sins,Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us" Psa. 103:10-12.

 

"Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back " Isa. 38:17.

 

"I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist Return to Me, for I have redeemed you " Isa. 44:22.

 

"You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" Mich 7:19.

 

God chastens His sons here

"But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged" 1 Cor. 11:31. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom. 8:1.

 

How does He chasten?

"For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (many are in heaven who ought not to be there YET)" 1 Cor 11:30. "'Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have withheld good from you" Jer. 5:25. Think what some are missing today

 

Your prayers are hindered. 1 Peter 3:7.

 

The Judgment seat of Christ will determine our rewards according to our works for Christ. Don't miss this.

 

Prayer: Father, thank You for saving us and then for letting us be stewards of your gifts so we can lay up treasures for eternity. In Jesus name

 

And I love you, all because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again so we can be forgiven and go to heaven, sumner. Do you believe in that alone for your salvation? Believe and pray to receive Him as your Savior right now. "He that has the Son, has life"

Don't Close the Blinds

FANTASTIC, this is not political but spiritual

Please take the time to read this! It is one of the most awesome lessons and best explanations I have ever encountered.

Don't Close Your Blinds

The other day, our nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war. My husband looked at our son and then looked at me. My husband and I were in the Army during the Gulf War and we would be honored to serve and defend our Country again today. I knew that my husband would give him a good explanation.

My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in our front living room window. He told him: "Son, stand there and tell me what you see?"

"I see trees and cars and our neighbor's houses." He replied. "OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is the United States of America and you are President Bush."

Our son giggled and said "OK."

"Now son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house and yard on this block is a different country", my husband said.

"OK Dad, I'm pretending."

"Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and see that man come out of his house with his wife and he has her by the hair and is hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face, he throws her on the ground, then he starts to kick her to death. Their children run out and are afraid to stop him, they are crying, they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and afraid of their father. You see all of this, son what do you do?"

"Dad?"
"What do you do son?"
"I call the police, Dad."

"OK, Pretend that the police are the United Nations and they take your call, listen to what you know and saw but they refuse to help. What do you do then son?" "Dad, but the police are supposed to help!"

My son starts to whine.
"They don't want to son, because they say that it is not their place or your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it," my husband says. "But Dad...he killed her!!" my son exclaims. "I know he did...but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children." "Daddy...he kills them?" "Yes son, he does. What do you do?" "Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door neighbor to help me stop him," our son says.

"Son, our next door neighbor sees what is happening and refuses to get involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him," my husband says.

"But Dad, I NEED help!!! I can't stop him by myself!!"
"WHAT DO YOU DO SON?"
Our son starts to cry. "OK, no one wants to help you, the man across the street saw you ask for help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller and puffs out his chest. Guess what he does next son?" "What Daddy?" "He walks across the street to the old lady's house and breaks down her door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire and then. He kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the window and laughs at you. WHAT DO YOU DO?"

"Daddy..."
"WHAT DO YOU DO?"
Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers, "I close the blinds,Daddy." My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him... "Why?" "Because Daddy the police are supposed to help people who needs it and they won't help You always say that neighbors are supposed to HELP neighbors, but they won't help either...they won't help me stop him I'm afraid I can't do it by myself. Daddy I can't look out my window and just watch him do all these terrible things and do nothing so I'm just going to close the blinds so I can't see what he's doing and I'm going to pretend that it is not happening."

I start to cry.

My husband looks at our nine year old son standing in the window, looking pitiful and ashamed at his answers to my husbands questions and he tells him...."Son"!!!

"Yes, Daddy."

"Open the blinds, because that man he's at your front door now..."WHAT DO YOU DO?"

My son looks at his father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes, without hesitation he says: "I DEFEND MY FAMILY DAD!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY SISTER, DAD!!! I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!!!!"

I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs our son to his chest and hugs him tight, and cries..."It's too late to fight him, he's too strong and he's already at YOUR front door son.....you should have stopped him BEFORE he killed his wife. You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it alone, before.....it's too late," my husband whispers. THAT scenario I just gave you is WHY we are at war with Iraq. When good men stand by and let evil happen its the greatest EVIL of all. Our President is doing what is right. We, as a free nation, must understand that this war is a war of humanity. WE must remove evil men from power so that we can continue to live in a free world where we are not afraid to look out our window. So that my nine year old son won't grow up in a world where he feels that if he just "closes" that blinds so the atrocities in the world won't affect him.

