There was a day I thought, I'm
going to seek the Lord till I find him. I'm not going to stop. I'm going to seek the Lord till
I find him. And by the end of that day, I had not found him.
And I was scared. And I thought, well, maybe he's
just not going to make himself known to me. Maybe I don't even
know him in the first place. All the things that would go
through your mind. And I was just feeling real helpless. And I can remember thumbing through
a hymn book. I read the scriptures. It was all flat to me. It didn't
say anything to me. I tried to read books. Nothing
was happening. And I was thumbing through a
hymn book in despair. And I ran across that hymn and
I remember the line that hit me. Upon that cross of Jesus,
at times mine eyes can see the very dying form of one who suffered
there for me. And from my smitten heart with
tears, two wonders I confess, the wonders of his dying love
and my own worthlessness." And I felt like the Lord found me. I tried finding him, it didn't
work, but he found me. Luke chapter 18, this is Peter's
response to him hearing the Lord tell the rich young ruler, you're
to sell everything you have. You're to take up your cross
and you're to follow me. And the rich young ruler didn't
do that. And here's Peter's response.
We can always thank Peter for wrong responses. He said in verse
28, lo, we have left all and followed thee. And if you look
in the other versions, which way we might as well look at
it, look in Matthew chapter 19. This is recorded in Matthew 19
and in Mark chapter 10. Verse 27, then answered Peter
and said unto him, behold, we have forsaken all and followed
thee. What shall we have therefore? What's in it for us? What are
we going to get out of this? Now, this is such a wrong attitude,
but it was the attitude of Peter. What is in it for us? How shall
we be rewarded for our heroic and self denying actions? Look
in Mark's account. Mark chapter 10. Verse 27. Or verse 28. Then Peter began to
say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, that there
is no man that have left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake in the Gospels,
but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time. Houses, and
brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with
persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life. But many
that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Now note our Lord said, At this time, anybody that's forsaken
anything for me, they're going to receive a hundredfold more. Now, I have one house. That's
all I have. But I bet that there's a lot
of people in this room, hope there is, I know there is, that
if I lost my home, you'd say, come on in and live with me.
In that sense, I've got a lot of houses. You've got a lot of
houses. That's what our Lord meant by
that. You can't be the loser by following Christ. You can't
do anything but gain in following Christ. You can't serve the Lord
and not be blessed in it. You can't out give God how blessed
you are when by grace you are able to obey the gospel. Isn't
that a blessing? when the Lord gives you grace
to simply believe. What a blessing it is when you
can say, I am my beloved's and he is mine. What's better than
that? What does this world have to offer in comparison to that?
But you'll notice in our Lord's statement, he talked about in
this time, you're going to receive manifold more. But in the life
to come, in the world to come, you'll receive eternal life.
You're not going to earn a bigger reward in heaven by your obedience
here on earth. As a matter of fact, when Peter
asked this question, Lord, we've left everything and followed
thee, what's in it for us? That's when he gave the parable
of the workers in the vineyard. in response to that question. What is in this for us? How are
we going to be blessed? How are we going to be rewarded?
Actually, that's what I'm preaching on tonight. Rewards. Rewards. Turn back to Matthew 20 for just
a moment. Verse 27, then answered Peter
and said unto him, verse chapter 19, verse 27, then answered Peter
and said unto him, behold, we have forsaken all and followed
thee. What shall we have therefore? Now this parable is an answer
to Peter's request. What are we getting out of this?
Verse one, for the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that
is in householder. which went out early in the morning
to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the
laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing
idle in the marketplace and said unto them, go ye also into the
vineyard. It's nine o'clock in the morning. Whatsoever's right,
I'll give you. And they went their way. You
know, whatever the Lord does, it's always whatsoever's right.
Amen. Whatever he does is right. Verse five. And again, he went
out the six hour noon, the ninth hour three and did likewise.
