|
|
|
|
Chapter 8 THE LIVING CHRIST
(Rev 2:8-11 KJV) "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; {9} I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. {10} Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. {11} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
We have looked at four churches -- Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis. To each the Lord had an indictment and warning, urging them to change. I believe each of these churches is represented in the church body today, and the same warnings are going forth.
Now we come to a church where there is a warning not for their disobedience, but because of their obedience. In every church today all seven of these revelation churches could be represented. Only you know if God speaks to you about your spiritual condition. But for our fellowship overall, I believe that Smyrna best illustrates who we are and where we are going. I believe the Lord is saying this church is suffering and it is being tested, as when Satan went to God and asked Him to test Job. Satan says to God, “The only reason those people worship you is because you bless them. If you let me touch their families, they will not worship you; they will not keep serving you. And I also want to touch their bodies and weaken them with sickness; then they will curse you and die.” Now God has said yes to all that, but He has also said, “Satan you cannot touch their spirit; the blood of Jesus has washed them, and they are mine.”
We must lose the false teaching that has said, “If God loves you, you will prosper and be in good health. If you serve God in the right way, nothing bad will happen to you.” The testings of God have nothing to do with His love for or acceptance of you. The testings that Job was allowed to go through were to prove his integrity with God. And the Lord knew that Job would withstand the test. He also knows what you will withstand. He wants you to know a JUST GOD! -- the kindness and the severity of God. (Rom.11:22)
So church, when the Lord says you are going to suffer, that is the time to begin to rejoice in your tribulations. It is a work of maturity. To the church of Smyrna, Jesus says, “You will be tried and tested ten days.” [When you see the number ten in the Word, it speaks of responsibility. God is going to cause us to become responsible and accountable to Him for our actions.]
Now what was the revelation that Jesus gave to this church? Verse 8 – “I am the first and the last, was dead and am alive.” Jesus has already experienced everything that you and I will go through. He knows the sorrow, the pain, the discomfort. Death is not the end, the last; but being resurrected and becoming alive in Christ is what the outcome will produce. We must have this revelation in order to overcome. There is no hope in death, even though we must go through it. The hope is in the life that will be produced. If you overcome (verse 11), you will not be hurt by the second death. [First the natural, then the spiritual.] If I overcome in this natural state, then I will not be touched by what is to come eternally. When judgment comes, I will be found faithful.
He says, “If you are willing to lose your life for my sake now, you will gain it back again. But if you are not willing to die to that old nature, you cannot have eternal life.” We are coming to the place we are living beyond what we see, hear, feel naturally. We are living to the Spiritual life in Christ. Suffering, trials, tribulations are not the end: (Mat 10:28 KJV) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Do we really understand affliction? (2 Tim 3:12 KJV) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
(1 Pet 4:19 KJV) "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
Affliction is God’s will for the Saints. In it, He says we must commit our souls to the One who made us and will never fail us. When we suffer, we must choose to trust in the Lord. In the natural, we become despondent, angry, depressed, overwrought with worry; but we can respond spiritually by asking, "What does He want me to do?"
(1 Pet 2:19-23 KJV) "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. {20} For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. {21} For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: {23} Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
The Amplified says "unjust suffering." This kind of suffering originates from carnality. It is the kind of suffering we do not deserve, but it happens. You do not suffer because of sin, but because people are imperfect. Stop beating yourself up when something happens that is unjust. Stop paying in grief over something unjust that happened ten years ago (Verse 20). Do you want to please God? Learn how to take unjust suffering patiently and endure it. (Verse 21) You were called to it. Do not be surprised by it if you want to live a godly life. (Verses 22-23) That is our trust -- He is judge of all. Let Him judge the situation. (Heb 10:31 KJV) "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
(1 Pet 2:24 KJV) "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Praise the Lord. (1 Pet 3:14-17 KJV) "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; {15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: {16} Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. {17} For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."
You cannot grow up in Christ without suffering, but you can be blessed (be happy, fortunate and prosperous) This is true prosperity. Your response should be, "to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." When YOU are able to show others how you handle unjust suffering, THEN your testimony becomes pure! Our testimonies have been story telling. When you overcome by the word of your testimony, it is not a story; it is the power of God working in and through you that caused you to overcome a difficult situation. And the blood of Jesus became your protection, not so your sin would be covered, but so your sin would be stopped and you wouldn’t sin any longer. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
|
|
Copyright © 1995-2007 Living Word Christian
Fellowship, Inc.
|
