Psalm 30, I will exalt you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me. O Lord, you brought my soul up from the grave. You have kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night. but joy comes in the morning. Now in my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by your favor, you have made my mountain stand strong. You hid your face and I was troubled. I cried out to you, oh Lord, and to the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me. Lord, be my helper. You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. to the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent. Oh Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Amen. And let us turn to Revelation chapter two. We'll be reading verses eight through 11, the letter of Jesus Christ to the angel of the church of Smyrna. Revelation chapter two, verse eight. And to the angel or to the messenger of the church in Smyrna write, these things says the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. The grass withers, the flower fails, but God's word abides forever. Amen? Amen. Let us pray. Father in heaven, we thank you, Lord, once again, for your word. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your love and care for The saints below, that you, as is described, you are walking in the midst of the churches. You are there with them and with us. We've gathered in your name and you are here. And so we ask that you would give us those ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church today. as it was spoken to those believers in Smyrna so long ago, and as we just sang about them rejoicing in glory. So we pray that you would do that work in us and prepare us for the challenges that we face both now and into the future. We pray these things now in Jesus' name, amen. Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, Agree or disagree? Agree or disagree? Suffering must be avoided at all costs. I have a disagree over there. Disagree over there. Suffering or sufferings must be avoided at all costs. Agree or disagree? Disagree. Let's think about sports. We've got some athletes amongst us. Is part of becoming a good athlete require suffering? Pain and suffering, right? No pain, no gain, right? So is it to be avoided? No, part of becoming a good athlete is you have to suffer. If you're a runner, you have to run. And it hurts, I know. I can't run the two mile anymore, I can't run the one mile anymore, I can't probably run a block anymore. But yeah, you have to, is suffering avoided? No. If you wanna be in the Olympics, you're gonna suffer for years. What about except for those that are preparing for battle? You're going into the service. What do you think basic training is designed to do? To break you. To break you down and then put you back together. To equip you to be a good soldier. Well, what about suffering? Is it avoided or cost? Not for the sake of others. Greater love is no man than this who would lay down his life for his friend. How many have suffered so that others may live? Suffering must be avoided at all costs, not for the things that really cause, the things that are really important. There is a place for suffering. In our text this morning, Jesus is writing through to the angel or the messenger to the church there in Smyrna, who are experiencing great suffering and anticipating greater suffering, which will occur historically in that city. So let us stop and think about what this has to do with them, and more importantly, what this has to do And so the main point is there in the bulletin, in the outline. Why did our Lord Jesus speak so positively about things that we try so desperately to avoid, such as sufferings, persecutions, and even martyrdom? Why does he talk so positively about stuff that we don't like and try to avoid with any ability that we have? Was it because humiliation must precede exaltation? Is that what happened to him? Did he humble himself and become obedient to the point of death, given the death of the cross, therefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name above every name? Well, that's for Jesus. If the master must suffer to gain the victory so must his servants whom he calls to follow him Carrying their cross So this may not be a real popular message Well, you know, I really don't like pain I do really don't like suffering so pastor I really want to avoid Suffering at all costs. I hope not So what is the context? The context of Revelation chapter two is Jesus. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ we saw a couple weeks ago. We were looking at this revelation of Jesus described as prophet, priest, and king, and all those glorious aspects about who he is. And then even in chapter two, as he was speaking to the church in Ephesus, again, he's describing himself as the one who has the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, or the seven churches, and now he is coming to the church, the suffering church there in Smyrna, as the first and the last, as he who was dead and came to life. In other words, you could say that Jesus Christ, as we said last week, is the great physician, and he does house calls. The house is the church, the house of God. And so the seven letters to the seven churches are his examination of their state and the determination of a course of treatment or a course of action. What was the message last week if you were here? Remember