I don't know about you, but when I think of the word 'reward', it connotes something pleasant. Maybe some cash for providing the tip that leads to the arrest of a criminal. Or the financial award that comes from being a hero who saves a bunch of people - the way it happens in the movies, at least. I could think of so many different ways a person could end up with a reward. Thankfully, there are several different avenues to rewards when it comes to God as well.
However, it is not every godly reward that will leave a person feeling warm and cuddly. There are some rewards that spell nothing but disaster and the children of God would be wise to avoid the pathways that could lead to these. They are the sort of compensation that reflect God's judgment upon a person and their choices.
Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (NKJV).
This scripture speaks of judgment day - a time when Jesus Christ will return to earth and sit on the Judgment Seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). On that day, He will hold every person to account for their deeds, with believers being reviewed first. They will have to answer for every choice and idle word. Those who lived in accordance with His teachings will be found blameless and receive heaven as a reward (1 Corinthians 1:8). These are those who love Jesus enough to obey His teachings and stand firm in their faith (Revelation 21:7). They allow God's Word and Spirit to guide in every way.
For those who lived by the ways of the world, they will also be judged and their payment will be the lake of sulfur - hell. This group is described in Revelation 21:8 - But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexµally immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” These are the stiff-necked whose lives featured unrepented idolatry, occult practice, being wicked to others, gossip, and more.
This is a reward no believer should desire and we all can avoid this by God's grace and mercy. Also crucial is our cooperation with His Holy Spirit, whose job it is to get us to heaven. And as we spend more time studying the Bible and consuming godly content, we transform, becoming more like Christ and become those who receive God's reward here on earth as well as the golden ticket to live with Him forever. Glory be to God in the highest!
May the Lord our God usher us to His heavenly kingdom. His word states in Philippians 2:13 that He is working on His own, giving them the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. That same God has equipped His children with everything good for doing His will (Hebrews 13:21). Through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the children of God will reap their reward, IJMN, Amen.
Be sure to come back for fellowship at Noon EST. God bless you.
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From MFC - Good afternoon and Happy Friday Peppers!
As busy as life has gotten, you all are never far from my prayers. Growing together in prayer has been my favorite part of P&P. Thank you for your continued prayers for me and my family.
As we move into Holy Week, I pray that we all take time to recognize and reflect the greatest sacrifice ever given- Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and raised again so we may all have eternal life. Hallelujah!
Resurrection Sunday is the cornerstone of our faith. May we never forget how blessed we are to serve a risen Savior.
Heavenly Father, as we walk through Holy Week, open our hearts to witness Your Son's sacrifice anew. In the noise of daily tasks and worldly concerns, help us pause and turn our thoughts toward Calvary.
Lord, let everything we do in the coming Holy Week be inspired by You. Help us to remember that nothing is important in our lives unless YOU get the glory!
Lord Jesus, You carried Your cross out of love for us. May each step we take this week honor Your journey and remind us of the price paid for our salvation.
In the matchless name of Jesus we pray, AMEN!
From JIR - I pray for all families affected by the killings of their loved ones in the DR and helicopter crash. I pray that You provide them strength, comfort and peace at this time. I pray that they lean on You and trust in You to get them through these challenging times. I pray that You bless them with the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Please Lord, have mercy on the departed souls. I pray that they find rest in Your bosom. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - I pray for all of us who yearn for the Lord, to fully commit to Him with all of our hearts and souls. I pray that we learn to fear the Lord and through His grace and mercy we are given wisdom and understanding in abundance. IJMN. Amen.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”
Proverbs 3:13-15 NIV
From JIR - I pray for skeptics to be blessed with a mustard seed of faith in You and for that mustard seed to grow into a large tree of faith in You Lord. Please rebuke any haughtiness or stubbornness they may have and bless them to humble themselves to You Lord. Please bless them to discover the Bible and read it with the yearning to get to know You Lord. Please open their hearts up to You Lord and bless them to come to You and seek You. Please bless them to realize that they need You and are nothing without You. Please bless them to give their lives to You Lord and live for You. IJMN. Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
God You are wonderful. Thank You for another hour of fellowship with Your children. Thank You for the blessing of this gathering and all who attended.
