COURAGE FOR THE APPREHENSIVE—Revelation 2:8-11
Jesus encouraged the Smyrnan church as they faced the certainty of mortal/lethal/deadly persecution.
Christians are to possess courage in moments/instances of fearful apprehension.
Where does Christian courage arise during apprehensive moments?
6 comforts for courageous Christians in the apprehension of deadly persecution.
1—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of FIRSTFRUITS(:8b)
—Explanation:(:8b) Example/
:8—“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first & the last, who was dead, & has come to life, says this:”
BKGRD:
“To the angel”—This angel is answerable to/responsible for/ the happenings within his particular body of Christ in Smyrna...Therefore the angel is the pastor &/or the collective eldership within Smyrna.
“Smyrna”—Smurna—‘Myrrh’—‘Bitter’
Exporter of MYRRH, ‘A bitter, resinous gum producing an aromatic extract crushed & used as an unguent & in perfumes for enbalming.’ Antiseptic & Anesthetic to deaden pain.
‘Street of Gold/the Gods’—Temples to Cybele/Sybil, Apollo, Asklepios, Aphrodite, Zeus(Jupiter), & Roman Emperors.
“First & the last”—Jn. 1:1;
Title Isaiah uses for God the Father
“Who was dead”—Crucifixion & burial
“& has come to life”—Resurrection(Easter)
Rev. 1:17-18—Glorified Christ told John...“Do not be afraid; I am the first & the last, & the living One; & I was dead, & behold, I am alive forevermore,...”
Heb. 7:25—“Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
—Argumentation:
Jn. 11:25-26—“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection & the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, & everyone who lives & believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””.
1Cor. 15:20, 22-23—“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”....“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,”
—Illustration:
Early settlers/Trail blazers/Regardless of dangers& hardships forged a life/Comfort of FIRSTFRUITS
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of Jesus’ FIRSTFRUITS?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
2—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of RICHES(:9a)
—Explanation/Argumentation:(:9a)
:9—‘I know your tribulation & your poverty (but you are rich),...”
“Tribulation”—
Jn. 16:33—“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
“Poverty”—Absolutely destitute—NOT lacking a TV in each room or driving a Ford instead of a Lexus.
Lk. 6:20—“And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Lk. 12:16-21—“And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns & build larger ones, & there I will store all my grain & my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink & be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; & now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, & is not rich toward God.””
“But you are rich”—Poverty stricken outwardly but nonetheless “rich” in Christ.
Eph. 3:8-12—“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, & to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers & the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness & confident access through faith in Him.”
Rev. 3:17-18—Laodicea—“ ‘Because you say, “I am rich, & have become wealthy, & have need of nothing,” & you do not know that you are wretched & miserable & poor & blind & naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, & white garments, that you may clothe yourself, & that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; & eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.”
Mat. 13:45-46—“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, & upon finding one pearl of great value, he went & sold all that he had, & bought it.”
—Illustration:
In the old days/‘We didn’t have much but we had love’/sonny & Cher—‘I got you babe’ philosophy/Young love is like that—eager to focus on relationship(RICHES) rather than externals(POVERTY)
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of your RICHES in Jesus?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
3—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of ANTAGONISM/Truth(:9b-10a)
—Explanation:(:9b-10a) Deception/Opposition
:9b—“...& the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews & are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
“Blasphemy”—blasfhmia—Slander, injurious or impious speech.
Blasphemy clarifies/renders God’s truth.
“Jews...Synagogue of Satan”—
Rom. 2:28-29—“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; & circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; & his praise is not from men, but from God.”
:10a—‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
“About to suffer”—“Suffer”—pascw— ‘in a good sense, to be well off, in good case; OR in a bad sense, to suffer sadly, be in a bad plight.’
“About to”—Will Certainly take place
Argumentation:
World opposes Grace. Our opponents will do anything to make Christians appear to be weak & helpless.
