I.) THE CROWN OF LIFE (James 1:12)
The crown of Life, is found in (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. (A) This reward could be called the lover's crown, after the examination of (V. 12) I discovered that the believer finds strength to over come temptation and endure trials, through the love of God, Paul said, "We glory in tribulation also," the question is do we today glory in tribulation? We can only if the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:3-5) without the love of God in the heart of the believer, trials can cause him to become bitter and loss the crown. Now all believers might have eternal life according to (John 3:15-16) but not all believers will be rewarded with the crown of life. This crown will be given to those who are faithful unto death.
(Rev. 2:10) to receive the crown of life the believer must love the Lord more than his own life. "Whosoever shall save his life (LIVE FOR SELF) shall lose it, but whosoever lose his life for my sake shall save it" (Mark 8:35), this reward will be given to those who live for Christ, and endure temptation in the power of the love of God (I Cor. 10:13).
II.) THE CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE: (I Cor. 9:24-27) (V.24) know ye not that they which run, in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize, so run, that ye may obtain.Paul makes use of the Greek games to illustrate the spiritual race of the believer that they ran to win a "corruptible crown:" but we an "incorruptible crown," no young man could contend in the game unless he was a Greek citizen, born of Greek parents, no unsaved person can participate in the service of the Lord for rewards: only the born of God are eligible (John 3:3). Just as the athlete must keep under his body and bring it into subjection or he will lose the "incorruptible crown."
The Greek games had hard and fast rules for all participants, the New Testament contains the rules for believers who would enter the spiritual race to win the (INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN). (1) THE BELIEVER MUST DENY SELF, of anything that would weigh him down and hold him back (Heb. 12:1). (2) THE BELIEVER MUST KEEP HIS EYES FIXED ON CHRIST, and not look to the right or the left (Heb. 12:2). (3) THE BELIEVER MUST FIND HIS STRENGTH, in the Lord (Eph. 6:10-18). (4) THE BELIEVER MUST PLACE HIS ALL UPON THE ALTAR, of the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2). (5) THE BELIEVER MUST BY FAITH, refuse anything that would impede spiritual progress (Heb. 11:24-29). DON'T BE A SPIRITUAL SPECTATOR, ENTER THE RACE TO WIN THE:
(INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN).
III.) THE CR
OWN OF REJOICING: (II Thess. 2:19-20) (V.19) For what is our hope or, joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? The crown of rejoicing is the soul winner's crown, the greatest work you are privileged to do for our Lord is to bring others to a knowledge of Christ as personal savior, the degree of your joy in heaven will be determined by the souls you have had part in bringing to Christ. Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that they are his hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing now and when Jesus comes. (1) IT IS WISE TO WIN SOULS TO CHRIST (Prov. 11:30). (2) IT IS A WORK AGAINST SIN TO WIN SOULS TO CHRIST (James 5:20). (3) IT IS A CAUSE FOR JOY IN HEAVEN TO WIN SOULS TO CHRIST (Luke 15:10). (4) EVERY SOUL WINNER WILL SHINE AS THE STARS FOREVER (Dan. 12:3). HOW CAN YOU WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST?: Witness with your life; live that others may see Christ in you. (II Cor. 3:2) reads like this - "Ye are our epistle written in our heart of commendation from you." also (Gal. 2:20), "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Witness with your mouth, trusting the Holy Ghost to give power to the spoken word (Acts 1:8) Witness by tithes and offerings that others may preach Christ and you will have fruit (REWARD) that may abound to your account (Phil. 4:15-17) also God has promised that your labor will not be in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).The soul winner will not rejoice alone - all of heaven will rejoice with him when he receives the crown of rejoicing (John 4:36).
IV.) THE C
ROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: (II Tim. 4:5-8) (V.5) But watch thou in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.The crown of righteousness is a reward, and it is not to be confused with the righteousness of God, which the believer receives when he becomes a Christian: for at that time, the believer is made the righteousness of God in him (II Cor. 5:21) reads like this - "For he hath made him to be sin for us who knows no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." This saying righteousness is a gift to be accepted by the lost, the "crown of righteousness" is a reward to be earned by the saved. If the believer looks for and loves the doctrine of the second coming of Christ. It will affect his whole life, look at the dynamic impact this truth had on the life of the Apostle Paul that he could say - (1) I have fought a good fight (verse 7 of II Tim. 4:7) also (I Cor. 15:32) He fought a spiritual battle through out his Christian life, and won, he never surrendered to the enemies of righteousness (Eph. 6:12). (2) I have finished my course, He had a course to travel and he did not detour the hard places: neither did he look back (Luke 9:61-62) he finished his course with his eyes fixed on Christ (Phil. 1:6). (3) I have kept the faith, he preached all the counsel of God never betraying any of the great doctrines, (Acts 20:24-31) the Apostle looked ahead to the judgment seat of Christ, where the crown of righteousness will be given to those who love his appearing, how important it is for the believer to look with a heart of love for the second coming of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ that he may receive the crown of righteousness (V.8).
V.) THE CROWN OF GLORY: (I Peter 5:2-4)(V.2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of ready mind.
The crown of glory is a special reward for the faithful, obedient God-called pastors, he will receive this reward when the Chief Shepherd shall appear. It is eternal, it fadeth not away, every believer may share in the pastor's crown of glory. He that receiveth a prophets' reward (Matt. 10:41) support your faithful God-called pastors by praying for his ministry and encouraging him in the work of the Lord, undergrid him in his ministry with God's tithes and your offerings (Mal. 3:10) giving freely of your time to the service of the Lord. And God will reward you for your time and for your supporting his chosen servants by allowing you to share in your pastor's reward, the pastor will earn this crown of glory by:
(1) FEEDING THE CHURCH, he is to proclaim the word of God without fear or favor, and when necessary, he will rebuke, reprove, and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine (II Tim. 4:2-5).
(2) TAKING THE SPIRITUAL OVERSIGHT OF THE CHURCH, the pastor is responsible to God for the message preached to his people, no pastor should preach to please the people, he is to please his Lord (Gal. 1:10).
(3) BEING AN EXAMPLE TO THE CHURCH, he is not to serve for the reward of money, yet, the Church is responsible to care for his every material need (I Tim. 5:18) he is to be a spiritual leader, and not a dictator, he is to walk with God by faith and when the Chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Which crown are you going to get? Jesus is coming back and His reward is with Him, to give every man according to his works shall be, don't miss out on your reward, standing in faith is what it is all about so stand, and after you have done all to stand,
STAND!