the message last week to the church in Ephesus? You remember? You have left your first love. He starts off examining this church, and he goes into great detail about all the good things they've done. However, I have one thing against you. You've left me. You've left your first love. Remember, therefore, and repent, and go back and do the first thing. Come back to me. Here in the second letter, the second of seven, he writes to the suffering for those who are suffering because of their love for Christ. They're just the opposite. For those who are suffering because they love Jesus, he doesn't say anything bad. He doesn't say you need to fix this. He doesn't rebuke. He doesn't correct. He encourages and brings comfort to those who are suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ. John Stott, in his little book, What Christ Thinks of the Church, said this, concerning this section, if the first mark of a true and living church is love, the second is suffering. The one is naturally consequent on the other. A willingness to suffer proves the genuine witness of love. We are willing to suffer for those we love. Evidently, Christians in Smyrna had not lost their pristine love for Christ, as had the Christians in Ephesus, for they were prepared to suffer for him. Like Peter and John, they were rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Christ's name. You hear that? So he comes to a church and he says, well done. Well done. Isn't that what you want to hear from Christ one day? Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. So, number one, point one, Christ experienced suffering for and with his church. Remember when Saul was on the road to Damascus? And what was Saul doing? He had letters to be able to arrest and ultimately kill believers in Jesus, Christians. Christ himself Confronted Saul and what did he say? Saul Saul Why are you persecuting my people? Is that what he said anybody know their Bible? Yeah, he said why are you persecuting me I Well, Jesus is in heaven, he's reigning from heaven, but what does he say? If you persecute my people, you persecute me, I'm with you. So point one, under one, point A, Jesus Christ was no stranger to suffering. He is the suffering servant who gave his life for those who hated and despised him. while we were yet his enemy. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So who crucified Christ? Who killed Christ? Well, historically, it's been said, well, the Jews killed Christ. Well, actually, it's the Romans who executed him. But ultimately, who killed Christ? I did. You did. Our sins. We are guilty of murder. Because of our sins. While we were yet sinners, while we murdered him, he loved us. Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing. Notice in our text, it says, what, when he describes himself, these things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. He's the first and the last. In other words, he's God and was dead and made and is alive. He was man, he was the God man. He's not only the first and the last, but he also became man, died, and rose again. Isn't that the gospel? Isn't that the good news? That Jesus died and rose again on the third day according to the scripture? Why? Because that means his death did something. It saved us from our sins. And so we rejoice in the resurrection, because in the resurrection, we have resurrection. We have life. If he didn't rise, as Paul says, we'd be miserable. most to be pitied of all mankind. Jesus Christ knew, notice the statement, Jesus Christ knew, I know your works. Jesus Christ knew what the church in general and each member in particular was going through. Notice what he says, I know your works and tribulations. I know the aggressive and cruel attack that you're experiencing. Now, let's get to know a little bit about what they were experiencing. In Smyrna, they had a temple to the goddess Rome, Roma. So remember, who ruled the Mediterranean world at the time? Rome. The emperor. So in Smyrna they had a temple and they worshiped the goddess Rome Roma and They worshiped Caesar as a god There was Emperor worship Caesar is Lord and to be a good citizen in the Roman Empire you had declare that Caesar is Lord In a sense you had to worship the You had to worship the leader of the political entity that you were under. In other words, worship the state. And at the same time, we see in the text that there was a large group of Jewish people living there who had a synagogue and were gathered together against the church. opposition to the church now remember during this time in Rome the church the Christians were at were legally in the position of the Jews they had the same rights as the Jewish people that the Romans gave them so they could do things differently than other people And what the Jews were saying is, these people are not Jews. So therefore, they have no legal status in the state. And so therefore, they can be destroyed. They can be robbed. They don't have legal protection. And at the same time, they persecuted those that preached Jesus. They were the enemies. Notice our text says, they are the synagogue of Satan. They are the synagogue of those that hate Jesus. They're the enemy of God. And so I know your works, your tribulation. You're under persecution by both the state and the Old Testament people of God, the Jews, who he says are not even Jews. He goes on to say, I know your poverty. You're