those who patiently endure testing receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.
Jesus tells a church not to fear suffering, remain faithful even facing death and receive the crown of life
10 Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Paul says the crown of righteousness awaits him and all who eagerly look forward to Christ's appearing
8 From now on, there is stored 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 those who have loved his appearing.
the 24 elders fall down, lay their crowns before the throne and say you are worthy
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
worthy is the lamb to receive power riches wisdom strength honor glory and blessing, all creation responds
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
Brian prays ask and I will give you the nations as your inheritance
1 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:
6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7 I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This was the fifth and final message in the Full Reward series. Brian worked through what the Bible says about the reward Jesus brings when he returns, and what we are meant to do with it. The death of Charlie Kirk wove through the whole conversation as a present-day example of what faithful endurance looks like, and what it costs.
What was said
Brian opened in Revelation 22:12, where Jesus says he is coming soon and his reward is with him, to repay each person according to their works. With five weeks of context behind them, Brian asked the room to think about what that reward actually is, and the honest answer he landed on is that scripture describes it several different ways. Paul talks about gold refined through fire in first Corinthians. Peter calls faith more precious than gold. Jesus tells a parable in Luke 19 where a faithful servant is handed governance of ten cities. None of those descriptions map neatly onto each other, but Brian said they all point toward honor, victory, and increased responsibility, and the symbol that holds them together is a crown.
He walked through several crown passages, and at each stop the congregation filled in the discussion. The crown of life in James 1:12 comes to those who patiently endure testing. The same crown is promised in Revelation 2:10 to those who remain faithful even facing death. The crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8 awaits all who eagerly look forward to the return of Jesus. Brian paused on the word crown and pointed out that the image the New Testament writers had in mind was not a jeweled royal crown but a laurel of olive leaves, the kind placed on an Olympic victor. The reward is about victory and achievement, not pageantry.
Charlie Kirk had come up in the previous week's service, and Brian returned to him here deliberately, aware that no other pastor in his valley text thread was doing the same. He asked the room to hold two things at once: you can grieve a man's death and disagree with his politics, and you can dislike his tactics and still call him a brother in Christ who was murdered for his faith. Brian argued that the bedrock of Kirk's public platform was scripture, and that Kirk had openly spoken about a defining encounter with Jesus in high school. Several people in the room added their own reflections, and the conversation moved toward what faithful endurance under threat of death actually requires, which brought them back to the theme of abiding from 2 John.
Brian made a point that stopped the room. He said that when Jesus came the first time, people rejected him not because of who he was but because of the wrapping paper, a package of poverty and humility from no noble background, a man who ate with notorious sinners. Brian said he sees the same pattern now. Millions in the church have rejected what Kirk stood for because they disagree with the wrapping paper of his political activism, and in the days ahead Brian expects that pattern to repeat as Jesus drops more and more into the world to prepare hearts for his return.
The series came to its intended landing point in Revelation 4 and 5. The 24 elders receive their crowns and then lay them before the throne, saying, you are worthy. Brian read the description of Jesus in Revelation 19 and noted that on his head are many crowns, crowns that the saints have given back to him. The logic of the whole series resolved here: we work for a full reward so that we have more to lay at his feet. He closed by connecting the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross to the crowns his people will one day return to him, and said the only reason anyone willingly gives back what they have earned is because they have come to understand that he is worthy.
The service closed with extended prayer for the memorial service taking place that day in Phoenix, where Brian expected the gospel to be proclaimed to one of the largest audiences it has ever reached. The congregation prayed specifically for college students and for a harvest of souls.
Touch points
Things you could actually do this week.
Take the specific worry you named during worship this week and, each time it comes back to your mind, say out loud 'I trust you, God' instead of turning it over again.
Write down the scripture addresses from this morning's sermon and spend time this week reading each one in its full context, asking the Holy Spirit to make them personal to you.
Identify one person in the Jackson Hole area who has hurt or offended you, and consciously choose not to carry that wound when you next see them, letting your response show them something of the Father's love.
Ask yourself honestly this week whether there is a present God has placed in front of you that you have been rejecting because you dislike the wrapping paper, and sit with that question in prayer.
Pray specifically for the college students and young people who heard the gospel at the memorial service today, asking God to protect what was planted in their hearts and bring them into his kingdom.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages
in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
Brian talked about laying down your worries at the foot of the cross and naming them out loud. What makes that kind of surrender feel easy or hard for you in practice, and what has actually helped you let go of something you were carrying?
Donna shared that you have to open your hands to surrender before you can receive the good gifts the Father has for you. Is there something you are still holding onto that might be getting in the way of receiving from God right now?
Brian cerró la serie "Full Reward" con una reflexión sobre la palabra "digno". A partir de Apocalipsis 22:12, donde Jesús promete regresar pronto trayendo su recompensa, exploró qué significa esa recompensa: no la salvación en sí, sino algo adicional ganado por la fidelidad en esta vida. Usando imágenes de coronas en varios pasajes, explicó que la corona que los escritores del Nuevo Testamento tenían en mente no era una corona de rey con joyas, sino una corona de laurel como la de los atletas olímpicos, símbolo de victoria y logro. La culminación del sermón fue que un día los redimidos tomarán esas coronas ganadas y las pondrán a los pies de Jesús, porque él es digno de recibirlas.
Gran parte de la conversación giró en torno a la muerte reciente de Charlie Kirk. Brian reconoció que habrá quien no comparta sus posturas políticas o su estilo, pero invitó a separar eso de la pregunta central: ¿proclamó el evangelio de Jesús y fue fiel hasta el final? Usó la parábola de Apocalipsis 2:10 para conectar el martirio o el riesgo de vida con la corona prometida a quienes permanecen fieles. También hizo una observación que quedó resonando: así como Israel rechazó a Jesús porque no llegó en el envoltorio que esperaban, muchos en la iglesia hoy han rechazado el mensaje de Kirk por el envoltorio de su activismo político.
Al cerrar, Brian señaló que el punto final de toda la serie es este: trabajamos para recibir una recompensa plena no para quedárnosla, sino para tener más que ofrecer de vuelta a aquel que es digno. La corona de espinas que Jesús llevó en la cruz es la contraparte de la corona que nosotros recibiremos, y devolverla a sus pies es la respuesta natural de quien entiende quién es él realmente.
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Pasajes bíblicos usados:
Apocalipsis 22:12
2 Juan 1:8
Salmos 139:16
1 Corintios (referencia a oro, plata y madera en la obra)
Lucas 19:17
Santiago 1:12
Apocalipsis 2:10
2 Timoteo 4:8
1 Pedro 5:4
Apocalipsis 4:10-11
Apocalipsis 5:12-13
Apocalipsis 19:12
Salmos 2 (mencionado en la oración de intercesión)
Read the full transcript8,073 words
What a unique day. Now we got a frog in the a frog in the line. Come again. Good morning. If you're joining us on the livestream, we're just waiting for our local friends to arrive.
Our friends, just us, Caroline. It's the way you like it. You. We're to the presence of of your your holy holy spirit. Spirit.
We're We've come to be worship you today. We're coming with a heart of worship. We tell you we love you this morning. We threw off anything that would hinder us today. In Jesus name, amen.
Let's stand together. Sing that from the tongue. I'm coming with a heart of worship. I'm bringing in a brand new song. I'm ready to see the unthinkable.
I'm ready for a miracle. Hearts praying for a fresh encounter. Souls looking to the living God. I'm ready for a real revival. You.
In this place today. We're gathered here today to lift your name on high, to glorify you. We gather today to worship the king of kings and the lord of lords. That's where we fix our eyes and our heart today on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith today. We fix our eyes on you this morning, Tell you you are good all the time even when we don't understand.
You are good. You are working all things for the good of those who are called according to your purposes, and you are faithful. You are faithful God. Just thank him this morning.
You're a
faithful God.
And
can trust you, God. God. And I can trust you, God. Just take a minute and just lay back down at the foot of his cross, the things that you've been worrying about. And just in your mind's eye, just take your hands and lay it down and just name it.
Name what it is that you've been worrying about. Because the Bible says to be anxious for nothing. It's a trade, but instead, you laid at the foot of his cross. You thank him for what he's already done, and then you make your request known. That's in Philippians.
And so, Lord, right now, we just take those things we've been worrying about. We lay them back down. And then just say out loud when you do that. Just say, I trust you, god. I trust you, god.
I trust you, god. Let your trust in him take away that worry because you can trust in him. I trust you god. I trust you god. I laid my kids at the feet of the surrender all.
Lord, let these not just be words from our lips. Let these be our hearts we are obedient, that we would lay everything down at the foot of your cross, that we would actually apply our faith and our trust, and that we would discipline our minds when we worry. We would discipline our minds to not be in control, but to trust you. Your ways are higher than our ways. Your ways are always better.
Toby, trust you this morning. And where we have not, Lord, let us be quick to repent. Where we've walked in sin of trying to do it on our own, Lord. Today, we just say, I surrender it all to you again, all to you again, all to you again. Thank you that you made a direct path to your grace and your mercy.
The going able And do might be speaking. And Because in our own quiet time, he's speaking to us. He's speaking to us. He's speaking to us. But then when we gather, he speaks to us sometimes corporately.
So maybe we'll just take another minute before we move on to the next kind of worship. And maybe the Lord was speaking something to you to share in this place this morning. Just take a minute. Just be courageous. Just speak it out.
We have a mic in the room so that our livestream family can hear you. And yeah. Donna, we'll get you the mic.
As we were worshiping this morning and we were singing about how good our father is. Lord reminded me of the scripture that how we be as an earthly father and how we long to give good gifts to our children. How much greater could our heavenly father be? And then as we flowed into I surrender all, he told me, if you can't open your hands and to surrender to him, you can't receive those good gifts. You've gotta let go of what's been holding you back.
Maybe it's pain. Maybe it's hurt. Maybe it's rejection. The biggest thing that the enemy uses against the body of Christ. Because we are the church.
