Thread: What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
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What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 4 Nov, 2018 05:11 AM
Hello everyone;
Within the religion called 'christianity' there are people known as the Health and wealth advocates, Name and claim,( Also known as Blab and grab), Positive confession, and a host of other names.
These charlatans proclaim that if you say the right words mixed with faith, then GOD Almighty is OBLIGATED to make your words reality and perform tricks like a circus monkey.
What does the Word of GOD Almighty have to say about this.
Question: "Can Christians live their best life now?"
Answer: Joel Osteen�s book Your Best Life Now has caused many people to seek their �best life now.� Among the claims Mr. Osteen makes are �God wants to increase you financially� (page 5). He goes on to explain that this quest for financial and material increase is actually pleasing to God. No doubt, Osteen is sincere in what he says and believes that wealth and success really are the way to happiness. But is that what the Bible says? Does God want all His children to be wealthy, and does He tell us that is the way to find happiness? More importantly, is your best life now or is your best life in the world to come?
To say that life on this earth is the best you can have is absolutely true�if you�re not a Christian. The non-Christian lives his best life in the here and now because his next life is one of no hope, no joy, no meaning, no satisfaction and no relief from eternal suffering. Those who have rejected Jesus Christ will spend an eternity in �outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.� This phrase is used five times (Matthew 8:12, 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) to describe the miserable existence of those who are thrust into it at the moment of their deaths. So, seeking to enjoy life while they can makes perfect sense for them because they really are living their best life now. The next life will be truly dreadful.
For the Christian, however, life here, no matter how good it is, is nothing compared to the life that awaits us in heaven. The glories of heaven�eternal life, righteousness, joy, peace, perfection, God�s presence, Christ�s glorious companionship, rewards, and all else God has planned�is the Christian�s heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5), and it will cause even the best life on earth to pale in comparison. Even the richest, most successful person on earth will eventually age, sicken, and die, and his wealth cannot prevent it, nor can his wealth follow him into the next life. So, why would you be encouraged to live your best life now? "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also� (Matthew 6:19-21).
This verse brings us to the next difficulty with �your best life now� philosophy. Our hearts reside wherever our treasure resides. What we value in life permeates our hearts, our minds, our very existence, and it inevitably comes out in our speech and actions. If you�ve ever met someone whose life is bound up in pursuing wealth and pleasure, it is obvious immediately, because it�s all he talks about. His heart is filled with the things of this life, and out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). He has no time for the things of the Lord�His Word, His people, His work and the eternal life He offers�because he is so busy pursuing his best life now.
But the Bible tells us that the �kingdom of heaven,� not worldly wealth, is like a treasure hidden in a field�so valuable that we should sell everything we have to attain it (Matthew 13:44). There are no scriptural admonitions to pursue and store up wealth. In fact, we are encouraged to do just the opposite. Jesus urged the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and follow Him so that he would have treasure in heaven, but the young man went away sad because his wealth was his heart�s true treasure (Mark 10:17-23). No doubt the young man experienced his best life on earth, only to lose the hope of real life in the future. �For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?� (Mark 8:36).
But doesn�t God want us to live in comfort and financial security? We have only to look at the Lord Jesus and the apostles to know that the �best life now� philosophy is devoid of truth. Jesus certainly had no wealth, nor did those who followed Him. He didn�t even have a place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). The apostle Paul�s life would certainly not qualify as blessed by Osteen�s standards, either. Paul says, �From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness� (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). Does that sound like Paul was living his best life? Of course not. He was waiting for his best life in the future, his blessed hope, �an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven� for him and all who are in Christ. That is our best life, not this �vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away� (James 4:14).
How can we expect a world infected by sin to provide your best life now? How can we ignore scriptures like �man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward� (Job 5:7) and �all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution� (2 Timothy 3:12) and �count it all joy when you fall into various trials� (James 1:2), and tell people their best life is here and now? How can we count as meaningless the suffering of the early Christian martyrs who were hanged, burned at the stake, beheaded, and boiled in oil for their faith and their faithfulness to Christ, gladly suffering for the Savior they adored? Did they die these excruciating deaths because no one ever told them they could have experienced their best lives if only they pursued wealth and a healthy self-image, as Joel Osteen claims? The Lord never promised health, wealth, or success in this life. We can�t expect the promises He makes for heaven to be fulfilled now, and the Church dare not promise people the impossible illusion of their best life now. Such a promise encourages people to decide for themselves what will constitute their best lives and then reject Jesus when He doesn�t deliver.
