Casting Crowns

real life presents the Jack Kibs podcast with intention and boldness to proclaim truth equip the saints and impact our culture you remember what it feels like to get kicked right in the middle of the gut and lose your breath and your gasp and you feel like that spiritually we feel like that spiritually from time to time now more than ever what are we supposed to do don't give up hang in there sometimes just stand there just stand there and call out to him he'll never fail you you can get the outlines of this podcast by going to Jack Kibs.com slash podcast today if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ then make sure you leave us one of those five star ratings to us that's like saying amen or yes then that rating will encourage others to listen now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you here is Jack Kibs. Revelation chapter 4 verse 1 John said after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and I say this church because this is your retirement and the first voice I heard was like a trumpet speaking to me I want this trumpet to speak to me you wonder I wonder if I know when a Christian dies I wonder if they hear a trumpet say at the last second right they're just Uncle John Uncle John's passing what if Uncle John hears in his head the sound of a trumpet speaking to him come on up open house can you imagine you don't know you haven't been there yet what if for the believer that it turns out to be true precious in the side of the Lord is the death of his saints imagine that for a moment John sees heaven he hears this come up here declaration I will show you things which must take place after this verse 2 and immediately John says I was in the spirit and behold a throne said in heaven this is amazing because what we're about to read is happening right now church and one sat on the throne and he who sat there was like a jasper like a sardis stone and appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne and appearance like an emerald and around the throne were 24 thrones and on the thrones I saw 24 elders look at verse nine whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever and they cast their what crowns before the throne saying you are worthy of Lord to receive glory honor and power for you were created for you've created all things and by your will they exist and were created watch this skip over to Revelation 5 verse 6 Revelation chapter 5 verse 6 and I looked and behold and in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders that's the 24 stood a lamb as though it had been slain now when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints and they saying a new song saying you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe tongue people in nation the 24 elders represent the church every time worship is offered up in heaven the 24 elders you say how do you know that because they're the ones who say you redeemed us by your blood from and they are from every kindred tribe tongue a nation of the earth and they cast their crowns before the Lord in worship why do you and I listen everybody please don't forget what I'm about to say you can forget everybody everything else don't forget this doing deeds and doing good works and treasuring up your treasures in heaven has nothing to do with salvation do you understand that zero zero because you are going to heaven because you are a child of God because you are saved because you are a Christian you want to be fervently committed to doing as much good as possible because listen we can send it up ahead and what are we sending we're sending rewards what do those look like crowns what do I want a crown for you want to pass your check I'm very humble and I don't want a crown in heaven that's for Jesus and not for me listen read the Bible you want crowns you want you want you want big ones you want to know why because it ain't about you don't think I see what you're thinking you're thinking it's your crown hey how do you like it I work so hard in heaven to get this what do you guys think are you thinking that it's not going to be like that you want to have a crown and we'll see in a moment crowns because when it comes time to worship the lamb who is slaying Jesus you want to do a lot of casting crowns because listen the more you do good for him the more you cast before him in worship it's not about us I'm going to give you some crown verses are you ready ready to write them down there's a one crown that's called the imperishable crown incredible crown first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24 do you not know that those who run in a in a race all run but one receives the prize run in such way that you may obtain an imperishable crown who do you think that's written to yeah every single one of us nobody goes to run a race is like what are you doing you show up to win man right I know does that kind of like is that is that still legal to say in according to the Bible in this race there's only one trophy you mean you mean there's only one trophy and ten participants yep what are the other nine gonna feel loss what about a second place trophy first loser that's what second place means did you know that I got second place you're the first loser I'm sure you two just I'm sure we just got pulled from Facebook for saying that concerning your life got a saying run your life's race to get the crown crown number two rejoicing a crown of rejoicing that sounds cool that sounds cool first the salonians to nineteen for what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing isn't not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming by the way that's a theme of pastoral ministry that is our joy right there that's my joy what's my joy that when Jesus shows up you guys are all ready to go and it's just like you know like somebody cooks and they they not happen until they see if you like the food we don't care about those people we just want to eat the food that person cares if you like the food okay pastors are like that we don't care much about anything else but if you're ready to meet Jesus either at the moment that you die or the rapture happens we're like going yes I mean I mean I'm not looking up yes but going with you up yes yes that's that would be a bomber if you watch people go up that would be bad third crown is the crown of righteousness in second Timothy 4.8 this is precious finally there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness Paul said which is awesome because they just had walked into his cell and said we're going to be head you Paul you're dying here in Rome head off your shoulders pulses okay well finally there's laid up for me a crown that God's gonna give me Paul did you not hear what we said we're cutting your head off how do you put a crown on a headless body you see the difference you and I live in this world and we don't think often beyond the world that is you're not going to be headless in the world that is and you're not going to be crownless either everyone at God's kids will be called through a place in life where you'll be crowned number four