FAITH OVER FEAR
REV 2:8-11
INTRO: THE WORDS OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
1: FIRST AND THE LAST
A) JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF
B) THE ONE WHO IS NOW
C) THE ONE WHO WAS THEN
D) AND THE ONE WHO WILL BE
POINT: CHRIST IS SPEAKING IN A WAY THAT IS COMFORTING AND ALSO EMPOWERING TO THE CHRISTIAN BY REASSURING US THAT HE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE SAVIOR OF OUR SOULS THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF TIME HE IS THERE.
2: I KNOW THY WORKS
A) JESUS SEES EVERY THING WE DO
B) KINDA SCARY TO SOME
C) CHRIST SEES AND KNOWS ABOUT ALL OUR TROUBLE AND HARDSHIPS
D) AT TIMES WE MAY SEEM TO BE GETTING LOST IN THE MIX OF LIFE
POINT: JESUS CHRIST NEVERS LOSES SIGHT OF US EVEN WHEN WE LOSE SIGHT OF HIM, HARD TIMES TRIBULATION AND POVERTY CAN CAUSE A MAN TO LOSE HIS PERSPECTIVE IT CAN CRUSH HIS DREAMS AND CLOUD HIS VISION. JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS SEES THOSE THROUGH WHO TRUST AND HOPE IN HIM.
3: PEOPLE TALK
A) THE BLASPHEMY
B) THOSE AROUND YOU WHO DON’T BELONG TO CHIRST
C) THEY SEE YOU STRUGGLING OR SUFFERING
D) MOST WILL SPEAK BAD THINGS OR HURTFUL WORDS ABOUT YOU
E) THEY WILL SPEAK AGAINST YOUR FAITH
POINT: THE DEVIL USES PEOPLE JUST AS GOD USES PEOPLE. GOD USES PEOPLE TP UPLIFT AND BUILD HIS KINGDOM, SATAN ON THE OTHER HAND USES PEOPLE TO TEAR DOWN LIVES AND TRY TO DISCREDIT THE KINGDOM AND CAUSE OF CHRIST.
BODY: FAITH OVER FEAR
1: FEAR NONE OF THESE THINGS
A) FEAR CAN BE A CRIPPLING THING TO ANY HUMAN
B) IT CAN CONTROL PEOPLE’S LIVE
C) DICTATE WHAT THEY DO AND DON’T DO
POINT: THE WORLD WANTS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN FEAR OF EVERYTHING, FEAR CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO MAKE BAD JUDEGMENT DECISIONS. JESUS WANTS HIS CHURCH TO BE FREE FROM THE FEAR OF THE WORLD AND SOLELY FOCUSED ON HIS POWER AND ABILITY TO DELIVER US FROM ANYTHING.
2: THE DEVIL AT WORK
A) HE WILL CAST SOME INTO PRISON
B) SOME WILL BE TRIED
C) TRIBULATION TEN DAYS
D) JESUS REASSURES THE CHRITIAN THAT THEIR TRIBULATION WOULD BE BUT A SHORTTIME 10 DAYS
E) THE TRIBULATION IS FOR THE SAKE OF TRYING THE BELIEIVER NOT TO DESTROY THEM.
POINT: GOD GIVES SATAN SO MUCH LEAD WAY TO AFFLICT US AND CAUSE HEARTACHE AND PAIN IN OUR LIVES. WHY? THE WHOLE PROCESS OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATION IS FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO BE PROVED AND IMPROVED IN THEIR FAITH,PATIENCE,AND COURAGE TO THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST.
3: THE CROWN OF LIFE
A) JESUS SAYS I WILL GIVE THEE
B) TO THE PERSON WHO LIVES A LIFE UNTO DEATH TO ME
C) THAT OLD CHRISTIAN WHO LIVED THEIR LIFE IN SERVICE TO GOD
D) TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT THEIR BODIES AND MINDS IN SERVICE TO JESUS
POINT: JESUS PROMISES A CROWN A REWARD A GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE TO THOSE WHO KEEP THE FAITH TO THOSE WHO ALLOW THEIR FAITH TO CONQUER THERE FEARS IN LIFE. NO MATTER WHAT THEY KEEP SEEKING JESUS AND ALWAYS NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE HONOR GOD WILL ENJOY THIS ETERNAL CROWN OF LIFE.
CONCLUSION: OUR FAITH CAN ALLOW US TO DO THINGS THAT NOT EVEN OUR PHYSICAL BODIES COULD DREAM ABOUT DOING. THE DEVIL KNOWS THIS AND IS AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING TO DESTROY OUR FAITH AND BREAK OUR TRUST IN CHRIST. HOLD ON AND ALLOW JESUS TO WORK IN YOUR LIFE. FAITH IS BELIEVING AND TRUSTING WITHOUT ACTUALLY SEEING. YOU CAN SEE FEAR THINGS WILL MAKE YOU AFRAID. THE WORLD WILL SCARE YOU BUT JESUS SAID I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.
