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. 15, 16), VI. Believing it possible that through Christ we may live in the required manner, that we may avoid sin--desist from sinning--give it up and abandon it altogether, and put it forever away. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. [First John] 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another [1 John 4:11]. Now may I give, point out a poignant illustration of that in the Word of God? As we apply this standard, our views on many things undergo a radical change. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Denomination:
There is a marvelous thing that happens when a man places Jesus first in his lifeloves our Lord supremely above all other loveHe hands back to you your home, your family, your wife, your business, your children, every dream and vision of your soul. Paul said, None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy (Acts 20:24). But in particular it blames some of the Jews. He was called to be pastor of a little church in a little town in Yorkshire called Wainsgate. Would to God we had ten thousand lives to offer to Jesus. It has never happened in the history of the world. Number two let us be faithful even in our limited kinds of persecution. Wed be fooling ourselves to make any sort of comparison. 10/18/2006 Then, they feel they dont need God, because theyve succeeded in life. He never knows a turning back or an ultimate defeat.
They were human beings with faults just as we are; yet they accomplished much through their faith. Because if were reading Scripture, well have the power to overcome temptation. An unswerving continuance in the Word of When the spies arrived in Jericho, they entered into what everyone thought was a harlot's house. In the little city of Bethany, they plotted His death. It was a great city in the day of the flesh of our Lord. Jesus told the church in Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10, KJV). We are called to be a people of the Gospel; the Gospel must be central to our lives. Heres the key-those men and women were just like we are. You couldnt see their god, so they said they were atheists. THREE IMPORTANT LOOKS OR PAUL'S LAST TESTIMONY Some believe godly living, great faith and positive thinking will exempt them from trials. 18:6). Believed and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims in this earth(Revelation 21:2). They are all doing it. But to be repudiated and to be censored and to be disliked is a terrible thing to bear. Selfishness prevents people from being faithful. We allow ourselves to be involved in so many activities that we no longer have the time to devote to Bible study and prayer. We dont want to make the mistake of saying that just because one worships three times a week every week he is faithful. This was the problem with the Ephesian church-I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Rev. We will suffer. love for Him so great, any other in comparison is as hate, B. Each sermon has to do with our Christian life down here in the earth. Isnt that unusual, that you would have a minister really converted? As long as Christianity was a sect of Judaism, there was little trouble. Call to worship: Centuries earlier, during the period when Rome was struggling with Carthage for supremacy, Smyrna sided with the Romans. read more, Scripture:
Picking things up after Polycarp has been arrested and hes being brought into the stadium in Smyrna. Our resurrection is dependent on his resurrection- Paul said Is God first in your life? The Lord never said that to him.
sanctified, hallowed, blessed, II. Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. Or the story of Polycarp. May I turn to 1 John 3:14? Romans 10:17: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God. If someone loved Jesus, he never tires of hearing about Him. Come. And it is one of the seven churches of Asia [Revelation 2:1-3:22]: Ephesus, and then right north, Smyrna. WebIts a very tender and touching sceneone of the most moving and heartwarming farewell speeches thats ever been recorded in literature. Speaking of winning the lost, Paul says, The love of Christ compels us (2 Cor. And if you would just swear by Caesar, recant Christ, just let them go. Methodist. Certainly Christians in many places are relatively free from that threat, but at all times there will be part of the Church that will be called upon to make the good confession in the midst of danger, hostility, and death. 4:10). A long time ago, in the 1700s in a little town in Yorkshire, a county in northern England, there was a very, very poor family. WebTrue faithfulness to God is maintained to the end. and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. It is interesting to note the things Jesus DID NOT say to them on how to overcome. The Pharisees did that (Matt. 1 John 5: 13-21 Leave me as I am, for the One who enables me to endure the fire will also enable me to remain on the pyre without moving. Then Polycarp prayed a final prayer and when he said amen, the men in charge of the fire lit it. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that become a part of our pilgrimage. That about 1 out of 120 Christians in the broadest sense of the term, may face martyrdom for the cause of Christ. What does it mean for us? After several months of study we have come to the concluding passage of 1st John. To Smyrna, the challenge is one of keep on keeping on or continue to do what you are already doing. All seven of the churches of Asia have some castigation from our Lord except this church. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris. This letter reported this man was certainly one of the elect. But listen to the heroes of the faith. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 UNTO DEATH THE MARKS OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN, I. Probably dates to around 108 A.D., that is shortly after the death of Ignatius. He lived, he died, he's alive. Let me finish with three points of application. Remember, they considered the Christians to be atheists because they didnt have any statues, they didnt have idols. In a different context, James says, Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (Js. Self, by nature, is on the throne of my heart. It had a fierce loyalty to the Caesar, to the Emperor. And after he began his preachingafter he was a preacher, he was wonderfully converted. And anchoring every one of these commands, I said this to the leadership training on Friday night, theres a reason that chapters 4 and 5 come after chapter 2 and 3, because it is the vision of the One who sits on the throne that is the antidote for everything that challenges the churches in chapters 2 through 3. empty and heart broken(1 John 2:15-17), IV. The Bible contains many examples of those who forsook God because of evil influences. Files Audio Faithful Unto Death (Video) Notes Transcript Committed to a belief in another world(Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:19), A. Clarence Now, before I mention the last one may I recapitulate? In 23 B.C. But here God says dont be surprised, dont, when it comes, do not think God is against you. Text: Genesis 49:28-50 What youre about to suffer need not be fearful. I. WebSermons by Bible: Sermons by Category: Sermons by Topic: Sermons by Speaker: Sermons by Language: Sermons by Date: Staff Picks: Comments, ALL -1 sec: Top Sermons: Online Bible: Hymnal: Daily Reading: Our The Bible discusses faithfulness as being much more than worshipping God. 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he
You allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols (Rev. Notice the Lord Jesus says in verse 9, I know your tribulation and your poverty. This was a church that had more pain than they had money. But whether it is a diadem or a garland, whether it is a royal crown or a victors crown, God says if we are faithful and true, at the end of the way He will reward us with a crown of life [Revelation 2:10]. So 36billion total. Now, before I speak of another, may I pause to avow; there is never, ever, a defeat, never in our commitment to our Lord. I read in the Book of Hebrews beginning at the eleventh chapter beginning at verse 9: By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange countryFor he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Could I take time to turn aside?
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. but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. When a man loves the world and the things that are in the world, the day finally comes when he finds his hands empty and his heart broken. Title: The Face of Faithfulness: John Every Christian wants to be able to say with the apostle Paul, as he thought about his own death ( 2 Tim. When the boy was sixteen years old, he went to hear George Whitefield preach, and he was converted; wonderfully converted, listening to George Whitefield preach the gospel. That may sound daunting. And Nathan Hale volunteered as a spy to bring back the needed information. But, if in a household there was a slave, and when time came, when that seventh year came and the slave was freeif he so loved his master or she so loved her mistress, that he did not want to leave, then they went through this kind of a simple ritual. read more. Remember? That grace, should that come, and for most of us, maybe all of us, it wont come like that, but when the opposition comes, when the moment comes at your workplace, youre going to go along with this program or who knows what happens to your job. Would it be murder, rape, spouse abuse, adultery, theft, gambling, or perhaps lying? Our reward is not here, it is there [Matthew 5:12]. We dare not just go through the motions without loving God with all our heart. Its been translated into English. 2:20). Father in heaven, we give thanks for Your many blessings. 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. This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Alum Creek church of Christ in Alum Creek, West Virginia. Dont think youre the only one to have this struggle. Jesus will be there with you. Please, sir, your Majesty, said the pastor, could you grant pardon to the boy? He did it. Listen to what it says: Now the blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the first part of the month Xanthicus, seven days before the Kalends of March, on a great Sabbath, about 2 oclock in the afternoon. read more, Scripture:
Evil influences prevent people from being faithful. They will be subtle, but they will be there. Currently 160,000 Christians, by one estimate, are martyred every year. II Timothy 4:6-8 Paul was looking with
Hezekiah held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments (2 Ki. A. Its the basic foundation of the Christian faith it is fundamental He stayed there in that tiny church over fifty years; their pastor over fifty years. Oh, by the way, its while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. But what our Lord refers to is, compared to our love for Himour supreme devotion to Himall other love for wife, child, home, brother, sisters, all other love, compared to our love for Christ is as hate; our supreme love for Christ.
