Untitled Sermon

Be faithful unto death

Don’t be afraid; Be faithful unto death

ENGAGE: The Lord gives a most challenging command to His church in Smyrna “Don’t be afraid”, “Be faithful”. Be faithful unto death? Why?

2 Peter 1:3 The Word of God gives us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness through

the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence.

2 Tim 3:12 all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted

Acts 14:22 (Paul stoned at Lystra) through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God

Be sober-minded 1 Pt. 5:8

Be not deceived, God is not mock Deut 11:16; Lk 21:8; 1 Cor 15:33; Gal 6:7

Be ye faithful Rev 2:10

Be not ignorant 2 Pt. 3:8

Be like minded 1 Pt. 3:8

Be not drunk with wine Ephesians 5:18

Be holy 1 Pt. 1:15-16

Be not weary in well doing 2 Th 3:13

Be patient 1 Th 5:14; James 5:7

Be doers of the Word James 1:22

Be blameless 1 Cor 1:8

Be fruitful Col 1:10

Be filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18

Be perfect

“Be” (7303) (indicative presence tense), the sense is to stand, remain or be fixed; hence continue

1. To exist

2. To be made, to be; to become

3. To remain

4. To be present in a place

5. To have a manner of being

Faithful: (353) committed in my relationship with God or fellow human beings; seen in:

1) loyalty - unswerving in duty; not turning away from under any circumstance

2) devotion – given over to, set apart to

3) service – labor of body or mind performed at the command of a superior or pursuance of duty which reflects God’s own faithfulness.

Scripture points to the faithfulness of Jesus Christ as an example for believers.

   And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV (intentionally/thoroughly)

TENSION: Remaining faithful in times of tribulation, poverty, slander, testing

Tribulation - an oppressive state resulting from physical, mental, emotional and/or economical adversity. Oppress - to crush or burden by abuse of power

Poverty - being without material possessions or wealth.

The prolonged and distressing nature of tribulation resulting in poverty will gradually chip away at your faith.

Faith /Faithfulness of character is forged under pressure.

TRUTH: The Lord knows our situation, we are being persecuted!

Persecution: to pursue in a manner to injure. Persecution produces tribulation!

Historical Account:

Smyrna is a coastal city of great wealth, some forty miles north of Ephesus. It is an old city that was founded about 1200 b.c. There is evidence that first-century Jewish settlements in Asia Minor had compromised their pure monotheism and in certain of the synagogues of these Greek-Roman cities had imported into their worship the worship of Zeus. In addition, Smyrna was noted as a strong center of emperor worship. In 195 b.c. a temple to the Goddess of Rome was constructed, and in a.d. 26 a temple to Tiberius was also constructed. These and other temples were built upon an acropolis which produced a very dramatic visual effect and was popularly described by the phrase “the Crown of Smyrna.”

The Christian church in this city is a suffering church. The very strong word “tribulation” (Gk., thlipsis), which denotes crushing pressure, is used to describe the experiences of these Christians. They live in a wealthy city, but they are poor. Poverty is always a harder burden to bear in the centers of wealth, not only because of the inflationary economic pressure within a prosperous city, but because of the oppressive contrast between rich and poor. But their gravest suffering has to do evidently with the persecution that overshadows the future. This persecution may be coming because of slander from those syncretistic members of the synagogue who worship Zeus, or from those citizens of Smyrna who worship the emperor of Rome and who are now persecuting the church in Smyrna.

1. Zeus worship Greek Olympian king of the Gods; Roman Emperor worship

2. Christians were persecuted for they failure to conform to religious/political dictates

3. Smyrna was a rich city; but Christians were ostracized; blasphemed; they were robbed

and fired from jobs being persecution for the gospel

4. Christians were surrounded by ethnic Jews; but not spiritual Jews

5. Every outward circumstance said that the Christians in Smyrna were poor, even destitute.

6. In midst of this kind of affliction, it is easy to think God has forgotten you

7. There were to be tested by Satan; but the testing would be limited by God

The Lord is intimately familiar with your tribulation.

1. Someone is after your worship!

2. I am under attack, be it mentally emotionally, financially or physically.

3. My relationships are unhealthy or unstable.

4. I lost out for refusing compromise what I believe in.

5. People reject me; therefore, they think and speak evil of me.

The world classifies you as powerless and poor.

Luke 12:21 The Lord says, but you are rich

a. Rev 3:17 You are not a miserable inadequate outcast who is of little value, unable to see and left uncovered.

b. Rev 3:18 You are being refined by fire; for your purification, adorned in righteousness, empowered to see

Satan’s objective is to diminish, defame and ultimately destroy your character.

a. By so-called God-fearing people (You don’t live up to God’s standards like us)

b. True God-fearing people they are not (slander your reputation)

c. They are of the house of Satan (They belong to their father who was a liar, thief, murderer)

(COMMANDED) Do not be fearful of the suffering that is to be allowed into your life

(FOREWARNED) Satan will lay hold of you by false accusation.

a. For testing

b. For a time

c. By tribulation

(PROMISED REWARDS) Be faithful unto death

a. You will receive the “crown of life” James 1:12

b. Your will not be hurt by the second death.

(OUR PERSONAL RESPONSE) He who has an ear let him hear

APPLICATION

This letter is a strong rebuke to the cultisms of fear that have thrived in unusual numbers within the past century. The major temptation of the cultisms of fear is their claim that because of the immensity of the needs and dangers of this age, demonic and otherwise, the gospel of Jesus Christ of itself is no match for such dangers. Therefore, they argue that we who would survive in such perilous times will need the special aid that only this or that cultic movement has to offer. It may be machine guns, or it may be special spiritual strategies known uniquely and especially to the leader of the movement. The only way that this temptation is able to undermine our faith in Jesus Christ, and His sufficiency, is if the power of the devil can be inflated beyond its actual size. The letter to the church at Smyrna is an antidote to such cultism. The resources we have in Jesus Christ are fully adequate. They are the resources we need—the only resources we need.

What does faithfulness look like to God? Jesus Christ – do we see the loyalty; devotion and service

Why is it important? Pleases God

How is it accomplished? Perfect submission

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gospel Message:

God’s love is the power that draws us unto Himself, faith is the by-product of God’s love that binds us to Him.

Faith is the mortar than secures those that love one another together!

Faith is that substance created by love that has the power to bring forth from the spiritual realm in to the physical realm.

What do we receive? rescued, reconciliation, redemption and restoration.