Sunday, June 9, 2019

The Revelation of Christ – Part 4: Smyrna The Steadfast Church


The Revelation of Christ – Part 4:
Smyrna The Steadfast Church
HOFC - Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION
The Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of Christ, is the most difficult book in the bible.

Because of this fact, many avoid it, or ignore it all together. Some fear lack of understanding, others afraid to misinterpret, which I guess it is better to avoid than dive in and get it completely wrong.

Many times, when a new believer comes to me for direction, they want to jump right into Revelation and find out what’s to come.

This is equivalent to deciding one day to learn Mandarin and sitting down to author a novel in Chinese that very same day.

Or, a kindergartener learning how to count, and then trying to calculate quantum mechanics calculations.

The words in Revelation have caused much debate on rapture, judgement, even some who claim John was writing about the events in his day in code rather than Jesus Christ revealing to him about the coming events and Judgment.

A special blessing is promised to those who read Revelation.

Although it may be a difficult book, we could all use a special blessing, reading this is good for us all, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will take the Revelation of Christ in small portions and gain understanding, little by little.





SERMON SERIES

THE THINGS WHICH ARE – The Church Age (Age of Grace)
Part 3 – Ephesus The Backsliding Church

Part 4 – Smyrna The Steadfast Church
Part 5 – Pergamos The Immoral Church
Part 6 – Thyatira The Careless Pagan Church
Part 7 – Sardis The Dead Church
Part 8 – Philadelphia The Favored Church
Part 9 – Laodicea The Church God Hates

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment
Part 10 – The Throne of God
Part 11 – The Living Creatures (Various Angels)
Part 12 – Heavenly Worship (As it is in Heaven)
Part 13 – The Sealed Book (Various Books)
Part 14 – The Lion and the Lamb
Part 15 – The First 6 Seals
Part 16 – The 144,000 Jews
Part 17 – The Tribulation Saints
Part 18 – The Seventh Seal
Part 19 – The First 4 Trumpets
Part 20 – The 5th Trumpet
Part 21 – The 6th Trumpet
Part 22 – The Mighty Angel
Part 23 – The Two Witnesses
Part 24 – The Seventh Trumpet
Part 25 – The Woman and the Dragon
Part 26 – Manchild
Part 27 – Michael
Part 28 – Overcomers
Part 29 – Persecution
Part 30 – Antichrist
Part 31 – The Lamb

More sermons in the series listed in Part 1


TODAY’S SERMON
Part 4 – Smyrna The Steadfast Church

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”


SCRIPTURE READING
Revelation 2:8-11
“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.”

          I.      INTRODUCTION AND UNDERSTANDING
a.   Who is speaking?
                                     i.   “These are the words of Him, who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again.”
                                    ii.   The words of the Lord are recorded in this letter.


b.   The first, the last, who died and came to life again
                                     i.   “the first and the last”
1.   Throughout scripture the Lord refers to Himself as the “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
2.   Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12; Revelation 1:8, 1:17, 2:8, 3:14, 21:6, etc

                                    ii.   “who died and came to life again”
1.   Important for many reasons to state this fact;
a.   Dying, Jesus was the perfect atoning sacrifice for us
b.   Living again shows God the Father accepted the Lords sacrifice and returned Him to life, showing approval

2.   Dying was not enough, coming back showed the Lord accomplished what He set out to do.

3.   Isaiah 55:11 “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”


c.   The Lord understands our struggles
                                     i.   We know from earlier verses that the Lord stands among the lampstands (churches) and that He alone decides which candle will bear His light.

                                    ii.   Because He stands among them, He knows and understands what takes place in them.

                                   iii.   This means He not only knows our sins but understands our obedience’s and struggles.
1.   I know about your afflictions
2.   Your poverty
a.   Yet, you are rich!

3.   I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
a.   Synagogue of Satan
                                                                         i.   Revelation 2:9, 3:9
                                                                                                ii.    Those who claim to be Jews, but deny the Lord Jesus as Christ and Messiah are not true Jews, but a church of lies, a synagogue of Satan

                                                                                              iii.    John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

4.   The Lord also refers to them as a “Brood of vipers” in Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33; Luke 3:7


         II.      ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSIGHT
a.   Do not be afraid
                                     i.   Isaiah 43:1 “Don't fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”

                                    ii.   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7

                                   iii.    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

                                   iv.   “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” ~ 1 John 4:18

                                    v.   “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~ Matthew 6:34

                                   vi.   “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ~ Mark 4:39-40

b.   Fear is Faith
                                     i.   We are told in the verses above;

1.   Don’t fear because;
a.   I have redeemed you
b.   I have called you by name
c.   You are mine
d.   In every situation pray with thanksgiving and present your requests to God
e.   God has NOT given us a Spirit of fear!

2.   You will receive;
a.   The Peace of God
b.   Guarding of your heart
c.   Guarding of your mind in Christ Jesus
d.   A Spirit of power
e.   A Spirit of love
f.    A Spirit of sound mind
g.   Perfect love that drives out fear

3.   Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?


c.   Insight of what is to come
                                     i.   There will be troubles in this life

                                    ii.   We are told “the storm comes”, “the rain falls on the just and the unjust”, “troubles will come”, “but woe unto them from whom they come by”, NOT woe to them with troubles!

                                   iii.   Our house is built upon the rock of our salvation, Christ Jesus, and we can, through the power of Christ, withstand any and all troubles which we face int his life.

                                   iv.   Greater is He whom is in us than he who is in the world, and all things are possible through Christ Jesus, then what do we have to fear?
1.   Absolutely nothing in this life.
                                    v.   The Lord warns Smyrna of their coming troubles but encourages them “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.”


        III.      INSTRUCTION AND REWARD
a.   Instruction (Command of Christ)
                                     i.   The Lord then commands them with these instructions when the trouble comes
1.   Be faithful (faith in God not in fear)
2.   Even to the point of death (do not fear dying)


b.   Being obedient to Him
                                     i.   The Lord knows our situation, and He understands when we are afraid, this is why He encourages us, instructs us, and knows when we are obedient to His command.

                                    ii.   He would not call us to obedience unless we CAN be obedient.


c.   The Reward
                                     i.   REMEMBER
1.   Our obedience unlocks the door for the Lord to;
a.   Pour out His blessings
b.   Allow His Spirit to protect
c.   Activates the Whole Armor of God
d.   Gives us the supernatural strength we need

2.   Obedience is the secret to allowing the Lord to do a work in your troubles!

                                    ii.   The Word says in I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment…”
1.   Fear has to do with punishment
2.   The one who should fear, is the one who comes against you!
                                   iii.   Matthew 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

                                   iv.   Now, who is it that should fear?
1.   Enemies of God
2.   Broods of vipers
3.   Synagogue of Satan
4.   Storms in your life
5.   Trials in your life
6.   Tribulations in your life
7.   Those who come against children of God

CONCLUSION – Whoever has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
Ephesus - To the one who is VICTORIOUS I (Jesus) will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

Smyrna - The one who is VICTORIOUS will not be hurt at all by the second death.



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