Audio Download

Matthew 10:16–42 We are to Take up our Cross and Follow Him

[Study Aired May 19, 2025]

Our study for today concerns the suffering we are to undergo as His elect, resulting from hatred from men and the need for us to bear our cross. The study also touches on how we are to conduct ourselves concerning the tasks He has given to us in the face of opposition from our own kindred. Finally, the study concludes with the Lord assuring us of reward for the work He is doing through us.  

We Shall be Persecuted

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

Before we can understand this statement, we need to know what wolves, sheep, serpents and doves signify. There are several verses in the Bible which point to the meaning of wolves in the Bible. 

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

Eze 22:26  Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Exe 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

From these verses, we can see clearly that wolves spiritually signify false prophets and teachers who ply their trade in the churches of this world or Babylon. At a point in our walk with Christ, we were ravening wolves. In Jesus’ days here on earth, it was not the ordinary people who were fomenting trouble for Jesus. It was the High priest, the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees who made life uncomfortable for our Lord during His ministry here on earth. As He is, so are we. It is our brothers and sisters in Babylon who are persecuting us in this life, not the people of this world. 

Being sent forth as sheep implies that we are being judged in this age as our old man or flesh is being killed all day. 

Psa 44:22  Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 

The Lord sending us as sheep among wolves also means that we must not open our mouth against our brothers and sisters in Babylon in the midst of the Lord’s judgment of our flesh, but as sheep designated for the slaughter, we must live with them according to knowledge. 

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Job 35:16  Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. 

Now let’s turn our attention to what the Lord means by describing His elect as wise as serpents. This is one of the few places in the Bible where we have a positive application of serpents. A positive attribute of serpents is that they shut their ear so that they cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer. 

Psa 58:4  Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 
Psa 58:5  Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. 

If we, His elect, are to live wisely, that is, please the Lord, then we do not have to listen to the enticing words of man’s wisdom propagated by the devil (snake charmer) through his false messengers. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Again, in verse 16, we are to become harmless as doves as we journey through this life. A key characteristics of doves is their mourning. 

Eze 7:16  But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

Isa 59:11  We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

If we can remember, the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation representing the Lord’s elect were in sackcloth which signify their mourning status as they go through the Lord’s judgement. Thus, Jesus saying that we must be harmless as doves implies that if we are to live blameless in this life, then we must fill up in our bodies what is left of the afflictions of Christ. In other words, we must embrace the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh in this life if we are to be blameless.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 

Here in verse 17, Jesus mentioned that we should beware of men. The men in this case represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon since it is stated that they will scourge us in their synagogues. The people of this world do not have  synagogues to scourge us there. This affirms to us the fact that it is our brothers and sisters in Babylon, together with their leaders, whom we should be wary of as the Lord’s elect. 

The governors and kings in verse 18 refers to rulers who are not terror to good conduct. They are God’s servants for our good. In other words, the Lord uses them to intervene in our circumstances for our good as we serve as testimony against our brothers and sisters in Babylon and the people of this world. 

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 
Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 
Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 

In cases where we are brought before those in authority about our faith, we are not to worry about what to say because the Lord will give us utterance. This principle runs through all areas of our life where we are required to testify of the Lord’s goodness and mercies in our lives. It is not by ourselves that testify but the spirit of the Lord within us that speaks through us.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

In verse 21, the Lord stating that a man delivering up the brother for death, and the father, his child and children, their parents, is to warn us of grievous wolves entering among us and of men rising up from among us to speak perverse things to draw away disciples after them (put them to death spiritually). A brother delivering up the brother signifies that from within our fellowship will come those who are deceived by the devil and will draw others after them making them spiritually dead. A father delivering up his child for death means that those who have helped us in our spiritual growth (leaders) may also be deceived and therefore come up with false doctrines to deceive those who are being weaned of milk doctrines. On the other hand, these children may be deceived and therefore rebel against the mature brothers and sisters (parents) who have guided them, thinking that they are spiritually dead. 

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.   

Psa 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
Psa 55:13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 
Psa 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The “all men” in verse 22 refers to our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world or Babylon. As the Lord’s elect, the hatred we are experiencing is illustrated clearly in Revelation 11 by the rejoicing of those who dwell upon the earth (our brothers and sisters in the churches of Babylon) as they consider us as spiritually dead in their churches’ corridors.  