The �your best life now� philosophy is nothing more than the old �power of positive thinking� lie repackaged to scratch the itching ears of the current generation. If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior, our best lives await us in heaven where we will spend eternity in joy and bliss, enjoying a life which is better than the �best� we could have now.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 4 Nov, 2018 02:10 PM
A person speaks what they believe. I try to remain positive and am happy with what I have. I had a house fire had lost a lot of stuff in 1999. I now have my best job and I believe that is what God wants for me. God choses to heal some people. For your information I had seizures as a child and after being on the meds for 30 years I no longer have to take the meds. My brain waves are normal. I am a witness that God does restore what is taken away. You are entitled to your view.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 4 Nov, 2018 03:02 PM
Hi Dennis, Yes GOD Almighty does heal, BUT we do not see the Holy Spirit EMPOWERING people as He had. When the GOSPEL goes forth as in the first century, then we might begin to healing, and restored lives.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 5 Nov, 2018 06:46 AM
Since I speak in tongues and God has restored what I lost I would disagree. Yes, there are those who abuse their ministries but not me. I attend a full gospel church and I am pentacostol. It is there if you look for it. You have to want it. In the end times that time will return as it was in the first century. just read the book of Acts with a open mind. Unlike some people I do not belittle those who disagree with me. I desire an discussion about his.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 5 Nov, 2018 11:46 AM
I appreciate a lot of your comments.
I have some pretty good friends, who are dear to me, who believe the same as you and I respect them.
One of the troubles with the modern practice of “speaking in tongues” is its lack of linguistic structure. Linguistic structure and order must exist for a language to convey genuine meaning. Absence of structure reduces verbal sound to meaninglessness.
“Tongues” is KJV terminology denoting spoken language. At least 3 Greek words are used in scripture to denote spoken language. They are glossa, phoneo and dialekto. The precise meaning of each word is determined by its contextual usage. But no biblical term is used to endorse utterances that are void of meaning.
There are ways to determine if a string of vocalization is real language. Maybe a recording of the sound could be sent to a professional linguist. This would identify the language or at least determine it the sound manifests structure. BTW this has been done.
Linguistic analysis can easily identify even the native language of a wanna-be tongue talker simply by examining the “tongue talking” sample. This is because false tongue speakers often jumble phonemes and bits of speech that are basic to their native language!!
Sadly too many Christians follow the example of these false tongue talkers, honestly assuming they are speaking a biblical tongues.
Wanna be “tongue interpreters” are easily exposed as well. One fellow took a seat at a “tongues” meeting one evening and recited the 23rd Psalm in Russian. An “interpreter”, who was obviously unfamiliar with the Russian tongue, stood up confidently and totally misinterpreted the language!! The person reciting the 23rd Psalm then revealed the fact how he had recited the Psalm in Russian thus exposing the false interpreter. Unfortunately the the man exposing the false interpretation was promptly removed.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 5 Nov, 2018 12:04 PM
Last post of mine was a reply for Dennis.
I haven’t responded to George yet but he raised a number of good points exposing the false “prosperity” gospel.
Certainty rich people are encouraged to be “rich in good deeds” and “willing to share with those in need”. God is the one who makes certain people rich for his glory, assuming they earned their wealth honestly. Rich people can certainly do many good things with their money, like help financially stressed persons and maybe even support other worthy causes like Job. Rich people should not encourage perfectly capable lazy people who are just plan unwilling to work
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 6 Nov, 2018 06:34 AM
A question about the rich life and if they are glory to God by what they do with their riches..
Worth repeating..
Matthew 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
James 5:5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
I suggest anyone who sees these here reads them carefully, I would like to add that I have just submitted a question to gotquestions.org as per the author of the article gracenotworks shared, because they gave an error in their report, we do not live our best life for afterwards, through faith we understand there is no life here, as it is an evil world, but if we use the same evil self seeking reasoning that all use here, we will receive nothing of the Lord, but lets see what happens with my question about do you pray always to be accounted worthy and to stand before the Son of man?
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 6 Nov, 2018 09:11 AM
**IS THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL SATANIC? *ARE THERE MANY ETERNAL REWARDS FOR SHARING WITH THE POOR**??
Adam7777 claims that there are no heavenly **ETERNAL **REWARDS** for helping the poor???
Another Satanic adam777 quote:
"If you do not want your treasures to turn to nothing, you need to build up treasures of righteousness *WITHIN YOURSELF**, where the Kingdom of Heaven is."{???}
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**??
Acts 4:32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their posessions was their own, but **THEY SHARED **EVERYTHING** THEY HAD**!!
Acts 2:44,45: All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to everyone who had need!
Luke 18:20-25: Jesus said to the rich man, "You still lack one thing. Sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have **TREASURE IN HEAVEN**. Then come, **FOLLOW ME**. When he heard this he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
NOTE: In addition to eternal life Jesus also promised the rich man eternal **ETERNAL TREASURES IN HEAVEN**
Luke 19:8,9: Zachaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay beck four times the amount!" Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house!"
**JESUS PROMISES ETERNAL REWARDS FOR HELPING OR SHARING WITH THE POOR AND NEEDY**!!
Matthew 6:1-4; 19-21: Jesus says, "When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will **REWARD** you!"... "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves **TREASURES IN HEAVEN**, where moths and vermin do not desrtoy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your **TREASURE** is, there your **HEART** will be also!"
I Timothy 6:5-10 There are people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to **FINANCIAL GAIN**. {Like the Prosperity Gospel of Joyce Meyer} But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing in the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the **LOVE OF MONEY** is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs!
