Last Man Standing
A Message about Endurance
Introduction: I titled this message 'Last Man Standing' because when your faith is completely shaken and trials are chasing your peace away and tribulations are pressing your hope into despair. When all your friends have walked away, when your family abandons you. If everyone you know as a Christian were to suddenly abandon the faith could you still say "Thou none go with me, I STILL WILL FOLLOW!" Are you determined that if all others fall that you would be the last man standing?
I wonder how many here would walk through a plague, or disaster, or gun fire, or an angry mob to get here this morning? How many would stay if many hundreds of people lined up outside the windows to scream at you? Or if they were able to infiltrate the church to disrupt our service who among you would be determined to stand up and praise God anyway? If everyone gave up would you be determined to be the last man standing?
The reason I say this is because I believe that type of determination is going to be needed in the days and months ahead. We know that the word promises us that there will be a great falling away, but I don't believe so many will fall as to leave only one but if more people have the determination to be that last one then fewer people would fall away.
Its been said many times that we are either coming out of a storm, in the middle of a storm, or are about to go through a storm. This message is for those that are going through a storm or are about to go through a great storm.
I only have two points that I want to make today. That come out of Revelation 2:10
"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 the crown of Life."
I. Do not be Afraid
Text: Revelation 2:10 - "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. ..."
Jesus is comforting the church of Smyrna who was being persecuted and he knew that they needed to be encouraged. The Lord knows exactly what we need and when we need it.
I said a couple of weeks ago that I sensed a great spirit of fear in the church. They see the images of death and destruction and they are afraid. I can understand sadness but not fear. I can understand hurt, but not fear. I can even understand anger, but never fear! If we were unbelievers and like them had no divine reinforcement. It would be fitting to be afraid.
If all we had to live for was what this world provided I could understand fear.
Listen to what Paul said to encourage the Christians in Romans 8:36 "As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaugher." Real encouraging huh? but wait in the next verse ... "No, in all these things (persecution unto death) WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US." -Romans 8:37 Paul shares the same sentiment as Christ, that even though he knew intense persecution was ahead for his listeners that there is no need to be afraid because it was the Christians and not their persecutors who were more than Conquerors. They may conquer the body but they can not conquer the spirit. Christ conquered death and like their savior they would too. Job said thou he slay me yet will I trust him. He couldn't understand why he was going through what he was going through but he was determined to trust God anyway. Perhaps it was because of the same reason the apostle told Christ when he said "you don't want to leave me too do you?" and Peter said "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Where else can I go? You love me above all else. You desire the best for me more than all others. You know me more than I know myself. You know my situation more than I know it myself. So how could I possibly leave you? There is no one else to turn to.
We own the Lords heart no matter what we decide to do with it. We can bend it and break it and throw it or do whatever we want with it but it will forever belong to us and we can never do anything to change that. That love should be enough to humble us and realize that as believers it is literally impossible for him to forsake us. If it is impossible for you to forget a loved one, imagine the impossibility of our creator who is Love to forget about us. He says to the church in Smyrna "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer."
Transition: now I want to move the next point of this verse
II. Endure to the End
"...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,.."
Christian history from Foxes book of martyrs teaches us about the pastor of the Smyrna church who was a disciple of the apostle John, his name was Polycarp. It was his custom to spend the whole day and night in prayer for all the churches throughout the world. Three days before he was arrested, while he was praying, he had a vision of the pillow under his head burning in flames.
He said prophetically to those who were with him, "I will be burnt alive." His pursuers followed him when he left to another house and when they couldn't find him they captured two young men from his household and tortured them into confession. Herod was impatient to bring Polycarp to the stadium, so that he might fulfill his special role, to shre the sufferings of Christ, while those who betrayed him would be punished like Judas. the police and horsemen came with the young man at suppertime on the Friday with their usual weapons, as if coming out against a robber. that evening, they found him lying down in the upper room of a cottage. He could have escaped but he refused saying, "God's will be done." When he heard that they had come, he went down and spoke with them. The posse was amazed at how old he was and wondered why did we go through so much trouble to catch an old man like this? They granted him an hour to pray and he prayed for two hours and the men were embarassed theat they had arrest such a godly old man.
