Showing the Love, Life, and Power of Jesus Christ

Bits and pieces from a message preached by Evangelist Leroy Freeman at Christ Evangelical BC at the Watch Night Service 12/31/2010 to usher in (the New Year 2011). Websites: http://mtcm.com leroyfreeman@mtcm.com Emails: leroy@leroyfreeman.com freeman@bellsouth.net Phone: (561)329-0173

Sermon Notes About Crowns

I Cor. 3:1-15 - Read Text Rev. 4:10,11 - Read Text Rev. 3:11 Behold I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 2 John 8 Look to yourselves that we lose not those thing which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. An understanding of the 5 Crowns is a teaching that gives us a big picture of Gods ultimate plan for lives. This teaching helps to guide and guard our lives as we journey through earth and on to our eternal home. This teaching gives us something to really live for and look forward too. I believe that we all are interested in payday. Whether you are making $100,000 year or waiting patiently for a pension or social security check, or if you get $25 week for a part-time job - We all look forward to receiving what we have earned, because we deserve it. In the natural, if a person is hired and works for another they are supposed to get payment for that work. That same law of payment applies in the spiritual realm. In the realm of spirit - God has set up a system of payment. God pays in two ways: If you serve sin = theres judgment - then after judgment the payment is eternal death. But, if you serve God = there are Crowns and Rewards. Many Christians dont know very much about heavenly rewards - even though the New Testament has a lot to say on the subject.

The Bible talks about five crowns that are rewards to the faithful Christians. When you really look into it, this is some exciting stuff. One of the most powerful Christian songs Old Rugged Cross in one of the stanzas there are words that says, Until at last, my trophies I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown. For many years I often wondered what that meant. I dont wonder any more. In our text - Rev. 4:10 Around Gods Throne we find - 24 elders. Bible Scholars believe these are faithful believers from redemptive history. They represent 12 from the Old Testament and 12 from New Testament. Rev. 3:21 Jesus said, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. Rev. 3:5 Jesus spoke of white robes given to overcomers. These 4 and 20 elders are at Gods throne, with robes, and they have crowns. Then we see them cast their crowns before the throne. This gives us insight into our eternal inheritance and spiritual identity. I Sam, 2:8 - He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and make them to inherit the Throne of Glory. The devil thought he did something big when he caused our first parents to sin and break fellowship with God. That was a great, great fall. But God was already one step ahead of the devil. God already planned a way to exalt His people. God had a plan that would give us eternal life and elevate us forever to an exalted position in the New Jerusalem. Rev. 1:5,6 Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priest unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen Rev. 20:6 they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him 1000 years. Just like trophies, rings and plaques are given to sports heroes or winning teams in sports, God is going to be doing the same thing in heaven. He will be giving out certain types of crowns for the people who were willing to go that extra mile, who were willing to give that extra special effort in whatever God had called them to do. Being crowned is the primary way in which the saints will be rewarded for faithfulness in this life. These crowns will be incorruptible and will last for all of eternity. At this time in history there are many distractions there are more goodies, gadgets, pleasures, and entertainments than ever before. Its easy to get off track spiritually and get all tangled up in the world and find ourselves following God afar off. Daily we have choices to make. We must be ever mindful of the prize thats at the end.

Salvation = Free Gift First of all - Salvation cannot be earned or deserved. None of us can ever do enough to afford salvation. Salvation is a free gift. Our acceptance of Christ by faith as personal Savior makes salvation ours. Once we are saved - God expects us to do something with what time - we still have left on this earth. He expects us to work for Him - for which He has promised payment. Why? In our text of I Cor. 3:8 - and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. This verse is telling us that the rewards given to us by God will be totally dependent on what we accomplish for Him while living down here on this earth. Each of us must make a personal decision as to how we will live our lives on the earth. Its either His way or Our way. His way gets rewarded. There are five crowns addressed in Scripture. Every wise Christian should set out to earn all five crowns which is a FULL REWARD. 2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a Full Reward. There are only 3 things that will be crossing over with us when we ENTER into HEAVEN:

1. Ourselves 2. The ones we win to Christ 3. Record of our Good Works that we have done while operating under His perfect will for our life

It makes good sense to build our lives around those things that will last forever. Nothing else will be crossing over! When we get to Heaven, we will be judged on the basis of the life we lived after coming to Christ. I am not sure of all details but this is what makes sense to me. Lets look at some of the prizes (5 Crowns): 1. Crown of Life = martyrs crown Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall suffer tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.

Being willing to die for your faith in God and Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice! It is the greatest act of bravery and courage that you can show God the Father. All of the Christians who have been martyred for their faith in God and Jesus throughout history will be given this Crown of Life. I believe there is a very good chance that this verse also apply to all Christian men and women who have lost their lives trying to save someone elses life. Soldiers, policemen, firemen, etc.