the crown of glory first Peter 5.4 and when the chief shepherd appears please today you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away that good news Revelation chapter 2 verse 10 think of all the brothers and sisters now in heaven who are now living this who went from Afghanistan in the last few weeks into heaven this is I'm reading this verse on earth and they know about it in heaven right now Revelation 2 10 be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life wow that's awesome he says to us in verse 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance and doing good seek for glory honor and immortality dear church family you are doing a good work don't stop don't give up we're all listen we got to talk together and share more because we're all feeling it together is it weighty do you feel like you're being crushed is it feels like it's hard sometimes to feel your lungs up with air feel attention the pressure you remember what it feels like to get kicked right in the middle of the gut and lose your breath and your gasping do you feel like that spiritually we feel like that spiritually from time to time now more than ever what are we supposed to do don't give up hang in there sometimes just stand there just stand there and call out to him he'll never fail you every true believer I know is going through a tremendous stretch right now that is great evidence to me that Christ is coming he's getting us ready he's coming and then finally church will have to end verses 10 through 11 it's all about new life it's all about new life we've been given a new life this is what we think about us by his grace we've been given new life but glory honor and peace to everyone who who works what is good who does righteousness the good thing for the Jew first and also for the Greek for there is no partiality with God boy let me end with this and this is kind of a fun ending I love this ending so Paul starts out by saying this church that I have your attention listen Paul starts out first by saying this to the Jew first and also to the Greek or Gentile non Jew so God gives the word to the Jew first then to the Gentile so God declares his gospel to the Jew first then to the Gentile God announces condemnation to the Jew first then to the Gentile listen God says there's immortality and glory and forgiveness and joy and heaven forever to the Jew first and to the Gentile you notice the pattern always the same in the Bible God's word says that he gave his word to the Jew as a custodian to dispense it to the entire world he could have picked Canadians he could have picked Americans he could have picked Peruvians he picked Jews and he says your job is to announce everything I say you're the vehicle by which you are to fulfill this this is my plan this is my word you are my people do it and they said no and God prophesied in the Old Testament if you're Jewish right now and you're turning off the TV or you're getting ready to walk out of here just listen God prophesied by the Hebrew prophets to the Jewish people I'm gonna give you the job first and you are not gonna want to do it and you are gonna throw it back in my face and so I'm gonna take that job and I'm gonna give it to the nations of the world but in the end in the end I will find a remnant from my people who will want to do it that's why the tribulation period is how long it has to be seven years God made a promise to the Jewish people in the Old Testament that for that seven-year tribulation period of time that they would become his ministers to finally fulfill that calling their days coming to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth after the church is gone it's gonna be their time to check this out to the Jew first and then the Gentile and then verse 11 seems to end with a contradiction if the Jew is first in the Gentile the second and then verse 11 says God has no favorites that's what it means God has he's impartial is there something wrong here not at all you want to know why because the order in which what is given has no bearing on what's decided on what is given do you accept it and we have a beautiful picture in this in fact you can stand really we're done check this out people today there's books on this don't buy them save your money there are books written about this is how Gentiles get saved but this is how a Jew get saved there are famous people on TV who say Gentiles all non Jews get saved this way Jews they get saved the other way guess what that's not true no no the Jews their salvation is the keeping of the law and the sacraments that were given to them in the Old Testament God says if you'd keep these you'll be saved that's true all that is true but he also said in the day that you can't keep them you need blood so well people for 2000 years have had this debate it's cracked me up for here for this reason Jesus at home somebody's home minus own business door opens up in fact listen to this I'll read it so there's no confusion door opens up and I don't know who was there you know I don't think Jesus was alone he just appears to hardly ever be alone so what were the others thinking don't know it doesn't say but a man comes to Jesus and it says there was a man of the Pharisees wow whose name was Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews he's the top teacher and this man came to Jesus by night Jesus can I talk to you because I'm a Pharisee I don't want to be seen by you think I can't be seen talking to you I'll be in big trouble rabbi we know that your teacher come from God for no one can do the signs or miracles that you do unless God is with him watch this so after Nicodemus gives his glowing assessment of Jesus Jesus answers and says to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Jesus doesn't acknowledge Nicodemus he doesn't he just completely ignores Nicodemus's question completely this is a lesson for us in life hey so how's it going notice that there's quite a thing happening what's the deal oh unless you're born again you're not going to see the kingdom of heaven Jesus said Nicodemus unless it's a change in your life you're on your way to hell can you believe this just didn't you say thank you well thank you thank you for noticing the miracles he says I'm telling you unless one is born from above you'll not see the kingdom of heaven you need not answer that question because to be born from above is to agree with Jesus I'm a sinner I need his blood and I want to appear before him someday because I will appear before him one way or another but I want to appear before him having received him as my lord and savior and then I want to then once that settled I want to go about the rest of my life the days I got left doing good for him why because I want to get a whopper of a crown why because I want to cast that baby right back at his feet and give him all the glory that's what we want to do this Jack Hibbs podcast as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities are listener supported will you consider partnering with us through a special gift go to jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected