The Poor Little Rich Church Series

A pastor and his family that Lynne and I fell in love with in Brazil had a hard story. They are serving a very poor town called Lousiapolis. They came their from Rio where he had a ministry thru soccer to the Jews in the area. When they got to the town the church was filled with mud as well as cats and dogs running freely in and out.

Only four members were there. That was three months ago and now they are running around 60 or so.

Driving back from a service one night he told us how when he was 16 he became a believer and was thrown out of his home by his brothers. His father came to find him and said, ‘I am not a believer and do not want to hear about believers but you are my son and can come home’. He and she have been so faithful: The church in Rio provided for them(700 a month) for three months but this past month ended that.

THE PRESCRIPTION: 2:10 `Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death

How could they be rich? Their riches lay in the fact that they lived by a different set of values than many Christians today.

“Set your affections on things above, not on things in the earth” (Col.3:2). Their life was consumed with knowing Christ. They concentrated on pleasing Christ.

What do we see in present Christianity.

Our affections are often set on things around us, rather than on things above us.

In some Christ is given a place but in few is He given preeminence.

They were materially poor but they were spiritually rich.

They were not laying treasures up in this life, but were laying treasures up in heaven.

The world looks at material treasure as the measure of a persons worth.

Many who have plenty in this life, have nothing in heaven.

It is possible in this life to not have anything but still have everything.

Jesus said “for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt.6:20).

In many cases, compared to these believers, we are rich but poor. Compared to us they were poor but rich.

LIMIT on Trials: 1Cor.10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,

2:10 `……Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2:11 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

What encouragement it must have meant to them when Lord told them He knew what they going through as a Church. He told them not to fear the things they were going through or would go through in the future. His closing words were no doubt the very words they needed to keep on keeping on.

Jesus encouraged them to keep on loving Him, keep on serving Him, and keep on living and honoring Him. They were to keep on keeping on even “unto death” (Vs.10).