Lk. 21:16-17—“But you will be delivered up even by parents & brothers & relatives & friends, & they will put some of you to death, & you will be hated by all on account of My name.”
—Illustration:
Sanctuary door painted white/Lovebugs immediately attracted to it/They got it right/ANTAGONISM/OPPOSITION
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of ANTAGONISM?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
4—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of BREVITY(:10b)
—Explanation:(:10b)
:10a-b—“....Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, & you will have tribulation ten days.....”
“Tested”—Always of a short duration
“Ten days”—Short period of time
Merely Temporary—This world is not my home.
—Argumentation:
When we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, there is strength, boldness, freedom, etc...
1Cor. 2:6—“the rulers of this age, who are passing away...”
1Cor 7:31—“...the form of this world is passing away.”
1Jo 2:8—“... the darkness is passing away, & the true light is already shining.”
1Jn. 2:17—“And the world is passing away, & also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
—Illustration:
SAT/One day/One afternoon/Comprehensive determination to see if you have basic for college/BREVITY
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of BREVITY?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
5—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of INTENSITY(:10c)
—Explanation:(:10c) a Focus on Faith/Extreme
“....Be faithful until death, & I will give you the crown of life.”
From 81-96AD Domitian made emporer worship was compulsory. Citizens burned incense on Caesar’s altar & received a certificate certifying their loyalty. No certificate meant death! ~50 yrs. after John’s time, Polycarp(Bishop of Smyrna) was burned alive as the ‘12th martyr of Smyrna’.
Extreme faith essential!
“Crown of life”—Casting crowns at Savior’s feet....
Reward of living unto death
Rev. 4:9-11—“And when the living creatures give glory & honor & thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever & ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, & will worship Him who lives forever & ever, & will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord & our God, to receive glory & honor & power; for Thou didst create all things, & because of Thy will they existed, & were created.”
—Argumentation:
Mk. 8:35—“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake & the gospel’s shall save it.”
Lk. 21:19—“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
—Illustration:
Navy Seals/Special forces/Training is extreme—intense/ Prepared for anything
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of INTENSITY?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
6—Courage for the apprehensive Christian is found in the
Comfort of ESCAPE(:11b)
—Explanation:(:11b)
:11—“ ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’”
The point of ‘hearing’ is to produce overcomers of Persecutions which seek to discredit our faith!
“Hurt”—adikew—Injured/Damaged/Harmed/Wronged/Suffered/ Criminalized/Violated.
“Second death”—Fleshed out in chapters 19-20. First Death apparently physical death sealing destination. 2nd Death the final determination of one’s destiny of eternal torment in the lake of fire. ....
Rev. 19:20; 20:5-6, 9-10, 15—READ—“And the beast was seized, & with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast & those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”....“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed & holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God & of Christ & will reign with Him for a thousand years.”....“And they came up on the broad plain of the earth & surrounded the camp of the saints & the beloved city, & fire came down from heaven & devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire & brimstone, where the beast & the false prophet are also; & they will be tormented day & night forever & ever.”....“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Argumentation:
Jn. 3:5-7—“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water & the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Jn. 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
—Illustration:
Fishing/Sunny day/Inside all winter/Sunburn/Sunblock/Comfort of ESCAPE(from sunburn!)
—Application:
?You found Courage in the Comfort of ESCAPE?
?You found Courage in your most Apprehensive moments?
—CONCLUSION—
Action:
6 comforts for courageous Christians are the Comfort of...
FIRSTFRUITS(:8b)
RICHES(:9a)
ANTAGONISM/Truth(:9b-10a)
BREVITY(:10b)
INTENSITY(:10c)
ESCAPE(:11b)
CHILDREN’S— ‘Just An Example’(of accomplishment)...can help you thru the tough times.
Child-proof medicine containers
Not for you to open, yet knowing Mom or Dad can & will open it is a comfort.
Presented 03/17/02am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
