[QQ] [PREACHING LESSON 15:] GREAT THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE, REST ASSURED TO RECEIVE REWARDS FROM GOD

 

GREAT THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE, REST ASSURED TO RECEIVE REWARDS FROM GOD

 

2 John 1:8 — "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

 

2 Timothy 3:14 — "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;"

 

INTRODUCTION

A. Paul always gave encouragement to Christians to continue serving the Lord, grounded in the biblical truths they learned from senior servants of God.

2 Timothy 3:14 — "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;"

 

B. Laboring without continuing in these learned truths causes our spiritual efforts to be in vain.

 

Galatians 4:11 — "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."

 

GREAT SPIRITUAL THINGS WE LEARNED IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THAT WE MUST CONTINUE IN, FAITHFULLY ASSURED OF RECEIVING GREAT REWARDS FROM GOD

 

1. WE LEARNED TO BE FAITHFUL IN SERVING THE LORD AND ARE REST ASSURED OF RECEIVING REWARDS.

 

God will bless the faithful Christian who serves the Lord with unwavering dedication.

 

1 Timothy 1:12 — "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

 

God promises that faithful believers will abound with blessings.

 

Proverbs 28:20 — "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."

 

2. WE LEARNED TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF CHRIST IN OUR TESTIMONY AND ARE REST ASSURED OF REWARDS.

 

Paul encouraged Christians to follow his example as he followed Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 — "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

 

1 Peter 2:21 — "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"

 

The disciples of Christ were bold in serving God, and people saw the example of Christ reflected in their lives.

 

Acts 4:13 — "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

 

3. WE LEARNED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND FRUITFUL SOUL-WINNERS BY BECOMING SERVANTS TO ALL.

 

A spirit of servanthood made Paul highly effective in winning lost souls to Christ.

 

John 9:4–5 — "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

 

1 Corinthians 9:19 — "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more."

 

God has prepared a crown of rejoicing for faithful soul-winners.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 — "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy."

 

4. WE LEARNED TO GIVE TO THE LORD'S WORK BOUNTIFULLY AND ARE REST ASSURED OF RECEIVING REWARDS.

 

God designed the local church to support His work through the faithful giving of tithes and offerings.

 

Malachi 3:10 — "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house..."

 

2 Corinthians 9:6 — "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

 

God calls giving Christians blessed because of their generosity.

 

Acts 20:35 — "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

5. WE LEARNED TO BE PRAYERFUL CHRISTIANS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH AND ARE REST ASSURED OF RECEIVING REWARDS FROM GOD.

 

God designed the local church as a house of prayer.

 

Hebrews 4:16 — "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

 

James 5:16 — "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

 

Jabez is an outstanding example of faithfulness in prayer.

 

1 Chronicles 4:10 — "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

 

God invites Christians to pray, promising to answer our requests.

 

Jeremiah 33:3 — "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

 

6. WE LEARNED TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, AND THE LORD PROMISES TO LIFT US UP.

 

Jesus Christ is our primary model for humility before God and man.

 

Matthew 18:4 — "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

 

God promises to exalt those who submit humbly under His mighty hand.

1 Peter 5:6 — "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

 

God bless you all!