Lord, my prayer for Your children is based on the promise in 1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (BSB).
I also lift up Your word in Jude 1:24-25 - To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Heavenly Father, lead Your children to that day of Christ. I pray that they will take Your hand and walk confidently, knowing that Your plan for them is an expected end with You in eternity, IJMN Amen.
Oh it feels good
Feels good to know
That You want me more than I want You
There is nothing I go do
Wey fit to change
The way that You love me
LAST 10 MINUTES
During today's final ten minutes, pray for strength to victoriously get to the end with God and to be found blameless.
Wait!!!
Also say this prayer for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Talk to God on this issue, focusing on the needs of others to make it to heaven. Use scripture if you have it and if you don't, see today's message as there are some verses there.
God bless you.
Great God. You are the Upright One. The Sovereign Lord who has all control over everything and everyone, yet You give people choice. You are confident in Your power and Thy will shall be done on earth as in heaven, IJMN Amen.
Psalm 40:13 - Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me.
Father, the devil wants people to think that they have no help. Or that their Helper is a person. However You are Ebenezer, the Helper. All one needs to do is call and maintain an attitude of trust for the Lion to show up.
And so, I lift up Your word for all those waiting on You for help. Arise oh Lord, be their Ebenezer. May they in turn remember Your word in Hebrews 11:6 that You are the Rewarder of those who sincerely seek You.
Send them help, oh Ebenezer! IJMN, I pray, Amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Thank You for giving people a desire for You. Thank You for whetting their appetites for more of You. Thank You for letting hearts clamor for You. Thank You for kindly pouring out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer.
Now and forever more, IJMN, Amen.
King of kings. The Lord of lords and the God above every other god. Praise be to You forever!
Lord, I lift up this nation to You and I thank You for the privilege of citizenship. I can stand upon Your word to speak Your will upon this land as my feet are planted here and I have authority in the name of Your Son, Jesus.
God, Your word states in Psalm 22:28 - for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.
Dear Father, as You alone have complete power and dominion over this nation, I bring my petition to You. Lord, remember Your word. Give us leaders that winnow out the wicked with their eyes (Proverbs 20:8). Give us leaders who reject corruption (Isaiah 1:23). We pray for leaders who seek to serve and understand that they are only in their position because You allowed them to be there (Romans 13:1).
Help this nation, remembering Your word in Proverbs 29:12 - If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked. We remember the consequence of Rehoboam listening to wrong counsel and lacking wisdom Himself. Father, have mercy. Lord Your promise in Psalm 125:3 states, The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong. We remind You of Your word. In workplaces. In families. In healthcare. In industry. In politics. Lord, remember Your word and let it be fulfilled for Your people. IJMN, Amen.
Lord, the Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant and in Matthew 8:7 - Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The Centurion responded that Jesus need only speak a word and the servant, who was nowhere nearby, would receive his healing.
Matthew 8:13 - Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Father, today, I am relying upon this miracle and calling on You to speak a word that people be healed. I believe and trust in You Lord. I know a mere word from You will do.
Therefore, Jehovah Ropheka, thank You for Your healing word for my prayer subjects. Thank You for being the God who need not come to heal. The God whose word is enough. Hallelujah!!
PRAYER TIME
God of Compassion
God of Suddenly
God of Strategy
God of Peace
God of Love
God of Patience
God of Kindness
God of Faithfulness
God of Healing
God of Grace
For all that You are and all You will ever be. I thank You God.
From JIR - I bring forth all my praise unto You Lord. I stand in awe of You. I can’t contain my emotions when I think of the love You have for man. Worthy is the Lamb. Hosanna in the highest. Thank You Jesus! IJMN. Amen.
Omewoya God! He who has done it!
Thank You for being an overachiever when it comes to my life and my loved ones. Thank You for Your kindness and grace. Thank You for wrapping us in Your wings.
