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August 2019 Printable 197 KB .pdf

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption (sons) of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation (administration) of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1: 3-14). In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the July teaching, we learned there are three judgements documented in God's Word. The three judgements documented in God's Word apply to Judean (Israel), Gentiles and the church of God. 1 Corinthians 10:32:

Give none, offence, neither to the Jews [Judean/Israel], nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

We looked at the first judgment which applies to the members of the body of Christ or the Church of God which is on the day of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:2). It is called the "Bema" in Romans 14:10. The Bema is not a judgment thing; it's a reward stand because we have already been judged in Christ Jesus! We receive awards based on our walk after we are born again. What did we do with that gift God gave us? Did we teach others how to be born-again of God's Spirit and come to the knowledge of God's Word? Or did we just get born-again and that was it? The rewards we received now are only temporary, but the rewards we will receive at the Bema are everlasting!

God calls us to His household by grace. Grace is not of works but of God's unmerited divine favor. We don't work to get saved or to stay saved. We are saved through God's grace! Ephesians 2: 8-9 tells us:

For by grace are ye [the born-again believers] saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This month's teaching is on The Born-Again Believer's Rewards. These rewards are for all born-again believers who have confessed Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9), rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and do the works of Jesus Christ (John 14:12)! Let's look at 1 John 3:1-2:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us [the born-again believers], that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him [Christ Jesus]; for we shall see him [Christ Jesus] as he is.

Now, are we God's sons and daughters! When our earthly sons and daughters do well, don't we reward them for good behavior? Of course, we do! We walk and live our lives so that we earn rewards throughout eternity! 1 John 3: 3 tells us:

And every man [everyone] that hath this hope in him purified himself, even as he is pure.

When Christ returns, God's Word says we going to have a new body, no sickness, no pain and no death! Salvation is by grace, but rewards are earned. In last month's teaching, we learn we receive five crowns as rewards. Let us discuss this more and show you in God's Word where they are documented.

There are five crowns in God's Word, the Incorruptible Crown, Crown of Rejoicing, Crown of Righteousness, Crown of Life, and Crown of Glory. These crowns are rewards for work done here on earth! Let me say it again, grace is not of work but God's divine favor. We don't work to get saved or to remain saved. Ephesians 2: 8-9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith [the faith of Jesus Christ]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

These are rewards laid up for us in the future. The Word of God tells us how each of these crowns is received. The Word of God is the will of God and His Word remains forever. God calls us to His household by grace. We earn rewards by our walk upon this earth as sons and daughters of God doing the works of Jesus Christ.

The first crown or the Incorruptible Crown is documented in 1 Corinthians 9: 25:

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate [self-control] in all things. Now they [men and women not born-again of God's Spirit] do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we [the born-again believers] an incorruptible [crown].

What is the Incorruptible Crown? God our Father gives this crown in Christ Jesus when we strive to be the best sons and daughters by rightly dividing the word of truth and doing the will of God our Father. We stay on the course by mastering His Word and doing His will in our day-by-day living. 2 Timothy 2:15:

We study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In our earthly world, only one team or person can win a crown. People who do work so hard to win this crown. In NBA this year, the Raptors won the NBA crown. However, that crown is corruptible and fades away. All the hours, days, weeks, and months of training these athletes put in to win a corruptible crown that fades away. And only one team wins! In God's household, we are the winner! As we walk on God's Word with self-discipline and self-control, we each receive the incorruptible crown! We are all winners in Christ Jesus, why because we have eternal life! 1 Corinthians 9: 26:

I [Paul] therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so, fight I, not as one that beateth the air.

Paul ran this race of life with certainty because he rightly dividing the word of truth and walked according to God's Word. He didn't shadow box or play around or do a half-way job. Rewards are based on our work on this earth in accordance with God's Word. Salvation is of grace! Not of works! 1 Corinthians 9: 27:

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.

Paul said, "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection." This action takes a lot of work, people; it takes discipline and self-control! Paul taught the Word of God and he lived it in his life daily. The word "castaway" has nothing to do with salvation. Remember, salvation is by grace, not of works. The word "castaway" refers to rewards. In our earthly life, when you worked a job, you would be nominated or recommended for an award. Your award was either approved or not approved. This is the meaning of this word "castaway." When we preach or herald this Word of God to others, they must see God's Word manifested in our lives! This is how we receive this first crown

The next Crown is documented in 1 Thessalonians 2:19:

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

What is this Crown of Rejoicing? The Crown of Rejoicing is received when you rightly divide the Word of truth and you lead someone to the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching him or her how to be born-again of God's spirit and come to the knowledge of God's Word. It blesses our hearts to see men and women saved and rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20:

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

1 Thessalonians 2: 20 tells us:

For ye [everyone you lead to Christ] are our glory and joy.

