The Crown of the Disciple

One of the glorious treasures awaiting each of us in heaven as faithful disciples of Christ is a crown. Let's open the Word together and see what it has to say about this glorious reward reserved for the faithful.

A Singular Crown
Many people teach that there are five different crowns and go into detail about each one as if they were all completely separate. But there is no such declaration in the Bible that says the disciple will be crowned with many crowns. 

Our Lord Jesus alone is the only one described in Scripture as being crowned with many crowns. It says:

"His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself." (Rev 19:12)

Therefore, as we study about the crown of the disciple in Scripture, we should not read into the text something that isn't there, so as to assume there are multiple crowns for the disciple, and instead understand that it is a single crown. No doubt, the crowns of some disciples will be more glorious than the crowns of others, and will have certain distinguishing features, such as more or different jewels, in order to signify the honor bestowed upon them for their service to the King during their earthly lifetime. However, the Scripture actually speaks of the crown of the disciple as being singular.

The apostle Paul said, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1Co 9:25)

Here we see that it is a single crown, not multiple crowns, which we receive. The apostle is here contrasting the crown that athletes receive with the crown that disciples receive. Consider how strictly those athletes train for the games in order to win such a crown. They rise early, put their bodies through enormous strain, experiencing pain and tears, pushing themselves beyond the normal limits, all in order to win a crown that will not even last. In his day it was a wreath that faded and whose leaves eventually crumbled into dust. Today the crown is replaced with a medal of gold, bronze, or silver, or even a trophy to put on display. But even these metal ones are no less temporary, because one day the fire of God will melt them all with fervent heat. However, the crown that the disciple receives in heaven will last forever. That is one way in which our Lord rewards us for all our sacrifice, suffering and tears that we endure for His sake and for the gospel.

The Lord Himself affirms that it is a singular crown, when He says: "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Rev 3:11)

He also implies that it can be taken away from you, if you are not careful. Therefore, some disciples will not receive one, since they failed to ensure that no one would take it. His admonition to hold onto what you have is followed by the expression "so that", indicating that this is the cause that produces the effect whereby no one will take your crown. There is a responsibility on your part in order to keep your crown.

Since the Scriptures refer to the crown as singular, then we understand that any adjectives used in conjunction with the word "crown" are simply describing its attributes. The fact that different adjectives are used in different passages does not mean these are different crowns, but different characteristics of the crown.

Crown of Righteousness

One expression used for the crown of the disciple is "the crown of righteousness." Paul said: 

"Now there is in store for me 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 His appearing." (2Ti 4:8).

Notice that this crown is not only for Paul but for all who long for the Lord's appearing.

Crown of Life

Another expression used for the crown of the disciple is "the crown of life." James said:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because, when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (Jas 1:12)

How happy is the one who endures all things, for he will receive the crown of life that never fades. This crown of life is what Jesus promised the Church of Smyrna and all who would be faithful to Him, even to the point of death. He said:

"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev 2:10 NASB)

He was letting them know in advance what the devil planned to do to them, which included temporary imprisonment, and that they may even have to die for Christ, but that they should always remember that it is just a test, and that if they would be faithful unto death, He would give them a crown up in glory.

Crown of Glory

The apostle Peter used the expression "crown of glory" for this same crown saying:

"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."(1Pe 5:4).

Truly it is a glorious crown, and how unworthy we are to receive it, especially when we consider that our Lord who is truly worthy wore a painful crown of thorns for us.

Crown of Gold

We do not know from Scripture what each and every disciple's crown will look like, but we do know a little bit about what the crowns of the elders around the throne in heaven look like, because the Bible tells us that they are golden.

"Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads." (Rev 4:4 NASB)

And what's so beautiful is how the elders all cast their crowns before the throne at the Lord's feet when they worship Him, humbly signifying that only He is worthy of all honor (Rev 4:10). I think this practice is probably observed by all disciples in heaven who have crowns.

