Church of Smyrna
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Text: Revelation 2:8-11
Our hearts have all been moved by stories of people who just wouldn’t quit.
The olympian whose father walked him to the finish line.
The author who was rejected a dozen times
The lightbulb that would be nothing without 10,000 lessons of what won’t work
The football player that just can’t stay retired.
I love the quote from:
The US Golfer George Archer had a relatively successful career on the PGA tour, winning won thirteen tournaments, including the 1969 Masters. As he drew closer to retiring from the sport, he wasn’t exactly sure how to spend his time. One reporter asked what he would do during his retirement. Archer said, “Baseball players quit playing and take up golf. Basketball players quit and take up golf. Football players quit and take up golf. What are we supposed to do when we quit?”
Stuart Strachan Jr.
I remind you this morning there is no reason to quit. I don’t know what we would be benefited. Where would you go. Jesus is the only true hope for suffering people.
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
My friend there is no advantage in quiting when you are where you need to be. Your marriage hard? All marriages are hard and you know Christ will give you grace for this one. Your church filled with difficult people? Guess what hey have at the church down the road. Jesus will give you the grace at this one.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Smyrna was among the largest of the cities in the Mediterranean. It was a port city, which was beautiful in its appearance. The city was among the wealthiest of all the cities in Asia at this time, and the estimated population during the time of this letter was approaching 100,000 people.
The name Smyrna actually means myrrh. When you think about the Magi as they bore gifts to Jesus, they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Myrrh is a perfume that was used in the embalming process. That is an attractive name for a city isn't it? How would you like to live in a place called formaldehyde?
Myrrh, as we have mentioned was a perfume that only gave off its fragrance when it was crushed. History tell us that the city of Smyrna endured earthquakes, attacks and raids, numerous oppressions, if it was a possibility that it could happen, they saw it. No matter how many times they were oppressed, they always seemed to rebound better than they were before economically. They fit their name well. Crushed, but sweeter for it.
Idol worship was prevalent throughout Smyrna, as it was in the majority of the larger cities of that time. Archeology has shown us several of the idol temples that were constructed during that day, and they were sights to behold. The expense and beauty was unbelievable.
Then there was this church. It was the church of Smyrna. It had the same name as the city in which it was founded. It endured the same sufferings as the city in which it existed. It suffered hardships just like every one else. But, there was something different about this church. This was one of two churches found in these seven letters where there was no rebuke offered.
Trans: Just because he had no rebuke does not mean he had no message Christ desires his church to endure inspite of the hardship.
Exp:
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.
Arg: So many look at the church as something they do as an auxiliary to boost their Christian walk When Christ talked about a church he look at them as a whole and said be fear not, but endure.
1. Endure thru Suffering
2. Endure thru Sacrifice
3. Endure thru Temptation
4. Endure thru Opposition
He is talking about a life changing, Satan hating, Church growing, mindset blowing, Backbone strengthening, hard way walking, Topeka Impacting enduring.
Illustration: Endurance doesn't sit in rocking chairs waiting for death to come. Courage looks for the next mountain to climb, the next soul to win, the next convert to disciple, the next verse to memorize.
Application: Endurance is an attribute that a dangerous church possesses.
1. Jesus calls the church to endure because we are no longer the way we were.
When I read of the culture that Smyrna existed in I am thoughtful of the idolatry of the people of Corinth. Remember what Paul said there. When a Gentile was saved out of idolatry it was not a clean and good life...
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
When these individual came to salvation they were saved out of wickedness. Jesus didn’t save and transform perfect people he saved sinners. Keep in mind this morning you may look really good here on a Mother’s day but let us remember that Jesus saved sinners. He saved the ones that were covetous and drunkards. He saved us out of sin to walk in a new way. Paul’s declaration: “Such were some of you...”
You may want to go back to that sin but remember that was a part of your past you have no business in that life any more.
2. Jesus calls the church to endure because he knows their suffering. 9
There is one key word that you need to see. Notice the word "know." He said, "I know." I know all about it.
Arg: But of course Jesus knows.
A. Jesus is present - I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
B. Jesus is all knowing -
C. Jesus is all powerful -
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
He has conquered the grave. But he will still let his servants face it. Here me this is a vitally important introduction that Jesus brings. Jesus is not only about his knowledge Jesus is reminding the church their is nothing about suffering that he has not experienced. Your’e not going to school Jesus about suffering. He knows what suffering is.
