Something to look forward to

“Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:12-13 NASB)

The old heaven and earth pass away and are replaced

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.” (Rev. 21:1 NASB)

Righteousness will dwell there

“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:18 NASB)

The former things will not be remembered

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” (Is. 65.17 NASB)

There will no longer be any death, mourning, crying or pain

“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Your offspring and name shall endure

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure.” (Is. 66:22 NASB)

Let us show gratitude to God with reverence and awe

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 12:28 NASB)

God raised Jesus up

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.” (Acts 5:30 NASB)

You too, shall be raised up

“Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” (1 Cor. 6:14 NASB)

His Spirit gives life to mortal bodies

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11 NASB)

We are filled with a living hope

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope (1 Peter 1:3)

In order that we may bear fruit for God

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” (Rom. 7:4 NASB)

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thes. 3:10 NIV)

Lazy hands make for poverty

“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Prov. 10:4 NIV)

The hand of the diligent will rule

“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Prov.12:24 ESV)

All hard work brings a profit

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23 NIV)

Those who work their land will have abundant food

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” (Prov. 12:11 NIV)

Those who do not plow in season have nothing

“Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (Prov. 20:4 NIV)

Anyone who does not provide for their household is worse than an unbeliever

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 5:8 NIV)

When will you get up from your sleep?

“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” (Prov. 6:9-11 NIV)

Make the most of every opportunity

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph. 5:15-17 NIV)

And finally…

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NKJV)

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4:8-9 ESV)

Testing of your faith makes you steadfast

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 2:2-4 ESV)

Jesus strengthens you

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

He proves the way of escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

He will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV)

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 ESV)

 “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.” (Prov. 12:14 NIV)

What you say and what you do are powerful tools you should use together.

What you say...

• Death and life - “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Prov. 18:21 ESV)

• Healing - “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12:18 ESV)
• Health - “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Prov. 16:24 ESV)
• Good is produced - “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45 ESV)
• Stomach is satisfied - “From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” (Prov. 18:20 ESV)
• Salvation – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)

What you do…

• Work heartily for the Lord - “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23 ESV)
• Receive back from the Lord - “Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” (Eph. 6:7-8 ESV)
• A model of good works - “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity...” (Titus 2:7 ESV)
• Skillful in work - “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Prov. 22:29 ESV)

Therefore, keep your tongue from evil and do good!

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalms 34:13-14 ESV)

 “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:13-16 NIV)

Whoever welcomes a child in Jesus’s Name welcomes the one who sent Him

“He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37 NIV)

Little ones have angels in heaven

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:10 NASB)

 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'” (Gen. 1:27-28 NIV)

Two become one flesh

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:22-24 NIV)

Your body belongs to your spouse

“The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” (1 Cor. 7:4 NIV)

He who loves his wife loves himself

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Eph. 5:25-28 NIV)

Wives submit and husbands love

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Col. 3:18-19 NIV)

Two are better than one

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" (Eccles. 4:9

“Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.” (Job 12:12 ESV)

They still bear fruit

“They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” (Psalm 92:14 ESV)

With long life

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 ESV)

Moses died at 120 and he was strong with good eyesight

“Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.” (Deut. 34:7 ESV)

The inner self is renewed

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16 ESV)

Ripe old age

“You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.” (Job 5:26 ESV)

Old men dream dreams

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28 ESV)

Old people have purpose

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good.” (Titus 2:2-3 ESV)

You are temporary

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14 ESV)

 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21 NIV)

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” ( Eccles. 5:10 NIV)

Don’t Love money and be content

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 NIV)

Be rich in good deeds

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19 NIV)

Honor the LORD with your wealth!

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” (Prov. 3:9 NIV)