Smyrna: The Coming Persecution

Here's what you need. Now need somebody to fill the pool with. It looks good at all like that. You don't like the church nothing. But, but we're glad that you're you're here today, and I appreciate Vicki picking out all the music that she does. That always goes well with the sermon and I was thinking, as I was standing there and singing, I was thinking how hard it is to praise the Lord in the storm it in it. When you think about the storms in your life, do you praise the Lord even in the midst of the storm? Well, last week we started a new series on the seven churches, in in Revelation and if you remember last week, we talked about the church at Ephesus and they had lost their first. What their first love and other words, they were busy serving Christ and they were doing a lot of good things but they were doing it with the wrong motivation. Not because they love Christ so they were just doing it out of a sense of Duty and not devotion. Well, we we sing about the storms in life. And what I want to talk about today in the title of this sermon Is the coming persecution? And what I'm talkin about is the coming persecution. Not only of of individual Christians but also of the church. now, what we don't hear in the news, is that Ever since the church began, the church has been persecuted. And we don't hear a whole lot in the news about Christians being martyred for their faith. We think about that may be back in the first century. But we don't think about that happening today. But did you know, around the world every year?

Over 100 million Christians are martyred, think of that number. In the last decade or so, matter of fact. In the twentieth century from there to now 65% of all the martyrs have taken place. But we don't hear that. Do we in the news? We don't we don't we don't hear about Christians being killed for their faith. And so today, what we want to talk about and what I want to talk about is coming persecution. And we going to talk about the church at Smyrna and they were the what I would call The Suffering Church. You know, we did a series not too long ago on suffering. I hope that you can apply some of what you learned in that to this message today. So turn the Revelation Chapter 2 and we're only going to look at verses 8 through 11 and this is the church at Smyrna. Now there's two churches that Christ does not have anything bad to say to. One of my Smyrna and the other was Philadelphia. So today what you going to know this is he says nothing bad about this church, anything that they had lost her first. Lovely. They still serve that he has no message of reprimand whatsoever. But look what he does say to this church beginning in church in verse 8 and to the angel of the church in Smyrna, right? And Angel course, neither a guardian angel or the pastor of the church, Angel of the church in Smyrna, right? These things says the first and the last. Who was dead and came to life. This underlined that who was dead and came to life. Because that's going to mean a lot to these people at Smyrna and I'm going to let you know why in the message. Now, look what he says. Now, I'm reading. Now, the new King James. If you have a King James or New King James, it's going to say, I know your works. If you have basically any other translation, you're not going to see that phrase, your works. He just goes right into tribulation. So I know you're Works tribulation and poverty and I look in the parenthesis, 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. So not only are these Christians being persecuted by the Romans, they're being persecuted by their own people, the Jews.

First 10, 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, underlined 10 days, the last That's a little confusing statement. I think I could Bend you or anything for 10 days, if that's what it means, 10 days but he says be faithful unto death and I will give you the Crown of Life, underlined that phrase Crown of Life cuz that's going to be important to He who has a ear. Let him hear what the spirit says, to the churches. He who overcomes. Shall not be hurt by the underlined that second death. What in the world is that I know what your dad wants, what's the second? We'll see about that. Shall not be hurt by the second death notice. He says, he who overcomes You know, the Bible calls us as Christians to be Overcomers many Christians think we ought to be Cooper's. No, we're not copers. We don't cope. We overcome, maybe then. That's what we do. We overcome and we will overcome it in the New Testament, much as written to Believers in Christ, who are suffering because of no fault of their own except just being faithful. So, what do you say to people who are suffering for their faith? This is not some theoretical question. People all around the world are suffering today for their faithfulness to Christ. And friends, the day's going to come. We're more and more people will suffer for the same reason and I'm not talkin about in Africa, or Egypt or places Suitland in places like that. I'm talkin about in America. In America, we're going to suffer for being faithful to cry. It's already happening, it's already Preachers are going to be phone in jail. We're going to suffer and it is coming quickly to America.

