Overcomer in Christ
Notes
Transcript
Revelation 2:8-11
Revelation 2:8-11
Smyrna is only mentioned in Revelation. We are not sure when the church was planted there, but most theologians believe Paul helped plant it while in Ephesus (Acts 19:10). It was in NT times and has remained, to this day, one of the largest and busiest commercial centers in the entire region of Asia Minor. Its prosperity suffered at times from earthquakes. Smyrna was a loyal city of Rome. It never wavered from this loyalty, and Rome rewarded and protected it. In 23 BC, when eleven cities competed to build a temple for Emperor Tiberius, the Senate awarded the contract to Smyrna. There is a belief that Homer is one of their most prestigious citizens. The religious life of Smyrna was cults. The city took pride in the imperial cult; there was a cult worshipping the “mother of Sipylus,” and reverent honor was paid to Homer. There was also a considerable number of Jews, who showed aggressive hostility toward the Christians.
This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only two out of the seven churches to receive unqualified praise. As the letter says, they were not outwardly wealthy; they were undergoing tribulation; a limited period of intense persecution; and prison was to be the lot of some of the Christians. The Jews' slanderous hostility to the church deprived them all of the right to call themselves Jews or their assemblies a true synagogue; they seem to have been prominently involved in this satanic attack. But all those who proved faithful in this severe test would receive the “crown of life.”
The Greek word translated “Smyrna” was used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew word for myrrh, a resinous substance used as a perfume for the living (Matt. 2:11) and the dead (John 19:39). Its association with death perfectly pictures the suffering church at Smyrna. Like myrrh, produced by crushing a fragrant plant, the church at Smyrna, crushed by persecution, gave off a fragrant aroma of faithfulness to God. At Smyrna, unlike Ephesus, there was no waning of love for Jesus Christ. Because the believers at Smyrna loved Him, they remained faithful to Him; because of that faithfulness, they were hated; because they were hated, they were persecuted; that persecution in turn incited them to love Christ more.
After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.
John writes what is commanded of him to write with this promise, “He who overcomes….” What does it mean to overcome? Can we truly overcome? Who has ever overcome? Did you overcome, or was there more to you overcoming tribulations? To answer these questions, we will look at ONE attribute of overcomers. BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH!
BE Faithful:
BE Faithful:
What does it mean to ‘Be Faithful?’ The imperative verb (command) is derived from the Greek word “ginomai,” which means to come into existence, become, take place, happen, or be. The adjective ‘faithful’ derives from the Greek word “pistos,” which means dependable, trustworthy, believing, and faithful. Who is the “Be Faithful” Jesus Christ is the one we are commanded to believe in if we desire to be overcomers. I am going to list the things our Lord and Savior was faithful to.
First, He was faithful in fulfilling prophecy and the law (Matthew 5:17). Second, He was faithful in proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven was here (Matthew 4:17; 22:2; 13:31). He was faithful in forgiving sins (Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:13; John 12:47; 1 Peter 3:18). He was faithful in the face of persecution (John 5:16). He was faithful in His suffering (Hebrews 13:12). He was faithful when Satan put Him to the test (Hebrews 2:18). Funny thing about the Greek word for ‘tempted’ is “peirazo,” which means test, put to the test, or tempted. If He was faithful, how is it possible for us to “Be Faithful?” By having a relationship with Jesus Christ, who has overcome.
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Listen to what Christ warns them will happen to them. They will face tribulation; so will we (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9; Matthew 5:12). They will face poverty; so will we (2 Corinthians 8:9). We will be blasphemers, just as they were among the Jews. Have you ever noticed that persecution comes from within more than from without? We face the same adversary as they did, Satan. He does not want you or me to succeed in Christ. He knows the power that we possess in Christ and is constantly trying to persuade us of our weakness. Listen to what Paul said about his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Those who use the power in Christ, Satan tries to put them in prison.
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
For ten days, they would face persecution. Daniel was tested for ten days (Daniel 1:12;14). Tribulations will not be forever. We will have seasons where it's fierce and seasons of rest; Jesus was exhorting them to persevere. Those who endure will receive the crown of life. How do we endure? We can only persevere in Jesus. Listen to what He said: He who overcomes will never be hurt by the second death (Revelation 21:7; 1 John 5:4; John 16:33; Revelation 12:11).
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.
So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.
“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
