Rewards are a way of life and most people enjoy receiving them. Children get rewarded with lollipops for enduring the sting of vaccinations. Some health insurance companies encourage exercise with the promise of reduced rates. The US government encourages whistleblowers to report corporate violators with an incentive - if the government wins its case against the company, the whistleblower gets some of the resulting fines that are paid.
In many ways, God is no different. He also has rewards available for people. Like the businesses and governments of this world that reward certain behaviors, God enjoys acknowledging those who honor and obey Him. His rewards, however, are not limited to money and are much more long-lasting in their impact.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God is a rewarder of those who sincerely seek Him and Ruth's story bears this out. She chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, saying, "Your people will be my people and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16). With those words, she left her homeland, Moab, and went to Israel, where Naomi steered her toward Boaz whom she eventually married.
When they met, Boaz spoke to her and expressed how impressed he was that she would leave her family to care for Naomi who had lost her husband and two sons. He said a blessing over her in Ruth 2:12 - May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
And rewarded she was. In due course, Ruth went from being a poor widow to a woman of means. But even more important than this, by choosing to make Naomi's God hers, she became the great-grandmother of King David. She therefore was also an ancestor of Jesus Christ. A foreign widow became an integral part of the history of Israel and that of Jesus Christ. To this day, her story remains an inspiration to many. Her experience teaches that anyone's life can be transformed instantly when they choose the Almighty God as their God.
Ruth is but one example of many in the Bible. There are also testimonies in this day and age of people who chose God and were well-rewarded. God ensures that those who elect to serve Him don't end up the losers for doing so. Sure, their journey to success may have twists and turns - all part of strengthening and training them - but they will receive a great reward in the end. The key is to fully commit and choose to stay with Him no matter what (Matthew 24:13). And no, such individuals do not have to wait until they reach heaven to enjoy God's benefits. He is in the business of caring for people when they are very much alive with heaven as the ultimate reward and destination.
These rewards include turning lives around, healing, protection from harm, miracles, and much more. They require full commitment to come to pass. Ruth faithfully obeyed everything her mother-in-law told her to do. Similarly, we have to be faithful in obedience to what God instructs when we choose Him. Ruth had to submit to Naomi's knowledge on different issues. Imagine if she had determined that she knew better and ignored the counsel of her mother-in-law. We too cannot veer from God's word. We must neither ignore what Jesus taught nor dismiss what the Holy Spirit tells us. As we move in discipline, obedience, patience, and submission, we begin to see the promised fullness of God at work in our lives.
There are other avenues to God's rewards and we will consider them during our next few gatherings. The aim of these messages is not to make anyone think the Lord is only good for what they can receive from Him. Instead, the goal is to encourage believers that He has good things coming their way as they continue to choose Him. This series of messages is to remind all who are waiting on the Lord that He has not called people to follow Him in vain. May the good Lord open our minds to understand the scriptures and the lessons He desires to impart to us as we grow in the word and the knowledge of His steadfast character, IJN, Amen.
To learn more, please click the hyperlinks below and read:
Cause I've built my life on Jesus
He will never let me down
He's faithful in every season
So why would He fail now?
He won't
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for sis @FFJ and this wonderful family of Christ. I pray Father that we will continue to experience you in wonderful and unexpected ways. I pray that you continue to refine and prune us till you are pleased with our fruits. Father Lord grant us supernatural strength to walk with you everyday. I pray that your hand of mercy and grace will rest upon us IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for couples waiting for the fruit of the womb. I pray that you bless them with beautiful and healthy babies that they will nourish and nurture in your ways. I pray that you will put an end to failed IVFs, miscarriages and difficult adoption processes IjMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people struggling with their mental health that you renew their hearts and minds. I pray that every rebellious thoughts in their hearts abd minds submit to you. I pray Father that they find their happiness in you. I pray that you will heal them if every physical and emotional pain they are going through. Help them to smile and thrive again Lord IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for the safety of people as they travel by air, land and sea. I pray that you avert every stronghold of accidents and death across the nations. I pray that your angels will be with us all as we go to and fro everyday to better our lives IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord we thank you for today's fellowship. Father Lord I pray you help us to consistently and diligently seek you every day of our lives. I pray Father you renew our minds by changing our thoughts so we can fix our eyes on you and know your will for us IJMN Amen
This is the Ladder in the Spirit
My Gateway to the Heavens
My Connection to the Father
My Worship brings me
Face to Face
And I Worship
The One who Sits upon the Throne
Until I am Changed
To Same Image as He Is
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for bringing us together to worship You and intercede on behalf of others.
