Skip to main content

End Game, Part 2 - Stay Faithful - The Church of Smyrna

The Church at Smyrna…

Revelation 2:8- (NIV) “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died
and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your
poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say
they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be
afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put
some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for
ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you
life as your victor’s crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what
the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be
hurt at all by the second death.”

The church at Smyrna is a breath of fresh air. In fact, even the name means “myrrh” or
“ointment.” It was a spice that produced a scent that is described in the Old Testament to have
even “attracted” the presence of God. Smyrna is the first of two churches that God says, do what they are doing. He tells them he knows what they are going through, and that they have stayed true. What an amazing testimony for churches today. You have been attacked, you have faced loss and lack, but you have remained faithful. You have not been afraid, even when you had every right to be.

I understand this temptation very well – the one to give up and quit. Over the past twenty-five years we have seen our share of dry seasons.  But through every one of those dry seasons God has been faithful, we have survived, and the season changed.  God brought about the season of harvest.  That is the great thing about Jesus. He always brings the next harvest, if you are faithful in the meantime.  Don’t be afraid of what others might say, or what people might do.  Keep your eyes and your faith on Jesus.  It reminds me of the quote from President F.D. Roosevelt, “Fear is always worse than the things of which you are afraid.” 

So, the encouragement to the church today is a simple statement from God, “Do not fear – Be faithful!”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where's the Wind Blowing?

Where's the Wind Blowing? John 3:8 (The Message) You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” When you enter this life of following after the Christ you enter into a life no longer guided by the same landmarks as your old life. The old life is measured by tangible things, years, money, possessions, titles, etc...   The new life is measured by the things you cannot see, faith, hope, love, grace, mercy, maturity, etc...   The old things are visible, tangible, they are perceived by your senses; you can taste, touch, smell, see and hear them. This new thing is visible as to the effects, you can see and hear where happened after the fact. This new thing is driven by the wind of the spirit. Like a natural wind, it is invisible, yet it can be seen, it is made...
Post a Comment
Read more

Endgame, Part 6 - The Church at Laodicea

The Church at Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22  (NIV) “ To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.  15  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!   16  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  17  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  18  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.   20  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Walk of Faith

I am learning a lot about this walk we call faith. Faith is sometimes this mystical thing that we talk about, but may times confuse as a noun, when in actuality it is a verb. Many people say they walk in faith, when what they are doing is walking in the faith. This faith walk requires more than just knowledge about God, it requires that we chase after God. It is getting up every day and walking where God says walk and doing what God says do. I am learning that this starts with the little things. There is an experiment in the world of theoretical physics called the Butterfly Effect. This theory states that in the perfect situation, and the right environmental conditions that if a butterfly flaps its wings of the coast of Africa it could result in a hurricane in NY. While this theory may be a little far fetched, it proves a very valuable point. Even the littlest things have great consequences. There was a scientists named Fermi', he invented the ferimeter which measures thi...
1 comment
Read more