Smyrna: The Struggling Church

Thank you, Cody, for that song. I was tremendous song. What a message. We talked about that. Quite a bit this morning in our 945 Bible study that we had in here and talk about the Omni presence of God, that he just not there with us. He's there with us to comfort Us in to help us. He loves his children, were thankful for that. So glad that you are here this morning. If you would take your Bibles and terms of me to the book of the Revelation Revelation, chapter number 2. Revelation chapter number 2.

And will begin reading in just a moment. In verse 8, We are continuing our series of looking at the letters from Jesus. And in which we will examine the letters these that Jesus, wrote 27, literal, individual churches that Jesus gave the to the Apostle John. Revelation chapter 2 verse 8. Says and do the angel of the church in Smyrna, right? These things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. I know your Works tribulation and poverty, but you are rich and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things, which you are about to suffer. Indeed. The devil is about to throw, some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful until death, and I will give you the Crown of Life, he who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second desk. Let's pray Our Father. We thank you Lord for the good songs, the worshipful songs over that we were able to sing and hear. We're thankful Lord. We can say, without any doubts, whatsoever that we do not walk alone. There is not a place that we could ever walk in this universe that you are not already there. And both were thankful for your presence and fall. We ask you Lord to meet with us in a very special way this morning as we look. Study the scripture, this letter that your son Jesus wrote to this particular Church. Lord, I pray that we would apply these truths to our heart and that For Your Glory, we will live out the screws.

So that others may see your son. In US. We asked all these things in Christ. Name. In all of God's people said, amen. Lee. Thank you for that water.

If you didn't, give me that water. How's it going to have to use this?

I didn't want to use this.

But think about that. What? If Jesus wrote to our church? What if Jesus wrote a letter to our church? What do you think he would say? Think about that, the Risen Savior himself, the king of glory, the one who has defeated death. The one who has defeated sin and health dictating a message addressing both the strengths and weaknesses of our church. Would we want to hear what Jesus would have to say? Maybe. Maybe not. What's the day? We are going to study the second letter that Jesus wrote to the seven churches. When we looking at the church at Smyrna, which I have called some be struggling church. We don't know a great deal about the church in Smyrna. I like the church in Ephesus that we looked at last week or two weeks ago. There is no background in the book of Acts that which tells us how this church came into existence. Remember Ephesus. It had its background and Acts chapter 16 through 18. And so you could read a lot about how it was started but there's no background for some more summer know about all. We know about the church at Smyrna is what we read in the letter of the Lord. Jesus Christ here at the address. Is this very special, very precious. And so, we don't know a whole lot about the church in Smyrna, but we do know a number of things about the City of Smyrna and where this church was located. Smyrna was about forty miles, Northwest of Ephesus. On the Aegean Sea. It was a and still is a very beautiful city. The name Smyrna is no longer there. But the city is there is called Izmir today in southern turkey, some refer to it as the flower of Asia. So here is a church that is located in a beautiful city, but it is a struggling suffering Church. Interestingly, the City of Smyrna was a trade City and its Chief produce was a product known as what. You can hear the name. You can hear the word murder in the name symerna and gortimer was a very costly, very expensive fragrance. Very expensive substance. If you took the leaves from, which it was made and crush them. They would give out a beautiful fake fragrance. That a lot of times many times was used for ancient embalming. We know Murder is used in many ways in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born, the wise man came to pay tribute to the Lord, Jesus on it, and they brought to him. Gold, frankincense. And myrrh in the Bible. Murderer was a symbol of suffering. When Jesus was crucified. The scripture says that they offered him wind wine and it was mingled with. Myrrh. Bible says, it was mingled with gall or myrrh, it was using those days as a narcotic to help deaden the pain, but the Lord, Jesus refused to drink it. When the Lord was Barry, the Bible tells us that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came to bury his body and they brought with them a low. And myrrh. And so murder is a beautiful picture in the Bible of suffering and affliction and it's amazing that it is it is to this city of Smyrna that the Lord Jesus sends a message to a church that is suffering, sends a message to this church. That is struggling. The Church of Smyrna is a church. That seems to be having a very difficult difficult time. It becomes apparent as you read through these words of our Lord Jesus to the church. That here is indeed a struggling suffering church. And the main reason that the church is struggling in the main reason, the churches suffering is because the City of Smyrna was renowned for its faithfulness to wrong. It was lying in the heart of the Roman Empire and the city's Allegiance was unquestionably. To Caesar. And the cause of all of this. So Myrna was a thriving City for Roman Emperor worship. Where they would require once a year for every citizen to buy the knee and say Cesar is Lord. Well, what were the Believers supposed to do? What were the Christian supposed to do? They were faced with a choice of either Caesar or Christ? Picking passed, Caesar. I meant that you had Liberty. It meant that you would not suffer any persecution, but to confess Christ as Lord meant possible, death. And so listen to me some Myrna. Was no easy place to be as a Christian. Yeah, it was here in this hotbed of suffering that this little assembly, this little church lived and labored for the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the Lord Jesus is giving a message to this struggling church, that is suffering and it's a comforting message. But think about this in every Fellowship every church is made up of individual Believers. There are also Christians there also believers who are struggling individually. Just as there are churches, who are struggling corporately? There are believers who are struggling individually. There are no doubt. There are those here this morning in this building and you are having a difficult time, you are struggling. You are suffering. You're going for some difficulties and listen to Lord. Jesus has a word of encouragement to you this morning.