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 
Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 

The statement that we must endure to the very end in order to be saved is to let us know that it is not how we start or what we do in the middle of our journey with Christ, but what matters is how we end our race as faithful witnesses of Christ. That is when we shall receive a reward. The parable of the ten virgins is to show us that having the oil to be able to meet the bridegroom when He comes is what matters. 

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 
Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 
Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

This hope of receiving Christ as our reward is what drives our actions to the very end as He purifies us even as He is pure.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 
Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Physically, when we are persecuted because of our faith, we must flee from one city to another as we saw Paul did. 

Act 14:4  But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
Act 14:5  When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 
Act 14:6  they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 
Act 14:7  and there they continued to preach the gospel.   

In the Bible, cities represent churches as shown in the following verses:

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect

Rev 17:18  And the woman (the harlot) which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

As indicated earlier, it is Babylon or the physical churches of this world who persecute us. According to Thayer’s definition of persecution, having one’s message rejected is a form of persecution. Spiritually, therefore, the statement by Jesus in verse 23 about leaving this city when we are persecuted to go to another city means that the Lord drives us out of Babylon when our message is not received, to be joined to another city which represents the church of the firstborn or Jerusalem which is above. At the New Jerusalem, we do not have to go over other churches of Babylon (the cities of Israel) as our Lord shall surely come to us to establish us in Him. 

In verses 24 and 25, the Lord is showing us that as He is, so are we in this world. Jesus’ message was not accepted by the physical church system of His day. He was even called Beelzebub, a name of Satan, the prince of evil spirits. It was the disciples, the church of the firstborn of His day, that became the focus of His ministry here on earth. As the Lord’s elect, we are also going through the same thing. Our message is rejected, and our brothers and sisters in Babylon think we are false prophets. Some even think that we are possessed by an evil spirit. Let’s look at what happened to Apostle John:

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

We Need Not Fear

Mat 10:26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 

Here in verse 26, the Lord is telling us His elect, that we should not be afraid of our brothers and sisters in Babylon. One of the reasons we may tend to fear them is that they are in league with governments and the people of this world. 

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.  

They also command significant resources and have a multitude of followers. In our case, we are barren and a savor of death to our brothers and sisters in Babylon and to the people of this world.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 

2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 
2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 
2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.  

In verse 26, the Lord is giving us a reason why we should not be afraid of our brothers and sisters in Babylon. The statement that there is nothing covered or hidden which shall be revealed or made known is to let us know that we are the ones the Lord has given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. 

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

It is through this knowledge or wisdom that the Lord’s house is built and established within us.  As stated in Proverbs 24:5, a man of knowledge increases in strength. We are therefore the apple of the Lord’s eyes and therefore untouchable.     

Pro 24:3  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 
Pro 24:4  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Pro 24:5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 

Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 

To understand what the Lord is telling us in darkness, let’s take a look at these verses:

Deu 5:22  These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Deu 5:23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

We can see from these verses that the darkness the Lord is referring to is a symbol of the judgment (midst of fire) that we, His, elect, are going through in this age. It is in the midst of this fire that we hear the Lord speak with a great voice to us. 

When are we to speak to what the Lord is saying to us? In verse 27, the Lord is saying that we must speak in the light. This light is Christ coming and refers to an age when we shall speak to all humanity including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. In the meantime, we, His elect, speak to one another. 

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 

The story of how the Lord through David smote Nabal, Abigail’s husband, clarifies when we are to speak of what we hear. Abigail represents the church of the Lord’s elect who was first married to Nabal who signifies the devil and all those who serve him (people of the world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon). 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

1Sa 25:36  And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 
1Sa 25:37  But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 
1Sa 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. 

Later, Abigail became the husband of David, who is a symbol of Christ, and therefore she became the bride of Christ. David told Abigail about how he would come and judge Nabal, but Abigail did not tell Nabal until the morning light. Nabal’s heart dying when he was told of what David intends to do shows that people’s heart will melt on that day. When the sins of men have reached the heavens or its fullness (symbol of 10 days), all humanity shall be judged. We, His elect, will have to speak of what we hear on the mountain tops in the lake of fire age. 

