Caring for Crowns

Good Monday Morning To You!

I hope your past week was a good one. Not much happened here, but Bess and I did get to attend a concert. We heard The Florida Boys sing, and what a good concert it was. There was a group of us from the church that went, and everyone had an enjoyable evening. The folk at Friendship Harmony truly does enjoy one another’s company. One sign of a healthy church is what happens once the service is over. At many churches, people simply go to their cars, and head home --- but not at Friendship Harmony. When our services are over, no one is in a great hurry to leave. People hang around, and enjoy a time of fellowship. As you know, we meet in a community clubhouse. One of our responsibilities is to make sure the tables and chairs are back where the association we rent from left them. That means the pulpit has to be moved, the keyboard and all the microphones, amps, and speakers have to be dismantled and taken away, and all that takes time and effort. People pitch in and help without being asked, and what could be quite time consuming, is actually accomplished very quickly. I’ve noticed that even this crew fellowships and laughs and enjoys each other while working. I wish more of you could be part of this great blessing known as Friendship Harmony. It is so refreshing to be part of a congregation that is excited, alive, and eager to serve Jesus. If I sound like I’m a Friendship Harmony cheerleader, you’re right. I am! I haven’t seen people this revived since I was at Calvary, Cincinnati. Revival? We’re in it!

Speaking of blessings, this coming Sunday will be a red letter day at Friendship Harmony. We will be celebrating our first anniversary of being a fully constituted church. It is so hard to believe a whole year has passed. We will have a special day featuring a visit from our local Southern Baptist Director of Missions, Everett Rafferty, his ministry assistant, Jennifer Horton, and our musical guests, The Majestic Sounds Quartet from Cincinnati, Ohio. Of course, no Baptist celebration would be complete without food. After the service, a fellowship will follow, complete with cake and ice cream. The church is providing turkey, ham, drinks, and dessert. Our ladies are bringing in potatoes, vegetables, and salad. If you are anywhere near our area, you will not want to miss this day. If you are up in the cold, rainy, gloomy, frigid north, how about spending some time here in sunny, warm, beautiful southwest Florida? Our temperatures have been in the middle eighties. We know how to have February! Load up the car, or jump on a jet and come on down. You will want to start your visit by being at our birthday celebration this coming Sunday. I know many of you live a long way off, but I do not want anyone from anywhere to miss Friendship Harmony for lack of being invited. Consider yourself invited!!!

Yesterday, I continued our prophecy series as we looked at the believers in Heaven after the rapture. The past notes are available, and if you’ve been able to be with us, or you are keeping up through the notes pasted to this blog, you will remember that at the judgment seat of Christ, rewards, also called crowns, will be given. However, it is in this life that we earn our crowns and properly care for them. How is caring for them accomplished? I believe it is brought about by following three very simple points: care with service, care with joy, and care with tenacity. The study notes are below, and should guide you through each of these three lines of reasoning. If at any time you would like clarification on these or any other notes, feel free to call me, or send an e-mail. My e-address is preachercooper@hotmail.com. Here are the notes for that message.

Caring For Our Crowns
Revelation 4:10,11
Series: Judgment Seat of Christ By Victor Cooper
02/04/12

Intro: At the judgment seat we will receive crowns. Which you receive and how many are up to you. Are you actively pursuing any? Which ones?

I. Caring for crowns with service. Psalm 126:5-6
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
A. v5 These people genuinely care about the souls of others --- they weep.
B. v6 These people reach out --- “goeth forth.”
C. These people rely on the word of God --- “precious seed.”
D. These people are rewarded people --- “come … bringing.”
Cf. Isaiah 55:11/Proverbs 11:30
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ( Proverbs 11:30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.


II. Caring for crowns with joy. Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
A. Gladness --- Heb> sim-khaw’> glee, giddiness
B. Singing --- “It is easy to sing when you are joyful. Singing is an outer expression of inner joy.” Pastor Victor Cooper
Ex. Opposite -- Psalm 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
[2] We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
[3] For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
[4] How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
C. But preacher, I can’t sing. Will God want to hear me?
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
1. “You make whatever sound you can from a joyful heart, and it will be sweet music to the Lord’s ears.”
Pastor Vic Cooper

III. Caring for crowns with tenacity.
Definition; tenacity. (From Dictionary.com) Holding fast, keeping a firm hold, persistent, stubborn, not easily pulled apart.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT) God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. [12] Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
A. v11 revile (KJV) defame, tease, make fun, NLT - mocked
1. Aka soft persecution
2. JFB Commentary “…abuse you to your face…”
B. persecute --- lit. to pursue after; to chase
1. Called hard persecution as it becomes legal or physical.

Conclusion: When we present our crowns to Christ, we want them to be clean, shiny, and sparkling, not dull, dirty, and dingy. How you care for them now determines either having them, or how presentable they will be. If you want to give Him the best you can on that day, follow this simple three point plan and you will be just fine.


For an up to date calendar on what is coming in February at Friendship Harmony, go to our Facebook page at facebook.com/friendship harmony. We will resume our prophecy series on February 19 with Pastor Bob Felber speaking on “The Inhabitants Of Earth After The Rapture.” Pray for Bro.
Bob as he prepares to teach on an ugly time coming for the lost who will enter the Tribulation. This coming Sunday at our celebration I will, the Lord willing preach, “Where Do We Go From Here?

I’ll see you at Friendship Harmony (hopefully) this Sunday and next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.