Thank You for being our God!
I know
that worship is about the song you want to hear
not the one I want to sing
I'm here so You can sing over me
Then I'll sing it back to You
Oh oh oh oh
I worship in Spirit and Truth
From JIR - “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 KJV
Lord, I thank You for Your grace. Indeed You have not called anyone to worship or serve You in vain.
Straightforward. Steadfast. Secure.
I give You glory and I give You all my praise.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for calling me Your own. What an honor and a privilege. I bow at Your feet and before Your throne and praise Your name with all my might. I give You all of me, Lord. I worship You, I adore You, I cherish You and yearn to do Your will and be the obedient daughter that is to pleasing to You. My soul longs for You Lord. Thank You for wrapping me in Your love and leading me my King. IJMN. Amen.
Psalm 66:20 - Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love form me
Praise the Lord!
Isaiah 49:13 - Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Hallelujah! Thank You, God my Comforter. Thank You, God of Compassion!
You are holy
Lord, God, Almighty
The earth is full of Your glory
From JIR - Nothing is impossible with You God. Thank You for being my Rock and never leaving or forsaking me. I thank You for Your grace and mercy. By Your grace I am being transformed into a new creation. Thank You Lord for being invested in me and loving me like no one has ever loved me. Thank You for caring about me to inclining Your ear to hear me. It feels so good to know how much I am loved and cared for by You Lord. Jesus You are good. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
PRAISE TIME
May your struggles keep you near the cross
May your troubles show that you need God
May your battles end the way they should
May your bad days prove that God is good!
May your whole life prove that God is good!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into us this morning. Thank You for Your grace and tender mercies. It is not by chance we are here but by Your grace. Thank You for guiding us in here this morning for today’s word. We glorify and magnify Your name and thank You for the boundless love You have for us. IJMN. Amen.
Thank you for today’s message sis @FFJ. I was watching a Derek Prince video recently and he recited the following Scripture - “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41 KJV. Derek pointed out that the lake of fire was prepared for satan and his minions; not humans. That is a seldom and scary thought. Mere humans, created from dust and of which hell wasn’t intended for will be tossed into the lake of sulfur along with satan and his angels, if we don’t take heed and receive the Holy Spirit and God’s infallible Word/manual to life - the Holy Bible.
Yesterday, it dawned on me how much more evil this world is getting by the day. As I was scrolling the homepage of Lipstick Alley, I saw at least two posts in the main section titled “how to get into witchcraft”. I prayed for them but I say that to emphasize if God’s children are first to be judged for what they do here on earth, I can’t begin to imagine the travesty for those of us who departed from His Word. Hell is not a joke and is not a place for any human to spend eternity.
If we still have breath in our lungs that means the Lord is not done with us and we still have time to get right with God. Let’s not wait until it’s too late. Sis @FFJ includes everything needed in post 2 to start developing a relationship with our Creator; the One and Only true living God. Please take this seriously. Hell is not a place any human is equipped for. There has been so much going on in the media lately between the DR nightclub collapse to the helicopter crash yesterday, that it goes to show how fleeting life is. I pray that when judgment day comes we are all found blameless, but we have to start by fully surrendering our lives to God. IJMN.
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
ALTAR CALL
Jesus said that nobody will get to God His Father except through Him in John 14:6. He also said that no one will see the Kingdom of God (i.e. Heaven) if they have not been born again (John 3:3). To qualify to see God in heaven, a person need only repent and believe the good news that Jesus is God's Son who died for the sins of mankind.
If you want to understand what I'm talking about, please watch the short video below. It's from a guy who speaks with a British accent, but please don't hold that against him. What he says is important and can change the entire trajectory of your life for the better.
If you watched the video to the end and said that prayer, then welcome to being a child of God! I pray you receive the Holy Spirit and are led in the ways of the Lord so you experience the fullness of life that is the inheritance of those who give their lives to Christ. Be sure to let me know you said the prayer and I'll send you more materials so you can grow as a new creature! Congrats and God bless you!