Revelation 2:8–11

Purpose: Jesus encourages us not to fear temptation, but to remain faithful until death.

We have all heard the phrase No Pain; No Gain. a fews years ago the concept was shortened to “No Fear.” The principle remains the same pain precedes gain.

The church at Smyrna was used to pain. They were so used to pain, that Jesus knew they needed a word of encouragement concerning the eternal gain that awaits all who live fearless and faithful to the Word of God.

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise with eternal benefits.

We live in a culture of criticism. Just the morning my day started off with the question, “Did you figure out what you did wrong.”

Well Yes! I figured it out. Lighting struck the new computer. I hooked up the old computer, so we could have church. The old computer didn’t work properly. So yes I figured out what I did wrong. I was not standing between the lighting bolt and the power supply of the new computer.

Isn’t life just like that? In a world, content on criticizing rather than problem solving, we can expect to be beaten down, boycotted until broke , and blamed for everything that makes others unhappy. Are are often tempted to just give up and go with the flow.

This is not a new dilemma. The church at Smyrna faced similar temptations, in their critical circumstances.

Nobody likes to be criticized, so I have some good news for you. If you have made it to preaching today, you have gotten one thing right this week.

The pain of making weekly worship a priority is worth the gain of eternal benefits that are only found in the gathered worship of the church. Jesus gives us 4 expectations when we gather for worship and preaching:

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise with eternal benefits.

We all have to deal with temptation. Today we can learn form the Church at Smyrna how to deal with temptation.

Smyrna was a prosperous and beautiful city 35 miles north of Ephesus. Today it is the city of Izmir, in modern day Turkey.

The church faced trails and troubles on two fronts. The Jews wanted them to deny Christ as Lord, and the Romans wanted them to deny Christ as lord of All. the Smyrna Christians could worship worship gods other than the emperor as long as the emperor received the majority of the worship.

You can go to church as long as it does inconvenience anyone else.

If you gave Christ more attention than other religions or trusted God more than the government you would suffer the consequences. The Smyrna christians were always anxious and troubled about what would happen next.

You can go to church as long as it does inconvenience anyone else.

What if you couldn’t get a tax deduction for your tithes. What if you had to pay a tax to attend church. Would you still make worship service a priority?

What if you had to give up a promotion at work to attend weekly worship services? Would you still make weekly Church attendance a priority?

How do you make church a priority? How would you explain to an non-believer the benefit of coming to Sunday worship?

Dewayne Hare; Deer and Fence Sundays.

We are constantly faced with the temptation join the criticism club, when we should join the fearless and faithful few. Jesus tells the church at Smyrna to remain fearless and faithful, because the eternal gain out weighs the temporal pain of their circumstances.

Is the pain of making weekly worship a priority worth the gain of an eternal perspective.

The pain of making weekly worship a priority is worth the gain of eternal perspective. There are benefits found only in the gathered weekly worship of the church. Jesus gives us 4 expectations, of eternal benefit, when we gather weekly for worship and preaching:

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise of eternal benefits.

Jesus gives us a message of dealing with the pain of temptation.

The Lord God, who has power over time, death, and the grave has a message for you.

Isaiah 44:6 NASB95

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

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Isaiah 48:12 NASB95

“Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.

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Jesus knows you circumstances. He was before your problems begin and he will be after your problems end.

Jesus gives us an honest evaluation of our temptation.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB95

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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John 8:44 NASB95

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jesus gives us a plan to overcome the pain of temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Jesus promises

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Ten Days symbolizes a limited time:

Daniel 1:12–15 NASB95

“Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. “Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

What is the difference in not making a cake, against your doctrine of faith, and a Chevrolet dealer not selling you a new Ram truck.

Matthew 10:28 NASB95

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ten Days symbolizes a limited time:

Crown of Life: (στεφανος) is a laurel wreath presented to an athlete who endured to the end to win the contest. The crown of Life represents the resurrection life Jesus gives the believer.

Jesus promises that the eternal benefits of fearless and faithful living out weighs the temporal pains of temptation.

Polycarp was a disciple of John, who became Bishop Smyrna. About 60 years (156 AD) after John wrote this letter to Smyrna, he was martyred by the Romans. As Polycarp entered the arena, a voice was heard from heaven saying, “Be strong, Polycarp, act like a man.” No one saw the speaker, but all present reported the voice.

The proconsul asked “Are you Polycarp. He said, “I am.” Looking at the old man the governor said “Have respect for you age . . . Swear by the Genius of Caesar; repent and say away with the atheist.” Swear the oath; deny Christ and I will set you free.”

Polycarp looking around at the emperor worshippers and heathen, He replied away with the atheist.”

Then came the fearless faithful quote heard down through the centuries:

“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Friends repeat after me: “No shame in Life; No fear in Death, here in Christ alone I stand.”

Zack Williams says it this way:

If you have Pain He is the PAIN TAKER

If you are Lost, He is the WAY MAKER

If you need Freedom and Saving, HE IS THE PRISON SHAKING SAVIOR

If you have Chains, HE IS THE CHAIN BREAKER

In revelation to overcome means to conquer, to finish the course, or to win. In the context, the one who overcomes is the one who has placed faith in Jesus’ plan for your life.

Jesus never desires anyone to be in pain.

Jesus never desires anyone to feel a sense of lostness.

Jesus never desires anyone to think there is no way out.

Jesus never desires anyone to feel forever chained to their troubles and trials.

The first step to freedom is belief in salvation. The one who overcomes is the one who has been born again.

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Revelation 20:6 NASB95

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:14 NASB95

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:4 NASB95

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

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Revelation 21:8 NASB95

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”