notice, first of all, We see some mirnas solace. We see. The churches in Smyrna. The church in Smyrna, the comfort and consolation. The Lord Begins by giving this church a word of comfort. And we noticed that this comfort for this suffering Church. Doesn't come from a pastor. It doesn't come from a deacon, but it comes from the lips of the Lord. Jesus Christ himself.

And Jesus doesn't ask Jesus doesn't in every one of his letters. He begins a verse 8, by giving a description of himself. First eight says, and to the angel of the church in Smyrna, right? These things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. And so he remember State Jesus reminds them. He reminds this church of who he is. He reminds this church of who Christ. Yes. And so to the struggling suffering Church, the Lord Jesus says. These things says the first and the last, which was dead and came to life. Jesus is saying that, if you are struggling, I want you to know that I am the source of your comfort if you are suffering, I am the source of your consolation. If you are having a difficult time, I am the one who can provide spring for you in this particular situation. Jesus says, I am the first and the last Now, that statement, May not sound very deep theologically to you. to us, but when you think about it, it is a very Deep theological statement, there is depth, you that cannot be plumbed. Let me listen. Thank back in your mind as far as you can.

You say? Go back to Noah and the flood go farther. Usain brother way. Go back to Adam and Eve, no, go farther. Go back to the beginning, beginning of creation. No, go farther than that.

And Jesus was there before all of that. He is the first. That is before all else. Now listen, we need to be careful because thinking about him as the first and the last will tax your mental capacity to the breaking point when you really think and try to comprehend what that means that when he is the first, that he's always been even before this universe. It causes our mind.

To not be able to comprehend because Jesus is bigger than our ability to understand. He is the first he was also the last. Meaning, there is nothing that will endure longer than Jesus. He is before and after everything. And so by identifying himself in this way as the first, and the last Jesus is explicitly saying that he is

Kids climbing divinity. To those who originally red, and her this letter being very acquainted with the Old Testament. They knew that the first and the last is an Old Testament title for God. Isaiah 44 and verse number 6. God said I am the first and the last there is no other God beside me. It's a when Jesus said that he was a first. And the last Jesus was saying that he is the Eternal infinite. God, who already existed? When all things were created and who will continue to exist when all things are destroyed. When Jesus said, I am the first and the last Jesus is saying that I transcend time, I transcend space, I transcend creation. And here is the amazing thing.

This eternal God. Became man and with Dad. And has come back to life.

