Growing Strong, Maturity in Christ & Eternal Reward Colossians 1:27-29 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © February 26, 2017 www.pastorkennedy.com A primary goal for the Apostle Paul was to encourage, teach, warn and admonish those professing faith in Jesus Christ so that they could become more mature in their faith. Every healthy parent wants the same for the physical, mental and emotional development of their children, so how much more should this desire be extended to the spiritual domain, since the maturity of a person’s spiritual life permeates the development of a healthy life now…and has profound effects on who they will be in eternity. When you want to grow strong physically and emotionally, what are we encouraged to do? Making Healthy Physical Choices Nourishment: Eat healthy food.  Activity: Exercise appropriately.  Friendships: Have the right friends and associations.  Stimulations: Have positive and appropriate external and internal interaction with activities, media, learning, work and pleasure.  Rest: Peace in your heart and mind; sufficient sleep for your body.  The Goal: In the end, a natural goal is to have a more positive life and possibly live a long time...  None of us always succeed in all the goals we have…just look at the unfulfilled promises made year after year in New Year Resolutions! Maturity in life often comes through trial and error, mistakes, failures, hard work, success, study, more hard work, getting back up and making better choices. We can always look back on life and chide ourselves for immaturity. Hindsight seems to have pretty good 20/20 vision. Maturity often seems to come by learning from our mistakes and successes, with a heart to still go forward. When you want to grow Spiritually, it is wonderful when we do the things we know, from God’s Word, what we should be doing, and grow in the Grace of the Lord! The Apostle Paul Encourages the Believer in Christ to become a Mature Christian Colossians 1:27–29 27 … Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him (Christ), admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Why Should We Seek Spiritual Maturity? Spiritual Maturity in Jesus Christ is intrinsically tied to the rest of who we are as a person living in this world. Christ-like maturity affects how we treat each other – our spouse, our children, our extended family, our friends, those in the workplace, those at church, and those in our community and world. Growing in maturity in Christ, means we seek to continue to grow honorably before God in our daily walk. Through sacrificial worship of God and building the principles of God’s Word into our life, but not conforming to the pattern of the world, we are empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to have a positive transformation of our heart and mind (Rom. 12:1-2). It also affects who we will be in eternity. Maturity in Christ Practical: Outer Life in Christ (Colossians 3:18–4:18) … Paul turned to practical interpersonal relations that should flow from a believer’s position in Christ. First, he exhorted each member in human families to perfect (mature in) his private life (wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, masters; 3:18–4:1). He then reminded believers to perfect their prayer lives (4:2–4) and their public lives (4:5–6). Then he shared his concern for perfecting the personal lives of all the Colossian believers (4:7–18).[1] When you want to grow strong spiritually, what should you do? Making Healthy Spiritual Choices Nourishment: Reading, meditating and studying God’s Word as food for your soul, following the guidelines and directives God has given us, empowered by God’s Spirit.  Activity: In your activities, promote those things which encourage a healthy spiritual life, in our home, church and extracurricular events in our life.  Friendships: Develop friendships that help you grow spiritually, following a lifestyle that fears the Lord.  Stimulations: Avoid evil and pursue that which is good in internal and external interaction with the diverse aspects of media, learning, work and pleasure.  Rest: Learn to “Rest,” Hope and Trust in the Lord – especially in times of difficulty. “Taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)  The Goal: Mature to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Christ; and, accomplish the purposes God has for you now, and in eternity!  Growing in Maturity in Christ is a valuable blessing for us in every area of our life 1 Corinthians 2:1–10 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. Wisdom From the Spirit 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. Eternal Rewards The person who is seeking to honor Christ and become more like Him in maturity will be blessed with eternal rewards. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. – 1 Cor. 2:9-10 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 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. 1 Peter 1:3–4 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you…. Does God have Eternal Rewards for what is done by His Children on earth to honor and glorify Him? God Rewards Service for Him – He sees the heart 1 Samuel 16:7 7 …The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We Have Hope. Those who are Evil Have No Future Hope Proverbs 23:17–18 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. 18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:20 20 for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. God Rewards Honorable Service in His Name Mark 9:41 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Proverbs 19:17 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Judgment of the Nations Matthew 25:31-32; 34–40 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” God is not Unaware of a Righteous Heart Cry to Him Acts 10:4 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” God Does Not Forget Good Deeds Hebrews 6:10–12 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Do Not Lose Your Reward 2 John 8 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Who Will YOU Be In Eternity? What is Eternity? Does it have to do with “space,” with “heaven?” We have recently been hearing that “NASA has discovered seven earth-sized planets nearby.”[2] In modern day astronomy, answering the question, “Are we alone in the universe,” has become a top priority. A Christian already knows from the Bible that “we are not alone.” God “IS”, angels (good and evil) are created beings who exist in the universe; and, “God rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6) The recent discovery of seven earth-sized planets “nearby” is somewhat relative, depending on what one means by “nearby”. Those seven earth-sized planets are 40 light years away. 40 may not seem to be a big number until one associates the term “light years” with it. 1 Light year = approx. 6 trillion miles. 40 light years = approx. 240 trillion miles away. “If you could travel at the speed of light, you could circle the globe of Earth almost eight times in one second. A light beam needs only 8 minutes to travel the 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the sun to the Earth.”[3] So, 40 “light years” is a very long way away – passing by billions of stars, so we could visit our nearest neighbor! “That means using today's rocket technology (and a whole lot of cash), it would probably take about 11,250 years to get to TRAPPIST-1….” “At the moment, all you really tell from the transits is these are small black dots.” [4] Some enthusiasts are wanting to plant a colony on Mars (around 249 million miles) within the not too distant decade…but 240 trillion miles to find a potential neighbor? Somehow, even with all the star formations and fantastic galaxies we see through what we consider sophisticated, manufactured telescopes, many in the world cannot bring themselves to believe in the Creator who created the trillions of galaxies, each with billions and billions of stars, in the visible universe (there are estimated to be 100 to 400 billion solar masses the average size of our sun, in our own Milky Way galaxy [5]). It is impossible for us to comprehend the extent of space, even through what our limited telescopes can see, and the dynamic of the heavenly host that God has created, but it is real – even what we cannot see with our human eyes or comprehend with our mind. God IS Real; Galaxies are Real; Myriads of Stars are Real; Life in the Universe is Real; Eternity is Real. Who Will YOU Be In the Real Eternity? There is a “heaven” and there is “eternity.” There is an accountability to God – both now and in the future. To grow and live in spiritual maturity, since we will be judged in eternity, would seem to be a very wise goal. Revelation 20:11–15 The Dead Are Judged 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. The Parable of Two of Ten Servants Jesus told several parables that may strongly allude to our service and spiritual growth, or lack of it, affecting our eternal future. In the Luke 19 parable, only two of the ten were rewarded and blessed. Some hated the king and did not want him reigning over them, and one was fearful of his expectations. Two served the king faithfully and reaped a bountiful reward. Luke 19:12–20 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas (about 3 month’s labor’s wages). ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth….(the king was not happy and it did not turn out well for the fearful and undeserving servant!) Other similar parables reveal similar outcomes. Jesus told His followers, through parables, what would be the eternal reward for faithful service. Matthew 25:23 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 24:45–47 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Luke 16:10–11 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Those who faithfully serve Christ in this life will be blessed and rewarded in eternity. The words of the song to the redeeming Lamb, in Revelation 5:10 gives us further understanding of the reward given to those who have been redeemed. The Lamb has purchased with His Blood, men for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation…and has made these to be a Kingdom and Priests to serve God… “and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Will those in the Raptured Church Serve Christ during the Millennial Kingdom? Will Jesus Christ, at our judgment, say “Well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord!” “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” Our life here on earth, no matter how high or low profile, will be rewarded in eternity, if we have truly sought the Lord and served Him. Those Martyred for their Faith during the Tribulation will serve Christ in His Earthly Kingdom (Rev. 20:4), during the Millennium spoken of in Revelation 20. Since the Church is spoken of to be “taken up” or raptured before the Millennium period (2 Thess. 2:1-7; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Matt. 24:30-31; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:3; etc.), it seems those caught up with Christ will also be part of “the First Resurrection.” Their service in the Millennium will be according to the will of God. “The rest of the dead,” including the wicked dead, will not come to life until the Millennium is over (Rev. 20:5). 2 Thessalonians 2:1–7 2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 1 Corinthians 15:51–54 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Matthew 24:30–31 30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:3 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. It seems that the Raptured Church then, should be part of the “First Resurrection,” (Rev. 20:5-6) and we may also be serving the Kingdom of Christ during the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth – according to the will of God. This is the end-time reign, where Christ rules on earth with a “rod of iron,” or “iron scepter” (Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), prior to the final Eternal Kingdom. This end-time Millennial Kingdom is alluded to many times in the Old Testament. [6] Revelation 20:1–10 The Thousand Years 20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge (see 1 Cor. 6:3). And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:7–10 Satan’s Doom 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Following the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth – “with an iron scepter,” the demise of Satan, and the final Judgment before God’s Throne, the old heaven and earth will be renovated by fire (2 Peter 3:5-13; Rev. 21:1) and a new purified and holy heaven and earth, “where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13), will become the dwelling place of God and the Kingdom of His Son. The Majestic Holy City will descend (Rev. 21) from the New Heaven to the New Earth, prepared as a Bride beautifully adorned for Her Husband. It is a glorious city. And, “the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it….” “The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.” The Children of the Living God will be Christ’s Bride and participate together in worship and reigning in Christ’s Awesome Eternal Kingdom – forever! Seeking and growing in Spiritual maturity in this life, is more than having a positive life in this world. It is also preparing us for who we will be, for all of eternity. Revelation 21:22–27 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. ~~~ Colossians 1:28–29 28 We proclaim him (Christ), admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. [1] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 683). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [2] http://newswatchtv.com/2017/02/24/nasa-discovers-7-earth-size-planets-nearby/ [3] http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-light-year [4]https://www.forbes.com/sites/hilarybrueck/2017/02/26/nasa-just-discovered-seven-new-exoplanets-so-what/#8494bb670fc3 [5] http://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.html [6] http://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/The_Millennial_Kingdom_of

