CROWNS AND REWARDS PART TWO

Welcome back to our Crowns and Rewards study. I hope you enjoyed part one, if you didn't have an opportunity to read it I ask that you go back and read it because it was background for these short future posts.

Defining a crown: a crown could have been a turban, an olive leaf crown woven from a wild olive tree or it they were rich it would be of gold, or a crown made from medalic filled with jewels. This crown was given to set that person apart for a particular task or calling. A priest wore a turban, a king wore a crown with jewels, the winner of an athletic event wore a olive branch crown, better known as a victor's crown.

We have been set apart and each of us has been given a task or assignment that God has called us to fulfill. There are 5 specific crowns mentioned in the scriptures, that belong to the children of God, that would be us, Christians. These crowns in the spiritual represent the authority we have been given by Jesus. But the scripture that started me on this study is found in:

Revelation 3:11 "Behold I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."

This letter was written to the church of Philadelphia, the faithful church. Who Jesus found no fault with. So I asked myself "how can someone take our crown and can we lose our crowns?" Remember this has nothing to do with our salvation. Let's look at losing our crown and are there crowns we should not wear?

Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower...
 

Isaiah 28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, will be trampled underfoot

Of course God is talking to Israel in these verses, because they were continually turning from Him. These verses say they were to be a glorious people reflecting His glory to the nations but their glory was fading away and like a drunkard  headed to destruction.

There is that ugly word PRIDE; pride in our accomplishments, pride that lifts us above others. What about Spiritual Pride; to think we know more and are more spiritual than someone else, to take pride in our denomination, to take pride in our wonderful programs, talented choir or praise team, pride in our pastors, pride in the size of our church. Do you think it pleases God that we would lift up ourselves before others? God does not see denominations, the early church did not have denominations or great programs, yet God added to them daily those who were being saved, when a body of believers come together and worship God from a pure heart, when Jesus is being lifted up in all that is being done, then God the Father is being glorified. It isn't the size of the church it is the love for the brethren that God rejoices in, Jesus said "If you love one another, then they all will know you are my disciples". And the writer of Psalms penned these words "It pleases God when the brethren dwell in unity." Yet pride will bring on destruction and again it says "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble". Now the crown of pride is one we do not want to wear. May God help each of us to examine our hearts and see if there is any pride found.

Now look at Isaiah 28:5 In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people.

One of crowns we receive is The Crown Of Glory. Look with me at:

1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away

This glory refers to the very nature of God and His actions. Everything we have attempted to glorify aside from God our Father will fade away; pride brings glory to self and things we take pride in. Notice also that God's glory does not fade away but man's glory continually fades away.

Another crown we receive is "The Crown Of Life" or I would say the overcomer's crown. In Revelation 2:10 Jesus is again writing to a church He found no fault in, the church of Symrna, known as there persecuted church.

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until death , and I will give you the crown of life.

I could so sit right here and unpack this verse but not today. Read it very carefully and let the Holy Spirit speak it to you. But let me just say that in this life we will have suffering because this world is evil and life can at times be unfair, but through it all we have this promise, endure and be faithful until we are called home.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.

Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowshipof His sufferings, being conformed to His death

Be encouraged the sufferings of this life are only temporary.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Do you love Jesus? Really love Him, fanatically love Him? Willing to put Him first in your life, before your parents, spouse, children, friends, work, entertainment? Jesus said if you love Me you will keep my commandments! 

The verse in Revelation 3:11 does not tell what crown that could be taken from them, some I read said either the crown of life or the crown of rejoicing. But perhaps verse 12 will show us.

Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

I believe the crown someone can take mentioned in verse 11 is the crown of life. Let's look at the meaning of the word "overcome" and see what we are to overcome in this life.

Overcome: to be able, be capable, succeed, have victory, be bold, have understanding, to prevail.

In Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within us we have in us all we need to overcome, as Christ overcame all things so can we.

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world---our faith.

Many more scriptures could be written pertaining to this, but the very thing that empowers us in these times we need to prevail and have victory is our faith. The very thing the enemy attempts to destroy, and he will use the mouths and actions of others in his attempt to stop us. Think of times in your own life when you had to overcome, how did you handle it?

To word search overcome, search for scriptures that use that word, and words that are synonymous with overcome, like endure, conqueror and others. This would be a great personal study.

What are the forces we must overcome?

1. Our flesh: Psalm 89:39 "You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground".  Because they had abandoned the covenant, they had removed themselves from His blessings and has cast down crown (their God given authority) to the ground (flesh). Also look at Jeremiah 17:9 and 2 Corinthians 10:12.

2. This present evil world: Galatians 1:4"who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father". Also read 1 John 2:15-17

3. Satan; James 4:7 "therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Before we can resist we have to submit to God, then we resist by overcoming the temptations our enemy throws at us 

I believe that the biggest threat that the enemy brings to the body of Christ, IS OFFENSE. We can become so easily offended by the words and actions of others. Could it be because they do not meet the expectation we have expected for them. How easily someone can become offended because a pastor did not say hi, or did not come to visit like you expected them too. Or a good friend said words that hurt your feelings and a lot more ways. Quickly offense can sweep through the local church and immediately unity is broken, strife becomes division and a house divided against itself can not stand. People leave a church more because of offense than any other reason. Relationships and friendships are broken over someone that did not live up to our expectations.

I have already written too much for one session,  but I want to share something God showed me about His church in a recent dream. So next time I will pick up right here.


Dig into God's word this week, it is our personal study that will cause us to grow in Christ. Be blessed.