REWARDS/CROWNS

2 Timothy 4: 7,  8

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

When we think about fighting, we think about combat with fists and armor. The good fight that the Apostle Paul is talking about, is the struggle to maintain the discipline of a servant of GOD. The war is against the fleshly desires to overpower or defeat so we yield to GOD and put on the full armor of GOD and stand against the lure of the flesh. Paul knew that the only war was waged against the enemy of the soul, the devil. He said, "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ephesians 6: 12). The discipline of a servant of GOD is strengthened by "loving His appearing". 

What is it about "love His appearing" that strengthens the Spirit of a person? Colossians 3:2 says, "set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Hebrews 12 : 2 finishes this thought, "Looking to JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of GOD." When we love His appearing, we are looking to JESUS, setting our affection on Him and are watchful, serving Him in all that we do; this defeats the devil and GOD is victorious. We must be alert for the time when He will gather up the Body of believers to Himself at the time of the Rapture, because we do not know the hour of His appearing, so we watch, serve and do those things that are pleasing to GOD with longing and great love for Him.

We must always be alert and watchful with great longing for the time when we shall see JESUS "face to face, and tell the story; SAVED BY GRACE." Those who love His appearing will receive the Crown of Righteousness, because they are "rightly related" to Him.

REWARDS-CROWNS

I Corinthians 9: 24 - 27

Know ye not that they who run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible. I, therefore, so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (unapproved).

THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN

This is the crown given to those who have fought the good fight and have finished the race that is set before them by GOD. This crown goes to those who practice a disciplined life; who take up their cross daily and follow JESUS. They "prefer nothing to Christ" and His work, His way and work come first. They are certain and sure footed in their walk with the LORD; not double-minded, doubtful, wavering to and fro, but faithful and settled in the way of the LORD. They look to JESUS for their life.

 

The crowns are given to those who believe in JESUS and are Raptured to be with Him in glory. Their service will be tried by fire and those unprofitable things will be burned up like wood, hay and stubble is burned to ashes. The profitable service of the LORD will  go through the same fire and will only be refined and purified. These crowns are given at the resurrection of the just, so they have nothing to do with salvation, all those judged are saved, because they have confessed JESUS Christ is LORD. Reward and crown has everything to do with the degree of service and the One being served.  All the service that will be rewarded is the faithful service of those who have yielded themselves to GOD as a living sacrifice. They will receive the incorruptible crown from the hand of JESUS with the words,

"Well done, good and faithful servant" 

REWARDS-CROWNS

Colossians 3:22-24

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing GOD. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men, knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the LORD Christ.

We are servants of the LORD and it is unto Him that all things done in this earthly life. Why we do what we do when we do it, is of great importance to GOD, others and our self. Let me explain that statement: When we do something it has implications, either negative or positive. Our choices effect a multitude of people and our words plant seeds in other lives. If we do something unto the LORD, He acts through us with mercy and grace and the effect is love. When the love of GOD is poured out from the source of Love, GOD, many are served, healed, restored and blessed, including our self. The glory goes to the LORD.

When the believers in JESUS Christ are raptured into heaven, there will be a time of judgment and the giving of rewards for those things done in the flesh. The things that are done for the glory of self will burn up in the fire of the Holy Spirit. These things are like wood, hay and stubble, which burn easily. What will survive the fire are those things which have been done "heartily, as unto the LORD" these things are like gold, silver and precious stones.

The LORD will give crowns to those who have believed on His Name and have been faithful to Him. There are 5 crowns that the LORD will give to believers at this judgment of the just. In the following days, we will discuss the 5 crowns: Incorruptible crown; crown of righteousness; soul winner's crown; crown of glory and the crown of life. 

Finally, we will discuss what we do with the crowns that we receive. Do they belong to us? or do they belong to JESUS?

 

 

COMING OF JESUS

Matthew 16: 27

For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to His works.

 

JESUS, the Son of Man, came, He comes and He will come in the glory of His Father with His angels. JESUS came as a man, filled with the Holy Spirit; JESUS comes every day in the glory of the Father to each of us; JESUS will come in the glory of the Father with His angels and He will have rewards with Him. The rewards will be given to the faithful, believers who are obedient, humble and listening/watching for Him. 