Growing Strong, Maturity in Christ & Eternal Reward

Colossians 1:27-29

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

A primary goal for the Apostle Paul was to encourage, teach, warn and admonish those professing faith in Jesus Christ so that they could become more mature in their faith. Every healthy parent wants the same for the physical, mental and emotional development of their children, so how much more should this desire be extended to the spiritual domain, since the maturity of a person’s spiritual life permeates the development of a healthy life now…and has profound effects on who they will be in eternity.

When you want to grow strong physically and emotionally, what are we encouraged to do?

Making Healthy Physical Choices

•Nourishment: Eat healthy food.

•Activity: Exercise appropriately.

•Friendships: Have the right friends and associations.

•Stimulations: Have positive and appropriate external and internal interaction with activities, media, learning, work and pleasure.

•Rest: Peace in your heart and mind; sufficient sleep for your body.

•The Goal: In the end, a natural goal is to have a more positive life and possibly live a long time...

None of us always succeed in all the goals we have…just look at the unfulfilled promises made year after year in New Year Resolutions! Maturity in life often comes through trial and error, mistakes, failures, hard work, success, study, more hard work, getting back up and making better choices. We can always look back on life and chide ourselves for immaturity. Hindsight seems to have pretty good 20/20 vision. Maturity often seems to come by learning from our mistakes and successes, with a heart to still go forward.

When you want to grow Spiritually, it is wonderful when we do the things we know, from God’s Word, what we should be doing, and grow in the Grace of the Lord!

The Apostle Paul Encourages the Believer in Christ to become a Mature Christian

Colossians 1:27–29

27 … Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 We proclaim him (Christ), admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Why Should We Seek Spiritual Maturity?

Spiritual Maturity in Jesus Christ is intrinsically tied to the rest of who we are as a person living in this world. Christ-like maturity affects how we treat each other – our spouse, our children, our extended family, our friends, those in the workplace, those at church, and those in our community and world. Growing in maturity in Christ, means we seek to continue to grow honorably before God in our daily walk. Through sacrificial worship of God and building the principles of God’s Word into our life, but not conforming to the pattern of the world, we are empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to have a positive transformation of our heart and mind (Rom. 12:1-2).

It also affects who we will be in eternity.

