What It Means To Be Held

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ARE HELD

July 24, 2005 Jay Davis Robison Revelation 2:8-11

According to 20 the countdown magazine

#1 Contemp Christian song 7/23/05 Natalie Grant “Held”

Song a little unsettling, verse tells of 2-month-old baby

Who dies while his mother is praying for sudden healing

Song asks who told us we’d be rescued from nightmares?

I believe this song could be theme song for church at Smyrna

Last week began series of 7 Rev churches of Asia minor

Smyrna important city, 35 mi N Ephesus Izmar Turkey today Smyrna home to great Stadium and renowned Library,

Had a marked Roman influence, called ornament of Asia

One of most incredible sights Golden Street w\5 temples on it including temples to Cybele, Apollo, Aphrodite, & emperor

1 burning incense & calling Caesar Lord. Annual certificate given to worshipers as proof of loyalty to Roman gvt.

1. A Church UNDER ATTACK

Worship of Caesar used to unify Roman empire many different

Cultures\peoples no worship Caesar imagine the trouble

I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty Vs 9a The Message

Ø PAIN

Gk Thlipsis=PRESSURE CRUSHING BENEATH A WEIGHT

Tribulation: intense suffering, anguish, burdened,

Daily life was a struggle for good church of Jesus at Smyrna

Ø POVERTY

Church folks were at very bottom of financial scale in Smyrna. When obeyed gospel lost jobs possessions, & earthly security.

Maybe they faced sanctions because follow Christ

Golden city but church had none No social influence

Ø SLANDER

Were some Jews in Smyrna who persecuted along w\Romans. Sometimes greatest threat to church are religious folk

People who claim to follow God but only from a distance

Religious professionals who have all the answers

Those with some God connection but who subvert the work

Must have been exceptionally hard to follower Jesus in Smyrna

Believers regarded w\suspicion & subject to discrimination

Ø WORSE YET TO COME

Apparently Jesus does not know how to build a church

If said being TBC member bring trouble would you still?

If I promised that because here lose your job

Or that you would be beaten or thrown into prison

How many of you would show up next week

If I knew I would have to take another job to be TBC pastor

my kids wouldn’t able to go to school would I give up?

Held song has a line how it feels when the sacred

Is torn from your life, that is what is happening

Listen to what J says to poor, troubled Smyrna church Vs 10a Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.

More suffering on its way some would even be killed

Polycarp, a Smyrnean saint Sunday Feb 23, 156 given a choice, deny Jesus, & publicly avow Caesar was Lord, life spared.

Otherwise he would be killed, indication that he was urged

Even by officials, listen just do it doesn’t mean anything

Polycarp for 86 yrs served Jesus he never done him any harm.

He not going to turn on Him now. As flames licked body, “I thank thee that thou has graciously thought me worthy of this day and of this hour, that I may receive a portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ”

Today Christian martyrs in more than 2 dozen countries

Sudan Nigeria India Sri Lanka, China Indonesia Cuba

Where people are continuing to follow Christ

Despite the harm that comes to them will you?

2. A Church THAT IS HELD

Would be easy for Smyrna church to be stifled\suffocated

Song how it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

But church was true to God’s message how Jesus holds them

Some of the most powerful words for those suffering.

God SEES THEIR SUFFERING Vs 9

Do you think this situation is a surprise to God?

Do you think challenges you face are unknown to God?

Friends God’s got your back

No matter what it is you’re facing, you don’t face it alone

Eido=TO SEE AND TO KNOW

God is aware of what you are dealing with knows us all

To Face suffering need to know they are understood

Jesus’ message to church is God sees

Your suffering, your poverty, your enemies

Let your hardship know Jesus’ knows

Tell your broken bank book Jesus’ knows about you

Find your enemies tell them Jesus’ knows about them

We have A PRICELESS HOPE Vs 9

Jesus says something really amazing

I see your poverty but you are rich!

Wants us to know in him priceless, best of all hope in life

Insight from

Paul: We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NCV