We are the church. This building's not the church. None of those buildings in town where
people are gathering this morning are
the church. We are the church and we've got to show them that the father has good gifts. Yeah. We got to show them. We can surrender.
Maybe they hurt us. Maybe someone right here in this area of Jackson Hole has hurt you. Show em that the father gives the gift of love through you. Don't hold back. Just carry that hurt to the foot of the cross and say, lord, they hurt me.
They wounded me. They offended me. They rejected me. They talked about me behind my back. They made a fool out of me but father, I'm laying it at your cross.
I surrender it to you and I'm not gonna turn around and carry it with me. And when I see them the next time, father, they're gonna see that the old hurts and the wounds of the past affect me no more. So, I can show them the love of the father and they can one day surrender at the cross.
So good. So, we receive, we receive that. Thank you for that. Anyone else?
Holy Spirit, thank you for the sweetness of your presence in this form of worship. Soften our hearts, open our ears and our minds to what you would have for us in our next form of worship. We tell you one more time, we love you, Jesus. When my kids were little, they'd come home from school at the little art project about, you know, maybe drawing a picture or a little crayon scribbled note of, like, like, thanks mom or dad. Let's be honest, mom got a lot more than dad did.
Right? But it would go right on our fridge, and your heavenly father loves to hear your voice. Would you do this just loud enough for your own ears to hear you? Would you just tell him words of affection ion from your heart? You can tell him thank you or I love you or whatever it is.
He has enough magnets that all of these words of affection can go on his fridge. He's got plenty of magnets. Let's fill up his fridge. Oh, how he loves to hear that. Corporately, we tell you, Jesus, that we love you and we trust you.
I trust you, Jesus.
Thank you, father. Yes. We pray all of these things by the authority and with the power of your precious son, Jesus. And all God's people said Amen. Amen.
Amen. Around. Give somebody a high five. Wipe a tear from their cheek, and let's settle in. Good morning.
I heard it. I really I'm moderately confident. I'm moderately confident that today we'll wrap up this series of full reward. Maybe not fully confident and not doubtful. I'm moderately confident that we will wrap up this series.
We'll take it. Has this been a valuable series for you? Don't placate me with okay. Wow. So it's been good for one person.
It's all that matters. Yes. It's all that matters. And for me, I really and for for me, being obedient is the is the main thing. You know, there are things that I experience and encounter and there's a tension for me to manage between expressing personal thoughts, views, emotions, opinions, and sharing with you the truth from god's word sharing with you the truth from God's word.
And sometimes it can be challenging to discern the two. And I I mentioned this last week, like, really of my own, in this place, I have nothing to offer of value. But what I try each and every week to do is ask the Lord how do you want to love your people this week? How do you want to lead your people this week? And I try really hard to to do that.
And this week we are going to wrap up this series of conversations that we've been in called Full Reward. This is week five. We've actually maybe been in this for a few more weeks than five, but we've been hither and dither, and so according to my calculations, this is week five. We're gonna try really hard to land the plane here, and the title of the conversation that we're going to have this morning is called worthy. Just one word, worthy.
Where have we been starting each and every week with these conversations? If you have your bible with you this morning, would you turn to and where have we been endlessly? Second John. We have just been camped out in second John. If you have a bible with you this morning, do not turn to second John.
The bible just went down.
Yeah. It's like yeah. It's too if you have a bible with you this morning, turn to the book of Revelation.
Here we go. Here we go.
Oh, I haven't even started y'all. Revelation chapter 22 verse 12. Would somebody please read that? This morning, Huxley has the mic, and he'll be running the mic Obviously, we don't need the mic in this small venue, but the mic is for all of our friends and families that are traveling and watching the livestream. And so that's why we have the mic in the room.
But we have one verse, and you can read it either from your translation or from up on the screen. But would somebody please read Revelation chapter 22 verse 12?
And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his work.
Okay. It's always important to to get the the most out of the passage, especially if we're going to just read one verse. There are a number of occasions today that we're gonna just read one verse. You have to be careful when the preacher, like, really launches just off of one verse because the you don't always have the benefit of the context of the versus before or versus after. So just be mindful.
Be edge be smart. Be smart sheep. Who wrote the book of Revelation? John. And who is John?
The one whom Jesus loved the most that self proclaimed. So that is true about him. What else about John? He ran faster than Peter to the tomb. Yep.
Yep. Yep. And he had to put that flex in there. What else about John? John was exiled for a number of years on the Island Of Patmos.
He finally was released and then came back to love and and help shepherd the churches that he planted in what's known as modern day Turkey today, but he was exiled on the island Of Patmos for a while. The the the main thing I know that you'd be like, well, I yeah, was just about to say this is John, the author of the book of Revelation, was a disciple of Jesus and was an apostle or a sent one. And he wrote the gospel of John, first, second, and third John, and the book of Revelation. So that gives us some context about Exiled. So he was arrested because the political system of the day didn't know what to do with this guy.
