THE POSSIBILITY AND DANGER OF BACKSLIDING

THE POSSIBILITY AND DANGER OF BACKSLIDING

1 Timothy 4:1-2; Hebrews 3:12-13

We are in the last days where backsliding is prevalent. Backsliding is described in the Scriptures as “turning back or turning away” from: God (1 Kings 11:4, 9), our first love (Revelation 2:4), or the Gospel (Galatians 1:6, 7) to: Satan (1 Timothy 5:15), evil (Psalm 125:5), or the world (2 Timothy 4:10). Metaphorically, the backsliding state is described as serving two masters, forsaking the Lord, going our own way, leaving our first love, forgetting God, falling away, turning aside “like a deceitful bow” (Psalm 78:57), growing cold, departing from the faith, putting a hand to the plow and looking back (Luke 9:62), “salt that has lost its savour” (Matthew 5:13), “a dog returning to his vomit” (Proverbs 26:11), and a dead branch (John 15:6; Hebrews 6:8).

A backslider is a Christian who gets out of touch with the Lord; a careless, disobedient, unhappy, ineffective Christian who has suffered a relapse. A backslider stops following the Lord and falls back into a previous sinful way of life. He deserts the Christian faith and is unfaithful and unfruitful. Backsliding is the opposite of repentance and conversion, which is turning towards God. It is also different from apostasy, which is the state of becoming the enemy of Christ after being His ardent follower, though apostasy starts with backsliding (1 Timothy 1:19-20; 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 5:16-17).

God is displeased with backsliding (Psalm 78:57, 59). Hence, He enjoins every Christian to be wary of and watch against backsliding and to support and encouraged other Christians in the faith (Hebrews 3:12-13). Therefore, our responsibilities as Christians is to be our “brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:9), “bear one another's burdened” (Galatians 6:2), “exhort one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13), confront and correct one another in love (Ezekiel 3:19-21; Galatians 6:1), pray regularly for one another (Psalm 80:3, 7; Jeremiah 13:17), and be careful not to compromise our faith (1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 3:12).

1.    CONDITIONS AND THE CHARACTER OF THE BACKSLIDER

Proverbs 14:14; Jeremiah 8:5; 14:7; 1Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 1:16

 “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” Three vital truths emerge from this Scripture:

(i) Backsliding always begins from the heart long before outward manifestation such as giving up church attendance, prayer, Bible reading, losing love for the Lord’s work and for soul-winning, and relapsing completely into sin.

(ii) The outward evidence or results of backsliding are always the same. From our text “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” In the language of the New Testament, that means “walking according to the sinful nature” instead of “living by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).  A supposed Christian who is supposed to be Christlike is now filled with himself—self-willed, self-assertive, self-centred, self-opinionated, self-pity, and self-enthroned. And because he is filled with himself instead of with Christ, his state is insecure—he has no sense of security and assurance; his profession is insincere, he is hypocritical, he still goes to church, holds office, and preaches as a soul winner, missionary, pastor, or an evangelist, but he has fallen away from the Christian faith; his life is inconsistent with his message; and his service is ineffective being filled with the flesh and not of the Spirit, hence, it bears no fruit nor brings any glory to God.

(iii) Every Christian is faced with the possibility and danger of spiritual relaxation. God has provided for us all that will enable us to live a consistent victorious life to His praise and glory (Romans 8:37), but you should know that there is no position of grace from which you cannot fall (1 Corinthians 10:1-13).

Signs or symptoms that show a person has backslidden include neglect of God’s Word, loss of desire for prayer, increased interest in worldly pleasures, making trivial excuses for missing or going late to church services or programs, and a relapse into old sinful habits.

