Dear Church... Pt 3. "The Church in Smyrna... Be Faithful."

8/24/08
Dr. David Uth

Revelation 2:8-11

Value is no based on cost but rather worth.
It will always be worth standing up for Christ.
You will stop growing in Him when your cost is perceived to be too great.

The Church of Smyrna... was 35 miles north of Ephesus and a port city. It was built around 1000 BC and it was destroyed 400 years later. Alexander the Great rebuilt the city to the point where the Greeks thought it was the finest city. During this era the people worshipped the emperors. Smyrna is translated to myr or the death ointment. Smyrna was a major manufacturer of myr and in the New Testament it was referred to often as a gift. Smyrna was known as the port of fragrance. To get myr you had to crush a tree.

The church was being crushed in Smyrna. Crushing it released a stronger fragrance. The church was at its best when it was being prosecuted. Jesus had nothing negative to say about the church. The church in Smyrna ran to its first love unlike the others. Symrna calls us to be faithful.

There are 3 Things Jesus Knows:

1. Tribulation
Jesus knows everything you have suffered for Him. Tribulation comes from a word that means pressure and being under a burden.

2. Poverty
Meaning to not have much or have anything. You are rich in Christ. A Christian that does not bow to Caesar as Lord was prosecuted financially.

3. Persecuted
There were those that claimed to be Jesus but with little evidence-it was from Satan. Lies were being made up against Christians--slandered because they loved Jesus.

Jesus said to be faithful.
It is going to get bad but it won't last. Be faithful unto death. Many of us know the bad things:
- We live in worry - Feel pressure
- Feel broke because of your faith
- People make fun of you, slander you
- Experienced what it is like when Christianity is no longer "cool"
Tell the doubters, "Bring it on! We live for Jesus!"

- Everyday the number of people who die for Jesus could populate the city of Fort Lauderdale.
- More people are killed today than in ancient times because of their faith in Jesus

We have been watching the Olympics in China but we are not seeing the persecution of the church there.


Book Recommendation: Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of those who stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks

How do we remain faithful?

4 Truths

1. The Presence of Jesus
Acts 7:54 - describes Stephen, the 1st martyrs, experience where Jesus was seen standing at the right of God. Could he be have been standing for his servant who was standing for Him? If you take the slander and pressure Jesus will stand for you.

2. The Provision of Jesus
You are rich if you have Jesus, you have his riches

3. The Power of Jesus
- Do not fear, He was the 1st, He was dead and now He is alive
- Symrna was known as a city that was dead and brought back to life but nothing is more powerful than Jesus resurrection
Do you still believe the hope of America is the economy? You will hear it over and over in politics and the election messages.
The Hope for America is Jesus.

4. The Promise of Jesus
You will get the crown of life if you are faithful. Smyrna was known for games so winning a crown or a wreath made you an celebrity. But great for all of us is the Crown of Life found in Jesus

We need to join together as the body of Christ and receive together the crown of life because we were faithful. We will have victory over the 2nd death!