They tried to kill him by boiling him in oil, and he was like, I had to try harder than that. My work's not done. And they're like, I don't know. Let's exile him out onto a remote island. While he was on this remote island, he records that he was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and he has this incredible encounter with the Lord.
Of revelation. Writes it down. He writes it down, and that's what call that's what we have as the book of Revelation. That's a yeah. That's a good summary.
That is a really good quiet time if you get the book of Revelation to come out of that. And so that's the context of the author and when it was written. Now let's look at this verse specifically. Look. I am coming soon.
In this verse, who is speaking? Jesus. Now what we can't cover by the the verses preceding and the verses after, we can still lay a bit of a foundation by giving you some a little bit of context about John and the writing of this book. So you are you are correct. Jesus is speaking, and he says this, look, which means consider, take note of, do not treat casually, stop what you're doing because I'm about to ruin the images.
Never mind. No. No. No. No.
No. Look. I am coming soon bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to Gretchen, your translation said, works?
According to his works.
Okay. Now if you were to separate the last five weeks that we've been in this, you might interpret this verse either by scratching your head or you're not quite sure or or you could misinterpret this verse, but I want you to put your full reward glasses on for a moment considering second John one eight where we've been. And I'd like to hear from you what does Jesus mean by this passage in light of what we've been talking about. You tell me. Does my question make sense?
Yes. It does. Yes, in light of full reward. Here's what this passage here's what Jesus is getting at with this passage. Couple things.
You don't necessarily need to write this down. Number one, his return he says is soon. Number two, he's bringing what he says my reward, but when he says my reward, is that reward for him? No. Who is the reward for?
Is it a present that we don't deserve? Correct. It is, think of it in terms of wages earned from work done. And I will repay all people according to their deeds or one more time Gretchen, works? Works.
His work. His work. Oh, yeah. Each person's work. Now there should be a hyper and you can you can make this actual note in your bible with a pen that's on your seat next to the connect card there of what passage in Psalms.
All of my deeds have been recorded in your book. Psalms one thirty nine, is it verse 16? We're I mean, we've only been there a 100 times. It's not in my notes right now. But the idea is that when Jesus returns, he's going to bring our reward with him.
Here's a question that I have. What exactly is that reward? What exactly is it? It material? Is it physical?
Can we touch it? Can we put it on a shelf? Exactly what is it? So is the reward proximity and unity with Jesus? I would say, yes.
Yes. Yes. I think that's part of the package. Okay. Somehow
it's something on top of salvation. Yes. It's not salvation.
That's It's not salvation. Earned. Right.
Of our deeds. It's something different than salvation.
Okay. So so so listen. In in first Corinthians, I love to see your little hands popping up. I'll I'll I'll get to you. In first Corinthians, Paul talks about our reward, and he uses a a metaphor of gold that's refined, things that we build with gold, silver, and jewels, those are refined.
Our works or deeds done in the flesh, wood, hay, and straw consumed by the fire. So Paul talks about gold, like like actual gold. Then Peter, and we've covered all of these verses, says that the reward is our faith, which is more precious than gold. Is it proximity? Is it actual gold?
Is it our faith? What is the actual reward? Now let's turn to another passage to get any to get even more confused for just a moment. Luke 19. Jesus is telling a parable and a parable is a word that is only ever used in church and all of us spend more well, I mean, I spend a lot of time in the church, but this building is not the church.
But the word parable is not used at your I mean, when's the last time you heard the word parable at work? Or or like out on the soccer pitch? Or at the cowboy bar? Like, no. We don't use it.
A parable is what? It is a little story with a big meaning. A parable is a little story with a big meaning. Jesus is telling a parable. And in Luke chapter 19 verse 17, we get towards the end of the parable, and Jesus is speaking, and he says this.
He's speaking in the voice of the king. Well done, king exclaimed, you are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I have entrusted you. So, you will be governor of 10 cities as your what? Reward.
I said that we we this passage was mentioned here in church a couple of years ago when we were talking about the return of Jesus and finish line waiting and Nancy was like, oh lord, I can barely manage my own household. I don't need 10 cities as my reward. Yeah, right. Yeah. Yeah.
Right. Right. So I get it. I get it. But look, Paul talks about gold in first Corinthians.
Peter talks about faith more precious than gold. Jesus tells a parable where this reward is the increased the the honor of increased responsibility and prestige. So what what is it? I wrote this down in my notes. To be honest, the reward is somewhat unclear.
It's talked about a lot of different ways from a lot of different angles. I mean is it gold or is it governance of cities? Hard to connect those two with a thread, so what is it? But all of these things represent honor, victory, achievement, increased responsibility in the millennial reign of Jesus, and all of them can be symbolized by a crown. It was a good point to go, This symbol of a crown is spoken of in several different ways.
And in fact, I remember when Joy was serving on staff, we had talked about doing a series on all of the different crowns mentioned in the bible, and we're gonna look at just a few of those, but in a Venn diagram, they all fit kind of within the same circle. But hang a right to the book of James near Revelation. A real tour today. Sometimes we camp out in one spot. Sometimes we're on the move.
