- We have been talking about and are finishing up our messages this month about the “Reach More” campaign and today is the day that we make our commitments to the Lord for 2020
- At the end of Service I will ask you to write your commitment on a card, and Kasey will gather them in a basket in the back- He is the only one who knows who tithes what. I don’t know how much people tithe. I don’t even know what Jay, Kevin, Todd tithe. I do know they tithe.
- I wont know who is committed and who gave how much. I know that the Leaders have committed to ________ but I don’t know how much each one did. Between God and them
- We have been talking about the value of the local church- and our desire to pay off this building to the Glory of God. So more will worship him and serve him. So we can establish this church as an ark of safety as we await Christs return. So we can preach the Gospel with no restraints.
- This message is titled- 7 Churches and 5 Crowns. 7 Churches of revelation- most of them were rebuked, but one was praised. We want to be a church that is praised when Christ returns. We want to earn our Crowns and lay them at the feet of Jesus in heaven. Through the Church
- Christians don’t talk about rewards much- but they are there. The Local church is the greatest vehicle to be a Biblical Church and earn the rewards and crowns the Bible promises
- This is why we want to build and defend our local church- not at the expense of others
- Book of Revelation 7 churches IN Rev 2-3
- Ephesus, The Loveless Church: Hardworking, hated evil, looked good, but their hearts were wrong. Missing Love
- Pergamum, The Worldly Compromising Church: This was the church of tolerance- sins like immorality, idols, cults and heresies
- Thyatira, The Wrong Doctrine Church: had faith love and good works. Patient, but doctrine allowed sexual sin, idolatry and paganism They were corrupt
- Sardis The Spiritually Dead Church: asleep spiritually except for a remnant. Encouraged to revive themselves by faith
- Laodicea, The Lukewarm Church: This church only received rebuke. Neither hot nor cold. Relied on things of this world and riches- they were a half-way church.
- Smyrna, The Persecuted Church: No rebuke, but under physical hardship, promised to not get second death- encouraged to stay faithful unto death
- Philadelphia the faithful churchThe Spiritually Alive Church: Philadelphia did well. No rebuke. Never denied Jesus. Huge promise for them in Heaven.
- All these churches Jesus said- “ I know your works” Jesus knows what Churches are what and what they are doing- as he’s watching OUR CHURCH we want to have the LONG VIEW-
- I don’t know when Christ is going to return, but we are here today because 2000 years of Christians have maintained Churches. They have passed the torch to us for this time
- I hope he comes back NOW but our job is to pass this torch to the next generation!
- Our Children’s Children may be the ones who are running this church when Christ returns
- SO AS A CHURCH-
- We don’t want to be loveless– we want to operate in love in everything. Love is the heart of God. Good biblical love- not false agape love 2 Cor 8:24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
- We don’t want to be tolerant of Sin– “it is reported among you” We don’t want to tolerate sin in ourselves or others. 1 cor 5: 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- We don’t want to have wrong doctrine– We want to preach correct doctrine that is biblical
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
- We don’t want to be spiritually dead– We want to be alive in Christ! Excited to be Christian!
- Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
- We don’t want to be lukewarm! Lets be HOT- ONFIRE FOR JESUS Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [a]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
- Let us be persecuted! In these days the truthful are persecuted Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Lets be spiritually alive! Great worship, preaching, fellowship, serving, giving, growing
- Rev 3:7-12 Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
- We talked last week about how we want to store up our treasures in heaven- Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
- You will not take your house, car, electronics, jewelry, clothes and stuff with you to heaven. None of it- There will be rewards and crowns in Heaven but you must WORK for them
- THIS ISN’T FOR SALVATION- Works DO NOT Save you- ONLY JESUS SAVES
- I don’t give presents to my wife so she’ll stay with me- its because I love her WORKS FOLLOW SALVATION- When you love God his commands are not burdensome
- Whenever a pastor talks about working for the Lord “Not of works so no man can boast”
- LOL- You DON’T WORK for your salvation- you were dead in your sin, unable to save yourself and Christ saved you from the law of sin and death and you were set FREE
- But NOW- IF you love JESUS his commandments are not burdensome- they are JOY
- Those who are in Christ Jesus will receive rewards upon Christs return
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
- Col 3: 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
- Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
- 2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that [a]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
- Those who are in Christ Jesus will receive CROWNS upon Christs Return!
- These pledges will not secure your crowns they will protect your church as you work
- Victors crown awarded for Self-discipline- 1 Cor 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
- When we as a local church gather together, Sundays or any other day we get fellowship, encouragement and biblical tools to help us be self disciplined
- Working out your salvation is on you! No one else will do it for you Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
- But when you’re around other believers they HELP you to be self controlled- They hold you accountable- encourage you, challenge you, support you, love you, teach and train you
- The People with the most self control are the ones who put controls in their life- they typically aren’t magically more powerful- remove the temptation- exercise less self- control
- Crown of rejoicing for those who lead others to Christ 1 thes 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
- Statistics will say that most Christians have not led a person to Christ on their own.
- I have a handful of times- The bulk of the salvations in my whole life I’ve seen in church when someone is hearing the preaching of the word from the pulpit. Still the greatest tool there is
- The crown of rejoicing is knowing that you brought people to heaven- you led people to Christ
- The good news is that you go to a church where the Gospel is preached- Bring them here.
- Crown of Righteousness to those who have a longing for the Lord Jesus who look for His Return 2 Tim 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
- This Crown is for those who have spent their lives eagerly awaiting Christs return. Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
- The Bible says that the Church will be redeemed by Christ and that we should offer her up blameless without spot or wrinkle to him- the CHURCH to HIM- What a crown!
- Crown of Life for those who have endured and triumphed over trial, temptation and persecution even to the point of martyrdom James 1:12 Rev 2:10
- James 1:12 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.
- We will have persecution- Jesus said- “In this world you will have trouble” it was clear that those who desire to live a righteous life will have persecution
- The individual Christian is never persecuted- only the church because an individual is of none effect- the attacks are always against the collective whole of the church- earn that crown!
- Crown of Glory awarded to the faithful shepherds of the people of God and leaders
- 1 peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
- This crown of Glory is reserved for those who teach others the truths of God’s word. Pastors, leaders, teachers. Preachers, bible study leaders, children’s ministry, disciplers,
- Because you TEACH others to follow what God wants us to know-
- THIS happens in the church! A great and glorious church that outlives us.
When we Get to HEAVEN and Christ redeems his CHURCH- his global BRIDE
- matt 25: 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- READ Revelation 4:9:11 We will lay down whatever Crowns at the feet of Jesus and worship him when we Get to heaven. Lets earn these crowns to give him more glory when we get there.
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