Receiving Egypt as a Reward

(Posted to FB Feb 14)

If this is a word/confirmation for anyone else ~

“… the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord. “On that day I will make a horn grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 29

God is saying that when we carry out instructions in obedience to Him, we may not always see the reward come from that particular assignment or act of obedience, but if we’re following His instructions and “do it for Him,” He will make sure we are rewarded (though this is not our motivation). Some have been going through major battles (as Nebuchadnezzar) as a result of following what the Lord asked. Some are crying out like Isaiah, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing…” But God wants us to confront that apparent reality with the same truth Isaiah realized, “Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” Isaiah 49:4

Though there may still seem to be no reward or fruit from putting our whole heart and soul into carrying out an assignment God has given us, He wants us to know that He has not forgotten anything we have done for Him. He doesn’t want us to fix our eyes on anything or anyone else as our source, looking to it (or them) for the desired response, reward, or harvest. He wants us to act in faith in obedience to Him, and look to Him alone as our Source (for our reward/harvest). His reward may come in various forms or from a different avenue than where we invested ourselves in His service, but it will come.

The Lord first gave us this word from Ezekiel 29 in 2005 after something we’d done in obedience to him seemed to end in abysmal failure. In the past month or more, He’s been giving this message again as a recurring theme. He gave Ezekiel 29 several weeks ago, along with numerous confirmations of words from Heb 10:32+

“Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.” Heb 10:35-36

The coupling of these words means that if the assignment from which we have not yet seen reward is still in process, He is encouraging us not to faint, but to endure all the way through to the completion. If the Lord is offering spiritual “Egypt” as a reward for our obedience, that’s of greater worth than any material recompense!

In our case (and I believe for others), He has continued the kinds of words mentioned in last Saturday’s status about the necessity of becoming FEARLESS, now urging us that it is going to take “GUTS,” require us to be spiritually “TOUGH“, and TOTALLY COMMITTED in order to make it all the way to our goal. As in 2012, He has been telling us again to pray for “conviction” to the point of being “FULLY PERSUADED” regarding our calling and His promises. Praying for us all to this end!

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12

“Fear not…I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.” Genesis 15:1

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARILY AND PERFECTLY LOVED! LT

 

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