James chapter one. I'll put it up there. Verse 12. James chapter one verse 12. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Temptation. Afterward, when does the reward come? After. Afterward. After what?
Patiently enduring testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that god has promised to those who love him. And this word love him, what did Jesus say about that in John? If you love me, you will me. Obey me.
Obedience according to the plan that he has for us each day and for our life. Reward is attached to obedience, and it is symbolized James uses the language of a crown. Let's go to another place talking about a crown. Revelation. Back to Revelation.
Yes. We are on the we're on the move today. Revelation chapter two verse 10. So here's my here's my goal. When when whenever we preach, we, when we do this together, my hope is that when as we're going through this material, going through these verses, that you would get the highlights, you get the key points, which is the word of God, and every now and then, like, a memorable phrase, like every moment matters when forever is your measure.
I got that. But that you would be taking notes and you would be writing these addresses down so that you can come back later, look at the greater context, chew on it, consider it, and see if the Holy Spirit wouldn't create a hyperlink in your heart for a great quiet time as you unpack these yourselves. Can anybody remember the very first address that we went to this morning? Alright. Good.
I'll ask you again tomorrow, and you'll be able to use your notes if you're taking them. James chapter one verse 12, we just read. Now Revelation chapter two verse 10. Jesus is speaking to a church in in the New Testament, and he says this, don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you.
You will suffer for ten days, but if you remain faithful even when facing death, and the clear implication is that some of you will die for your faith. I will give you the crown of life. Let me read it one more time, and then I have a a question for you. Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into a prison to test you.
You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Here's the question. How do you think this passage applies to Charlie Kirk? This I will wait for discussion.
According to the fruit of his life that we are now still seeing the fruit which is what should be for every believer that their ministry and their fruit continues to produce whether they're here or not. He has received the crown of life which to me is eternity in heaven.
His
his fruit is still producing even though he's not the one saying it.
I like how you emphasize the fruit of his life. Hugs right here.
I think he he knew that he had the opportunity to face death based on how outspoken he was, so being faithful throughout that, his his ministry and his life was he was facing death, but I think this speaks more to his wife and children now. And I pray that they encounter this these verses. Because I'm sure when you lose your husband like that, it feels like death. Yeah.
Yeah. Hadn't thought of that.
Obviously, is controversy around this, but I think that if you can set aside, just like with all of us, we have different viewpoints and opinions, and if you can set aside his political views and anything like that, which we, you know, as a free country, we all can have different opinions on. And you were to just look at, did he stand on the word of God to the best of his ability and go into a generation that is seemingly, you know, moving further and further and further away from the biblical truths. That the fact that he kept doing what he was doing regardless of whether you liked how he did it or his personality, totally we can all have our own views. But if we all were to drill down to the core, did he preach Jesus? The answer is yes.
And so I think that that part of remaining faithful, like it's a it's a I think for all of us eating the meat and spitting out the bones, did he remain faithful to what he read in scripture regardless of being popular or facing death. I mean he received millions of death threats and he still went out there and did that. So he stood on some truth that he believed in and so that's how I see this is just that ability. I think to myself, would I have if I had received death threats? Would I continue to go out in public regardless of the platform or how I did it or what my other views were?
So yeah, think it's a his life to me is a challenge. What do I stand on? What do I believe in? And would I go out even though and continue to do what I felt like God called me to do?
What's the scripture that we keep going back to you said from the beginning, and this was John something? Second John one eight. And in in that, the next verse after that talks about the work being defined as abiding in me as the work. And I feel like if a guy like Charlie Kirk or any of us are abiding in God truly, then fear of death, fear of man, fear of being shot, fear of being mocked, and hearing your call and understanding your call is gonna be clearer and more just you have to do it because you're abiding in him. So that to me feels like the core of any of this to get there, to get the crown of life, is that verse you keep going back to, which is the next verse after that, says, you know, did you abide in me?
Are you abiding in me? Yeah. Abiding. Abiding.
We always think of abiding in Jesus as wonderful and sweet and, you know, sitting in the as it says in the Song of Solomon, sitting under the shade tree feeding me with apples. In Song of Solomon abiding. A lot of people don't like to think of abiding with Jesus will get you killed.
Just like it did him.
And saints before him. Now there would be those who would say, Charlie Kirk was killed for his political views. Well, would question back where did he get those political views from? The bedrock foundation of his political platform was the Bible. That he talks about frequently and regularly having a radical encounter with Jesus, I believe as a sophomore in high school, and getting saved and beginning to abide with Jesus.
Now maybe you would think, like, are we really talking about him again in church this week? The answer is yes. We are. Kirk Church. In German maybe?
Scottish. Well, how about that? I'm on a group thread with other pastors of the Valley, and last week after his murder, I asked, like, are y'all y'all gonna say anything? One church was like, yep, they devoted a whole sermon to it. Another church was like, oh, the message has already been prerecorded, that's what's gonna roll out.