living in a city of about 250,000 people. At that time, that would be like a million or two million people today. Wealthy city, poor city. You're living amongst them, but because you named the name of Christ, you are ostracized. You can't conduct business. Nobody wants to deal with you. You're poor because of your faith. Furthermore, I know the slander, the evil speaking by religious authorities from the Jewish synagogue that you are experiencing. And finally, I know the future tribulation that you will experience. He says you're about to experience. Pretty dark situation. But notice that point. Jesus says, I know what you're going through. I know what you're going through better than you do. Does that bring comfort? I find that comforting that Jesus knows better than I what I'm going through. Does that mean I don't talk to him about it? No, I do. But I know that he knows. I'm not telling him something new that I can come to him and say, I'm hurting right now. And he says, I know, I understand. Can that bring comfort? Again, in this letter, he doesn't rebuke them at all. He brings comfort. Comfort in tribulation. Able to comfort. Isn't that what Paul said, and we read it earlier? That God comforts us in order that we may be able to comfort others. With the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted. And so one of the reasons why you go through suffering is because God is equipping you and preparing you to be able to love and minister to somebody else that will go through suffering. I can relate to you. I lost a son, was it three years ago now? For those of you, you know what it's like to lose a son or a daughter, a child? Is that equipped to be able to talk to someone who loses a child? So Jesus experienced suffering for his church and with his church. You're not alone. Christ is with you, even though you feel alone at times. Isn't that sometimes the hardest kind of suffering, when you feel all alone? Second point, the present sufferings are not worthy to be compared. How does Christ comfort the church in Smyrna? By putting the events of life into proper perspective. Verse eight, going back. To the angel or to the messenger in the church of Smyrna write, these things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. In other words, who am I? Who is he? He's God Almighty. He's the supreme Lord and determiner of history. In contrast to Caesar. Does the President of the United States have the ability to determine what happens in the future? Does the President or, no, they can make policy and they can say things, but can they guarantee that what they want to happen happens? Could Caesar, could you determine your future? The answer is no, but Christ is, he's almighty God, and he's the victorious seed of woman, was dead and is alive again. Whatever you're facing, is Jesus able to overcome and turn it to good? The answer is yes, that's what he's saying. I did it before, I'll do it again, trust me. So number one, who is he? And then secondly, who were they? Verse nine, he says, you are poor, but rich. So what does that mean? You are poor, but, parentheses, but you are rich. What is he saying? Jesus said, Blessed are you if you're persecuted for my name's sake, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. We are rich in Christ. As it says, I has not seen or heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared. We have no idea what we have in heaven in Christ. We only have an inkling of that. We have hope, we have comfort, but we have all things in Christ. What does it say? What did Paul say? Through Christ's poverty, he has made you rich in him. And thirdly, he clarifies, verses nine and 10, the situation. Those that are persecuting you from the synagogue What is it? It's the synagogue of the adversary. The enemy of God. They may be sounding right, they have the Bible there, they're speaking, but they're attacking me. Attacking the truth. Enemies of God. And the devil is casting them into prison. Again, there you have civil persecution as well as religious. In other words, he clarifies the situation, you're at war. Is that only back then or is that today? Is there war going on today? Is there war for your soul today going on? Is there an enemy who hates you If you believe in Jesus, you've been delivered out of his kingdom, and he hates you, and that war continues until when? Until Jesus returns. But guess what? Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world, right? Third point, hanging in there. In the world, you shall have tribulation, Jesus says. Jesus says, that I did not come to sugarcoat the cost of discipleship, neither should we. What did Jesus say? Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me. Which of those three is the hardest to do? I would say it's the first one. Because it's all about me. To deny yourself is to die to yourself. And that is hard to do. Because I'm looking out for myself. We're always looking out for number one. But Jesus says, no, I'm number one. Deny yourself. Pick up your cross, there's a death. What did it mean to pick up your cross? It meant to take that which was gonna be used for your execution and you carry it to the place where you are going to be executed with the worst way to die. Deny yourself, prepare to die, and follow me. They're tough words, isn't it? Those are very tough words. But notice, he brings comfort. Verse 10, do not fear. Why did he say that? Because the natural reaction and temptation is to fear those things I'm about to suffer. Why? Because I'm in control, Jesus says. Don't fear. I got this covered. There's a reason for what you're about to go through or what you're going through and it has my purposes which are eternal in glory. Again that one statement by Paul which I quoted earlier It's an amazing statement. He writes, he's describing in 2 Corinthians all the sufferings that he's going through as an apostle. And I want to read it instead of misquoting it. It's in 2 Corinthians. This is such a, to me, such a powerful statement. Verse 17, 2 Corinthians 4, verse 17. Therefore, starting verse 16, therefore we do not lose heart even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day for our momentary light affliction is working for us a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Now, if you read 2 Corinthians, it's not momentary. It's not light. It was affliction that he describes, drowning in the Mediterranean, a night and a day, adrift in the Mediterranean, being beaten to death, stoned, and on and on. And he describes and he summarizes it as momentary light, affliction. You and I, we haven't even come close to experience what Paul went through, and yet his attitude about it was, this is only going to be for a moment. Eternity is a lot longer. Momentary light affliction is working in us to do what? A far more exceeding and eternal wait the sufferings that we experience in life, the self-denial or the rejection or persecution that we compare to the weight of glory that is ours in Christ. He says you can't compare them. I don't know about you, I struggle with the momentary light affliction. They don't seem to be momentary light, right? We have an internal perspective. We have Christ's perspective on the things that we suffer in this life. That's what Jesus is telling the church there in Smyrna and to us as well. I'm in control. I am telling you beforehand, and this is only going to be for a limited time. There he says 10 days. He says, don't worry. I'm working this together for the good. Be thou faithful, his exhortation, and as a general true as troops before battle. Be thou faithful unto death. Anybody ever read Henry V, Shakespeare's Henry V? Have you? You ever seen the movie? Henry V is a great movie. It's a powerful movie. And in that movie, Henry V is about ready to send his very limited group of soldiers to fight the French. He's English. Fight the French. And they were outnumbered by I can't remember how many times. And what does he do? He calls them to be faithful unto death as soldiers. Jesus calls us to be soldiers. Paul says to Timothy, be a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that just Timothy? Or if I'm in Christ, am I part of the host of the Lord of hosts? Am I part of the army of God? The answer is yes. So Jesus the captain, Jesus the general says, be faithful unto death. Trust me. Die to yourself and follow me. And then verse 11, he promises gifts to the victor. He who has an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, he who overcomes the victor shall not be hurt by the second death. What is the second death? Fortunately, we have the definition right in the book. If you want to find it, it's back in chapter 20. Verse 11, then I saw the great white throne and him who sat on it, from whom's face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no more place for them. Then I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works by the things written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, death and hell delivered up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one according to his works. Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So Jesus promises the overcomers shall not be hurt by the second death. My question is, what's your destiny? What's your destiny? Are you trusting in Christ alone for salvation? That's the book of life. Is your name written in the book or not? This is not an easy or popular message, but it's necessary. How do I know? Because it's in the Bible. Jesus loves us, and he talks to us about what we need to hear, whether we like it or not. Just like going to the doctor and being told you got cancer, I don't want to hear I have cancer, but I need to know that I have cancer, right? How am I going to deal with it if I don't know about it? So sometimes tough love. This is tough love. Shall we pray? Father in heaven, we thank you, Lord, that you've never given us more than we're able to bear. but you also grant us the way of escape, and the escape is Jesus. And so we pray that you would enable us to escape the second death, to escape our self-centeredness, to escape the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to embrace the forgiveness we have and the acceptance we have in Christ today. We pray, O Lord, that you would enable us also, as we stand for you, as we walk through this life, as we pass through this veil of tears, as some call it, that we would hold on to you, be faithful unto death. And so we pray for your grace and strength and enable us to be able to stand for you in whatever capacities, in whatever ways you call this to. We thank you that we have a joy inexpressible and full of glory, in you. And so we pray that you would strengthen us and equip us to to walk in that joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.