week 2: The Persecuted Church
The Seven Churches of Revelation • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS...
THE LOVELESS CHURCH
THIS WEEK WE MOVE ON TO THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
BEFORE WE GET STARTED..
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE MAP AGAIN
SMYRNA, LIKE EPHESUS IS A PORT CITY...
IT IS ABOUT 35 MILES NORTH OF EPHESUS
THESE LETTERS GO IN ORDER TO THIS MAP
LAST WEEK EPHESUS
THIS WEEK SMYRNA
NEXT WEEK PERGAMUM
AND SO ON....
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’
NOW.....LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE THINKING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I FIRST READ THIS...
“WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT?”
I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE I’M GONNA GO WITH THIS....LOL
I DID NOT SEE THE
COMMENDATION, CORRECTION, OR THE COUNCIL
LIKE I MENTIONED TO YOU LAST WEEK
BUT ONE THING I DID NOTICE ...
AND I FEEL LIKE WITH EVERY LETTER
HE JUST ZEROS IN ON ONE THING
AND WITH SYRNA THIS WAS.....THEY WERE GOING THROUGH TRIALS
THEY WERE GOING THROUGH PERSECUTION THAT YOU AND I HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT
PEOPLE DYING EVERYDAY FOR THE GOSPEL
PEOPLE BEING TORTURED AND KILLED FOR THEIR FAITH
SMYRNA WAS THE MOST PERSECUTED OF THE 7 CITIES
ONE THING WE CAN SEE THAT GOD IS TRYING TO SAY FROM THE BEGINNING IS...
I AM FAITHFUL
I HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL
I AM FAITHFUL
AND I WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
TODAY I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU 3 POINT...
WRITE THESE DOWN IF YOUR TAKING NOTES....
REMEMBER GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL
IM WAS REMINDED OF THE SONG….DO IT AGAIN
Walking around these walls
I thought by now they'd fall
But You have never failed me yet
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle's won
For You have never failed me yet
Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I'm still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You've never failed me yet
CHURCH LISTEN TO ME....
IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A TRIAL
OR SOMETHING RIGHT NOW IN YOUR LIFE
REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE...
IN ORDER TO TRUST IN HIS FAITHFULNESS
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER...... THAT HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL
I WANT YOU TO NOTICE HOW HE STARTS THIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH...
HE IS REMINDING THEM OF HIS ETERNALNESS
HE SAID “I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST”
THERE ARE A LOT OF COUNTERS IN THIS LETTER
I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST
I WAS DEAD NOW IM ALIVE
YOU ARE POVERTY BUT RICH
LETS LOOK AT IT IN SCRIPTURE….
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob,
And Israel, My called:
I am He, I am the First,
I am also the Last.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
NOW TO JOHN HE ALSO SAYS THIS IN REV. 1:8.
Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
HERE IS WHAT HE IS SAYING...
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL
I AM FAITHFUL
AND I WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
UNDERSTAND THIS...
EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE GOING THROUGH TRIALS
AND YOU WILL GO THROUGH MORE TRIALS
GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL
OH COME ON…CAN I GET AN AMEN????
WATCH THIS....
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
I DONT THINK WE THINK ABOUT WORDS ENOUGH
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS…..ITS HUGE
IF THERE IS EVER A TIME WHEN YOUR STRUGGLING WITH FAITH
HE REMAINS FAITHFUL
EVEN WHEN WE HAVE LESS-FAITH
GOD IS STILL FULL OF FAITH
OH MY LORD…ARE YOU THANKFUL
THAT EVEN WHEN WE AT TIMES STRUGGLE WITH OUR FAITH
HE REMAINS FAITHFUL
HE ALSO SAID....
I WAS DEAD AND CAME BACK TO LIFE
YOU NEED TO KNOW....
SMYRNA WAS A CITY THAT BOASTED THAT THEY WERE DEAD AND CAME BACK TO LIFE
IN HISTORY YOU CAN READ THAT AT ONE POINT...
