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[Music]

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morning friends this is pastor david

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packer of international baptist church

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in stuttgart germany

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i'm glad to join you today and you can

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join me and look at god's word we're in

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the second chapter of revelation so if

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you have your bible

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uh please open it to revelation 2 we're

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looking at the

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letter to the church in smyrna this is

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revelation 2 verse verses 8

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through 11. last week we introduced the

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series and the seven letters the seven

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churches

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is described as that which is now in the

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book of revelation 119

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gives us the revelation 19 gives us the

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outline for the book

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and uh that now means the church age

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seven letters at the seven churches

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number seven is symbolic for

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completeness so these seven letters the

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seven churches that were real churches

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that face

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real situations they describe every

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church

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in the church age some people do see a

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pattern

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of the of a historical pattern of these

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that

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is the seven letters described seven

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seven uh stages of church growth but uh

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but every one of them also applies to us

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well today we're looking at the

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persecuted church persecution is one of

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those things we close our eyes to and as

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long as we ignore that happens we should

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not we really should not it says in

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hebrews

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13 3 remember those in prison

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as if you were together with them in

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prison and we ought to always remember

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uh christians that are facing

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persecution in the

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50 worst nations in the world

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and the 50 worst nations towards

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christians back towards christians in

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the world there are 245

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million believers in those nations

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from november 2017 until

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october 2018 in those nations there were

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4

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136 christians that were killed

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and this is a terrible tragedy that's

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just the ones who were killed not

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including the ones who were in prison

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the ones who were intimidated the ones

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who lost job opportunities or the ones

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who lost investments

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are the ones who were paid far less than

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they should have been paid or

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the one who's the ones whose children

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were

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were not able to attend school or attend

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a good school because

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uh their parents were christians the

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world

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persecutes christians in a variety of

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ways

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but the bible says also that all of us

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all of us know something about

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persecution

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in the second timothy 3 12 says and all

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who desire to live

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godly in christ jesus will suffer

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persecution so this is a sad reality for

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all of us

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well today we're looking at the church

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in smyrna we're going to break it down

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this passage into three things first of

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all how christ described himself

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secondly how he described the church

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and thirdly how he described the

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overcomer

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now here we are in revelation 2

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verse 8 to the angel of the church and

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smyrna write

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these are the words of him who is the

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first and the last who died

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and came to life again

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i know your afflictions and your poverty

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yet you are rich

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i know the slander of those who say they

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are jews and are not but are a synagogue

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of satan

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do not be afraid of what you're about to

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suffer i tell you the devil will put

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some of you in prison to test you

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and you will suffer persecution for 10

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days be

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faithful even to the point of death and

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i will give you the crown of life

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he who has an ear let him hear what the

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spirit says to the churches

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he who overcomes will not be heard at

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all by the second death

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as we mentioned last week this is

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written in apocalyptic language which

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uses symbols sometimes even bizarre

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symbols

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to communicate god's truth to us so to

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break these down we see

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three things that stand out to us in

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this passage house christ christ

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described himself

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how he described the church and how he

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described the overcomer first of all how

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he described himself

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he said that he is the first and the

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last he is the one

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who created the world that is and the

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one who will sum it all up

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and he said i am the one who died and

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came to life

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again it's a very short description but

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it's a very powerful one

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by saying he is the first and the last

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he reminds the persecuted church that he

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is the creator and he is the one who

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brought the world into existence and he

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is the one who will end the world he

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will sum it

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up because of who he is all things

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point to him all the streams of history

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point to christ jesus and

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and all of history will find his

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culmination

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in him and then by saying he is the one

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who died and came to life he reminds us

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it teaches us

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of his grace and how great his grace is

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that he fully paid for our sins and

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not only did he just die for a few of

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our sins he died for all of our sins

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however sinful we are his grace is much

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greater

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and then he did not remain dead rather

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he came to life and these two great

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statements of his

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of his uh act of sacrifice his vicarious

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substitutionary death for our sins

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and then also his victory in the

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resurrection these

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two statements should encourage us in

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our faith especially

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the persecuted church now the world

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the lost world the persecuting world

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sees it differently

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they're angry at god because they see

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him invading

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their space they want to live their

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lives without recognizing god or paying

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attention to him

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so when he invades their space and

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speaks to them about righteousness about

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obligation

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about duty well they'll complain and

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they'll say why does god allow this and

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why

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why is this church preaching to us and

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they'll be angry

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towards christians who are simply

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preaching the gospel of god's love

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to a lost world that needs to know of

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christ's love for them

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the bible says as a man's own folly that

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ruins his life

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yet his heart rages against the lord

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and people blame god for things that are

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their fault

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god has given us freedom and when we

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abuse that freedom

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there are going to be innocent people

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who suffer

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freedom always exists

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in conjunction with responsibility and

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the world says why does god allow this

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because god gave you freedom and we've

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made

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we the human race have made some

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mistakes i'm part of the human race

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we've done things we should not have

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done

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and innocent people suffer because of

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that and the same person that complains

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that

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why does god allow this to happen that

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same person would would be very upset

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if god took away some of his freedom say

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i want freedom i just don't want

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responsibility

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but friend you cannot separate those two

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so the world is angry towards god and it

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takes it out on christians and we can