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (September 25, 2015) 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.. Number one pray for the persecuted Church. 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. For almost 300 years Smyrna had a close connection with Rome. We dont have a little God. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faithFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
Some of you perhaps pray for it every day, that would be wonderful. It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. Certain things I try to pray for each day, certain things I try to pray for on a day of the week, and persecuted church is one of those. There will be a temptation to want to raise your flag as well and say, Here I am, you can count on me. Or to wear the sort of clothes that everyone would wear. He wants to be acclaimed and accepted and praised by them. Revelation 2:8-11, Denomination:
They were most affluent and well-to-do. I hope you have that somewhere in your regular rhythm. Isaiah 38:1-8, James 1:2-4, 1 John 5:14-15, 1 Peter 3:12, Denomination:
Polycarp was born in A.D. 69, so just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Temple, well within the lifespan of some who would have been eyewitnesses to Christ and his work. We all love to be praised. False doctrine leads many astray. Or suppose I were to stand here, and if I were trained to be a scientist; suppose I were to lecture on science three times every week? More were killed by other religious groups, and far and away, most of those Christian martyrs were killed by the state, some 55 million out of those 70 million. Preacher, just stand up there and tell us what God says. He was soon to dieto be rejected [Mark 10:32-34]. Faithfulness. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. 5:17; Foursquare. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important You dont doubt His goodness. I absolutely love how the story ends. It may mean that you are faithful in the midst of opposition, when your own children make different choices, sad choices, sinful choices, and say that you dont love them and youre not loving if you wont affirm what theyre doing. We all know the occasions where suffering brings out the absolute best in people, and weve seen it in our own church. While we stand and while we pray. Poem, Kids, young people, you will face even more pressures. Web"Faithful unto Death" Sixth Sunday after Pentecost St. Mark 6:14-29 July 16, 2006 IN NOMINE JESU In the rite of Confirmation, the confirmands are reminded of what they have undergone, as the pastor states: You have been baptized and you have been taught the faith according to our Lord's bidding. I dont look forward to it. I AM the LIFE. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Revelation 2:10 Context Dont think youre the only one to whom injustice has ever happened. Remember Paul said to the letter in Romans that those are Jews truly who are ones inwardly, written on the heart. So this letter is saying these are not spiritual Jews as we would understand the people of God, but they are people who have stirred up trouble. The weakness of men, universally, is to please one another. You cannot fail in Godnever, ever, ever. . Of course it does. The real hero is not he who makes the fastest schedule but he who lasts the longest. Of those 36 billion who have lived in the past 2000 years, by a very generous estimate, 12 billion were evangelized, had some access to the Gospel. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. And that leads them into all kinds of things that break the hearts of their parents. However, to sin is an everyday reality of truth---a reality of faith. It continues to the last stitch. Heres part of the story, the martyrdom of Polycarp. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Will you be willing to be faithful when youre misunderstood as a Christian? You got, theres two deaths, and unless Jesus comes back in our lifetime, we all face the first death, but not all have to have the second death. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Well, we are all like that. Why didnt the Lord say that to Zaccheus? How can we leave these dear people? And John her husband replied, Wife, I dont see how we can. And he turned the team around and the wagon around and went back to the parsonage and put back in the house all of the things that he had stacked on that wagon. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions [Matthew 19:21-22; Mark 10:21, 22]. FAITHFUL
That is a big number. Why Jesus, in His letter to the church at Smyrna, instruct those Christians to Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.. The Resurrection of Jesus says it all. Since we know that God will richly reward us, we should be faithful. [He] went inside the house and sat down and wrote what I think is the most preciously beautiful hymn in the English language. And thank Thee, Lord, for each soul You give us, in Thy precious name, amen. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight. Why didnt the Lord say that to the family at Bethanyto Lazarus and Mary and Martha? Give us ears, give us courage, no matter the time, no matter the opposition, no matter the circumstances. Why didnt the Lord say that to Joseph of Arimathea, who is described in the Bible as a rich man? Which naturally leads to the second command, at the end of verse 10 Be faithful unto death. 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