2.    CASES AND CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING

1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Timothy 4:10; 6:9-10

The Scripture is full of cases of backsliding. Israel’s repeated backslidings (Exodus 32:8; Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 3:11; Hosea 4:16) are well documented, as are those of many Old Testament individuals such as Saul (1 Samuel 15:11, 26-28); Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 12:1-2); Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7-9); Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:27); and Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-13; Nehemiah 13:26) to mention just a few. Names of many backsliders are also mentioned in the New Testament: Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19-20); Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Timothy 1:15); Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), etc. Entire churches are mentioned as having backslidden as well: the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 12:20-21); the Galatian church (Galatians 1:6; 3:1; 4:9-11; 5:6-7); and the churches of Asia Minor (1 Timothy 5:15; 2 Timothy 1:15; Revelation 2:4, 14, 15, 20; 3:2, 3, 15-18). On Solomon, the Bible says, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4). His heart was turned from the Lord when he was nearer the grave. What a tragedy!

We cannot mention cases of backsliding without mentioning their causes. Causes of backsliding are many and varied. Some are hidden; others are obvious. They include not heeding the Word (Hebrews 2:1); worldly desires (1 Samuel 8:19-20; 2 Timothy 4:10); spiritual ignorance (Hosea 4:6); prevalent of sin (Matthew 24:12); fear of man and persecution (Proverbs 29:25); ungodly union (Nehemiah 13:26; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18); bad friendships (1 Corinthians 15:33; 1 Peter 4:2-4); shunning fellowship of Christians (Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:25); covetousness and love of money (Joshua 7:1-26; 1 Timothy 6:9-10); and pride and arrogance (Proverbs 16:18). 

3.    CONSEQUENCES AND CURE OF BACKSLIDING

Psalm 125:5; Isaiah 59:2, 9-11; Jeremiah 5:6; 8:5, 13; 15:6; Luke 9:62

Backsliding is a sin that attracts grave consequences: sickness and death (1 Corinthians 11:28-32); unanswered prayer (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 66:18); loss of victory (Joshua 7:11-12); loss of God’s peace, joy, and favour (2 Chronicles 19:1-2); loss of God’s security, protection, and presence (1 Thessalonians 5:3); loss of personal relationship with God (1 John 1:6); loss of ministry (1 Samuel 13:12-14); loss of life (1 Kings 13:20-24); and loss of Heaven (Matthew 10:32-33). There is also punishment for those who make others backslide (Proverbs 28:10; Matthew 18:6).

The cure of backsliding is to realize the failure, repent of them and return to the Lord. Fervent prayer and intimate relationship with God reassures the lukewarm Christian of God's presence. Further steps are found in the following references: Mark 9:43-44; Jude 1:3 and Revelation 3:11. There is the possibility of and a grave danger in backsliding. So be watchful, be careful, and be warned! Examine yourself to know if you are still in the faith; be honest with yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you discover you have backslidden, confess and repent of the sins you have relapsed to, and then return and renew your commitment to God (Revelation 2:5). The Lord is merciful, He will receive you to Himself.PSO


