That is an extreme and harsh word taken in itself. They could offer sacrifices in honor of the emperors, not as gods but as rulers. Inspirational devotions delivered right to your email inbox. And God said, Abraham, come here. The shears with rust are spoiled and yet. 31:23). That is a big number. I dont want it to come. To Smyrna, the challenge is one of keep on keeping on or continue to do what you are already doing. And He took him out under the chalice of the night sky and said, Abraham, count the stars. And Abraham said, Lord, I cannot count that many. And God said, So shall thy seed be [Genesis 15:3-5]. He knew what it was to suffer as a man. I started with the story of Polycarp. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. read more, Scripture: Evil influences prevent people from being faithful. The second characteristic and mark of a faithful Christian: the denial of self. read more, Scripture: He was arrested by Herod when Philip of Tralles was high priest, during the proconsulship of Statius Quadratus, but while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. When our Lord was on the way to Jerusalem to die, in Perea on the other side of Jordan, He was met, accosted in a town over there by a rich young ruler [Mark 10:17-22]. It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. 15, 16), VI. and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Fathers which sent Me. Any true disciple of our Lord has a deep, haunting, never-sated thirst for the word of God. This is the pastor bringing the message entitled Faithful Unto Death. Putting this altogether, you can understand why in some parts of the Empire it was the Jews who sometimes instigated this persecution against the Christians. It has never happened in the history of the world. Instead of worshipping as they should, they play golf on Sunday mornings or they go the race track or they go fishing. Picking things up after Polycarp has been arrested and hes being brought into the stadium in Smyrna. It is in riches. Jesus will be there with you. He lived, he died, he's alive. The author of Hebrews had just finished writing about great men and women of faith-He wrote about how they obeyed God out of their faith. The reason our adolescents, our young people, fall into, say, drugs, or into drinking, or into a thousand compromising positions, is because of peer pressure. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. The young fellow knelt down before the Lord [Mark 10:17]. For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. By a living faith, I mean one consumed with one desireto please our Lord. He literally opens up his heart and lets As the song says, Just one glimpse of him in glory will the toils of life repay. Surely, seeing Jesus face to face will be reward enough for our faithfulness. We Christians must be faithful. 14 views Watch this sermon on a Roku or Apple TV! It is an instrument of execution, and when I am invited to take up my cross, I am invited to die to myself that I might live to the Lord. He gained the information, but on his way back to report to General Washington he was recognized and seized and hanged in what is today New York City, on Market Street and East Broadway. Will God reward you? Whatever the church is facing, and here in Smyrna it was persecution, hatred, opposition, suffering, what they need to see more than anything is not a 12-step plan, not a 3 steps to their better life now, they need to know ultimate reality of the One who sits on the throne and they need to know the ultimate reality that will be theirs should they be faithful unto death. FAITHFUL He knew they would experience difficult times in their lives. We can remember the things of God. 8 billion called themselves Christians in some broadest sense of the word. . We must When the crowd learned that it would not be possible to set a lion loose, thats what they called for, then they shouted for him to be burned alive. It was a difficult situation. The Lord knows. Suppose I were to stand in this pulpit and speak and discuss English literature three times once a week? Psalms 20:5-6 We are given by choice, by volition, to our Lord and Master forever. Since we know that God will richly reward us, we should be faithful. Our Lord, before it comes to pass, we praise Thy wonderful, keeping, saving, endearing name for all You have done for us; died to save us [1 Corinthians 15:3], poured out Thy blood to wash us clean and white [Revelation 1:5, 5:9], that we might stand in the presence of God forgiven [Jude 1:24]. In order to adequately embrace the Gospel, we must understand the Gospel. knows nothing about defeat (Romans 4:17-21, Genesis heroes of the faith(Hebrews 11:9-10, 16), 1. having been freed(Deuteronomy 15:12-18), B. Number one let us pray for the persecuted church. Genesis and Revelation are two of the most disputed books in the Bible. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. We fail to put God first in our lives-we dont base all our decisions based on what he would want, we neglect to mention the Gospel to our family and friends. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight. 15:58). Which leads to a second point of application. read more. Isa 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. I absolutely love how the story ends. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. John 8:31, 32: If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 14:23-24: If any one love Me, he will keep My words . That is our faith. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Revelation 2:10 Context Remember this is a letter from whom? Matthew 10:38: He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. And Matthew 16:24: If any one will come after Me, let him . Yes, death is an enemy, and we mourn for death. Individuals become Christians and know the truth, but they have a friend who attends a denominational church, so they attend every now and then, and before they know it, they believe what that church teaches. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. We can remember the great examples of Scripture. Father in heaven, we give thanks for Your many blessings. 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, Denomination: 1 John 5:16-18, ON POINT, III Faithfulness involves giving our whole heart to God and trying to please him each day we live. Hes telling us from Gods Holy Scriptures about our Lord. Would I run away? Number one. B. The premise of this study is the foundation of creation. They were poor, but rich in what really matters. 1: 5). WebClosed with a few words from Revelation chapter 2, including the line, "be faithful unto death." WebSermon Series: RevelationSermon Title: The Church of Smyrna: Be Faithful Unto DeathScripture Text: Revelation 2:8-11Speaker: Rev. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. WebIts a very tender and touching sceneone of the most moving and heartwarming farewell speeches thats ever been recorded in literature. Let me finish with three points of application. Losing focus of whats important in life prevents people from being faithful. When I was a youth growing up, Clarence Darrow, the great agnostic and atheist, literally covered the horizon in the legal profession. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Three Important Looks Or Paul's Last Testimony. That number of about 0.8% of Christians throughout history, in fact, has been constant over many centuries. Text: Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. What was important to them in the beginning was no longer important. You can understand how this might happen. However fate or providence may assail us, our commitment to our Lord is, first, and supreme. He motioned toward them with his hand and then groaning as he looked up to heaven said, Away with the atheists. Meaning the atheists. A new convert never studies Scripture, and so when a denominational group knocks on his door, he falls for what they teach. Heres the mayor, heres the governor, heres the president. Knowing that we are not facing these exact circumstances, and we can be thankful for it, what does this mean for us? And unbelief will ask, How can such a thing be? But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that And what you do and what you believe and how you carry yourself is thought strange? Many of us would say that murder is worthy of the death penalty; and if any of us had a child that were raped, we would probably believe the person who And yet, my God, keep me from turning back. Some of you perhaps pray for it every day, that would be wonderful. The church in Smyrna was a church of paradoxes. This is the apocalypse revelation written down by John, who was a Jew, so we ought not take this to be some sort of anti-Jewish polemic. After the resurrection That is what the Bible said about Jesus: Jesus, looking upon him, loved him [Mark 10:21]. What youre about to suffer need not be fearful. Death has no power over anyone who is in me! Thats why Jesus is able to say in verse 10, Be faithful unto death, and I will give you And Jesus will reign now and into eternity. I would never think to say, Away with the atheists. I would Would I stand fast? Text: 8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says: 9 I know your tribulation and poverty, yet you are rich. Amen. 3:11). We come to see that the thing of value is not speed but endurance. All England came to know him. He famously died a martyrs death in 155 or 156, and when he died the church at Smyrna sent out a letter, To tell the story of those who have suffered martyrdom, especially blessed Polycarp, who as though he had set his seal by his martyrdom brought the persecution to an end.. Preacher, just stand up there and tell us what God says. False doctrine leads many astray. Lets peer inside Pauls heart, and see whats in there. But when that acclamation and acceptance violates our commitment to Christ, it is to be repudiated by the disciple of our Lord. WebBe thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. He knew they would be tested severely. Or whether we die or whether we live, we are with Him [1 Thessalonians 4:15-17]. and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. take up his cross, and follow Me. The cross is an instrument of death. We respond in Faith! There are many benefits to remaining faithful. They were poor, but Jesus says, Youre rich. They were persecuted by Jews who Jesus says were not really Jews. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important Romans 1:17, Denomination: empty and heart broken(1 John 2:15-17), IV. Any Amazon link on this site is an ad. Are you faithful? Faithfulness is required for all four quarters, all three periods, all nine innings. Can you imagine after forty years the people here by the thousands listening to me lecture on mathematics or science or literature or the humanities? And our Lord may the flow of our lives be in praise, and in adoration, and worship, and in love for Thee, O blessed God, that as grace and mercy reached down even to me. Pray for the persecuted church. One, starting with Nero, Christians were blamed for things in Rome and were being persecuted, at least intermittently. Truly, temptations----works of the devil challenge our daily thoughts and decisions. And after he began his preachingafter he was a preacher, he was wonderfully converted. It was a way for Rome to save, kind of save face and yet not have to go through this extermination of all the Jews, so well let them get by on a technicality. Amen.. Be faithful even unto the point of death because brother, sister, friend, when youre faithful to the point of death for Jesus, you get a crown of life. All of us do. 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