Maturity in Christ

Practical: Outer Life in Christ (Colossians 3:18–4:18)

… Paul turned to practical interpersonal relations that should flow from a believer’s position in Christ. First, he exhorted each member in human families to perfect (mature in) his private life (wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, masters; 3:18–4:1). He then reminded believers to perfect their prayer lives (4:2–4) and their public lives (4:5–6). Then he shared his concern for perfecting the personal lives of all the Colossian believers (4:7–18).[1]

When you want to grow strong spiritually, what should you do?

Making Healthy Spiritual Choices

•Nourishment: Reading, meditating and studying God’s Word as food for your soul, following the guidelines and directives God has given us, empowered by God’s Spirit.

•Activity: In your activities, promote those things which encourage a healthy spiritual life, in our home, church and extracurricular events in our life.

•Friendships: Develop friendships that help you grow spiritually, following a lifestyle that fears the Lord.

•Stimulations: Avoid evil and pursue that which is good in internal and external interaction with the diverse aspects of media, learning, work and pleasure.

•Rest: Learn to “Rest,” Hope and Trust in the Lord – especially in times of difficulty. “Taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

•The Goal: Mature to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Christ; and, accomplish the purposes God has for you now, and in eternity!

Growing in Maturity in Christ is a valuable blessing for us in every area of our life

1 Corinthians 2:1–10

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Wisdom From the Spirit

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 However, as it is written:

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Eternal Rewards

The person who is seeking to honor Christ and become more like Him in maturity will be blessed with eternal rewards.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. –

1 Cor. 2:9-10

2 Corinthians 4:17–18

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 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.

1 Peter 1:3–4

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you….

Does God have Eternal Rewards for what is done by His Children on earth to honor and glorify Him?

God Rewards Service for Him – He sees the heart

1 Samuel 16:7

7 …The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

We Have Hope. Those who are Evil Have No Future Hope

Proverbs 23:17–18

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

18 There is surely a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:20

20 for the evil man has no future hope,

and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

God Rewards Honorable Service in His Name

Mark 9:41

41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Proverbs 19:17

17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will reward him for what he has done.

Judgment of the Nations

Matthew 25:31-32; 34–40

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

God is not Unaware of a Righteous Heart Cry to Him

Acts 10:4

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

God Does Not Forget Good Deeds

Hebrews 6:10–12

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Do Not Lose Your Reward

2 John 8

8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

Who Will YOU Be In Eternity?

What is Eternity? Does it have to do with “space,” with “heaven?”

We have recently been hearing that “NASA has discovered seven earth-sized planets nearby.”[2] In modern day astronomy, answering the question, “Are we alone in the universe,” has become a top priority. A Christian already knows from the Bible that “we are not alone.”

God “IS”, angels (good and evil) are created beings who exist in the universe; and, “God rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)

The recent discovery of seven earth-sized planets “nearby” is somewhat relative, depending on what one means by “nearby”. Those seven earth-sized planets are 40 light years away. 40 may not seem to be a big number until one associates the term “light years” with it.

1 Light year = approx. 6 trillion miles. 40 light years = approx. 240 trillion miles away.

“If you could travel at the speed of light, you could circle the globe of Earth almost eight times in one second. A light beam needs only 8 minutes to travel the 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the sun to the Earth.”[3]

So, 40 “light years” is a very long way away – passing by billions of stars, so we could visit our nearest neighbor!

“That means using today's rocket technology (and a whole lot of cash), it would probably take about 11,250 years to get to TRAPPIST-1….” “At the moment, all you really tell from the transits is these are small black dots.” [4]

Some enthusiasts are wanting to plant a colony on Mars (around 249 million miles) within the not too distant decade…but 240 trillion miles to find a potential neighbor?

Somehow, even with all the star formations and fantastic galaxies we see through what we consider sophisticated, manufactured telescopes, many in the world cannot bring themselves to believe in the Creator who created the trillions of galaxies, each with billions and billions of stars, in the visible universe (there are estimated to be 100 to 400 billion solar masses the average size of our sun, in our own Milky Way galaxy [5]).

It is impossible for us to comprehend the extent of space, even through what our limited telescopes can see, and the dynamic of the heavenly host that God has created, but it is real – even what we cannot see with our human eyes or comprehend with our mind.

God IS Real; Galaxies are Real; Myriads of Stars are Real; Life in the Universe is Real; Eternity is Real.

Who Will YOU Be In the Real Eternity?

There is a “heaven” and there is “eternity.” There is an accountability to God – both now and in the future. To grow and live in spiritual maturity, since we will be judged in eternity, would seem to be a very wise goal.

Revelation 20:11–15

The Dead Are Judged

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Parable of Two of Ten Servants

Jesus told several parables that may strongly allude to our service and spiritual growth, or lack of it, affecting our eternal future. In the Luke 19 parable, only two of the ten were rewarded and blessed. Some hated the king and did not want him reigning over them, and one was fearful of his expectations. Two served the king faithfully and reaped a bountiful reward.

Luke 19:12–20

12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas (about 3 month’s labor’s wages). ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth….(the king was not happy and it did not turn out well for the fearful and undeserving servant!)

Other similar parables reveal similar outcomes. Jesus told His followers, through parables, what would be the eternal reward for faithful service.

Matthew 25:23

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 24:45–47

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Luke 16:10–11

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

Those who faithfully serve Christ in this life will be blessed and rewarded in eternity.

The words of the song to the redeeming Lamb, in Revelation 5:10 gives us further understanding of the reward given to those who have been redeemed. The Lamb has purchased with His Blood, men for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation…and has made these to be a Kingdom and Priests to serve God… “and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9–10

9 And they sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals, because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased men for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Will those in the Raptured Church Serve Christ during the Millennial Kingdom?

Will Jesus Christ, at our judgment, say “Well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord!” “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

Our life here on earth, no matter how high or low profile, will be rewarded in eternity, if we have truly sought the Lord and served Him.

Those Martyred for their Faith during the Tribulation will serve Christ in His Earthly Kingdom (Rev. 20:4), during the Millennium spoken of in Revelation 20. Since the Church is spoken of to be “taken up” or raptured before the Millennium period (2 Thess. 2:1-7; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Matt. 24:30-31; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:3; etc.), it seems those caught up with Christ will also be part of “the First Resurrection.” Their service in the Millennium will be according to the will of God. “The rest of the dead,” including the wicked dead, will not come to life until the Millennium is over (Rev. 20:5).

2 Thessalonians 2:1–7

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

1 Corinthians 15:51–54

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

Matthew 24:30–31

30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:3

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

It seems that the Raptured Church then, should be part of the “First Resurrection,” (Rev. 20:5-6) and we may also be serving the Kingdom of Christ during the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth – according to the will of God. This is the end-time reign, where Christ rules on earth with a “rod of iron,” or “iron scepter” (Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), prior to the final Eternal Kingdom. This end-time Millennial Kingdom is alluded to many times in the Old Testament. [6]

Revelation 20:1–10

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge (see 1 Cor. 6:3). And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:7–10

Satan’s Doom

7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Following the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth – “with an iron scepter,” the demise of Satan, and the final Judgment before God’s Throne, the old heaven and earth will be renovated by fire (2 Peter 3:5-13; Rev. 21:1) and a new purified and holy heaven and earth, “where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13), will become the dwelling place of God and the Kingdom of His Son.

The Majestic Holy City will descend (Rev. 21) from the New Heaven to the New Earth, prepared as a Bride beautifully adorned for Her Husband. It is a glorious city. And, “the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it….” “The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.” The Children of the Living God will be Christ’s Bride and participate together in worship and reigning in Christ’s Awesome Eternal Kingdom – forever!

Seeking and growing in Spiritual maturity in this life, is more than having a positive life in this world. It is also preparing us for who we will be, for all of eternity.

Revelation 21:22–27

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

~~~

Colossians 1:28–29

[1] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 683). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[2] http://newswatchtv.com/2017/02/24/nasa-discovers-7-earth-size-planets-nearby/

[3] http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-light-year

[4]https://www.forbes.com/sites/hilarybrueck/2017/02/26/nasa-just-discovered-seven-new-exoplanets-so-what/#8494bb670fc3

[5] http://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.html

[6] http://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/The_Millennial_Kingdom_of_Christ.html