"YOU MUST NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!"

Does anyone remember Adolph Hitler? He almost enslaved Europe before anyone would stand up to him. It was a spiritual battle before a war. We are in a spiritual battle right now. I am deeply disturbed and praying like mad. ABC, sumner

Bitterness produces the most deadly deeds

Deadly deeds "Let all bitterness…be put away from you" Eph 4:31. Some of the most deadly deeds come from bitterness. God warns, "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled" Heb. 12:15.

A bitter spirit "It is not what happens to you that counts, it is what you do with what happens to you that matters." Every person has been hurt, betrayed, stabbed in the back by a friend or foe, been lied about, cheated on and on we could go. Nothing is worse than for a person to get bitter because of it. The poison that comes from that person is worse than the venom of the most deadly snake and many are defiled by them. How tragic.

Get mad at the devil "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12. Get mad at the devil, not people. Blame him.

Forgive them "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing" Luke 23:34. Do it and pray it by faith. I have done it scores of times. I will not defile myself or others with bitterness.  "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" Matt. 6:15.

Husbands, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them" Col. 3:19. That would have saved thousands of marriages if we Christian men obeyed God in this way.

Prayer:  Father, spare us these awful deadly deeds that come from bitterness. We are the losers if we get bitter. Help us, In Jesus name

Majoring in the Minors

Are you majoring in trivial pursuit?

A young man goes off to college. Each semester he changes his major from history, to science to math to biology to business etc. On the day of graduation someone asked him how has this prepared you for life, what are you going to do now. His reply was, I don't know but one thing is for sure. I am getting really good at trivial pursuit."

What on earth are you majoring in that will make a difference in eternity? Have you thought about majoring in the Bible? Just read it for an hour a day. Make the time by turning off the TV for that hour. You wont miss much. Memorize verses in it for just ten minutes a day. Meditate on it for just ten minutes a day and see what a difference it will make here and hereafter. Doesn't that make sense?

Are you majoring in television? You know all the players. You know all the programs and movies. You are very good at trivia pursuit about the movies.

O dear people. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Matt. 6:33.

Prayer:  Father, help us to major on the major things of life and not the trivial. Bless those who are gong through some deep waters right now and give them Your peace and wisdom. In Jesus name. You are loved by God and me, all because of Calvary. sumner

Get the Desires of your Heart

Get the desires of your heart! "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart" Ps. 37:4. Dear people, that is the truth. MOST Christians really don't believe God or rather this verse. They really don't DELIGHT themselves in the Lord.
What gives you the most fun, joy, delight? Now be honest. Think seriously. I just had one of the most delightful times of my life, sharing the gospel with a brilliant man. As I left his office, this verse popped into my mind and tears filled my eyes. God has given me all the desires of my heart. From preaching all over the world, to traveling all over the world and I love traveling to other countries. Do you delight in sharing the Gospel?

Reading the Bible I deeply delight in reading the Bible. Last night I read t read 1 &2 Cor. Gal. Eph. Phil. and Col. instead of watching TV. I have a hard time putting the Bible down. It is fantastic. Do you delight in reading the Bible? Do you really read it daily?
Talking to God, Isn't He the most wonderful person to talk to? My word, there is nothing in the world like talking to God. Do you delight in talking to God?

Delight thyself in the Lord O dear people, get serious, get your heart's desire, DELIGHT in the Lord. I have a passion for you to get the desires of your heart!

Prayer:  Father, You are so wonderful, so amazing. Help these dear people to delight in You and Your will every day and may they get the desires of their heart In Jesus name.

Fret Not

Fret not thyself because of evil doers

 

"This know also that in the last days... while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived " 2 Tim. 3:1, 13. If anything describes today, this verse does it to the hilt. Right? What are you going to do about it? Why, get the gospel to them for "it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone that believes" Rom. 1:16. How then shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" Rom. 10:14. We must tell them the good news, "how Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again" 1 Cor. 15:1-4.

