To The Church of Smyrna- Don't Fear, Be Faithful

SO WHAT

The world has really changed when it comes to communication

Can you remember back to a time that you would receive letters in the mail?

I was talking to a retired officer sometime ago and he told us that back when he was in his early ministry he would be told that he was moving by a letter from the divisional commander - he would get a letter one week to tell him he was moving and then a letter the next week saying where.

we received birthday cards in the mail

letters to tell us we were poor and needed to pay our credit card

Those days are drifting away with phone, email and facebook we will say letter in 30 years and maybe no one will know what it is

Because there was no email or facebook in bible days there was the letter that was delivered on foot

Last week we begun our series in Revelations - Signed, Sealed, Delivered

We talked about that fact that John wrote this while being exiled on the Island of Patmos - it was a vision from Jesus

last week we looked at his letter to the church of Ephesus where he challenged them to not lose sight of their love of God or there love for each other. It was something that they were struggling with and they needed to make sure they lived out love

Today

WHAT’S WHAT

Revelation 2:8–11 NLT

8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

revelation

The city of Smyrna was about 25 miles north of Ephesus - to put in perspective Fermont is 17 Miles from here

The churches in the area struggled because there was a very large Jewish population that was strongly opposed to Christianity and then there was also the non-Jewish population who’s allegiance was to Rome and they worshiped the emperor

John starts off the letter with I know your suffering and poor but you are rich. It sounds so strange and it is not the first time we see this if we look back to Matthew we see some of this language

Matthew 5:1–6 NLT

1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them. 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

Matthew 5:3–4 NLT

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

They were no stranger to persecution, and here it says they will suffer for 10 days which represents there suffering is nothing compared to what the father has prepared for us

On a side note I often think that the church has often lost their voice in our western culture and it disturbs me

Already and we are only two weeks in John talks about persecution of Christ followers and so there should be because the message of Jesus is counter cultural -It is often hard to suffering for our stand for Christ in our part of the world and when it does come we often give up our voice

Persecution is from satan and he will do anything to kill, steal and destroy those who are truly bringing the news of Christ

Here in Smyrna persecution was so real that it even lead to death and John encourages them not to fear physical death but those who put their faith in Christ there is a crown of life

It is interesting because Smyrna was an athletic city and they would know what it was to win a crown and know in order to have victory there must be hard work and endurance through fear and suffering and that if we want to win the victory our eyes need to be fixed on the goal which is eternal life with Jesus

Philippians 3:14 NLT

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Phil

In essence he admits that suffering is not easy but instead of allowing it to pull you further away from God, allow it to pull you closer to him - setting our eyes on him

In essence he admits that suffering is not easy but instead of allowing it to pull you further away from God, allow it to pull you closer to him

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Original Meaning

Whereas “overcoming” in Ephesus required restoration of love (2:4), in Smyrna it demanded withstanding persecution.

The MAIN message is don’t fear, be faithful

YEAH BUT

You may be sitting here thinking yeah , but you don’t know what I am facing

NOW WHAT

As we read his we may feel like we are a little removed from what Paul is talking about but in reality be are challenged in different ways

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Bridging Contexts

The martyrdom of our brothers and sisters in the past as well as many in other locations in the present must challenge us to count the cost: How much is Jesus worth to us?

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Contemporary Significance

Suffering has a way of reminding us which things in life really matter, forcing us to depend radically on God, and thus purifying our obedience to God’s will.

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Contemporary Significance

But it is important to know God’s heart before we face suffering, so that we may understand our suffering in light of his love for us, in light of his sharing our suffering in the cross, rather than interpreting his heart toward us on the basis of our suffering. As Billy Graham points out, “suffering has a mysterious, unknown component

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Contemporary Significance

We cannot explain why some suffer much more than others. “All I know from the short letters in Revelation,” Graham concludes, “is this: Christ commands us to ‘Overcome!’ in the strength He alone can supply.…

Crystal has often shared with me the time of when he was in Africa and cadets training to be salvation army officers would leave their kids behind with family for 2 years in order to train for full time ministry in sharing the Good News, they would sometimes not know where the next meal would come from but they were faithful and joyful because Jesus sacrifice was greater

I am challenged when I step back and think what would I Sacrifice for Jesus? how much would I endure before I would give up and walk away

It is easy to serve him when things are okay but how about when life gets tough

We as a church may never experience suffering like John is talking about but in our own lives many have experienced suffering that challenges our faith. I know many of your stories and to see your faith even when I know that many would give up in the midst. You have remained faithful. But that is not always easy.

When we can’t see God in it, it is hard but I clam the words of (read)

NIV Commentary says If we have not prepared ourselves and our congregations to die for Christ’s name if necessary, we have not completed our responsibility of preparing disciples (). Like Daniel and his friends Daniel 6, (we prepare best for more strenuous future tests by passing the ones we are given in the present. But when we remain faithful in the face of rejection and persecution, Jesus promises us a reward far greater than the power and status our oppressors now enjoy.

Mark 8:34–38 NLT

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

In this world you will have trouble - most have some right now

This week as I was away I realized something

Through all the pain I had been feeling about Arianna moving to a new home I had lost my ability to see God’s hand giving us strength through the suffering

I had opportunity to stop and step back and realize that that God may not be answering this prayer they way we want him to, we are tired and weak most days the the suffering sucks but God revealed that in these moments instead of pulling away from him that I needed to cling closer and emerge myself in prayer and remain faithful

Maybe tell story about Arianna’s Friend and how God puts people in you path to help

Whether we suffer as a church (the people together) or individually, whether we find ourselves poor and struggling in our situations if we remain faithful even through the suffering by surrounding us with loving people and become people of prayer - God is faithful - You are his cherished child - Remain faithful in the name of Jesus

Though you slay me