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THE POSSIBILITY AND DANGER OF BACKSLIDING

1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Proverbs 14:14

The Christian journey is a sensitive one that is filled with ups and downs as the devil and his cohorts are out to do all things to hinder the believer from getting to the Kingdom of God at the end of time. There is no believer who can boastfully declare that he has immunity against backsliding. It is possible for someone to fall from the faith. We have examples of people like Balaam, David, Solomon, Samson, Saul, Judas Iscariot, Demas and a host of others, who were once fiery and fervent with the Lord but due to carelessness, they fell from their steadfastness. A backslider is a Christian who gets out of touch with the Lord. A careless, disobedient, unhappy, ineffective Christian who has suffered a relapse from the faith. But the backslider is isolated between two worlds - he is not able to enjoy the Lord and he cannot fully enjoy the world! Abandoning faith for something else, which is backsliding, has also been described as “to fall back into wrongdoing or a bad habit after an attempt to act in a better way.” The danger inherent in backsliding is a grave one as it has the tendency to rob you of your relationship with the Lord here on earth and ultimately hinder you from seeing God at the end of your life. 1.   POSSIBILITY OF BACKSLIDING - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; 1 Kings 13:1-30; Numbers 22:1-35; 1 John 2:15-17; Proverbs 24:21; Exodus 23:2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:12-13; There is no position of grace from which a fall is not possible. Backsliding begins inwardly, long before the outward evidences are seen - such as giving up church attendance, prayer, Bible reading, losing love for the Lord’s work and for soul-winning. Worldliness is one of the baits that the devil use to lure many unsuspecting believers into backsliding. An attempt to be like other nations like Israel of old (1 Samuel 8:4-6) will not make God happy with us. The fashion of the world is another area where you need to be watchful. Don’t forget that not all things that glitter is gold as “...the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Corinthians 7:31). Unholy ambition is rampant in the world as people are into the rat race of seeking for position, fame, wealth etc. As believers, we need to be wary of these things that can make us backslide and becloud our vision of living with God eternally in the city of life. Apart from these, others are:      i.Inability to take heed to the divine injunction - 1 Samuel 15:22; Deut. 28:1,2,9,13,14    ii.Consistent disobedience to the Spirit’s warning - Jeremiah 8:5  iii.Lack of interest in spiritual matters (Spiritual apathy) - Hosea 7:9  iv.Spiritual indolence - Proverbs 19:15         2.    PRECAUTION AGAINST BACKSLIDING – 1 Corinthians 10:6,11,12; Matthew 26:41; Luke 21:34-36; 17:32; Genesis 19:26 There is the need for watchfulness and taking of precaution as we await the coming of the Lord. In warning His audience about the need for watchfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ told them to “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). The pedigree of this historical woman is of no importance, but her action of disobeying an angelic instruction not to look back when they were taking their flight from Sodom and Gomorrah calls for a serious caution on the part of the pilgrims journeying to the city of Heaven. The Young prophet in 1 Kings 13 was told not to eat in the place he was sent to; he was persuaded otherwise by an old prophet who appealed to his religious sentiment in the city. He disobeyed the Lord, died and was buried in a strange land. Balaam was a charismatic prophet who was recognized to carry an unusual anointing by the people around; he refused God’s perfect will and settled for His permissive will. He died like a rebel on the battlefield. Christian beware! Judas allowed the love of money to push him into betraying his Lord; he couldn’t spend a dime on the 30 pieces of silver he collected before he committed suicide. Demas, an associate of Paul the apostle, forsook the people of God and went to the city of Thessalonica not to seek for the lost souls but because he fell in love with this present evil world; he never came back before death struck and he leaped into a hopeless eternity because of mundane things of this world. Don’t forget the 10 virgins; the foolish ones didn’t know they were foolish until they missed the glorious opportunity to enter in with the groom. 3.   PANACEA (i.e. REMEDY) FOR BACKSLIDING - 1 Corinthians 10:6,10-12; Matthew 24:36-46, 2 Timothy 2.4 v  Be on your guard not to allow temptation to fall you – 1 Peter 5:8-10; Mark 14:38 v  Maintain your regular quiet time – Mark 1:35 v  Weigh every option before you with God’s unchanging word – Psalms 119:11 v  Make the best use of available spiritual resources – Hebrews 10:25 v  Maintain clean hands and a pure heart – Psalm 24:3,4 v  Maintain a life of holiness everywhere and every time – 1 Peter 1:14-16 v  Practice constant abiding presence of God – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Hebrews 4:13 v  Be conscious of heaven all the time – John 14:1-3 v  Be watchful and spiritually alert – Luke 21:36 v  Be Prayerful -  Luke 21:36 We all know that we are living in the last days when compromise and backsliding are very rampant, we are the ones to be on our guard so that the devil will not lure us away from God’s will by his antics. The Lord is counseling you and me today in Mark 13:37 “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”(pfa)

DEALING WITH PERSECUTIONS TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS

                                                   TRETS: JUNE 8, 2017.

