Victory Life KY

Willing & Faithful II

Episode Summary

Jesus makes it very clear that He’s got something wonderful in store for all those willing and faithful.

Episode Notes

“I thought 2020 would be the year I get everything I want. Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciate everything I have.”

What if we all had a little more of this kind of attitude as we take on the new year? Here’s something else to keep mind as we step into a new year, God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble.

One thing I’ve discovered over the years is that willing and faithful are always associated with humility.

So our prayer is that this talk inspires our thinking, inspires our faith, challenges every one of us to embrace the reality that our lives here and now are not all there is to a life in God.

Seriously, get this settled in your thinking, our eternity is underway right now. And while we’re still here, each of has an assignment for the Lord.

Remember, everything around our new talk has to be centered around this truth, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NEVER BE BASED ON WHAT WE DO, OUR REWARD IS.

As we move into another year, let’s help each other refocus our attitudes, refocus our faith, be an encourager, and according to Jesus, “OCCUPY TILL HE RETURNS.” Another translation of this word occupy is to do business till I get back.
I really believe this is a word from the Lord for us for 2021!

This statement Jesus made, “OCCUPY TILL HE RETURNS.” is from the parable in Luke about the minas. Revelation 5 tells us that Christ has made us kings and priest, and we shall reign on the earth. Take a second, you ever think about what kind of role the next chapter of your life will be?

Remember, Jesus makes it very clear that He’s got something wonderful in store for all those willing and faithful.

Revelation 22:12,NKJV- “And behold, I am coming quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give to every one according to his work.”

What I’ve discovered is that Jesus actually talks about reward a lot, so maybe we should give a little more consideration to this reality.

1 Corinthians 3, paraphrase, The work of each one will be shown for what it is, for the day of Christ will reveal it, and if his efforts survive, he will get his reward.

Here’s the wake up call, our willingness and faithfulness here and now has significant influence in our life in the next dispensation.

Moody was right, what we do here and now is simply training for our next chapter.

Luke 16, Abraham told the rich man, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Stop thinking simply from this 3 dimensional world. You are a brand new species of being. Made in the image of your Father.

Corinthians 2, We have received God’s Spirit, so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things we aren’t using words that come from human wisdom.
Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them, they can’t understand it.

Make no mistake, embracing the reality that we are these brand new creations in Christ. We’re living, thinking, free willed spirit beings, made in Christ’s image. So thinking other dimensional demands transformation of the born again soul.

Here’s a major key, the moment someone gives their life to Christ and becomes this new spirit being, it comes with an assignment.

Remember, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NEVER BE BASED ON WHAT WE DO, OUR REWARD IS.

Don’t let anyone deceive you, people that want nothing more from Jesus than to escape hell, will not be in the same class as those willing and faithful in serving Jesus.

Listen very carefully, God is not a man that He can lie, and He does not change, His ways and His word are forever settled.

When we follow Jesus through the gospels, the thing He talks about more than anything was the Kingdom of Heaven. A major part of His assignment was making access to His Kingdom for the born again. Restoring what Adam gave away to satan. Making us heirs to the Kingdom.

And according to Paul, as long as the heir remains a child, he’s no different than a slave. Even though he’s master of it all.

And Matthew 6, Jesus goes into great detail about how things in His Kingdom function.

Matthew 6:1,3-4,6,16-18,NKJV- Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

v.3, But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Later in this same chapter Jesus makes this radical statement, Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

v.4, And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

v.6, But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

v.16,Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
v.17, But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
v.18, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

This stuff God is dealing with is all a heart thing. He’s talking about our born again lives Jesus died that would could experience right now. He’s giving us basic Kingdom living principles. And as we begin to understand and practice these truths, let’s keep our motives checked on a regular bases.

Remember, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NEVER BE BASED ON WHAT WE DO, OUR REWARD IS.

Here’s the thing, living these supernatural lives start with a willing, faithful attitude. But to get to willing and faithful, we’ve got to start talking and thinking supernatural, Kingdom of Heaven realities.

Which means we’ve got to take to heart what the apostle James told us, we cannot continue living a double minded life.

Let today’s talk inspire our faith to move past thinking that our lives here and now is all there is to a life in God. Let’s help each other refocus our attitudes, refocus our faith and according to Jesus, let’s help each other be about the Master’s work.

And even though it’s not all about rewards, don’t kid yourself, ask any parent who loves rewarding the children for doing good, our Father is the same way, God wants to reward, He wants to distinguish you! (Esther)

But here’s the thing, possibly one of the biggest challenges the born again face is embracing a way of living that is beyond here and now.

Philippians 3:17-20,NLT- Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.

Revelation 22, I am coming quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give to every one according to his work.

Matthew 16, Jesus tell us that he will return in the glory of the Father and He will reward each one according to his works.