Soul Winning Crown
The Scripture says that he who wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30). And since our Lord commanded us to go and preach the gospel to all nations, making disciples of all nations, teaching them to do all that He commanded (Mat 28:19-20; Mk 16:15), then this is something we should all be involved in doing. Surely there is a great reward in store for all who do so, and Paul knew this when he referred to his disciples as his crown. He saw the importance of these souls, whom God loved so dearly, as Paul himself did also. He said to the Philippians:

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!" (Php 4:1)

These people who were so dear to him, in whom he had invested himself, were his joy and his crown. They would be an eternal joy and crown for him in heaven to have brought them to the Lord, so that they could be with Him forever. He says the same to the Thessalonians:

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" (1Th 2:19)

Winning a Crown the Lord's Way
Once again Paul compares the disciple's crown to an athlete's crown saying:

"Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules." (2Ti 2:5)

In saying this, Paul indicates that if you want to receive the crown that the Lord has in store for you in heaven, you have to live according to His ways, just as the athlete who competes for a crown receives one only if he does so according to the rules of the game.

Putting it All Together
As we have just read in Scripture, the crown of the disciple is referred to interchangeably as a crown of glory, a crown of life, and a crown of righteousness, but it is a singular crown. And let us not forget that is given only to those who believe in Jesus, follow Him, and live according to His Word, doing the will of the Father who is in heaven (Mat 7:21). I hope this has encouraged you to put your faith in Christ, follow Him, put His words into practice, hold onto what you have, persevere under trial, and be faithful to the end, even unto death. If you do, then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you too will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Where noted other Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright The Lockman Foundation, used by permission. "Thou Art Worthy" artwork is by my daughter Charity Lacroix, and is a depiction of me holding my crown before the Lord in worship.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.  

Divine Tapestry

I am amazed at the way the Lord has woven into the fabric of my life something beautiful through my experiences of Him across the years.  He has been weaving this design by His Spirit through His involvement in my life. In weaving, two sets of threads are interlaced at right angles to each other: the warp, which runs longitudinally, and the woof that crosses it.

As a Master Weaver, the Lord has woven together such a lovely, ornate, and dignified tapestry. The warp represents the things in my life that are earthly, such as my body, soul, spirit, relationships with people, my loved ones, my property, and all that which concerns me.  The woof represents the Lord God’s divine involvement in each of those areas all along the way, some of which I was aware of and others that I was unaware of.

This royal tapestry is lovelier than anything we have ever seen on earth.  And when my earthly life is completed, I believe the Lord will have this tapestry on display in my heavenly mansion, perhaps hanging on a beautiful wall in one of my rooms.

Confirmation
Since I wrote this blog and posted it on February 1, 2012, the Holy Spirit confirmed that what He showed me in my prayer time that day was in fact from Him and not my imagination.  Let me share that confirmation with you.

On the same day I posted this blog.  At dinner that evening, I shared with my family what the Lord showed me during my prayer time that morning.  After dinner, I posted a short blog about it, found a suitable photo (see the one above), and called the article "Divine Tapestry."  Later during our evening prayer time as a family, my oldest daughter had the following vision.  Although she had not seen the blog, or the photo I selected, she said, "As I prayed with my eyes closed, everything wasn't completely black.  Images began to pop up, one which appeared as an ornately designed, blue diamond shape.  The vision stayed for a while, and as it began to fade away, I saw myself lowering down closer to this tapestry kind of thing.  I can't really describe it in words, although I can say that possibly you could compare it to a Persian rug.  When I first saw this, I closed my eyes tighter, but it remained until the end of the [prayer] meeting."

This revelation of the Holy Spirit clearly confirms for me the truth of what the Lord showed me personally on February 1.

Putting it All Together
Let me encourage you that the Lord is doing the same in your life also.  As you go through the trials, tribulations, crises, and cares of life, present all things to the Lord by prayer and supplication.  If you pray believing in Jesus Christ, trusting in His love and power to intervene, then He will bless you.  And He will use those experiences, especially your praise and worship to Him in the midst of those experiences, to weave together a design that will bring glory to His name, but will also be very personal and meaningful to you throughout eternity.

Image credit: Image of Medieval Fleurs Chenille tapestry from Charlotte Home Furnishings.

Author's Note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the Main Directory. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Resurrection Outworking in Us

How many of you know what kind of processor you have in your PC? Unlike in the 1980's, today many people do know.

