Look Beyond Your Suffering
Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come • Sermon • Submitted
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Pastor George – Egypt
Bombs blew up at two historic Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday 2017, killing nearly fifty parishioners and injuring more than one hundred others.
Just hours after the blast, amid outrage and grief, Reverend Boules George stepped before his packed church and gave the terrorists a three-point sermon that went viral worldwide. It was entitled “A Message to Those Who Kill Us.” His three points were simple but not cliché: “Thank you,” “We love you,” and “We’re praying for you.”
Pastor George said “Thank you” because the terrorists gave the dead the honor to die as Christ died; because the terrorists shortened the victims’ journey to their heavenly home; because the terrorists allowed Christians to fulfill Christ’s words in Luke 10:3 (nkjv), “Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves”; and because the terrorists’ actions made people mindful of their eternal destinies. The church was, in fact, now overflowing with people who didn’t ordinarily attend.
Then Father George said “We love you” because even murderers and thieves love those who love them, but only followers of Jesus are taught to love our enemies. Father George closed his message with “We’re praying for you” because, he reasoned, if a terrorist could taste the love of God even one time, it would drive hatred from his heart.
Does the Church of Jesus Christ understand that she, us, Allendale Baptist Church is called to suffer?
Why does God allow His church, His beloved bride to suffer?
Suffering is hard! It’s difficult! Challenging! But it is also refining, strengthening and faith building!
The Church at Smyrna knew a bit about suffering. And as we continue our journey to visit the seven churches in Asia found in Revelation 1-3, we stop today at the church of Smyrna and listen to what Jesus has to say to them.
And the one thing we can see from the words of Jesus to this church is this - Suffering is a reality for the body of Christ!
Our Lord suffered and we will suffer. But, our God doesn’t leave us in our suffering! No way! When it comes to our God, there is alway a light at the end of the tunnel. There is alway something better ahead! There is always HOPE!
How do we learn to tap into this hope? How can we keep from wallowing in self-pity and discouragement when the pressures of suffering and persecution is all around us?
This is what the church at Smyrna learned and its what we must learn as well...
Jesus has some very good and helpful words for them. And I think I can sum them up into the main idea of this sermon today...
Main Idea: Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
Main Idea: Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
This is what the Church at Smyrna did and its what any church needs to do when confronted with the reality of persecution and suffering.
By the way, it is not a question of if persecution and suffering will come, it is a question of when.
And when it does, there are three actions every believer in Christ, every church must take.
Transition: Are you ready for the first? The first thing to do is to...
1. Look Who’s Talking (vs. 8-9)
1. Look Who’s Talking (vs. 8-9)
Lead in…Yes, we as a body need to look to the one, the only one that has the authority and love to help us deal with the suffering we are facing. Take a look at what Jesus has to say...
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
As we walk through these verses, you’ll notice several things we should LOOK at...
Look at the audience -
Smyrna. Smyrna means “myrrh,” the substance used for perfume and often for anointing a dead body for aromatic purposes.
Called the crown of Asia, this ancient city (modern Izmir, Turkey) was the most beautiful in Asia Minor and a center of science and medicine.
Always on the winner’s side in the Roman wars, Smyrna’s intense loyalty to Rome resulted in a strong emperor-worship cult.
John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1994.
And in light of this strong emperor-worship, you can begin to understand why this church was subjected to persecution and suffering. Think about it...
Look who’s talking -
The words of the first and the last - This speaks to His eternality and with this phrase, He is referring to Himself as Yahweh!
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Who’s talking? Yahweh is!!
The words of the one who died and came to life - This speaks of His identity as the Christ! The God/man! The one who lived a sinless life for the purpose of dying a sacrificial death!
Who’s talking? Jesus Christ, the God/man!
He is Yahweh and He is Christ! These two phrases put together sum up His power, authority and His qualification to speak!
So, the pastor and the church had better listen!
Look what He has to say -
He knows their tribulation -
He KNOWS! Isn’t this comforting?
Their Tribulation! He knows their specific challenge!
He knows their poverty - The persecution effected their finances
He knows their true riches - Jesus know what is laid up in heaven for them.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Jesus will never leave or forsake His own! Now that is true riches!
He knows their opposition -
This church was being persecuted specifically by a local Jewish synagogue nicknamed by Jesus the “Synagogue of Satan.” They are Jews but they are not! In other words, they are not true Jews.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Their tool for persecution? Slander!
Challenger blows up - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was a fatal incident in the United States space program that occurred on Tuesday, January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard.
And do you know what I remember the most about this? I remember President Ronald Regan going live on TV and talking to us Americans - Listening to the President, I felt comforted in the midst of this national tragedy!
