Carnal Christians

 A Wise God and Carnal Christians

 Book of 1 Corinthians, Chapters 2 and 3

 What is "wisdom"? According to the dictionary, "wisdom" is the right use of knowledge. 

Then, this being true, there must be a wrong use of knowledge.

 Scriptural wisdom comes from our Creator and is in opposition to carnal blindness: Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

 Wisdom is the knowledge of things in their proper nature and relations with the power of using them in the most useful manner.

 This wisdom can come only from God!

 Jesus Christ in His glory shows us the power of God.

 Jesus Christ in His humanity shows us the wisdom of God.

 1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

 The world says the preaching of the Word of God is foolishness, but preaching the truth of God is far wiser than all the wisdom of mankind.

 1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 We know that many in this Church at Corinth had forsaken the Lord to chase the world, and though Paul could not return to this church at that time, he had written this Epistle.

 *****1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 The Church of Corinth was deeply divided.

 They could not decide what kind of preacher they wanted.

 They were undecided about which one of God's servants contributed most to the church.

 They did not understand what preaching really is.

 We must understand what preaching is all about!

 1) A prophet of God revealed God to man.

2) The preacher's job is to reveal man to God.

 Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 Preachers are to follow our Great High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ with the power to lead each sinner to Christ.

 Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

 Because the Lord Jesus had no sin and He died for all our sin, we can be freed from all our sin.

 Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 We can see that each Preacher is to preach Jesus and the work that He did for our salvation.

 Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 Sound preaching is not eloquence.

Sound preaching is not about superiority. Not elevation, preeminence, not rising above his congregation.

Sound preaching is not human wisdom or philosophy.

Sound preaching is declaring the testimony of God, which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us!

 Jesus Christ, "all in all". All other subjects, political and philosophical, are insignificant.

 Preaching is about saving souls!

 The success of the Gospel does not depend upon the skill of the preacher, but on the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.

 *****1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 Those who are perfect are those who understand the Doctrines of Christianity.

 Those who are perfect are those who are no longer "babes in Christ".

 Those who are perfect are those who understand the mysteries of godliness.

 The Apostle Peter wrote: 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 The Apostle Paul wrote:

 Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

 Had this evil world understood the reason Christ came to this earth, we had better believe they would not have crucified our Savior.

They would have locked Him away.

 The truth is, this evil world does not understand the truth of God, the Gospel, today, after all these years.

 Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not going away!

 To those of us who are saved, we understand the truth of God is that only those whose name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life will get to see and take part in the things God has prepared for His children.

 *****1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

 Only the Holy Spirit knows all things of God, and He will come to live in every believer in the salvation work of the Lord Jesus Christ and share His wisdom with us.

 Just as no one really knows what is on our mind unless we say, it is the same with Jehovah.

 This is what the Bible teaches us, what is on the mind of our Creator, our God.

 We can know nothing about our God unless He tells us.

 We cannot penetrate the Spirit world without God's assistance.

 No person has ever seen God, no matter what some people have claimed.

 As Christians, we see God in our hearts, but we will one day see Him face to face.

 We will be able to see Him because of the work Jesus Christ did to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father.

 The mysteries of the Gospel are no longer mysteries to true Christians.

 Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

 We know how to get to Heaven!

We know how to earn rewards while we are still upon this earth.

We know that we have a job to do while we are still in these bodies.

We know we are to assemble with like-minded Christians.

We know we are to be witnesses of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know the next sound from Heaven will be the Trumpet of Gabriel calling us home.

 Every gift of wisdom we receive after we are saved comes by the Holy Spirit!

 Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 The spirit of the world, which we did not receive, can only tell us what men have invented or what the Devil has whispered in their ears.

 With the spirit of the world, no one can know anything related to the things of God.

 The spirit of the world is in contradiction with the things of God!

 *****1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 There are only two types of people on this Earth!

 1) The Spiritual man, whose spirit is the temple and dwelling place of the Spirit of God. We can know the thoughts of God because we are living in union with His eternal mind. All God's gifts are freely given.

 1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

 Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 2) There is the natural man who possesses only the intellect and conscience of ordinary humanity and who is under the power of the Devil. The natural man will have to pay his way into the filth of the Devil.

The natural man receives not the things of the Holy Spirit. He cannot receive them, and he cannot know them.

 Just as the deaf man cannot enjoy music and the blind man cannot enjoy beauty, the natural man cannot know the truth of our Creation nor the truth of our Creator.

