Discerning Divine Gifts and Pursuing Eternal Rewards

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound theme of gifts and rewards from a biblical perspective. We began by examining the nature of gifts, emphasizing the importance of discerning their source. Not all gifts are from God; some may come with ulterior motives or from sources that do not align with God's will. We are encouraged to seek the perfect gifts that come from God, as highlighted in Matthew 7:7, where God invites us to ask for our needs. However, James 4:2 warns us that our motives must be pure when we ask, aligning our desires with God's will.

The greatest gift we have received as Christians is the gift of salvation, a free gift from God that cannot be earned through works. Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, and this salvation is a gift from God. Alongside salvation, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to live a life that glorifies God and serves others. The Holy Spirit distributes various gifts to believers, each unique and intended to build up the church.

We also delved into the concept of rewards, both earthly and heavenly. While earthly rewards can be enticing, the Bible speaks of eternal rewards that far surpass any earthly accolade. Heroes of faith, like Jesus and Moses, were motivated by the rewards set before them. Jesus endured the cross for the joy and reward that awaited Him, and Moses chose to suffer with God's people, looking ahead to his heavenly reward.

The Bible outlines various rewards for believers, such as eternal glory, shining like stars in heaven, and receiving crowns of life, righteousness, and glory. These rewards are not just for our benefit but are meant to motivate us to live faithfully and serve God wholeheartedly. However, there is a warning that rewards can be lost through backsliding, following deceivers, or failing to forgive others.

In conclusion, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing the coming of Christ and the rewards that await us in heaven. Let us be vigilant, discerning the gifts we receive and using them to build the body of Christ, while also striving for the eternal rewards promised to those who faithfully serve God.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discernment in Receiving Gifts: Not all gifts are from God; some may come with wrong intentions. We must seek the perfect gifts from God, aligning our desires with His will and asking with pure motives. [01:38]

2. The Gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit: Salvation is a free gift from God, not earned by works. Alongside salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us with unique gifts to build the church and glorify God. [05:45]

3. Motivation by Heavenly Rewards: Heroes of faith, like Jesus and Moses, were motivated by the rewards set before them. We too should focus on eternal rewards, which surpass any earthly accolade, and live faithfully in anticipation of them. [19:01]

4. The Danger of Losing Rewards: Rewards can be lost through backsliding, following deceivers, or failing to forgive others. We must guard our hearts and live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the coming of Christ. [36:01]

5. Living with an Eternal Perspective: We are called to prioritize the coming of Christ and the rewards that await us in heaven. Let us use our gifts to build the body of Christ and strive for the eternal rewards promised to those who faithfully serve God. [31:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:38] - The Source of Gifts
- [04:30] - The Greatest Gift: Salvation
- [05:45] - Receiving and Using Gifts
- [10:47] - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- [11:52] - Utilizing Our Gifts
- [15:47] - Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts
- [16:37] - Earthly vs. Heavenly Rewards
- [19:01] - Motivation by Rewards
- [25:53] - Rewards for Faithfulness
- [27:06] - Quality of Life's Work
- [31:28] - Eternal Rewards and Responsibilities
- [36:01] - The Danger of Losing Rewards
- [36:01] - Forgiveness and Retaining Gifts
- [36:01] - Living with an Eternal Perspective

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 7:7
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Hebrews 12:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Matthew 7:7, what does God encourage us to do, and why is it important to ask with the right motives? [01:38]

2. How does Ephesians 2:8-10 describe the nature of salvation, and what role do works play in it? [04:30]

3. In Hebrews 12:1-2, what motivated Jesus to endure the cross, and how does this relate to the concept of rewards? [19:01]

4. What are some examples of earthly rewards mentioned in the sermon, and how do they compare to heavenly rewards? [16:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How can believers discern whether a gift is from God or from another source, and why is this discernment important? [01:38]

2. What does it mean to live with an eternal perspective, and how can this perspective influence our daily decisions and actions? [31:28]

3. How do the gifts of the Holy Spirit empower believers to serve the church, and why is it important to use these gifts effectively? [10:47]

4. What are the potential dangers of losing heavenly rewards, and how can believers guard against these dangers? [36:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you received a gift that came with strings attached. How did you handle it, and what did you learn about discerning the source of gifts? [01:38]

2. Salvation is described as a free gift from God. How does this understanding impact your view of grace and your relationship with God? [04:30]

3. Consider the unique gifts you believe the Holy Spirit has given you. How are you currently using these gifts to build up the church, and what steps can you take to use them more effectively? [10:47]