DEALING WITH PERSECUTIONS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS  

Text:      1 Peter 4: 12–16,19, 2 Tim. 3:12, Mark 10:28-30, 1 Peter 1:6-7

The Bible emphasizes that trials, temptations and indeed persecutions are inevitable experience of he faithful believers in this world. This is because the world is ungodly and is being controlled by Satan, and he is opposed to God and the gospel. Therefore, it is a known fact that those who would stand in the truth against error will surely be persecuted for their truthfulness and those who believe and stand in righteousness in this world of sin will surely be persecuted for righteousness sake. 2 Tim 3.12.

Actually, our Lord Jesus had hinted us that persecution, trials and temptations are part of the cross that Christians are to bear, it is even sometimes a proof that we actually belong to Him and not compromising with the world. In Mark 10: 28-30, He Himself was tempted by Satan but He was victorious. He faced fiery trials and was triumphant, severe persecutions but yet didn’t submit to the enemy. He had assured us of same victory if we can persistently deal with the situation.  God has provided us with adequate spiritual ammunition and resources for our victory. He had also shown us what our attitude should be during persecution and what rewards and benefits awaits us if we continue to the end without failing (1 Peter 1.6-7).

1.      

      DIVERSE PERSECUTIONS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS IN SCRIPTURES

1 Peter 4.12, 1 Peter 1.7, 1 Peter 5:8, Matt 5:10-12, Matt.10:12, Luke 21:12-19

Satan brings temptations, trials and persecutions to entice and subdue the believers’ faith so he may fall. The major purpose for this is to make the Christian deny His God and loose Heaven, but we must resist him steadfastly in the faith. When Satan had tried all and failed he brings persecution to make the Christian suffer for his righteousness so as to lose focus of his goal and compromise and eventually backslides. Note that temptation to sin is introduced first to seduce and tempt the believer, when he/she refuses to yield to the temptation, then persecution follows aiming at subduing his faith. This experience of hardship and difficulties is called Trial of faith.  

Trials, Temptations and Persecution are interchanged  by many names in scriptures and it presents itself in various forms at various stages in the life of a believer. Sometimes it is called temptations, trials of faith, suffering, afflictions, reproach, reviling, tribulations or trouble. This brings sorrow of heart to a Christian who knew he had not committed any thing worthy of the sufferings but was only being punished for his stand for righteousness. Persecutions, however, vary from person to person depending on how closer you are to the Lord depending on your responsibility and calling whether secular or ministerial. As we look at the people in scriptures who suffer persecutions, we equally discovered the various patterns in which persecution may come to a believer today. Joseph in Egypt was tempted by his master’s wife saying “lie with me…”, His refusal led him to the prison. (Gen. 39. 7, 12 – 20), Elijah’s life was threatened by Ahab and Jezebel for bringing holy revival and true worship back to Israel (1 Kings 19:2), Micaiah the prophet was put into the prison with severe affliction for telling Ahab the truth from God (2 Chronicles 18:25-26), Jeremiah was bitten and thrown into the prison and then into the dungeon of mire for prophesying of Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 37:15, 38:6), John the Baptist was beheaded for preaching against the sin of Herod’s adultery (Matt. 14: 8-12), Stephen was stoned to death for preaching righteousness (Acts 7:50-60), Paul the apostle was bitten and stoned and imprisoned for preaching Jesus, Peter was imprisoned and could have been killed by Herod. Many of the early church disciples suffered one hardship and suffering or the other for the sake of Christ. In our contemporary time, a believing woman could be persecuted by the unbelieving woman to the point of bringing a strange woman to the house. A Christian employee could suffer reveling and hardship of no promotion in his employer and other co-workers.  These and many more examples simply conform too the words of Christ that “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15.20). “ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt 10.22).

