Weekend Sermon

   Today, I am re-posting a sermon that appeared on the blog in 2012.  I hope that it is of some benefit to you.  Next week, I will return to the regular blog schedule.  The verse of the week will appear on Monday and there will be a review on Wednesday.  A new sermon will be posted on Friday or Saturday. 

Weekend Sermon--Crowns

Revelation 4:10-- "The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever.  They cast their crowns before the throne..."

I Corinthians 3:12-15--"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--each one's works will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire...if the work anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward."

     In the book of Revelation, we see a magnificent scene of the worship given to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  In an act of worship, the elders cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus.
     In a previous message, I mentioned the Judgment seat of Christ.  Paul is speaking about this in the I Corinthians passage.  All of our works will one day be judged by Jesus.  Only the good works done for Christ will remain.  Paul represents these as gold, silver, and precious stones.
     The Bible speaks about crowns that the believer in Jesus Christ can receive on the Day of Judgment.  Today, I'd like to focus on what these crowns are and the way Scripture says a believer in Christ receives them.
     Like the twenty-four elders in Revelation, it is my hope to have a crown or a treasure to lay at the feet of Jesus who is seated on His throne.
     The first of the believer's crowns mentioned in the New Testament is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:8 which states, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will reward to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
     Paul is writing here about the fact that the course of his life is almost over.  He is looking forward to Heaven and being with Jesus.  Paul lived His life to please Jesus and to obey Jesus' words.  Paul expected to be rewarded for his service and perseverance in the faith.  He longed for Christ's return, and lived each day so as not to be ashamed if Jesus were to return at any moment.
     The crown Paul mentions here is available to all believers who long for Jesus' return and live in righteousness.
     Some my say, "Don't all Christians long for the return of the Lord."  I don't think so.  At least that's not been my experience.  Many find great enjoyment doing those things contrary to Christ's teachings.  They love the tings of this world more than the values of the world to come.  Paul speaks of this in verse 10 of the same chapter in reference to Demas being in love with this present world.
     I believe that this crown is reserved for those who want Jesus to come at any moment and bring deliverance to a world of ungodliness.  The cry of their heart is, " Come quickly, Lord Jesus."
     In I Peter 5:4, Peter speaks about a crown that will only be given to pastors who faithfully serve as under-shepherds of the the Great Good Shepherd Jesus.  The verse states, "And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will achieve the unfading crown of glory."
     There are two other crowns both known as the crown of life.  James mentions one in James 1:12, and Jesus speaks of the other in Revelation 2:10.  Although both are given the same name, they are awarded for different reasons.
     The crown of life mentioned in James is given to those who remained faithful and withstood testing.
     I know that I am going through some hard tests right now both physically and financially.  My legs are in terrible pain everyday, and I can't find a job to make ends meet.  At times like these, sometimes it's hard to maintain trust in God and His promises as everything in your life just keeps getting worse and worse all the time.
    The Bible says that these times are tests.  If we are faithful, we will be rewarded.  Unfortunately, as Jesus spoke about in the Parable of the Sower, many people in the time of testing fail the test and become unfruitful.  I struggle on believing in the Lord.  Pray for me as I go through the trials I face.
     The crown Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:10 could be referred to as the martyr's crown.  Those who give their lives in witness to Jesus will be awarded this crown on the Day of Judgment. 
     Throughout the centuries, countless thousands have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  All of the Apostles except John suffered a martyr's death.  Many believers died in the Roman arenas because they would not deny Jesus and praise Caesar as lord.
     In the Communist era, many believers died in Russia and the Eastern Bloc because they wouldn't deny Christ.
     Today, all across the globe, many believers face persecution, discrimination and even death for their faith.  Where would the church be today without people such as this.
     As we live in this world, let us live our lives for the glory of God.  Let each one of us strive to serve the Lord with all we have, so that our works may remain at the Day of Judgment, and then we can cast it all at the feet of Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us so that we might be forgiven and live in His presence throughout all eternity. Amen.