Introduction
As we continue the message “The Rich Poor Church” I want to remind you that the city of Smyrna was called “The Crown City” because it was surrounded by hills that resembled a crown. It was also called “The Flower of Asia.”
When the city chose a motto to be imprinted on their coinage, they chose the phrase “First in Asia in Size and Beauty.”
In this beautiful, wealthy pagan city, there existed a struggling Christian community.
The church in Smyrna was undergoing intense and withering persecution.
The Lord Jesus comes to them with a word of comfort for their dark days.
He tells them that even though they appear to be so weak and so poor, they are, in fact, rich beyond imagination.
So let us take a look at this “Rich Poor Church” and see how it relates to us today.
Turn with me this evening as we take our text from Revelation 2:8-11. Please stand and follow along with me in honor of the Word of God.
Scripture
8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:8-11 (KJV)
Prayer
This morning we covered:
1. A Crushed Church by Tribulation
2. A Crushed Church by Poverty
3. A Crushed Church what can it do?
And now we come to:
A Crushed Church by Persecution
The church at Smyrna was during the historical period where terrible persecution inflicted upon believers by the Roman emperors between the years of 100 AD and 312 AD.
Because of the events of today there are churches that are being persecuted because of their beliefs.
Even in America we are starting to see a push to discredit the New Testament church.
Hollywood portrays the New Testament church as that relies on the fables of an out of date book.
1. They Faced Prison – In verse 10, Jesus tells them that there is more trouble ahead! They will face more persecution. The “ten days” mentioned here might refer to the ten persecutions the Christians suffered under the Romans.
Refers to the ten Roman emperors during the time frame of the historical period of Smyrna, these were ten intense periods of persecution by these Roman emperors.
Illustration
One example of their suffering comes to us from history, just a few years after they received this letter. In 155 AD, the Bishop of the church of Smyrna, a man named Polycarp, who was a disciple of John the Beloved, was martyred for Jesus.
This man was arrested at the request of an angry mob that cried, “Away with the Atheists; let Polycarp be sought out!”
The old preacher, he was 86 at the time, was given the opportunity to renounce Jesus.
The magistrate, who did not want to see the old man die, said, “What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar?”
But, Polycarp refused! When they entered the stadium, where the executions took place, they tried again saying, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.”
Polycarp fixed his gaze on the crowd, waved his arms at them and said, “Away with the atheists!”
The magistrate again attempted to get Polycarp to renounce his faith and said, “Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ.”
To that, the old man cried, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
After a few more attempts to get the old preacher to renounce Jesus, they led him away to the stake to burn him alive.
They were about to nail him to the post and Polycarp said, “Leave me as I am; for He that giveth me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.”
So, they left him loosely bound and they lit the fire. As the flames rose around him, he was heard to pray and rejoice in Jesus. He died for his faith and in doing so he left an indelible imprint on the fabric of time.)
July 9, 2012
Since 2005, Michael Salman and his wife have been hosting gatherings of about 15 or 20 people where they share food, fellowship and discuss the Bible.
Unfortunately, that kind of thing is against the law in Phoenix, Arizona apparently.
At one point, nearly a dozen armed police officers raided their home and “evidence” of their “crimes” was gathered.
Michael Salman was found guilty of 67 “code violations”, and was ripped away from his family and put in prison for two months.
In addition, the assistant city prosecutor is asking the court to “revoke his probation and convert it into a 2 1/2 year jail sentence since he continues to hold worship gatherings on his property despite court orders.
The reason the world hates the believer today is the same reason the world hated the believers then.
Here are some of the things that are happening here in the United State in 2012.
• A public school official prevented a student from handing out flyers inviting her classmates to an event at her church.
• A public university’s law school banned a Christian organization because it required its officers to adhere to a statement of faith that the university disagreed with.
• The U.S. Department of Justice argued before the Supreme Court that the federal government can tell churches and synagogues which pastors and rabbis it can hire and fire.
