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Written by Gisela Millán, volunteer of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela
When we talk about a crown we refer to: authority, power, reign, reward.
How incredible that something can be taken away from us that was given to us. Just as a young woman prepares herself physically, spiritually, and academically to compete for a crown, so must we, dear sisters, also prepare ourselves. Although they compete for a corruptible crown, we do not compete. But it is a race for an incorruptible crown. When a king is crowned, his children become his princes and princesses, thus becoming heirs to his kingdom. This is how our heavenly Father made us part of His kingdom, but was it just like that? For being beautiful? Or for just being His daughters and that's it? No! First, we recognized and accepted by believing in the words and promises of Jesus Christ.
In my personal and spiritual life, the enemy has wanted to discourage me so that I toss my crown to the ground, the crown I was given when I decided to believe and receive Christ in my heart. He whispers in my ear, “Look how you are: ugly, spent, you can't keep going; give up already!” He tries to unsettle my emotions, because he knows that's where sickness wins, but God says we are called according to a purpose (Rom. 8:28). I think that winning my crown is not easy if I don't understand what and why I am fighting for. If we don't treasure or hold tight to our sword (Heb. 4:12), how can we fight and conquer? When Joshua went to conquer the promised land, what God reminded him the most was to meditate day and night on His words, to believe them and keep them in his heart, and he did so.
Beloved, I have been fighting for my crown for 6 years, I keep my eyes on the award,
because God says that we are His workmanship, that He is that Warrior who fights for us (Josh. 5:15) and the Lord Jesus Christ made us His daughters. When we faint, and we believe Satan’s lies, that's where we throw our crown down, that's where we lose it. So, what is the use of talking about it and not doing it? We must persevere and not allow anyone to take away from us what was given to us with pure blood. It is a promise that is given with love.
Notice how Jesus Himself tells us, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Rev. 3:11).
As I mentioned at the beginning, a girl prepared to win the crown in a beauty pageant. Once crowned, do you think she gets it and that's it? Is the job finished? Does she lose it? No, my sisters, she must keep that award or accolade for a while and keep working. We should do likewise in ministry, at work, in our homes, but mainly within ourselves.
Jesus sends a message to the church in Philadelphia, which means "brotherly love." The Lord is telling them that He is coming back soon, and although it is not an immediate return, if we read this passage today, tomorrow, or a year from now, He speaks to us in the present, encouraging this church to endure. How wonderful are His words that are also a promise for us! That is why we must continue working on ourselves, because we were made new creatures, daughters of the King.
And what is it that we must guard? They say that the church of Philadelphia had little to no strength. I imagine they were a humble, low-income congregation. However, they had received and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and kept His words. And it was what the Lord admired about them. For this reason, He tells them that He loves them, because they were a church that resisted in brotherly love. They say that the name of that church was changed, but they kept the word of God in their hearts, trusting in the promises of Jesus Christ.
John continues narrating and says, let no one take your crown. So, did the Lord leave this church crowned? Or does He crown us when we receive Him and keep His word? I believe that this church is praised by our Lord Jesus Christ, because it remained obedient, loving, enduring, and trusting, my beloved sisters. The truth is, we have a crown, but we must work to hold onto it, because another sister cannot take it from us, but rather the enemy that sows doubts and distrust. 2022 years have passed, but we must continue believing every day in the promises of Jesus Christ and not neglect ourselves! For indeed these are the days of confusion. These are dangerous days. These are days when you and I can stray from the path that God has established for us. Well, is it that the chosen cannot be deceived at the end of time? The way to avoid this is by being close, walking and talking with our Lord Jesus.
God says in His word: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (Jn. 10:27). Listen to the indication of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and direct you, and will establish your feet firmly on the path that He has established for you.
Furthermore, Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 4:1, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Indeed, if we work and strive, it is because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all, especially for those who believe. Christ Himself gives us the assurance. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (Jn. 5:24).
The Judgment Seat of Christ has nothing to do with salvation. Instead, it has to do with rewards for service, for constant growth in grace, for patience in doing good. Our just God will forget our work of love, if we have done it out of love for Him.
My beloved ones, let us continue to hope together, working in brotherly love keeping the word of God and practicing it every day, serving God, taking care of that crown that was placed on us.
As Isaiah 62:3 says, "You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God." Amen.
#IronRoseSister #HIStories #daughtersoftheKing #crownoflife #princessesofGod #guestwriter #blog
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Written by Michelle J. Goff, founder and director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, Arkansas
Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel.
9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. (1 Sam. 10:9-10)
However, when Saul returned home, he did not reveal what God had done through him, nor that Samuel had anointed him king. We don’t know if he was Incredulous of what had happened through him by the Spirit of God. We don’t know if he was scared of what would be expected of him during his reign. We truly don’t know why he hid himself among the supplies when Samuel called Israel to come forward by tribes, clans, then families.
23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”
Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (1 Sam. 10:23-24)
Since the Israelites had rejected God as King, Saul often bore the tremendous responsibility of representing the LORD to the people. The Spirit of God would come powerfully on him to act and speak as God would’ve. And during the initial years of his reign, Saul sought God’s counsel through the prophet Samuel in order to fulfill that calling and responsibility. More often than not, Saul strove to give glory to God for rescuing His people from their enemies. Initially, Saul recognized that He was merely God’s servant, put in place to serve God’s people and point them back to Him.
However, in 1 Samuel 13, we learn that Saul took matters into his own hands and neglected to obey what the Lord had commanded him. Samuel rebuked Saul and instead of repenting, Saul defended his decision, expressing the worry that had consumed him instead of his trust in God’s instruction.
From that point on, we see God’s Spirit departing from Saul’s life and his leadership. Instead, a spirit tormented him and ultimately destroyed him, ripping the kingdom from his hands and those of his descendants.
The shepherd boy David came before Saul’s throne room to play the harp, temporarily soothing him with the harmonious melodies. However, Saul’s relief was short-lived, especially once he learned that God had anointed and blessed David as successor to the throne, not his own son, Jonathan.
The vast contrasts between Saul and David are profound illustrations of how it is possible to keep or lose a crown.
- Both men were anointed with the Spirit of God. One was a head taller than the rest. The other was the youngest and smallest of his family.
- Both men wore a crown. One stayed seated on the throne of his own heart. The other made the LORD his King.
- Both men were chosen to lead God’s chosen people Israel after rejecting the LORD as their King. One heard God’s instructions and ran with them. The other constantly sought God’s will at every step, before moving forward.
- Both men sinned. One justified his actions. The other repented.
- Only one got to keep his crown…
Years after the prophet Samuel confronted King Saul, the prophet Nathan confronted King David for his horrendous sins of adultery and murder. David was cut to the heart and repented (2 Sam. 12). Having witnessed Saul’s tormented spirit, we can hear the anguish of David’s repentant cry that God not take His Holy Spirit from him.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Ps. 51:10-12)
Kings Saul and David, like us, face daily trials and decisions. They are a testing of our faith, which we can consider pure joy (James 1:3). For “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
None of us deserves the crown of life, but the loving, perfect sacrifice of God’s own Son allows us to be heirs of His eternal Kingdom.
May the contrast between Saul’s and David’s crowns serve as a reminder of how a rejection of God’s ultimate Lordship can give birth to sin, which, when full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).
Today, and each day, we can choose the crown of life and with it, surrender to God’s Lordship, trusting His Spirit to guide our steps.
#IronRoseSister #HIStories #crown #obedience #repentance #kingsofIsrael #MichelleJGoff #blog