Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

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• Hebrews 116 And it is impossible to please God
  without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him
  must believe that God exists and that he rewards
  those who sincerely seek him. 

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• 1 Corinthians 924 - 26 24Dont you realize that
  in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets
  the prize? So run to win!  25All athletes are
  disciplined in their training. They do it to win
  a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an
  eternal prize.  26So I run with purpose in every
  step. I am not just shadowboxing. 

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How to Receive Your Rewards

• Run to Win!

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I. Rewarded Balaam Style

• Numbers 22-24
• King Balak attempts to bribe Prophet Balaam
• Pay Balaam to curse Israelites
• Dont go dont curse Israel for they have been
  blessed
• Balak tries again
• Dont let anything stop you
• Pay well and do what you tell me

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• Balaams noble response? Even if Balak were
  to give me his palace filled with silver and
  gold, I would be powerless to do anything against
  the will of my God but let me check again
• God permits him to go but angry about it
• not my will but yours be done
• Spiritual insight from a Donkey

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• Balaam blesses Israel 4 times
• Balak the Lord has kept you from your reward

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• Israels downfall Numbers 251-3
• Sexual relations with Moabite women
• Idolatry
• The Lords anger blazed against his people

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• Balaam Noble or Naughty?
• Deuteronomy 234 - 5 4These nations did not
  welcome you with food and water when you came out
  of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor
  from Pethor in distant Aram-naharaim to curse
  you.  5But the LORD your God refused to listen to
  Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a
  blessing because the LORD your God loves you. 

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• Numbers 3116 16These are the very ones who
  followed Balaams advice and caused the people of
  Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor.
  They are the ones who caused the plague to strike
  the LORDs people. 

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• Revelation 214 But I have a few complaints
  against you. You tolerate some among you whose
  teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak
  how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught
  them to sin by eating food offered to idols and
  by committing sexual sin. 
• Jude 111 What sorrow awaits them! For they
  follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his
  brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for
  money. And like Korah, they perish in their
  rebellion. 

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• 2 Peter 2
• V.1 False teachers among you
• V.3 In their greed, they will make up clever
  lies to get hold of your money
• V.12 these false teachers
• V.15-16 followed the footsteps of Balaam who
  loved to earn money from wrong doing

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II. Rewarded Daniel Style

• Daniel 5
• Many years later Belshazzar gives a great feast
• The writing on the wall

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• Royal robes, Gold necklace, third highest ruler
  if you will interpret
• Keep your gifts or give them to someone else
• I will tell you what it means
• Daniel rewarded

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III. Let the Rewards Come

• 1 Peter 51-6
• Care for (Shepherd) the flock
• Not for what you will get out of it (your own
  gain)
• When Jesus returns you will receive a crown of
  glory and honor
• All serve each other in humility
• God will lift you up in honor at the right time

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• Psalms 1820 The LORD has rewarded me according
  to my righteousness According to the cleanness
  of my hands He has recompensed me.
• Proverbs 1118 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
  But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
  
• Proverbs 224 The reward of humility and the fear
  of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

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• Revelation 2212 Behold, I am coming quickly,
  and My reward is with Me, to render to every man
  according to what he has done. 
• ANTICIPATE A REWARDING YEAR!!!

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Interaction Time

• What is the difference between a reward and a
  bribe?
• What do you think should be our response to
  rewards as described in the Word of God?
• What are some of the rewards you have received in
  this life and what are the rewards yet to come?