I John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world. love for the Father **IS NOT IN THEM**. For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever!
James 2:5-7: Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be **RICH IN FAITH** and to inherit the kingdom He prmised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you! Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are the not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong?
James 5:1-5: Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosian will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the Last Days. Look!! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you!
I Timothy 2:9,10: I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God!
Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!"
Luke 16:13: Jesus says, " No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money!"
2 Corintians 6:10: We are poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet **POSSESSING EVERYTHING**!
2 Timothy 3:1,2,5: But mark this. There will be terrible tines in the last days. People will lovers of themselves **LOVERS OF MONEY**.... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people!
I Timothy 6:17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be **GENEROUS AND WILLING TO SHARE**. In this way they will lay up **TREASURE** for themsleves as a firm foundation for the coming age, do that they may take hold of life that is truly life!
Luke 14:33,34: Jesus says, "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be **BLESSED**! Although they cannot repay you, you will be **REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION** of the righteous!"
Romans 12:13: Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Ephesians 4:28: Work, doing something useful with your hands, so that you have **SOMETHING TO SHARE** with those in need!
Acts 2:44,45: All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need!
Acts 4:32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but **THEY SHARED **EVERYTHING** THEY HAD**!!
Luke 3:11: Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same!
Luke 29,30,35,36: Jesus says, "If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back... Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your **REWARD WILL BE GREAT**, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful. just as your Father is merciful!"
Romans 12:20,21: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink... Do not be overcome by evil, but **OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD**!
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 6 Nov, 2018 10:24 AM
**IS THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL SATANIC? *ARE THERE MANY ETERNAL REWARDS FOR SHARING WITH THE POOR**??
Yes the prosperity Gospel is satanic, and highlighting future prosperity is a prosperity Gospel.
Rewards are prosperity, so what is the difference when the false teacher wants our focus on that same way of thinking and of receiving?
Jesus' teaching is not quite that way, our focus is on hating our life, of making ourselves the lowest and the last. If Jesus brings us up higher we can then go higher, because His way of teaching, is whoever exalts themselves will be abased and who humbles themselves will be exalted.
Yes the prosperity Gospel is satanic, so the poor in Spirit Gospel is the Godly one and way..
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
LOOK AT THEM IN HOPE OF REWARDS>>>
Matthew 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
What type of life does Messiah promise to His people, health and wealth OR life with different results !
Posted : 6 Nov, 2018 10:58 AM
Ridiculous Satanic quotes by Adam7777:
"Yes the prosperity Gospel is satanic, and highlighting future prosperity is a prosperity Gospel.{???} {HEAVENLY} rewards are prosperity."{???}
"If you do not want your treasures to turn to nothing, you need to build up treasures of righteousness *WITHIN YOURSELF**, where the Kingdom of Heaven is."{???}
**SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT ETERNAL HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED**!!
**SALVATION IS 100% FREE**
Titus 3:3,4: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and **LOVE** of God our Savior appeared , He saved us, **NOT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE**, but because of **HIS MERCY**!!
John 1:12,13: To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, **NOR OF A HUMAN DECISION** or a husband's will but, **BORN OF GOD**!!
John 6:37,39,44,65: Jesus says, "**ALL** that the Father gives Me **WILL** come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will **NEVER** drive away... And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall **LOSE NONE** of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the Last Day.... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the Father who sent Me **DRAWS HIM**, and I will raise him up at the Last Day!!... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the Father has **ENABLED THEM**!!"
Ephesians 2:8,9: For it is by **GRACE** you have been saved, through **FAITH**�and this **NOT FROM YOURSELVES**, it is the **GIFT OF GOD**�not by works. So that no one can boast. For we are **GOD'S WORKMANSHIP**, created in Christ Jesus to do **GOOD WORKS**, which God prepared in advance for us to do!
Romans 12:3: For by the **GRACE GIVEN ME** I say to every one of you. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgment, in accordance with the **FAITH GOD HAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU**... We have different gifts, according to the **GRACE GIVEN TO EACH OF US**!!
John 15:16: Jesus says, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last!!
Romans 9:15,16,18: God says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy...Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. {But God's saints still preach God's Word to everyone}
Revelation 17:14: They will wage war against the **LAMB**, but the **LAMB** will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with Him will be His **CALLED**, **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers!
**AND SO SALVATION IS 100 PERCENT **FREE** but **ETERNAL REWARDS** are 100 percent **EARNED**!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD** everyone for what ever good he does!
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
Luke 11:33,34: Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a **TREASURE** IN HEAVEN** that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your **TREASURE** is, there your **HEART** will be also!"
Luke 14:13,14: Jesus says, "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be **BLESSED**. Although they cannot repay you you will be **REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION** of the righteous!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his **REWARD**. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
How to Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to 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**! Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED** fully!.
Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN**!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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!
The **CROWN** of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE** that God has promised to those who love Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE**!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your **REWARD** in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED**. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
