Thats what it is. If I could digress here a minute and make a humble and humble observation: Next anniversary, I begin my fortieth year as pastor of this dear churchforty years, beginning. We dare not just go through the motions without loving God with all our heart. This letter reported this man was certainly one of the elect. May I turn to 1 John 3:14? https://drjustinimelsr.com/sermon-on-soteriology-be-faithful-until-death Polycarp by all accounts was a venerable man, highly respected for his holiness and orthodoxy. But we also know that suffering brings with it many temptations. He went away grieved, for he had great possessions: loving the wrong world [Mark 10:22]. And He uses the word stugnaz, translated lowering, the sky is stugnaz, it is lowering. I have never heard an exception to this in my life, and it is always false, it is always untrue. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways (Prov. 15:9). Fearing death is natural, but Jesus means to set us free. That is a big number. Most of us, if were honest, are scared of suffering. Or whether we die or whether we live, we are with Him [1 Thessalonians 4:15-17]. The governor said, Swear the genius of Caesar. Instead, He told them to be faithful unto death. Well, Jesus said something about this. WebSermon Series: RevelationSermon Title: The Church of Smyrna: Be Faithful Unto DeathScripture Text: Revelation 2:8-11Speaker: Rev. His face beneath the cross is the face of faithfulness. Not only is there no evidence of immortality, but the facts show it is utterly impossible for us that there should be a life beyond this one on earth. Thats what they say, the unbeliever and the infidel and the agnostic. When the crowd learned that it would not be possible to set a lion loose, thats what they called for, then they shouted for him to be burned alive. Two commands. Pleasure leads many to neglect the Lord. Or suppose I were to stand in this pulpit and lecture on the humanities, or any subject you would choose to name: philosophy, psychology, medicine, astronomy, anything. 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. Yet Jesus came that it would not keep you in bondage, because the end of this life, for the Christian, is the beginning of a life that is far better. Where, O death, is your victory? And the world passeth away . If God says anything, preacher, tell us what does God say? Probably dates to around 108 A.D., that is shortly after the death of Ignatius. While we sing our appeal a thousand times welcome, come. Roman subjects were required to offer sacrifice to Caesar as a god. The young fellow knelt down before the Lord [Mark 10:17]. That is to say, even in Charlotte, North Carolina should you be a true, passionate, on fire, biblical Christian, absolutely in love with Jesus, no matter what it counts, at some point you will face opposition. He was called to be pastor of a little church in a little town in Yorkshire called Wainsgate. Faithfulness means you keep bearing witness to Jesus. 1 John 5:13-17. The weakness of men, universally, is to please one another. He dressed like a Tory schoolmaster. However, many Christians are not as faithful as they need to be in their service to God. Sometimes people do. Then, they feel they dont need God, because theyve succeeded in life. As the song says, Just one glimpse of him in glory will the toils of life repay. Surely, seeing Jesus face to face will be reward enough for our faithfulness. The author of Hebrews had just finished writing about great men and women of faith-He wrote about how they obeyed God out of their faith. He lived, he died, he's alive. Genesis and Revelation are two of the most disputed books in the Bible. Now you have it translated here, And he was sad at that saying [Mark 10:22]. You cannot fail in Godnever, ever, ever. Give it up and come, take up the cross, and follow me. I trust everyone understands the significance of the Gospel in relation to salvation in Christ. General Washington needed information concerning the British troops. Or see the movie or tell the jokes or visit the websites that everyone else. 31:23). Thats loving Jesus. and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. 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. 2014.04.20 HE AROSE and you can too! When I was a youth growing up, Clarence Darrow, the great agnostic and atheist, literally covered the horizon in the legal profession. We must FAITHFUL You may say, Well, wait a minute, Pastor. 3:14). Jesus is not going to lose. Since we know that God will richly reward us, we should be faithful. Why didnt the Lord say that to Zaccheus? Of course it does. Fawcett converted listening to George Whitefield preach, 1. We all love to be praised. Remember Jesus says those who utter all kinds of false things about you, who slander you, that, too, is a kind of persecution and we ought to pray that we will not grow spiritually flabby as a church should we be called upon to face persecution. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Three Important Looks Or Paul's Last Testimony. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. And whenever you see a monument to Nathan Hale, you will find inscribed the last word that he said, I regret I have but one life to lose for my country. That is a little comparable patriotic devotion, like us in our supreme love for Christ. WebSermons by Bible: Sermons by Category: Sermons by Topic: Sermons by Speaker: Sermons by Language: Sermons by Date: Staff Picks: Comments, ALL -1 sec: Top Sermons: Online Bible: Hymnal: Daily Reading: Our And unbelief will ask, How can such a thing be? Can you imagine after forty years the people here by the thousands listening to me lecture on mathematics or science or literature or the humanities? Death to sin through Christ He knows your broken heart in a way that no one else does. But, if in a household there was a slave, and when time came, when that seventh year came and the slave was freeif he so loved his master or she so loved her mistress, that he did not want to leave, then they went through this kind of a simple ritual. You dont get angry with God. He was a friend of Ignatius and he was a mentor to Irenaeus. And thank Thee, Lord, for each soul You give us, in Thy precious name, amen. Knowing that we are not facing these exact circumstances, and we can be thankful for it, what does this mean for us? Some believe godly living, great faith and positive thinking will exempt them from trials. Every sabbatical, every seventh year, the slave in a Hebrew household was to be free. You, too, can read that. There was a price on the head of our Lord. We live, we die, we live again. It appears that some 65 years earlier the Christian church in Smyrna was facing many of the same trials. The tragic and terrible civil war he was fighting in his heart registered in his countenance, stugnaz; and he lost the battle. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Jesus Himself said, Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.. Indeed, the devil will throw some of II Timothy 4:6-8 Paul was looking with That is an extreme and harsh word taken in itself. 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. Revelation chapter 2, verses 8 through 11. When we suffer, were tempted to doubt Gods goodness, to question His sovereignty, to find Him less glorious, to wonder if Hes left us or forsaken us. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Well, the magistrate was not happy with this. They could offer sacrifices in honor of the emperors, not as gods but as rulers. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3 And said, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal. WebBe thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. He knew they would be tested severely. Faith, trust, commitment brings God into our lives and into our scene; and faith knows absolutely nothing about defeat. There are so many things in this world, which keep people from being faithful. Father in heaven, our prayer is simple. And in Jerusalem, they nailed Him to a cross [Matthew 27:32-50]. It is far too easy to go through the motions of being faithful without really being faithful. sanctified, hallowed, blessed, II. I absolutely love how the story ends. And Jesus will reign now and into eternity. The reason our adolescents, our young people, fall into, say, drugs, or into drinking, or into a thousand compromising positions, is because of peer pressure. Our resurrection is dependent on his resurrection- Paul said Theres nothing that says we cant pray for it to be removed. 1 John 5:16-18, ON POINT, III Theres no point in being fearful now. They dont think anything of the second death, thats not a possibility, but maybe theres some way with the right potions and the right exercise and the right diet, I dont actually have to face my own mortality.. Darrows The Story of My Life said there is no evidence of immortality, B. Gods Once they become a Christians, they begin visiting the sick and shut-in but its just too much trouble so they quit. Therefore, when he was brought before him, the proconsul, so the governor, asked if he were Polycarp, and when he confessed that he was, the proconsul tried to persuade him to recant, saying Have respect for your age and other such things as they were accustomed to say. I dont invite it. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. He knew what it was to suffer as a man. But this letter, you notice, is shot through with encouragement. He literally opens up his heart and lets us look inside. So if we have a late date for Revelation around 90 A.D., then this is some 65 years later, not that long. Some of those Christians have been killed by other Christians. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faithFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of WebFAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. It is a message to Be faithful until death.. The fourth characteristic, the fourth mark of a true disciple of our Lordone who continues unswervingly in the Word of God. Pastor Wayne Tindale We read when the magistrate persisted and said, Swear the oath and I will release you. read more, Scripture: But I do not have a child and I am old and my wife is old. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faithFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of In fact, as I said last week, the two most struggling churches, the ones facing the greatest weaknesses, at least in an earthly sense, Philadelphia and Smyrna, are the ones about whom Jesus has nothing but good to say: I know your tribulation and your poverty. Our reward is not here, it is there [Matthew 5:12]. Would I run away? Most of us fear death, but as a Christian were called to hope. You dont doubt His goodness. Do you need to come to Jesus right now? And on the first anniversary of that wonderful experience, he wrote that marvelous hymn: [O for a Thousand Tongues, Charles Wesley]. To Him be the glory, honor, majesty, and eternal throne, from generation to generation. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! New American Bible Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. We will suffer. Come do what you wish. Polycarp was then found guilty of confessing to being a Christian. 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]. Genesis 49 The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. This is the second of seven messages to seven churches. An appeal for faithfulness in an era when Of those 70 million that scholars estimate, 70 million Christian martyrs in the history of the Church, 45 million were killed in the 20th century, in the last 100 years. Paul said, None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy (Acts 20:24). And they had a little boy born to the home and they named him JohnJohn Fawcett. And that leads them into all kinds of things that break the hearts of their parents. read more, Scripture: Whatever the church is facing, and here in Smyrna it was persecution, hatred, opposition, suffering, what they need to see more than anything is not a 12-step plan, not a 3 steps to their better life now, they need to know ultimate reality of the One who sits on the throne and they need to know the ultimate reality that will be theirs should they be faithful unto death. I dont want to suffer. Number one let us pray for the persecuted church. John spoke much about our love for the Lord and for one another. Because if were reading Scripture, well have the power to overcome temptation. The other place it is used is to describe the face of that young man. and the rich young ruler(Mark 10:21-22, Matthew read more, Scripture: 4:2). They are clear and unequivocal; the first one is this: supreme love for Jesus our Lord. Baptist. Text: Genesis 49:28-50 So to his sorrowing little congregation, he preached a farewell message and they placed everything on the wagonhis books, his furniture and everythingand he and his wife and the children climbed on the wagon, and they turned to leave. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is WebClosed with a few words from Revelation chapter 2, including the line, "be faithful unto death." B. It is like manna from heaven to a hungry heart. 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. And our Lord, bless these to whom the Holy Spirit makes appeal this morning; some to put their lives with us in the church, some to follow our blessed Lord Jesus in baptism [Matthew 3:13-17], some to accept Thee as Savior; bless each one. A fifth characteristic of the true servant of Christhe possesses a continuing and undying faith in our victorious Lord Christ. 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