Grace Fellowship Church Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Memory Verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16; John 13:16, Servant-hood, Pt.22

Doctrine of DOULOS Slave, Servant

H. The Rewards of the Faithful Servant.

1 John 5:4-5 there are two categories of overcomers. 1) All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and 2) Believers who advance and excel in the spiritual life.

In 2 Cor 5:10 and 1 Cor 3:10-16 is the BEMA of Jesus Christ where every believer's works will be judged.

Works performed through the filling of the Spirit in right motivation and virtue will receive reward.

Works performed without the filling of the Spirit done in wrong motivation will suffer loss of reward and shame at the BEMA, 1 John 2:28.

Rev 2 and 3 note the promise of rewards for overcomers; some referring to cat. one and others to cat. two overcomers.

Various crowns will also be awarded to Overcomers; Life, Righteousness, Joy and Glory.

A cat. 1 overcomer is a servant of God, and a cat. 2 is the faithful servant.

Our Lord discussed rewards for the faithful servant in Mat 25:14-30.

There He is differentiating between believers called "faithful servants" and unbelievers called "wicked and lazy servants".

The believer will receive and use what the Master has entrusted to them, the gospel message, and the unbeliever does not and hides it away.

Mat 25 is speaking to the people of the Tribulation. Virgins in verses 1-13 distinguish the "prudent", i.e. believers, verses the "foolish", unbelievers.

In verse the "sheep" are believers and the "goats" are unbelievers in reference to Our Lord's Second Coming.

In verses servants are differentiated between believers and unbelievers, as “good and faithful” and "wicked and lazy" cast into the Eternal Lake of Fire.

Rewards are not based on what we are issued, 5 or 2 or 1 talent, but on faithfulness.

Both the 5 and 2 talent recipients received identical rewards because they used what they were given faithfully, vs. 21 and 23.

The reward that could have been given to the "wicked" servant is redistributed to the "faithful", verses

No matter what spiritual gift you have been given, if you utilize your gift faithfully, in service to God and man, you will be a "faithful" servant and receive rewards at the BEMA.

If you bury / do not utilize your gift, you will lose rewards. 1 Cor 3:15a,“If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss;”

Rest assured though that even if you do not use your gift faithfully, you will still be a cat. 1 overcomer. 1 Cor 3:15b, “but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Grace Fellowship Church Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Tape # Servanthood, Part 22 Rewards for the Faithful Servant Upper Room Discourse, Pt 178 John 13:16; Mat 25:14-30; 1 Cor 3:10-16 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008