 We know that the Holy Spirit has given us all the Word of God, and we also know that the world rejects the truth of God the Holy Spirit!

 The spirit of the natural man is dead to God!

 If we never have a revelation of the Holy Spirit after we are saved, we know that He has already given us the truth of God.

 Only the Word of God can interpret the Word of God.

 All we have belongs to God!

 *****1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

 Paul is saying that these brethren of the Church at Corinth were still acting like men in the flesh rather than Jesus Christ.

 They were living as though they were nothing but flesh, they were still living at the human level of life.

 They had never gotten beyond the affairs and the material things of this life.

 Many Christians still live this way today and remain baby Christians all the days of their salvation.

 We know the flesh has no good things about it: Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 When we are in the flesh, we cannot please God: Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 When we are under the Spirit of God, we are removed from being under the influence of the flesh: 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 Even a Born-Again child of God can be carnal for a season!

 *****1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

 We all know that the more we read and study the Bible the more we will grow in the Spirit.

 It is those who refuse to read and study the Scriptures who get caught, who so easily bring the world into the Church because they have remained baby Christians.

 They are divided by their own beliefs, and they bring that division into the Church.

 It is carnal Christians who are the downfall of many churches!

 Carnality brings envy and strife. Envy leads to jealousy, and jealousy leads to division!

 Carnality begins when the members of the Church walk and act like the men of the world!

 Whole denominations are divided today because of baby Christians are bringing the world into the Church.

 Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

 There is only one remedy: Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 We give ourselves to the Lord just so we can serve Him.

 Not as slaves but as willing servants who honor the truth of God!

 *****1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

 Those who minister the Word of God are never to be lords over God's people!

 They are here to give us the LORD's message, but that message will never be different from the Word of God that He has already given to us.

 We are never to forget that the LORD is in the soul-winning business, and this is the same occupation as the Church.

 Ministers are the instruments of God for this purpose!

 Ministers are not to be praised other than for preaching the truth of God, the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Gospel is always to be the focus of their attention; anything else is second to this.

 The building of schools is second.

The building of hospitals is second.

Feeding the world is second.

Soul winning and discipleship are to be the main functions of the Church period!

 The servants of God are nothing compared to God.

 No preacher or pastor or whatever they are called has any cause for glory, praise, honor, or recognition.

 There is no reason for any servant of God to feel pride until all the work is done.

 We are to respect our pastor.

We are to love our pastor.

We are to thank God for our pastor.

We can esteem our pastor because he has the most difficult job on this earth.

 Our pastor preaches four times a week to the Church.

He leads Bible College one night, which is separate from this.

He often goes to other churches and preaches even more times.

 We know that one pastor waters because someone before him has spread the seed.

 We can be a part of this, but we must never hinder the work of the ministers of God!

 The growth of the Church is in the hands of God.

 We are to honor and praise the Lord and not our pastors and preachers!

 2Co 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2Co 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

 If our Lord Jesus is not sufficient, then the Church will soon perish from this world.

 *****1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

 All preachers and pastors or whatever they are called in the many denominations, are equal in God's eyes if they preach and teach the truth of God's Word.

 Every one of them is personally responsible to God.

 Each one will be rewarded for what they have done and not what some other minister has done.

 Trying to be like others is not his job.

 His job is to be what our Heavenly Father called him to do.

 Not one of them has been called to go against the truth of God's Word. (Let that sink in)

 We are all called to be the ministers of God's Word!

 We are all to be coworkers with God.

 As much as we can, we are all to be more like Christ Jesus as we grow in the Word of God.

 So, those who plant the Seed of God and those who water the Seed of God are one tool in God's Hand.

 Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole Agent of God's salvation plan.

 I know that this statement will upset a lot of religions, but this is the truth of the Word of God.

 This is why Christianity differs from religion!

 Some would say that God requires us to spread the Gospel, but the truth is that God wants us to give ourselves freely to the work of Jesus Christ.

 Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

 We are God's fellow workers.

We are God's husbandry.

We are God's building.

We are laborers together with our Savior!

 Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Source of all that concerns His Church, and we are His Church.

 We never belong to our Pastor or any pastor or preacher, or evangelist, or the Pope, but we belong to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

 It is a family affair to spread the Gospel!

 Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 The truth then is that many of God's family lack the compassion to be a laborer in God's family.

 The Pastor and all believers are to be workers together with our Holy God!

 Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 The Lord Jesus is the only foundation of the true Church.

 *****1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 Though Jesus Christ is rejected by the world and religion, He is the only foundation of God's Church.

 Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

 Jesus Christ is the same Stone that will fulfill prophecy.

 Dan_2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

 All foundations, whether they be of the remnants of all previous world powers, will fall to the humble Shepherd who will be King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Jesus Christ Himself is the only foundation upon which men can build their lives.

 *****1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 There are two types of preaching that we hear today.

 1) One type of preaching leads to permanent results.

 This preaching is for the glory of God and builds upon Jesus Christ.

This preaching is for the well-being of mankind.

This preaching leads to permanent results.

This preaching leads to rewards for that preacher.

 2) The other type of preaching is not according to the knowledge of God or Jesus Christ.

 This preaching is for the glory of the preacher.

This preaching is not for the well-being of man.

These preaching leads to fuel for the fires of Hell.

This preacher will burn in the hottest part of Hell, closest to the Devil.

 1Pe_4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

 The inspection of the Church is very near.

 The Church began so that it could be finished by the time of the Rapture of the Church.

 The Lord Jesus is soon coming to approve or disapprove of those in the Church.

 Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

 Then our Lord and Savior will accept the true Church into His Heavenly family while those who belong to Satan will burn!

 Amen

The Message to the Church at Smyrna

The Message to Smyrna

Book of Revelation Chapter 2 Verses 8 through 11

The word Smyrna means bitterness. This is the word that describes this Church at Smyrna.

The city of Smyrna had suffered through many wars and was destroyed and laid in ruins until it was rebuilt by Alexander the Great in a new place a few miles from the old city of ruins. Those of Smyrna had learned some valuable lessons, or at least they had thought so.

In the wars with Rome, Smyrna quickly became faithful to Rome and was rewarded for it.

It was Smyrna who was one of the first cities to build a temple to the new Emperor.

It is said that everyone in the city had to come twice each year to publicly declare Caesar as Lord.

If a Christian refused, they were tortured or put to death.

They also erected a temple to Homer, because they claimed to be the birthplace of Homer. Homer was the great Greek poet.

Smyrna also built a temple to Zeus, one of the Roman gods.

The city of Smyrna had learned their lessons from the past and would always choose to be on the side of the strongest and of the victor, which is not always the best side to be on.

The city Smyrna began to be a city full of pagan worship and pagan rituals.

This is the backdrop from which this Church in Smyrna was established.

We may not know who it was that started this Church, but we do know that Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John was an early Pastor there.

Polycarp could not be the Messenger that this message was addressed to, because he came to Smyrna only after the death of John.

The Christian Church at Smyrna still hold Polycarp in high honor today.

One man writes, this church was established by Paul and one of the first Pastors at this time could have been Apelles who is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his salutes to Christians.

Rom 16:10 Salute “Apelles” approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

When Rome began to persecute Christians in Smyrna, Christians suffered much through dreadful torments.

They were put to death at the stake, or killed and mauled by wild animals in great arenas, while the stands were full of the enemies of God, laughing and enjoying, while Christians were mauled and maimed and put to death.

Even Polycarp was put to death during this time in 155 AD.

It is said that while the Romans were burning Polycarp, that the flames formed an arch above his head, and he was not injured until a Roman soldier murdered him with a spear. Sounds familiar does it not!

Some people go outside the law to kill Christians and get away with it!

The Romans intended to stamp out Christianity in these early years of the Church.

It is also said that persecution came from Judaizers who also hated the Church.

The church also suffered through false teaching, which is the greatest enemy of the Church as a whole.

We can see that it was just tough to be Christian in the city of Smyrna!

It is also said that today the Church is still thriving in Smyrna, so all these enemies of the Church failed.

Here again we will see that this letter from Jesus, is addressed to the Angel or the Pastor of the Church of Smyrna.

*****Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Look how Jesus says, His own persecution caused His death and He overcame that death, when He arose from that death to new life.

Every Christian will overcome death and live in a new life in a new place called the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem. This is the message that we need to understand!

Jesus totally understood the conditions that this Pastor, or Preacher or however you describe him, was going through, as he witnessed the things his flock suffered.

I know how our Pastor stands before us each week and tells us of those in our own church family, who have been taken on to Heaven to be with the Lord and those who are suffering and those with sickness.

2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

When the Pastor of the Church in Smyrna stood before his own flock every week, he told of all those who were murdered and mauled in the arena and other places and were persecuted just because they refused to reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was a daily thing that some Christian was murdered in Smyrna.