James 1:12 also speaks of this Crown. It says, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation - For when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. God will also give this crown to those who patiently endure the present severe hardships of trials and testings of life of His behalf. Your situation may seem like youre in the Valley of the shadow of death. Dont give up on God. Hold on. Keep going. Hang on to the Bible. Keep on Praying. Keep on trusting. Keep the faith. There is a Crown at the end. 2. Crown of Glory = I Peter 5: 2,4 - The elders who are among you I exhort, feed the flock of God which is among you. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

This is a crown for those who preach and teach the Word of God. I believe it includes Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, Sunday school teachers, all those who teach the Word of God in an effort to edify and build others up in the knowledge and ways of God. The Bible can be tough for new believers when they first get started. They need those who are mature to help teach and shepherd them. Those that step-up and serve - to disciple, teach, and train will get this crown. When you help and support someone who you see God is using to preach, teach and train others, you get to share their crown. Paul says, I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Not every shepherd will be crowned (I Peter 5:2,3). 3. Crown of Righteousness = 2 Tim. 4:7-8 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

There are 2 types of righteousness. One is Imputed righteousness. This the righteousness of Christ that is transferred to us at salvation. 2 Cor. 5:21 - He made Him to be sin for us who Second is Imparted righteousness (Rom. 12:1,2). This is the daily process of sanctification or becoming more and more like Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. There are Christians who are righteous before God the Father as a result of being saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, but they are not living righteous lives in their actions, words and behaviors. We all know right from wrong! God wants each one of us to choose to do the right thing when faced with certain temptations or choices to do something bad. God wants constant effort from us to live good and righteous lives that will bring glory to His Name. The crown of righteousness will be given to those who have lived a good and righteous life for God while living down here on this earth.

This crown is given to those who love the appearing of Christ, who anxiously wait and look forward to the day when He will return for His saints. 4. Crown Incorruptible = I Cor. 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (or reject for rewards). 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The apostle Paul knew the athletes of his day who performed in the Roman Coliseum had to be special people in order to compete well and win the prize. They had to be temperate and show a lot of self-control. They had to give up a lot and make a lot of sacrifices. Professional athletes of today are also a good example. They have to go through training camp to get ready for the season. They have to watch their diets and weight in order to be able to successfully compete in the sport they are in. They have to give up a lot of their social life in order to stay in good shape. In other words, they do not live normal lives like the rest of us do. They sometimes lose time away from their families. Most people would not want to go through the rigors of trying to be a professional athlete, much less be willing to give up and sacrifice what athletes have to give up in order to be able to successfully compete in a professional sport. Paul says, They do all that for corruptible crowns. Paul then tells us that we should all run the race of this life to receive what will be an incorruptible crown. This incorruptible crown is for the sacrifices they were willing to make for God in order to successfully complete the call and mission that God had called them to do. I believe God is telling us in this passage that if He does put this kind of special call on your life that will require you to give up many of the normal things of this life, that you will be greatly rewarded for this sacrifice once you enter into heaven. The winner of this crown has been successful in denying the fleshly desires and appetites of the body. They walk in the Spirit and have been successful in crucifying the flesh (Gal 5:22-24). Run whatever race that God has set out for YOU and be the best you can be for God. Be willing to make whatever sacrifices thats needful to successfully complete the mission that God has set out for you. 5. Crown of Rejoicing = For what is our hope, or joy, or Crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? I Thes. 2:19

This is the Soul Winners crown. It is given to those who have been instrumental in getting other people saved and led to God through the blood of His Son Jesus. There is nothing greater than the winning of a soul. James 5:20 - Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

The Bible does not say how many people you actually have to be instrumental in getting saved in order to be able to receive this crown. God will simply be judging you by your willingness and desire to be used by Him to witness to others. We are to Plant and Water and leave it up to GOD to give the Increase. In our fast paced, materialistic, self-centered society, there are many Christians who are simply too busy to be willing to be used by God to try and get other people saved. What joy one day to be able to look around and see those whom you have personally led to Jesus. This crown will also go to those who help those who are actively winning souls to Jesus.

Loss of Crowns
Salvation is result of Gods work. Rewards are result of Your work. Rewards can be lost --- Salvation cannot. It is possible to lose Crowns if one does not remain faithful. We must strive lawfully obey the rules of the game as laid down in Word or be disqualified and lose rewards. If you refuse to walk in paths of righteousness its possible to lose crowns that have been earned and have them given to someone else. If a King Saul will not do right, God will raise up a David to take his place. The Main Question on that day to Believers will be: Why did you do -- What you did -- When you did it? The FIRE will answer that question and this will determine whether we will be rewarded or not. I believe some behind the scenes workers will be rewarded more than the religious big shots. God sees all. Many will see their works burned up and be saved yet, so as by fire. Many will have NO crowns to lay at His feet. We have another day to get it right. Living for GOD is Not in vain. All we do in JESUS Name with the RIGHT SPIRIT will be REWARDED. One day, GOD will say, Well Done. Here are My additional gift(s) to You.

Evangelist Leroy Freeman 561-3290173 http://mtcm.com