Don't Let Anyone Take Your Crown

The speaker discusses the concept of crowns in the New Testament and how they represent rewards and inheritance for Christians. Different types of crowns are mentioned, such as the crown of rejoicing for soul winners, the crown of righteousness for those who love the Lord's appearing, the crown of life for those who endure temptation, and the crown of glory for elders who minister to others. There is also a special crown for those who die for the gospel. The speaker emphasizes the importance of living for the Lord and walking in the spirit to receive these rewards and inheritance. The message concludes with a prayer for blessings and peace. So the word that has been on my mind this morning and yesterday is this word crown. And I mentioned this yesterday in a video I was recording, Revelation 3.11 says, Behold, I come quickly. This is Jesus speaking. He says, Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown. And this crown represents, of course, our reward, our inheritance. I got looking through here at the word crown in the New Testament, and it seems to indicate that there are specific different varieties or different types of crowns that a Christian can be awarded with when they stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ. So I wanted to look at a couple of these crowns here. In 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 19, it says, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? For not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. So it seems to me that this crown of rejoicing is associated with soul winning, because he's talking about the people that he ministered to and that they were with them when the Lord Jesus came back and that these were his crown of rejoicing. So this crown of rejoicing is somehow tied together, associated with being a soul winner for the Lord Jesus. Here's another crown in 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 8, it says, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord of the righteousness shall give me at that day. Once again, we have this doctrine here of the day of the Lord, the day of the Lord's return, the judgment seat of Christ, the rapture of the church. All these things are tied together with this, what's mentioned here when he says, at that day. A specific time in historical future when believers will stand before the Lord. And he says, not to me only, but also to all of them that love his appearing. So those who are looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus and who are living for the kingdom that is to come, whose heart and life is given towards investing in the kingdom and looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus, there is a crown of righteousness for these people. James chapter 1, verse 12 says, Blessed is the man that endure of temptation, for when he has tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Enduring temptation because you love the Lord earns a crown of life. So that's another, that's another crown. First Peter chapter 5, verse 4, it says, When the chief shepherds shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. First Peter chapter 5 is in the context of talking to people who are elders or who feed the flock. In other words, it's a Christian who's, who has grown in their spiritual life to the point where they're no longer living for themselves, but they're actually ministering to other people, feeding other people the truth and giving to other people. It says, When the chief shepherds shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. And Revelation 2, 10 says, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried, and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. It looks like here that there are, there is a special crown for those who perhaps lose their life for the gospel, for people who are martyred. There's a special crown for people who actually die because of the gospel. I think about those people who were killed over there in the Middle East, who lost their lives, who were beheaded by those Muslims because they were Christians. No doubt those, those Christians aren't receiving a crown of life. And so let's summarize this once again with this scripture, Revelation 3, 11, Behold, I come quickly. Hold thou fast without haste, that no man take thy crown. So the Lord has crowns in store for Christians, different types of crowns, and these crowns do not, are not given automatically just because we believe the gospel. But if we continue to abide in the gospel, and feel the Holy Spirit, and allow the Lord Jesus to control our life every day, that we don't walk in the flesh, but we walk in the spirit, and we walk as an overcomer in Christ Jesus, then we have something to look forward to when we stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ. We have rewards, and we have an inheritance to look forward to. And the same is true for those who, and they believe in Jesus, but they don't live for the Lord. They basically live for themselves, that their mind is controlled by the world, and they don't live for the Lord. They're, they're going to lose their inheritance, and they're going to lose their rewards they could have had. It's very important to develop and cultivate a fear of the Lord, and to realize the seriousness of living for the Lord every day, and walking in the spirit, and being an overcomer in Christ Jesus, so that you can receive the reward that God has for you. Revelation 3, 11, Jesus says, Behold, I come quickly, hold thou fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Amen. I pray the Lord will bless you and keep you, and the Lord make His face shine upon you, and the Lord give you peace.