Four Crowns

Rabbi Ken Alpren Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D. September 21, 2012 How do we prepare for the Day of Judgement? Moshe knew his time on earth was coming to a close as recorded in Deuteronomy 31. Deuteronomy 31:2,,’"I am 120 years old today. I can't get around any longer; moreover, ADONAI has said to me, 'You will not cross this Yarden.'’ Refer also to his words regarding the length of days in Psalm 90. As recorded in Daniel 7, there is a Day of Judgement and books will be opened. What books? There are two books from G-d, the Tanakh and the Brit Chadasha and there are two books G-d has for us; the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15) and the Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16). When the Day of Judgement occurs, there will be consequences for what we have done while in our earthly bodies. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, ‘So we are always confident - we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord; 7 for we live by trust, not by what we see. 8 We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him; 10 for we must all appear before the Messiah's court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.’ Good consequences for those things we did that originated ‘in G-d’ and bad consequences for things we did that originated ‘outside of G-d’. What am I doing now that will affect eternity? What foundation am I building upon? 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, ‘Using the grace God gave me, I laid a foundation, like a skilled master-builder; and another man is building on it. But let each one be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. 12 Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. 13 But each one's work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire - the fire will test the quality of each one's work. 14 If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; 15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire.’ Only what we do through the Messiah Yeshua will last! We may even be surprised on the Day of Judgement because people behind the scenes who quietly went about serving the L-rd will get more rewards than people we knew or heard about. Whomever is unknown to us are very well known by G-d. Do we realize that at the Day of Judgement, our entire lives will be made manifest? G-d knows whose are His! 2 Timothy 2:19, ‘Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, stamped with these words: "The Lord knows his own," and, "Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord stand apart from wrongdoing."’ What will our rewards look like? Firstly, G-d Himself is our reward! Genesis 15:1, ‘After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." NKJV Secondly, we will radiate as described in Philippians 2:15, Matthew 13:43 and Daniel 12:3 and we will rule as described in 1 Corinthians 6:2 and Matthew 19:28. Our rewards will be based upon our motivation! Did we serve our L-rd in love as described in 1 Corinthians 13? Did we serve Him in love? Did our service originate in His Strength? When Yeshua described rewards on the Day of Judgement, He says that we won’t even remember how we served; so much so that our service was out of His Love and working in His Strength! Matthew 25:34-41, ‘"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 The King will say to them, `Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!'’ We will be rewarded but what we accomplish in Him! And we do that by abiding in Him. In Him is how G-d sees us. 1 John 2:28, ‘And now, children, remain united with him; so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink back from him in shame at his coming.’ 1 John 4:17, ‘Here is how love has been brought to maturity with us: as the Messiah is, so are we in the world. This gives us confidence for the Day of Judgment.’ There are four crowns described in Scripture we are given as rewards! They are the Crown of Life, the Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Glory and the Crown of Rejoicing! The Crown of Life is given for those who have remained true through trials and tests. James 1:12, How blessed is the man who perseveres through temptation! For after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him.’ The Crown of Righteousness is given to those who finish the race. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, ‘For as for me, I am already being poured out on the altar; yes, the time for my departure has arrived. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 All that awaits me now is 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 longed for him to appear.’ The Crown of Glory given to those who serve. 1 Peter 5:1-4, ‘Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the Messiah's sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm; 3 also not as machers domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock. 4 Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive glory as your unfading crown.’ The Crown of Rejoicing will be given to those who have pointed to and lead people to the Messiah. 1 Thessalonians 2:19, ‘For when our Lord Yeshua returns, what will be our hope, our joy, our crown to boast about? Won't it be you? 20 Yes, you are our glory and our joy!’ Let us keep focused on Him in Whose Strength we live so as to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”