And about the 11th hour, 5 p.m. After everybody else had been
working all day, he went out and found others standing idle
and saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle? And
they said unto him, because no man hath hired us. He saith unto
them, go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that
shall you receive. You can just count on that. Whatsoever
is right is what you will receive. So when the even was come, the
Lord of that vineyard said unto his steward, call the labors
and give them their hire. Now that word hire is the same
word translated reward. give them their reward. Beginning
from the last unto the first. And this is what the Lord meant
by the first should be last and the last should be first. Now,
verse nine. And when they came that were
hired about the 11th hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they
supposed that they should have received more Now put yourself
in these fellas' places. Would you suppose that? You work 12 hours, they work
one hour. Of course you would think you
should receive more. That's only fair, isn't it? You
work 12 times more. If anything, you ought to get
12 pennies and them only one penny. Now this is a supposition
that everybody would make. But when the first came, they
supposed that they should have received more, and they likewise
received every man a penny. And when they had received it,
they murmured against the good man of the house. They were upset,
saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made
them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and the heat
of the day. This is not right. This is not
fair. But he answered one of them and
said, Friend, I do thee no wrong. Didst not thou agree with me
for a penny? Take that thine is and go thy
way. I'll give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not
lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine I evil
because I am good? Now what the Lord is saying is,
Are you accusing me of wrongdoing because I'm gracious, because
I give generously? I can give this man as much as
I want. What is that to you? This thought of God being unfair,
you know, that's the same thing as people saying it's unfair
for God to elect some and pass by others and Christ to die for
some and not die for everybody. Same difference. It's unfair.
It's unfair. No, it's not. Is he unfair for
being gracious? For being generous to the 11th
hour workers? Oh, that's just how good he is.
That's how glorious he is. That's how gracious he is. He
says, Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?
Is I naïve because I am good? So then the last should be first,
and the first last, for many are called, but few be chosen. Now, if you want to talk about
fairness, what's the fair thing? If God
dealt with you, In fairness, what would he do? He'd send you to hell. And he'd
send me to hell if he gave us what we deserve. And never forget, God's sovereign,
gracious election doesn't prevent people from being saved who otherwise
may have been saved. God's choice of his people saves
people graciously who otherwise most certainly would have been
damned. Thank God for his gracious choice
of his people. There's no room for charging
God with unfairness. He's gracious. And we're in a
precarious position when we sit in judgment on God and say, this
is not right, this is not fair, I don't agree with this. Since
when do you and I have the moral authority to sit in judgment
on God? Whatever he does is right, and
we're fine with whatever he does, aren't we? Shall not the judge
of the earth do right? Now, without doubt, the Bible
does not teach meriting rewards in heaven. And this passage deals
with that subject. The Bible does not teach higher
rewards in heaven. And with regard to this thing
of higher rewards in heaven, most people believe this way.
Even most people who claim to believe grace. And my thoughts
are this. If you deserve a reward, I hope you get one. Do you really have that high
a view of your works that you believe you deserve a reward
for it? Really? Really. You're an interesting
character. And do you really want to be
exalted above your brethren? Do you want to be living in a
mansion while they're living in a shack somewhere in the slums
of heaven? I actually heard a preacher say
to his congregation, some of you are going to be shining my
shoes in heaven. Heard it. Heard it with my own ears. Preacher
here in Lexington. Isn't that attitude completely
contrary to the gospel of God's grace? Completely. Now, that being said, That does
not mean that there is not great reward in following Christ here
on earth. Now, let me repeat that. There
is great reward for following Christ here on earth. That is
why David said, I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
the Lord. than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. He said
in Psalm 58, 11, there is verily a reward for the righteous. Turn with me to Psalm 19. Verse nine, the fear of the Lord
is clean. Enduring forever, the judgments
of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired
are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also
than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant
war rewarned. And in keeping of them, there
is great reward. Great reward. Turn to Hebrews
chapter 11. This is about Moses' experience
here on earth. Verse 24, by faith, Moses, when
he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter. He rejected identification with
the kingly court of Pharaoh. Choosing, verse 25, rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. Now you hear what's
being said? He esteemed the reproach of Christ. And he was going to be reproached
the rest of his life for following Christ. But he considered that
to be greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt. Verse
26, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Now we see in Moses, faith's