4. Earthly rewards can be enticing, but how can you shift your focus to prioritize heavenly rewards in your life? What practical changes can you make to live with an eternal perspective? [19:01]

5. Have you ever experienced a loss of motivation in your spiritual journey? What role do heavenly rewards play in reigniting your passion for serving God? [19:01]

6. Think about a situation where you struggled to forgive someone. How did this affect your spiritual life, and what steps can you take to ensure forgiveness is a priority in your relationships? [36:01]

7. Identify one area in your life where you feel called to serve more faithfully. What specific actions can you take this week to align your service with God's will and strive for eternal rewards? [31:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment in Receiving Gifts
In our journey of faith, it is crucial to discern the source of the gifts we receive. Not all gifts are from God, and some may come with hidden motives or from sources that do not align with His will. We are encouraged to seek the perfect gifts that come from God, as highlighted in Matthew 7:7, where God invites us to ask for our needs. However, James 4:2 warns us that our motives must be pure when we ask, aligning our desires with God's will. This discernment requires a deep connection with God, allowing His wisdom to guide us in recognizing and receiving the gifts that truly come from Him. [01:38]

James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Reflection: Think of a recent gift or opportunity you received. How can you discern whether it aligns with God's will for your life?


Day 2: The Gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit
Salvation is the greatest gift we have received as Christians, a free gift from God that cannot be earned through works. Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, and this salvation is a gift from God. Alongside salvation, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to live a life that glorifies God and serves others. The Holy Spirit distributes various gifts to believers, each unique and intended to build up the church. Embracing these gifts requires us to recognize their divine origin and purpose, using them to glorify God and edify the body of Christ. [05:45]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: What unique gift has the Holy Spirit given you, and how can you use it to serve others in your community?


Day 3: Motivation by Heavenly Rewards
The heroes of faith, like Jesus and Moses, were motivated by the rewards set before them. Jesus endured the cross for the joy and reward that awaited Him, and Moses chose to suffer with God's people, looking ahead to his heavenly reward. We too should focus on eternal rewards, which surpass any earthly accolade, and live faithfully in anticipation of them. These rewards are not just for our benefit but are meant to motivate us to live faithfully and serve God wholeheartedly. By keeping our eyes on the eternal, we can find strength and purpose in our daily walk with Christ. [19:01]

Hebrews 11:24-26 (ESV): "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward."

Reflection: What earthly rewards are you tempted to pursue, and how can you shift your focus to the eternal rewards promised by God?


Day 4: The Danger of Losing Rewards
While the Bible outlines various rewards for believers, it also warns that these rewards can be lost through backsliding, following deceivers, or failing to forgive others. We must guard our hearts and live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the coming of Christ. This vigilance requires us to remain steadfast in our faith, continually seeking God's guidance and strength to overcome the challenges and temptations that may lead us astray. By doing so, we can ensure that we retain the rewards that God has promised to those who faithfully serve Him. [36:01]

2 John 1:8 (ESV): "Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are at risk of losing your spiritual rewards? How can you take steps to safeguard your faith today?


Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
We are called to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing the coming of Christ and the rewards that await us in heaven. Let us be vigilant, discerning the gifts we receive and using them to build the body of Christ, while also striving for the eternal rewards promised to those who faithfully serve God. This eternal perspective shapes our daily decisions and actions, guiding us to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. By focusing on the eternal, we can find purpose and fulfillment in our journey of faith. [31:28]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: How can you adjust your daily routine to better reflect an eternal perspective, focusing on the things that truly matter in God's kingdom?

Quotes


from above. So, you know, that can be a gift from God and that can be even gift from elsewhere also. Maybe from people, maybe even from the devil. We need to be careful about things, where the gifts are coming from. You know, like, for example, somebody may give a gift with some wrong expectations, right? And in government offices and all that may go on. So we need to look for the perfect gift that is from God. [00:00:31]

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives. So why do people don't get? Sometimes they feel like, oh, God is not giving. He is not giving me anything and, you know, giving to somebody else. And one reason maybe we are busy complaining but not asking God. [00:01:48]

Ephesians 2 .8 -10. It says, For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God. Not by works. So again, it says, It is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works. [00:05:45]

So how do you get the gift? We have to accept the gift. Further here, Ephesians 2 .8 -10. It says, For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God. Not by works. So again, it says, It is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast. [00:05:45]

Romans 12 verse 6 says we have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us so we have different unique gifts first corinthians 12 verse 4 there are different kind of gifts but the same spirit distributes them first corinthians 14 12 so it is with you since you are eager for the gifts of the spirit try to excel in those that build up the church so what is the purpose of the church so you can understand this what is the purpose of the gift not to show off to others like you know people in the world will like to say oh i got a big house i got a big car or i got you know so much of a successful company see the purpose is of the gifts that god is giving is to build up the church [00:09:29]