 

Fret not thyself "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away" Psalm 37:1. Soon, dear people, is going to be sooner than most Christians realize or believe. Jesus is coming any minute now, I sincerely believe that. Everything in the world points to His return soon.

 

Fear not "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" Matt. 10:28. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" Luke 12:32.

 

Faint not "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

 

Father, bless Your dear people and give us a double dose of Your grace and peace like the world does not know or have. In Jesus name. And I LOVE YOU, ABC, sumner

Encourage Someone Every Day!!!!!!!!!!

Encourage Someone Today, Tomrrow, Every Day!

Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness, out of the will of
God. They wandered aimlessly and murmured shamelessly. What a
miserable life. As they were about to enter the promised land, flowing
with milk and honey, Joshua said, "Choose you this day whom you will
serve but as for me...I will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15.

Serve the Lord Are you tired of wandering and squandering your life?
Take charge of your life and say, "as for me I will serve the Lord."
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Gen. 4:9. Yes, you are!

Encourage your brother "But encourage one another daily, as long as it
is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's
deceitfulness" Heb. 3:13. Who did you encourage yesterday? This is one
of the most potent verses in the Bible. There are too many prodigal
sons, too many wandering in the wilderness, too many have left their
first love, neither hot nor cold because someone did not care enough
to encourage them at a crucial time.

Call someone, someone missed church, did not show up in your Sunday
School class, "pray for one another" James 5:16, call them and let
them know you prayed for them and love them. They may be hurting and
like the Psalmist, feel, "No man cared for my souls" Psalm 142:4. "It
is more blessed to give than to receive," Acts 20:35. Email someone
and tell them you love them and pray for them.
In the dumps One day, everything had gone wrong. I was in the dumps. A
friend heard me on the radio, pulled off the highway, went to a phone,
called me and told me what a blessing I was. It turned my day around
beyond imagination. "Go and do likewise" Luke 10:37. Encourage your
wife, children, boss, a friend and be a blessing.

Prayer:  Father, bless this child of Yours and may they be a blessing
to someone today, In Jesus name.

Meditation

Meditation: a lost art? Worth a fortune!

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" Josh 1:8. "Blessed is the man"...whose "delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night...and whatever he does he prospers" Ps. 1:1-3.

Great benefits "Make thy way prosperous," "have good success," "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."The labor force wants to know what are the "benefits" on this job. Well, dear people, you cannot beat these benefits.

Method of operation This is the MO, modus operandi, the method of operating the Christian life. "Meditate" and "Obey." Profoundly simple but simply profound.

Meditation, the world today talks a lot about meditating but their idea is terribly different from God's plan. They simply open their minds to whatever comes. Satan likes that and can put into their minds, as he has done since Adam and Eve, some very false ideas. This meditation is to "think" on the Word of God, great truth. Close you mind to all outside distractions and "think" seriously and intensely on a verse or verses that God has spoken. Then ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to the meaning and message in it for you. The Psalmist did and prayed this, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" Psalm 119:18. Meditating is a great practice while riding in your car. I never turn on the radio but spend the time meditating.

You will be wealthy O, dear people, do this and you will be the wealthiest (spiritually) person on the block. This takes more than a minute of two. In your quite time with God, after you have read the Bible, 5 or so chapters, spend 20 or 30 minutes thinking about what you read and let the Holy Spirit teach and transform you more and more into God's likeness 2 Cor. 3:18. He will.

Obey God Do what Mary said, "Do whatever he tells you" John 2:5. Then, be like Peter and say, "I will because you say" Luke 5:5. Then you will have "good success" and "whatever you do will prosper." Doesn't that make sense? Wouldn't it seem foolish not to do it? Will you take charge of your life in this area? Will you make this a practice in you life?

Prayer:  Father, bless Your children and help us all to take charge and do the best things in life so we live abundantly for our good and Your glory. In Jesus name.

