The Letter to the Church of Smyrna (Part 5)
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Intro: These last few weeks we have been considering the condemnation found here in the context with the church of Smyrna. However, we notice that this condemnation is not directly at them like with the church of Ephesus or the other churches,(“Nevertheless I have someone against thee...”). Of the seven churches only two of them do not receive a direct condemnation from the Lord, so with those two churches there is also no corrective action given as there is nothing for them to fix… With these two churches rather than our outline having a corrective action, we are going to call it a continuance of action. Pretty incredible when you think about it! It should challenge our thinking to realize that God intends for us in our live wholly unto Him and for Him to be pleased with our life, and the same is true of our church! In our first four lessons on this church we considered the commission, character, commendation and the condemnation. Today we will finish our study on the church of Smyrna with the continuance, call and challenge.
The Continuance: Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Jesus already stating to these believers who are being put to death for their faith in Him, that He was dead, and is alive! Words that should encourage them to the very end, and that is what He tries to exhort them in, continue until the end.
a. The Crown Of Life:
There are only two verses in the Scriptures that teach us about this “crown of life” that is promised to those when they are tried, that they remain faithful!
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
It is important that we understand the context of the temptation being talked about in the connection with the crown of life…
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
It is somewhat easy for us as believers to put temptation in a box and only consider certain aspects as temptation. The Bible teaches here that denying Christ in a situation where our physical life is being threatened is still ________, and results in one not receiving the crown of life.
b. How it Is Earned:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
I talk to many believers that quote this verse and emphasize the escape portion but do we see how this verse ends? “…that ye may be able to bear it.” James says “...that endureth temptation...” Escape is not necessarily the removal of the temptation but the ability to overcome it! As believers we want it taken away, but seeing that that isn’t the promise, but the ability to overcome that temptation is promised! Faithful unto death...
The Call: (Rev. 2:11 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...”)
We notice immediately that although this letter is written to a specific “church” the call is written to the “churches”.
We have talked about the application aspects of the word of God and clearly the indication here is that this is for us to take heed, and respond to.
2 Samuel 5:23–25 “And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.”
The Challenge: (Revelation 2:11 ... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.)
This is not teaching that we can lose our salvation… “shall not be hurt (of) the second death...”
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
If not salvation then what is it talking about? For those that endure there is a great reward, and for those who do not endure, they shall suffer loss.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Closing: The church of Smyrna is a great example for us to learn from! May we continue in the things that the Lord is pleased with in our church, and be challenged by those areas that demand improvement! All for His glory and His name’s sake!