THEY REALLY DID ALMOST BECOME LIKE A GHOST TOWN
AND THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING THEIR ECONOMY BACK TO LIFE
JESUS SAYS...
I WAS ACTUALLY DEAD....
THEN I CAME BACK TO LIFE
THEN HE MAKES THIS STATEMENT...
“I KNOW YOUR POVERTY, BUT YOU ARE RICH”
NOW…
THIS WORD POVERTY COMES FROM THE ROOT WORD....POOR
THERE ARE TWO GREEK WORDS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FOR THE WORD POOR
ONE OF THEM IS VERY COMMON
BEFORE I EXPLAIN THESE....
I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE FIRST BEATITUDE
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
IT DID NOT SAY....”BLESSED ARE THE POOR”
HE SAID “POOR IN SPIRIT”
I AM NOT PREACHING A PROSPERITY GOSPEL
BUT IF YOU ARE BLESSED TO BE FINANCIALLY POOR
THEN WHEN WE HELP THE POOR....
AREN’T WE TAKING AWAY THEIR BLESSING???? LOL
I HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY POOR
AND I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT..
I DID NOT FEEL BLESSED
I’M NOT PREACHING PROSPERITY GOSPEL
BUT IT IS WONDERFUL TO LIVE IN A PROVISION GOSPEL
WHERE GOD PROVIDES FOR YOU....
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO YOUR CAR
AND IT ACTUALLY STARTS.. AND YOU GET TO WORK ON TIME
THAT IS A GOOD THING
CAN I GET AN AMEN???
BUT JESUS SAID...
POOR IN SPIRIT
BUT HE USES A GREEK WORD HERE THAT IS VERY RARELY USED...
TOOCOS
THIS IS THE SAME ROOT WORD THAT HE USES IN REVELATION 2.
WHEN HE SAYS....”I KNOW YOUR POVERTY”
YOUR TOOCOSAE
NOW…THE OTHER GREEK WORD IS...
PANASE
THIS WORD IS USED MORE THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT TO DESCRIBE POOR
THIS WORD MEANS....WORKING POOR
IN OTHER WORDS...
IT’S WHAT YOU AND I WOULD CALL...
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK
PANASE MEANS
YOU GOTTA JOB
BUT YOUR JUST BARELY GETTING BY
SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING...
OH I KNOW WHAT I AM NOW
I’M PANASE....LOL
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK
IT MEANS YOUR POOR....BUT YOU CAN WORK
THE WORKING POOR
TOOCOS MEANS..
THE BEGGING POOR
THE DISABLED, LAME AND DISFIGURED
AND THE ONLY WAY THEY GET BY IS BEGGING
THEY LITERALLY CAN NOT WORK
THERE WAS NO WELFARE OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS OR SERVICES
SOME OF THEM WOULD SIT IN DARKNESS (BECAUSE THEY WERE DISFIGURED)
AND THEY WOULD PUT A CUP OUT
AND IF SOMEONE DID NOT PUT SOMETHING IN THE CUP
THEY DIDN’T EAT
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING....
WHEN IT COMES TO SALVATION
YOU ARE NOT THE WORKING POOR
YOU CAN NOT EARN ONE DAY IN HEAVEN
YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY CRIPPLED, LAME, AND DISFIGURED
AND IT’S ALL YOU CAN DO TO PUT A CUP OUT
AND IF JESUS DOES NOT HAVE MERCY ON YOU
YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT TO HEAVEN
CHURCH....THIS IS THE TYPE OF POOR HE IS TALKING ABOUT TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
HE SAID “I KNOW YOUR POVERTY SPIRITUALLY, BUT YOU ARE RICH”
HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT FINANCES
HE IS SAYING....
“I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW....
THAT YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME....
BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH ME”
SO IF YOU ARE TRYING TO REMEMBER TIMES IN YOUR LIFE THAT GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL
I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE OF ONE TIME
AND THAT IS WHEN HE SAVED YOU
WHEN THE ONLY WAY YOU COULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN SAVED IS BY HIS MERCY AND GRACE
NO MATTER WHAT WE GO THROUGH
NO MATTER HOW BAD WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH IS
GOD IS FAITHFUL
EVEN IF AFTER YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR GODS HEALING
AND MAYBE A LOVED ONE HAS PASSED AWAY
EVEN IN THAT
GOD IS FAITHFUL
JESUS CHRIST DIED AND ROSE AGAIN
AND THROUGH THAT…WE CAN REST ASSURED
THAT WE ALSO HAVE RESURRECTION LIFE IN CHRIST
NUMBER ONE WAS...
GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL
2. REMEMBER GOD IS FAITHFUL
REMEMBER THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO
THE PASTOR TO SHARE WITH THE CHURCH
THE MESSENGER
SO, THE PASTOR GETS UP AND SAY...
HEY I HAVE A LETTER THAT IS FROM JESUS
JOHN WAS ON THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
AND JESUS GAVE HIM THIS LETTER FOR OUR CHURCH
I JUST WANT TO READ THIS TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY
SO JUST THINK ABOUT THIS AS WE READ VERSE 10
Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
THIS IS SO ENCOURAGING ISN’T IT?
Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT SAY...
WELL AT LEAST WE KNOW IT’S ONLY GONNA LAST 10 DAYS
SO THAT’S ENCOURAGING
NO…I DON’T THINK SO
IN THOSE DAYS..
THEY THREW CHRISTIANS INTO PRISON FOR 10 DAYS
THEY TORTURED THEM FOR 10 DAYS TO GET THEM TO
DENY CHRIST AND SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO THE EMPEROR
AND IF THEY DID NOT DENY CHRIST
AFTER 10 DAYS THEY KILLED THEM
JESUS IS TRYING TO PREPARE SOME OF THEM
HE IS SAYING....
TRIALS ARE COMING
PERSECUTION IS COMING
HE SAID “DO NOT FEAR THOSE THINGS”
NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS
I AM FAITHFUL
OUR MARRIAGE CLASS THIS LAST WEEK
SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID STUCK WITH ME
“GOD’S PURPOSE IS GREATER THAN YOUR PAIN”
OH COME ON...
“I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST”
“THE ALPHA AND OMEGA”
“THE BEGINNING AND THE END”
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH
EVEN IF YOU I PERISH FROM THIS EARTH
GOD IS FAITHFUL
3. REMEMBER GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL
GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN....
HE IS
AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
UNDERSTAND THIS...
IT MIGHT NOT BE LIKE YOU THINK
IN ACTS 12, JAMES WHO IS THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM IS EXECUTED
A FEW VERSES LATER....
PETER IS MIRACULOUSLY RELEASED FROM PRISON
WAS GOD FAITHFUL TO ONE AND NOT THE OTHER?
CORY TEN BOOM ESCAPED THE NAZI CAMP BUT HER SISTER WAS KILLED THERE
WAS GOD FAITHFUL TO ONE AND NOT THE OTHER?
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HOW GOD STARTS THIS LETTER
“I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST”
HE IS SAYING....
I AM ETERNAL
SO IF CHRIST DOESN’T RETURN IN OUR LIFETIME
WE ARE GOING TO PHYSICALLY DIE
BUT EVEN WHEN WE DIE....HE IS FAITHFUL
GOD IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
SO LAST WEEK I TOLD YOU THAT THE PASTOR OF EPHESUS WAS TIMOTHY
DO YOU KNOW WHO THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA WAS?