Another church I was checked in with said that they made nominal mention of it. I would say last week we mentioned Charlie Kirk. This week we're talking about him again in my text thread with pastors of churches this week. I checked in with him how and none of them are talking about him this week. It's just an observation.
I am. I am. How were the the disciples dismayed?
They were broken.
They were broken. Wounded.
They were scared. A lot of them were hiding.
Were hiding.
They were searching in their heart. Why? Why did this happen? Why did this happen to the one who only spoke the gospel?
Yeah. Kat, what were you gonna say? You had the mic. Right? Before we get too far go ahead.
Sure. This verse seems pretty daunting, but what I love about the first sentence, don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Charlie's number one thing was to be a happy warrior. So if you wanna take anything away Try to
let some air out of the balloon of resistance or fussiness by saying, did you know that you can grieve the loss of his life and disagree with his politics? Politics. You can do that. Did you know that you can dislike his tactics and still call him a brother in Christ. That was murdered for his faith.
And did you know that you can be a democrat and share the same biblical values that he had? You would be surprised at how many people act in the church, in tribe, and in Jackson. Lock up at that. It's worth reading one more time. Did you know that you can be a democrat and share the same biblical values that he did?
You can. Today, they're having a memorial service for him in Phoenix at a football stadium that can hold 66,000 people. Last night at 2AM there were thousands of people gathered waiting to go into the service. They even rented the hockey arena next door as an overflow for his memorial service. And this likely, what's unfolding right now and will unfold today, will be probably in all likelihood the single largest the proclamation of the gospel to the single largest audience in human history?
And there are millions in the church who have gotten distracted by a narrative that causes them to reject him and the biblical values that he stood for in the proclamation of his savior Jesus, and that breaks my heart. One thing one more thing to say about this and then continue on. This is why my heart is so troubled and grieved personally about this. But then I have a duty and a responsibility when I sit here, set that aside, personal stuff aside. But in this seat, my heart grieves because history is repeating.
I see history repeating itself. When Jesus came the first time, the world, nation of Israel, was expecting him to be a liberator, a conqueror, a redeemer, a savior, and he was all of those things, but the present came wrapped in a package of poverty and humility and came from no nobility. He sat with notorious sinners. He had meals with prostitutes, and people rejected him, the present, because of the wrapping paper. That is exactly like the character nature and character of God.
And I would suggest to you that the same thing is happening today. Don't hear what I'm not saying? I am not saying that Charlie is Jesus. What I am saying is that millions in the church that proclaim to love and follow Jesus have rejected the present of Charlie Kirk because they disagree with the wrapping paper of his political activism. That was really good.
Thank you, holy spirit. Thank you, holy spirit. Wow. That was really good. And my heart grieves because in the days ahead, more this will happen more and more and more and more.
I'm not talking about maybe necessarily Christian martyrs, but what I'm saying is Jesus is going to drop more and more presence in trying to prepare the hearts for his return. And more and more people will reject the present because they disagree or are confused by the wrapping paper. Let's talk about that. I have no eloquent segue. Next verse.
Second Timothy. Second Timothy four eight. Now the prize awaits me. Paul, who wrote the book of Timothy, is speaking to one of his proteges, ministry leaders. And he says this.
It's a letter to Timothy. He usually addresses my dear son or my son in the faith, Timothy. Paul is speaking. Now the prize awaits me. The crown of righteousness.
There's that crown again. The crown of life, the crown of victory, the crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, will give me when? On the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me, but for all who eagerly look forward to finish line waiting if that phrase resonates with you. Thank you, Chris.
Look forward to his appearing. First Peter. This is a, let me just read this one to you. We'll put it up here. First Peter five four.
And when the great shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never ending glory and honor. These passages that we've talked about, a crown, what mental image comes into your mind when you hear this word crown? Royalty, bedazzled, like like Brad Wolf's back pockets. No. No.
Don't tell him. We love you, Brad Wolf. He loves his bedazzled jeans. Oh, buddy. Okay.
Go back. Go back.
Remember that? Oh.
We take our faith but not ourselves seriously. So many people get the idea in their mind when you hear this word crown like like like royalty. You know, pointy things and big gaudy jewels. And have any of you ever been to the Tower Of London and seen the crown jewels? The the scepter and the crown and the thing and the thing on the and it's worth quadrillions of dollars, and you can't stop, but you have to walk by, you have to keep walking, but you can kinda like, look, and then you have to keep going.
That's the image that we think of when we think of crown, but that's not the image that Jesus was thinking of, that the writers of the passages that we were thinking of. The the more accurate image of a crown looked more like this image here, Joe. Maybe next slide. No. No.
It's just a picture. There it is. Sorry. Maybe I had them out of order. A laurel of olive leaves woven together and placed on a person's head.
Now when you see a laurel of olive leaves, what hyperlink is in your mind? The Olympics. That is exactly what is intended. So so the Olympics were happening in Jesus' day. Crazy.
And guess how they guess how they performed in their events? Naked. Naked. Naked. Yeah.