The second of the seven letters, contains Christ words to a suffering church or to suffering Christians. That's why it's so important that we understand this boat. Let's look at Point. Number one is the destination of the letter, you say, well, it's the smart. Well, what is where is Smyrna? Well, let me tell you about. It was 35 miles north of Ephesus.

and it is of all the seven churches that Christ wrote to Smyrna is the only city. The Still Standing today. Where the church in Smyrna was is today. Modern-day Izmir Turkey. Now Izmir Turkey is the third largest city in Turkey is behind. I think it's been Bull and one more. So I pulled Izmir Turkey up on Google Earth yesterday and it looks like that you're looking at downtown Dallas. There's roads going ever. I mean it is a huge, huge Metropolis. And just homes and buildings and businesses everywhere. There's today and Izmir Turkey, where Smyrna was remember the suffering church today, there's 3.5 million people there. Just incredible. Now, why is that important? Well, because Smyrna was founded. As a Greek colony and 1000 BC and it was destroyed in 600 BC. And it was rebuilt by one of Alexander the Great's generals around 300 BC in that has been ever since a matter of Pride, for the inhabitants, not only a Smyrna, but of Izmir Turkey. Because here's the saying that they say Our city died. But now it is alive again. They've been saying that for thousands of years Our city died but now it is alive again. It came back to life. What did Christ say about himself? In verse 8, these things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life You see, he knows exactly the people that he's talking to and he knows this city would die, but come back to life. So he introduces himself as the Savior who died, but is now a lot, just like you were City. You see how he comes to us with things that we understand and know and that's exactly what he did. Well historians consider Smyrna. It was the most beautiful city that the Greeks ever built. And there's a prominent Hill and it's called the crown of Smyrna. That's to the left of the main part of Smyrna. And on yesterday, when I looked it up on Google Earth it says it is bordered on the left. Buy up, he'll shaped like a crown. That's what the information said on Google Earth and there was a huge Amphitheater there and seated 20,000 people. The the people there said, they called it the first city of Asia, the glory of Asia. They said, we're the first city, how did Christ introduce themselves? These things says the first and the last they called themselves, the first city Christ called himself. I'm the first and last, Your city died and came back to life. I died. And now I live, you see how he's talkin to these folks and during the Roman. The worship of Caesar on the eastern part of the Empire was centered in Smyrna. Smyrna's name is derived. I know you heard this name before. It comes from the word myrrh. Never heard murder in the Bible three times. That's exactly right. And then what did they carry and to anoint Jesus in the Tomb, frankincense gold and myrrh it comes from some of the church in Smyrna was likely probably kind of an Outreach efforts. This may have been Paul spent three years and abscissa. Probably some people left their went to Smyrna and started a church and again this is one of the two churches that Christ has nothing negative to say. And just like the aromatic oil Relief by crushing a local plant, the believe is in Smyrna. Also gave off this fragrant fragrance of Christ, in spite of all their suffering. Now let's look at the description of Christ. Second part of our state. And I've already mentioned this destain says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. So here's what it hears what he saying. He saying, I am the Eternal God. Number one, I am the Eternal God because he says, I am the first. I'm the before everything. Remember our sermon, the name above all names. He's before everything and Christ is going to be the last standing when everything else has gone down. He says I'm the first and the last that means I am Eternal God and then he says who was dead and came to life. In other words, what he's saying is this? Not only do I have authority over time. I'm the first and the last I have authority over time, but I have authority over death in life because I was dead and came back to life. So he said I'm the Eternal God and also, I am the resurrected Lord. That's what he's telling those people and they needed to hear that because they were suffering. You know, when we suffer it's hard to think about the eternal. Reward that we're going to get when we're suffering. We don't, we think about just what we're going through right now. It's hard to