Dead or Alive - The Persecuted Church
Dead or Alive • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
The Persecuted Church
The Persecuted Church
The book of Revelation was written by John in exile on the island of Patmos
There is a lot of controversy on how to interpret this book. Is it metaphor, etc.
Personally I read scripture as is
The church was under great persecution - this is picture of what was happening also a preview of things to come
That’s why Jesu said:
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
We will do a series or small group on the rest but for now
We are continuing our series through the 7 churches
Last week - Ephesus the busy church
This week I want to travel 35 miles north to the Smyrna
Smyrna - was large port city - large Jewish community - center for Emperor worship - Jews were exempt - not the Christians
Romans on none side - without emperor worship you could not get jobs and persecution
Jews on one side who hate the Christians - slander them and accuse them
The persecuted church
There are things we need to know about persecution and facing it.
Turn to Revelation 2
As we look into this Persecuted church and how we should respond today
Let’s pray
The Persecuted Church
Persecution comes in many forms.
I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The Persecuted Church
Persecution comes in many forms.
As I said - you had Emperor worship “Caesar is Lord” -
refusal meant - no work guilds/unions - extreme poverty, put in prison
The other side is the Jews - hated Christians - would slander and accuse - turn them in
“Synagogue of Satan “ - these were Jews who were not following God’s way (warning to churches)
Thing is this is happening today still:
VIDEO
North Korea it is estimated 50-70,000 are imprisoned
Death sentence in North Korea - at the end of service today we will pray for them and others around the world
Learn more - go to www.opendoors.org
That is the other side of the world - this is America - we have rights
It is coming
The Persecuted Church
2. To persevere in persecution, you must be prepared.
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The Persecuted Church
2. To persevere in persecution, you must be prepared.
There are hundreds of verse on persevering
Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.
Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
The Persecuted Church
2. To persevere in persecution, you must be prepared.
This tells me it is coming and be ready
There is a day very soon that what I preach could be considered hate speech
We will stand on God’s truth about families, marriage gender, divorce, adultery, purity, justice, racism, all of it
We will disagree in love but will not bend
Because of that it will be unpopular, and eventually persecuted
We need to be prepared and we need pray for those a;ready facing it
The persecuted Church
3. Persecution is not to be faced alone.
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.
The persecuted Church
3. Persecution is not to be faced alone.
We were never created to face anything alone - especially not persecution
We need each other 0 gathering is important, Church is important
And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
The persecuted Church
3. Persecution is not to be faced alone.
Instill this in our kids and those around us
Every time I choose something other than coming together I say this is not a priority
This is a community - it is give and take - we invest and we withdraw
The Persecuted Church
The Persecuted Church
Jesus promise us there will be trouble
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Persecution is here and is coming
Not to be feared
John Foxe - wrote Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own.
- John Foxe
The Persecuted Church
The Persecuted Church
If you are worried go to the end of Revelation - we win - we have won because of Christ
We are more than conquerors - Romans
So we are prepared to stand - with our family elsewhere through prayer, with each other as it comes here
Most of all stand so that other will see your faith and be pointed to Jesus
Let’s pray