Sermon Central
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God! The Great Rewarder
Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Oct 17, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: Those who diligently seek after God to please Him and make sincere efforts to follow His precepts and commands will be rewarded by God who promised this in His Word.
Mat 16:24-27 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
God is a rewarder! He appreciates sincere efforts on behalf of those who seek Him. Your achievement may not be something that men will applaud or be interested in emulating but if by faith you are sincerely seeking His glory in your efforts He is well pleased and will reward your faithful diligence. He told Abraham “I am thy exceeding great reward"
Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
The Word of God mentions various reasons for God rewarding someone:
1. HE REWARDS THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM
A plainer statement is not found. The diligent seeker after God is rewarded. The favor of God is not something to be treated lightly and despised!
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Isa 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Jer 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Psa 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
2. HE REWARDS THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED AND REVILED BECAUSE OF THEIR DEVOTION AND DEDICATION TO HIM!
In situations where your personal relationship to Messiah is odious to others and your declaration of His Great Name is an offence to their sensibilities, your constancy and faithfulness to Messiah results in great reward.
Mat 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luk 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
3. HE REWARDS THOSE WHO PRACTICE AND EXEMPLIFY THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF MESSIAH!
It is very easy to love those close to us and bestow favors on our loved ones. It takes the nature of Messiah to forgive those who trespass against us, bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us. It is more than an outward show and display for public witness. It should flow from a Christlike heart with the sincerity of Christ in His pleading for the Father to forgive His tormentors. It is like Stephen who witnessed a good compelling witness and praying that his murderers be not charged with the sin of his murder. A witness that moved Saul towards conversion after meeting with God, not in the Holy Temple at Jerusalem but on the dusty road to Damascus!