The Ministry of Reconciliation is based on this second crown; bringing men and women to the Word of God. The people who become born-again believers, the ones you lead to the Lord Jesus Christ, become your reward of the second crown!

When we stay on the course of God's Word, then we can say what 2 Timothy 4:7-8: says:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith [believing]:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give [repay] me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that [having] love his appearing.

What is the Crown of Righteousness? This third crown is award when God repays us because we fought a good fight! We must finish our course and keep our believing; therefore, we receive a crown of righteousness!

This Crown of Righteousness is for every born-again believer. It's laid up for us in heaven because we are born-again of God's spirit! It's the hope of the return of Christ. Our life is hidden in Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). We already seated in the heavenly in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). The Bible says we are going to judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). Look at 1 Corinthians 15: 58:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Let us read Colossians 1: 5-6:

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.

The hope of Christ's return, the gathering together of the body of believers - these events are hoped for because we can't have it right now. But we will have it in the future!

The fourth crown is documented in James 1:12:

Blessed is the man that endured temptation: for when he is tried [proved], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

What is the Crown of Life? We received the Crown of Life for enduring temptation of the devil, who comes not but to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). God our Father does not tempt or try us. James 1:13 reminds us:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man.

Because we love God our Father, we keep His commandments. As we submit ourselves to God by doing His Word and will, we resist the devil and he will flee from us (see James 4:7)! Reading the Word of God, rightly dividing the word of truth, quoting scripture daily, operating the manifestations of the spirit, i.e. speaking in tongues are some of the ways we resist the devil in order to have him flee from us. Satan puts all kinds of things in our way to block us from sharing God's Word with people. But when we endure this temptation, we will receive the crown of life!

God's Word says in Romans 8:37:

Nay [no!], in all these things we are more than [super] conquerors through him that loved us.

1 John 4:4 says:

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [the spirit of antichrist]: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We just cannot be defeated by Satan in any way, shape or form, because Christ Jesus defeated him for us! We study God's Word to show ourselves approved to God. 2 Timothy 2:15 exhorts us to:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We study to show ourselves as approved to God! Studying the Word helps us to rightly divide the Word of truth. We take action by reading/studying God's Word. Turn to Acts 2:22 for an example of Jesus Christ as a man approved of God:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

God approved us by miracles, wonders and signs! Do you speak in tongues? If so, God has approved you, because speaking in tongues is a sign not to them that believe, but to them that believe not (see 1 Corinthians 14:22). No one can say Jesus is Lord but by Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues) (see 1 Corinthians 12:3).

The fifth crown is documented in 1 Peter 5:2-4:

Feed the flock of God [with God's Word] which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre [the love of money], but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples [on the Word of God] to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd [Christ Jesus] shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

What is the Crown of Glory? The fifth crown, the Crown of Glory, is received for all of those who God gave a ministry to as documented in Ephesians 4:11-12:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teacher.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

As listed in Ephesians 4: 11-12, these individuals teach God's Word to the people, by rightly dividing the word of truth and are an example by living the Word in their life. They take the oversight not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre (the love of money) but by a ready mind. They do it with the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation and they shall receive a crown of glory!

Remember Colossians 1:27-29?

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus:

Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

We are born again of God's spirit, so, wherever we are we have God in Christ in us the hope of glory! Philippians 2: 10-16 tells us:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear [respect] and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputing:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.

We have discussed the five crowns and how they are received. We rightly divide the word of truth; we walk and live our lives so that we earn rewards throughout eternity! Each crown is received based on our walk on the rightly divided Word of God! We receive these rewards for our day-to-day walk on God's Word in this world.

Father, thank you for your love for us through your son the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for making available these crowns which we can earn as we demonstrate our love for you by keeping your Word and manifesting your Word in our daily lives. Father, thank you for approving us by miracles and wonders and signs. Father thank you, for by your grace we are saved not by our works but through the works of your son. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Next month's teaching, the Church Epistles - Thessalonians.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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