When he was taken away several people heard a voice say "Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!" We often hear the phrase "Take responsibility. Be a man!" That is essentially what the voice told Polycarp. He was later ordered into the stadium and to say "down with the athiests!" (nonbelievers of roman gods) He pointed to the crowd and said "Down with the athiests" The proconsul said, "reproach Christ, and I will set you free." he said "86 years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?"
They said "we will throw you to the wild animals if you don't repent." "Call them" Poycarp replied. "Its unthinkable for me to repent from what is good and turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness." His captor said "If you despise animals I will have you burned" Polycarp replied "you threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring it on whatever you want."
The crowd gathered wood for the fire and nails and Polycarp said "Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails." he then prayed and the fire was lit and the flame blazed furiously until an amazing miracle happened th flame became an arch, like the sail of ship when the wind is in it. Polycarp didn't wilt or turn black but instead looked as if he was baked and turned golden, rather than the smell of death everyone smelt the scent of frankincense. Out of fear of what they were witnessing the men took a dagger and thrust into him when so much blood came out that it actually extinguished the fire.
Polycarp was faithful unto death and was the last man standing!
Ill. On May 29th, 2011 it looked like it was destiny, the day Dale Earnhart Jr. was rounding the last lap of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You could imagine the script that was being set; it was memorial day, he was sponsored by the national guard, and was set to take his first win in 105 races! fans were hysterical stomping and cheering louder and louder. the moment promised much celebration for patriotism as Dale Earnhardt Jr came around the backstretch of the Coca-Cola 600 When suddenly it was all over. The gas tank of his Chevrolet ran dry and Kevin Harvick sped right around him and stole the victory. the race was lost because Dale Earnhardt jr. ran out of gas on the last lap of his race.
Don't run out of that fuel that lights your fire on the last lap of your race. Paul warns us in Gal 6:9 "And let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Jesus told the Ephesian church to Repent and do the things you did at first. Do whatever you must to rekindle that fire and have the Holy Ghost fuel to keep it burning in order to brace ourselves for the days ahead. I sense a time of the parable of the ten virgins is here - some have enough oil and others do not. Some have Christ and others have excuses.
David says in Psalm 91:7 - "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." Psalm 91:7 thousands may fall all around you and you may be the last man standing but he promises that if you are faithful to the end all that took them will never take you!! and 4 verse later "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" -Psalm 91:11 So its not as if we are without any help going into the storm, quite the contrary, whatever his purpose is, he is always there beside us.
Jeremiah found himself at one time totally exasperated by the evil that was all around him and he let God know it in Jeremish 12 and he says essentially 'the wicked things are always prospering' everyone who doesn't believe in you are comfortable and happy.' They talk about you all the time even though I know they don't know anything about you. how long will this land be cursed because of these wicked people living in it?! The people think you have forgotten them.' So Jeremiah is complaining about the state of the community and when he was finished God essentially says to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 12:5 "Jeremiah, If the footmen weary you, what will the horses do?" Jeremiah 12:5 in other words if you struggle to keep up with those running on foot what are you going to do when you have to keep up with those on horseback. This is the polite slap in the face that we need today!
Ill. In 1912 a photo was taken of Jim Thorpe, an Indian Olympic athlete from Oklahoma, where if you look closely you can see he has two different socks & shoes on. This wasn't a fashion statement. On the morning of his competitions, his shoes were stolen. Luckily, Jim found two shoes in a nearby dumpster. that's the pair that hes wearing in the photo, but one of the shoes was too big so he wore an extra sock and wearing those shoes he found in the dumpster Jim won 2 gold medals.
