November 2, 2014 | Receiving our rewards

Welcome to 'The Nathan Report!'
We are back at the house of the Lord and we give all our praises to HIM who gave this opportunity to be at HIS house again. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

We started off with praise and worship. Here is the playlist:

1) 10000 reasons - Matt Redman

2) Your name is Holy - Brian Doerksen

3) Open the eyes of my heart Lord - Paul Baloche

4) Jesus is the Lord - Antioch Community Church

5) Hosanna (Holy Holy Holy) - Hosanna Music

Absolutely beautiful!

Here is the list of  today's announcements:

- Men'sh fellowship will be on 20th November at 6:00 AM.

- Women's fellowship will be on 29th Nov at 4:30 PM

- We as a Church will be holding corporate fasting from 24th November till 14th December.

Today we will be talking about "Receiving our Rewards".
Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."

A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow Him in duty, and shall follow Him to glory. He is one that walks in the same way Christ walked in, is led by his Spirit, and treads in his steps, whithersoever he goes. Let him deny himself. If self-denial be a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master learned and practised, to redeem us, and to teach us. Let him take up his cross. The cross is here put for every trouble that befalls us. We are apt to think we could bear another's cross better than our own; but that is best which is appointed us, and we ought to make the best of it. We must not by our rashness and folly pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up when they are in our way. If any man will have the name and credit of a disciple, let him follow Christ in the work and duty of a disciple. If all worldly things are worthless when compared with the life of the body, how forcible the same argument with respect to the soul and its state of never-ending happiness or misery! Thousands lose their souls for the most trifling gain, or the most worthless indulgence, nay, often from mere sloth and negligence. Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, that is the price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the world. This is Christ's judgment upon the matter; he knew the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he underrate the world, for he made it. The dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour's respite to seek mercy for his perishing soul. Let us then learn rightly to value our souls, and Christ as the only Saviour of them.

We have a small illustration here, below is the picture of the arm wrestling:

A person who won receives a reward and the one who loses might not. But in the kingdom of God, everybody receives a reward. What kinds of rewards will you receive when you are judged?

In scripture we find mentioned five different crowns reserved for those who are faithful to do God’s work. They are:

Crown 1: Incorruptible Crown

I Corinthians 9:25 says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 

This crown is reserved for those who have purged themselves from the pleasures of the world in order to be profitable in the service of the Lord. The ones who are being faithful with God.

Crown 2: Crown Of Life

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

This crown is reserved for those who suffer injustices in the world and who are treated unfairly. Those who suffered much yet endured with a sweet spirit will be given the crown of life. And the ones who overcome temptations.

Crown 3: Crown Of Rejoicing

1 Thessalonians 2:19 says, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even yein the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

This crown is reserved for those who have devoted their primary attention to the salvation of lost souls.

Crown 4: Crown Of Righteousness

2 Timothy 4:8 says, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

A special crown for those who inspired by the return of Christ, lived a righteous and holy life. When we know that Jesus is about to return it has a purifying effect on all believers.

Crown 5: Crown Of Glory

1 Peter 5:4 says, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

It is reserved for those who have given there lives to the teaching of God’s Word.Bear in mind that it must be done for His glory and not ours.

Let us focus here on the third crown, "The Crown of Rejoicing". Bible says "...And he who is wise wins souls." Apostle Paul says, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:14, "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died."

Christ's love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Christ. Alas, how many show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world!

I know my reward is great so I persuade people. At times we do not persuade people.

Illustration: There used to be a cat who used to barge in through window in order to drink milk. Whenever I used to be near kitchen, she never entered. Once I am away, she quickly comes inside. Cat used to persuade knowing there will be meal for her. Once I am back, it would run, if again I go away, she will come back. We need to persuade more, even if people calls us foolish. 

Illustration: When Dwight Lyman Moody arrived in Chicago, he left everything and opted to be a Sunday School Teacher. People called him foolish and based on his way of teaching, he was dubbed as "Crazy Moody". Though people called him foolish, he was proved wise. He became an evangelist to shake two continents for God.

Bringing a soul is a great privilege. Paul says in Thessalonians, "After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it? " We are concerned about worldly things and at times forget about our responsibility and the importance of the body of Christ.

Illustration: The renowned 19th-century English preacher C. H. Spurgeon told this story about King Cyrus, the man who conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from captivity: 

A visitor who was admiring Cyrus' gardens said it gave him much pleasure. "Ah," said Cyrus, "but you have not so much pleasure in this garden as I have, for I have planted every tree in it myself." Spurgeon then commented, "One reason some saints will have a greater fullness of heaven than others will be that they did more for heaven than others. By God's grace they were enabled to bring more souls there." Those words should cause all of us who know the Lord to do some serious thinking. How many people will be in heaven because of us? Our desire should be that when we reach our eternal home, some will say to us, "I'm so thankful for you. It was your testimony, your life, your invitation to accept Christ that accounts for my being here today." 

