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

Reproduce, modify, and use freely

for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom!

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