It has been said that love is a universal language. The same has been said of music. However, I believe that the same could be said of suffering. Each of these speaks a language that can only be heard in depths of our hearts. Only in our hearts can we find the language of unexplainable misery spoken and explained. Words cannot even begin to show the depth of the pain found in a suffering soul; the pain is much too deep. Even in prayer, at times the suffering becomes so intense that words fail. The church at Smyrna understood the language of suffering. Smyrna was known as the “ornament of Asia.” Smyrna was 40 miles due north of Ephesus and also was an important seaport. Despite the extreme wealth of the city, the church was physically poor. Through the afflictions of persecution and poverty they gained a fluent understanding of this language of suffering. Only two of these seven churches received nothing but commendation. Smyrna was one of them. I encourage you to resist the temptation right now to open this letter addressed to them with half-hearted concern. For if we do our hearts may just grow cold to the one who intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. If this happens we will not understand the language and will miss the message. And if we listen real closely, we just might hear another universal language—encouragement—spoken to hearts of the believers in Smyrna and quite possibly to you as well.
I. A close examination of the city of Smyrna.
A. Smyrna means perfume, and this seaport city forty miles north of Ephesus had great wealth and beauty.
1. Known as the “ornament of Asia”, this claim was backed up by a thriving harbor, picturesque beauty and a famous stadium.
2. Known as the birthplace of Homer, it was also an important seaport that commanded the mouth of the Hermus River valley.
3. Smyrna also had a theater that rivaled the 25,000 seat theater in Ephesus.
4. The sweeping streets escorted you from the harbor through the foothills and up Mount Pagos, which rose more than 500 feet above the port.
5. A great avenue circled the mountain called the “Street of Gold” whose beginning and end were marked by large stately temples to Zeus.
6. The top of Mount Pagos gleamed with the acropolis and numerous colonnaded buildings earning it the name the “Crown of Smyrna.”
B. Pagan culture and religion thrived with almost unparalleled splendor in Smyrna.
1. The city of Smyrna had a large menu of gods from which you could have your pick to worship.
2. Smyrna was the center for Emperor Worship and it was encouraged of all citizens by an attached death penalty for failing to do so.
3. Citizens were expected to burn incense on the altar to Caesar once a year and were issued a certificate to prove that they had carried out their civil duty. While burning the incense they were called to proclaim “Caesar is lord.”
4. Smyrna also had a large Jewish population who fought hard against Christianity.
5. The saints at Smyrna were being bitterly attacked by the Jews. Historians tell of the eagerness with which these Jews sought to aid in the martyrdom of Polycarp, for instance.
II. A close examination of this letter from Christ to His church in Smyrna.
A. In the opening lines of this letter Jesus immediately taps that universal language of suffering and extends hope and encouragement to these hurting believers.
1. Why did Jesus choose this description for Himself? Who better to help these suffering believers, then someone who has gone through a similar situation.
2. Here Jesus communicates, “I know what you are going through, I’ve been where you are, I understand your fear and pain.”
3. Notice the hope tucked away in this next phrase, “has come to life,” for persecuted believers clinging to their very life that hope was so important.
4. The word “life” was something the held tightly to in the depths of their souls.
B. In times of extreme suffering we often feel that there is no one that could possibly understand the depth of our pain.
1. Often where someone says, “I know what you are going through,” we wonder; “Do you really?” We then begin to doubt and slip deeper into our pain.
2. To have someone actually name our pain often helps free us from the solitary confinement of our hurt and allows us to begin to see that there is hope.
3. Even if the suffering continues we are now given at least new strength to keep going.
C. We must take time to have a Greek lesson to fully appreciate Jesus’ insight into their condition.
1. He knew their tribulation the Greek word thlipsis used for affliction here literally means crushing beneath an extremely heavy weight.
2. The pressure on the church at Smyrna and the force of the circumstance is trying to crush the Christianity right out of them.
3. The Lord says He sees their extreme poverty.
4. There are two Greek Words used to designate people in poverty; penia and ptocheia.
5. Penia refers to those who have nothing extravagant or extra. Ptocheia refers to those who have absolutely nothing.
6. Possibly some of the Christians were slaves and belonged to the lower class of society.
7. Also with Christianity being illegal it made it easy for pagans and Jews to literally plunder their homes, businesses and reputations.
8. The Lord doesn’t try to deny their physical poverty; He provides them with a different perspective on their situation.
9. Christ offers them a glimmer of hope with a reminder of their true riches in Heaven similar to the hope Paul gave to the Corinthians.
10. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9—NLT)
D. In addition to His empathy and intimate understanding of their circumstances He offers them hope and encouragement for the trials ahead.
1. “Do not fear!” These words being from a kindred sufferer like Jesus who has endured and overcome offers hope that words cannot begin to explain.
2. Trusting in God to guide us we can face the worst life can deal.
3. By warning His follower to remain faithful until death He gives them strength to prepare for what lies ahead.
E. Be faithful until death and I will give you a crown of life. This is a real promise to claim.
1. Don’t be afraid to let go of this life for something must better awaits you in Heaven.
2. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18—NLT)
3. Jesus challenges all seven of these churches to overcome.
4. Jesus promises if they overcome they would not be harmed by the second death.
5. Earthly death pales in comparison to eternal spiritual death in the lake of fire.
III. A word of application for all hurting believers.
A. Remember that the Lord knows all about your circumstances.
1. Personalize verse nine by inserting the particulars of your own suffering into this verse.
2. For example allow Jesus to say, “I know the worries you have about your daughter,” or “I know the pain and fear you feel about your health.”
3. Speak the words out loud. Then in silent prayer allow Him to impress these words upon your heart.
B. Remember if things get better, stay the same, or get worse, Jesus will still be there, right beside you all the way.
1. Our circumstances and situations cannot change Christ.
2. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8—NIV 2011)
3. Entrust yourself and your needs to the one who was persecuted, abandoned, crucified and raised on your behalf.
4. Welcome Him, not fear into your heart.
Closing:
There was a family with a little girl, who were extremely poor. One night the little girl was saying her prayers as she and her father kneeled beside her bed. As she was giving thanks for one thing after another, she included the words, “Thank you for letting me live in such a rich family…” The father upon hearing that almost reached out his hand to stop the little girl. He did not consider his family to be rich. They could not buy the things for the children they wanted to buy. They could not do the things they would have been able to if they had more money. But then the little girl finished her sentence: “Because we know Jesus as Savior.” The father was ashamed that he had let the idea of material wealth crowd out his appreciation for the true riches found in Jesus Christ. Still the little girl continued: “And I pray for those poor people who don’t know You!”