Trusting the one who is talking gives great comfort and peace in the midst of suffering!
So what are a group of believers to do when they are facing unbearable suffering because of unbearable persecution - the likes of which we simply, as a church in western Michigan, cannot understand - to do?
How were they to persevere under such devastating circumstances?
Trust the one who is talking!
It is interesting to notice that this church doesn’t receive any rebuke from the Lord. He gives them only encouragement and words of peace!
Do you know what God wants from you when you are suffering? Your trust! Do you trust Christ in the good times and the challenging?
Review - Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
Look who’s taking!
2. Hear His Honesty (vs. 10)
2. Hear His Honesty (vs. 10)
Lead in…It’s not always easy to hear the truth. But the truth is, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend! Jesus is a true friend to this church and He tells them about the hard time they are about to face...
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Jesus is the truth and He speaks the truth in love to this church. He doesn’t sugarcoat it.
Look at what He says to them...
Do not fear what you are about to suffer
Don’t fear
You will suffer!
He tell them what they are about to suffer
The devil will throw some of them in prison - Will the devil use the Synagogue of Satan? Perhaps. He will use someone to throw them into a Roman prison and it will not be pleasant!
For the purpose of testing - God’s testing of believers is always to strengthen them, never to destroy them!
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Remember, Jesus offers no rebuke to this church! Perhaps suffering, though exceptionally difficult, helped keep them true to the Lord and pure in their faith?!
For a specific period of time - ten days! What a grace of God to tell this church about the limited duration of their suffering. -
Workout video without a timer = interminably painful!
He Commands them - “Be faithful unto death
He Promises them - I will give you the crown of life.”
What an amazing verse - It should be every Christians goal!!
Illustration - Polycarp - the Bishop of Smyrna
Argumentation - Nobody likes to hear bad news! But when that bad news comes from someone you trust, it makes it easier to bear.
Jesus told the church of Smyrna they would suffer and they would suffer in a bad way. But there would be an end to it and so they MUST remain faithful in the midst of it!
Application - I think there is a gold nugget for us in this.
What are you suffering through right now? Is it difficult? Is it harder than you could have possibly imagined?
Do you know that the same God of the Church of Smyrna is your God too (if you are a true follower of Christ)?
He tell us that it’s going to be tough out there!
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Persevere to the end and you will be saved!
How can we persevere? Because we have a God who promises us He will never leave us or forsake us!
Review - Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
Look who’s talking!
Hear His honesty!
3. Believe His Words (vs. 11)
3. Believe His Words (vs. 11)
Lead in…You know, if you can trust someone, you will believe them. Jesus is trustworthy and so we must believe Him! Listen to what He says...
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
It’s one thing to listen, its another thing to hear!
Open your ears and hear the Spirit of God! What does the Spirit say to the seven churches of Asia? Well, He has already said two things...
Ephesus -
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Smyrna -
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
What’s the theme so far? Hang in there! Church, You have a responsibility to CONQUER this life! And if you do, you will never die, you will truly live!
What about the Gospel? I thought once Jesus save you, your saved? Amen and amen! However, once you are saved, you have a responsibility to work out your salvation with fear and trembling!
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
There it is! The Divine / Human Cooperative!
You prove your salvation by persevering! You show you are His by conquering each and every day for His glory!
Illustration - There use to be a saying that if you truly believed someone you could take whatever they said, “To the Bank!”
In other words their WORD was trustworthy!
Argumentation - Jesus told both Ephesus and now Symrna that if they conquer this life, they will have eternal life! Do you believe this?
The church at Smyrna did! And that church is now eating from the tree of life!
Application - Are you living for Christ? Are you conquering the sin in your life? Are you serving Him faithfully each day, every day? You don’t do these things to stay saved, you do them to prove you are His!
A soldier in His Army is to behave like a soldier! One who is true to His captain and cause regardless of the cost to him or her personally.
A soldier conquers the enemy! And we daily battle against three powerful foes - the World, the Flesh and the Devil!
Are you fighting the good fight or are you kicking up your feet in your lazy boy and taking your ease?
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
Am I a soldier of the Cross
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
In the name, the precious name,
Of Him who died for me,
Through grace I’ll win the promised crown,
Whate’er my cross may be.
Do you believe His words?
Review - Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
Look who’s talking
Hear His honesty
Believe His words!
Conclusion
Pastor George – Egypt
Bombs blew up at two historic Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday 2017, killing nearly fifty parishioners and injuring more than one hundred others.
Look Past Your Suffering and See the Crown of Life!
Give final application
Land the Plane.
Connection Group Reflection Questions
What do these verses teach me about our character?
What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?
What do I need to do to obey him?
With whom can I share these truths?