181; 7 Churches; Smyrna; Faithful No Matter What
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Emotion
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Language
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Social
Intro
Intro
Smyrna: center of imperial cult worship
Town was rebuilt/resurrected
Town was famous for its Games. The winner received a wreath.
afflictions-tribulations
The word was used to describe torture where weights would be stacked on a person’s chest. They would be piled up until a person couldn’t breath. That happens with us as well as the weight of life pile up
Poverty
slander
Suffering
Intro
Intro
Missions update - Jake & Taneille Lowe
Sometimes that just doesn’t cut it.
It’s easy to think about missionaries suffering but in reality, every Christian and every church is a missionary. So, why are we surprised when difficulty arises?
Persistent pain
Persistent trouble
Life just seems to suck the air out of your lungs.
Re-intro series
re-intro series
Seven churches
Spectacular Jesus who says I know.
Today the bus stops at Smyrna (present day Izmir).
Center of Imperial Cult worship. Only the Jews had an exemption from a offering to Caesar.
They beat out 10 other cities = we are first.
The town of Smyrna had died and been resurrected. This was a source of great pride for the town’s people.
Town was famous for its Games. Winner received a celery crown.
Notice Jesus will speak to things they know and see on a daily basis.
Text
Text
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
I am first and the last - I’m the one who died and came to life again. He is the resurrected One.
I know your afflictions - tribulations - this isn’t an end-time suffering. This is a present reality!
The word was used to describe torture where weights would be stacked on a person’s chest. They would be piled up until a person couldn’t breath. That happens with us as well as the weight of life pile up.
Jesus mentions 3 weights that were piling up on the church at Smyrna. These three troubles are all intertwined and build on each other.
Weight #1 - Poverty
Weight #1 - Poverty
Jesus says - I know
There’s a couple of Greek words for being busted. This one means you have nothing.
When your whole world comes crashing in, you begin to think you are the center of the world! Not so with Smyrna - they were able to keep their eyes on Jesus even in difficultly.
Surprisingly, Jesus says, “Yet you are rich.” God’s economy doesn’t work like ours. They have something greater. They have an eternal reward. We have to keep our eyes on the greater reality.
When your whole world comes crashing in, you begin to think you are the center of the world! Not so with Smyrna - they were able to keep their eyes on Jesus even in difficultly.
Illustrate MMS
Illustrate MMS
If your joy is dependent upon things, you will only experience joy if you have things. If you have Jesus, you can have joy in the most difficult times!
Illustrate with MMS
Later in this series we’ll see that wealth is a particular problem for some churches!
Share the inheritance!
Of all the things you could say to Jesus!
Who made me arbiter?
Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on guard against greed.”
Tells a story about building barns - who’s going to get your stuff?
The ultimate question isn’t how much money you have, it’s whether or not you are faithful to Jesus.
The point here is that while the world can make life difficult, Jesus guarantees something greater. A suffering church like Smyrna needed the assurance that their ultimate future was already secure, even though their situation. And there are times when each of us need to be reminded of the same thing.
Notice Jesus has nothing negative to say to Smyrna.
Have you ever noticed how Jesus seems to have a special heart for poor and suffering? Smyrna is one of only two churches that Jesus has nothing negative to say to.
Weight #2 - Slander
Weight #2 - Slander
I know the slander of those who say they are Jews but are not, but are a synagogue of Satan (the accuser).
This is why they are so poor.
The Jews had a special privilege to worship their God. At this point, Christians still worshipped in the Synagogue. The Jews were going to the authorities and accusing the Christians. They said, “They’re not really one of us.”
The synagogue of Satan was a
Agora
Jesus says, “I know.” He doesn’t say, “Defend yourself better.” He doesn’t say, “Attack.”
What they needed was the community of God around them to pull together to make sure ensure survival.
Maybe not to that level, but have you ever been there? When people talk bad about you? When they stir trouble at work? Home? Church?
Oftentimes it leads in the same direction Smyrna faced
Weight #3 - Suffering
Weight #3 - Suffering
Jesus says, “don’t be afraid!” Emphatic!
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
10 days - great suffering but with a limit.
Contrary to some popular preaching, there are no promises of an easy life. Instead, there are promises of divine comfort in the middle of suffering.
“I tell you” Behold!
10 days - great suffering but with a limit. God isn’t pulling them out of the problem but he is making sure it is manageable.
Polycarp
We may wish for a different avenue but the reality is, in the most difficult times, the church thrives
Polycarp
This isn’t simply a thing of the past. Andrew Brunson
Crown of life
Wrap up
Wrap up
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. This will confuse and clarify.
Jesus keeps calling to victory/faithfulness. What does that mean?
Is the person of Jesus my prize?
Prayer life
Do I ever hear what he has to say?
Are the ways of Jesus my ways?
Are his ways my ways?
Serving
Loving
Or am I about...
Are Jesus’ people my people?
Am I at home with the church?
Do I desire to love his people?
Close - The one who is victorious won’t be hurt at all by the second death.
Close - The one who is victorious won’t be hurt at all by the second death.