• The State of Texas sought to approve and regulate what religious seminaries can teach.
• A federal judge held that prayers before a state House of Representatives could be to Allah but not to Jesus.
Being punished for being a Christian is coming to the United States this is just some of the things that have happened in 2012, that shows us that we are living in “The End Times.”
Crushed Church with a powerful Testimony
Jesus says to them “I know thy works” – The word “works” refers to that “business which occupies a person’s life.”
In spite of all the darkness around them, these people continued to be a light for Jesus in the midst of an ever darkening world.
They were not intimidated by their enemies; they were not frightened by the hatred of their opponents.
They proved they were genuine and that their faith was real by the way they carried themselves in that society.
Their testimony was powerful because they stayed the course and stuck to the task for the glory of God!
They were a consistent church!
What do our works say about us as a church?
What do your works say about you as an individual?
In a world like ours, where darkness, wickedness and opposition to our way of life abounds, we must stand have a powerful testimony.
The church has withdrawn from the public square, from the public schools and from the public arena.
We have moved within the walls of our building where we are safe from the critics and the enemies of truth.
What we fail to see is that we cannot impact the world if we never confront the world.
If our message is maintained within the walls of our churches and never shared with a lost and dying world, we can never make a difference for the glory of the Lord.
We need to step out of our comfort zone and reenter the world with the message of salvation.
We need to publicly proclaim, without fear, the saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We need to take our stand for the Lord Jesus one more time and be willing to suffer or to die, if need be, for the glory of God.
Philippians 3:8-10 says; 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
A Crushed Church with Great Riches
Do we have an interest in Heaven?
The church at Smyrna did.
Jesus says “I know thy works” – The Lord of Glory has taken a personal interest in the church in Smyrna.
The word “know” means “to know by experience.”
Jesus is saying, “I know you folks are having it tough; but you need to know that I am in this with you. I experience everything they do to you. When they do it to you, they do it to me!”
He is telling them that what they are going through is bigger than they are.
He is telling them that Satan is using the evil people of Smyrna to attack Jesus through His church.
He just wants them to know that they are not alone in their struggle.
Do we have an investment in Heaven?
The church at Smyrna did.
Jesus says, “I know…thy poverty”. They were poor beyond belief, but then He adds this statement, “but thou art rich.”
They may have lacked this world’s goods, but their faith and the faithful display of their testimony had purchased them treasures in Heaven.
They were poor here, but they were rich over there!
The world may have taken everything they had down here, but they had treasures on the other side that were safe from the hands of any enemy.
We are living in the End Times and the day is fastly approaching when;
The day may come when this world will take us and our property.
They day may come when they threaten us with death.
The day may come when our testimony becomes a death sentence in this world.
A Crushed Church what can it do?
• In 2012 the family unit is under attack, trying to approve same sex marriages.
• The Ten Commandments taken down across America
• Crosses being removed from public view
• The name of Jesus in prayers being used, being banned
• Taking “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance
• Taking “in God we trust” off our money
• Removing Christ out of Christmas
1. Stand strong against accusations.
We are not of this world. John 15:19 says; If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
2. Be careful about getting to close to this world
The world is out to trick you to follow their agenda. Remember what 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 says; Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
And remember what Galatians 1:10 says; For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
3. When facing tribulation (pressure)
Remember that pressure from the world comes trying to conform you too the world. Romans 12:2 says;
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Remember God will give you the strength because 1 Corinthians 10:13 says; There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
4. When facing poverty
Remember that God does not measure success like the world measures success. Remember what Matthew 6:20 says; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Or what Matthew 16:26 says; For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
5. Be strong in the Lord
For James 1:12-15 says; 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Conclusion/Invitation
Things are going to continue to be worst, before the Lord returns.
There are going to be tribulations, there is going to be pain and persecution.
But be of good cheer Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in control and I know how the story ends.