refusal, faith's choice. face esteem and face respect. Now, if Moses would have gone
the other way, he would have been miserable. Even if he had
all the riches of Egypt, even if he didn't have to suffer the
reproach of Christ, he would have been miserable. You see,
he had respect to the recompense of the reward. Now, so many scriptures,
for instance, It's more blessed. These are the words of the Lord
Jesus. It's more blessed to give than to receive. If you give,
you'll be more blessed in doing that than you would simply in
receiving. There's a reward in that. Think
of how blessed it is to forgive. And think how miserable it is
if you hold a grudge. If you forgive somebody from
your heart, oh, you're the one blessed in that. What a blessed
thing to be enabled to do that. But to be bitter and resentful
and hold a grudge, well, who's the one who's blessed and who's
the one who's not? Oh, there's blessedness in forgiving. I think of the scripture where
the Lord said, judge not that you be not judged. Now, if that
means this is very important. If that means if you judge people,
God's going to judge you and send you to hell. What's that
mean for you? Means you won't be saved. Everybody
in here judges people all the time. It's not right. It's not
right. But what our Lord means is if
you judge people, you'll be judged by them and you'll be judged
by them very harshly. Now, there's reward in not judging
somebody. If you don't judge somebody,
that person's gonna like you. They're gonna love you. They're
gonna like being around you. They're gonna be thankful for you. But if you judge them,
they're gonna turn around and they're gonna be so harsh and
critical of you, they're gonna make you miserable. I've experienced
that. I mean, it's my fault. You're rewarded in not judging,
aren't you? What a great reward that is. What a blessing there is in obedience. What grief there is in disobedience. I think of David, the man after
God's own heart through his acts of disobedience. The Lord said
the sword shall never depart from your house. Now it's more
blessed to be enabled to obey. Now, Peter said, lo, we've left
all in fall of thee. What's in this for us? Well,
you'll never be the loser in following Christ. You'll never
be the loser in obeying his commands. You'll never be able to out give
him. What you lose or leave for his sake will always be rewarded. Now listen to this. He himself
is the reward. Genesis chapter 15 verse 1, the
Lord said to Abraham, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great
reward. What reward could be better than
that? Is there anything you could add
to him that would make it better for you? He said, I am thy shield
and thy exceeding great reward. And this is a reward of grace. Turn with me to Romans four,
let me verify that from the scriptures. Any reward we have is a reward
of grace. Verse four, now to him that worketh
is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. It's God paying you what he owes
you. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Now, the reward of following Christ is the reward of grace. Now, come on, what would happen
to you if God judged you for the very best work you've ever
performed? You take the best, the best prayer
you've ever prayed, the most selfless act you've ever done,
the most generous gift you've ever given, What if God judged
you for that? Wouldn't pass the test, would
it? And if you think you would, you prove by that, that you don't
have any understanding of God's holiness, nor your own sinfulness. If we have any understanding
of who God is, we would know that everything we do is filled
with wounds and bruises and putrefying sores, as the prophet said. Now, I love what David said. He said,
he hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according
to our iniquities. Aren't you glad? Aren't you glad? What if he gave you what you
deserve? Now, let me say this about rewards. being rewarded here on earth.
Because like I said, every believer is loved equally, is saved equally. They all have Christ as their
exceeding great reward. They all have a reward of grace.
That's the way it works. But as far as how a believer
is rewarded here on earth, this is not something a natural man
can really perceive or understand. For instance, the rich man, Lazarus,
The rich man fared sumptuously every day. He had more than his
heart could wish for. Everything seemed to go his way. And Lazarus sat at the gate of
the rich man, looking for bread to be thrown his way. Which one
of these two individuals were blessed by God? The rich man
was under his curse. Now the world would have said
Lazarus is under the curse of God, and the rich man has God's
richest blessing. It's not so, is it? Lazarus was
brought into heaven. The rich man thrust to hell.
Turn to Psalm 73. This is such a good, they're all good Psalms,
but it was such a blessing to me to read this. Psalm 73. David said, truly God is good
to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for
me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well and I slid
for I was envious at the foolish. When I saw the prosperity of
the wicked, like the rich man faring sumptuously either everyday
clothed in linen and purple, having anything he wanted to
eat, wealthy, healthy, everything going his way. The psalmist says,
for there's no bands in their death, but their strength is
firm. They're not in trouble as other men. Neither are they
plagued like other men. Therefore, pride compasses them
about as a chain. Violence covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness, and they have more than their
heart could wish. They're corrupt and speak wickedly. Concerning
oppression, they speak loftily in pride. They set their mouth
against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Therefore his people return hither and waters of a full cup are
rung out to them. And they say, how does God know?
And is their knowledge in the most high? Behold, these are
the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches.
Verily, I've cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in
innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened
every morning. If I say I'll speak thus, behold,
I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought
to know this, it was too painful for me until I went into the
sanctuary of God. Then understood I their end. Surely thou did set them in slippery
places Thou casteth them down unto destruction. How are they
brought unto desolation, as in a moment they are utterly consumed
with terrors? As in a dream, when one awaketh,
so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved. I
was pricked in my reign. So foolish was I, and ignorant
I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless, I'm continually
with thee. Thou hast hold me by my right
hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive
me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there's none upon the earth
I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth.
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish. Thou hast
destroyed all them that go a-whoring from thee. It's good for me to
draw near to God. I put my trust in the Lord God
that I may declare all thy works. I love that Psalm. David said,
I was foolish. I was envious at the wicked when
I saw how good their life was. And then the Lord taught me,
he's put them in slippery places. Now a natural man can't see this,
but a spiritual man can. Peter says, lo, we've left all
and followed thee. What's in this for us? Well, the Lord said, you cannot
follow me and not be supremely blessed. Can't be done. Can't be done. What is the blessing? Well, certainly
included in that. Blessed are they that are persecuted
for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute
you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice in that day and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward
in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you." Now, one of the martyrs was put in
a lion's den. And he put out his hand, I guess
thinking that's where the lion would first bite. And here were
his last words, to die for Christ. It is an honor I do not deserve. Would that be a blessing to you? Would you count it, other than
being saved by the grace of God, would it be a great blessing
to you to be allowed to die for the Lord Jesus Christ in His
cause, standing for His truth? That is a blessing of grace. Other than being saved, there's
no greater blessing. And as far as that goes, the
Bible has so much to say about blessings here in this life.
Turn with me to Matthew chapter six. Verse one, take heed that you
do not your alms before men to be seen of them. Otherwise you
have no reward of your father, which is in heaven. If what you're
doing is you're doing it to be seen of men, no reward from your
father. Therefore, when thou doest thine
alms, do not sound the trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory
of men. Verily I say unto you, they have
their reward. Riches I heed not, nor man's
empty praise. What a reward that is to have
the empty praise of men. He said, but when thou doest
thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth, that thine alms may be in secret. And thy father, which
seeth in secret himself, shall reward thee openly. It'll be something that can be
seen. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites
are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say
unto you, they have their reward. And what a miserable reward that
is. Some unbelievers being impressed by their piety. Is that much
of a reward? The wages of the hypocrite are
not very good wages. But when thou prayest, verse
six, enter into thy closet, when thou shut thy door, pray to thy
father, which is in secret, and thy father, which seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly. Then in verse 16, moreover, when
you fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when
thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that thou
appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy father, which is
in secret. And thy father, which seeth in secret, shall reward
thee openly. Turn to Matthew chapter 10. He that receiveth you, verse
40, He that receiveth you, receiveth me. And that he that receiveth
me, receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet In
the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that
receiveth 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. Turn to Luke chapter six. Beginning in verse 27. But I say unto you which hear,
love your enemies. Do good to them which hate you,
and bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you. And unto him that smiteth thee
on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh
away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every
man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods,
ask them not again. And as you would that men should
do to you, do you also to them likewise. For if you love them
which love you, what thank have you? For sinners also love those
that love them, and that word thank is grace. And if you do
good to them that do good to you, what grace have you? For
sinners also do the same. And if you lend to them of whom
you hope to receive, what thank you? For sinners also lend to
sinners to receive as much again. But love your enemies and do
good and lend, hoping for nothing again and your reward. shall be great, and you shall
be the children of the highest. For he is kind unto the unthankful,
and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as
your father also is merciful." Now look at these rewards. Judge
not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not
be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it should be given
unto you. Good measure, pressed down and
shaken together and running over, shall men give unto your bosom.
For the same measure that you meet with all, it shall be measured
to you again. Now, what rewards are spoken
of in this passage of scripture here? And a man would be a fool
not to obey these precepts of Christ, wouldn't he? You're the
one who benefits in this. I mean, this is an appeal to
our selfish nature. We're gonna be a lot better off
doing this. I think of, turn to 1 Corinthians
9, I love this. 1 Corinthians 9. Paul says in verse 16, for though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is
laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.
For if I do this thing willingly, preach the gospel, I have a reward. I'm rewarded in this. I'm given
something in this. But against my will, a dispensation
of the gospels committed unto me, what is my reward then? Verily that when I preach the
gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge that
I abuse not my power in the gospel. That's his reward. What reward?
You say, where's the reward there? That's a great reward. The blessing
of obedience is obedience. That's the reward. What about
sowing and reaping? It's in the scripture, isn't
it? Sowing and reaping. You sow sparingly, you'll reap
sparingly. The Lord tells us that. You sow
bountifully and you'll reap bountifully. These are spiritual laws. You
humble yourself, you'll be exalted. That's a promise. You exalt yourself,
you will be abased. That's a promise. You show yourself
friendly, you'll have friends. You don't have friends, it's
because you do not show yourself friendly. Do I believe in rewards
in heaven? Yes, rewards of grace. I certainly
do. Do I believe in rewards earned
through your works? Not for a second. Not for a second. Do I believe in rewards here
on earth? Absolutely. We're the ones who are blessed
in following Christ. And it is also possible to lose
these rewards. Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter
3. Paul says in verse 11, now, Other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. Two different kinds
of building materials. Now, in the context, he's talking
about the ministry. And he's talking in the context
about men whose ministry is made of, they've got the foundation,
but they build upon that foundation, wood, hay, and stubble. And others
who build on the foundation, gold, silver, and precious stones. One is seeking the glory of Christ,
the other is seeking to get a bigger church and to do better and be
more successful. But this applies to every believer
in your life. Wood, hay, and stubble, something
that's not going to stand, or gold, silver, and precious stones. Now let's go on reading. Every
man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide
that which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. And
if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss. But he
himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Now, is this talking
about on judgment day? You'll be rewarded if you're
using gold, silver, and precious stones, but you'll suffer loss
if you had wood, hay, and stubble in your life. That's the way
most people interpret it. But you know from the light of
other scriptures that's not what it means. It's talking about
here on earth. Here on earth you're going to
be made to see and you're either going to have the reward of obedience
or you're going to suffer loss and be saved yet so as by fire. Now that's the word of scripture
and I want to be somebody who is rewarded rather than suffer
loss. Now I realize this reward is
only by grace. I believe that with all my heart.
I don't believe there's anything that I've ever done or thought
that merits a reward. But I want to have the joy of
forgiving somebody freely. I want to have the joy of giving.
I want to have the joy of being a servant. And there's so much
more joy, there's so much reward in that than there is the other
way. And as far as that goes, with regard to even the reward
of grace, two believers. One, you're so encouraged, Bob. They
just honor Christ. That's the way it appears anyway.
You admire them, you esteem them highly, and there's another believer
that just makes one blunder after another and doesn't seem to bring
much glory to God in their life. Which one of those two people
are most indebted to grace? The one who's enabled to obey. That's the one who's most indebted
to grace. He's more indebted than the other
fella. He would have been just like
him. May the Lord enable me and you to be obedient, to do what he says to do. to forgive, to love, to be pure,
to be chaste. May the Lord enable us, by the
grace of God, to do that. Now, I realize you have an old
nature. I realize it just as much as
anybody else, because I know the nature I've got. But I love
John's words. These things have I spoken to
you that you sin not. Thank God when you do. We have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. May we enjoy the reward of faith, the peace
that comes from resting only in Christ. Now we're getting
ready to observe the Lord's table. And you know what the Lord's
table reminds us of? There's one singular reason why
we'll be in heaven. One reason. Because Christ lived
for me. Christ died for me and Christ
was raised for me. That's the only reason. And beloved, we like it that
way, don't we? We like it that way. Let's pass out the bread
and wine.