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[0:00] 1 Corinthians chapter 9, go there, it will be a minute before I get there, but 1 Corinthians chapter 9.

[0:19] We started talking last time about the fact that Christ will reward us. We've been talking about things that are real, things that we need to know, and we've talked about a lot of things, showing who Christ is and how he affects our life.

[0:35] Well, now we're talking about the fact that he's going to reward us someday. We called it the judgment seat of Christ when we were talking about it last week, and we're going to face the judgment seat of Christ that's past our salvation.

[0:46] We're saved, we're good for all eternity, but then he will reward us at the judgment seat. What will he reward us for? Well, first of all, we said he will reward us for our service.

[0:59] The things that we do, we talked about before this, we were talking about the fact that God gives us gifts. We all have spiritual gifts that he's given to us, and we're supposed to use those gifts for his service and for the service of the church and those around us.

[1:13] The gifts he gives us are for doing things for him, but that includes helping one another here in the church and taking care of things that need to be done. We don't all have the same gift.

[1:24] We use those gifts to be a help to one another. We talked about the timing of the ceremony of the judgment seat of Christ, and we said it comes after the rapture.

[1:39] And the rapture, we said, is all those from the time of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down until the rapture when the church is taken out. We talked about the fact that the rapture takes place.

[1:51] We're going to meet him in the air, according to 1 Thessalonians 4. We're going to have glorified bodies, according to 1 Corinthians 15. And we're going to come before that judgment seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 10.

[2:05] And we talked about the fact that in 1 Corinthians 15, beginning at verse 50, if you're right there anyway, 1 Corinthians, if you want to turn to 15, verse 50, it says, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

[2:26] Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

[2:39] For this corruption shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality. And we talked about the fact, when it talks about the rapture is going to take place, in the twinkling of an eye. Over in Romans chapter 22, he says he's going to come quickly.

[2:52] And we talked about the fact that, why is that so important? Because Jesus can come at any time, that fast, and we need to be ready. We need to be looking for his coming, and be ready for it when it happens.

[3:06] In Titus chapter 2, verse 11, we talked about the fact that it says, For this grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

[3:23] We talked about the fact that those words that are used there, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we need to live soberly, which was showing self-control. We need to live righteously, which means we have a right relationship, an upright relationship with others, and then rightly, godly, and have a right relationship with God himself.

[3:44] Why is that so important? 2 Timothy 2, verse 13 says, Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We're looking forward to him coming.

[3:55] And if he's going to come, again, he's going to come quickly. He's going to come instantaneously in the twinkling of an eye. We don't have time to prepare when we know it's going to happen because it can be over that quick.

[4:07] We need to be prepared every day as we go through the day. Be ready for him to appear at any time. Then we talked about qualifications. What are we going to get when those rewards?

[4:19] And we talked about we're going to get crowns. 1 Peter 4, verses 10 and 11, it says, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

[4:34] If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister or serve, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth. God gives us the gifts.

[4:45] Okay? That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. And we talked about the fact that those gifts that he gives us, whether it be speaking gifts or service gifts, are to be used for the glory of God.

[5:03] They're not for us. They're not to bring glory to ourselves. They're not to build us up. They're for the glory of God. And we need to be ready to let people know it is God.

[5:15] We're praising him for what he has done. We used 1 Corinthians 3, where it talks about him being a wise master builder, and he's building a foundation, which is Jesus Christ.

[5:28] And it says, Now upon that, this is 1 Corinthians 3, 12, Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stumble, every man's work shall be made manifest.

[5:42] But the day shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man work abide, which he has built thereon, he shall receive reward.

[5:57] So the work that we've done is for the glory of God, built upon Jesus Christ, will receive reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss.

[6:08] But he himself shall be saved, so as by fire. So he says, you do things in the wrong way, you do them for the wrong reasons, you don't do what needs to be done, you'll suffer loss because you won't get the rewards.

[6:22] But, he says, he himself shall be saved. Salvation is not affected at this point. When you get to the point where you're at the judgment seat of Christ, you've already made it through into heaven.

[6:37] You don't have to worry about that anymore. Now it's about the crowns and the rewards that you will get. Which brings us to letter C on your sheet there. Description of the crowns.