The apostle Paul anticipated the joy in heaven of seeing people who were there as a result of his ministry. Yes, heaven's joys will be the fullest for those who have helped lead others to Christ. So do all you can to bring to Jesus those who are lost in sin. That's how you can lay up pleasures in heaven! You must repent and ask of Lord's wisdom. Indeed, "He who wins soul is wise." Every soul winner will shine as a star forever and ever. 

Illustration: Talking about unbelievers, if you ask anyone in India, "Who is John Abraham?" Majority of the people will recognize him. If you ask about "John the Baptist", I doubt if majority has even heard this name before in their life. 

Many people of this world know about the people of this world, but not Jesus. We need to tell them about Jesus and share the love of Christ and about the price he paid for our sins. Don't be worried about what people will say, we are children and He loves us. He will help us in being victorious. 

Mark 16:15, "And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.

Henry Ford, who was a mastermind at organization and cooperation, once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Thinking together is unity. Working together is success.” 

Romans 10:14 "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

There is not one God to the Jews, more kind, and another to the Gentiles, who is less kind; the Lord is a Father to all men. The promise is the same to all, who call on the name of the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, as God manifest in the flesh. All believers thus call upon the Lord Jesus, and none else will do so humbly or sincerely. But how should any call on the Lord Jesus, the Divine Saviour, who had not heard of him? And what is the life of a Christian but a life of prayer? It shows that we feel our dependence on him, and are ready to give up ourselves to him, and have a believing expectation of our all from him. It was necessary that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles. Somebody must show them what they are to believe. How welcome the gospel ought to be to those to whom it was preached! The gospel is given, not only to be known and believed, but to be obeyed. It is not a system of notions, but a rule of practice. The beginning, progress, and strength of faith is by hearing. But it is only hearing the word, as the word of God that will strengthen faith.

There are millions of people we need to reach. We need to join our hands together as one body in Christ. The Church need to join together as a force.

Illustration: In the late 1970’s, Chuck Klein produced a movie inspired by events in his childhood. The movie was called “The Harvest.” Here is the story; A farming family in North Dakota who grew acres and acres of wheat, lost dad. The harvest was ready so mom and her 4 boys, ages 2-10, tried to bring the harvest in. None of them could repair equipment just didn't have enough energy to harvest the fruit.

In a true climax of this 17 minute movie, community came together to bring in their harvest in record time. The reason the harvest was gathered so quickly was because so many came and worked together. These good people were concerned about this family and the harvest rotting on the vine. It was this concern which caused them to come and work. Could the reason that there are so few in the spiritual field retrieving the harvest by rescuing the perishing be that there is little concern in the house?

John 4:35, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."

Our Master has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares his work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled.

Illustration: I recently visited one of the pastor whose wife was sick with fever since past one month. The doctors pointed it to be Chikungunya. During this doctor's visit, doctor asked that pastor why his face is looking pale and advised for tests. It came out that pastor has dengue. Because of this, pastor got bed ridden and wasn't able to take the Church service for over one month.

We should never say, "I will work tomorrow". We need to act NOW!

Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."

Revelation 22:12, "“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done."

John 4:35, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."

Ecclesiastes 11:4, "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap."

Proverbs 20:4, "The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing."

2 Corinthians 9:6, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." 

We need to start sowing the seeds and reach out to the ones who might end up in an eternal hell. One of the most saddest verse in the Bible might be Jeremiah 8:20.

Jeremiah 8:20, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

Thomas Guthrie once said, "Earth for work, heaven for wages. This life for the battle, another for the crown - Time for employment, eternity for enjoyment."

Two important things we must understand:

- He who wins a soul is wise.

- He who wins a soul will shine forever and ever. 

Jesus died for our sins, but why? Because He loves us and He knows that souls are important. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate. He is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which, sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any man draw nigh God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the Way. By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the Redeemer show forth his own glory, and God in him.

Illustration: During an advertisement at an apparel store, it was written, "Buy 3 get one free." But when saw the price, It was as good as buying four shirts and just a trick. At times, we think buying an expensive apparel is better, for the fact that it is expensive. But it always comes with terms and conditions.

Gospel is transparent! There is no terms and conditions to it. God will set us free when we come to Him. God gave His only son to shed his blood for us, without and conditions applied. Not only this, but Absolutely free. 

We need to understand something today, we are now earning our position of service for Christ. Knowing this should give us more incentive to pursue more lasting heights of Christian service. But, for this, we need to get up from our sleep and do what Lord has created us for. We need to reach out and share the love of Christ and tell about the cost that our beloved saviour has paid for our souls to be saved. 

Let us pray....

Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day and opportunity to visit your home. Lord, help us walk in the way You want us to walk. Bless us with your wisdom so that we can reach out to many people who don't even know about you. Encourage us and remove any kind of fear and shame from our hearts in order to preach the Gospel of truth. Lord we trust you and seek your blessings, intervention and wisdom. Guide us and fill us with your Spirit. Help us save many souls for You O' God. With your most beautiful name, Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen!

Post sermon, we had a holy communion session. Below is one of the songs that was played during the communion:

Old Rugged Cross - Hymn

We hope you enjoyed today's service. See you again next week. God Bless!

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