How Great Thou

How Great Thou

ELVIS PRESLEY 2X 12 FTD vinyl LP HOW GREAT THOU ART    US $59.99

Foggy River Boys Signed Album    US $5.00

19 ELVIS 45sCollector SeriesCanadaRCA2694to RCA2720 titles and sbelowallMINT    US $45.00

Lot of 4 Elvis Presely LPs BURNING LOVEHIS HAND IN MINERare HOW GREAT THOU ART    US $.99

RARE VINYL ALBUM DOLLY PARTON THE BEST OF MINT CONDITION RECORD    US $9.99

Elvis Presley IN CONCERT 180 Gram Red Vinyl 2 LP Set Brand New Factory SEALED    US $19.99

Hymn and Gospel Songs of Dedication    US $10.00

Elvis Presley LP How Great Thou Art    US $9.99

Elvis Presely In Concert LP Never opened Mint 2 Record set Brand new in package    US $35.00

SHIRLEY VERRETT HOW GREAT THOU ART PRECIOUS LORD KAPP 1963    US $5.98

Black Gospel 45 MASONIC QUINTET I Come All The Way Lord MCDANIEL HEAR    US $8.00

SEALED 1967 ELVIS PRESLEY HOW GREAT THOU ART P8S 1218 RCA GOSPEL 8 TRACK NICE    US $4.00

ELVIS PRESLEY RECORD LOT 37    US $51.00

Black Gospel 45 BILL SPIVERY SONS OF TRUTH Sunday Saint DEE JAY HEAR    US $8.00

Couries Quartet Record Album    US $15.99

ELVIS PRESLEY THE YOUNGER YEARS    US $14.99

Tammy Wynette Inspiration Record    US $4.50

Elvis Records Collection King of Rock    US $300.00

STATLER BROTHERS BUY HOW GREAT THOU ART LP GET 1975 BEST OF LP FREE    US $9.95

VINTAGE Elvis Presley How Great Thou Art RCA LSP 3758 Black Label RCA    US $29.99

Home for the Family with The King Family with Longines Symphonette Society    US $.99

THE STATLER BROTHERS HOLY BIBLE NEW TESTAMENT Classic Gospel LP    US $4.25

ELVIS PRESLEY HOW GREAT THOU ART SHRINK    US $2.99

DORIS AKERS Highway to Heaven Sacred Female Vocal Rare VG Vinyl LP    US $24.99

KATE SMITH the best of LP SEALED how great thou art GOD BLESS AMERICA born free    US $9.99

KATE SMITH her very best HOW GREAT THOU ART hymns spirituals LOT 3 LP gospel    US $9.99

STATLER BROTHERS LP Holy Bible New Testament 1975 Album FREE SHIP King is Coming    US $9.99

ELVIS PRESLEY DJ PROMO HOW GREAT THOU ART SO HIGH AIR PLAY SPECIAL SP 45 162    US $125.00

Rare 1966 NM Oak Ridge Boys At Their Best Record Very Nice    US $6.00

Vintage Lot 14 of 33 LP Records Sunshine Boys Fontaine Blackwood Bros etc    US $19.95

Motown In Loving Memory VG Rare Motown Gospel 1968 Various Artist    US $39.99

ELVIS PRESLEY HOW GREAT THOU ART as sung by ELVIS RCA Victor VINYL LP    US $7.89

RALPH CARMICHAEL1968 LP HOW GREAT THOU ART    US $.99

Bill Harrell and the Virginians Bluegrass Gospel Pure and Simple Record    US $3.00

rare Exodus Gospel 45 HOW GREAT THOU ART Swan Silvertones    US $9.99

Elvis Presley His hand in mine How great thou art 45 RPM    US $56.00

Lot of 3 Christian LPS    US $.99

Down Home with Tennessee Ernie Ford Capitol 1979 RDA 2421 A VG    US $4.99

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Columbia readers digest 1973 5 record set VG    US $15.00

Central United Methodist Church Pontiac Michigan Chancel Choir LP Rare Private    US $35.00

Elvis Gospel 2 LP Lot How Great Thou Art His Hand In Mine    US $9.99

Lincoln Christian College Ring The Bells LP    US $19.88

VINTAGE ELVIS PRESLEY RECORD ALBUM BOOKLET VOL 2 LEGENDARY PERFORMER 1967 RCA    US $4.99

The Statler Brothers OH HAPPY DAY ORIGINAL 1969 LP    US $8.00

Lot of 4 LPs Choice of 16 The Sheltons LEWIS FAMILY Blue Ridge Quartet OTHERS    US $9.99

HOW GREAT THOU ART 8 LP Box Set Gospel Spiritual music Vinyl Like NEW    US $6.99

Elvis Presley HOW GREAT THOU ART 447 0670 Red label RCA Gold Standard 45 rare M    US $17.00

Elvis A Legedary Performer Volume 2    US $50.00

LES PAUL AND MARY FORD THE HIT MAKERS COUNTRY LP EXC COND    US $9.99

JIM NABORS COLLECTION OF NINE ALBUMS NO RESERVE    US $9.95

Great Is Your Reward In Heaven

Written by Bro. Josh Sparks.

