HOLDING ON TO YOUR CROWN

When Carrie Prejean was competing for Miss USA beauty pageant she was asked the question, "What is your stance on same sex marriage?" She simply stated, "I believe that a marriage should be between a man and woman." Due to that moment, millions of people eventually witnessed what appeared to be, the loss of the California crown for Carrie Prejean. Yet in spite of the consequences, Carrie Prejean stood her ground. Time and time again she stated that if she had it do all over again she would not waiver in her belief in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. As time went on her attackers did not let up. At every turn they tried to defame and dishonor her all the more. Right when it appeared that things could only get worst, suddenly it was announced:

Carrie Prejean keeps her Miss California crown

While it still seemed less than her intended goal to be crowned Miss USA, I think it's important to note that the title of this article implies that in spite of the horrific opposition against Carrie Prejean, she was able to hold on to her crown, meaning she never lost it. I think it is equally important to note that the attack against the crown of Miss California was because of her refusal to compromise. It is typical character of the enemy not wanting stop until he has made an effort to strip you of everything. I know that I'm not the only one to suggest that Carrie's refusal to compromise her position provoked her adversaries to come at her with guns blazing, thus demonstrating a shadow and type of the enemy against the body of Christ.

So, without belaboring that point any further, I would like to use Carrie Prejean's experience as an analogy for our own spiritual quest today. Not only did Carrie refuse to compromise her faith in God, but she did not let her ultimate goal or desire, which was to win the crown of Miss USA, devaluate the process of obtaining it. In short, she was not going to sell out for what appeared to be the greater good. As members of the kingdom of God, one of the primary keys to keeping our crown is holding fast to what we have through the process of overcoming the power of the enemy.

What we have is our faith and trust in God. What we have is the character of God. What we have is the Spirit of God. What we have is the image and likeness of God. What we have is a holy and righteous crown of heritance in the kingdom of God.

Revelation 3:11-12 reads:

"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name." (Rev 3:11-12)

There are countless citizens and leaders within the kingdom of God who are presently being challenged to compromise their stance in God in order to reach their desired goals in life. These compromises are nothing more than an attempt of the enemy to take the away the crown of glory and honor from those who have acquired it through their faith and perseverance in the Spirit.

THE USA KEEPS HER CROWN

A cloud of desperation has settled over this nation and other nations of the world and is trying to lure the people of God into a fearful illusion that they are not going to reach their destinations for the sake of the kingdom of God. Therefore they are being tempted to compromise in areas of purity, honesty, and integrity. Many have become so weighted down with the cares of life that a spirit of desperation has convinced them that no one is perfect, so letting go of a little righteousness here and there is a small price to pay for what appears to be the greater good. However, in the end, the demise of the enemy is brought about by one thing, the obtaining of your crown.

The enemy would like you and me to think that this nation is losing its crown of glory, when in reality, like Carrie Prejean, this nation is going to keep it. The crown of Miss California is a prophetic picture of a glory that the enemy has been trying to strip away from that state and region. However, a time will soon come when the kingdom of God will become so apparent in the state of California, her eternal crown of glory will become most evident.

There are dark forces pressing against all sides of the government of this nation trying to steal its liberty and freedom. If the body of Christ will keep pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, you will soon hear them announce, "The United States Of America keeps her crown!" Even now I can hear by the Spirit of the Lord, millions of names being called out, "You have held fast to what you have, no one is taking your crown! Not now, not ever."

THE CROWN

It would be easy to just say that this crown is the crown of glory given to us by God and leave it at that. After all, that very image alone is no small deal and certainly worth hanging on to. In order to fully understand what the enemy is really trying to get his hands on, or trying to get us to give up, I need to be a little more descriptive about this crown that we are holding fast.

This crown is the Greek word "stephanos". It comes from the word "steph" which means to "encircle." It denotes a "victor's crown" the symbol of triumph in the games or some contest. It's also a token of "public honor" for distinguished service. I believe this crown is the crown of crowns; righteousness, honor, glory and life.

It's no wonder that the enemy is trying so hard to defame the body of Christ through the efforts of the media and countless other public forums throughout this nation and the world. Instead of a "victor" or a symbol of triumph, he wants to present you as a defeated foe. Instead of a token of public honor and glory, his hope is to publicly defame you and this nation before the world.

So, as a prophet, let me encourage you. As a spiritual father, let me exhort you, and as a brother in the Lord, let me edify you with the promises of God.

VICTORY

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

HONOR AND GLORY

"And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power are to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Rev 5:13

TRIUMPH

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." 2Cor 2:14

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. Ps 47:1-3

I know that many of you are facing some of the greatest challenges of life. So I want to assure you, that by holding on to what you have in God, no one can take your crown; no power, no principality. Circumstances are subject to change at any given moment, and in the end, the victory that overcomes the world is your faith. God is not leading you in triumph some of the time, He is leading you in triumph all the time. If it feels like the enemy has pushed you into a corner of defeat, clap your hands in his face! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Because He is an awesome and great King over all the earth! Don't give in to the illusion that he has defeated you and taken your crown. He has not! And he never will!

May 13, 2009

Blessings,
Michael
mticenter.com