So here's the profound mystery. How can The ever-living God? Who transcends Time? Who transcends space? Who transcends history die. What Peter tells us? Christ was put to death in the flesh. But made alive in the spirit. That is Christ died in his incarnate, humanness. He died as a perfect sacrifice for sin, but now has come to life by his resurrection and he lives forever more. This position of Christ. Listen was to bring Comfort to the Believers in Smyrna. Knowing that they were undergoing difficult times, Christ was reminding them that he transcend temporal matters. And because they are united to Christ. So, should they? And if it is God's will that they should face death as a as a hands of their persecutors, but them is the one who has conquered that and he was promised that I am the resurrection and the life. And Silver State Jesus not only describes himself at all. So Jesus describes their situation. He describes our circumstances, notice inverse number 9. Jesus says, I know your works. Tribulation and your poverty. Now underscore that those two words. I know. That speaks about the omniscience of God. He's all knowing. I believe it is Adrian. Rogers that used to say, has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God. I love that. He is all-knowing. Nothing escapes. The vision of the Glorious lord of the Smyrna Church. He knows every detail about the churches under his care and listen to me. That is wonderful. That's good news. Jesus knows exactly what his churches are going through. He is the head and as the head, he knows what's going on in the body. Jesus also knows what you individual are going through. When do you realize that? Nothing has come into your life in recent days or even this day, that is taking the Lord, Jesus Christ by surprise. Jesus knows. Jesus looked at the struggling church, and he knows everything that they're going through and in the very end in the very knowledge of the Lord is our comfort. Just him saying to them, I know is a comfort to them. You know many times when we are hurting it, Comforts us. Just knowing that someone has knowledge of our suffering. Listen to me. Jesus.

You're hurting. Jesus knows. Jesus. He says he knows there works. Number. I could spend a whole lot of time on this because we looked at this 2 weeks ago, concerning the, the Church of Ephesus. The Christ was aware of the works. He was aware of their deeds. Notice Jesus knew, they're worried.

He knew there were he said, I know your works. I know the tribulation. He was aware of their suffering. He was aware of the tribulation. The word, tribulation is a word that meant pressing it together. It was a word used to describe Stones grinding, the wheat. It was the same word that was used to describe the crushing of the grapes to give the wine. It's a word that means putting pressure on something. So that's what tribulation is. And the churchyard symerna was going through difficult times. That was very, very stressful. They were undergoing a great time of the horrible time of pressure in their lives of their faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen, Jesus also knows. I worry, he knows our tribulation. He knows our circumstances that it's causing pressure from the inside. He knows those things that we're dealing with but notice also, that Jesus knows their well. Jesus knows they're well, he says, I know your poverty, but you are rich. The word poverty. Here has the idea of being absolutely destitute. I mean, having nothing. And remember, this is a church. That is in a very wealthy City. But this church did not share at all in the wealth of this world. They face economic economic persecution, being overlooked. They were shunned in employment. There was Shawn in business. Why do to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? And so by the world's standards, they were look at the Believers there and some Myrna and they would say, my soul, you are poor, you are destitute, you are in poverty.

I'll listen to church, was in poverty by the world standard, but they were rich in Christ. They were rich in Christ. Notice and verse 9.

It goes on to say and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. You said this church, as I said, dealt with a lot of opposition.

John says, it was the Jews who instigated and plotted the the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here it is. The Jews. Who is persecuting the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see within the Roman Empire? Jews were exempt from Emperor, worship. Jews. Do not have to buy the need and say, Cesar is Lord. The Roman Empire knowing the number of the Jews, allowed them to carry out their faith. In order that they may not have a major Uprising, keep them satisfied with him having their own religion. But that was not the case for the Christian. And so the Christian was oppressed by the Roman government and they were oppressed by the Jews. The Jews do not want to be the last run on the societal. And so they trying to keep the Christians there. Very difficult. Time to be a Christian in Smyrna.