get an eternal perspective when we're suffering. And it's also, we usually when we suffer we don't think about well, the Lord was dead, but now I live and now that I'm in Christ, one day, when I die, I'm going to live also. It's hard to think that way when you go in through suffering. So Jesus is trying to change their mindset here. Understand when you going through difficult and suffering, think that I'm the Eternal God you're in me. I'm the first and the last I will always be standing in those who are in me. Will stand with me. You see, those are the things that we need to think about when we are suffering. So destination of the letter, description of Christ, Eternal God, resurrected Lord, number 3, We see the Dilemma of the church. Look at it in verse 9. He says I know your tribulation and poverty but you are rich. Another Paradox of scripture, don't? You? Just love the paradoxes of scripture. Here we are poverty. Here we are persecution. But you're rich. Well, no, I don't think of myself that way if I'm going through persecution and poverty, I'm definitely not rich. So look what else he says. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Let's look at the and I put down three dilemmas hear that, they're facing, they suffered because they wouldn't worship the pagan gods of Rome, or they wouldn't worship. The Roman emperors, who said that, they were deity. And if you didn't worship them, they would either kill you or they would Exile. You like, they did. John remember, they put him on patents. This is where he's writing this letter, he wouldn't, he was the pastor of Ephesus and he wouldn't compromise. So they said, okay, well, we'll just move you to Pat will get rid of you. It kind of sounds like today in our culture, if you are Christian and you speak up for Christ. Okay? Well, we'll just shut you up. We will counsel you. We're not going to listen to you. You just keep your Christianity inside the church walls inside the pews there, but it has no place in the marketplace. I have a Hebrew word for that hogwash. That's hogwash. Is what that is? It does belong in the market place. So citizens of the Roman Empire, they were loyal to a to Rome and the reason Rome built roads and they had what they called Pax Romana. And they had Roman peace and they had walls and all where they, they were defense from enemies. People were prosperous there, they had laws, they had more, they had nice places to live in. So when the Roman Emperor said, now you got to do. If you wanted to have, this is just worship us. Whether nice I was. Okay, we can do that will worship you, whatever we will they compromise. And again, John wouldn't do it. So he was exiled. So the suffering of the Smyrna Church, I think can be summarized. In three words, number one is pressure. Christ said here, I know your tribulation the Greek word here for tribulation means pressure. It means they were under pressure. It's like placing a boulder on a person's chest until it just crushes him to death. This is what they were experienced. If it's like a weight of a millstone where you would crush grain flour or or you would crush grapes into juice. This is this is the idea behind that were just kind of a Grizzly image if you will that Supply to humanity. But it's what the Christians in Smyrna were experiencing constant pressure, constant pressure to worship the a constant pressure not to adhere to Christianity and if you did well then you couldn't buy or sell in the marketplace and you you would starve and you wouldn't have any money, you would lose your job. I kind of sounds like the tribulation. Don't know if you don't take the mark, you're not going to eat mark of the beast. You're not going to eat. and it may even get that way in America if you worship Christ and you want to talk about Christ, well we know what we can do with, we'll just ask Saul you somewhere that's just where we coming to today. So the first thing they were on the pressure, secondly poverty Second thing, he says, he's, he says here, I know your poverty, the Greek word behind poverty is absolute destitution. When we think of poverty, we say, was so. And so lives in poverty, have a little trouble paying their house payment or their electric bill. What this word poverty means is they had absolutely nothing. They couldn't do anything. It referred to a person who was penniless or very poor in this poverty, was due to their Christian faith, they were banned from earning a living and they were robbed when they did have money. And it likely meant that they were going to starve to death for their faith. This is the suffering that they were going through and then see I would say the next word is persecution because look what he says here. He says