Category: Reward

Personal Reward & Serving

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date June 13, 2013
119 Comments on Personal Reward & Serving

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12 (NIV) What motivates you to serve? Do you serve for immediate recognition or eternal reward? Who is calculating your service? Jesus is the Rewarder! As you live to please Him and serve Him, Jesus rewards you personally both now and in the life to come. As Bruce Willkinson says, “Your belief determines where you spend eternity. Your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” Jesus rewards your obedience in serving Him. Enjoy Personal Reward for Giving: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Prov. 19:17 (NIV) “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.” Matt. 6:3-4 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Praying: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:6 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Fasting: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:17-18 (NIV) Your life counts. Are you willing to allow Jesus to live in you and through you today in order to serve others? Your service to God will be rewarded by God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Faith Reward

Faith that Pleases

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 (NIV) Pleasing the Creator of the universe seems impossible. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is holy, perfect, immutable, and eternal. God is infinite. How can finite man please God? The vital ingredient to pleasing God is faith. This type of faith is the conviction that God is who He says He is. To live a life pleasing to God, you must operate in faith. The focus of your life becomes God’s agenda. You demonstrate belief in God’s existence by fearing Him and revering Him through a lifestyle of obedience. Choose to come to God knowing that He desires intimacy with you. As a child of God, you have the distinct privilege of knowing that God rewards you as you seek Him earnestly. God rewards you with abiding peace, continual fellowship, and eternal hope. Is your life pleasing to God? Is faith operative in your conversation and your conduct? Portray your conviction about the truth of God’s nature and character. God has pursued you with His love. Respond to God’s pursuit by living a life of faith that brings pleasure to Him. Determine to please God through behavior that is consistent with His Word. Ask God to reveal those areas of your life that are out of alignment with His purpose and plan. As God brings those specific areas to your attention, choose to repent and go in a new direction. Remove those things in your life that rob your love relationship with God. Put your faith in action. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Obedience Reward Serving

Personal Reward & Serving

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Rev 22:12 (NIV) What motivates you to serve? Do you serve for immediate recognition or eternal reward? Who is calculating your service? Jesus is the Rewarder! As you live to please Him and serve Him, Jesus rewards you personally both now and in the life to come. As Bruce Willkinson says, “Your belief determines where you spend eternity. Your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” Jesus rewards your obedience in serving Him. Enjoy Personal Reward for Giving: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Prov 19:17 (NIV) “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.” Matt 6:3-4 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Praying: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:6 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Fasting: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:17-18 (NIV) Your life counts. Are you willing to allow Jesus to live in you and through you today in order to serve others? Your service to God will be rewarded by God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Faith Impossible Reward

Faith that Pleases God

Fasting God's Will Reward

Fasting God’s Way

“‘But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’” Matt 6:17-18 (NIV) Giving and praying are commanded in God’s Word. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded to fast in preparation for the Day of Atonement. Nowhere else in the Bible is fasting commanded. Jesus completed His atoning work on the cross to provide the removal of our sin and the restoration of our relationship with God. Fasting is voluntary. Jesus made it clear that fasting should be a normal spiritual discipline in the life of a believer. Just as giving and praying flow out of our love relationship with Christ, so fasting is to be a normal practice in the life of every child of God. We are not to fast in order to be praised by others, but rather to concentrate on our relationship with the Lord. The hypocrites in Jesus’ day would fast to be seen of men. They fed their approval addiction by fasting publicly on Monday and Thursdays when the market was overflowing with the masses. They received their reward, namely, the praise of men, but bypassed the reward of God. They got what they were looking for! There is no need to put your spiritual discipline of fasting on display for others to see. John Piper has identified that there is a difference between fasting to be seen and being seen fasting. Fasting is to be done in secret to allow you to pursue God and to deepen your love relationship with Him. When you fast, it is proper to let your family members know so they will understand your reason behind not participating with them during mealtime. Also, they can pray for you specifically during your fast. God will reward what is done in secret. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Motives Prayer Reward

Praying God’s Way

“‘But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’” Matt 6:6 (NIV) Do you have a special place where you go to spend unhurried time alone with God in prayer? Have you found a location that is conducive to meaningful conversation with the Creator of the universe? We live in such a fast paced and noisy world that sometimes it is a challenge to find a place of solitude. Praying requires focused attention on God. Seek to eliminate distractions and secure a place where you can enjoy unbroken fellowship with God in prayer. Jesus affirms the need for that special place. He reminds us that when we enter that room, we are to pray in secret and know that God sees the unseen. It takes discipline to spend time in prayer. Prayer is hard work because the enemy combats your desire to pray. The enemy does not want you to draw near to God. That’s one reason why having a special place for prayer helps you to focus and to diffuse the enemy’s attacks. Your prayer life doesn’t need to be a public display for public attention and affirmation. God rewards your prayer life. He knows how much time you are carving out for communication with Him. God knows the intensity of your pursuit and He rewards your obedience. He will reward you for praying His way. God’s way is always best for you. If you have been neglecting your prayer life, simply commit to find a place of prayer. Try to go there the same time each day and spend time in meaningful conversation with God. Listen for His voice of truth and clarity. God will reward your devotion and your diligence. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Generosity Giving Reward

Giving God’s Way

“‘So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, 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.’” Matt 6:2-4 (NIV) What are you currently doing to benefit others? What resources has God made available to you? Are you using what God gives you to benefit others? You are blessed by God to be a blessing to others. Give secretly and God will reward you. It is not only what you give but how you give that moves the heart of God. God sees everything you do and everything you don’t do. God sees and knows. If you give to be seen of men, then that is the extent of your reward. However, when your giving is done in secret, God rewards you. “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.” 2 Cor 5:10 (NIV) “But just as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us –see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Cor 8:7 (NIV) Motive matters! God sees how much you give and God sees how you give. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Grace Intentionality Relief Reward

Life Instead

“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.” Mark 15:11 (NIV) Have you ever encountered injustice? Have you ever been treated unfairly? I think we have all been there. It hurts! The scars serve as a constant reminder. In our verse today, we find a word that compels us to contemplate. It is the soothing word, “instead.” Let me take this punishment instead of you. Allow me to receive this penalty instead of you. Jesus will be flogged and crucified instead of Barabbas. The innocent man dies in his place. The guilty man goes free. Jesus receives what he doesn’t deserve while Barabbas receives what he doesn’t deserve. Jesus receives death! Barabbas receives life! Is that justice? Should the guilty go free? It depends who takes the initiative. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Rm. 5:8 NIV). Christ died instead of us! Yes, while we were still sinners! How can you demonstrate that kind of love? Who in your sphere of influence needs to know what “instead” looks like? Forgive instead of holding a grudge. Show acceptance instead of forging a gap. Offer help instead of ignoring the need. Appreciate Jesus instead of taking Him for granted. It’s your move! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor