Free at Last

We started the year off with a sermon series “Celebrating the Life that Christ Makes Possible”. The sermons so far have been, Christ the Only Hope, The Secret of Facing Need, and last week Christian Rewards. This is the last sermon in the series, "Free at Last".

”Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Freedom is assumed to be the birthright of all people, yet people are anything but free. They are more likely to be in bondage of some kind. For some the cause is psychological, for others economic, and for others political. But Paul, with his profound insight into people’s most basic need, made clear that only in Christ Jesus are people truly free.

Scripture Reading: 

Galatians 2:15‭-‬21 NIV “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Introduction 

I started the year off with a sermon series that I called “Celebrating the Life that Christ Makes Possible”. The sermons so far have been, Christ the Only Hope, The Secret of Facing Need, and last week Christian Rewards.  This is the last sermon in the series, and I have titled it “Free at Last”.   

Text:

Galatians 5:1 NIV It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We could say that the theme of Paul’s letter to the Galatians was the the Magna Carta of spiritual emancipation, the Declaration of Independence from salvation by works, or the Manifesto of Gospel Liberty. If we were to reduce the 149 verses of this letter to three words, they would be “Free at last!” 

Freedom is assumed to be the birthright of all people, yet people are anything but free. They are more likely to be in bondage of some kind.  For some the bondage is psychological, for others economic, and for others political. But Paul, with his profound insight into people’s most basic needs, made clear that only in Christ Jesus are people truly free. 

Paul was determined that every obstacle should be removed between people and God. Nothing—not legalism, not moralism, not ritualism—will be allowed to prevent people from experiencing the freedom that comes only from Christ. If you are a believer and an child of God you are free at last! 

Let’s consider some things related to freedom that Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians in Galatia.

I. We are free to be saved by faith

Galatians 2:16 NIV know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

In this verse Paul was saying, “We are free at last from all bondage to the law and to works.” You’ll notice the word justified.  It’s the first time that justified or justify occurs in the letter, but it is one of the most significant terms in Paul’s theology. Justify means “to pronounce righteous.” That righteousness, by which God accepts a person, doesn’t come from the fulfillment of any promise by us or obey the law as written in the Old Testament, but by faith. 

Romans 4:5 NIV However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

A. Faith liberates us from bondage to the law. 

You might ask if the law cannot save, then what is its purpose?

Well the law tells us what sin is, but most important, the law drives us to the grace of God. It shows us our own weakness and makes us see that we can do nothing but throw ourselves on the mercy and love of God. 

Galatians 3:23‭-‬25 NIV Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

The law system was God’s method of preparing the world for Jesus’ coming.

 

B. It is faith that appropriates or ignites the saving grace of Christ.

Here is how the Message bible renders Galatians 2:19-21.

Galatians 2:19‭-‬21 MSG What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Paul was certain that, through faith, Jesus Christ had done for him what he never could have done for himself, we can say the same thing.  Only when we give up our struggle can the saving grace of Christ be ours. 

II. We are Free to grow in grace 

Galatians 5:1 NIV It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We don’t have to be bound to works and ceremonies to serve God anymore.  We serve him as  people free to grow in grace. 

Unfortunately, some people today have reverted to the error of the Galatians, that Paul was writing to correct.  Many teach and live by the belief that we are initially “saved by grace” but that we remain saved and thus grow by works. In other words, Christ makes the  “down payment,” but we must make the “monthly installments” or suffer a divine foreclosure and repossession of our salvation. 

As I have taught and will always teach, nothing could be further from the truth.

Here’s the way the Contemporary English Version of the Bible says it 

Philippians 1:6 CEV God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Like I said last week Salvation is a gift; rewards are what's earned.

We are free to grow in grace and earn rewards as we allow the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us at salvation, to work in our lives. 

A. We grow because of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit. 

Often, we leave areas of our lives off-limits to the Holy Spirit, thereby choking our growth in grace.  Here’s what Paul wrote to the Galatians.

Galatians 3:3‭-‬6 NIV Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Our rate of growth in grace is in direct proportion to the degree to which we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. 

Ephesians 5:18‭-‬20 NIV Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because as Zechariah 4:6 NIV  says …‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

B. We are free to grow because the old us has died and we are new creations 

II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Yielding our lives to Christ is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is something we must do each day. 

I Corinthians 15:31 NKJV I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

When Christ is in control of our lives, we will naturally want to read our Bible, pray, witness to others, and fellowship with other Christians, and we will grow in grace. 

III. We are Free to live as members of God’s family 

Galatians 3:26‭-‬29 NIV So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

A. We are equal. 

What does this mean to the church today? It means that none of us has vested rights—no one is above or better than others. It means that the opinion of each person is of great value but of no more value than any other person’s opinion. It means that as members of the family of God, we are more concerned about our responsibilities to other members than our own individual rights. 

It means that because we are members of God’s family, we are as it says in Romans 12:10 NIV we are to Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

It means that as we reach out to others, as we witness to them and lead them to Christ, we do so regardless of their past, their culture, or their social status. It means that when they become members of God’s family, we accept them as our equals. 

B. As members of of God’s family, we are heirs

Galatians 4:6‭-‬7 NIV Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Every member of a family is an heir to the father’s wealth. We are not servants, laboriously striving to keep the law. We are sons and daughters of God, born into his family by grace through faith and thus full heirs to all of his riches. 

C. As members of God’s family we care for and encourage one another

Paul said that when our fellow Christians slip, we are responsible for helping them get back on their feet again. 

Galatians 6:1‭-‬3 NIV Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

D. As members of God’s family we bear the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

E. And finally as members of God’s family we are productive 

Salvation by grace does not mean freedom from service but rather it means we have the freedom to serve. 

Galatians 6:9‭-‬10 NIV Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The more we realize that we are members of God’s family not through any merit of our own but solely through the grace and love of God, the harder we will work and the more productive we will become.  We will work not to remain a member of God’s family but because of the thrill of being a member of his family. 

Conclusion 

An old African American spiritual, which we may hear a lot next month, Black History month, captures the spirit of Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia. 

Way down yonder in the graveyard walk, 

Me and my Jesus goin’ to meet and talk. 

On my knees when the light passed by, 

Thought my soul would rise and fly. 

One of these mornin’s bright and fair, 

Gonna meet King Jesus in the air. 

Free at last, free at last, 

Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!

Let’s pray,

Father, we thank you that we are now under no condemnation because we belong to Christ Jesus.   We rejoice that the power of the Holy Spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the sacrifice for us so that the requirement of the law would be fully satisfied.  Holy Spirit, please convict us when we begin to fall back into old patterns, behaviors and mind-sets.  Please remind us that we are new people in Christ Jesus; our old lives are gone, and our new lives have begun.  Thank you for you grace that gives us freedom.   We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Sermon Audio

Christian Rewards

This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the "Celebrating the Life That Christ Makes Possible".

I Corinthians 3:3, 8, 14 NKJV for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Living the supernatural life is a blessing not only now but also in the future. There is a great difference in the doctrine of salvation for the lost and the doctrine of rewards for the saved. Salvation is by grace, not by works, but rewards are according to the works of the believer. Salvation is a gift; rewards are earned.

Scripture Reading: 

I Corinthians 3:8‭-‬15 NKJV Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Introduction

There is a great difference in the doctrine of salvation for the lost and the doctrine of rewards for the saved. Salvation is by grace, not by works, but rewards are according to the works of the believer. Salvation is a gift; rewards are earned.

Living the supernatural life is a blessing not only now but also in the future. 

Text: 

I Corinthians 3:3‭, ‬8‭, ‬14 NKJV for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

The scripture that Jean read today, First Corinthians 3:8–15 reveals several truths about rewards: 

(1) Every believer will be rewarded according to his or her own labor

I Corinthians 3:8 NKJV Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

(2) We are laborers together with God, not for salvation but for his service.

I Corinthians 3:9 NKJV For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

(3) We are to build on Christ as our foundation 

I Corinthians 3:14‭-‬15 NKJV If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

(4) We have a choice of two kinds of building materials: gold, silver, and costly stones or wood, hay, and straw. 

The first kind represents eternal materials; the second represents temporal materials, things that will decay or wear out. 

Building with eternal materials results in rewards. Building with temporal materials results in loss at the judgment seat of Christ.

Let's talk for just a minute about the judgment seat of Christ. 

The judgment seat of Christ is different from the Great White Throne Judgment. The Great White Throne judgment  will be the final judgment of the wicked prior to their being cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11‭-‬15 NKJV Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Appearing before the Great White Throne will be unbelievers. 

Believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

The judgment seat of Christ does not determine our salvation; that matter was settled by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf and our faith in Him. All our sins are forgiven, and there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” as it says in 

Romans 8:1‭-‬2 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Jesus Himself said at;

John 5:24 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

So, believers are secure in Christ, but they still must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That will be a time of examination and a time of reward. Jesus will inspect our works.

What did we do with the resources God gave us? How faithful were we? Did we neglect our opportunities to serve the Lord?

A minister sat at the bedside of a dying friend. As the friend talked of going home, tears filled his eyes. Knowing the man was young in the Lord, the minister thought he was afraid to die and tried to speak words of encouragement to him. The friend said, “I’m not afraid; I’m just ashamed to die.” Christ was his Savior, but he had to meet him empty-handed. His life was like “wood, hay, and straw.”

It doesn’t have to be that way. Christians can live and die crowned with victory. Sometimes the Christian’s reward is called a prize, but several times it is called a crown. Five crowns are mentioned in the New Testament.

1. The crown of life 

2. the crown of rejoicing

3. the crown of righteousness 

4. The crown of glory 

5. The incorruptible crown 

I. The crown of life 

James 1:12 NKJV Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

The crown of life is sometimes called “the lover’s crown.” We find strength to overcome temptation and endure trials through the love of God. Without his love in our hearts, trials can cause us to become bitter and critical and lose the crown of life. This is also the crown that is received for being “faithful unto death” 

Revelation 2:10 NKJV Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

All believers have eternal life, but not all believers will be rewarded with the crown of life. To receive it, we must love the Lord more than our own lives.

Mark 8:34‭-‬35 NKJV When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

We must live for Christ and endure temptations and trials in 

the power of the love of God.

II. Then there's the crown of rejoicing

I Thessalonians 2:17‭-‬20 NKJV But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

The crown of rejoicing is called the soul-winner’s crown. The greatest work we are privileged to do for the Lord is to bring others to a knowledge of Christ as their personal Savior.

A. Just how do we win souls? 

1. We can win souls by the example we set  by being the witnesses that Jesus said we would be. When we trust the Holy Spirit in our witnessing. 

Jesus told his disciples 

Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Paul said in his second letter to the Christians in Corinth,

II Corinthians 3:2‭-‬3 NKJV You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

You are the example that unbelievers see.  There’s an old saying that goes “You may be the only bible that some people read”

 

2. We can win souls through our giving. 

When we give tithes and offerings to support others who are preaching Christ we are partners in winning souls.  In addition to partnering in the winning of souls when you give to support the gospel your needs are met too.  We talked about that last week.

Philippians 4:15‭-‬17 NKJV Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We are talking about the crown of rejoicing right now and there is a lot of rejoicing going on when the lost are saved.

Heaven rejoices 

Luke 15:10 NKJV Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The new believer rejoices. Here’s an example from scripture of a new believer rejoicing 

Acts 8:36‭-‬39 NKJV Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

The sower and reaper rejoice, in other words everybody involved in bringing someone to salvation rejoices.

John 4:34‭-‬38 NKJV Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

III. We’ve talked about the crown of life and the crown of rejoicing there is also the crown of righteousness.

II Timothy 4:7‭-‬8 NKJV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The crown of righteousness is the crown earned by believers who eagerly anticipate the second coming of Christ. Like Paul you would be able to say, “I have fought a good fight”. He could also say, “I have finished my course”, “I have kept the faith”.  There’s no looking back.

IV. There’s the crown of glory 

I Peter 5:1‭-‬4 NKJV The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

The crown of glory is a special reward for the faithful, obedient, God-called pastor.  Jesus, The Chief Shepherd himself gives it. It is eternal.  

However,  every believer can share in the pastor’s “crown of glory” because God will reward those who support his chosen servant through prayer and encouragement.

Let me read what Jesus said about those who support His servants.  

Matthew 10:40‭-‬42 NKJV “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

V. Finally, there’s the incorruptible crown 

I Corinthians 9:24‭-‬27 NKJV 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 in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

This is the crown for victorious living. In the Greek games, the competitors ran for a corruptible crown; in the Christian race, we run for an incorruptible one.

The key to victory is a disciplined life, whether in the Olympic games or in the Christian life. Athletes deny themselves many things their bodies crave. Likewise, Christians must subdue their bodies or else be disqualified for the prize. The New Testament gives guidelines for us to win the incorruptible crown of victory.

A. We must keep our eyes fixed on Christ.  

We must deny ourselves anything that would weigh us down and hinder us. 

Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. We must find our strength in the Lord 

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

C. We must place our all on the altar of the Lord.

Romans 12:1‭-‬2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

D. We must, by faith, refuse anything that would impede our spiritual progress.

Moses is an example of someone refusing to settle for less than God had for him 

Hebrews 11:24‭-‬27 NKJV By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

To win this incorruptible crown we must;  keep our eyes fixed on Christ, find our strength in the Lord, place our all on the altar of the Lord, and by faith, refuse anything that would impede our spiritual progress.

There is no way to win this crown and be a spectator. We must enter the race and run to win!

Conclusion

In an old legend, an angel was talking with an older in age Christian. Going into a great vault, he brought out a beautiful crown with shining jewels of rare value. He said, “This is the crown I designed for you when you were a youth, but you refused to surrender yourself completely to the Lord; now it is gone.”

From the vault he brought another crown. It was beautiful but not nearly as beautiful as the first one. He said, “This is the crown I designed for your middle age, but you gave those years to indolent discipleship; now it is gone.”

The angel brought a third crown from the vault. It was just a plain gold crown with no jewels in it. He said, “Here is the crown of your old age. This is yours for all eternity.”

You see what he missed by not giving his best in advancing the kingdom in his lifetime?

Every one of us will receive a reward according to our labor. What will be your reward?  You can start or continue working on it now.  Remember salvation is a gift; rewards are earned.

I Corinthians 3:14 NKJV If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you that you are able to bring hope through even the toughest of times, strengthening us for your purposes. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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