Our Lord is saying, you be faithful and true even if it costs your life, and I will give you a crown [Revelation 2:10], stephanos, crown; the word Stephen, and you read about him and his martyrdom just now [Acts 7:54-60]. The young fellow knelt down before the Lord [Mark 10:17]. FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. We respond in Faith! sanctified, hallowed, blessed, II. 18:6). Many people have is just the opposite. If they overcome in the first death, they will not be hurt by the second death. And the world passeth away . Some put it much lower than that, if its actually killing you because you confess Christ, the higher number is if in some way the state has starvation or death or opposition to religious groups, including Christians. Remember Paul said to the letter in Romans that those are Jews truly who are ones inwardly, written on the heart. So this letter is saying these are not spiritual Jews as we would understand the people of God, but they are people who have stirred up trouble. Number one pray for the persecuted Church. Pastor Wayne Tindale Committed to a belief in another world(Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:19), A. Clarence I would love to be a professor of English literature. He famously died a martyrs death in 155 or 156, and when he died the church at Smyrna sent out a letter, To tell the story of those who have suffered martyrdom, especially blessed Polycarp, who as though he had set his seal by his martyrdom brought the persecution to an end.. Moule]. This morning, we want to examine the biblical teachings concerning our faithfulness and call us to faithfulness to God. But in this context, in Smyrna, apparently, it was some of the Jews, whether because they felt like the Christians had sold them out or because they were worshiping another god, or they claimed to have had the Messiah, they would sometimes rat them out and be the informers that would then bring upon the Romans to these Christians in Smyrna. Hes telling us from Gods Holy Scriptures about our Lord. 31:23). Speaking of winning the lost, Paul says, The love of Christ compels us (2 Cor. We see it here in this text its the second death. Christ delivered man out of death to the promise of the gift of eternal life yet man thinking he is in the perfection of God's love, sins. Lets pray. read more, Scripture: Thats a great man, a marvelous man; thats Gods man. Denial of self(Matthew 16:24-25), A. And worse than strange, is thought hateful. It is far too easy to go through the motions of being faithful without really being faithful. An unswerving continuance in the Word of Gave his life to be a Baptist preacher, VII. Heres part of the story, the martyrdom of Polycarp. but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. When a man loves the world and the things that are in the world, the day finally comes when he finds his hands empty and his heart broken. Doubt will say, How? And if you would just swear by Caesar, recant Christ, just let them go. How can we leave these dear people? And John her husband replied, Wife, I dont see how we can. And he turned the team around and the wagon around and went back to the parsonage and put back in the house all of the things that he had stacked on that wagon. What was important to them in the beginning was no longer important. When one is baptized into Christ and becomes a Christian, he begins a new life ( Rom. WebWe know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. [First John] 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth But to be left out like a lone, lost black sheep is to be hurt and the child is a thousand times sensitive to it. Smyrna won the special privilege to build a temple to Emperor Tiberius. John 19:17-27. The fourth characteristic, the fourth mark of a true disciple of our Lordone who continues unswervingly in the Word of God. [My Glorious Victor, Prince Divine, Handley C.G. Not only that, but the Lord Jesus can sympathize because He, too, is a man, a human being, even now in heaven, the God-man. Nathan Hale entered Yale University as a ministerial student studying to be a preacher. When An outline from the book The Bumps Are What You Climb On "Three Important Looks" by Warren Wiersbe pg 17 1980 But heres the second thing that had happened in 70 A.D. with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple, Judaism and Christianity start to form as two different paths and two different religions, no longer just another sect, Judaism had lots of sects, but as a different religion. The same thing is true of those in Hebrews 11. He was arrested by Herod when Philip of Tralles was high priest, during the proconsulship of Statius Quadratus, but while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. His face beneath the cross is the face of faithfulness. You cannot help but admire this young man. Tempted to disbelieve the Word of God. Will you be willing to be faithful when youre misunderstood as a Christian? Most people dont consider that they will die. He knows your broken heart in a way that no one else does. [Matthew 27:57]. 8:14). While we sing our appeal a thousand times welcome, come. Title: The Face of Faithfulness: John All England came to know him. Often looking with no purpose. Heres part of the story. Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? We have been encouraged and greatly challenged in our personal walk with the Lord. John 8:31, 32: If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 14:23-24: If any one love Me, he will keep My words . If I die, praise His name, it is to be with Him. 2014.04.20 HE AROSE and you can too! We can remember the things of God. It is a message to Be faithful until death.. Oh, by the way, its while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. Irenaeus tells the story that on one occasion when Polycarp came face-to-face with the gnostic heretic Marcion, Marcion asked, Do you recognize me? to which Polycarp responded, I do, indeed. Thats the promise in verse 11. There is a marvelous thing that happens when a man places Jesus first in his lifeloves our Lord supremely above all other loveHe hands back to you your home, your family, your wife, your business, your children, every dream and vision of your soul. Father in heaven, our prayer is simple. It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. Darrows The Story of My Life said there is no evidence of immortality, B. Gods Any psychologist, any psychologist, will tell you that one of the driving forces in human life is to be acceptableespecially to be acclaimed among our peers. We all know the occasions where suffering brings out the absolute best in people, and weve seen it in our own church. He knows the fear that you have. A sixth characteristic of the true disciple of Christ: a fervent love for the people of God. A reference to the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Genesis, where Abraham came before God and said, Lord, You say that I am to have a child and then the seed that comes out of my body, my loins, the whole world is be blessed. For almost 300 years Smyrna had a close connection with Rome. He lived to be 86 years old, and for the second half of his life he served as the bishop of Smyrna, which we just read is the second city in Revelation, today the modern city of Izmir in Turkey. Seeing that Polycarp was not being consumed by the fire, they then ordered an executioner to thrust him through with a dagger, and so finally Polycarp was dead.. Suppose I were to stand in this pulpit and speak and discuss English literature three times once a week? There are many benefits to remaining faithful. Deuteronomy 2:1-15, Denomination: FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Youre faithful. And you cannot enter heaven loving the wrong world. Amen. . So you add them all up, and what? The love of your life is in money. EASTER SUNDAY 2014 SERMON The shears with rust are spoiled and yet. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Jesus will be there with you. Money causes individuals to work long hours and thus neglect their families. Why didnt the Lord say that to the family at Bethanyto Lazarus and Mary and Martha? knows nothing about defeat (Romans 4:17-21, Genesis We would like if He had said, Do not fear because you wont suffer. I would much prefer that. He died and He came to life, therefore whatever happens to you, Christian, whatever befalls you, Smyrna, whatever happens among you, Christ Covenant, know that Im the beginning and the end, and even if you die for your faith, listen to the One who died and came to life. . And if the challenge in Ephesus was lovelessness, here it is the hatred of those who do not love Christ, or love the truth. Would it be murder, rape, spouse abuse, adultery, theft, gambling, or perhaps lying? 8 billion called themselves Christians in some broadest sense of the word. The most remarkable Polycarp, who proved to be an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own time, bishop of the catholic church, meaning the orthodox, universal church in Smyrna. WebTrue faithfulness to God is maintained to the end. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith being fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able to perform. I dont want to suffer. My Glorious Victor, Prince Divine, III. As we begin the New Year, I felt compelled to preach a series that deals with the foundational element of our faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Any Amazon link on this site is an ad. [Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:20]. 3:14). But listen to the heroes of the faith. He stayed there in that tiny church over fifty years; their pastor over fifty years. Lets get a sense of that words meaning in Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He dressed like a Tory schoolmaster. He knew what it was to suffer as a man. Rev. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. The Bible says that Zaccheus was a rich man [Luke 19:1-2]. Indeed, the devil will throw some of Because the one who overcomes this present, temporary, fleeting pain will not be pained by the second and everlasting death. In Mark 5, in Matthew 9, and Luke 8, they laughed Him to scorn at Capernaum [Mark 5:40; Matthew 9:24; Luke 8:53]. I hope you have that somewhere in your regular rhythm. Fearing death is natural, but Jesus means to set us free. Knowing that we are not facing these exact circumstances, and we can be thankful for it, what does this mean for us? But in particular it blames some of the Jews. The gate is too strait, and the way is too narrow for a man to enter heaven holding the love of the world in his arms [Matthew 7:13-14]. 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