As a side note, I had to keep your attention. All so so afterwards, when the winner was announced, he would receive a crown, but it wasn't a bedazzled gold things that sits on top of your head. It was a laurel of olive leaves. This is the crown that Jesus is thinking of. This is the crown that the New Testament writers are thinking of.
Not of royalty, but of victory and of achievement. That's another good spot to go. Yeah. Let's let's let's go there. No?
No? Alright. Amanda's like, But I'll say it anyways.
Enemy can only counterfeit. Right? He can never create. And so when the bible talks about the four horsemen coming, one of them is wearing a laurel. I don't know what the word is in there.
First horse, the white horse
that
goes out.
Yes. And so it'll be such a counterfeit of Jesus' return, riding on a white horse wearing one of these.
Mhmm.
And so at first, you're like, oh, it's Jesus. But if you really read, you're like, no. It's not. That's the antichrist. So people will fall for that, you know, because it's gonna look the same.
It's just a counterfeit version. Yes. Which is why Jesus constantly says, warning, like, beware. Be on watch. Come
inside. You know?
Yes. How is, according to that passage in Revelation, how is the antichrist released? Who or what mechanism releases the antichrist? The being opened and who?
That's released by Jesus opening the scroll. He's the only one that can.
Jesus breaks the seals, opens the scroll, and with that at Jesus' action Mhmm. The antichrist is released, which gives us great hope and peace and confidence that even the antichrist and his destructive agenda is under the control of king Jesus. Only one murderer. He's the only one what's the word? Worry.
Okay. We've touched on a lot of topics. Topics. Let's just push on one more button since we're on a roll. Right?
I wish Jay were here because his eyebrows would be wiggling. Do it. Do it. We receive our reward according to scripture when Jesus returns. Now there's a lot of buzz going around that on the Jewish feast or God's family tradition of Rosh Hashanah, which is this coming week, that the rapture of the church could occur, pulling the church off the earth before the tribulation starts.
I'm not asking if you believe it. I'm asking, have you heard of this? Raise your hand. This week. This week.
We all know Jacob. Yeah.
We heard. We all know Jacob.
Listen. If if
if
the global body of Christ is poofed next week, it must mean that we will be done with the serious and the adversary. The one contribution and with every head bowed and every eye comes, that was really good.
Have prepared us perfectly. On
our pastor's council, his one contribution in sixteen months. Well, well played, well played.
It's going to happen. This year, this time it's going to happen.
Here we are again. Here we are again. So I would say this about, well here we are this year, this year is unique, This is unique. There are a number of let's say let's just say I'm making up an arbitrary number of 10 boxes that need to be checked for Jesus to return. Throughout history, let's say that there's been three boxes that have been checked, and then every now and then, we get to, like, four, maybe five boxes.
Like, boxes being checked is a lot closer to his return than two boxes being checked. And what are those boxes? That's a whole another series that I may not start have to start next week. I'd say maybe there are six or seven boxes that are checked this time around, but not 10. You don't come back at seven boxes checked, eight boxes checked, nine boxes checked, nine and a half boxes checked.
He comes back at 10 boxes being checked. Okay? So let me just say this. If the global body of Christ is poofed next week, it must mean that Jesus has come back in the second advent. Scripturally, you cannot separate the return of Jesus and the rapture of the saints.
Returns, when Jesus returns, he will physically return. The Bible tells us that he will set foot on the Mount Of Olives. That may not be where he lands on planet Earth, but he will set foot you can't set okay. He will set foot on the Mount Of Olives. He will rescue Israel that has fled the city of Jerusalem in the midst of unprecedented persecution.
Persecution in the form of a greater magnitude of a holocaust. He will be the ground force commander of the Israeli the defense form to force, thank you, Israeli defense force to retake the city of Jerusalem from the armies of the antichrist. He will cleanse a third temple that has been built, and the heart of the Jew will realize that Jesus is the Messiah and look to him for salvation. These are some of the things found in scripture that will happen when Jesus returns. You cannot separate the rapture of the church from the second coming of Jesus.
So if we are all poofed next week, there's a lot that's gonna unfold and happen. In seven days. In two days. Two days. Two days.
Okay, so let's land the plane with the favorite part to this is the beautifully the beautiful silk bow of this whole series. What are we going to do with the reward that we receive? We have earned it. It is ours. Jesus returns to give us the reward that we have earned.
Anything that we've built out of wood hand straws burned up, but we're not heartbroken by it. We don't walk around, like, bummed out because we receive the reward. Jesus has it in his hands when he returns. This is yours. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Revelation four ten through 11. This crown, what do we do with this crown? The 24 elders fall down, the grammar is intentional, meaning that it is ongoing outside of linear time. So I guess grammatically you could call that present progressive. Okay.
Getting a nod. The 24 elders fall down. It's happening right now. And worship the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their what?
Crowns before the throne and say, you are worthy. Oh lord, our god, to receive glory and power and honor for you created all things and they exist because you created what you pleased. Revelation chapter 19 verse 12. Description of Jesus. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many, what, crowns.
