1. Don’t Let Anybody Take Your Crown!
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
(Revelation 3:11)
Originally Prepared in December 2004
Preached at West Side on June 10, 2007 PM
Print slides 1,3,18

2. Colossians 2:8
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
We must be careful lest we be “cheated” out of obtaining our precious crown!

3. What Kind of Crown? Incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)
Crown of Life (James 1:12)
Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4)

4. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Incorruptible Crown
“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.”
Incorruptible Crown

5. 2 Timothy 4:8 Crown of Righteousness
“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.”
Crown of Righteousness

6. James 1:12
“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.”
Crown of Life

7. 1 Peter 5:4 Incorruptible Crown
“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.”
Incorruptible Crown

8. How May Man Take This Crown From Us?
By speaking perversions & falsehoods
Acts 20:30; Galatians 1:6-9

9. Acts 20:30
“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
Paul’s warning to the Ephesians elders in his farewell to them.

10. Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

11. How May Man Take This Crown From Us?
By speaking perversions & falsehoods
Acts 20:30; Galatians 1:6-9
By Encouraging Error
2 John 9-11

12. 2 John 9-11
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

13. How May Man Take This Crown From Us?
By speaking perversions & falsehoods
Acts 20:30; Galatians 1:6-9
By Encouraging Error
2 John 9-11
By being led away from Sound Doctrine
2 Timothy 4:3-4

14. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
We must be careful not to allow ourselves to be led away.

15. How May Man Take This Crown From Us?
By speaking perversions & falsehoods
Acts 20:30; Galatians 1:6-9
By Encouraging Error
2 John 9-11
By being led away from Sound Doctrine
2 Timothy 4:3-4
By Self-Deception
James 1:22; Hebrews 2:1

16. James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Self-deception comes when we “play” at religion, and are not industrious in the Lord’s work.
Apply the teaching!

17. Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”
Diligence is needful, as it is easy just to “drift off.”

18. How May Man Take This Crown From Us?
By speaking perversions & falsehoods
Acts 20:30; Galatians 1:6-9
By Encouraging Error
2 John 9-11
By being led away from Sound Doctrine
2 Timothy 4:3-4
By Self-Deception
James 1:22; Hebrews 2:1
By Sin (Lest we overlook some)
Isaiah 59:1-2; Hebrews 12:1)

19. Isaiah 59:1-2
“Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
If we sin, it is our own fault we are separated from God.

20. Hebrews 12:1
“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…”

21. We do not have that crown yet!
Conclusion
We do not have that crown yet!
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (2 Timothy 4:8)
Don’t Let Anybody Take Your Crown!