I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not there, the synagogue of Satan. They were Jews in name only instead of being part of a true Jewish synagogue Christ says, know you're apart of the synagogue of Satan. What did Jesus say? He said you were like your father who the devil. Who was a liar murderer or a thief? That's what he told the Pharisees. He called them the devil's, your father, but this is what he saying here, but it's important for us to remember in different parts of the world. They are religious people who think nothing of attacking Christians. They do it. They hide behind religion in attacking Christians and some Christians today, suffer the same kind of persecution as the Believers in Smyrna. So it was the Dilemma of the church pressure being crushed poverty, absolute nothing. And then persecution not only from the Roman but from their own people number for Let's see, the determine Council of the Lord first. He says there's something not to do and then he gives them something to do. And I think these things here will serve us. Well today as we look forward to the coming persecution in America. Now, let's see what he says, first something not to do look at it and verse 10. He says do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. I mean times in the Bible that Jesus says fear, not, If if he told you not to fear what you are about to suffer and you were penniless and you from being persecuted and you were being crushed, wouldn't it? Be hard? Not to fear. I mean, of course, you would think. Well, that's just human nature. We're going to fear but he says, no do not fear. Is there any validity in telling a Christian not to fear when all that is happening? Yes, there is. And the reason is because There are Christian. Why should a Christian not fear? Because the Lord is the Lord of all of your life circumstances, he's in it all. Paul wrote, there is nothing that can separate us from what the love of God. Nothing not poverty, not persecution, and not pressure where we can choose to not be fearful, we're not required to be fearful in scary situations. Yes, it's a natural human response but friends we live a supernatural life. So in the face of fear instead of quivering in a corner what do we do? We have biblical faith That he's in control of all of life's situation we can live. You can live a Fearless life and even in the midst of persecution, poverty and pressure. So he said do not fear but look what else he says. He says, indeed the devil is about to throw, some of you in prison that you will be tested. You will have tribulation pressure, 10 days. And he says, this is what he tells them to do. Be faithful unto death. And I'll give you the crown of life, so I'm going to die. But he says be faithful. Don't be fearful. Be faithful unto death. Christ is saying you may lose your life for my sake but I want you to be faithful Until the End. John Stott is a Bible commentator. If this is what he said about that verse listen to this, we need to remember that faith, and faithfulness are the same word in the Greek language. This is understandable because it is from faith that we get faithfulness, trusting Christ and show ourselves to be trustworthy rely on Christ. And you shall be reliable depend on Christ, and you shall be Dependable. Have faith in Christ and you shall be faithful. If necessary, even unto death, the way to lose, fear is to gain faith. Are you afraid this morning of something in your life? Are you afraid of death as a Christian? When you shouldn't be? Faith will cast out fear, so, but it's Herman Council of the Lord. He says, the Fearless he says be faithful. This is what he tells Kirk. This is what he's telling you and me this morning when we suffer especially for our faith. Well, that's my four point. That's my sermon. Let me give you 5 lasting attitudes that we need to carry when we suffer for our faith and these are very important. Now Here's what it number one. The reputation of Christ. Is better than the reputation of this world. You say, what do you mean by that? If Christ knows what you're going through. Friends. It doesn't matter what anybody else does. Did you know that it doesn't matter what anybody else does? If Christ knows what you going through he says I know your works in your tribulation and poverty. You see, he says, I know that and I let me tell you a little bit about that. That word know, it doesn't mean. Intellectual knowledge. He's not saying look, I'm in heaven and I can see what you're going through. I know what you going through, like he has a factual knowledge of it. That's not what the word no means. When he says, I know your tribulation and poverty the word. No, here means, I know by experience.

Jesus says, I know you're probably I know the pressure that you are under, I know everything that you're going through, you see Christ was not only sympathetic by knowing intellectually, but he was a thetic because he had experienced suffering like that is well except 10 times worse, still friends. It don't matter what you're going through in this life Christ knows, he doesn't know, because he saw bring, although he does know, he knows because he is experienced what you're going through and even worse. You will never experience anything as worse that, that Christ experience on the cross, never in your life when you ever experienced and that's why he can empathize with us because he suffered like no other human being, amen. Jesus has he came to Earth giving up the riches of Heaven for 3 years. The Bible says he had nowhere to lay his head.

He was homeless for three years, he endured daily pressure lies, false accusation ultimately he was put to death on a cross. What he saying is, there's nothing that the Believers in Smyrna. There's nothing that this church experience is that he had not already experienced himself. It's not something that we can lean on. Whatever you experienced in this life Christ, experienced it as well. He can empathize with you. What does Hebrews 4:15 say we should have had it on the screen but I'll read it for. We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was an all-points tempted, as we are yet without sin. So there is nothing will be faced with in life that Christ has not already faced and conquered Pho. That's number one, the reputation of Christ. Is better. Then reputation of this world and how about number to the recognition of Christ?

Well, I'm sorry that was number to the recognition of Christ. Number three, The Riches of Christ are better than the riches of this world. What did I say about Smyrna? Wealthy City? How about Rome even wealthier? Rome was wealthy, Smyrna was wealthy but Christ. Look what he says. He says I know your worth tribulation pot but you are rich. He says that you are rich. What did he mean by that? Well, he meant it in a spiritual sense. Christians are not citizens of this Earth. We are citizens of heaven. We do not depend on Earthly riches for our sustenance. Our specimens from heaven and Paul even wrote in 2nd Corinthians 8:9 that boat through Christ, private poverty. We have become rich in Christ. We have riches and wealth of which this world knows nothing about if you can suffer for Christ. He says, you are rich. You may not be rich in the money of this world, but you are rich in Christ. The Riches of Christ is better than the riches of this world. Number four, The Reckoning of time by Christ is better than the Reckoning of time of this world. And he tells them in Revelation 2:10, not the fear. he says the devil and I know this He says the devil is about to throw. Some of you in prison, I bet the devil didn't do it. I bet wrong did it. I bet it was the guards who came and threw them in prison. Why does he say the devil's going to do it because behind every evil deed is the devil friends. We think we fight against flesh and blood of the people. We don't, we fight against the devil. If the devil controlling them, if you're thrown in jail for your faith, if you start suffering in America for your face, it's not that the people who throw you in jail and Rescue, It is the devil. That's behind it and he says here, the devil is about to throw. Some of you in the prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation 10 days. What in the world does that mean? Only 10 days. I mean, 10 days, I mean, I can go through anything and 10 days. Well, some people think this refers, 210 years of coming persecution for the church in Smyrna. Others think it refers to the Roman persecution that came in the second and third centuries, when millions of Christians were martyred. Matter fact, if you read church history, historians will tell you. There were ten ways of persecution that was under 10 different, Roman emperors. The last Wade ended with the emperor Diocletian. So something say that, it means that here's what I think that it means. I think 10 days is a simple reference. To the brevity of what the Smyrna Church was about to experience compared to Eternity.

You see when you compare your life on Earth to Eternity in heaven. Your life on Earth is about like 10 days. Compared to Eternity. What Jesus is saying, is your suffering is going to be brief. But eternity will met with me, will be never ending. so, if you have to suffer in this life, whether you suffer for 75 years, That is brief compared to what you going to experience in heaven for eternity. And I think this is what he's saying. It's only about 10 days. That's why Paul said and 2nd Corinthians for our light affliction. which is, but for a moment, You were going through something and it was like maybe a health issue and it went on and on and on for years and you thought this is never going to end. Paul says our light Affliction which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. So whatever you suffer in this life, it's just for a moment, it's just breathe now. Why is that important? Because we serve the Eternal God, and time is in God's hands. And even when trouble seemed to last forever in your life, God remains in control his plans, in our lives, are defined by his purposes for our life and friend. God will put a number on your suffering. He has a exact amount of time that you will suffer and when you look at it from eternity perspective, it is brief. It's like 10 days. That's why he controls top. There is a limit suffering, will not go on forever. And when you know that God has a purpose, it will give you hope and endurance in the midst of a trial. So, when, if you're suffering today, just understand God's in control, he has a time limit on it and it's not, it's just a short time and you're going to come out of it, just understand that it will give you hope. Now, let me say something about this suffering at the church of Mara, and I want specifically in America. Those of us in America, we must be prepared, I think. For this without a better word. This jarring truth that we just read We are going to be persecuted in America. Those who oppose and reject, Christianity are going to oppose and reject you as a Christian. Not only will they say that we are wrong, they're going to say your bigoted, that you're dangerous, that you're evil, you going to be slandered because you going to be anti-choice, you going to be an anti diversity, your anti-gay your anti inclusion, your anti intolerance. That's what they're going to say about you. But the fact of the matter is, is this all those who say that They all those who say, where you're just not taller. The most intolerant people are the ones, who preach tolerance, because they're tolerant toward everything but Christianity. They're the one who are intolerant, so you can expect economic boycotts. Government restrictions, we are already seeing that. Socially, you'll be ostracized. There's pastors being arrested right now, in Canada, for preaching, the word of God and not making their people wear a mask while they're in church. They're thrown in jail for that of the pastor in Houston, Texas. The, the the mayor of the city fall, his sermon, that it was anti-gay, she demanded that he send his outline to her and where he got his information from.

We already see it happening in America and even more severe. Persecution imprisonment was going to be will be our experience. But what should I response be just as Christ and don't be afraid. Be faithful Until the End expect. It receive it from the hands of our Sovereign God who is testing pruning and refining your fate. Remember, what James, says, consider it all joy whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Play God is doing something good in your life when you suffer. Well, one more will close.