Dealing with PERSECUTIONS, Trials AND temptations 

1 Peter 2.11-23.2 Cor. 13:6, Phil. 2.14-16, Luke 9:23, 2 Cor. 12.10. James 5:7-8, 10-11, 13a, 16b

The time of trials and persecution is a time of self examination. The first thing to do when you no notice traces of persecution is to subject yourself to the mirror of God’s word and will for thorough examination. Ask yourself whether you are being persecuted or you are suffering for your wrong doing (or mistakes). If for wrong doing, then repent and apologize but if not then rejoice in the Lord. Our calling is to face suffering with patience, calmness and confidence in Christ as He did without falling. Our attitude during persecution must be that of Humility and honesty to all men without murmuring but with patience and continual well doing. The bible says “in your patience posses ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). We must never allow the suffering or reproach and persecution to make us sin otherwise we lose totally.  We must be determined to deny ourselves, take up our cross day after day, and follow our master.

Paul the Apostle confirmed this by saying “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor 12.10). Daniel persevered when the decree and the writing was signed and continued to pray as he always do aforetime, The three Hebrew children endured the threat and opposition of the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar and didn’t bow down to the golden image. The apostles Peter and John were beaten for preaching the gospel yet they didn’t stop but continued preaching happily. Even John the beloved was put into boiling oil for his preaching and stand for Jesus and when he didn’t die, he was banished to the isles of Patmos .If these people continued to the end, we will also continued in Jesus name.

But another very important attitude in persecution is prayer. Our text says that Christ “committed himself to him that judgeth uprightly”(1 Peter 2:23) Persecution time must be a time of prayer and even fasting to commit yourself into God’s hand. The focus of your prayer must be to strengthen you in faith, to make you wiser in the midst of the opposition, and to keep you standing glorifying God in spite of the trial. And that God should remember your low estate and painful condition. The Psalmist pray in Psalm 102.1 “O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee” Note the title of the psalm as “A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.” David ‘s prayer during persecution is “…And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. (2Sa 15:31)

DIVINE POSSIBILITIES AND TRIUMP THROUGH PERSECUTIONS.

Matt.5:10-12, 2Co 4:17; 2Ti 2:12; 1Pe 3:14, 1Peter 4.14, Rom 8:35-39

There are great possibilities and profits when the believer endures afflictions and pray during persecutions. God always answer them and brings reward and promotion to those who are persecuted. Though there are no persecution that is comfortable to the flesh, yet enduring persecution faithfully makes us strong in the Lord, brings us closer to God in prayer, refines us as gold through its fire, makes us to examine and renew our commitment to the Lord, and gives us the joy for serving Him. It also brings us to experience uncommon supernatural miracles that wouldn’t have come naturally.

Joseph eventually became the prime minister in Egypt, and the entire Egyptian were subject to him (including Potiphar)

Daniel was promoted to become a minister in Babylon after enduring fierce persecution of the Lion’s den (Daniel 6:28), The three Hebrew children were equally rewarded for their stand for the lord bring the cruel king to change his ungodly decree (Dan 3.28-30), Paul and Silas were delivered from the prison with an earthquake leading to the conversion of the Philippian jailor and his household (Acts 16:30-31), John the beloved was given the book of revelation while serving persecution in the Isles of Patmos (Rev. 1.9), Though Stephen was persecuted and martyred, yet his death led to the conversion of Paul the great apostle. We too must realize that if we stand for the Lord and the gospel’s sake and persevere during persecution, many miracles and testimonies such as were listed above will follow us. Even when we do not see physical deliverance from our suffering, we are sure of our reward in eternity. Enduring temptations and persecutions make believers more than conquerors (Rom 8.35-39).

GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO WIN SOULS

TRETS 01/06/2017

GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO WIN SOULS

Matt. 9:35-36; 1 Cor. 9:16; 19-22; 2 Tim. 4:1-4

The mandate of soul-winning is non-negotiable to any obedient Christian. Our Saviour Jesus Christ committed His earthly ministry to seeking and saving “that which was lost”. This task made Him to go out of His way to go into all the villages, towns and cities, preaching the gospel and reaching out to them where ever they were found. But the more He preaches and teaches, the more the field expands. At His departure He commissions us and sends us to go forth and preach this same gospel of the Kingdom. However, like Paul the Apostle, we must be all things to all men so as to win them at all cost. Many are dying around us, sinners are crying in hell day by day. We cannot ignore their cries; neither can we push the task to any other person. We must remember that the age is winding up, the trumpet will soon sound and all the hope they have is for us to tell them about their only way of escape before it’s too late. We need to employ all strategies and straighten all edges in our communities to ensure that no soul is left unwitnessed to for the Lord. Obviously, this attracts great rewards in this life and gives us the assurance of reigning with the Lord in eternity.

