Rev. Rene Autry

God has provided so much for His Church.  2 Peter 1:3, "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

We are all going to a judgment, and at that judgment, we will be rewarded by the Lord Jesus according to our works on this Earth.

Revelation 11:18 tells us, "And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great."  This "wrath" is speaking of the evil lost people, not Christians. The rewards are for those who are God's people.

Here are some of the other rewards above the basic reward that Christians can receive for working for the Lord.  Our rewards can be increased!

1)  Persecution Rewards: Matthew 5:10-12  Jesus said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile, you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."  Christians, stand tall for God, and stand for the Word and against sin.  Mark 8:38, Matthew 10:34-36, 2Timothy 3:12

2) Rewards for those who do and teach the Ten Commandments:   (The Ten Commandments do not decide our salvation; we can't work our way to heaven.)  Matthew 5:19-20, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom heaven."  If the 10 Commandments are not of any value to Christians today, why is the devil trying so hard to remove them from every public forum and every public place?

3)  The Prophet's Reward:  Matthew 10:40-42, "He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me.  He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And 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."  When we help another ministry, we get the same reward that ministry gets.  Help your church, your pastors, and other ministries.  Matthew 5:42

4)  Rewards for fulfilling God's Word:  James 1:22, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only."  Step out on the Word and your faith.

5)  Personal Command Rewards:  Any time the Lord tells an individual Christian to do something, and you do it, you get a reward.  Ephesians 6:8, "Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free."  God loves obedience!

6)  Other Obedience Rewards:  Galatians 6:7 promises, "Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap."  Everything we do and say is a seed - for now - and for eternity.  Every time we do anything for God's kingdom, no matter how small, we get a reward in heaven.  When we refuse to act in the flesh, it's rewarded.

Go to your pastor, and ask, "Pastor, what can I do for the Lord?"  Then be humble and faithful to work for the Lord in a spirit of unity and kindness.

 Salvation is by the blood of Jesus and His Grace alone (Eph. 2-9), but our rewards are a different issue.

The Bible teaches that we will rewarded according to our works:

Jesus said Matthew 16:27, "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."

Paul told the Corinthian CHRISTIANS this in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Revelation 22:12, "And, behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."