Are you faithful? Isa 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways (Prov. Now, listen to His exact word: Give away what you have. No one is agathai but One, that is, God [Mark 10:18]. They will be subtle, but they will be there. Heres part of the story. Why didnt the Lord say that to the family at Bethanyto Lazarus and Mary and Martha? And if you would just swear by Caesar, recant Christ, just let them go. So the men prepared the pyre and stripped Polycarp of his clothes, and as they were about to nail him to the stake, Polycarp interrupted. Notice the Lord Jesus says in verse 9, I know your tribulation and your poverty. This was a church that had more pain than they had money. Youre going to suffer. We come to see that the thing of value is not speed but endurance. IF we are in CHRIST. For me I have it written down. And this commandment that we have from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also [1 John 4:21]. To Smyrna, the challenge is one of keep on keeping on or continue to do what you are already doing. There is one surviving document we know that came from Polycarp. Paul wrote along similar lines "I have fought the An appeal for faithfulness in an era when He comes with comfort, and notice He comes with commands. It would be possible for one to worship weekly and yet be as unfaithful as one who seldom, if ever, attended. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We always face death as Christians remembering that our God has promised us a resurrection. But in 1776, he joined the Revolutionary Army. For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. We do not have a more beautiful or meaningful invitational hymn than this: Though no one go with me, I still will follow. 1 2 3 4 Next He did NOT say, If you are faithful a few short years I will give thee a Evangelical/Non-Denominational. He uses these reminders as an example to us of how we, too, can accomplish great things through our faith. If I live, bless God, it is to love Him. He told the disciples do not worry about what you will say in that day. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important 6:9). Of those 36 billion who have lived in the past 2000 years, by a very generous estimate, 12 billion were evangelized, had some access to the Gospel. Say away with the atheist.. That means we are never turning back. The word staphanos, Stephen, means crown. And when the Lord says, be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life, it could be a diadem, a royal crown. Verse 10: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. John 12:42-43 writes: Among the chief rulers, many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than they loved the praise of God.. For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. Ritual of piercing the ear of a slave who refuses to leave his master after We lament death. Faithfulness is required for all four quarters, all three periods, all nine innings. Three points of application. Which naturally leads to the second command, at the end of verse 10 Be faithful unto death. This was the problem with the Ephesian church-I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Rev. 11:4). Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. If they overcome in the first death, they will not be hurt by the second death. Now even saying it that way can make us nervous, is this anti-Semitism? 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. While we sing our appeal a thousand times welcome, come. As we begin the New Year, I felt compelled to preach a series that deals with the foundational element of our faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every Christian wants to be able to say with the apostle Paul, as he thought about his own death ( 2 Tim. He gained the information, but on his way back to report to General Washington he was recognized and seized and hanged in what is today New York City, on Market Street and East Broadway. A fifth characteristic of the true servant of Christhe possesses a continuing and undying faith in our victorious Lord Christ. Leave me as I am, for the One who enables me to endure the fire will also enable me to remain on the pyre without moving. Then Polycarp prayed a final prayer and when he said amen, the men in charge of the fire lit it. A hundred years old and Sarah, ninety years of age and no child is born [Genesis 17:17]. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. Or do with your weekends what everyone else would do. That is a big number. The LORD preserves the faithful (Ps. Matthew 9:24, Luke 8:53), 2. Just to give you some numbers from the time of Jesus to the year 2000, so just say about 2000 years, there were roughly 36 billion people on the planet. And what you do and what you believe and how you carry yourself is thought strange? 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. And it happens. We are given by choice, by volition, to our Lord and Master forever. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Death has no power over anyone who is in me! Thats why Jesus is able to say in verse 10, Be faithful unto death, and I will give you He was arrested by Herod when Philip of Tralles was high priest, during the proconsulship of Statius Quadratus, but while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. Lets pray. read more, Scripture: They are all doing it. And he was invited to preach before the king, King George III, in 1780. One of the marks, I say, of a true disciple of Christ, he never wearies, hes never seen, hes never sated listening to the Word of God. I trust everyone understands the significance of the Gospel in relation to salvation in Christ. We can remember the things of God. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris. Hebrews says since the children have flesh and blood, He, too, shared likewise in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy the one who holds the power of death, that is the devil, and set free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.. 2:10 )? I have never heard an exception to this in my life, and it is always false, it is always untrue. Especially and particularly is that true with our young people. Be faithful even unto the point of death because brother, sister, friend, when youre faithful to the point of death for Jesus, you get a crown of life. The governor said, Swear the genius of Caesar. Polycarp was born in A.D. 69, so just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Temple, well within the lifespan of some who would have been eyewitnesses to Christ and his work. Some believe godly living, great faith and positive thinking will exempt them from trials. Our resurrection is dependent on his resurrection- Paul said The Basis of the Gospel The Bible discusses faithfulness as being much more than worshipping God. Would You hold fast Your Church around the world, facing so much more in opposition than we face, and when we are called upon to face whatever trials and difficulties, whether suffering at the hands of others or suffering from natural disasters and infirmity and the age of life, may we be faithful even unto death. So you add them all up, and what? That is the mark of a disciple of Christ. A study of Johns presence at the cross will help us in the pursuit of faithfulness. There was Because the one who overcomes this present, temporary, fleeting pain will not be pained by the second and everlasting death. We could put it like this death comes to us all, heaven does not. 10:17), 1. Isnt that unusual, that you would have a minister really converted? They were poor, but rich in what really matters. Most of us, if were honest, are scared of suffering. And He took him out under the chalice of the night sky and said, Abraham, count the stars. And Abraham said, Lord, I cannot count that many. And God said, So shall thy seed be [Genesis 15:3-5]. To Him be the glory, honor, majesty, and eternal throne, from generation to generation. 21:25). Scripture is a powerful force in our efforts to remain faithful-You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them (2 Tim. By a living faith, I mean one consumed with one desireto please our Lord. But interestingly, Revelation here doesnt blame the Romans for the persecution thats coming, though they could be the ones to mete it out, the executioners. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel (Gal. This morning, we want to examine the biblical teachings concerning our faithfulness and call us to faithfulness to God. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that become a part of our pilgrimage. It was a great city in the day of the flesh of our Lord. That is our faith. Many deal with doubt and fear, but it is possible to be certain of salvation and live abundantly in Christ. Seeing that Polycarp was not being consumed by the fire, they then ordered an executioner to thrust him through with a dagger, and so finally Polycarp was dead.. Almost half of those were murdered, starved, died in prison camps in the Soviet Union. What does it mean for us? Revelation chapter 2, verses 8 through 11. Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. 3 attributes we find in Pauls heart: 1. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. John 8:31, 32: If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 14:23-24: If any one love Me, he will keep My words . Dont think youre the only one to have this struggle. There will be a temptation to want to raise your flag as well and say, Here I am, you can count on me. Or to wear the sort of clothes that everyone would wear. 1 John 5:13-17. William Akehurst HSWC Psalms 20:5-6 Dr. Matthew Everhard Fearing death is natural, but Jesus means to set us free. A fervent love for the people of God(John 13:34-35, 15:12-13, 17, 1 John 3:14, 4:7, 11), A. John We dont have a weak God. I love that. We must However fate or providence may assail us, our commitment to our Lord is, first, and supreme. However, many Christians are not as faithful as they need to be in their service to God. Why Jesus, in His letter to the church at Smyrna, instruct those Christians to Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.. Over time, the distinction between sacrificing to the Emperor as a ruler to honor him, and sacrificing to the Emperor as a god, well, that gets pretty fuzzy, and in some peoples minds a difference, a distinction without a difference. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that They were human beings with faults just as we are; yet they accomplished much through their faith. Faithfulness in the midst of persecution doesnt mean you just grin and bear it, you suppress it, you pretend like it doesnt hurt. read more, Scripture: You dont get angry with God. Why didnt the Lord say that to Zaccheus? And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. The second characteristic and mark of a faithful Christian: the denial of self. It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. Methodist. 1: 5). Come do what you wish. Polycarp was then found guilty of confessing to being a Christian. This letter reported this man was certainly one of the elect. The Word of God tells us to have compassion for our brothers and sisters who are facing difficulty and prison and opposition, and some will even pay the ultimate price of martyrdom. Oh, by the way, its while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. The same thing is true of those in Hebrews 11. The Bible contains many examples of those who forsook God because of evil influences. It has never happened in the history of the world. 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. Try to set an example from time to time to pray for it here from the pulpit. We respond in Faith! When I was a youth growing up, Clarence Darrow, the great agnostic and atheist, literally covered the horizon in the legal profession. But if a man loves God, every day is a sweeter day, a triumphant day, and some day, a victorious day. WebBe faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. We are called to be a people of the Gospel; the Gospel must be central to our lives. Thats what it is. . This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Alum Creek church of Christ in Alum Creek, West Virginia. But in particular it blames some of the Jews. A But when that acclamation and acceptance violates our commitment to Christ, it is to be repudiated by the disciple of our Lord. While we stand and while we pray. It was a way for Rome to save, kind of save face and yet not have to go through this extermination of all the Jews, so well let them get by on a technicality. As we apply this standard, our views on many things undergo a radical change. He hands it back to you doubly blessed; sanctified, hallowed when I place Jesus first in my life. He was called to be pastor of a little church in a little town in Yorkshire called Wainsgate. Romans 6:10-23, Denomination: And they had a little boy born to the home and they named him JohnJohn Fawcett. If youre faithful unto death, you will get the crown of life. You dont forget His promise. Please, sir, your Majesty, said the pastor, could you grant pardon to the boy? He did it. I would love to be a professor of English literature. 10/18/2006 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 Amen. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Revelation 2:10 Context The gate is too strait, and the way is too narrow for a man to enter heaven holding the love of the world in his arms [Matthew 7:13-14]. There is a marvelous thing that happens when a man places Jesus first in his lifeloves our Lord supremely above all other loveHe hands back to you your home, your family, your wife, your business, your children, every dream and vision of your soul. The third characteristicchoosing deliberately the cross, crucifying ourselves and every worldly desire that we have, that we might love God. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. Jesus told the church in Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10, KJV). Smyrna won the special privilege to build a temple to Emperor Tiberius. It is an instrument of execution, and when I am invited to take up my cross, I am invited to die to myself that I might live to the Lord. 23127). We see it here in this text its the second death. For the white city thats soon coming down. The first one is this: and I take these out of the Bible, out of the New Testament. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love (Jn. He died and He came to life, therefore whatever happens to you, Christian, whatever befalls you, Smyrna, whatever happens among you, Christ Covenant, know that Im the beginning and the end, and even if you die for your faith, listen to the One who died and came to life. Or see the movie or tell the jokes or visit the websites that everyone else. and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Fathers which sent Me. Any true disciple of our Lord has a deep, haunting, never-sated thirst for the word of God. Each sermon has to do with our Christian life down here in the earth. Its a letter from Jesus, who is the Jewish Messiah. In order to adequately embrace the Gospel, we must understand the Gospel. Pastor Wayne Tindale Pray for the persecuted church. Poem, Job said, My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go (Job 27:6). Listen to what it says: Now the blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the first part of the month Xanthicus, seven days before the Kalends of March, on a great Sabbath, about 2 oclock in the afternoon. Now the next verse: And God counted his faith for righteousness, because he believed in the Lord [Genesis 16:6]. My life this letter reported this man was certainly one of keep on keeping on continue! 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