This is a perfect reminder that you don't have to resign to excuses that have held you back. So what if life hasn't been fair? What are you going to do about it today? Whatever you wake up to this morning 'stolen shoes' bad health, rejection, broken heart, destruction, financial loss, or whatever it is don't let it stop you from running your race. you can experience more in life if you'll get over the excuses and get on with living!! Listen to what Paul endured:
"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers, in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." 2 Co. 11:24-29
Paul saw Stephen being faithful unto death and now he himself had suffered much more and in more ways but at the end of it all he says:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7
Transition: Which brings me to my final point this morning.
III. You will receive a Reward
"...and I will give you the crown of Life."
This is specifically referring to the Marytrs crown. One of five crowns that can be obtained by followers of Jesus at the Bema seat judgment.
James refers to it in James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
So a great test is ahead of us and we must endure to the end. Some will make it and others will not. But for those who do, you will receive the crown of Life!
In AD 320 One of the strangest episodes in all of military & Christian history took place. Governor Agricola spoke mildly but firmly to some of his Christian soldiers "I am told you refuse to offer the sacrifice ordered by Emporer Licinius."
One of the soldiers answered on behalf of the rest "We will not sacrifice. To do so is to betray our holy faith."
"But what about your comrades? Consider you alone of Ceasar's troops defy him! think of the disgrace you bring upon your legion. How can you do it?"
To disgrace the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is more terrible still."
A note of exasperation crept into the governor's voice. "Give up this stubborn folly. you have no lord but Caesar! In his name, I promise promotion to the first of you who steps forward and does his duty." he paused a moment, expecting his lure would break their ranks. None of them moved. He switched tactics. "you persist in your rebellion? then prepare for torture, prison death! This is your last chance. Will yo obey your emperor?"
The soldiers stood firm, although they well knew the governor would carry out his threat. They spoke: "nothing you can offer us would replace what we would lose in the next world. As for your threats--we've learned to deny our bodies where the welfare of our souls is at stake."
Agricola ordered, "Flog them." Pairs of guards seized each man and dragged them out into the cold where they were stripped and tied to posts. Soon the swish of whips and the thud of blows filled the air with groans. hooks of iron tore the men's sides. Unbelievably, although their flesh was bruised, their skins were tattered and their blood flowed, not one of the forty surrendered.
"Chain them in my dungeons!" roared Agricola. "we'll see what Lysias has to say about this."
Lysias commander of the 12th Legion, was in no gentle mood when the 40 Christians were hauled before him a few days later. his ride from Antioch to Sevaste had been tedious and cold. "you will obey me, or pay a sharp penalty."
The men didn't waver. Agricola came beside Lysias. As judge, he must make these men conform. But how? Just then, a frigid gale blew across the frozen pond below and stabbed into his cheeks. It gave him an idea. "take them down to the pond," he ordered. turning to the soldiers he added, "you will stand naked on the ice until you agree to sacrifice to the gods."
They began to strip their own clothes off running out onto the ice themselves in the freezing March air shouting "we are soldiers of the Lord and fear no hardship," Agricola was furious and decided to place heat baths along the pond side enticing them to get out of the cold and into the relaxing warm water.
As the sun went down he heard some one pray "Lord, there are 40 of us engaged in this battle; grant that 40 may be crowned and not one be missing from this sacred number."
One of the guards said "look! Do you see them? there are Spirits...hovering with golden crowns over their heads, holding out rich robes for them!"
One of the 40 couldn't take it anymore and went to the heat bath but it was such a shock to his frozen system that he went into convulsions and died.
The guard that saw the beautiful angels with those crowns of life, shucked off his clothes and ran onto the ice. And the man's prayer was answered that 40 would be in glory that day.
In a bizarre twist when the soldiers went to the dead bodies, a guard said "this one is still alive" "that's Pelito, poor kid he is just a boy there is his mother up the hill have her take him home." She was genuinely upset and said "would you cheat him out of the crown of life? I'll never let that Happen!" she lifted him onto the wagon hauling them away and said "Go, Son, Go to the end of this happy journey with your comrades so that you won't be the last man standing before God."
Conclusion:
Samson was always the last man standing in every battle. Not because of his power but because of the power of his God! One day our test will become our testimony!
So Stand up! Look up! Cheer up! Because your redemption draws near!