He is despised and rejected of men;
A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
And we hid as it were our faces from him;
He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs,
And carried our sorrows:
Yet we did esteem him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
The chastisement of our peace was upon him;
And with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned every one to his own way;
And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
Yet he opened not his mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
So he openeth not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment:
And who shall declare his generation?
For he was cut off out of the land of the living:
For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked,
And with the rich in his death;
Because he had done no violence,
Neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
For he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,
And he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
Because he hath poured out his soul unto death:
And he was numbered with the transgressors;
And he bare the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
He knew their works
He knew their tribulation
He knew their poverty
He knew the devils that did the work to them
It should bless you and bring you comfort to realize that Jesus knows all about it. He knows everything this church has suffered. He knows everything that you have suffered. He has not missed a thing. He knows! But, not only does He know, but He also can relate to them. He knows about it, and He has already gone through it, raised again, victorious.
3. Jesus calls the church to endure because it reflects Christ’s glory. 10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
I love the crown that is received here in vs 10. Notice it is a crown of life. Jesus is the one that can give life for he is the one that overcame death. But we know that there are many different kinds of crowns. But the one that is probably least know is the crown given to the victors of the games. The athletes of this day would participate in Olympic style games for the highest prize of a crown made of leaves. It was temporary and would not last a long time as a crown of gold would. but the competitor would give his all because of the glory that was connected to it. But this is no temporary dying crown that is filled with life.
Jesus will give his crown of life to the enduring Christian like the mark of glory they deserve, for they reflect the glory of their king.
Consider the contradition:
Jesus knows their poverty - but thou art rich
Jesus knows their suffering - but fear not
Jesus knows their tribulation - but it is blasphemy
Jesus knows their enemies the Jews - but are not the Jews
Jesus knows their death - but they are alive and glorified
Jesus is taking all the things that the world thinks is true and reveals that it is not. And that all through time you and I will hold this book and know the truth of those Saints they endured a lie. And they glorified their savior.
One of the most well known pastors of this church was a man by the name of Polycarp. Polycarp was a disciple of Jesus under the Apostle John. John taught him in the Scriptures and doctrines. He watched Polycarp grow. He knew him well.
The opposition that this church of Smyrna faced was intense. These Jews that opposed the church, on a Sabbath day in 155 A.D. gathered wood, breaking the very law they said to uphold. Historians will lay the blame at the feet of Rome which is not wrong, but multiple sources point to the Jews who much like in the days of Jesus were all to willing to oblige.
On a Sunday morning, as the believers gathered in the church to worship, Roman soldiers entered into the building, and took Polycarp captive. They bound his hands and feet. They carried him to a stake upon which they tied him. They stacked the wood around him, and burnt him to death.
There is agreement as to the content of Polycarp’s prayer that day in 155AD.
“O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.” - Polycarp of Smyrna
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp
Could there be any doubt that Polycarp reflected upon the very words of the Savior? Endure; be faithful, and fear not. History tells us that when the smoke and flames began to engulf Polycarp, he sang praises to God. Do you doubt that he remembered the words, fear not and be faithful unto death, there is a reward waiting you for it.
Could there be any doubt that this church at Smyrna remembered the words of Jesus? As they watched their pastor carried off by the ungodly opposing men, they knew what would happen. I wonder if they could still hear the words that Polycarp . had read before the congregation from this letter. Be faithful; be ' faithful and fear not. There is no doubt in my mind that that they did remember. They remembered the words.
Listen! Tribulation is not the thing that causes a church to go under. Poverty is not the thing that causes a church to go under. Persecution and opposition are not the things that will cause the church to go under. The things that cause any church to fold is failing to take their place in reflecting the person of Jesus even if it is in His suffering.
What kind of fears do you have concerning troubles and trials? What is it that has gripped your heart with fear? Just what area are you being unfaithful in? How are you lacking in faithful service to Jesus? He knows all about your troubles and trials. Nothing escapes Him, and He has already experienced them all. His very words to you tonight, "Be faithful, and fear not."
Hear me this morning Christian none of us are promised an easy existence. Only Christ can offer life.
Gospel presentation.
Are you enduring or fearing?
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/polycarp-11629601.html