Title: Church, Trust Me!
Text: Rev. 2:8-11
Tracing: Preached 5/27/90
Topic: Rewards of Faithfulness
Theme:
Nutshell:
Objectives:
Prim Goal :
Intnd Aud.:
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Intro.:
We ÿlive in a society which totters on the brink ÿof madness -
threatening ÿto ÿfall ÿinto a vat of ÿgodlessness, ÿÿhatred, ÿÿand
mysticism ÿwhich would lead to the first persecution of Christians
in America since colonial days.
I ÿdon't ÿspeak often from the pulpit on the things ÿthat ÿare
developing ÿin our country only because I recognize that ÿI ÿwould
have ÿa ÿtendency to dwell on those things to the neglect ÿof ÿthe
scriptures that give hope in such circumstances. ÿBut I am ÿaware
of and deeply concerned about these trends.
Christians ÿwho ÿprotest ÿagainst abortion and ÿgo ÿlimp ÿwhen
Police ÿtake ÿthem into custody have been beaten and held in ÿjail
for ÿover ÿtwo months without having bail set. ÿÿHomosexuals ÿwho
splatter ÿblood claimed to be AIDS-infected on the doors and walls
of ÿthe City Council in the presence of the Police in Kansas ÿCity
are not even arrested. ÿIn a similar incident in Washington, D.C.
the ÿoffenders were released immediately and officials ÿsaid ÿthat
they ÿwould ÿeach later have to pay a $50 ÿÿfine. ÿÿA ÿÿprominent
television ÿevangelist ÿis rightfully convicted of fraud ÿ-- ÿÿbut
whereas ÿmen who commit murder and rape often get off ÿwith ÿseven
years or so, Jim Baker was sentenced to FORTY YEARS! Christians in
the media have been fired ÿsimply for their beliefs, even if their
work remained objective.
We might very well see REAL persecution in our lifetimes - and
if ÿwe ÿdo, ÿÿthere ÿis much we can learn from ÿthe ÿletter ÿJesus
dictated to the church in the Asian city of Smyrna.
Turn to Rev. 2:8-11.
Body:
The ÿessence of this letter is: ÿIn the midst of persecution -
STAY FAITHFUL. In this context, we might define faith as "trusting
obedience" - Continue to trust and obey Jesus even in persecution.
The church at Smyrna faced two problems- 1) they were poor, as
many ÿChristians were in that day 2) ÿthey were persecuted - ÿthe
Jews ÿin ÿthat ÿcity ÿappear to have ÿbeen ÿparticularly ÿhateful,
vindictive, and bitter in their persecution.
Sometime ÿafter ÿthis letter was written, ÿone of ÿthe ÿchurch
fathers, ÿPolycarp, ÿand a disciple of John, ÿwas to be ÿexecuted.
When ÿthe sentence was passed down that he would be ÿburned, ÿÿthe
Jews ÿRAN to collect fuel for the fire. ÿAfterwards, ÿthey ÿarmed
themselves and encircled his body, ÿurging the Romans not to ÿhand
it over to the Christians! These were evidently what Jesus called
the "Synagogue of Satan" and they probably spearheaded the earlier
persecution which Jesus warns about.
Why be faithful, why not just give in and live?
I. THE NATURE OF OUR LORD v.8
-First and Last: ÿHe who began a good work will complete it...
He will not let our victory be stolen!
-Died ÿand ÿLives: ÿHe demostrated an indestructible life ÿand
thus ÿwe ÿcan be confident that He remains to help us, ÿÿand ÿthat
nothing remains strong enough to defeat Him!
II. THE NATURE OF OUR REWARD. v.9-11
-Incorruptible Riches: Illus. Sammy Davis Jr.
Our Reward cannot be lost, stolen, destroyed! See Mt. 6:19-20
We have it even in spite of apparent poverty!
It is more valuable than worldly wealth - not "pie in the sky
by and by" but valuable NOW!
-Inexstinguishable Life: not that we will not die (physically)
but ÿthat ÿwe ÿwill ÿbe sustained in the hour ÿof ÿdeath ÿand ÿour
existence will continue. The "second death" will not touch us!
Conc.:
What is the key? FAITHFULNESS! Trust and obedience - Do not be
afraid . . .Be Faithful.
Sometimes we find that we have not been faithful even when we
are not being persecuted! We need repentance, confession. "If we
confess our sins . . .
Comments:
Prepared by Scott L. Purcell
Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church
1501 Stokelan Drive
Malden, MO 63863
(314) 276-2343
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