1.   THE MISERY AND THE PORTION OF THE LOST  Jeremiah 8:20; Matt. 9:36; Luke 15:17; Proverbs 13:21; Amos 9:10; Isa 33:14; Rev. 20:11-15; Luke 16:19-31

The lost could be categorized into two broad groups. Those that are within the church building and those that are without. Whichever way they may fall, they stand completely separated from the living God. The common experience of all sinners is the fear of the unknown and God’s judgment anytime if death should strike because their sins are not forgiven. Being separated from God makes them to be living in the wilderness of life without direction and without hope of tomorrow. They are hopeless, separated from God’s protection, separated from God’s provisions and separated from God’s presence. The prodigal son realized that without his father, he was completely separated from the source of life and livelihood (Luke 15:17). So also is the sinner in this world, but if they are not won to the Saviour before death, they will be lost forever in eternity. This was the fate of the rich man in the days of Lazarus. Though some of them may have the good things of this life, yet they are impoverished spiritually which spells their doom. Therefore, we must do everything within our power to win them at all cost.

2. METHODS OF WINNING THE LOST TO THE LORD Matt. 9:35; Matt. 28:19-20; John 1:29, 35-37-42; 4:4-29; Luke 19:1-10; Acts 10:30-33

The wave of revival in the Church now and the desire of our father in the Lord to reach out to the lost souls should move all of us to go out of our ways to go the field of evangelism to reach the lost souls for the Lord before it is too late. The doom and damnation awaiting the sinners must compel us to reach them. The danger of hell fire at the end of a life without God ought to drive us to do all we can to reach out to them. We shouldn’t forget that a lot of rewards await us if we faithfully discharge our duty of soul-winning with utmost sense of responsibility. Some of the common methods of winning the lost include (i) Person to person evangelism - (John 1:38-42); (ii) Public crusade and retreats - (Luke 5:1-3); (iii) Special gatherings and opportunities of uncommon occasions - (Acts 10:30-33); (iv) Morning and evening cry - (Matt. 3:1-2); (vi) Personal discussion when on transit - (Acts 8:30-38); (v) Personal pleading, and travailing prayer for the lost - (2 Cor. 5:20, Rom 10:1-2). The Lord is looking for men like Paul, who will so much love the lost that they can go out of their ways to pray and witness to them. Remember, we have only a life-time opportunity to do this noble work; so let’s harness all resources at our disposal and go out to preach the word to the lost before the eternal door of mercy and salvation is shut against them forever.

3. MYRIADS OF REWARDS FOR FAITHFUL SOUL- John 4:36-38; 15:16; Ps. 126:5-6, Ps. 112:1-9; Daniel 12:3; 1Peter 5.4

Soul winners are sure of their reward and wages from the Lord at the end of a faithful life of productive service in the Kingdom. The benefits of winning the lost are enormous and cannot be over emphasized. As the church of Christ increases in number and multitude are being added to the church, so also would the joy of the soul-winner increase and multiply for doing his Father’s will. Moreover, he will receive abundant blessings here in the world and many rewards at the end of his life on earth. He shall also enjoy God’s direction, guidance, provision and protection from all evils. His prayers shall always be answered and at the end, he shall shine like the brightness of the firmament.

Crowns for Soul-winners:

1.   Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thessalonians 2:19

2.   Crown of Righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8

3.   Crown of Life – James 1:12; Revelation 2:10

4.   Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:4

Incorruptible Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:27 (PFA