[6:50] Description of the crowns. So these crowns that we're going to get, what are they? What kind of things are we going to get? This list I'm going to give you is not an exhaustive list.

[7:02] It gives you some of the ones that are pretty, you know, easy to find, easy to acknowledge that he's doing, the reward that he's going to give us. 1 Corinthians 9.

[7:14] The first one is an incorruptible crown. Incorruptible. And who's that go to? It goes to those who have shown discipline in their life of preparing themselves to be used of God.

[7:30] You spend time in prayer. You spend time in Bible study. You spend time in getting yourself ready. And you bring your body under control so that God can use you. So we don't, we bring our body under control so that we spend our time focusing on God.

[7:45] We don't spend our time focusing on sin and the things around us. Focusing on God. 1 Corinthians 9. Look at verse 24. Know ye not that they which run a race run all, but one receiveth the prize.

[7:59] So run that ye may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they that do it obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

[8:13] It's an incorruptible crown that we are going to receive. Now, how does Paul comparing the believer to a world-class runner, how is he showing the comparison?

[8:31] How does he help us to understand what we're going to have to go through in order to get that incorruptible crown? A lot of discipline in being a runner.

[8:43] Discipline has to be consistent as a runner. I was reading a thing this week. How many of you know the name Usain Bolt? Nick does? Okay. Usain Bolt for a number of years was the fastest man in the world.

[9:00] He did the, in the Olympics and other meets and stuff, he did the 100-meter dash. And he made the comment one time, he spent four years to run nine seconds.

[9:19] Four years of training to run for nine seconds. But the fact that he could run in nine seconds is why he's the fastest man in the world. He said, so many people, they try to do things, they want things in their life, they want to, they want to discipline, they'll do it for a couple months, they don't see much of a change, and they give up.

[9:44] He said, I spent four years to run nine seconds. The discipline. Go ahead. Yep. He said, this verse, so contradicts what's going on in schools today.

[9:58] Everybody gets a prize. Yep. Verse 24 says, about one, you see the prize. Yep. So, they take away the incentive for the discipline that's required in events that aren't using the prize.

[10:12] Mm-hmm. Yep. So, undermine the whole thing. Yep. So, yeah, when you get to heaven, you don't get participation trophies like they give out now.

[10:26] You get trophies for what you have done and the things that you have accomplished. Paul said, I'm seeking for an incorruptible crown. I'm bringing my body under subjection.

[10:37] He goes on. Look at verse 26. I, therefore, so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air, but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

[10:58] How many people do you know that have become castaways? You know, so how many pastors have gone, preached the word, they've done things, but then they let their body get in control of other things in their life, and they wind up out of the ministry because of sin?

[11:21] How many Christians do you know who, you know, say, I love the Lord, I'm going to serve him, I'm going to do everything I can, but then they let themselves get caught up in other things, and pretty soon they're not in church anymore, they're not with Christian friends anymore.

[11:37] Yes. Yeah. So, yeah, where is everybody? So, it's hard. And he says, I bring my body into subjection.

[11:49] I do not let myself go that way. He says, that's an incorruptible crown. When you can do that, when you make yourself disciplined to follow God, no matter what.

[12:02] Second one, crown of rejoicing. Crown of rejoicing. And turn over to 1 Thessalonians 2. I think I have them written down there on your thing for you, so.

[12:13] 1 Thessalonians 2. 1 Thessalonians 2. Look at verse 19.

[12:24] 1 Thessalonians 2. 19 and 20. For what is our hope and joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

[12:40] For ye are our glory and joy. What does all that mean? Your crown of rejoicing. Who's our crown of rejoicing?

[12:50] What's our crown of rejoicing? Paul says, isn't it you? Ye are our crown of rejoicing and glory and joy. What does he mean?

[13:03] Crown of rejoicing comes because we are willing to go out and tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ and those that get saved. Paul says, you know what my crown of rejoicing is?

[13:16] What brings me the most joy in everything? The fact that you folks are here with me because I've been able to lead you to the Lord and you are following him.

