WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ARE HELD
July 24, 2005 Jay Davis Robison Revelation 2:8-11
According to 20 the countdown magazine
#1 Contemp Christian song 7/23/05 Natalie Grant “Held”
Song a little unsettling, verse tells of 2-month-old baby
Who dies while his mother is praying for sudden healing
Song asks who told us we’d be rescued from nightmares?
I believe this song could be theme song for church at Smyrna
Last week began series of 7 Rev churches of Asia minor
Smyrna important city, 35 mi N Ephesus Izmar Turkey today Smyrna home to great Stadium and renowned Library,
Had a marked Roman influence, called ornament of Asia
One of most incredible sights Golden Street w\5 temples on it including temples to Cybele, Apollo, Aphrodite, & emperor
1 burning incense & calling Caesar Lord. Annual certificate given to worshipers as proof of loyalty to Roman gvt.
1. A Church UNDER ATTACK
Worship of Caesar used to unify Roman empire many different
Cultures\peoples no worship Caesar imagine the trouble
I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty Vs 9a The Message
Ø PAIN
Gk Thlipsis=PRESSURE CRUSHING BENEATH A WEIGHT
Tribulation: intense suffering, anguish, burdened,
Daily life was a struggle for good church of Jesus at Smyrna
Ø POVERTY
Church folks were at very bottom of financial scale in Smyrna. When obeyed gospel lost jobs possessions, & earthly security.
Maybe they faced sanctions because follow Christ
Golden city but church had none No social influence
Ø SLANDER
Were some Jews in Smyrna who persecuted along w\Romans. Sometimes greatest threat to church are religious folk
People who claim to follow God but only from a distance
Religious professionals who have all the answers
Those with some God connection but who subvert the work
Must have been exceptionally hard to follower Jesus in Smyrna
Believers regarded w\suspicion & subject to discrimination
Ø WORSE YET TO COME
Apparently Jesus does not know how to build a church
If said being TBC member bring trouble would you still?
If I promised that because here lose your job
Or that you would be beaten or thrown into prison
How many of you would show up next week
If I knew I would have to take another job to be TBC pastor
my kids wouldn’t able to go to school would I give up?
Held song has a line how it feels when the sacred
Is torn from your life, that is what is happening
Listen to what J says to poor, troubled Smyrna church Vs 10a Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
More suffering on its way some would even be killed
Polycarp, a Smyrnean saint Sunday Feb 23, 156 given a choice, deny Jesus, & publicly avow Caesar was Lord, life spared.
Otherwise he would be killed, indication that he was urged
Even by officials, listen just do it doesn’t mean anything
Polycarp for 86 yrs served Jesus he never done him any harm.
He not going to turn on Him now. As flames licked body, “I thank thee that thou has graciously thought me worthy of this day and of this hour, that I may receive a portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ”
Today Christian martyrs in more than 2 dozen countries
Sudan Nigeria India Sri Lanka, China Indonesia Cuba
Where people are continuing to follow Christ
Despite the harm that comes to them will you?
2. A Church THAT IS HELD
Would be easy for Smyrna church to be stifled\suffocated
Song how it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
But church was true to God’s message how Jesus holds them
Some of the most powerful words for those suffering.
God SEES THEIR SUFFERING Vs 9
Do you think this situation is a surprise to God?
Do you think challenges you face are unknown to God?
Friends God’s got your back
No matter what it is you’re facing, you don’t face it alone
Eido=TO SEE AND TO KNOW
God is aware of what you are dealing with knows us all
To Face suffering need to know they are understood
Jesus’ message to church is God sees
Your suffering, your poverty, your enemies
Let your hardship know Jesus’ knows
Tell your broken bank book Jesus’ knows about you
Find your enemies tell them Jesus’ knows about them
We have A PRICELESS HOPE Vs 9
Jesus says something really amazing
I see your poverty but you are rich!
Wants us to know in him priceless, best of all hope in life
Insight from
Paul: We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NCV
James: My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NRSV
Peter: But be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory. I Peter 4:13 NCV
We have PROMISED A CROWN OF LIFE
Again in the Held song
When asking questions of suffering song says
We’re asking why this happens to us who have died to life
In other words as Christians we have died to self
And dying is never an easy thing
Herman Lange German Christian executed by Nazis in WW II
In cell night before was killed, Lange wrote note to parents.
Said 2 feelings occupied mind: "I am, 1st, in a joyous mood,
2nd, filled w\great anticipation."
"In Christ I have put my faith, and precisely today I have faith
in Him more firmly than ever."
I fear dying, but I don’t fear death because I am a Christian.
He received the crown of life at peace
Vs 10 NCV But be faithful, even if you have to die,
and I will give you the crown of life.
Crown had couple of meanings to people of Smyrna
Smyrna the crowned city all the gold
Crown was wreath given to the winners of athletic games
highly prized reward simple laurel wreath would wither\die
Whereas some religions call for killing others to bring justice
Christianity says Jesus is willing to give self for life of others
Aft Crimean War, celebration in London honor war heroes Queen Victoria was present to give out medals soldiers came w\empty sleeves or on crutches some bandaged foreheads. To each she gave same sweet smile & same high award. At last, terribly maimed soldier brought to Queen on a mat. Arms & legs were gone. He’d sacrificed more than the rest. Seeing him Queen, with tears streaming down her cheeks, stepped forward and pinned a medal on his uniform. Then stooped down, she kissed his brow said w\great emotion "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Hope always stands AGAINST DESPAIR
Hope always is vs some opposition, something has happened to cause you to hurt when you have hope
Could it be we have a hope even greater than death itself?
Consider the suffering of your life, what has it been,
how have you dealt with it? What have you learned?
Smyrna church A DYNAMIC WITNESS thru all trials
Do you identify with the saints in Smyrna?
You feel poor as you see all wealth around you? You are rich!
Have you suffered because lived out faith? Keep on doing it God has winner’s crown waiting for you.
Those who are IN CHRIST JESUS
Little boy was leading sister up a mountain path and the way was not too easy. Why this isn’t a path at all, the little girl complained. Its all rocky & bumpy. Her little brother kept on up the mountain, pausing just long enough to call out Sure, but the bumps are what you climb on¨
1 of 2 things for church at Smyrna
They believed something against the evidence,
They were poor, suffering, and under threat
Either they were we are crazy, and we are to if follow Jesus
Or they found a deeper reality than what is seen
Something bigger even greater than themselves
A truth for which they would give their lives
Song concludes after all the struggle, sacred ripped from us
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held
Lord God, strengthen Your church. Make us able to withstand affliction and guard us from apathy. May our desire to serve Christ overcome any fear of rejection and persecution. Help us to do some self-reflection, to determine if our faith really is genuine. Our health and possessions may depart, but not our faith. May our trust in Christ result in praise, glory, and honor, when He is revealed. Amen.
I have used Sermon Central as well as the Broadman Commentary, Barclay’s commentary, Ladd’s commentary, and Ramsey’s book on the seven churches for this sermon.