Lord, we cry out for testimony reflecting the fulfillment of our prayers for our subjects. God, let things happen in a way whereby it is clear it could only have been You.
Bless those who participated today in fellowship. Bless those who will participate at a later time. Take all the glory, God. Increase as we decrease and be Thou exalted always, IJMN, Amen.
You are great
Almighty Jehovah
Hallelujah eeh
We magnify Your name
You are great
Powerful Jehovah
Hallelujah eeh
We glorify Your name
LAST 10 MINUTES
The Book of Ruth is the only one in the Bible that ever left me in tears. I wept like a baby the first time I read it. I admired Ruth's commitment to Naomi and the love both women had for each other. Naomi knew that Ruth had given up her future to care for her, but she was determined to make good on that. She steered Ruth, using her knowledge of Jewish culture and other insights, to ensure Ruth came out on top.
In essence, Naomi rewarded Ruth for her loyalty and God does the same for all of us who choose Him and remain faithful to Him.
Why don't we pray about what we've learned today?
Heavenly Father, thank You. Thank You for being the God who sits high in the heavens. Everything beneath You is Yours to do with as You will. Praise be to Your Holy Name.
Lord, we learned today that You are a rewarder of those who earnestly seek You. Lord, we look to You and call You, Father. You are our Shepherd, our Teacher, our God. It is the faith we have in You that brings us to Praise & Pray and causes us to take the time to read and/or participate in the gatherings. Please remember us as those who come here to seek You. Remember us for every other way that we sincerely seek You. Just as Cornelius was remembered for how He had served You, please remember us. Remember us as You remembered Nehemiah. Remember us as You remembered Ruth. Send forth whatever rewards and blessings You have in store for us. May our acts of faith, obedience and reverence bring forth a harvest that displays Your mighty splendor and grace in our lives. And may we receive even more strength and Your Spirit to keep walking boldly with You all the way to heaven, IJMN, Amen.
Thank You Father!!!
If you have never sat with the Book of Ruth, I encourage you to do so and I pray the Lord Jesus will open your mind to its deep wisdom.
Father, I pray for Peppers. I pray for Your grace and mercy to find them wherever they are and whatever they are going through.
Lord, Your word instructs us to ask that we may receive in Matthew 7:7. And so I ask for Your blessings to rest upon them. I pray that Your goodness and love pursue them all their days (Psalm 23:6). I pray with Ephesians 1:18-19 for them, I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, /and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe...
IJMN, Amen.
Lord, thank You for being our God. Praise be unto You, Ancient of Days. O Magnificent One, we give You all the glory!
Zechariah 10:6 - “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
Heavenly Father, we face an adversary that wants us to not enjoy Your compassion. It wants us to suffer like it does for it has fallen out of Your grace. But praise be onto the Almighty! The One who grants us beautiful grace in Jesus.
Father, I thus pray that Your children will experience the joy of Your compassion. That this will bring Your restoration in their lives. That which the cankerworm and the locust worm stole will be returned and even more by Your grace and to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
For my waking breath
For my daily bread
I depend on You
I depend on You
For the sun to rise
For my sleep at night
I depend on You
I depend on You
You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
For the victories
Still in front of me
I depend on You
I depend on You
You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
When I pass through death
As I enter rest
I depend on You
I depend on You
For eternal life
To be raised with Christ
I depend on You
I depend on You
You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
Be my strength my song in the night
Be my all my treasure my prize
I am Yours forever
You're mine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
Permit me to share a prayer from sis @Amanda Woodward that she prayed in December 2023 -
Father God, Thank you for your continued kindness. Thank you for always being there for us, even when we don't deserve it. Thank you for giving us another chance, even when we mess up. Thank you for never giving up on us, even when we give up on ourselves. Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. Thank you for being the light in our dark times and the hope in our despair. Thank you for never forsaking us, even when we forsake you. Thank you, God, for everything. Thank you for being the great I AM. Thank you for being our everything. IJMN, Amen!
Lord Almighty, we call on You for Your healing in the lives of Your children. Father, Your word tells us in Jeremiah 30:17 - But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'
Father, remember, Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Our Father, You whose name is hallowed and esteemed. Please, bring healing to those we cover in this prayer. You know who they are. You are their Maker and know where they need to be healed. We trust You for them, IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for discernment for all believers. Lord, I pray that You stir our hearts to dedicate time everyday to read the Word of God. I pray that we read it with full understanding and clarity without a veil over our eyes. I pray that You move in our hearts to understand and apply what we learn to our lives. I pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgement, Phillipians 1;9 (KJV), and we grow in our faith and understanding the more we read the Bible. I pray that You open our hearts to receive the truth and we change and live our lives fully for You, my Lord. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for Your consistency. Thank You for Your kindness and love. Thank You for being so invested. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for being the Creator of the universe and the heavens and everything within them. The magnitude of Your greatness cannot be defined or measured. You have me in awe. Thank You Lord. Take all the glory. IJMN. Amen.
