Hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, C. Faith The reason our adolescents, our young people, fall into, say, drugs, or into drinking, or into a thousand compromising positions, is because of peer pressure. Any Amazon link on this site is an ad. Faithfulness. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? What is preventing you from being faithful? When the boy was sixteen years old, he went to hear George Whitefield preach, and he was converted; wonderfully converted, listening to George Whitefield preach the gospel. Paul takes a look around as he gives his last testimony. The Bible contains many examples of those who forsook God because of evil influences. A new convert never studies Scripture, and so when a denominational group knocks on his door, he falls for what they teach. A study of Johns presence at the cross will help us in the pursuit of faithfulness. You can read it. So they didnt have the same protection. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. This is the second of seven messages to seven churches. Listen to the words of our Lord in Luke 6:26: Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! We are not in this world to be acclaimed, we are to be true to our Lord, no matter what repudiation or scoffing or scorning. To Smyrna, the challenge is one of keep on keeping on or continue to do what you are already doing. Pentecostal. Kids, young people, you will face even more pressures. Many deal with doubt and fear, but it is possible to be certain of salvation and live abundantly in Christ. After several months of study we have come to the concluding passage of 1st John. In a different context, James says, Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (Js. Title: The Face of Faithfulness: John In fact, we do. Jesus does not offer a rebuke to Smyrna. A long time ago, in the 1700s in a little town in Yorkshire, a county in northern England, there was a very, very poor family. Not some physical anguish or personal disappointment, 2. Dont think youre the only one to have this struggle. Our Lord, before it comes to pass, we praise Thy wonderful, keeping, saving, endearing name for all You have done for us; died to save us [1 Corinthians 15:3], poured out Thy blood to wash us clean and white [Revelation 1:5, 5:9], that we might stand in the presence of God forgiven [Jude 1:24]. Individuals become Christians and know the truth, but they have a friend who attends a denominational church, so they attend every now and then, and before they know it, they believe what that church teaches. Revelation 2:8-11, Denomination: An appeal for faithfulness in an era when And when the young man asked, Master, all of these commandments have I kept from my youth, but my heart is still hungry and empty, what lack I yet that I might obtain eternal life? and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. 2014.04.20 HE AROSE and you can too! 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 The Lord said, if we are faithful unto death, He would give us a CROWN OF LIFE. 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]. These things I command you, that you love one another [John 15:17]. A sixth characteristic of the true disciple of Christ: a fervent love for the people of God. After their conversion, they stop using alcohol but after a while they begin using it again. And unbelief will ask, How can such a thing be? If I die, praise His name, it is to be with Him. read more, Scripture: They will be there on your social media feed, theyll be there on your Instagram, calls to be like-minded ally in things that Christ cannot commend. 3:11). Faithfulness means you keep bearing witness to Jesus. Thats what it is. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. [First John] 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another [1 John 4:11]. Heres the key-those men and women were just like we are. Is God first in your life? Roman subjects were required to offer sacrifice to Caesar as a god. Listen to this: Romans 4:17: God, who quickeneth the dead, calleth those things which be not as though they were, Abraham [Genesis 17:5], against hope, believed in hope. 6:9). Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.. For Jesus sake we pray. In broad, open daylight where everyone could see, he knelt down before the Lord, the Prophet from Nazareth saying, Agathai didaskai [Mark 10:17]. We are given by choice, by volition, to our Lord and Master forever. Clearly gathering in this place were not, were not living under the Taliban. That means we are never turning back. Remember this is a letter from whom? Thats a great man, a marvelous man; thats Gods man. The cross before me, the world behind me, [I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, attributed to S. Sundar Singh]. Number one let us pray for the persecuted church. It may be in the workplace when you will not agree to do the advertising campaign they want to do, or the training that theyre making everyone do. Isa 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. You dont doubt His goodness. Any psychologist, any psychologist, will tell you that one of the driving forces in human life is to be acceptableespecially to be acclaimed among our peers. Genesis and Revelation are two of the most disputed books in the Bible. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Revelation 2:10 Context heroes of the faith(Hebrews 11:9-10, 16), 1. Never. If I live, bless God, it is to love Him. An outline from the book The Bumps Are What You Climb On "Three Important Looks" by Warren Wiersbe pg 17 1980 Will you praise Him in pain? When that moment comes, you trust that the Lord gives you the words to say, gives you the courage. read more, Scripture: But if a man loves God, every day is a sweeter day, a triumphant day, and some day, a victorious day. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You (Ps. The fourth characteristic, the fourth mark of a true disciple of our Lordone who continues unswervingly in the Word of God. The real hero is not he who makes the fastest schedule but he who lasts the longest. This was the problem with the Ephesian church-I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Rev. And yet, my God, keep me from turning back. We, too, can lose focus of whats important in life. A. Its the basic foundation of the Christian faith it is fundamental Romans 1:17, Denomination: It is one of the marks and the characteristics of a good disciple of Jesus; our love for one another. We allow ourselves to be involved in so many activities that we no longer have the time to devote to Bible study and prayer. 31:23). The love of your life is in money. 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. 4:10). Rev James Porter Be Thou Faithful Unto Death Hes already won. Its called the Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians. The author of Hebrews had just finished writing about great men and women of faith-He wrote about how they obeyed God out of their faith. Theres nothing that says we cant pray for it to be removed. His salary was less than two hundred dollars a year. A hundred years old and Sarah, ninety years of age and no child is born [Genesis 17:17]. Hes telling us from Gods Holy Scriptures about our Lord. He knows your tribulation. WebTo know Me is to have life! He stayed there in that tiny church over fifty years; their pastor over fifty years. And Nathan Hale volunteered as a spy to bring back the needed information. The church in Smyrna was a church of paradoxes. He never knows a turning back or an ultimate defeat. There are so many things in this world, which keep people from being faithful. Our inheritance is not here, it is there [1 Peter 1:4-5]. read more, Scripture: THREE IMPORTANT LOOKS OR PAUL'S LAST TESTIMONY Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown (Rev. The first death is not avoidable. This morning, we want to examine the biblical teachings concerning our faithfulness and call us to faithfulness to God. When one is baptized into Christ and becomes a Christian, he begins a new life ( Rom. You dont forget His promise. 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.. So to his sorrowing little congregation, he preached a farewell message and they placed everything on the wagonhis books, his furniture and everythingand he and his wife and the children climbed on the wagon, and they turned to leave. 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. A reference to the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Genesis, where Abraham came before God and said, Lord, You say that I am to have a child and then the seed that comes out of my body, my loins, the whole world is be blessed. It is like water to a thirsting soul. A pathway deliberately chosen death to the deepest desires of the flesh, This comes in chapter 21, the final chapter in some of the manuscripts of The Martyrdom of Polycarp. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. He literally opens up his heart and lets us look inside. I dont want to suffer. 15, 16), VI. having been freed(Deuteronomy 15:12-18), B. WebSermons by Bible: Sermons by Category: Sermons by Topic: Sermons by Speaker: Sermons by Language: Sermons by Date: Staff Picks: Comments, ALL -1 sec: Top Sermons: Online Bible: Hymnal: Daily Reading: Our https://drjustinimelsr.com/sermon-on-soteriology-be-faithful-until-death If youre faithful unto death, you will get the crown of life. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that If they overcome in the first death, they will not be hurt by the second death. Baptist. 8 billion called themselves Christians in some broadest sense of the word. Suppose I were to stand in this pulpit and speak and discuss English literature three times once a week? The young fellow knelt down before the Lord [Mark 10:17]. False doctrine prevents people from being faithful. He knows the fear that you have. 1 John 5: 13-21 Near the close of the previous chapter Paul had said," The law entered that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did much more The shears with rust are spoiled and yet. We all love to be accepted. Text: Genesis 49:28-50 We find them suggested in II Kings 2:1-12. Would I run away? WebIts a very tender and touching sceneone of the most moving and heartwarming farewell speeches thats ever been recorded in literature. Web"Faithful unto Death" Sixth Sunday after Pentecost St. Mark 6:14-29 July 16, 2006 IN NOMINE JESU In the rite of Confirmation, the confirmands are reminded of what they have undergone, as the pastor states: You have been baptized and you have been taught the faith according to our Lord's bidding. Youre going to suffer. One, starting with Nero, Christians were blamed for things in Rome and were being persecuted, at least intermittently. knows nothing about defeat (Romans 4:17-21, Genesis As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Matthew 9:24, Luke 8:53), 2. Then, they feel they dont need God, because theyve succeeded in life. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. 