Praise the name of Jesus Christ. The subject of life and death come alive in our conversations when we are faced with the death of a loved one or a friend. So often times we in times past were misinformed about what the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles were concerning death and God's promise to raise those born again of the water (Jesus name Baptism) and of the Spirit(Holy Ghost Baptism) from the dead. I have written in the past week or so that man is a living soul and not an immortal soul. (Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Man's punishment for sin was not and is not eternal tormen but death physical death. (Genesis 2: 17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 3:19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The gift of God is eternal life which is to say immortality. We will be changed and we will be death proof when Jesus comes. Immortality or eternal life is the gift God gives to the righteous but the wicked will be removed from the earth forever and the righteous and meek ones will inherit the earth. (Pslams 37:9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalms 37:28,29,34) 28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.  29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.  34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Jesus declared in (Matthew 5:5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. And the list of scriptural evidence goes on and on.

Establishing this foundation brings us to a statement Jesus made to His disciples in (Matthew 5:12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Jesus made the statement for great is your reward in heaven. Did not Jesus just make the statement 6 verses earlier in the chapter in Verse 5 that the meel shall inherit the earth? Is this chapter teaching us that some of the saved, those persecuted for the name of Jesus and His Gospel go to a reward in Heaven while meek inherit the earth? Or was Jesus unknowingly contradicting himself in his message we call the sermon on the mount?

Jesus was not confused when He was preaching. The Apostle Peter wrote by inspiration of the Spirit of Truth the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus Christ concerning this very statement Jesus made concerning our reward in Heaven. ( 1 Peter 1: 3-5) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. We have an inheritance in Jesus reserved in the Heavens for us. This inheritance is eternal life that Jesus will give us. Paul called it a crown of righteousness that will not fade away and that will be given at that day or the day when Jesus comes and not at the time of death.

(2 Timothy 4:6-8 ) 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:              8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. This reward of everlasting life will not be given until Jesus comes. Our inheritance as children of God is being reserved for us in heaven.

Do christiansd go to Heaven to receive their reward? The answer is no. Jesus said no man has ascended to Heaven. (John 3:13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. If the saved are  not going to Heaven to receive the reward reserved in Heaven for them when do they receive it? When Jesus comes. Jesus spoke this very powerful truth to John in (Revelation 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. When Jesus comes the reward of the saved He is bringing with Him which is his kingdom forever being established and death being abolished and the saved being granted immortality and inheriting the earth.

Paul the Apostle declared this mortal must put on immortality and when we put on immrtality we will death death proof and sin proof. (1 Corinthians 15:50-54) 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

(Daniel 7:27) And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Jesus never told us we would go to Heaven to get our reward bu that He would bring our reward with Him. Why do you think paul wrote about Jesus coming and the dead being raised incorruptible and immortal and the saved who are alive being changed mortal to immortal. Why would there be a resurrection if you receive the reward when you die? Why would Jesus bring back a reward that He has already given your so called immortal soul to give to you again when your body is raised and made immortal? The false teachings and traditions of men make absolutely no sense in light of the scriptures.

Traditions of men have causes thousands to die expecting to go to Heaven and receive their reward. So many have been misinformed and have gone down to the grave and are sleeping as we share this word with you. No I don't believe they will miss their reward when Jesus comes. But they could have been blessed by the truth knowing as Paul did that when Jesus appears he will give us a crown of life that will never fade away which is to say Immortality. You folks who read this blog no I am as no traditional as any person you have ever read about. I preach things not many others will preach because I want to preach the truth and God is burning this into my heart to declare to you because it is truth and you need to have an understanding of God's Word. I am not being critical but some of you need to quit listening to the 6 foot ice sickle standing inthe pulpit at your church and you need to shrug off traditions of men and find the truth in God's Word the bible.

I will never withhold the truth from you. The bible tells the fate of those who withhold the truth from the people and I close with this verse of scripture.

(Proverbs 11:26) He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

May God bless you in your search for truth.

In Jesus Name,

Bro.Josh Sparks

About the Author

As a protege of R. A. West, Pastor J. O. Sparks is the founder of BREAKING THE SILENCE MINISTRIES and has been conducting revivals and travelling the United States since he was twelve years old. Bringing a timely and encouraging message to the Body of Christ, Pastor Sparks is leading the charge in tearing down the walls of man made tradition and bringing the church to an understanding of its inheritance in Jesus Christ.

He and his wife Melissa both enjoy living in the rolling hills of eastern Kentucky and pioneering a new Apostolic church. Together they have two sons, Ronnie and Elijah.

What is the best version of How Great Thou Art?

Bonus Points if anyone knows who composed it in American Gangster.

George Beverly Shea is awesome with that song!!