Exactly. So very often what happens, people come to church and think that some people have to perform in the front. And, you know, they are the workers of God and the rest have to be spectators and audience. You know, that's not what God has designed everything for. He has given gifts to everybody. Everybody is supposed to do their part, their work. And everybody's goal is to build the body of Christ. [00:15:06]

See, normally, you know, where do we hear about rewards? You know, of course, in the world, we see rewards are there. There are rewards on earth. For example, the Oscar awards are there. Those are some kind of rewards or when people win some tournament like the IPL, there is, you know, there's a cup to win and people celebrate over there. So, people are so excited about these kind of rewards. It's really motivating, right? [00:16:55]

a half uh in our small group we were doing this study almost four weeks we spent uh going through all these references about rewards in heaven and there's so many rewards mentioned in heaven and that's what we are going to see further so heroes in the bible for example pursued rewards can you believe that heroes in the bible pursued rewards so let's have a look at that so for example jesus jesus himself he says here that let's just run with perseverance the race marked out for us so it's like a race with a price fixing our eyes on jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith for the joy set before him he endured the cross so what made the help jesus to endure the joy set before him what are the rewards of joy and also he's got to sit down at the right hand of the throne of god he got a position see and of course he could look forward to you the souls of all the saved people including all of us so there was a joy that he is looking forward to that kept him going so that was the reward see jesus himself was looking forward to the reward [00:21:09]

so plenty of mention uh this is now in first corinthians 3 verse 11 to 15 if we have eternal value if we build on the foundation of christ by using gold silver precious stone types of work works of eternal value if our work abides we will receive our reward if any man's life work shall be burnt up he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire the quality of our life's work will be rewarded at the judgment seat of christ so what will be rewarded the quality of the life's work so we are on earth we have been given some gifts and we are expected to work to build the body of christ work can be good quality or poor quality or no work at all so the quality of life's work will be rewarded [00:27:38]

also it talks about crown another award another reward there's a crown of life mention crown of righteousness mention crown of glory mention so what will be the reward that we will receive each one of us according to what we have done according to the quality of work that we have done there will be some reward which is promised in the bible so we saw some rewards crown rejoicing you know very important thing another you can say gift or reward is a new body the gift of resurrection is there and we know about the body of Jesus that was resurrected he could eat he could you know go from one place to another in you know in no span of time so all that could be possible with that resurrected body so we are promised a new body sometimes as we get older there are a lot of you know challenges in our current body right so I was looking forward to the eternal body you know so that will be so amazing so that's another promise I would say it's like a reward because we have not received it yet it's not a gift it's a future gift or a future reward you can whatever you can call it [00:29:26]

and then like we saw it says you can be made a ruler over many things and there are multiple mentions about reigning with Christ Revelations 22 verse 5 2nd Timothy 2 verse 12 then in Luke 19 17 thou has been faithful in a very little have thou authority over 10 cities which is also 10 cities 5 cities all this kind of responsibilities are there you know uh can inherit all things talks about inheritance revelations 21 uh verse 7 revelations 3 21 we may sit with christ in his throne see a lot of people uh look forward to a government job right or a railway's job permanent job to be able to uh you know be secure so here is an opportunity for eternally secure job you know to be able to reign with christ some very people a lot of people aspire to be in the ias right lacks of people apply for those exam why they want to be in the government service so what about the service for god in heaven and for eternity he's going to make some people rule over our cities some will be reigning with him see this is a promise and this is uh the reward available for all of us as followers of Christ so his servant shall serve him they shall see his face you know it's a great privilege to serve God and you know it's like PA to the president you know he has access to the president not everybody can get in there see so his servant shall serve him is also a great reward see [00:31:28]

Then by not expecting Christ returns you know so if we have an added oh she's not yet come you know let me uh do eating can be married do whatever i want to do and we lose focus on the spiritual race uh then we can do the reward see so most people are living you know year to year calendar to calendar you know the calendar motivates them oh christmas is coming you know christmas events are coming new year is coming next year 25th you know 2025 is coming so then we make our calendar and we try to achieve some goals that we set for ourselves but what is the bible expecting us to do we are supposed to be living every day looking forward to the coming of christ we are supposed to live every day preparing for that time and preparing others also so it's important that we focus on doing what is right otherwise we can lose the reward by doing wrong he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done by not abiding in confidence in christ abide in him when he shall appear we then we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming so we have to be faithful [00:35:46]

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Transcript
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