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 
Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 
Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

In these verses, the Lord is assuring us that since we are the apple of His eyes, nothing can derail us by any means from what He has planned for us. Our Lord is fully in charge of all that happens to us and the world, and therefore we are not to fear anybody. 

Psa 17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 
Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

In Ephesians 1:11-12 above, the Lord is assuring us that He is working all things in this world after His own counsel and the reason He is doing that is for the purpose of us, His elect, becoming the praise of His glory. Indeed, we are highly favored just like Mary, when the angel told her that she is highly favored. Remember that Mary is a symbol of the church of the Lord’s elect, and therefore, without a doubt, each of us is highly favored by the Lord.  

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her (Mary), and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women
Luk 1:29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 
Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 

To confess Christ before men means to live a life that is worthy of the Lord before men. It is the same as loving God which means obeying His commandment. What this implies is that we are living according to the law of the spirit of life that Jesus, the reformer, came to establish.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

On the other hand, denying the Lord before men means living a life ruled by the dictates of the flesh. It shows itself in living according to the law of Moses which implies denying all that Christ came to do on our behalf. That is what the people of the world together with our brothers and sisters do. They live according to the law of Moses and therefore miss out on the reality of Christ.

Gal 5:2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Gal 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Jesus Came not to Send Peace, but a Sword

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 

In verse 34, the Lord is making it clear to us that His coming to us is not a time of peace for our earthen vessel which is our flesh. It is a time of war to destroy the flesh through the fire of His words which is the sword that He brings. During our time in Babylon, we are ruled by the flesh which sits on the throne of our hearts claiming itself to be God, since we thought that we make our own decisions. In the fullness of time, the Lord came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to deliver us from the clutches of the flesh. This spirit of His mouth is the fire of His words which burns out anything of the flesh. His brightness is the illumination of our hearts and minds to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. This is a process which takes a lifetime.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  

As our understanding is enlightened through the Lord’s coming with the spirit of His mouth, we come at variance against the lies spewed by the devil who in verse 35 represents our father. The result is the war in our heavens described in Revelation 12 with Michael representing the elect, winning the war in our hearts and minds.  

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.   

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

The daughter or the daughter-in-law in verse 35 signifies the church of the New Jerusalem or the elect which comes at variance against her mother or mother-in-law respectively, which represent the churches of Babylon which gave birth to us, His elect, who are caught up into heaven. 

Rev 12:2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.   

A man’s foes being they of his own household refers to our flesh being our enemy of progress. Outwardly, this statement is explained by Paul in his farewell address to the elders of Ephesus when He warned them of grievous wolves becoming part of the fellowship or our household and also from within our fellowship shall rise people speaking perverse things to draw away disciples.

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

Psa 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 
Psa 55:13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 
Psa 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 

In verse 37, the Lord is telling us that our love of Him must transcend our earthly family relationships if we are to be counted worthy of the Lord. In simple terms, our obedience to the Lord is what shows that we love Him above all else.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

The Lord telling us to take up the cross and follow Him is to make it clear to us that our walk with Christ entails hardships. To take up our cross means therefore to embrace all that comes our way, both good and evil, knowing that the Lord will work all things for our good. If we want to be comfortable in this world, that is, find our life, we may end up losing it. On the other hand, if we embrace His providence, we shall end up receiving the promise. This path of hardship is the narrow way and it is what Paul alluded to when he compared the Lord’s elect as a soldier. 

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  

Receiving the Promise or Reward

Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 
Mat 10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 
Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

These verses show us the surety of our reward. Our God is indeed a rewarder.  

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

It is important to note that our Lord even rewards all the people of the world including our brothers and sisters in Babylon whom He uses to accomplish His will and purpose. For example, the Lord remembered to reward Nebuchadnezzar for the service rendered when the Lord used him to defeat Tyre. If the Lord can remember to reward even those who do not know Him, how much more shall the Lord not reward us who are the apple of His eyes?

Eze 29:18  Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: 
Eze 29:19  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
Eze 29:20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD. 

It is indeed a privilege to be called and chosen by the Lord to accomplish His will and purpose in this age and in an age to come. Amen!!