That phrase, it says those who say they are Jews and are not speaking about, they profess to believe and worship God. But they serve the devil instead. They appeared outwardly religious, but they were not committed to Christ and they were not sympathetic to his church. These haters of the Gospel, Jesus calls them, a synagogue of Satan meaning, they assembled to plan their attack on the church bus do in Satan's wheel. They may have claimed to be a synagogue of God, but that phrase. Houses that they were just the opposite. the phrase that says those who say they are Jews and are not, we could use it and today's vernacular and save those who say they are Christians and are not Listen to Satan likes to work among those who are religious, but lost. He likes to work in those who have all the religion and all the other word Traditions, but they do not have a right relationship with the Lord.

I'll listen, many today are religious, but do not know the Lord of serving in the Bible warns of those having a form of religion, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. Noticed quickly some some mirnas suffering. The church in Smyrna, and notice her suffering a 10, do not fear any of those things. Jesus says, which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil's is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful unto death and I will give you the Crown of Life. You see, not only does the Lord observe this church. He also informs this church. This church had. We see that in the words and verse 9 that he says, I know, I know your tribulations. I know your poverty but This church has suffered. He also tells him this church would continue to suffer and verse 10, which you are about to suffer. Some of these Believers were going to be tested. And indeed, the Lord and informs them. About this testing, notice number one, the purpose in this suffering, the purpose in this suffering, verse 10 tells us that you may be tested. You think God always has a goal and suffering and that is what to test you. The word pasta literally means to refine. It means to separate the dross from the gold means to mature, and to mole. I'll listen you recall what the Lord said to Peter. He said, Simon Simon behold Satan desires to have you and that he may sift, you as wheat. Satan wanted to destroy Peter. Satan system was not designed to eliminate the child but to destroy the week. Did you see the Lord's test pee test in order to develop has Satan test us? He tempts Us in order to destroy our. Satan Temptations are designed to trip us and harm us and destroy the week of God's work in us. He wants you to waste your time. He wants you to waste your talents. He wants you to waste your energy and money on other things, so that you will have nothing left, but Ashes to be used for the Lord. Satan tempts in order to destroy the Lord tests in order to develop. The mold you into the Lord. Jesus Christ noticed, a period of the suffering verse 10. And you will have tribulation 10 days. How many theologians speculate that these ten days or symbolic?

There are symbolic of 10 successive errors of Roman emperors or 10 consecutive stages of church history. I think it is just suffice to say that what Jesus is saying here to the church at Smyrna that Satan's attack on this church would be very intense, but it would be brief. Whatever the precise meaning of the 10 days is we can be encouraged to note that the Lord sets the limit to our suffering. That's the point. The Lord is Sovereign and every situation. No, suffering can engulf us without his permission.

God would say to the devil in Smyrna, you can go this far. And no farther. No further. Notice the prize for the suffering, the prize for the suffering versus 10, be faithful unto death and I will give you a Crown of Life. I'm so glad that the Lord said be faithful. Instead of be successful. Amen. If he what I said, be successful. I would be a failure. But he said be faithful.

Notice how clear the lesson is concerning persecution persecution purifies the church. Listen to me the greatest blessing that could ever happen to the cause of Christ here in America. Just might be for the church to undergo, some sort of persecution.

Because such persecution would melt us down to the Bare Essentials of what it means to be a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is, is that we

shrink away from suffering. We don't suffer much as believers. And if the truth be known, we avoid suffering by way of compromise. I'm speaking mainly concerning pastors because this is where it all starts. The Temptation for pastors is to compromise, the gospel to compromise the word of God, to water it down, because nothing provokes the world's opposition more than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because it is the gospel that the that declares such unpalatable doctrines as reality of seeing being possibility of saving yourself be necessity of the Cross and the need for repentance and the danger of hell and these Cruise when they are preaching. When they are declare, this undermines human Pride. And arouse human opposition. So preachers are tempted to dilute the gospel and make it more acceptable. And these pastors who do such things love, the praise of man. More than the praise of God. Hey listen to me this morning. The great Scandal of the modern church is that many of her pastors have so compromised, the Gospel. Fest. So water down the word of God that Don has been lost in 1000. Flashing lights in man Center songs and topical feel good sermons.

