• The strong need to The strong need to encourage the weakencourage the weak• Too often the weak are not Too often the weak are not present to hear words of present to hear words of admonition and edificationadmonition and edification• Even among the faithful, Even among the faithful, there are degrees of faiththere are degrees of faith•Matthew 13:18-23 – Matthew 13:18-23 – “some a hundredfold …”“some a hundredfold …”

• Lessons on faithfulness, Lessons on faithfulness, dedication, attendance, dedication, attendance, giving, doing what is right, giving, doing what is right, though needed by all, are though needed by all, are usually heard by the usually heard by the “cream,” though it is the “cream,” though it is the less faithful that need it the less faithful that need it the most.most.• The faithful must have a The faithful must have a reasonreason• I Peter 3:15-16 – “a I Peter 3:15-16 – “a reason concerning the reason concerning the hope …”hope …”

• 25 uses of the English word 25 uses of the English word rewardreward in the NT, in the NT, translated from four Greek translated from four Greek words.words.• The four Greek words are The four Greek words are used about 74 times in used about 74 times in the New Testament.the New Testament.

•misqosvmisqosv (misthos) – The (misthos) – The Greek word primarily Greek word primarily translated translated rewardreward..• Strong – “pay for services Strong – “pay for services (literally or figuratively), (literally or figuratively), <whether> good or bad”<whether> good or bad”•Matthew 16:27 – Matthew 16:27 – “according to his deeds”“according to his deeds”• Isaiah 3:10 – “fruit of Isaiah 3:10 – “fruit of their doings”their doings”

• Apostles were concerned – Apostles were concerned – Lord was understandingLord was understanding•Matthew 19:24-30 – “what Matthew 19:24-30 – “what then shall we have … then shall we have … eternal life”eternal life”•Matthew 6:33 – “seek ye Matthew 6:33 – “seek ye first … added unto you”first … added unto you”

• Desire can be wrong and evil Desire can be wrong and evil tootoo• James 4:1-4 – “ask amiss James 4:1-4 – “ask amiss …”…”

•Who will give rewards?Who will give rewards?• Two sourcesTwo sources•Matthew 21:25 – “from Matthew 21:25 – “from heaven or from men?”heaven or from men?”

• From men – not necessarily From men – not necessarily desirabledesirable•Matthew 6:2,5,16 – “They Matthew 6:2,5,16 – “They have received their have received their reward”reward”• Acts 1:18 – “the reward of Acts 1:18 – “the reward of his iniquity”his iniquity”

•Who will give rewards?Who will give rewards?• Two sourcesTwo sources• From God –desirableFrom God –desirable•Matthew 6:1 – “reward … Matthew 6:1 – “reward … Father”Father”• Revelation 22:12 – “my Revelation 22:12 – “my reward is with me”reward is with me”• Hebrews 11:6 – “he is a Hebrews 11:6 – “he is a rewarder …”rewarder …”

•Who will receive rewards?Who will receive rewards?• From menFrom men• Those they want to honorThose they want to honor• See Matthew 6:2,5,16 See Matthew 6:2,5,16 againagain

• Those they want to punishThose they want to punish• Luke 23:39-41 – “due Luke 23:39-41 – “due reward of our deeds”reward of our deeds”

• aciosacios (axios) – “deserving, (axios) – “deserving, comparable or suitable”comparable or suitable”

•Who will receive rewards?Who will receive rewards?• From GodFrom God• Those who love all menThose who love all men•Mark 9:41 – “give you … Mark 9:41 – “give you … water …”water …”• Luke 6:35-36 – “Be ye Luke 6:35-36 – “Be ye merciful …”merciful …”

• Those who work in the Those who work in the KingdomKingdom• I Corinthians 3:7-9 – I Corinthians 3:7-9 – “according to his own “according to his own labor …”labor …”

•Who will receive rewards?Who will receive rewards?• From GodFrom God• Those who work in the Those who work in the KingdomKingdom• I Timothy 5:18 – “labor in I Timothy 5:18 – “labor in the word and in the word and in teaching”teaching”• II John 6-8 – “abideth in II John 6-8 – “abideth in the teaching …”the teaching …”

•Why will God give rewards?Why will God give rewards?• It has been promisedIt has been promised• Hebrews 2:2 – “just Hebrews 2:2 – “just recompense of reward”recompense of reward”• Hebrews 10:34-36 – Hebrews 10:34-36 – “recompense of reward”“recompense of reward”• Hebrews 11:24-27 – Hebrews 11:24-27 – “recompense of reward”“recompense of reward”

•What will the rewards be?What will the rewards be?•Mark 10:28-30 – “in this Mark 10:28-30 – “in this time … in the world to time … in the world to come”come”

• In this lifeIn this life•Matthew 12:46-50 – “he is Matthew 12:46-50 – “he is my brother, and sister, and my brother, and sister, and mother”mother”• II Peter 1:1 – “a like II Peter 1:1 – “a like precious faith”precious faith”• Acts 4:32 – “they had all Acts 4:32 – “they had all things common”things common”

•What will the rewards be?What will the rewards be?• In the world to comeIn the world to come• John 5:24 – “eternal life …”John 5:24 – “eternal life …”• John 6:40 – “raise him up John 6:40 – “raise him up …”…”• John 10:28 – “they shall John 10:28 – “they shall never perish”never perish”• Romans 2:5-7 – “glory and Romans 2:5-7 – “glory and honor and incorruption …”honor and incorruption …”

• I John 5:11 – “And the I John 5:11 – “And the witness is this, that God witness is this, that God gave unto us gave unto us eternal lifeeternal life, , and this life is and this life is in his Sonin his Son””

• Hear the Word of GodHear the Word of God• Romans 10:1Romans 10:1 – “But what – “But what saith it? The word is nigh saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we word of faith, which we preach”preach”

• Believe in that WordBelieve in that Word• Romans 10:11Romans 10:11 – “For the – “For the scripture saith, scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to him shall not be put to shame.”shame.”

• Repent of your sinsRepent of your sins• Acts 3:19Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye – “Repent ye therefore, and turn therefore, and turn again, that your sins again, that your sins may be blotted out, that may be blotted out, that so there may come so there may come seasons of refreshing seasons of refreshing from the presence of the from the presence of the Lord”Lord”

• Confess that Jesus is the Confess that Jesus is the Son of GodSon of God• I John 4:15I John 4:15 – “Whosoever – “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in abideth in him, and he in God.”God.”

• Be immersed in water Be immersed in water (baptized)(baptized)• Acts 2:38Acts 2:38 – “Repent ye, – “Repent ye, and be baptized every and be baptized every one of you in the name of one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”gift of the Holy Spirit.”