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Crown 1 Crown # 1 The Crown of Life
James 1:12 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. (KJV) • CROWNS ARE FOR CHRISTIANS. • Christians love Christ • Loving Christ means denying self
Crowns are for Christians. There are five. I. The Crown of life to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ and persevere to the end. The perseverence of saints is the proof of salvation. [last week] Faithful Witness who is loyal unto death gets the Crown of Life in Revelation. 2:10; James 1:12. This crown is especially for those endure suffering loving Jesus all the way. This means having the desire that He be glorified through our response to trials. II. The Crown of rejoicing consists of people won for Christ. The unselfish Worker who faithfully wins souls gets the Crown of Honor in I Thess.2:19; Phil 4:1. Note the background of this crown. A. Acts 16 Phillipi and beaten B. Acts 17 was a 97 mile walk C. Three plus weeks of ministry D. This was the letter back to them. E. The only things we can take with us are people! Are you taking aanyone with you? Who, your friends, neighbors, children? III. The Steadfast Racer that resists all Disqualifiers gets the Unfading Crown of SelfControl in I Cor. 9:25-27. A. This is the crown for holy living as in Romans 6:6-14. B. This is the crown for focused living as in Hebrews 12:1-2.
Some of the principles of this kind of life may be found in Hans Finzels’ book Baby Boomers. 1. GUARD AGAINST THE APATHY OF AFFLUENCE Revelation. 3:17: self-sufficiency ; independence; spiritual indifference. 2. VALUE RELATIONSHIPS OVER AND ABOVE FINANCIAL GAIN Phil 4:1; I Th. 2:1920. 3. DREAM ABOUT WINNING THE ULTIMATE PRIZE Matthew 25:21-23 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (KJV) Luke 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (KJV) Philippians 3:14 I press toward the
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mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV) 4. RUB SHOULDERS WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE TO REMIND US THAT THE MORE WE HAVE THE MORE WE NEED TO GIVE I Tim 6:18-19 5. FOCUS ON THE SECRET OF GODLY CONTERNTMENT I Tim 6:6-8. Are you holy and focused? On what?
IV. The Victorious Warrior who faithfully watches for Christ gets the Crown of Righteousness in II Tim. 4:8. Remember Paul is now at the end of his life. He is in the depths of Mamertinum. This crown is for anticipating Christ. Are you? This crown is for following to the finishing line the course the Lord has given you? Are you? V. The Example to the Flock who faithfully shepherds gets the Crown of Glory in I Peter 5:3-4. This is for ministering to the flock of the Lord Jesus Christ in keeping with the elements of verses 2 and 3: willingness sacrificial dedication humility living as an example for Christ It is for living the life as men and women in I Tim 3:1-13 and I Peter 3:1-5.
What do we do with them? Look at Revelation. 4:9-11 Revelation 4:9-11 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (KJV) 1. Are you saved? Do you have the crown of life? 2. Are you winning and discipling people? Will you get this crown of rejoicing? 3. Are you Spirit controlled? Will you get the unfading crown? 4. Are you looking for Jesus? Will you get the crown of righteousness? 5. Are you serving Christ’s church, His sheep? Will you get the crown of glory? II. Christians love Christ. It is amazing how complicated the simple gospel can get.
A Disciples Path to Follow
I. STEP ONE = TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD A. Mark 8:34-37 When He had called the people to [Himself,] with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (NKJV) B. Renouncing self as the authority and focus of my life… II. STEP TWO = UNCONDITIONAL OWNERSHIP BY GOD
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A. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV) B. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (NKJV) C. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV) D. Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (NKJV) E. Living a life of sacrifice and separation to the cross of Christ… III. STEP THREE = UTTER DEVOTION TO CHRIST A. Matthew 10:37-39 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (NKJV) B. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is [the] first and great commandment. 39 “And [the] second [is] like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (NKJV) C. Building a relationship of supreme and incomparable love for Jesus Christ… IV. STEP FOUR = TRUE NOURISHMENT ON THE WORD A. John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (NKJV) B. 1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (NKJV) C. Committing to regular study and devotion to God’s Word… V. STEP FIVE = A FOCUSED DIRECTION OF THE CROSS A. Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (NKJV) B. Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (NKJV) C. Unquestioning allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ’s captivating leadership… VI. STEP SIX = ABSOLUTE STEWARDSHIP OF MY LIFE TO CHRIST A. Luke 9:23-27 Then He said to [them] all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever
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desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His [own] glory, and [in His] Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” (NKJV) B. Recognizing the true owner of my time, money and talents… VII. STEP SEVEN = AN UNMISTAKEABLE TESTIMONY OF LOVE A. John 13:34-35; B. Matthew 28:18-20 C. Reflecting the love of Christ in my attitude and actions…
G = Get alone with God every day in prayer R = Read the Bible daily O = Obey what God says W = Witness of His hand in your life
So crowns are for Christians Christians love Christ Finally, loving Christ means denying self!
type in 7 quotes about loving Christ supremely:
The question is: 1. Are you a Christian 2. Do you love Christ 3. Are you denying self.
Sing Holy, Holy, Holy