The rewards of Christ are better than the rewards. Of this world. Look at it and verses 10 and 11.

He says, do not fear. He said you going to be thrown in there and be faithful unto death. And look at the last phrase verse 10. And I will give you the Crown of Life. Remember, I told you the underlying, the Crown of Life. And he says, who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says, he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. Everyone in Smyrna, you about the prominent Hill known as the crown of Smyrna, There's a hill right outside. The city was called the crown and the people were so proud of it and the Lord said you be faithful unto death, and you think you have a crown here in this city I'm going to give you the crown of life is what I'm going to do and this is the same crown that James talked about. He said blessed is the man who endureth Temptation for when he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of Life from the Lord, which has prompted, he has promised to those who love him the crown of life, but the Crown of Life Is Not the Only reward promised. He says, he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. So what is that? Well, in scripture talks about two deaths in scripture, the first we all experience, it's the day after the end of our Earthly life. But the second death is those who will be judged when Christ returns and will spend eternity apart from God, those who never trust Christ as their Savior and Believers in Christ will be spared, the judgment. And the Bible says in Revelation, 20, and they will not be hurt by the second death. Now, let me ask you this, everyone in the world knows about the first death. And many people live in fear of it. Are you afraid to die? As a Christian, should you be afraid to die when the Bible say absent, from the body present with the Lord? We should never ever as Christian be afraid of the first death never. Friends. Listen everyone in the world knows about the first death. But it's the second death that we should be afraid of. because if we never trust Christ, in this life, Then we have no hope when it comes to the second down. We will be judged, and we will live apart from Christ. So the Christian church in Smyrna had nothing to fear even though they faced martyrdom, no matter how cruel the torture, the Roman could not separate them from God cannot separate us, and every believer today in Christ should take comfort in that truth. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Amen. Let me just say this before we pray and close. John wrote this and he had no idea. What was going to happen. 60 years later, after he wrote this, but let me tell you what happened. Sixty years later not going to find it in the Bible. Is in church history. There was a man who was the pastor of Smyrna Church here, sixty years. After this was written, his name was polycarp.

In polycarp was 86 years old. And the Romans went to him and told him, you will not preach anymore. In Christ name He says, I will preach in Christ name. You said, you priests one more sermon in Christ's name and we will throw you to the Lions. See, that's what they did. They would in the arena. They would have 10-15 thousand people and they would take Christians inform out in the middle of the arena and let loose about 10 or 15 hungry lions and they go out and tear them to shreds. That's how they would have them. Killed said, we will throw you to the lies. He said, do as you wish But I will preach Christ. They said, if you do not recant, we will burn you alive on the steak. He says where you just get right to it and put me on the steak and you go ahead. He said because I will not recant his family and friends, him say please just deny Christ out loud. You don't have to in your heart just then I'm out. So you will be saved. He said, I will never Denying. In my heart or out loud so they arrested him. Took him, put him in the arena, but instead of the lines, we're going to come and eating. But the guy who had the lines said, I've already put them up, I'll take him over here, it's going to be another day before we can do it. They set up that's fine. We'll time on the steak and we'll burn him alive. And that's exactly what they did and they said will give you one more chance to recant. He said I have served my lord for 86 years. He said, how could I ever deny the one who has saved me? And so they lit, the torch and burn him alive and church. History tells us that he never cried out. He was never in anguish, he never screamed out for help said, he's saying the whole time until the fire consumed He was saying he was the pastor of the church at Smyrna. You never know the coming persecution is coming to America, and we better be ready. Amen. All right. Let's pray. Father, we thank and praise. You. And love you today. Lord, for your word. Lord. We thank you for this letter to the church at Smyrna on this suffering church or we can even see it in our own days. There's going to the days are coming where we going to suffer for our faith. Lord help us to be Fearless. Help us to be faithful. Help us to be like Polly car and never deny you even if it means death. Because absent from the body means, we're present with you for eternity Lord, as we go through our suffering in this life, help us to see that. You are the Lord over time that you have a time limit on everything and compared to Eternity, our suffering is going to seem like a brief moment like 10 days. Lord, help us to suffer for you. If we must and give us the compliment and the courage, Lord to stand up in the face of a culture. This anti-christian in Christ name, I do pray. Amen.