For example, mine is an Intel processor. How do I know? Well, there's a sticker right on the outside of the case that says, "Intel Pentium 4 HT inside." Intel processors played a central role in transforming the PC.

In fact, it was the tiny processor that drove the rapid increase in the performance of computers. Today, the Intel Core i7, clocks 3.2 GHz, which is incredibly fast!

Although the processor was only an individual component of the computer, Intel wanted the consumer to know it was inside. So the Intel Inside® Program was launched in 1991. They marketed this single component directly to consumers. Now Intel is one of the top ten known-brands in the world, up there beside Coke, Disney, and McDonalds.

Listen to Audio Recording of this Sermon

Preached in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA

April 24, 2011

Intel wanted the consumer to know what was inside their computer. Likewise, the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, wants believers in Christ to know the treasure we have inside.

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:6-18)

I’d like us to consider the practical outworking of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in our lives.

Resurrection Power Inside
Because of His resurrection from the dead, we have Resurrection Power Inside! I should mention that this parody use of the Intel logo to the left is not to be confused with the actual Intel logo. The resurrection power inside of the believer is not for sale and it never will be. You can't buy it. And it's more powerful than any computer processor man could ever produce!

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. God has shone in our hearts. Jesus is the Light. He’s inside!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. The resurrection power I'm talking about that we have inside is of God and not ourselves. That’s real treasure!

Life Inside
In addition to resurrection power inside, we have life inside. We are constantly being delivered over to death. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Ever wonder why bad things happen to God’s people? Paul had many hardships (listed in 2 Cor 11:23-29). He said, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure. In our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” (2 Co 1:8, 9a). He was hard-pressed on every side. (2 Co 4:8).

As believers we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. The Lord allows these things, so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Co 1:9). “We carry around in our body the death of Jesus.” “We are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.” As a result, the life of Jesus is manifested in our mortal flesh. It's a new life! An eternal life!

Death works in us, but life in you. The apostle Paul had a great perspective regarding his afflictions. He wrote, “So death works in us, but life in you.” He saw every one of his hardships as being for the benefit of others.

If you are not seeing life coming forth in others, maybe death is not at work in you.
Is death working in you? If so, it will bring life to others. “Those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him…” (5:15) Are you living for yourself or for Him who died for you and was raised again?

“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.” 2 Co 13:4. There's always this weakness-power, life-death paradox in the life of the believer.

Faith, Hope and Grace Inside
In addition to life inside, we have faith, hope and grace inside.

Paul said, “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,’ we also believe, therefore we also speak.” We believe, therefore we speak (v.13) – That’s faith!

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Real faith produces actions. It is because we believe that we speak. If you believe, you will speak. “You will be my witnesses…” (Ac 1:8). You will speak to whomever the Lord wants you to speak to. You will speak wherever the Lord wants you to speak. You will speak whenever the Lord wants you to speak.

“Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.” He who raised Jesus will raise us (v.14). That’s hope!

We have the hope of the future resurrection of the dead. We’re not planning on dying, we’re planning on living forever in glory. “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” (2Co 5:1-4). God has pledged it with the deposit of His Spirit, so it’s GUARANTEED (5:5).

“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” Grace may cause thanks to abound (v.15). That’s grace!

How often do we wonder why we are going through something? Sometimes the Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” As Paul saw it, all the things that happened to him were for the sake of others. The grace of God inside of us, enabling us to go through these things, spreads to others. It causes more and more people to give thanks for the gracious favor granted to us in answer to the prayers of many (to the glory of God).

Putting it All Together
Now that we have considered the practical outworking of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in our lives, we can see that because of His resurrection from the dead, we have:

• Resurrection Power Inside (Jesus Himself, the Light has shone in our hearts)
• Life Inside
• Faith, Hope and Grace Inside

It’s a great treasure we have in earthen vessels. Let’s continually dial up that awareness.
Paul put it like this: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Co 13:5).

Let’s encourage one another in our hardships. Don’t lose heart. They’re producing something.

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Co 4:16-18)

We may not be able to see what God is doing inside our hearts, but it’s eternal. On a scale, that glory far outweighs our temporary afflictions.

Look not at what is seen, but at what is unseen – that which is eternal.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's Note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the Main Directory. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.