Memorize Verses

"As for me I will serve (obey) the Lord" IMPORTANT

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You" Psalm 119:11. Of all the things I have done as a Christian NOTHING has meant more, impacted me more, changed me more, benefited me more than MEMORIZING the Word of God. Beginning in 1941, I began memorizing verses. To God be the glory I have memorized hundreds upon hundreds of verses. It wasn't easy. I don't have a photographic memory. I would not trade what I did for a King's ransom.

For almost 5 years, I have sent out three messages a week to 7000 of you in almost 50 countries. The verses I memorized, for the most part, have come from the foundation and fulfillment of the verses I memorized. I could not have done it had I not learned all those verses.

Begin now Everything has a beginning. Whether you have or have not begin now to memorize the Word of God. Start with one a week or one a month but PLEASE do it. You will be thankfull for eternity, I promise you.

Begin with short verses or part of a verse For instance: "Rejoice in the Lord" Phil 4:4. "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thes. 5:17 "In everything give thanks" 1 Thes. 5:18. "Exercise thyself rather unto godliness" 1 Tim. 4:7 "Do not neglect the gift that is in you" 1 Tim. 4:14. "Set your affections on things above" Col. 3:2. "I will because you say" Luke 5:5. The greatest verse in the Bible for us Christians. I use it all the time. Jesus said do it and Peter said, "I will." Oh that we all lived like that. I get goose bumps just thinking about this verse and its potential for you and me.

Get the picture? Parts of Old Testament verses were quoted often in the New Testament such as Matt. 1:22. As you read your Bible, underline verse or parts of verses that impress you and memorize them in this next year. You will be glad you did and so will the dear Lord.

Prayer:  Father, bless your dear children reading this. Helps us all to enjoy You and Your word to the fullest. MAKE US a blessing by us being so full of You and Your word, that we cannot help being a blessing. We love YOU. In Jesus name.

Let God Work Through You!

WOW, look what God did yesterday

"Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" Josh 24:15.

Oh dear people, the last thing Jesus commanded all of us is to do is "Preach the gospel to every creature" Mk. 16:15. He is saying, "give them a chance to go to heaven."

Tell the good news

Yesterday, I had some business with a person in the branch of a big business. I stepped out of the office a few minutes after signing some papers and out of his office stepped the manager of the big branch. He smiled and said hello. Graciously I handed him the Mickey Mantle tract. It opened the door to talk to him. Oh my was his heart opened. I told him how God loved and that Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again. His eyes filled with tears and he gladly bowed his head and prayed out loud with me to receive the Lord Jesus. He then said, "God sent you to me today." It was awesome.

Five minutes later

The number two man, looked up, saw me and said, "Hello." I asked if he had a minute. He said, "Yes, come on in." Isn't God great. This man, about 40 years old, was a preachers son. He had run from God. After I shared the gospel with him, he too was in tears and prayed out loud with me to receive the Lord Jesus. I wish you could have seen him as he jumped up, smiling and shook his head saying he could hardly believe what had just happened to him. GOD DID ALL OF THAT.

TAKE CHARGE

Let's obey God and get in on the thrill of all thrills of seeing people born of God right before our eyes. It is fantastic.

And I love you dearly and tell all of this and pray you will be blessed and used of God. All because of Calvary, sumner

Who is in Charge of Your Life?

Did you hear about the Marine who had been in the Marines, got out and was now reenlisting. The enlisting officer said, "You have been in the Marines. You know the rigors and demands on you in the Marines. Tell me why are you reenlisting. The Marine raised his head, looked out the door and said, "There is no one in charge out there."

Who is in charge?  The truth is there are so very few in charge of their own lives. Joshua looked at the people of Israel who were about to enter the promised land and said, "Choose you this day whom you will serve but as for me...I will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15. He took charge of his life and of course his house. My heart is stirred beyond measure tonight and I want to encourage you, no challenge you, to take charge of your life. So many just play games with God. "Why do you call me Lord and do not the things which I say?"
Read your bible and enjoy God in heaven and the letters He wrote for you. Job said, :"I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" Job 23:12. How do you esteem the Word of God? Less than your necessary food? As much as or more than your necessary food? Would you be embarrassed tell God how little you read? Please take charge and read at least 5 chapters a day. Begin in the Gospel of John, please not Genesis. Under line verses that are especially meaningful or answer questions for you. Memorize at least one verse a week. "Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You" Psalm 119:11. Meditate on what you read each day, for at least a few minutes. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" Josh 1:8. Now, doesn't that make sense?

