Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

What will you do with your CROWN? S27e91 Rev 22:12

April 15, 2024 Michael Smith Season 27 Episode 91
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
What will you do with your CROWN? S27e91 Rev 22:12
Show Notes Transcript

Christians get a little squirmy about the topic of receiving REWARDS in heaven. That is understandable because the unmerited favor of God gets them there in the first place.

God is less squirmy. He is just. He changes hearts, and those changed hearts CHANGE BEHAVIOR. Some of that is to be REWARDED. He may be handing out CROWNS in heaven.  The big question is, if you get one, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?  Listen just 7 minutes to hear a suggestion. bewithme.us to subscribe apple podcast and spotify are also good

 

What will you do with your CROWN? S27e91 Rev 22:12

       Are people REWARDED in heaven? Yes. 

       What is the response to being rewarded in heaven?

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 

 

I bring recompense

       (Comes bringing intimate presence—good news)

       Comes bringing recompense

              To reward, restore, wages, payment pretty positive connotation

              Bad: Bible talks a lot about judgment

              Good: bible talks a bit about REWARD—represent as CROWN

              Individually ascribed, individually assessed for individual actions

I bring rewards Jb Smith whereas salvation is of grace, rewards are according to works.  

I bring payment. Wages due. This is where rewards are paid out. Crowns given.

 

How will you respond to end of age, end of life accountability? 2 ways:

 Shame, shrikinkg1 Badly. Shrink with shame. Don’t be that guy. John 228 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

Be of good courage, looking forward to it, wanting to go be with Him

Confident 2 cor 5:8 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Crowned:Love His appearing: 2 tim 2 Timothy 4:8 

8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.

Part of the justice of God is that He REWARDS those who seek Him Heb 11:6

Rev 11:  18        The nations raged, 

but your wrath came, 

and the time for the dead to be judged, 

       and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, 

and those who fear your name

Receiving a reward 1 Cor 3: 1 Corinthians 3:14 

14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

He’s just. He’s eternal. He’s soveign, He’s omniscient, 

HE”S A REWARDER****************

 

If God is just Truth: we can do thoughts and activities that displease God

       We can do thoughts and activities that PLEASE God

              He punishes the bad

              He rewards the good

Working for rewards. Living in a way that pleases God

                     What is the role of REWARDS in the new heaven on earth?

Rewards

Rev 2:10 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1 Peter 5:4 

4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 

2 Timothy 4:8 

8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing. 

       

 

What is my robe?

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

It is the clothing of righteous deeds Rev 19: Bride has made herself ready; 

8    it was granted her to clothe herself 

with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

(“wash their robes” is to do His commandments in the KJV)

 

How do robes get white?

Rev 7: 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

How did I get to the point of being righteous before Him?

By faith—same as always

How did I get to the point of doing righteous acts that please God?

              Start with faith, blood

Cannot have a discussion about white robes of action without what He first and foremost does for me: blood.It all starts with blood

       Step 1: blood; 2 faith in blood; 3. Positional righteousness 4. Favor of indwelling. 5. Conviction of sin and changed heart to desire the things of God 6 better actions 7 maybe some rewards. 8 response to rewards

       God is just. He rewards the good stuff. Here is some:

v. 14 right to the tree of life—access to living forever where?

Enter.

        

summaryi

(Crowns are representations of authority which is offered to the Lord by 24 elder)

Crowns are representations of REWARDS that believers get

Our crowns cannot be understood outside of a relationship to Jesus’ CROWN

       Thorns, suffering, death, blood

       No CHRIST NO CROWN**************

v. 14 enter the city by the gates. Be home forever. Be with Him

 

You just may get a crown in heaven. What are you going to do with it?

If you get a crown in heaven, what are you going to do with it?

I think 

       Everybody who got a 

 

Conclusion

Be of good courage. 

Be confident at the very end. No Christ, no Crown.

With Christ Crowns! Recompense! Reward1

Go ahead a get a CROWN.  Get a reward.

After you get it, CAST IT