SPREADING THE GOSPEL AND BEING REWARDED

SPREADING THE GOSPEL AND BEING REWARDED

After the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected he told his followers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). And he said whoever works to spread his message “will receive a hundred times as much” in this life, and “eternal life”, with a crown of righteousness in the life to come (Mark 10:30; 2 Timothy 4:8).

WE SHOULD SENSE THE NEED TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED FOR PEOPLE’S SALVATION.

Our Lord who saved us, tells us about the need: “ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). He said the harvest is great, but the workers are few. The biblical Word of God advises us that in spreading the seed of the gospel-message, some plant and others water; but it is “God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.For we are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9).

Our Savior appeals to us as his disciples, who love him and others, to go everywhere and proclaim the Word of God and demonstrate the love of God, so that souls may be harvested into God’s kingdom.

WE NEED THE HELP AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL

Recognizing our needs, Jesus said he would give us the Holy Spirit as our indwelling helper (John 14:15-17).We will receive power from the indwelling Spirit to proclaim the gospel (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of the things we are to say concerning the Lord. And the Spirit will convict people who hear the gospel of their sins, and of their need to repent and believe in Jesus to be saved from sin. (John 16:7-11)

In the Spirits urging us to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2:1-6), he helps us to have compassion and patience with them, even as he works long and lovingly to bring many to accept our Lord Jesus Chris as their Savior (1 Peter 3:9). We need patience as God grows the seed of the gospel we planted and watered.

AS GOSPEL-WORKERS WE NEED FAITH AND PATIENCE IN WAITING FOR PROMISED REWARDS FROM THE LORD.

My nephew said he witnessed to some young people years ago about salvation through the atoning death and blood of Jesus Christ. He said he did not know if what he told them caused any to repent and believe in Jesus as their Savior. However, he said much later he got a text from one of the young people saying he had met him in the library two years ago, and that “I had talked to him about Christ;” and that he “ tuned his life over to Christ, after someone else also spoke to him about Christ.” Yet, my nephew recognizes that he still must wait for Jesus to return in order to receive the eternal reward the Lord promised for spreading the gospel (Galatians 6:9; Revelation 2:10)

We all need faith and patience to receive God’s promises and rewards (Hebrews 10:36). So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9). The Bible encourage us in our waiting by telling or reminding us of the following:

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:36).
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10).
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24).
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (! Corinthians 15:58).
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” (Romans 2:6). The Lord assure us that faithful workers will receive a “hundredfold” reward in this life, and “eternal life” and in the life to come (Mark 10:30). And he encourages us: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).