6 Crowns

6 Crowns

#1 Fight the good faith = reward

2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.”

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:8 “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

#2 Stand the test = reward

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

#3 Suffering persecution = reward

Revelation 2:10 “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

#4 Witness of Christ’s suffering = reward

1 Peter 5:1 “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:”

1 Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;”

1 Peter 5:3 “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

#5 Run your race = reward

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

1 Corinthians 9:25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

1 Corinthians 9:26 “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.”

1 Corinthians 9:27 “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

#6 Others suffering = Crown of joy

1 Thess. 14-16:

 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 

15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 

16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?”