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Go Back to SermonsWhen Following Jesus Gets Tough
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Revelation: Real Advice for Real Life 2 When Following Jesus Gets Tough
Rev. 2.8-11 Allen R. Hunt Mount Pisgah 3/26/06
I. May be a familiar story to you – the investigative reporter who decided to go to churches around country
See what he might learn – went to church in Los Angeles, and in the gathering area, there was a phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: $10,000/minute.”
Reporter intrigued by that, asked the pastor who replied, “Yes, we just had that put in. I know it’s expensive but isn’t that cool that you can call God directly?”
Reporter made note of it and kept traveling – next church was in Texas – same thing
Phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: $10,000/minute.”
Went to Missouri, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to New York, to Boston, and headed south
Same thing –in every church
Stopped in a church in Georgia – walked in and surprised to see
Phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: No charge.”
Rushed to find the pastor, “How can this be? Everywhere else it is $10,000 per minute. But here it is free?”
Pastor just grinned and said, “Sir you are in Georgia. Here, heaven is a local call.”
Start a little light because today’s message is heavy and hard to hear
Here in Georgia where life is fairly comfortable, freedom reigns
7 letters to 7 churches – this one is tough to hear
Jesus writes to the church at Smyrna – and they must have been extraordinary people
Only one of his 7 letters where he does not offer a complaint or a correction to His people
They are remarkable people – living in another harbor town – 40 miles north of Ephesus
Known for its science and medicine – for temples of Asclepius – healing
Also known for fine wine and for being very wealthy – kind of like Carmel/Monterey
In the middle of this wealth, there sits a church – facing incredible hardship
I. Smyrna faced 3 challenges
1) Slander
Smyrna was a city of pagans and non-believers – required to perform emperor worship
Only Jews were exempted – they would not accept Christians’ refusing to worship Caesar
So pagans and Jews alike accused Christians of being cannibals (eating the body of Christ), for splitting up families when one member came to believe while others did not, for being revolutionaries who were always talking about the end of the world
2) Poverty
Because of that slander, Christians often lost most of what they had
Scripture makes it clear here with a very strong word that these Smyrna believers had nothing – not that they had a little – but nothing – extreme poverty in middle of a wealthy city because they were holding on to their faith – faith had cost them nearly everything
3) Persecution: Prison or Death
In fact, it was about to get worse – facing prison or death
Crackdown coming on Christians – some would be put in prison – not as punishment but for coercion or detainment until execution
Some Romans decided that Christians were a problem and best way to deal with a problem would be to get rid of it
So it is to these believers – suffering the loss of possessions, loss of reputation, and perhaps loss of freedom and life that Jesus writes
And His message is surprisingly simple and clear
II. Jesus’ 2 Word Message to Smyrna: No Fear
No fear – fear absolutely nothing – again the language is strong
Fear nothing that will come your way
No fear
To understand that simple message look at Hebrews 10
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (Heb. 10.32-39)
The point is simple and very important
We are different – we have an eye on the eternal – we have better and lasting possessions
We are working toward a much larger picture and a much greater reward than our comfort, freedom, or pleasure now
No matter what we may experience here and now – we are a part of something far greater, far grander – something divine – eternal crown
Like the garland given a race winner in ancient Olympics – you and I are working toward that eternal crown
Now it is tempting and it can be helpful for us to remember that
I have lost friendships because of my faith and beliefs – perhaps you have too – but I know I have a better and lasting possessions – an eternal crown
And sometimes we feel persecuted for our faith – no Christ in Christmas, no manger in courthouse, no prayer in schools, when Microsoft has a foundation to give to charities its employees choose (except nothing Christian is allowed), when Yale will offer admission to a Taliban leader but often restrict Christian speech and worship, we may feel persecuted
Or pastor I know who resigned from his church, lost his home, because he protested outside an abortion clinic who sued him and others for loss of business
It is tempting and helpful for us to remember that we have better and lasting possessions
Jesus does indeed say, No Fear
But today, I want us to focus on something far deeper than how we might experience persecution or suffering for our faith
I want us to hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who are suffering just like the Christians in Smyrna whom Jesus wrote
Afghanistan – Abdul Rahman, 41, converted to Jesus from Islam – now faces death penalty – punishable by death in nearly every Muslim-controlled nation – “religion of peace” – except if you leave, we kill you
Abdul in prison right now – in papers across country this week
Afghan government, Islamic, desperately trying to find a way out because of international embarrassment – trying to have him declared mentally incompetent and thereby excused from trial
May be mentally incompetent – I think he just has a better and lasting possession
He is just one – hear their cries from around the world – as we worship right now
165,000 Christians brothers and sisters executed for their faith in 2000 – typical year
The Baptist workers in Karachi Pakistan – Muslim knocked on door of their charity, separated the Muslims and then shot 7 Christians in the head, killing them all
NY Times portrayed it as “Westerners” being massacred – call it what it is “Christians”
Zhang Rouliang – leader in underground church in China – where 90% of believers worship because they do not want to be a part of a state-controlled Church where pastors have to have sermons approved, Bibles can only be sold by state, and all activity is monitored – Zhang arrested a few months back, not been heard from again – probably in prison, probably tortured, perhaps even killed for his persistent, passionate faith
Lost everything – except his one better and lasting possession
List could go on – to Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Iran, and on - but instead I want you to meet one of your mission partners today
Wes Griffin, International Leadership Institute, whose ministry helps train and equip Christian leaders around the world, and particularly in places where Christians are struggling and suffering
III. What’s the Point to Us Today? Unity and Prayer
I will pray for ____________________ (Nation)
I will pray for ____________________ Name(s)
3 Places to go to Help more
www.persecution.com
www.persecution.org
www.christianpersecution.info
May God hear our prayers, may our brothers and sister draw strength from them and know No Fear
We are the Church and we stand as one
Rev. 2.8-11 Allen R. Hunt Mount Pisgah 3/26/06
I. May be a familiar story to you – the investigative reporter who decided to go to churches around country
See what he might learn – went to church in Los Angeles, and in the gathering area, there was a phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: $10,000/minute.”
