The 7 Churches - Smyrna
Notes
Transcript
Last week we dived into looking at the letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor - a Word that Jesus spoke to them to be prepared and to address certain issues they were dealing with or facing.
This morning I want us to look at His words to the church at Smyrna.
Smyrna was about 35 miles north of Ephesus. It was another seaport and a wealthy community from commerce and trade. This city still exists today.
However, though the community was wealthy we have the inference that the church is a blue collar church as Christ addresses their poverty and yet recognizes their wealth in Spiritual things.
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.
The church at Smyrna has NO COMPLAINTS against them (1 of 2 of the 7 without a complaint), and they are being persecuted and attacked. Especially by a group of Jews who claim to be speaking for God although they have no TRUE connection with God as Christ points out - referring to them as the synagogue of Satan.
Just because someone has religion does not mean they are of GOD!
I feel that the American church does not like to consider the church at Smyrna much. For years the Christian influence in the US has maintained a peaceful existence of worship, and a high influence on law, order and leadership in our land. However, this has been greatly declining and changing. Nonetheless, as Americans we feel we have fundamental rights to NOT BE PERSECUTED for our faith, but that does not mean the societal pressures and demands are non effective in squelching the church.
We don’t like to talk about the kind of suffering going on here, but never before in our history has the reality of persecution become more pronounced then it is right now.
1. Persecution IS Coming
1. Persecution IS Coming
Persecution is not something that is just out there or in other countries, it is something that has already arrived and will intensify in our land.
20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
To this church, Jesus said do not be afraid to suffer, some will be thrown into prison and there will be a window of suffering coming...
The Christians in contrast to the Jews in Smyrna were suffering - they had lost all their possessions (the greek word for poverty indicates a total loss of goods, not just “poor”, had all taken from them, and much of their persecution came from the Jews who were doing quite well in the land. In addition they were being accused of cannibalism (taking the blood and body of Christ in communion, and accused of breaking up homes as they would not partake of family’s atheism or pagan practices due to their faith.
Doesn’t our society misunderstand Christianity. The further away society becomes from being Christian, the less they understand the truth and become critical. Christians believing for miracles are criticized, and our talk of blood sacrifice, and belief in the supernatural, etc.
A short while ago there was an African doctor who talked about things in the spirit realm dealing with demons - I listened to what she said and it is very much lines up with some of the practices of dark arts in pagan lands and the issues that are spiritual that come out of them.
The less people have faith and more they want to reject Christ the more critical they will become - the more people want to justify their sin, the more angry they will become. - THey persecuted Christ, they will persecute us!
In the world over the last year:
260 million Christians live where they experience high levels of persecution
2983 Christians have been killed for their faith
9448 churches and other Christian buildings have been attacked, vandalized or destroyed
3711 believers were detained without trial, arrested , sentenced or imprisoned
Why do we think that the animosity against Christians is exempt in America - it is rising higher and higher - we are blamed and classified in many derogatory ways. This week I had a non Christian I had never met are spoken to call me a phony propagandist of Jesus and a charlatan
14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.
15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity
Today, I believe this warning to the Church at Smyrna is also a warning to the True Church to brace for suffering, persecution and even arrest - death.
We may have enjoyed relative safety in this nation for many years, but it is clearly shifting. Government leaders are out to close churches, silence the message of the Gospel, limit rights of Christians, etc. They view us as anti-science and unreasonable. We are harshly judged and blamed for judging...
It is not going to get easier. Our upcoming elections threaten civil war, civil unrest and a host of attitudes to arise regardless of which was the outcome swings.
If they persecuted Christ, if they persecuted the early church, and if they are persecuting Christians around the world, we are not exempt from them persecuting us as well.
2. Prepare How to Respond to Persectuion
2. Prepare How to Respond to Persectuion
I have heard it said and repeated myself that we should not wait for the moment of temptation to have prepared our response… those who have predetermined how they will respond when faced with sexual temptation, drugs, alcohol, following peer pressure or other sinful temptations are able to make right responses because they have determined in advance how they will respond.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
To know God’s Word and what it says to be ready to give an answer...
We need to be prepared with how we will respond when persecution comes our way....
Let’s face it, American Christians cave under peer pressure - we cannot say no to partaking of sin with the world for fear of offending, or being left out, or made fun of. We refuse to share Christ in our work places because we may lose our jobs...
What is going to happen when it is our lives or the lives of those we love. Our comforts, ability to buy and sell, or get medical attention, etc. The biggest issues with the mark of the beast as described in Revelation is the inability to transact business and the suffering that will occur unless you renounce your faith in Christ and receive it.
You can post on facebook NEVER NEVER, but will happen when truly confronted. Have you discussed these things with your spouse and children.
We must not forget that Christians were put to death for their faith and still are.. in June some 500 Christians were put to death by Muslim terrorists groups in Ethiopia…pregnant woman, children, whole families...
Now is the time to determine who we will serve and to what extent.
Interestingly enough we see Jesus make a reference to His position and eternity as He addresses them - the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive.
No doubt the purpose for this is to establish that all things have begun and will end with Him, and that if they are discouraged from their circumstances to wait as He is in control. In addition He draws attention to HIs power over death! Something this church was facing.
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
Now is the time to determine that we will CHOOSE JESUS and STAND FOR CHRIST no matter what threatens us.
Will we be prepared to truly believe the words in
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
CHOOSE NOW TO STAND FIRM IN THE ARMOR OF GOD
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
3. Jesus is the Victor Over Persecution
3. Jesus is the Victor Over Persecution
in v. 8 Jesus says - I am the first and the Last, the One who was dead and is now alive
That says a few things to us very clearly.
First, EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH CHRIST!!!
He was, is and is to come…
HE HAS THE FINAL SAY!!!!
You are on the winning team. No matter how difficult this life can become, you are on the winning team! No matter how persecution we may go through - if God is for us, who can be against us
30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Which brings us to the second thought --- HE was dead, but is Alive
Death is not our end, but our beginning. When we are prepared to lose this life, we will gain eternal life...
We are very earth focused, but we need to become eternally minded church.
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
I believe Jesus wanted to remind the church at SMYRNA --- You serve the creator and the one who will win in the end, and I was persecuted to death on the cross, but I am alive forevermore....
There is nothing to worry about because Jesus says - I got this!
If we face persecution feeling we are alone it would be devastating, but realize Jesus will always be by our side.
He was with Noah on the ark
He was with Joseph in the pit, the slave master’s house and the prison
He was with Moses when He parted the Red Sea
He was with Joshua when the walls of Jericho came falling down
He was with Gideon on the threshing floor
He was with David when he faced Goliath
He was with Daniel in the Lion’s Den
He was with Shadrach, Meshcach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace
Jesus will be with you in whatever moment you have need of Him, and the same Spirit that raised Christ that dwells in you will strengthen you!
Jesus told this church - I know those wicked people persecuting you, and it may get worse, but remember - I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST, HE WHO WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE
Whether it is on this earth or in heaven - God will vindicate His people
17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Conclusion
Conclusion
SO Christian, realize today that the times we live in our uncertain, and it may not always be easy.
- Persecution will come to the church in America, in many ways it has arrived and is now intensifying...
- Prepare now both you and your household how you will respond to it and be ready to STAND FIRM
- Jesus is with you in the persecution - You are not alone