THE SECRET OF THE LOST CROWNS

THE SECRET OF THE LOST CROWNS

Scripture: Revelation 3:10-11

Topic: The Secret of the Lost Crowns

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: HOLD THAT FAST WHICH THOU HAST, THAT NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN."

Revelation 3:10-11

Five Reasons Why Your Crown Can be Lost:

1. You can lose your crown because of your casual attitude. 

Not realising that you have a great thing can cause you to toy with your ministry. Be careful of being casual about your calling. Stop assuming that what you have will always be there. I remember a homeless lady who was given a place to stay in someone’s home. She did not realise the privilege that she had and despised the great opportunity to live in that home. After a while, she lost her place and became homeless again. She soon began to beg for the opportunity to go back to her place, but it was gone. She lost her position because of her casual attitude towards her host. 

How sad it is to lose your crown just because you did not realise that it was a great thing. Today, there are people who think to themselves, “I don’t need a crown in Heaven, I need a car on earth!” One day, many people are going to wish they had a crown. They will realise how unimportant a car was. You will wish you had been more serious about the calling. 

2. You can lose your crown because you do not become strong. 

There is a reason why God says be strong in the Lord. Not being good and strong in what you are doing is very dangerous. When you do not improve yourself in what you are doing you are in danger of a stronger person displacing you. 

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: BUT WHEN A STRONGER THAN HE shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."

Luke 11:21-22

I remember encouraging musicians and singers to develop themselves and improve their skills. Unfortunately, many of them did not believe what I was saying and were soon replaced by stronger singers and musicians. Dear friend, it is important to be strong and well-developed in what you are doing. Always remember that others are strengthening themselves, hoping to displace you soon. 

3. Chasing fantasies can cause you to lose your crown.

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty..."

Proverbs 28:19 (NIV)

Many people have laid aside the call of God and are chasing imaginary prosperity. When God puts something substantial in your hand, do not let it go to chase after fantasies, lest you come to poverty. I once gave someone a job but he despised the job, thinking that there were other greater things that he could do. 

He decided to go into business. I watched him doing his business every day, waiting to see signs of prosperity. Unfortunately, the signs of prosperity simply did not come. Eventually, when all hope was lost, he decided to come back to what he originally had in his hands. Through the job that I gave him, he was blessed much more than when he was into his business. Often, people lay aside what is real and follow fantasies. The Bible is clear that such things always lead to poverty. 

In the same way, ministers have laid aside the call of God and have gone chasing fantasies. This will only cause them to lose their crowns. On earth no one may notice that you have swerved aside into useless pursuits. God sees us chasing fantasies all the time. 

4. Resting and relaxing can cause you to lose your crown. 

"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."

Matthew 13:25

There is a time to work and there is a time to rest. Whilst we are on this earth it is time to work. If you rest when you should not be resting, the enemy will come in and sow destruction in the midst of your good seeds. It is time to wake, O sleeper! You may lose your crown because you love resting when you should be working. 

5. Jezebel can cause you to lose your crown.

"Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there."

1 Kings 19:2-3

Elijah lost his place through the manipulations of Jezebel. Jezebel is the ultimate evil woman that you do not want to meet. Through her manipulation, comments, negative advice and negative comments you can be completely derailed from your life’s mission. Elijah was not afraid of four hundred false prophets of Baal but he ran away from Jezebel. This should show you the power of Jezebel to make you lose your crown.

When a man unfortunately marries a Jezebel, he may be steered into doing the wrong thing. He may be pushed and pulled until he decides to abandon his calling. Many ministers of God are married to Jezebel queens.  Many pastors are unable to stand up to the Jezebel spirit that dominates their home. Jezebel is the profound and ultimate manipulator, commentator, advisor who is anointed with jealousy and hatred. She stands at the back and influences everyone without them realising what is happening.

Remember that Ahab would never have killed Naboth. It was Jezebel who advised Ahab to use his powers as a king to get rid of Naboth. It was Jezebel who organised worthless fellows to kill Naboth. No one ever saw her killing Naboth, but she was a murderer and she was filled with hatred.

It is a pitiful sight to see some husbands humbly following their own personal Jezebel into fruitlessness and emptiness. It is a sorry sight to see men who are emasculated, dominated and cowered into submission by a Jezebel.

It is sad that some people use Bible verses wrongly. Misapplying scripture allows Jezebels to be even more empowered. “Husbands, love your wives”, they say. A Jezebel is not a normal wife. A Jezebel is a Jezebel. “Love your Jezebel. Let her do what she wants. It is a short life. You must have peace”, is not in the scriptures. What scripture does say about Jezebel is clear. Don’t allow her to manoeuvre. Don’t allow the Jezebelic manipulator, commentator and advisor to have power in the church.

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Revelation 2:20

Excerpt from:

Victory Secrets

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills