Reward

The reward in this life is the presence of God. The reward in this life is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The reward in this life is the joy of the Lord, the peace that passes all understanding the riches we have in Christ to listen folks, it doesn't matter how much Bible I know I don't have any more of the Holy Spirit than a person who just walked off the street and got sick. They have the same amount of Holy Spirit I it doesn't matter if it was a drug addict. It doesn't matter if is a crackhead. It doesn't matter who that person is and how terrible they been the moment they get saved to have the same riches in Christ that I that churches have a hard time understanding as we like to have the seniority that we've been here for just got got it filled the rooms not just heard a portion of the upcoming message titled reward Pastor Robert on shop of Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview. Our focus is on making Christ visible for the way we worship to serve, to love one another.

Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd., Henderson, visit us online. I Clearview BC.org join us for the rest of this week's message you feel when someone breaks in line ahead of you, as ever happened anybody here it happens in grocery stores it happens on black Friday after Thanksgiving where brings out the worst in people.

People jump ahead. They don't care you been standing patiently aligned in some person thinks it's their God-given right to just rake the line and they expect the same benefit that you were waiting on patiently for all this time and sometimes it happens even on the highways. There is a merge sign 5 miles back. What is that mean folks to merge because the sling is going to and go ahead and get over and you get over because you are a law-abiding citizen who cares about the feelings of others. So you move over and then what happens some fool goes right past you write and they keep going and is not just them but 50 others right behind him. I don't know about you but I am mentally talking about in my lane guys keep formation. Do not let them in. Anybody else feel that way. Do not let them know what happened when the lane ends. I don't know run into the to the sin of whatever I don't care.

Do not let them in regard teach them a lesson in patience and fairness and justice. This is not what you do and then some bleeding heart, lets them in thinking your messing it up you messing it up they will never ever learn. We could have all stayed together and five years later, there would still be waiting in that lane to get over. And yet you did not get so unfair. As John mentioned just a few moments ago, so also God's grace can sometimes appear unfair by our standards, we expect God to honor our lines of justice and fairness and seniority. But God doesn't do that. He has his own lines of goodness and mercy and grace. And just when we think get him in the back of the line God says no.

The last shall be first, the personal glass just when we think we are next in line for his rewards.

God says there's nothing else for you this morning. We are back in our series on the parables of Jesus and become to a famous parable of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard in the messiest call reward you have your Bibles with you, turn to Matthew chapter 21 starting in verse one, and let's once again stand for the reading of God's word so long.

Parable. Let's read it together for the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers in the vineyard. He went in the first hour of the day, knowing he had agreed with the laborers for a scenario Sunday. He sent them into his vineyard, and he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them, you also going to the vineyard and whatever is right, I will give you. So they went and again he went out about the sixth hour in the ninth hour, and did likewise in about the 11th hour, the day is about to.

Then he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, why have you been standing here idle all day and they said to him because no one hired us and he said to them, you also going to the vineyard and whatever is right, you will receive some in evening had come. The owner of the vineyard said to the steward called the laborers and give them their wages listen of this beginning with the last to the first sums wrong with the order.

The last of the first and when those who came who were hired about the 11th hour to each received a denarius what he had promised the first hour people when the first came, they suppose that they would receive more and they likewise received each a denarius, and when they had received that the complaint against the landowner saying these last men had worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day but he answered one of them and said friend I'm doing, you know, wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same ass to you, is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things or is your evil because I am good.

Let those words sink into your mind is your eye evil, because I am good to them and in verse 16 so the last will be first in the first last for many are called but few are chosen.

As you know, parables like mirrors when you read them you have to ask the question.

Who are you in the parable. So who are you which labor are you are you the ones who came first or are you the ones who came last. And if you came last. If you came at the 11th hour. Are you working for God with everything you have. It blows my mind.

When people get saved later in life and yet the comment is slouching the reclining to take it easier. I don't get it. You don't know how much time you have left. Why are you just slouching wiry just taking it easy.

You may have only one hour left.

Give it all you have.

All I came early.

I grew up in a Christian home, I got saved early than the question to you is are you still working with the same passion for Jesus Christ. Or are you more concerned about what they're getting old Asher Shaw ever since the church is grown.

I feel like him. He is not as accessible. I haven't talked to him in a while, mostly ask your question because Pastor Shaw is giving care and discipleship to new people were coming in to new people were getting saved is your eye evil. What is accessibility the accessibility is that you can come boldly to the throne of grace Uni pressure for the guess what you should be doing the same thing I'm doing stepping out of your comfort zone and going out there reaching people with the gospel. When you see someone you don't recognize go and talk to them don't so that you can come talk to me like he used to.

Is your eye evil, because I'm good and are you still standing idle in the marketplace because God is calling the landowners calling he's walking to these islands right now calling you to come to work in the vineyard. What he's telling is to get saved never done that answer the call today and this is how you do it by your heads.

The simple prayer that says Jesus I hear you calling. I know I'm lost been fooling people up and fooling myself but I haven't answered your call and today I say yes and saying yes means this I'm saying yes that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that he rose again on the third day and I need him to be my Savior. I need him to be my king.