And that kind of preaching. Produces those kinds of Christians. Compromising Christians. It poses the letter with some final encouraging words, be faithful unto death and I'll give you a Crown of Life. Those who prove the genuineness genuineness of their face by remaining faithful to the Lord until death will receive their reward, the Crown of Life. And so the crown, there were there, the reward of genuine saving faith is what it is, eternal life. And perseverance Cruise, the genuineness of their faith as they endure suffering. Hey, listen to scriptures the Bible teaches that true Christians True. Believers will persevere.

I want I want you to look at the New Hampshire, Baptist confession of faith, and what it says about the perseverance of the Saints.

It says other perseverance of saints. We believe that such only are real Believers as endure unto the end that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grandmarc, which distinguishes them from superficial professors, that he's special Providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. My dear friend whom Jesus saves Jesus, tees. Amen. For that. That is eternal security. That is a perseverance of the saints. That my dear friends is the Bible. What kind of Shepherd would he be? If he was just save some and then only to lose him later. It would be the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Notice very quickly. Smyrna's success. We've seen some mirnas Solace. We seem to myrna's suffering with notice in verse 11, some mirnas success. He who has an ear verse 11. Let him hear what the spirit says, to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt. By the second Dash. The one who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death in this context. Overcoming clearly means remaining faithful to Jesus unto death. Those who overcome in this way. Those who remained faithful to the end. Even if it meant, even if it means giving up their life for the sake of the Gospel. Will not be hurt by the second death. What is the second death? Revelation chapter 20. Verse 14 and says and death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. Revelation 21 verse 8. Says, but as for the Cowardly. The Faceless the detestable as for murderers, the sexually immoral Sorcerers idolaters and all liars. Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death The second death is a death that those who are thrown into the Lake of Fire will experience forever.

There are those who believe in the annihilation Theory? That there will be only a certain. Time in which a person who has rejected tries will suffer and torments. But there is no such suggestion at all in scripture of annihilation. And to say that is to be false.

Listen, the only way to avoid the second death, the only way to avoid the Flames of hell. Is to believe in the Lord. Jesus Christ. Trust him. And be saved. And then here's the thing live like you trust. The Lord Jesus Christ. Don't be just a professor. Oh, I believe in Jesus. Oh sure. I'm a Christian. but your life, Doesn't show that. Your life, doesn't prove that whatsoever. You have no marks that you love Jesus because if you love Jesus, you're going to love the things that Jesus loves. Yep, been at church and years and years. You haven't darkened the doors of any religious gathering whatsoever. You don't pray, you don't read the word of God, but yet you say you love the Lord Jesus.

The only way to avoid the Flames of the second death, is to believe upon Christ, but do more than that live out. What you say, you believe.

It's very difficult to say, but that's the Bible.

What what kind of Pastor would I be? Stand up here and not declare unto you, the entirety of the Gospel. What kind of Pastor would I be if a storm was coming?

And I did not give out a warning whatsoever.

Or give out. The safe haven that you can flee to, and that's Christ. Listen to western church. Has little in common with Smyrna at this point. By the grace of God, we have faced little. Serious persecution. But unfortunately, however, we like the commitment that they have. Think about this today in North Korea and China and other communist countries.

Christians are figuring out a way that they can somehow meet together in an underground Church.

while many professors of Christians here in our country in our state, To claim to know Christ will will not even darken the door of a church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, they believe. Did they cause they profess that they're going to make it to heaven? I'll bring listen, if you can fast your life, is going to show your confession.

Let's pray together, Our Father.

I pray.

As we look at this sweater.

These words that you wrote to this little church.

That really displays their courage and the confidence. Lord, it is convicting. To me.

Father, I pray.

That we would have that same confidence. but in the midst of suffering, in the midst of struggles, That we would find comfort in you.

Lord, that we would seek you seek your word. Father, I pray.

Those who are yet, unsaved? Those who are apart from Christ.

Those who are headed. For Hail. I pray. I thought he would look. Your son, Jesus. And cling to him and believe.

And Lord gives them the grace to repent of their sin and Trust You Lord.

What happens to?

Think about this passage of scripture throughout the remainder of this day in the days to come.