The Incredible Rewards of Pursuing the Glory of God: TOGETHER!
Rewards are powerful Motivation to Faithfully Serve God.
Jesus is our prime example: Hebrews 12:2 tells us Jesus “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” An important question to ask is “What is “the JOY?” that so motivated and empowered Jesus to overcome all His suffering? Well the simple answer is You and I are the joy for which He was willing to go to the Cross (Heb. 2:13-15)!
The guaranteed Rewards also Empowered Moses to press on through much Suffering. “Moses chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (Heb. 3:5; 11:24-26).
The Greek word “respect” is composed of two words: ‘apo’ & ‘blepo’ literally to “look away from.” Moses was able to overcome all his trials because He looked away from his afflictions and focused on the eternal rewards. It is so important to have an eternal perspective on life.
In our previous study of the Glory of God we learned that the pursuit of God’s Glory is in large part the pursuit of Godly Character! We learn this especially from Exodus 33:18-23; 34:6-8. God’s Glory in part is His: goodness (Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:10; 2 Cor. 9:8); grace (2 Per. 3:18); mercy (I Tim. 1:16; James 3:17); longsuffering (James 1:3-4; Rev. 1:9); truth (Eph. 4:15); & forgiving iniquity” (Eph. 4:32; Matt. 6:12, 14-15).
The Rewards of pursuing God’s glory are infinite in Number!
“Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42)
“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; & he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2Cor. 9:6)
OUR REWARDS WILL BE BEYOND IMAGINATION IN GLORY!
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1Cor. 2:9; Isa. 64:4). “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit” (I Cor. 2:10).
Our Rewards will be as Great as the God Who Rewards!
“Love ye your enemies, & do good, & lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Lk. 6:35)
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (6:36).
GOD COMPARES SOME OF OUR REWARDS TO CROWNS
(Crowns are for Kings: Rev. 1:6 KJV; I Pet. 2:9)
The Bible Reveals 5 Special Crowns:
#1 Crown is for “self control” (I Corinthians 9:25)
#2 Crown is for Dying for the cause of Christ: (Rev. 2:10)
#3 Crown is for Leading People to Christ (I Thess. 2:19-20). There is apparently no limit to how many of these crowns you can receive! For there is no limit on how many people you lead to Jesus!
#4 Crown is for looking forward to and Preparing for the 2nd Coming of Christ in glory (2 Timothy 4:8; Matt. 16:27; Mk. 8:38)
#5 Crown is for Being a Faithful Pastor/Elder (I Peter 5:2-4)
Illus.: The impact of seeing the “Crown Jewels” in London
THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON THE CROWN OF
GLORY
This Crown is for
Both Shepherd & Sheep.
Peter exhorted the elders saying: “I am also an elder, & a witness of the sufferings of Christ, & also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. (3) Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (4) & when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1Pet 5:1-4).
SHARE MINISTRY TODAY; SHARE THE REWARDS FOREVER!
“He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; & he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward” (Matthew 10:41).
Illus: One winter a Dad challenged his son to do something special
The Crown of Glory is a special eternal reward for the faithful God called Pastor. But the above Scriptures make it clear every believer may share in the Pastor’s “Crown of glory.” We can do this by Praying for Him; encouraging him; by supporting him & the church with tithes & offerings (Mal. 3:10; Phil. 4:17-19); by Serving joyfully & faithfully together with the elders in Ministry (Eph. 4:14-32).
As a Pastor, Peter naturally reveals a Pastor’s God Given Ministry & The Church’s Responsibility in His Epistle. We will focus on I Peter chapters 4 & 5.
1st A Pastor helps us “sin less” (I Pet. 4:1-4, 15; 2:11-12)
This is a very good thing because most of our suffering is caused by sin (our own sin & others). As the Pastor helps us get victory over sin we will decrease a large amount of suffering in our life due to sin. Illus: Bertha Smith China Missionary; David, Fort Worth
By teaching us to “sin less” a Pastor teaches us to be HOLY (I Pet. 1:14-16; 2:16) & “serve God more” (I Pet. 4:2; I Cor. 15:58)
To serve God more We must Know our God given purpose in life!
Illus: The man who was offered drugs
2nd A Pastor helps us
“prepare for eternal Judgment!”
(I Pet. 4:5-7; 4:17-18; 1:7, 13, 17)
Peter mentions 2 ways to prepare for Judgment:
1st Prepare by “Being sober….” (4:7; 5:8). A sober mind is a prepared mind (4:7; Titus 2:6). You have to stay off the ‘sauce’ to have a ‘sober’ mind!
2nd Prepare with, through & by Prayer (4:7). Peter also reminds us “The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1Pet. 4:17) (Do you really care for the Lost?)
3rd A Pastor Leads the Church to Grow in the “Agape” Love of God (I Pet. 4:8-11; 1:22; 3:8-9)
“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves” (4:8)
Jesus told us: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). What’s the difference between the new & the old? (Lev. 19:18). You will notice Jesus replaces “self” in Leviticus! (Gal. 2:20)
Peter reveals 2 Ways to grow in God’s Love (I Pet. 4:9-11)
1st Be enthusiastically Hospitable (4:9; Hebrews 13:2)
2nd Serve the church with your God given gifts (4:10-11; I Cor. 12)
4th A Pastor leads the Church through Life’s Trials & Tribulations (I Pet. 4:12-16)
Suffering is a normal part of life in this fallen world (4:12)
“Our Father” in Heaven gives us the Church Family to help us through tough times (I Pet. 2:10; Eph. 3:13-15)
Being part of the fellowship of the Cross helps us get through every Crisis! The key is clinging to the Cross of Christ TOGETHER (Gal. 2:20; 6:14).
5th A Pastor helps us comprehend the Purpose & glory in our suffering (I Pet. 4:13-16)
Never forget that the eternal glory far outweighs the temporary pain! We share in Christ’s temporary earthly suffering (4:13)
But we also share in Christ’s eternal heavenly glory (4:13-14)
The eternal glory will far outweighs any temporary pain we may have to endure!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor. 4:17-18).
In this sinful fallen world we all are going to pass through many toils, trials & tribulations. But we never have to face them alone. Jesus is always with us and will “never leave us nor forsake us!” (read Hebrews 13:5; Deut. 31:8; Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 41:10). But the Church that Jesus is building is one of greatest resources He has given us to help us through life’s tough times.
6th A Pastor Feeds God’s People & teaches them how to feed
them selves! (I Pet. 5:2; 2:2-3)
“Feed the flock of God…” (1Pet. 5:2)
The Apostle Peter knew how important this is (John 21:15-17).
7th A Pastor Leads the Church in Victory over our spiritual Enemy
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (5:9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren…” (I Peter 5:8).
God Provides 3 levels of Protection against the Devil
1. By being under the authority of our Family (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3;
Prov. 30:17; 1:8-9)
2. By being under the authority of a Local Church family of believers
(I Peter 5:5; Acts 12:5-12; Hebrews 13:17)
3. By being under the authority of a righteous Government
(Romans 13:1-7; I Pet. 2:13-15). When man’s government turns against God we must obey God even if it means we will be persecuted for obeying God (Acts 4:18-21; 5:29; Matt. 6:13)
So as we seek The Incredible Rewards of Pursuing the Glory of God: TOGETHER we can take hold of this great promise:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1Peter 5:10).