A Prophetic Encouragement around Suffering and the Church in Smyrna
October 28, 2018      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Each of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations receives a threat, warning or rebuke from Jesus - all except Smyrna.  Jonathan discusses the lessons Smyrna had already learned and how we can be encouraged by their example.

Revelation 1:3 (NIV)
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 22:7 (NIV)
27 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

Quadruple Blessing
Read / Hear / Ponder / Do

Revelation 1:9 (NIV)
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Philippians 1:29 (NIV)
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

Philippians 3:10 (NIV)
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Acts 14:22 (NIV)
22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV)
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

NOT Optional - TROUBLES
Optional - Take heart

NOT Optional - TRIALS
Optional - Consider it pure joy / Let perseverance finish its work

NOT Optional - SUFFERINGS
Optional - We glory in our sufferings because we KNOW…

Patient Endurance - Phrase mentioned seven times in the Book of Revelation

Revelation 14:12 (NIV)
12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Church of Smyrna (Greek - "myrrh")

Revelation 2:8-11 (NIV)
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Every church gets a threat, warning or rebuke from Jesus - except Smyrna

FIRE is here / and FIRE is coming
We get the option to choose which fire we deal with
Preemptive Agreement Is Wise

God's Odds
4/1        (135,000 to 32,000) "you have too many men"
14/1      (135,000 to 10,000) "there are still too many men"
450/1    (135,000 to 300) "with these 300 men... I will save you"

Gideon made it through the cutbacks because patient endurance had been developed in his heart through his embracing of sufferings.