Today I would like to start out by saying isn’t God so good and glorious! We may live in troubling times but even in times of uncertainty there is hope in the coming of our Lord. We have to stay focused on the Kingdom. Too often we talk about heaven and not the Kingdom, and for some reason we have made heaven into white fluffy clouds and angel wings. You may say what is the difference in heaven and the Kingdom? Well I believe the Kingdom describes the destination and the existence of the eternal home of believers. The Kingdom is the home of the King and that is where I will be. Jesus preached about the Kingdom form his very first sermon. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus says "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand". Matthew 5 is known as the Be attitudes but it is really the characteristic of a member in the Kingdom. Jesus said when you pray "pray our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come."
One of the great events that will be displayed in the Kingdom is the communion between Christ and the martyred Saints. The Church we are looking at today is a Church under persecution and is experiencing great suffering. Before we dive into this verse let me say this as an American. I am so tired of Christians complaining about not having any rights, and how the government prevents them from sharing the gospel. That is nothing but a lie. First of all God has not appointed us to have rights. Paul did not claim to be a man who deserved justice and freedom but instead he said he was a prisoner of Christ. American Christians need to get over it. It is not a school teacher’s job to teach the Bible it is mom and dad’s job. It doesn’t matter what a bill on Washington reads or what a Judge says. Nothing should keep a Christian from sharing the gospel. If Christ saved you and he really is who he says he is then suffering, persecution, and even death should not separate you for sharing the goodness of Jesus Christ. If they tear down the Ten Commandments then let your voice be the monument and may Gods word be inscribed on every heart that hears his word. Jesus didn’t lobby for a change in government he preached to Repent and sin no more. We need to get our priorities straight and quit making excuses. Salvation is by Grace though faith and Paul said faith comes by hearing the word of God. If we love Christ than nothing can stop us from witnessing!
1. The Church at Smyrna
Revelation 2:10 says, "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."
The Church at Smyrna is a Church that knows what suffering and persecution is about. They are not a perfect Church and they have faults like anyone else. However they are sold out to Christ. Today there are people around the world just like the people at Smyrna. Did you know that 450 people will be murdered today because they are a Christian? Oh and by the way those peaceful Muslims that we always here about have been killing Christians years. Did you ever wonder if the Muslims were so peaceful why can’t we build Churches in countries that are Muslim led. Isn’t funny how nobody tells the truth and calls them out for being spineless murders!
In China there are people who meet in secret locations and worship at a whisper to keep from being caught. There are Bibles constantly being smuggled into the country so the Gospel can be shared. America is no Smyrna. In our country most people have stacks of Bibles and yet half the people at Church this Sunday will not even carry a Bible. In America there will be more Christian books published than the rest of the world combined this year and there will be more Christian radio and TV than the rest of the world combined this year. However fewer and fewer people will believe. Not only will fewer believe but many of those who say they believe will make no attempt to serve Christ. Paul says in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel” and Smyrna wasn’t either. Are you ashamed of the Gospel? If it was against the law for you to be a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?
In my next post I will cover the third Church mentioned which is Pergamum and it will hit at home. Keep in mind I said there is a movement going on in this country within the Church. When we get done with these seven Churches it will come to light.
Jesus Saves,
RR
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