[13:26] Remember, the Bible talks about what makes the angels in heaven rejoice? When one soul gets saved.

[13:37] The angels rejoice. Paul says, what's our crown of rejoicing? You are. You are our crown of rejoicing. The fact that you have come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior.

[13:50] The fact that you have these Thessalonians who he's talking to. They're his crown of rejoicing. The fact that they're going to be with him when he goes and stands before God.

[14:01] They're going to be standing there too at that judgment seat. But it's because Paul gave them the gospel. That's why they were going to be there. And so because Paul gave them the gospel and the fact that they got saved.

[14:14] Paul says, I get a crown of rejoicing as well. Number three. A crown of righteousness. A crown of righteousness. Go to 2 Timothy 4.

[14:28] 2 Timothy 4. 2 Timothy 4.

[14:39] There we go. 2 Timothy 4, beginning at verse 7. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

[14:52] Which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. And not to me only, but unto all of them also that love his appearing.

[15:03] He says there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. How did Paul get a crown of righteousness? Well, the fact that he knew the Lord. And because of the Lord, he had his righteousness endued to him.

[15:19] And he says there, I got saved. I followed the Lord Jesus. He gave me his righteousness. And I used that.

[15:31] I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Being faithful. Being faithful. He says, look, faithfulness is the key to receiving this crown.

[15:49] He says, faithfulness is the key. When I stand there and I'm going to get a crown of righteousness, it's because I've been faithful to doing what God asked me to do. From this morning's message, who's not getting a crown of righteousness?

[16:06] Jeroboam. I'm not even sure Jeroboam is going to be at the judgment seat of Christ. But, you know, he wasn't faithful. Huh? Yeah. So, crown of righteousness because of being faithful to the Lord.

[16:22] Number four. A crown of life. James chapter 1. James chapter 1. A crown of life.

[16:35] James chapter 1 and verse 12. It says, blessed is the man that endureth temptation. For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

[16:49] He says, you want a crown of life? It's going to those that have loved him. Those who have endured temptation.

[17:01] Those who have gone through all the different things that life can throw at you, and you still love Christ more than anything. When the trials come, when the temptations come, how many people, as I was mentioning earlier, how many people do you know that when those things came, they gave up?

[17:21] Then you know what? I quit. Bonnie and I were talking earlier this week. We had been watching someone, and we're quite worried.

[17:32] But we're seeing a change back to where they should be, back to being happy in the Lord and the things. Enduring temptation, going through it, and coming out on the other side, still walking with the Lord.

[17:47] And when trials come, don't give up. When trials come, walk closer to God. He says he will reward those who persevere. Love is the key.

[18:00] I said faithfulness is one. Love is the key for this one. I love God more than the temptation that is facing me. I love God more than the thing that is out there.

[18:11] I love God more than the person who is out there. I love God more than anything. He is my only hope. Trials tempt us.

[18:23] Temptations tempt us. But our love for him helps us to endure, no matter what. Number five. Go to 1 Peter chapter 5.

[18:35] 1 Peter chapter 5. Beginning of verse 1. It says, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

[18:54] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

[19:04] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

[19:18] A crown of glory. Now, as I was reading through that, who's that crown for? Me, as a pastor.

[19:28] Me, as a pastor. That final crown is for pastors. He says, look, pastors, you're willing to serve, you're eager to serve, you're exemplary in your service.

[19:41] He says, you will receive a crown of glory. He says, you will receive a crown of glory. It's not for the pastor who has the largest complex and the biggest building.

[19:53] It's not for the pastor that has the biggest attendance, per se. It's for those that fade not away.

[20:04] For those who stick with the stuff and keep on going. Those who will follow Christ and do what he asks them to do. Hopefully, that's me. Hopefully, I'm doing what God wants me to do and keeping me going.

[20:17] And I'm following his lead and following him and what he wants done. But those are five crowns that we have. What are we going to do with those crowns?

[20:31] We'll talk some more about that next week. It's already 10 till. It flew by today. I like when we have a lot of interaction about testimonies and things of what God is doing.

[20:44]  And then have this. It was quick today. Chuck didn't even have time to fall asleep. Thank you. Thank you.