The Great The Great RewardReward““Blessed are those who are persecuted Blessed are those who are persecuted

for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”were before you.”

(Matthew 5:10-12)(Matthew 5:10-12)

The Great The Great RewardReward It is CertainIt is Certain

• Christ Has PromisedChrist Has Promised• Text: “Great is your reward in heaven”Text: “Great is your reward in heaven”

• John 14:1-3; Mark 9:41John 14:1-3; Mark 9:41

John 14:1-3John 14:1-3““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in

God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”you may be also.”

Mark 9:41Mark 9:41““For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink

in My name, because you belong to Christ, in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose he will by no means lose his rewardhis reward.”.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It is CertainIt is Certain

• Christ Has PromisedChrist Has Promised• Text: “Great is your reward in heaven”Text: “Great is your reward in heaven”

• John 14:1-3; Mark 9:41John 14:1-3; Mark 9:41

• Apostles spoke of its certaintyApostles spoke of its certainty• 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet. 3:13; 1 John 2:25; 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet. 3:13; 1 John 2:25;

2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 2:102 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 2:10

2 Corinthians 5:12 Corinthians 5:1““For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, For we know that if our earthly house, this tent,

is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

2 Peter 3:132 Peter 3:13““Nevertheless we, according to His promise, Nevertheless we, according to His promise,

look for new heavens and a new earth in which look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”righteousness dwells.”

1 John 2:251 John 2:25““And this is the promise that He has promised And this is the promise that He has promised

us; eternal life.”us; eternal life.”

2 Timothy 4:82 Timothy 4:8““Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of

righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Revelation 2:10Revelation 2:10““Do not fear any of those things which you are Do not fear any of those things which you are

about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is FutureIt Is Future

• Earthly circumstances are no indication Earthly circumstances are no indication of eternal lifeof eternal life• God’s accounts are not settled hereGod’s accounts are not settled here

• Psalm 73:12-17Psalm 73:12-17

Psalm 73:12-17Psalm 73:12-17““Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at

ease; They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have ease; They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will And chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. 16 When I thought how generation of Your children. 16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me; to understand this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.”Then I understood their end.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is FutureIt Is Future

• Earthly circumstances are no indication Earthly circumstances are no indication of eternal lifeof eternal life• God’s accounts are not settled hereGod’s accounts are not settled here

• Psalm 73:12-17Psalm 73:12-17

• Seeking earthly reward risks losing the Seeking earthly reward risks losing the eternaleternal• Matt. 6:2-4; Heb. 11:24-26Matt. 6:2-4; Heb. 11:24-26

Matthew 6:2-4Matthew 6:2-4““Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do

not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”Himself reward you openly.”

Hebrews 11:24-26Hebrews 11:24-26““By faith Moses, when he became of age, By faith Moses, when he became of age,

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”the reward.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is In HeavenIt Is In Heaven

• Contrary to the certain factions of the Contrary to the certain factions of the Premillinial ViewPremillinial View• They say most who are saved will be in an They say most who are saved will be in an

earthly paradiseearthly paradise

• But, Jesus says, “Great is your reward But, Jesus says, “Great is your reward in heavenin heaven!”!”• 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Col. 1:51 Pet. 1:3-5; Col. 1:5

1 Peter 1:3-51 Peter 1:3-5““Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, does not fade away, reserved in heaven for youreserved in heaven for you, 5 , 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”last time.”

Colossians 1:5Colossians 1:5““Because of the hope Because of the hope which is laid up for you in which is laid up for you in

heavenheaven, of which you heard before in the word of , of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”the truth of the gospel.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is GreatIt Is Great

• ““Great is your reward”Great is your reward”

• Eternal in natureEternal in nature• Romans 6:23; Matt. 25:46Romans 6:23; Matt. 25:46

Romans 6:23Romans 6:23““For the wages of sin is death, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of but the gift of

God is eternal lifeGod is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew 25:46Matthew 25:46““And these will go away into everlasting And these will go away into everlasting

punishment, punishment, but the righteous into eternal lifebut the righteous into eternal life.”.”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is GreatIt Is Great

• ““Great is your reward”Great is your reward”

• Eternal in natureEternal in nature• Romans 6:23; Matt. 25:46Romans 6:23; Matt. 25:46

• In the Presence of God!In the Presence of God!• Revelation 21:3,4Revelation 21:3,4

Revelation 21:3-4Revelation 21:3-4““And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,

‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”things have passed away.’”

The Great The Great RewardReward It Is Conditional!It Is Conditional!

• We must serve God Faithfully!We must serve God Faithfully!• Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9; 10:36; Rev. 2:10Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9; 10:36; Rev. 2:10

Matthew 7:21Matthew 7:21““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’

shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”the will of My Father in heaven.”

Hebrews 5:8-9Hebrews 5:8-9““Though He was a Son, yet He learned Though He was a Son, yet He learned

obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation eternal salvation to all who obey Himto all who obey Him.”.”

Hebrews 10:36Hebrews 10:36““For you have need of endurance, so that after For you have need of endurance, so that after

you have done the will of God, you may receive you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”the promise.”

Revelation 2:10Revelation 2:10““Do not fear any of those things which you are Do not fear any of those things which you are

about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Are you faithful now in Are you faithful now in your walk for Christ? your walk for Christ? Only those who endure to Only those who endure to the end will be saved!the end will be saved!