Reporter intrigued by that, asked the pastor who replied, “Yes, we just had that put in. I know it’s expensive but isn’t that cool that you can call God directly?”
Reporter made note of it and kept traveling – next church was in Texas – same thing
Phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: $10,000/minute.”
Went to Missouri, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to New York, to Boston, and headed south
Same thing –in every church
Stopped in a church in Georgia – walked in and surprised to see
Phone with a sign that said, “Direct line to heaven: No charge.”
Rushed to find the pastor, “How can this be? Everywhere else it is $10,000 per minute. But here it is free?”
Pastor just grinned and said, “Sir you are in Georgia. Here, heaven is a local call.”
Start a little light because today’s message is heavy and hard to hear
Here in Georgia where life is fairly comfortable, freedom reigns
7 letters to 7 churches – this one is tough to hear
Jesus writes to the church at Smyrna – and they must have been extraordinary people
Only one of his 7 letters where he does not offer a complaint or a correction to His people
They are remarkable people – living in another harbor town – 40 miles north of Ephesus
Known for its science and medicine – for temples of Asclepius – healing
Also known for fine wine and for being very wealthy – kind of like Carmel/Monterey
In the middle of this wealth, there sits a church – facing incredible hardship
I. Smyrna faced 3 challenges
1) Slander
Smyrna was a city of pagans and non-believers – required to perform emperor worship
Only Jews were exempted – they would not accept Christians’ refusing to worship Caesar
So pagans and Jews alike accused Christians of being cannibals (eating the body of Christ), for splitting up families when one member came to believe while others did not, for being revolutionaries who were always talking about the end of the world
2) Poverty
Because of that slander, Christians often lost most of what they had
Scripture makes it clear here with a very strong word that these Smyrna believers had nothing – not that they had a little – but nothing – extreme poverty in middle of a wealthy city because they were holding on to their faith – faith had cost them nearly everything
3) Persecution: Prison or Death
In fact, it was about to get worse – facing prison or death
Crackdown coming on Christians – some would be put in prison – not as punishment but for coercion or detainment until execution
Some Romans decided that Christians were a problem and best way to deal with a problem would be to get rid of it
So it is to these believers – suffering the loss of possessions, loss of reputation, and perhaps loss of freedom and life that Jesus writes
And His message is surprisingly simple and clear
II. Jesus’ 2 Word Message to Smyrna: No Fear
No fear – fear absolutely nothing – again the language is strong
Fear nothing that will come your way
No fear
To understand that simple message look at Hebrews 10
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (Heb. 10.32-39)
The point is simple and very important
We are different – we have an eye on the eternal – we have better and lasting possessions
We are working toward a much larger picture and a much greater reward than our comfort, freedom, or pleasure now
No matter what we may experience here and now – we are a part of something far greater, far grander – something divine – eternal crown
Like the garland given a race winner in ancient Olympics – you and I are working toward that eternal crown
Now it is tempting and it can be helpful for us to remember that
I have lost friendships because of my faith and beliefs – perhaps you have too – but I know I have a better and lasting possessions – an eternal crown
And sometimes we feel persecuted for our faith – no Christ in Christmas, no manger in courthouse, no prayer in schools, when Microsoft has a foundation to give to charities its employees choose (except nothing Christian is allowed), when Yale will offer admission to a Taliban leader but often restrict Christian speech and worship, we may feel persecuted
Or pastor I know who resigned from his church, lost his home, because he protested outside an abortion clinic who sued him and others for loss of business
It is tempting and helpful for us to remember that we have better and lasting possessions
Jesus does indeed say, No Fear
But today, I want us to focus on something far deeper than how we might experience persecution or suffering for our faith
I want us to hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who are suffering just like the Christians in Smyrna whom Jesus wrote
Afghanistan – Abdul Rahman, 41, converted to Jesus from Islam – now faces death penalty – punishable by death in nearly every Muslim-controlled nation – “religion of peace” – except if you leave, we kill you
Abdul in prison right now – in papers across country this week
Afghan government, Islamic, desperately trying to find a way out because of international embarrassment – trying to have him declared mentally incompetent and thereby excused from trial
May be mentally incompetent – I think he just has a better and lasting possession
He is just one – hear their cries from around the world – as we worship right now
165,000 Christians brothers and sisters executed for their faith in 2000 – typical year
The Baptist workers in Karachi Pakistan – Muslim knocked on door of their charity, separated the Muslims and then shot 7 Christians in the head, killing them all
NY Times portrayed it as “Westerners” being massacred – call it what it is “Christians”
Zhang Rouliang – leader in underground church in China – where 90% of believers worship because they do not want to be a part of a state-controlled Church where pastors have to have sermons approved, Bibles can only be sold by state, and all activity is monitored – Zhang arrested a few months back, not been heard from again – probably in prison, probably tortured, perhaps even killed for his persistent, passionate faith
Lost everything – except his one better and lasting possession
List could go on – to Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Iran, and on - but instead I want you to meet one of your mission partners today
Wes Griffin, International Leadership Institute, whose ministry helps train and equip Christian leaders around the world, and particularly in places where Christians are struggling and suffering
III. What’s the Point to Us Today? Unity and Prayer
I will pray for ____________________ (Nation)
I will pray for ____________________ Name(s)
3 Places to go to Help more
www.persecution.com
www.persecution.org
www.christianpersecution.info
May God hear our prayers, may our brothers and sister draw strength from them and know No Fear
We are the Church and we stand as one