POLYCARP
POLY- CARP
MEANS....MANY FISHES
LOL....I’M TOTALLY KIDDING
CARP IS A FISH SO I THOUGH YOU MIGHT GO FOR THAT....LOL
CARP IS A BONY FISH THAT IS NOT GOOD EATING
I HEARD A GUY ONE TIME SAY THERE IS A WAY TO FIX CARP AND IT’S GOOD
YOU GUT IT
OPEN IT UP
PUT A BRICK IN IT
THEN YOU BAKE IT FOR 3 HOURS AT 350 DEGREES
PULL IT OUT
THROW THE CARP AWAY AND EAT THE BRICK.....LOL
POLY CARP ACTUALLY MEANS....
MUCH FRUIT
POLYCARP WAS THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
AND HE WAS JOHNS SPIRITUAL SON
AND HE SAID “SOME OF YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE THROWN INTO PRISON”
“YOUR GONNA BE TESTED 10 DAYS”
“BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”
POLYCARP NOT MANY YEARS AFTER THIS WAS WRITTEN
WAS ARRESTED
HE WAS TORTURED FOR 10 DAYS
BUT HE WOULD NOT DENY CHRIST
AND HE WAS BURNED AT THE STAKE
BUT 3 HISTORIANS OF THE DAY…WROTE
THAT HE WOULD NOT BURN
THAT IT WAS AS IF THE FIRE WOULD NOT TOUCH HIM
AND HE CONTINUED TO PREACH AND SOMEONE TOOK A SPEAR AND STABBED HIM IN THE HEART
IT WAS SAID THAT HE BLED FOR THE GOSPEL JUST AS CHRIST DID FOR THE CHURCH
…WORSHIP TEAM COME.....
ONE MORE THING I WANT TO TOUCH ON
Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
THE CROWN IS SPOKEN OF SEVERAL TIMES IN SCRIPTURE
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT
THERE ARE 2 GREEK WORDS FOR CROWN
ONE OF THEM IS DIADEM
THIS IS NOT THAT GREEK WORD
DIADEM IS A CROWN MADE FOR ROYALTY
THE GREEK WORD IN THIS PASSAGE IS...
STEFANOS
WHICH IS A WREATH CROWN
GIVEN TO THE ATHLETE WHO HAS WON THE RACE
JESUS SAID....”BE FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END”
YOU NOT GONNA JUST GET A DIADEM BECAUSE YOUR THE SON OF A ROYAL KING
BUT YOUR GONNA GET A CROWN SAYING THAT YOU FINISHED THE RACE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....
2 Timothy 4:7–9 (NKJV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid 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 who have loved His appearing.
ONE DAY YOU AND I CAN RECEIVE THIS CROWN
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
FINISH THE RACE
GOD WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
GOD HAS BEEN
HE IS
AND ALWAYS WILL BE.....FAITHFUL
HIS FAITHFULNESS MAY NOT LOOK HOW YOU THINK IT SHOULD
BUT REST ASSURED
HE WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
.....STAND TO YOUR FEET.......
BOW YOUR HEADS AND CLOSE YOUR EYES
JUST ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT RIGHT NOW
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SEE IN THIS MESSAGE
FOR MANY OF YOU IT MAY BE A TRIAL THAT IS ABOUT TO SEND YOU OVER THE EDGE
MAYBE IT’S A SICKNESS OR DEATH OF A LOVED ONE
THAT HAS CAUSED YOU TO QUESTION YOUR FAITH
MAYBE YOUR MARRIAGE IS HANGING ON BY A THREAD
MAYBE ITS A WORK THING THAT IS TESTING YOU
SOMETHING FINANCIAL
WHATEVER IT IS…I WANT YOU TO LEAVE TODAY KNOWING...
THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL
JESUS ADDRESS THE WHOLE BOOK OF REVELATION IN THE BEGINNING WITH....
I AM WHO WAS
WHO IS
AND WHO IS TO COME
HEBREWS TELLS US THAT...
JESUS IS THE SAME
YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
HE WAS FAITHFUL YESTERDAY
HE IS FAITHFUL TODAY
AND HE WILL BE FAITHFUL TOMORROW
NO MATTER WHAT IT IS......HE IS FAITHFUL