Monday Morning Memo: Enduring Hardships Part 3

As you know, in July I had the opportunity to speak on Revelation 2:8-11, and I found it both inspiring and convicting.  These verses give us a glimpse into the church in Smyrna and how their members were willing to give their all for Christ.  If you haven’t read the previous couple of blog posts, I recommend you do that so this post will make more sense.

 

Today we are looking at verse 10 where it says, “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.”

 

Do you think there is anyone who can honestly say that they don’t fear suffering?  None of us like to suffer and these people in Smyrna had already been through so much anguish and now the Lord is telling them not to fear what is to come, even though it is probably only going to get worse.  I’m sure that isn’t what they wanted to hear.

 

He refers here to suffering persecution for ten days and if you begin reading commentaries on what the ten days signifies…you are going to find several different ideas.  Some claim Jesus was talking about 10 – 24-hour days, which is probably what we would think of.  Some believe Jesus was prophetically referring to 10 Roman Emperors who would greatly persecute the church.  And there are others who believe the number 10 simply signifies intensity – kind of like when the doctor asks you on a scale of 1-10…how much does it hurt?  Doesn’t that drive you nuts?  I hate that pain scale.  If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that question…I’d be a very wealthy woman.

 

But regardless of how well we understand the meaning wrapped up in the phrase “you will suffer persecution for ten days”, the fact that Jesus calls for the church at Smyrna to be faithful through them is clear.

In verse 11 then, Jesus says, “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.”  The first death is physical death.  That’s inevitable.  We are all going to die at some point.  The second death is eternal separation from God…spiritual death.  The people of Smyrna remained true and obedient to their God…so they were promised eternity with Him instead of being cast into the lake of fire in hell.      

So, what can we learn from these Christians in Smyrna?  Fortunately, at least at this point, we are not facing the horrendous suffering they endured as a result of their faith.  Oh, I think we often think we are persecuted…but if we were to sit and swap stories with these brothers and sisters in Christ…I think our examples wouldn’t hold much weight compared to theirs.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t have trials in our life.  All of us face different difficulties…what I am going through is probably entirely different than what you are facing…but that doesn’t diminish the pain and hurt that each of us experience.  But as I prepared for this sermon, I came across a statement that spoke volumes to me and has impacted me more than anything else I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to share it with you.  Make sure you come back next week when I will reveal this statement that has impacted me so much.

But for now…I am asking, “Are you ready for the first death?”  We know death is inevitable for all of us…are you ready?  Our final day on this earth is inescapable…but the second death…spiritual death…IS avoidable.  If we haven’t accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior before we die…we will be separated from Christ for eternity.  But if we have made Him Lord and Savior of our life before we take our last breath…we will be just like the Christ-followers of Smyrna and won’t be hurt at all by the second death. 

By accepting Christ, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Don’t delay.  Just pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, were resurrected and that you are alive and well today.  I believe you are the Son of God and that you deeply love me.  I confess that I am a sinner and I need you to forgive me and cleanse me from my sins.  I accept you as my Savior and want you to create a new and clean heart in me.  I now want to live every day for you, and I know that I will have eternal life with you because of what you did on Calvary’s cross for me.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer today, make sure and let me or a close friend know.   We want to celebrate your decision with you!

Until next time…

Monday Morning Memo: Enduring Hardships Part 2

I recently had the opportunity to speak on Revelation 2:8-11, and I found it both inspiring and convicting.  These verses give us a glimpse into the church in Smyrna and how their members were willing to give their all for Christ.

 

Last week we looked at how the Christ followers in the Smyrna church were being persecuted…but never complained.  They were willing to give their all for their Jesus.  What an amazing example for us to follow.

 

This week we look at what Christ tells them in verse 9, “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!”  I love those first two words…I know.  He wants these followers to know that He sees them.  He sees their poverty.  He sees their intense suffering.  He knew how important it was for them to hear this from the One for whom they were giving their all.  

 

Let me ask you a question.  Do you always feel seen?  Are there times in your life where you are going through very difficult waters and you just wish someone would “see” you.  I’ve been there.  If I’m going to be honest with you…in the last couple years of my life I have had moments where I wondered if even the Lord was seeing what I was going through.  Deep down I knew He was…but it is so easy in our times of distress to feel overlooked or forgotten.  

 

That’s why it is so important that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are intentional in “seeing” those around us.  I can’t tell you how many times in the past 2 years, when I have felt like I was going down for the third time…and a brother or sister in Christ has either called me, texted me, even came to see me to let me know that they have seen what I was going through and they cared.  Friends, we need to be Jesus with skin on for those around us.  We may be the only Jesus some will ever see…and if we are too busy to really see others…they may never know the One who has endured so much for them.

 

And in this letter, Christ tells them that He sees the hardships they are facing…and then reminds them that even so…they are still rich!  He points their eyes heavenward…reminding them that they will be rewarded for their faithfulness.  He was reminding them that treasure is not to be stored on earth but in heaven…they had not lost their spiritual wealth and it’s important that we encourage each other with these words also.  My friends have been great at helping me keep my eyes looking up…even during the darkest days.

 

Notice too in these verses that the Lord doesn’t sugarcoat their circumstances and tell them that He is going to remove them from their suffering.  In fact…he seems to allude to the fact that it’s only going to get worse.  Now that must have been encouraging!  

 

He tells them that He knows about the slander of those who say they are Jews…but are actually a synagogue of Satan.  The rest of verse 9 says, “I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan”.  The word used here in this context is BLASPHEMIA.  This word is usually associated with slander against God.  But in this setting, it refers to the slander that the ‘synagogue of Satan’ stirred against the Church.

 

The Emperor Nero had a follower by the name of Aliturus, whom he admired very much.  He also had another vile friendship with another man named Popaea.  Both of these men were Jews.  They used their contact with the Emperor to feed the slander against the early church.  It was because they were convicted of their sins that they fought and hated the early church so vigorously. 

 

The result was the Christian persecution the people were enduring.  But the Lord knew what they were going through, and he urged them to be faithful until death when they would be blessed with a crown.  The Greek word here is STEPHANOS, which describes the garland crown placed on the heads of athletes after winning a race.  (And, by the way, we won’t wear these crowns very long because we will lay them at the feet of Jesus in heaven).  Oh, what a day that will be!

 

This section of scripture made me ask myself, “How well am I “seeing” others?  As I go through my week, am I intentionally looking for those whom I can lift up…whom I can let know that they are being seen by me?  Or am I just too busy to be bothered?”  OUCH.

 

As we go throughout this coming week, let’s pay attention to those who God puts in our path. They may be feeling like they are going down for the third time…and are just praying that someone…anyone…cares.  Who knows what impact we can have by just “seeing” them and helping to lift their eyes heavenward.  Time is of the essence…and remember…if they don’t see Jesus in us…they may never see Him at all.

 

Until next week…

Monday Morning Memo: Enduring Hardships Part 1

As I shared last week, I recently had the opportunity to speak on Revelation 2:8-11, and I found it both inspiring and convicting.  These verses give us a glimpse into the church in Smyrna and how their members were willing to give their all for Christ.

 

Revelation 2 contains the letters that were written to four of the seven churches in Asia located in modern day Turkey.  The other three churches are addressed in Chapter 3.  John has some condemnation in his letters to five of those churches…telling them what would happen if they didn’t change some of their ways…but two of the churches received no criticism and those churches were in Smyrna and Philadelphia.

 

Verses 8-11 contain the Apostle John’s letter to the Smyrna church as he conveys what the Lord wants them to know.  I was curious as to what was happening at that time and why these Christ-followers weren’t criticized. Was it because everything was going swimmingly in their lives with no problems?  Hardly so. 

 

Revelation 2:8-11 says,

“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. 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. 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.

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.”

Smyrna was one of the most beautiful cities of its day.  Some historians even debate that Smyrna was the most elegant city that the Grecians ever built.  The city sloped down toward the sea and along the sides of the hill was a very large amphitheater where over twenty-thousand people could sit.  It was in this amphitheater that worship to Caesar took place. 

 

The problems began for the Christians who refused to worship Caesar.  They became marked men and were noted as traitors to the government.  To be a Christian during this time was to have your life in jeopardy every.single.day.  The tortures that were inflicted on Christians were almost unspeakable.  

 

Let me give you a peek into some of the things these Christians endured.  Some in the early church were placed in a rack which had chains.  Their hands and their feet were chained and every time the believer refused to deny the Lord, the chains were tightened to such an extent that they would be ripped from limb to limb.  Others were thrown to hungry lions. Some were covered with animal skins and tortured to death by wild dogs. Some would be covered with tar and set on fire as torches.   Others were literally cooked alive in boiling pots of hot oil.  Some would be burned at the stake.  

 

Not only were these Christians facing persecution, but they were also extremely poor.  Now, Smyrna was one of the richest cities in Ancient Rome, but these Christ followers had been reduced to being beggars.  Remember I said that they were marked people because they refused to worship Caesar, so as a result, they were deprived of the right to work.  No trade union would have them.  No business would hire them.  They were boycotted at every turn… so they lived in destitution.  

 

The pressure that this church was under was unimaginable.  However, it seems that they endured all of this without complaining.  How amazing is that?  It’s one thing to suffer because of our wrongful actions…but to suffer wrongfully and still have a good attitude…is an entirely different situation.  It takes it to a whole new level.  No wonder Jesus didn’t have condemnation for them in this letter.

 

This made me ask myself, “How am I at “suffering” for Christ?”  Fortunately, any suffering I might go through at this point, doesn’t hold a candle to what these brothers and sisters faced in Smyrna.  But regardless, when times arise when I endure pain because of my faith, do I go through it without complaining…or am I constantly whining and acting like a spoiled brat?

 

Another question that came to my mind was, “If I’m not going through suffering because of my faith in Christ…is that because no one can even tell I’m a follower of His?”   Because as long as I’m not looking any different than the unsaved…Satan has no reason to try and derail me.

 

I realize these are some “heavy” thoughts to start our week…but I believe that time is of the essence, and it is so important that we are giving everything we have to follow Christ.  Others are watching and if we aren’t showing them Jesus…who will?  

 

Let’s pay attention this week to see if we are prone to whine and complain on our journey with the Lord.  Can others even tell we are Christians…or do our actions and reactions look more like the world?  Others are watching and they need to see Jesus in us…or they may never see Him at all.

 

Until next week…

Monday Morning Memo: Only Because of God

It was a strange feeling.  I was having my quiet time with the Lord and He suddenly impressed a thought in my mind.  I sensed He was telling me that He was going to ask me to do something…and I shouldn’t immediately say “NO”.  I’ll be honest...that thought made me really nervous, because I wondered what He would ask of me, and would it be one of those “push me way out of my comfort zone” moments??  Time would tell.

 

But I didn’t have to wait long.  24 hours later I received a text from a pastor friend who wondered if I could preach for him on July 27th.  Of course, my first thought was “NO”…because as you know…my health has been a little shaky for quite some time…especially since I’ve struggled with coughing for 13 months.  So how in the world would I be able to preach?  It just wouldn’t be feasible and so I would have to text back and say “NO”.

 

Then…I remembered what the Lord impressed on me the day before.  Could this be what He was talking about?  Did He know me so well that He had to pre-warn me…because He knew what my immediate answer would be?  The timing seemed suspicious to me.  I decided I better not say “NO” right away, just in case, this was something I was to consider.

 

So, I asked the pastor if I could have 24 hours to give my answer and he was gracious and said that wouldn’t be a problem.  Over those hours…I prayed, prayed and prayed some more.  I asked a friend to pray with me.  When the time was up, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my answer was to be “YES”.  I just had no clue how I would pull this off…unless the Lord intervened and healed me.

 

To complicate this situation, the pastor told me that they are doing a year-long series on the writings of John and so he needed me to preach on Revelation 2.  Revelation?  Seriously?  I can think of a lot more “fun” books in the Bible from which to write sermons.  So I, rather grudgingly, sat down and read through Revelation 2…and verses 8-11 jumped off the page at me.  The church of Smyrna was speaking to me…and I instantly knew why I had been asked to speak and why these particular verses were ones I was supposed to share.

 

Was I healed completely by July 27th?  No, I wasn’t.  In fact, as I attempted to sing along with the congregation during the time leading up to my sermon…I began to cough…which wasn’t a good sign.  I stopped singing and began praying what I had prayed since I had been asked.  I prayed that I would not cough at all and that I wouldn’t even get a “tickle” in my throat so my voice would be clear and strong.

 

The time came for me to share and as I stepped in front of the podium…a feeling of strength and power coursed through my body.  It’s hard to even explain.  It was as if something had been poured in and through me and when I began to speak, my voice was stronger than it had been in many, many months.  I was able to share what the Lord had laid on my heart…without any coughing at all and even without a “tickle” in my throat.  Only because of God.

 

Why am I sharing all of this with you?  Because I believe the Lord wants me to share with you, over the next few Mondays, what I learned these past weeks as I prepared for July 27th.  He spoke to me through the brothers and sisters from the Smyrna church.  How these amazing Christians endured hardships was inspiring and convicting…and maybe you need to learn from them too.

 

Has God asked you to do something and your immediate answer was “NO”?  If so, why not take this coming week and begin praying about your answer.  Ask someone to pray with you.  Make sure that your “NO”…wasn’t supposed to be a “YES”.  Because I’m here to tell you…if He calls you to a task you don’t think you can do…He is able to step in and take over and give whatever you need…exactly when you need it.  Yes, you can do it…only because of God.

 

By the way…to so many of my readers…thank you.  During these past six weeks, you have been amazing.  Many of you contacted me to check on me and to let me know that you were lifting me up in prayer.  Some of you sent scripture verses to encourage me and to help keep my focus on the Lord.  What an inspiration you were to me, and I just can’t thank you enough.  Overall, my health has improved some and we think we may have an idea for a diagnosis.  I will see a new specialist this month and see if he confirms it.

 

Again…should your “NO” be a “YES”?  Let’s pray about it this week and see where the Lord leads!