It was a daily thing that some Christian was persecuted in Smyrna.

It was a terrible place to live if you were a Christian, in Smyrna.

We know that, before these people even felt the pains of death, they were already with the Lord!

We also know that wounds will heal, and a heart sold out to the Lord, will not quit on the Lord!

To many of these seven churches Jesus criticized many things, but to this church in Smyrna Jesus let them know that He understood their persecution and His proof was His own death by persecution.

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

This same message goes out to those going through severe persecution today in the many places where it is just hard to be Christians.

It is hard to be a Christian in a Muslim dominated country.

It is hard to be a Christian in a Hindu dominated country.

It is getting hard to be true Christians even in America, because the Church is compromising with the world.

Christian persecution is increasing all around our world today while the Christian Church is not even in competition with any false religion!

When you are in possession of the truth, many will come to hear this truth!

Jesus says to them "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore".

This is true of every Christian whose life is taken away from them, just because they know their Savior and will not reject Him!

The name Smyrna signifies the substance called "myrrh".

Myrrh is used in perfumes.

Myrrh is mingled sometimes in wine and with gaul to deaden the mind to the things around them. This drink was given to those who were sentenced to death on the cross to deaden their pain and make their agony longer. Jesus rejected this drink when it was offered to Him!

Myrrh is also used in embalming fluid.

But Smyrna was a proud city.

Proud of its culture.

Proud of its beauty.

Proud of its commercial wealth.

Proud of its social life.

Just not proud of the Christian Church!

The residents of this city felt that they were living in the first city of all of Asia.

Everyone would try to climb the social ladder, stepping all over those who got in their way.

The Jews in the city took advantage of all these things and became some of the worst of those who persecuted the Church.

In some cases if an employee was redeemed by the Lord, they would lose their job.

Most of the government and certain others, did everything they could do to get this city to stamp out Christianity!

Where are the churches like that of Smyrna located today?

According to the “Open Doors” ministry:

1) North Korea has the number one nation for Christian persecution for 19 consecutive years.

If a Christian has a Bible, or part of one, it will be carefully hidden and only read when the believer is sure they are alone.

Most Christians do not even tell their own children about their faith until they are older teenagers for fear that they may let something slip.

As you can imagine, gathering for worship in a church is non-existent.

Daring to meet other Christians for worship is a risky feat that must be done in utmost secrecy.

It is a miracle that this underground church in North Korea is able to exist. But more than that, it is growing.

2) Afghanistan: Where Christianity exists only in secret.

Afghanistan is once again only a point behind North Korea’s ranking on the 2020 World Watch List.

An Islamic state by constitution, the country does not permit any faith other than Islam to exist; and it is illegal to convert to anything else.

To convert to a faith outside Islam is tantamount to treason because it’s seen as a betrayal of family, tribe, and country.

Those who are discovered to be Christians may be sent to a mental hospital; because their families believe no sane person would leave Islam.

They may also be beaten or even killed by family members, or members of Islamic extremist groups like the Taliban which continues to increase its strength.

Violence against Christians remains very high, but the measures taken against converts depends on the family.

One Christian in Afghanistan says, “How we survive daily only God knows. He knows because He has been kind to dwell with us. But we are tired of all the death around us.”

3) Somalia: Christians are hunted for their faith.

Estimates suggest that 99 percent of Somali citizens are Muslims, and any of the minority religions are heavily persecuted.

The violent extremist group, al-Shabab, which subscribes to the ultra-strict Islamic doctrine of Wahhabism, advocates Shariah law as the basis for regulating all aspects of life in Somalia.

This group has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from this country.

In every sphere of life; private, family, community and national; being exposed as a convert to Christianity in Somalia means life-threatening danger, often leading to on-the-spot execution.

As a result, most Somali Christians keep their faith completely secret. But despite the risks, Somali people are coming to faith in Jesus; some in miraculous ways.

4) Libya: No freedom for Christians.

After the ouster of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya plunged into chaos and anarchy.

And that situation has not changed for Libyans.

The continued absence of a single central government to uphold law and order has enabled various Islamic militant groups to control parts of the country.

Libyan converts to Christianity face abuse and violence for their decision to follow Christ.

5) Pakistan: Constant threat of mob attacks.

In Pakistan, all Christians (4 million out 204 million people) suffer from institutionalized discrimination, illustrated by the fact that occupations seen as low, dirty and derogatory are reserved for religious minorities like Christians by the authorities.