 

It is important for us to be intentional about our life in Christ. Matthew 16:26 says this, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" The life of a believer in JESUS is very serious; not to believe in Him is death; not to obey Him is folly. We must watch and listen for Him, helping others to follow Him and be saved.  JESUS is the great lover of our soul and He wants all to come to Him and live.

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST

Luke 14: 13, 14

But when thou givest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind, and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Throughout the Scripture, the LORD is calling all of us to be hospitable to the poor, sick, lame, blind and all those who can not repay a kindness. Hospitality, kindness, generosity and unconditional love are attributes of GOD, Himself. When we are welcoming to everyone, we become the open arms of GOD, reaching out to embrace all people. GOD is no respecter of persons, all are equal in His sight; therefore, we should be like Him.

JESUS was teaching a way of living that pleased the Father. The Father GOD is open to all who come to Him for help. The poor, maimed, lame and blind call out to GOD for their life; JESUS is reminding us that we are part of GOD'S provision for them. JESUS is their life.

What is the Resurrection of the Just? The word "just" stands for the larger word, "justified", which means to make right or righteous. Justification is a mathematical term used in balancing numbers. Justification of individuals was made possible by the willing sacrifice of JESUS on the Cross, when He took our sins upon Himself and blotted out our iniquity by His shed Blood. The Blood of JESUS, poured on the Mercy Seat in Heaven's Temple assures our justification, or right standing with GOD. Through JESUS we are justified; made righteous.

The Resurrection of the Just is the Resurrection of the believers in JESUS Christ. It is a resurrection into LIFE and the works which have found favor with  GOD will be rewarded with crowns.  I believe that these Crowns are to be given to JESUS who is the one who does GOOD WORKS through us. In any case, the Crowns belong to JESUS who alone is worthy to receive honor, glory, power and blessing.

JESUS said, "I AM the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD

I Corinthians 6:19,20

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom ye have of GOD, and ye are not your own? For ye were bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body and in your spirit, which are GOD'S.

 

YOU BELONG TO GOD 

 

GOD has chosen you to be His own and He intentionally bought you back from the prison of sin by the Blood of His own Son, JESUS. A Temple is designed for worship and glorifying GOD, therefore, we are to intentionally focus our life on worship and praise of GOD and bringing Him glory. 

 

We belong to GOD; He created us in His image, He sustained us by great sacrifice, He prepared the way for us to live in His Kingdom forever. We are accountable to Him for all of our life. In His mercy, He has enabled the Holy Scripture to be written for our good; we must read it in order to know how to live the life that is pleasing to GOD.

 

When we go to be with JESUS, and are presented before the Bema Seat of Christ, those things which are pleasing to the LORD will survive the fire of the Holy Spirit and will be the evidence of our faithfulness to Him. Our greatest reward will be His favor and blessing.

FOUNDATION - JESUS

I Corinthians 3: 11-15

For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is JESUS Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay stubble - every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built upon it, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED, YET AS BY FIRE.

 

When the believer in JESUS appears before the Bema seat of Christ, their works will be judged by the fire of GOD. Wood, hay and stubble will quickly burn, but gold, silver and precious stones will not burn, they only melt and harden. The reward is in the hand of JESUS and He will give crowns to those who have built on HIM with gold, silver and precious stones. Gold, silver and precious stones stand for those works which are in and of JESUS Christ. The believer preaches, teaches, and lives according to the way and work of the LORD JESUS. Wood, hay and stubble represent those who build on the foundation, JESUS Christ,  those things which depart from the mind of Christ and His Holy Word. It is also true that gold, silver and precious stones are works which JESUS, by His Holy Spirit, does through the believer ( sometimes unknown to the instrument of His work). Wood, hay and stubble are works done by the person in their own strength.

 

When the day of judgment comes for the believer, the fire of the Holy Spirit will try all the works of man and burn up the unworthy works so that a person only brings to JESUS what has been refined by fire and is pure.  Those who carry the pure gold, silver and precious stones will receive a reward. Could this reward be the joy of giving to JESUS the highest and best? Could this be the dowry of the Bride of Christ brought to her Spouse, JESUS? Think about it. Wouldn't you love to give to JESUS gold, silver and precious stones out of your great love for Him?

If a person stands before JESUS without any gold, silver or precious stones, but stands on the foundation, which is belief in JESUS, they shall be saved and live with Him forever. Works do not bring salvation; belief in JESUS does.