HOLD FAST TO YOUR CROWN

Revelations 3:11'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

Students who perform well in our Abide School(free school run by us for the poor in Hyderabad)are given ‘BADGES’ like ‘CLASS LEADERS’, FIRST IN CLASS etc.  Click (HERE) to view our students.This is considered highly powerful by the students and they struggle hard to get them.  Recently I told a student who already possessed a badge, ‘be careful, don’t allow anybody to take away your badge and position.’  Another student lost the prestigious badge by one mark, can you imagine the pain of that student!

Likewise, when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us a crown.  Murders, fights and struggles take place in this world to get the crown that is attached to worldly power, privileges and position.  For instance, in England, the king celebrates his birthday twice, the official one is celebrated with parade involving 1,400 soliders, 200 horses and 400 musicians.  Crazy, today I am speaking about the Crown that our Lord offers that is imperishable.  Amen.  Read: The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown”. Hallelujah!

People who make it through the end, will have these crowns on their heads until the end, read: Revelation 4:4 “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”

Why does the Lord emphasize on holding on to the crown and not allowing anyone to take it away? And how can someone take it?

Generally why is the CROWN so valuable in the world, hotly pursued and what does it hold?

1.    Position
2.    Privilege
3.    Power

Now let us see what this crown means to us as believers:

1.    WHAT IS OUR POSITION: Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
2.    WHAT IS OUR PRIVILEGE: We can call Him Abba Father (Romans *; 15)“Now if we are children, then we are heirs … if indeed we share in his sufferings“ (Romans 8:17).
3.    WHAT IS OUR POWER: And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.(John 14:13)

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”(Luke 10:19)
Nevertheless, we can enjoy the above benefits ONLY if we follow the rules set by our Lord, which are the Ten commandments and other instructions given to us in the Bible, if not, the Crown will be taken away from us. Warning!

I want to tell a Bible story and finish:

When the people wanted a king to rule them, God selected a handsome man but from a very ordinary family; however, God sent a prophet to anoint him, encourage him and bless him.  This king became very, very  powerful, enjoyed great benefits from the hands of God but unfortunately he allowed envy to entry his mind and from that day his condition deteriorated very badly.  Since he became rebellious, murderous and wicked, an evil spirit started tormenting him.  Finally, he was wounded in the army by his enemies and he lay there bleeding in the battlefield.  The name of the king is Saul!  I read something that happened in the battlefield which I would like to write as a warning for everyone:

•    2 Samuel 1:6:”….Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.
•    7    "When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.'
•    8    "He said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'(enemies of God)
•    9    "Then he said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.'
•    10 "So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

Alas! The Crown that was placed on the head of king Saul by God was removed by a man who was an idol worshipper and enemy of the children of God and taken away to be delivered to David. This message comes with clear warning!

Only overcomers will receive this crown, read:

2 Timothy 4:8    
in the future 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.
James 1:12    
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Revelation 2:10    
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
God bless you!