The parable we just read is called one of the most of all, or the hardest parables, one of three of the most hardest parables of Jesus. The reason is difficult is because it is hard to identify whom Jesus meant when he said the first or the last one who was who are these people what is their identity. Are they the Pharisees and the scribes. The first they were the first but then the, the tax collectors and the prostitutes were the last is that what's being said there were the last of disciples the first for the Pharisees and the scribes they came in and then date of the disciples came. Who are these people that Jesus is talking about. In my opinion, we have to begin in verse 15 or 16 of chapter 19.

To understand the true context of this parable you see in this passage we meet the rich young ruler of the story. The rich young ruler who came to Jesus and he asked him the question, what must I do to have eternal life, and what did Jesus say to them to him. He said go, keep the commandments. You shall not murder, you shall not steal. You shall not commit adultery, and in a very self-assured way.

He replied already done that since I was a kid. What's next and then Jesus said to him in verse 21. Listen to this. If you want to be perfect golf sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me. What in the world is Jesus saying this is not what it takes to be saved. I mean where do we find this in the Bible other than this place with Nicodemus another rich man came to Jesus. Jesus did not say go, sell what you have, give to the poor. You have treasures in heaven and come, follow me. He never said that the Zakia's who was also a rich man whined the world did Jesus say this and by the way, Jesus actually said the opposite when that woman came and she wept at Jesus's feet and wiped his feet with her hair and then she took that expensive bottle of perfume that alabaster flask and she took it and broke it and anointed his feet and the disciples were complaining the people are saying you know we could have sold that perfume and fed a lot of poor people and what did Jesus say leave her alone let her do what she is doing because she has done it for my sake right. I mean, he said just the opposite. He did not say oh yeah, great is a great idea.

To the contrary, he allowed her to do it and he even defended her so whined the world did Jesus tell this young man who came to him and said, what shall I do have a Torah life wanted to tell him to sell all he had to give to the poor, and follow him very simple because he was possessed by his possessions.

What's happening here with this rich young ruler is that he is possessed by his riches. So what he what does he do. The Bible tells us he walked away sorrowful, but don't forget coming to Jesus does not mean that you have to give up everything. Listen again coming to Jesus does not mean you have to give up everything. It simply means that now Jesus is everything that makes sense. Coming to Jesus does not mean you sell all you have. Enjoying a commune. It simply means that now he owns it all and that is a very hard thing to do is riches possess you. So did Jesus say listen to verse 23. Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. I mean how true that is a gated doesn't matter how much you have in your bank account. But if you are gripped by riches. Maybe that's how you were raised your dad always told you or your mom always told you sunder the best schools get the best education and start making money be an entrepreneur. Do whatever you can work your tail off first you pay and then you play and you grew up with that mentality.

It's all about money. The problem is his half-truth and half-lives.

Yes, money is important, but if money begins to possess you.

It is very hard for that counter person to get saved so did the disciples say listen to this. The question here is verse 25, who then can be saved. How how can someone come to you if they are possessed by money.

Listen to what Jesus says in verse 26 with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible and that amazing. It doesn't have to know who that person is and maybe you are here this morning. Money is your God. They listen, if you turn to Jesus Christ. He can put riches in the right perspective he can do that for you it doesn't matter who you are, doesn't matter how much you hang on to your money he can put things in the right perspective, with men this is impossible with God all things are possible. God can help you. He is not here take your money. He's here to give you eternal life.

So now something happens when this encounter takes place between the rich young ruler and Jesus, Peter, in his characteristic manner takes this opportunity to gain some points. Listen to what he says in verse 27 he says Jesus see we have left all and followed you. Unlike that rich young man who was who was possessed by his riches we give up our fishing nets. We give up our fishing business and be followed. You what is our reward and how did Jesus answer him. Listen to verse 28 Jesus said to them, assuredly, I say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel will. I can almost imagine it's it's not disciples saying boys heydays coming. We gave up in this life, but on the other side we are going to be the leaders we are going to be the rulers how it paid off and then listen to Jesus saying in verse 29. Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my namesake shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. You can almost see the smile on the disciples faces is going to pay off one day were going to rule the world. We give up now and one day begin to get it all back. In fact will get back hundredfold. Jesus being God knew what they were thinking very next verse. What did Jesus say listen to verse 30, but many who are first will be last in the last first. You can imagine the disciples and wait, wait, what was that again did I hear that correctly so that one more time.

Yep, many who are first will be last in the last first will hope that that doesn't sound right. It is an first we give and then we get and also give first get first, Jesus knew that even though this group right here had given up their earthly possessions they had given up their earthly possessions. There was still operating by earthly principles, you know that's the principle of life. First you invest. And then you get the prophet for the disciples were thinking were the first in line to invest. We should get the most profit. Jesus said, not really. Enter counter that he gave the parable of the laborers in the vineyard.

I think again about the parable, the landowner goes out early in the morning to get laborers in the vineyard. Those it came first were probably the disciples. Peter and John, Andrew and James and the rest of them. They were the first group to come, but that that's not enough.

The harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few. We need more laborers to go to the harvest he goes back out at the third hour, and gets more is still not enough. He goes back out at the sixth hour in the ninth hour in the 11th hour more and more laborers are needed on the day of Pentecost. What happened 5000 were broadened throughout the history of the church. What happened more and more laborers have been called in. But you see all that is no problem.

We need more laborers. The problem comes when it's time to pay the wages. What happens then. First, the order gets reversed the 11th hour people are the first ones to get paid. Second, the 11th hour people gets the same amount that the first hour people were promised in the first hour, people don't get any extra reward for coming first. What in the world. I mean, the disciples had their heads chopped off. Peter was crucified upside down to get more than us. Something is not right. I don't want you to misunderstand the reward that Jesus is talking about is not the rewards in heaven it with the Bible says in first when his 38 each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. So in this life. When you are faithfully serving God, listen. On the other side.

God will reward you.

Accordingly, appropriately.

So what is the reward that Jesus is talking about in this parable the reward in this life is what he's referring to the reward in this life is the presence of God.

The reward in this life is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The reward in this life is the joy of the Lord, the peace that passes all understanding the riches we have in Christ to listen folks, it doesn't matter how much Bible I know I don't have any more of the Holy Spirit than a person who just walked off the street and got saved that churches have a hard time understanding that goes we like to have the seniority game that we been here 50 years and they just got here you got a jump to the ropes, not with God. The first actually has to go last and whatever was promised of the first is now given to the last in the first is not given any bonus again. Don't forget were not talking about rewards in heaven were talking about rewards in this life we like to show off her Bible knowledge. We like to show off our spirituality. We like to show off her understanding of the deep things of God but God says that's good. But you are still on the same level as a person. We just got saved as wide Clearview. We don't have levels of membership.

There is no second tier and third tier.

This is it. Sometimes people come in they want to ask about the inner circle where his inner circle of like there is an inner circle where all the elders, do you have elders select no, we don't have elders or don't you think need to have elders who guide the spiritual direction as I get one elder becomes a devil they get the devil in the church. We don't need no elders so how do you do things that we have a wonderful staff that loves the Lord Jesus Christ is educated and they give their very best. We have accountability financially accountability with the trustee board. We have all the school honey get on the finance committee since you asked when I got tell you you're getting this post. There is no level of spirituality when you come to Clearview not here's here's what the dumb new Christians sit in here are the ones were maturing up there, you have Pastor Shaw hanging out with just a select few. There is none good closer and closer to me. You find this empty, trying to say to you I'm telling you the same thing.

The disciples were struggling with all we get to sit on.

On the top. We have to judge every body no, actually, to get get to the back of the line, the more Bible knowledge. You have hit listen the more you have walked with Jesus, the more humble you should be not the first in line. I don't misunderstand. If a person just got saved, I'm about to tell him to come teach the Bible dinner ready for that reason will wait a minute what is Paul saying first Timothy 36.

He says don't let someone like that be an overseer because that person is in office less being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. So yes, when it comes to teaching the Bible preaching the truth.

There needs to be maturity that needs to be some time. Having said that we don't have levels of membership and listen a new believer has the same value as an old believer and the reason many churches are struggling.

Please listen the reason many chores are struggling is because a new believer walks in and they can immediately send since the pride, the spirit of condescension. I've seen that you know a few facts in the Bible you know the names of a few kings you know some Bible verses and the way you talk you talking down to some young believer and we like to set ha ha that's that's so dumb.

Let me explain to you by the Bob folks. If that is the spirit with which you talk, you need to read this parable again, the first shall be last.

There should be more humility. If you have been walking with God. The question is how do you see other believers who are less mature than you, how you treat people who do not know the Bible as well as you do, how you treat those who are struggling in their spiritual walk. I know some people, young people, older people are still struggling.

There there issues in their life. Old habits. How do you treat them. Treat them with the same level of dignity that you would treat it mature Christian because they have the same Holy Spirit inside of them. They have the same riches in Christ. They have the same Jesus as their Savior. What was the reaction listen to the parable. Chapter 12 chapter 20 verse 12. These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day Kimberly Pasha doesn't listen to us we been there all these years.

But he answered one of them and say friend I'm doing, you know, wrong. Did you not agree with me for it in areas take what is yours and call your weight. I wish to give to this last man. The same asked to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things or listen to this is your evil because I am good and listen. Just because some believer who who just got here is doing some ministry.

Are you envious are you looking over the shoulder and saying why did they get all the attention. What makes them so special same problems. Even today that Jesus made the same statement that he made in Matthew 1930 he said so the last will be first in the first last question this morning for us since. Have you heard the call. Scott speaking to you. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. Sometimes God's grace doesn't make sense to us. We expected to operate by Harlan Justice really like the workers were hired in the 11th hour should simply be grateful to the master is called a settle for more information visit us online@clearviewbc.org and for this sermon's notes. Check out Pastor Shaw's blog and a bit on shop.com