You spoke and the world came to be. You molded us from clay and breathed into us then we came to be. When I think of Your greatness and power it is too much to comprehend. I thank You Lord for the wisdom You give us so freely. Your thoughts and ways are WAY above all of creation. What is man that You are so loving and generous towards us. You know all of our thoughts before they come to be, nothing surprises You. I revere You Lord and am utterly grateful to call You God. IJMN. Amen.
“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.”
Psalms 63:3-4 NLT
PRAYER TIME
So please pray for others.
Thank You, Lord, for Your abundant provision for Your own. Praise be to You now and forever more.
Psalm 132:15 - I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.
You are the King of Zion
Judah's Lion
Reign, Jesus, Reign
Glory be to God!
Psalm 16:5 - LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
Psalm 119:57 - You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.
Lamentations 3:24 - I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Psalm 73:26 - My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
I praise the Lord for He is my portion and my peace.
Hallelujah!
Glorious God. You purchased me with the highest price. You paid with the blood of Your Son to secure me as Yours. Me and mine thank You.
I am grateful to be Your redeemed. I am grateful to be Your righteousness. Hallelujah goes to You, my King. My Redeemer. My Salvation.
Jehovah Jireh.
Jehovah Nissi.
Jehovah Adonai.
Jehovah Tsidkenu.
Jehovah Shalom.
Jehovah Ropheka.
Jehovah Rophi.
Jehovah Shammah.
Our El Gibbor.
The El Shaddai.
Rapha!
There will never be enough ways and words to adequately acknowledge You but Father, May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
PRAISE TIME
Let's not waste any time. We all know what's about to go down
So, clap your hands. Shout a praise. Stomp your feet. Bow before Him.
Do what you have to do to exalt the Lord God Almighty.
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
The weight of who You are
No words can carry
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
From M22 - Thank you for today's word sis @FFJ . Ruth took a leap of faith that changed her destiny for the better. She chose God even though she was a foreigner. She just knew in her heart knowing God was the right way to go after her loss. We don't have to experience adverse situations to know God. Knowing him everyday is very important for us as we navigate these end times. It is even in these times, that fixing our eyes on God gives us the much needed clarity we need to move forward. Whether God answers that prayer or not, he will always rest his hand of grace and mercy over us.
God bless you all. Amen
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into each and every one of us this morning. I thank You for Your grace and mercy and guiding us in to P&P fellowship for another edifying message today. We are grateful and thank You for shining Your light upon us. Thank You Lord. We praise Your name forevermore. All glory is Yours. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s message sis @FFJ. I am in the middle of studying the Book of Job at the moment and what I have learned which corroborates with your message, is that God rewards those who remain faithful to Him exceedingly more than our minds can comprehend. I also learned that the righteous and upstanding are not exempt from challenges and difficulties in life as with God allowing satan to place many obstacles in Job’s life for a season which in the end refined and strengthened his relationship with God. Like Job, Ruth had perseverance. Which really stood out to me from today’s message and is critical in our walk with God no matter how righteous or pleasing or obedient we become to God. We must never veer off or we will miss out on our blessing/reward. I pray that no matter the challenges faced in life that we remain faithful and full of perseverance, fire and zeal so that we do not ever veer off from God and His ways and do not miss out on His rewards. IJMN. Amen.
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
ALTAR CALL
Jesus said that nobody will get to God His Father except through Him in John 14:6. He also said that no one will see the Kingdom of God (i.e. Heaven) if they have not been born again (John 3:3). To qualify to see God in heaven, a person need only repent and believe the good news that Jesus is God's Son who died for the sins of mankind.
If you want to understand what I'm talking about, please watch the short video below. It's from a guy who speaks with a British accent, but please don't hold that against him. What he says is important and can change the entire trajectory of your life for the better.
If you watched the video to the end and said that prayer, then welcome to being a child of God! I pray you receive the Holy Spirit and are led in the ways of the Lord so you experience the fullness of life that is the inheritance of those who give their lives to Christ. Be sure to let me know you said the prayer and I'll send you more materials so you can grow as a new creature! Congrats and God bless you!