Many Christians are poor, and some are victims of bonded labor.

There are Christians belonging to the middle class, as well, but this economic status doesn’t save Christians them from being marginalized or persecuted in an Islamic culture—believers are always at risk because of the country’s notorious blasphemy laws.

The country’s patriarchal culture is especially cruel to Christian women, who are often targeted for both their faith and their gender.

An estimated 700 girls and women abducted each year are raped and then forcefully married to Muslim men in the community, usually resulting in forced conversions.

6) Eritrea: Christians arrested in increasing police raids.

7) Sudan: Political chaos increases vulnerability.

8) Yemen: Christians targeted in chaos of civil war.

9) Iran: Illegal to convert from Islam.

10) India: Violent and spreading persecution.

These are the top ten nations for Christian persecutions but there are still many others suffering from Christian persecution today.

This is where we find most all the Church that are like Smyrna today.

And Jesus says to these Churches:

*****Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

There is nothing that goes on in this world that Jesus does not know about.

Jesus does never sit in Heaven saying, "what will I do now"!

This world is moving along according to the plan of God and God's plan will never change.

You see the Lord sees all those who are persecuted for their faith in Him.

In the eyes of the world these may seem to be the most neglected people upon this earth and there is no doubt that they suffer greatly.

Jesus knows that they must keep their work secret and work unnoticed or they will be found out.

In reality, it can be said that none of the other six churches had the faith of this one church.

They did have just a little strength, but they were determined to do the work given to them by the Lord Jesus.

As Christians we all talk about the wonders of Heaven but in reality, none of us know just how beautiful Heaven will be and the riches of Heaven far outweigh, any riches in this life.

The saints of Smyrna were already full of the riches of faith and love.

These saints of God were holding up under constant persecution and affliction from their own government and they risked their lives every time they witnessed to those around them about the Lord Jesus Christ and the free gift of God's Grace.

Jesus warned us all:

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

The church in Smyrna clearly understood what Jesus had said!

These people survived poverty because when you truly have nothing, you can be sure that Jesus is all we need.

In Smyrna even the Jews were their enemy, ignoring all the Word of God.

But who is a Jew?

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Today in all the places where we see churches similar to that one of Smyrna, it is not the Jews who cause problems it is the false Christians trying to be politically correct rather than be true to the Word of God or just deceivers.

They too were of the synagogue of Satan!

How did the Lord Jesus address these issues?

*****Rev 2:10 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.

Jesus said to the Pastor, "fear none of these things"!

Jesus also said more persecution is coming!

This is a message we all need to understand.

The Devil is going to arouse all the unbelievers of this world to attack the believers.

God is going to allow all His children to be tried!

That word "tried" meaning to be proved reliable!

We should remember Abraham and His son Isaac.

Heb_11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

If God tried Abraham who do, we think we are? Are we reliable Christians? Can we stand up to the Devil?

Php_4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

How are we to react to those to reject us?

1Pe_4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Why were the saints of Smyrna going to be so rich?

Jas_1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1Pe_1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

If we are tried and endure it according to the Word of God, we are able to receive the praise of our Savior.

These things are not limited to the saints of Smyrna but to every saint of God!

We can be assured that Satan only has a short time left to do his evilness!

In fact with all the earthquakes, volcanoes, increasing weather, pestilences such as the Corona virus, and insects, we should all be looking up for our redemption is drawing nigh!

This short time is not the devil's doing, it is because the Lord is soon coming.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We must remember this message is intended for every church and it will always have the same meaning.

And the Holy Spirit says:

*****Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

We have no reason to fear what this world can do to us, but it will require that we be steady in our faith.

We must have great faith!

How did Jesus describe this "great faith"?

Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, "I have not found so great faith", no, not in Israel.

This may sound hard, but if we just accept that the Lord Jesus will do exactly what He said He would do and all the promises of God will be fulfilled, then this is where we are to place our faith!

We serve a Living God who is exceedingly able to do everything He says!

There is no greater reward than eternal life that is lived in the presence of our Holy God!

We must understand that there will be a second death!

Everyone that lives will certainly die. This is the first death.

Then there is this second death, and it is this second death that we need to avoid, and the Lord Jesus Christ provides that opportunity by giving us a choice.

If we are tried and proved faithful, we will miss out on this second death.

We must be faithful to God's Son, Jesus Christ, even if we are going through the worst of persecution!

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our day of "redemption" is so near that we can almost feel it. It is not time to quit on the Lord!

Amen

Let's pray!