The Crown of Life
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last week we looked at the overall view of the “Rewards of the Believer”, as we studied [1 Cor. 3:8-15]. I told you in that message that the rewards given to the believers in the scriptures are are called “crowns or wreaths”. Tonight I want to start looking at those crowns individually. So for the next five Sunday nights we will be studying the Rewards of the Believer.
Tonight we will begin with “The Crown Of Life”
Text; James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The Crown of Life is used in two scriptures in the Bible, and in both cases it is associated with one being tested.
One is being tested by temptation and the other is being tested by tribulation unto death.
Remember when we studied the Sermon on the Mount, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He made this statement;
Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Later He told the Twelve;
Matthew 10:38–39 (NKJV)
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.
Near the end of His earthly ministry, as Christ began to show His disciples all that He must suffer, He repeated that earlier truth in slightly different words:
Matthew 16:21–25 (NKJV)
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day…
24 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.
In what is commonly called His second farewell discourse, Jesus said;
John 15:20 (NKJV)
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Faithful service to the Lord has always been costly and so is the “Crown of Life”
1. Endure Temptation; James 1:12
1. Endure Temptation; James 1:12
In the context of the scriptures we are reading, the trials or temptations that are present is focused on the area of finances.
[v.9] Lowly Brother- economically poor because of persecution and being scattered or run off from their home [v.1].
Many of these Jews had at one time been financially well off, but had to leave their homes, businesses and had been put out of the synagogue because of their faith in Jesus Christ and following him. Some of these believers could have even been harassed by the Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul the Pharisee.
Now that they had been displaced, the temptation of falling back into Judaism and away from the Lord was real.
They had lost everything, they could very easily have turned bitter against God. [Even as Israel did in the wilderness]
Impatient wondering why this happened and when were things ever going to get better.
Spiritual enthusiasm could quickly decline in the church because of so many trials
Financial hardship stirs more emotions in a persons life than anything else! That’s why Jesus spoke more on the subject of finances than He did on the subjects of heaven and hell combined!
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials” [v. 12a]
Perseveres- continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
Now that’s heart wrenching to have no prospect of success. But that’s not where the believer is. We have the prospect of success even in the temptations/tests of life!
Matthew 5:3–12 (NKJV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God never said that when we trust Jesus all our financial woes will be over, but He did say we would be “blessed”!
There will be trials and temptations in our life concerning finances and material things, but remember, “Money can’t buy you eternal life, nor can it give you abundant life even now, only Christ can!”
2. Faithful Until Death; Rev. 2:10
2. Faithful Until Death; Rev. 2:10
The church at Smyrna was persecuted more than any of the seven churches, yet they stayed faithful. Christ had no rebuke for this church but calls them to stay steadfast and faithful.
One of the things Jesus mentions about the persecution of this church is the same that was mentioned in the Book of James, “poverty/finances” [v. 9].
Tribulation- “pressure”, being tortured to death being slowly crushed by a boulder being laid upon him. The same as the crushing of wheat under a millstone.
They were being pressured by the Gentile population that was loyal to Rome and emperor worship, but also by Jews who strongly opposed Christianity just like Saul did. They were hated and persecuted for one reason only, His name is Jesus!
They lost their jobs, businesses and were considered outlaws/bigots because they did not belong to the “guilds” [unions that required sacrifice to pagan deity’s] in the city of Smyrna. Some had their homes/businesses plundered by vandals, and the Roman authorities did not lift a finger to help them. Many in that society thought they deserved this type of treatment.
It sounds a lot like what is happening today when Christians take a stand on the Word of God and against things like liberalism, tolerance, homosexuality, abortion, and now standing on the side of Israel and against the atrocities Hamas.
Two main reasons for the persecution;
The Word of God;
Christians are slain not because people don’t like them but because Satan hates God and His Word and Christians believe it!
When you become a Christian by faith in God’s Word you become enemy #1 on Satan’s hit list.
Satan is a murderer against the truth
John 8:44 (NKJV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Satan is a thief that wants to steal the Word from you and destroy your life
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Satan is your adversary #1 enemy all because you have faith in God through His Word
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Testimony you hold;
Testimony- evidence or proof provided by the existence and appearance of something [living for Jesus]
Not ashamed of the Gospel and being a soul winner
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
You are consistent in your race of faith with your testimony
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
You consider it reasonable to suffer for God because of your testimony
1 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.
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Close;
All believers have eternal life, but not all believers will be rewarded with the “Crown of Life”, only the one’s who love the Lord more than their own life!
How will I know if I will receive this crown?
No one has ever died for Christ who was not first willing to live for Him!