21:25). And a man who preaches the word of the Lord is someone people love to listen to. As the song says, Just one glimpse of him in glory will the toils of life repay. Surely, seeing Jesus face to face will be reward enough for our faithfulness. Losing focus of whats important in life prevents people from being faithful. He wants to be acclaimed and accepted and praised by them. Inspirational devotions delivered right to your email inbox. You could not help but love him. Christ delivered man out of death to the promise of the gift of eternal life yet man thinking he is in the perfection of God's love, sins. Were at 7, 8 now? 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. Deuteronomy 2:1-15, Denomination: It wasnt the procedure at this time that you would try to stamp out every Christian, but if somebody ratted you out, often your family, and you were brought there, then you were made to recant. [My Glorious Victor, Prince Divine, Handley C.G. Suppose I were to stand in this pulpitI majored in English in college, and I love English literature. Remember, they considered the Christians to be atheists because they didnt have any statues, they didnt have idols. In fact, as I said last week, the two most struggling churches, the ones facing the greatest weaknesses, at least in an earthly sense, Philadelphia and Smyrna, are the ones about whom Jesus has nothing but good to say: I know your tribulation and your poverty. We read when the magistrate persisted and said, Swear the oath and I will release you. Almost half of those were murdered, starved, died in prison camps in the Soviet Union. There is nothing but praise from our Lord for the church in Smyrna [Revelation 2:8-11]. And when they turned to drive away, his wife burst into tears and said, John, John, how can we do this? There was a price on the head of our Lord. Files Audio Faithful Unto Death (Video) Notes Transcript Or it could refer to a garland, a victors crown. Probably dates to around 108 A.D., that is shortly after the death of Ignatius. Will God reward you? Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight. But here God says dont be surprised, dont, when it comes, do not think God is against you. Give to Him life, home, family, business He will give it back to you A Compelling Conclusion (Part 1) # 18 Continuing with our series through the seven letters to the seven churches, this morning to the church in Smyrna. We can remember the love that God has for us. Selfishness prevents people from being faithful. He uses these reminders as an example to us of how we, too, can accomplish great things through our faith. Why didnt the Lord say that to Zaccheus? It continues to the last stitch. We have to remember the reality to come which will last forever and the reality that exists now. But if I abdicate the throne, and no longer is itself, but if I enthrone my Lord, life becomes infinitely blessed, infinitely precious, infinitely meaningful. Could I take time to turn aside? 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he This is the apocalypse revelation written down by John, who was a Jew, so we ought not take this to be some sort of anti-Jewish polemic. God(John 8:31-32, 14:23-24), A. They are clear and unequivocal; the first one is this: supreme love for Jesus our Lord. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faithFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of John 19:17-27. But pastor, does God say anything? So he tells him, Swear by Caesar, or recant. 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. Dont you find those martyrdom stories inspiring and yet utterly overwhelming? But this letter, you notice, is shot through with encouragement. They will be subtle, but they will be there. Just do the sacrifices, just do the ritual, and if you want to say youre doing it to the emperors as rulers, to honor them, and not as gods, then so be it. Two commands. Or suppose I were to stand here, and if I were trained to be a scientist; suppose I were to lecture on science three times every week? If they were faithful to the end, surely we can be as well. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 14:14). General Washington needed information concerning the British troops. Title: Death of two great patriarchs In fact, this one disqualifying sin will exclude us from ever going to heaven and receiving eternal life. Give it up. Some put it much lower than that, if its actually killing you because you confess Christ, the higher number is if in some way the state has starvation or death or opposition to religious groups, including Christians. read more, Scripture: 15:58). I dont look forward to it. Ritual of piercing the ear of a slave who refuses to leave his master after That is a big number. 2:4). In order to be faithful, we must put God first in our lives-You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. And the Lord, looking deep in the soul of the young fellow, said to him, Your heart is in the world. Money causes individuals to work long hours and thus neglect their families. Amen.. Come do what you wish. Polycarp was then found guilty of confessing to being a Christian. So we dont have to long for it and want it. And that leads them into all kinds of things that break the hearts of their parents. That is what the Bible said about Jesus: Jesus, looking upon him, loved him [Mark 10:21]. We Christians must be faithful. Come. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. If we live as Christians simply to avoid death, we are not living as Jesus would have us live. a man loves the world and the things that are in it, he will find his hands Jesus calls us to overcome. Three points of application. 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