Smyrna - Beaten But Not Broken Pt. 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning, we began looking at the second letter, which was written to the church at Smyrna. We looked at The Assembly, The Author, and The Assurance and Affliction. Tonight, we are going to dive right in and finish looking at this letter tonight:
The Appeal
The Appeal
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Jesus tells the church at Smyrna that He knows what they’re going through and do not fear the things that you are about to go through.
Jesus tells them more suffering is in the forecast. More storms, rain, thunder, lightning, hail, and strong winds are coming their way.
In this verse Jesus predicts that the church will go through more suffering. He tells the church not to fear any of those things that sinful man can do to them.
Instead of saying, ‘Cheer up, it’s going to get better.’ Jesus is telling this church to cheer up because it’s going to get worse.
Jimmy Draper says, “We have a distorted view of Christianity. We have the idea that blessing is material provision. If God really blesses us, we will not have any sickness or accidents, hostility or opposition; everything will be just wonderful. The only trouble with that is that it just is not so. That is our judgment, not God’s.”
The Lord Jesus tells the church exactly what they are about to go through.
The Lord Jesus knows all things that will ever happen.
So there’s a question that may arise from this…Why does Jesus let us go through persecution and trials?
He tells the church in Smyrna that they may be tested. Satan is behind all evil and he uses various means to fight against the church. In this particular instance, Satan was fighting directly against the church in Smyrna.
When a church is doing the work of God, in the will of God, and obeying the word of God, Satan will come up against God’s church.
The Lord Jesus allows His children to go through suffering on this earth. Sometimes God allows Satan to test us, tempt us, and try us. The Lord Jesus proclaims what will happen to some of the believers in Smyrna. They will be tried by prison and by persecution.
The church in Smyrna was well pleasing to the Lord because of their faithfulness in the face of testing.
Jesus told them to be faithful unto death and they would receive a crown of life. This word “faithful” comes from a root word which means “to be convinced.” Jesus told them not to be afraid; to depend upon Him; to be convinced of Him and let Him be their strength and courage. Many of these believers were faithful to death.
* Hundreds were brought into the amphitheaters of Rome to be fed to hungry lions and tigers while thousands cheered their deaths.
* Many were crucified on crosses.
* Others were covered with animal skins and tortured to death and eaten by wild dogs.
* Some were covered with tar or wax and set on fire to serve as torches. Nero did this to illuminate his parties or nighttime chariot races.
* Christians were also boiled in oil or burned at the stake.
The church at Smyrna was already Christians and they already belonged to Jesus, but Jesus was encouraging them to hang in and go on in the faith.
Throughout the whole Bible the word of God calls on us to endure, run the race with endurance, and be faithful.
These are all results of a person who have truly been changed, saved, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
About 60 years after John sent this letter to Smyrna, the pastor of the church in Smyrna was killed because of his faith.
Polycarp was trained under the apostle John, and became the pastor at Smyrna.
In 156 A.D. Polycarp refused to acknowledge Caesar as his Lord and renounce Jesus Christ and was threatened to be burned alive. His response was, “Eighty-six years have I served Christ, and He has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me.”
Even though it was the Sabbath day, the Jews gathered sticks for the fire to roast Polycarp. Polycarp told them as they prepared the fires, “It is well. I fear not the fire that burns for a season and after a while is quenched. Why do you delay? Come, do your will.”
Polycarp’s final prayer was gratefulness to the Lord to die for Him. His final words were “I am a Christian.”
Polycarp was burnt and, when the fires did not take hold, speared to death.
He died “victorious”, confident he would “not be hurt at all by the second death”
What a testimony he had for Christ! Jesus said that those who were faithful would receive a crown of life.
David Jeremiah wrote, “When the pressure comes, we want to run. But Jesus says our calling is to remain right in the middle of the pressure, poverty, and persecution and be faithful. It would be easier for all of us to find places to live and work where there wasn’t so much pressure. But Christ says we are to stay put and stay faithful.”
Lehman Strauss wrote, “Christ was not telling His suffering saints to ‘keep a stiff upper lip’ or to ‘keep your chin up’ or ‘keep smiling’ or ‘grin and bear it.’ What He told them was to depend on Him, to be convinced of Him, to let Him be their strength and courage.”
John Phillips wrote, “Most of us have wondered if, faced with the prospect of a speedy or a lingering death as a reward for faithfulness to Christ, we would have the strength to endure to the end. We turn the pages of history and read of the terrible things that have been done to the saints. We wonder whether we should have the fortitude and the faith to hold out. We must live for Christ today. That is the only way to guarantee that we would be able to die for Christ tomorrow.”
The Affirmation
The Affirmation
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
The church in Smyrna looked like a group of losers to the world around them. In reality, they were mighty victors, waging spiritual warfare in the name of Jesus Christ! The day would come when they and their faith would be vindicated!
Overcomers would not be hurt by the second death…What’s this referring to?
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Thank God that Jesus gives us eternal life, and we are guarded from eternal death for all eternity.
John MacArthur wrote, “Though persecuted believers may suffer the first (physical) death, they will never experience the second death (which is not annihilation but conscious, eternal damnation in hell.)”
The lost man will die twice.
He will live without God in this world and he will die.
After death, he will go to Hell. Then he will stand before the Lord at the Great White Throne judgment and he will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire for all eternity.
That is the second death. The saints of God need never fear that happening to them.
Believers will not be cast into Hell...
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Believers have passed from death unto life,
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Their faith has bought them eternal life and they will be crowned with victory and glory when they arrive home. Thank God, there is far more waiting on us there than we will ever have down here!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The church at Smyrna was a model church and they blessed the Lord Jesus by their love, faithfulness, and witness. May we seek to please the Lord Jesus with our lives as well!
We are not to forsake, but seek the Lord and He will guide you through trying times, strengthen you through testing times, guard your soul through tempting times!
There are three promises in these verses:
Christ’s presence…v. 9
God’s control…v. 10
Eternal reward…v. 11
These promises make possible the commands of this message: “Do not be afraid … Be faithful” (v 10).
Being victorious for the Smyrnaeans does not mean escaping persecution, but being faithful through suffering (v 11).
They will overcome by dying.
But that faithful death leads to eternal life (escaping “the second death”, which is eternal death).
Today would be a good day to come before the Lord to thank Him for His grace and His blessings on our life.
Today would be a good day to get before Him to praise Him for His saving grace.
Today would be a good day to get before Him to praise Him giving us grace to face all that comes our way in this life.
Today would be a good to come before Him and pray about your burdens, and the pressures you face in your life.
Today would be a goods day to come before Him and pray for strength to stand in the day of your persecution.
Today would be a good day to come Him if you have wandered away from Him.
Today would be a good day for you to come to Him for salvation if you are lost.
The Lord Jesus possesses everything you need. Come to Him and get it right now.