Turn off the TV It really is a shame to spend much more time watching dumb junk on TV. Instead fill your your soul with the riches of God's Word and grace. "Those that honor me, I will honor" 1 Sam. 2:30.

O dear people, you know this, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt 6:33. My heart is so burdened about this for all of us, that I can hardly stand it. Be like Peter and say, "I will because you say" Luke 5:5. and remember, I love you, all because of Calvary, sumner

Salvation versus Rewards

What Christ did for me on the cross brings salvation, What I do for Christ after being saved brings rewards.

The work of Christ brings salvation we are all in the same boat, we have all sinned, offended God, polluted ourselves and deserve the wages of sin, spiritual death, eternal separation from the one and only living Holy God Rom. 3:23, 6:23. The Good news is that Christ died for our sins, paid our debt in full, rose again, and was seen alive by hundreds 1 Cor. 15:1-4. "The gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes" Rom. 1:16. Nothing more and nothing less will bring salvation. "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5. see Matt. 3:13-15. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory but not before God.  Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Works of righteousness by us brings rewards "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" Eph. 2:8-10.

Rewards according to our works "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done" Rev. 22:12. Read 1 Cor. 3:11-15. If a man's works are burned, he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire.

The bottom line is I am saved by grace but after I am saved, I am rewarded in heaven by works done to the glory of God.

O dear people, put your gifts to work for Christ and lay up treasures in heaven and pleasures down here. All because of Calvary, sumner

Fellowship with God

Fellowship with God-that your joy might be full

"These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete" 1 John
1:4. What brings fullness of joy? "Fellowship" with one another and
"with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ" 1 John 1:3.

Fellowship, "koinonia" the Greek word, means communion or sharing in
common. It means to enjoy each others' company, to have things in
common, to be in agreement. You can be a child of your father and not
get along with him. You have no fellowship. That too often happens to
a Christian father and non-Christian son or visa versa.

No fellowship "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what
partnership has righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has
light with darkness?" 2 Cor. 6:14. There is nothing in common, there
is no agreement.

"If we say we have fellowship with God" "If we say that we have
fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth" 1 John 1:5. The reason? God is light and in him is
no darkness at all.

Sinful  behavior, breaks fellowship, not our relationship That seems
so obvious. We can understand it in our physical relationships and not
transfer it into our Spiritual relationship; with God, our heavenly
Father. When we are born of God, we have His life, eternal life, and
shall never perish. When we sin, He will spank us, chastise us, (Heb.
5:5-11) "that we should not be condemned with the world" 1 Cor. 11:32.
"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom. 8:1.

Back in fellowship with God "If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" (for the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin) 1
John 1:9. The offense, the disagreement is removed and we are back in
fellowship with the Father. Make sense?

Prayer:  Father bless Your children. Help us to stay in fellowship
with You and have fullness of joy. In Jesus name. And I love YOU. All
because of Calvary, sumner

Relationship and Fellowship

Relationship is based on birth, fellowship is based on behavior. You were born of your father and mother. That is permanent no matter what happens. They can disregard you, disown you, disinherit you but you are still their child.

Relationship with God; to God is based solely on birth. "You must be born again" John 3:3. "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" 1 Peter 1:23. We were born of our parents by corruptible seed and we shall all die physically unless Jesus comes first. When we are born of God we are born of incorruptible seed and we shall never die spiritually. Doesn't that make sense?

Physical versus spiritual death "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" Rom. 5:12. We all belong to Adams race by our physical birth and so we all shall die physically. Those who have not been born again will also die the second death, spiritual death, separated from God forever. We who have been born again with everlasting life will never perish John 3:16.

Fellowship Relationship is permanent, fellowship is temporary. Relationship is based on birth, fellowship is based on behavior.

Prayer:  Father, bless You children reading this. Give them that sweet fellowship with You and let them have a bucket full of the fruit of the Spirit, in Jesus name

You are LOVED by God and me, all because of Calvary, sumner