And a name was written on him that no one understood except himself. Listen. Listen. We received a crown and then out of thankfulness, gratitude, and adoration, we will take the crown we have received, that we have earned, and we will lay it at his feet. I kinda like to hold on to mine.
Why why why do the multitudes lay their crowns at his feet? Why? Because he is worthy. Last verse, Revelation five twelve through 13. Worthy.
I mean, we could just stop right there. Worthy is the lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing and I felt like he would kept going but he just ran out of adjectives and superlatives. And the response of all creation, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the lamb forever and ever. Why do we work for reward? Because that enables us to give back to him more.
When we get saved, we give him our sin and our shame and our failure And he he takes all of that as represented, pronounced in the curse in the garden that he wore for the world to see on the cross. And what was that? A crown of thorns. Wears the crown of thorns. We receive the crown of victory and honor, and we take the crown that we receive, and we are so glad to lay it at his feet.
Why? Because we have a full revelation and understanding that he is worthy. I want you to receive a full reward so that you will have more to lay back at his feet. Listen. Every moment matters when forever is your measure.
Holy Spirit, speak to us.
Of god and savior. Let's sing that again. Just think about that. Saints and angels that's deserve the glory. You.
Thank you. Oh, we're singing that just, I mean, just keep your heart open. I just feel like I just see this picture regardless of the human being that died that caused the gathering today regardless. If it was Charlie Kirk or someone else, can we just take a second as a church and that if his if god's word is preached today, his word, that's what matters. Yes.
That there would be a great, great harvest.
Oh, Jesus. There would be
a great harvest today because of god's word and the truth of his gospel being preached today. Yes, lord. Can we just take a minute? Can we just intercede? Yes.
I know that starts in about thirty minutes and then I I've heard that they're gonna do a call to salvation. We just pray today, god, right now. We intercede that there would be a great harvest for you, for your kingdom. A whole harvest of young people today, god, that you are calling forth. Ask, oh, Jesus.
Just intercede. Just lift your prayer up. Yes. That god's kingdom would expand today. Yes, sir.
Help me. Because of who god is.
Thank you.
And he is faithful.
Jesus. We ask you according to Psalms two, just ask and I will give you the nations as your inheritance. God, we ask for the nation of college students on campuses across America. Lord, with the truth of the gospel penetrate their hearts, cut through the lies and deception and misinformation, and penetrate their heart with the truth and the love of Jesus that Charlie Kirk lived his life for and that he boldly proclaimed. God, we ask for soft hearts today that there would be a great, great, great harvest of souls come into your kingdom today.
God, we ask you. You deserve the glory. No one no one else. One more time. Stay standing.
Look at me before I move. We're gonna we're gonna scootle out of here. We worship the lord in song. We worship the lord by honoring and considering the word that was preached today. We're going to worship the lord one more way with our tithes and offerings.
Y'all know how to give at tribe, and so you know what to do. I'm gonna pray over the offering and then I'll pray over you and then we will be dismissed. Okay? Jesus, every good and perfect gift comes down from the father of heavenly lights. Thank you for one more day in Jackson Hole.
Thank you for the jobs that we have. Thank you for the positions that you've placed us in even if it's difficult, challenging right now in this season. We thank you. Thank you for our health. Thank you for the job that we have.
Thank you for our finances. And Lord, by an expression of telling you that we love you and we trust you. We surrender a portion of your of our finances. God, I ask that you would receive these finances in the form of tithes and offerings to make your name famous here at Tribe in Jackson Hole, the surrounding region, and to the uttermost bounds of the earth. We pray these things in Jesus name and everybody said, amen.
Before I bless you to get you out of here, I need to ask my wife one question. I had to I had to clear it with mom before I asked for friends to come over. Livestream of the service is going to start. Here at Tribe, we have one more service to do. And then Lisa and I are gonna scurry down to our house, and we're gonna sit on the couch.
We have lots of pets. So allergens, beware but if you would like to join us to watch the memorial service, we'll we'll rewind it from the beginning and we'll put it on at our house and so soon as we dismiss, you can reply to the text the text blast number. We get the those messages come to us and we can give you directions or you can come up to us. I'll tell you directions or our address where we live just south of town, and you're welcome to come watch the service with our family. Okay?
But it'll be about 01:00 by the time we get back to our house. Okay? So you you you're welcome. Just come find us. Can I pray over you?
Lord Jesus, oh, just see, as soon as I said, can I pray over you? I just see the the necklace that Andy Abbott is wearing, and it's of a cross. You know that, the day that Charlie Kirk was murdered, it just cost a little bit more to follow Jesus. It cost a little bit more for you to wear that necklace in public. Father, I command a blessing over each and every member of our tribe fam, and I pray that you would strengthen them to pay any cost.
To follow you and to be bold in their particular arena with their nation that they're called to. I pray boldness over them and blessing and protection over them. Lord, give us a great week. We love you. We pray these things in Jesus name, the strong son of god, and everybody said, amen.
I love you. Have a great week. You got this. Or Jesus won't come back.