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all

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expect to experience this everyone who

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seeks to live a godly life

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is going to face persecution we read

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that in

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second timothy 3 12. so all of us all of

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us

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expect to face some persecution and

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those moments remember

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that god is the one who created things

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all streams of history find their

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fulfillment in christ

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and christ has paid for our sins and

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promises us in your life

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now the second thing is how he describes

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the church let's look at how he

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describes the church he says to them

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i know your afflictions and your poverty

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yet you are rich one of the common

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things that

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ways christians suffer is especially in

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the in the new testament days

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is to be robbed of their possessions

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those things that they legally

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and generally possess because of some

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loophole

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that will be taken away from them that's

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always been the case

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or even something that they should

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rightly have a promotion at work an

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opportunity

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they would be robbed of because of their

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profession of faith

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in christ and that of course that's to

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discourage them or just because the

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world is angry at them

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and this is uh this is a reality now he

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also mentions this

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issue of slander he talks about the

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synagogue of satan who slander you now

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by the way that's not a statement

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against all jews

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it is a description of the synagogue and

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from other

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records we can verify this the synagogue

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in smyrna

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that was angry at the at the christians

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and wanted to discourage them

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so that particular synagogue was not

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encouraging of the christian faith and

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they

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slandered christians and this is the

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reality of christian persecution

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throughout the centuries it's amazing

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when you look at how

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the church was slandered in the early

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christian centuries

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they were accused of many things that

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were false for example a common

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accusation against christians was

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cannibalism

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why cannibalism that they're eating

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other people because

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people did not understand what it what

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it was

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when they would quote christ said this

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is my body which is broken for you

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take and eat they say ha see they're

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eating people

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often they were accused of atheism

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because they did not believe in the

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false

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god they were also accused sometimes of

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perverting

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morals because they taught uh the proper

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morality

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of proper morality and they would uh

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object to that

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or sometimes they would be accused of

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public riots

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even though they did not cause the

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rights rather the riot cause because of

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00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,559
the persecutors but still the christians

289
00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,440
were blamed

290
00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:56,559
for the riot and many many false things

291
00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,360
for example another

292
00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,039
common accusation was the christians

293
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,959
have an

294
00:10:00,039 --> 00:10:03,439
unpatriotic spirit because they will not

295
00:10:02,958 --> 00:10:06,159
say

296
00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,120
caesar is lord of course they could not

297
00:10:06,159 --> 00:10:09,039
because

298
00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,959
that would be saying that caesar is

299
00:10:09,039 --> 00:10:14,078
equal to christ or caesar is

300
00:10:10,958 --> 00:10:16,639
is above christ even but they

301
00:10:14,078 --> 00:10:17,120
christians would say christ is lord but

302
00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:19,519
not

303
00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,560
israel's lord so that would be viewed as

304
00:10:19,519 --> 00:10:22,639
someone who was not

305
00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,719
patriotic or did not love their nation

306
00:10:22,639 --> 00:10:28,319
someone unreliable

307
00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:31,600
well blasphemy by definition is to

308
00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:34,079
call that which is holy as unholy

309
00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,240
and that was what was happening well it

310
00:10:34,078 --> 00:10:37,919
describes later on in this same section

311
00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,839
the next verse says this

312
00:10:37,919 --> 00:10:41,599
do not be afraid of what you're to

313
00:10:39,839 --> 00:10:43,920
suffer i tell you the devil will put

314
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,879
some of you in prison to test you

315
00:10:43,919 --> 00:10:47,599
and you will suffer persecution for 10

316
00:10:46,879 --> 00:10:49,600
days

317
00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,839
some people believe that statement 10

318
00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:55,440
days is symbolic of the 10

319
00:10:51,839 --> 00:10:58,079
imperial persecutions from nero

320
00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,720
to diocletian diocletian was the emperor

321
00:10:58,078 --> 00:11:00,879
just before

322
00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,920
constantine the first christian emperor

323
00:11:00,879 --> 00:11:04,879
and from nero

324
00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:07,120
to diocletian there were 10 official

325
00:11:04,879 --> 00:11:08,480
roman persecutions as imperial

326
00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,959
persecutions

327
00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,920
but it descripts it describes this as

328
00:11:10,958 --> 00:11:15,119
limited

329
00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:18,159
limited god will in his time put an

330
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,600
end to christian persecution one of the

331
00:11:18,159 --> 00:11:22,719
most common questions

332
00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:25,440
in the bible ask of god in prayer is how

333
00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,639
long o lord how long will you let this

334
00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,560
go on

335
00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:30,240
but there will be an end to christian

336
00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:33,679
persecution we can

337
00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:36,879
we can uh rest in that fact but when

338
00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,919
christians die they go to be with the

339
00:11:36,879 --> 00:11:39,600
lord

340
00:11:37,919 --> 00:11:41,120
if you have your bible you turn it to

341
00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,040
another page over

342
00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,959
from revelation 2 to me it's just a

343
00:11:43,039 --> 00:11:48,240
couple of pages to revelation

344
00:11:44,958 --> 00:11:51,199
7 and it describes the uh

345
00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:53,519
the great multitude a great multitude

346
00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:57,440
standing before the throne of god

347
00:11:53,519 --> 00:11:58,000
uh in white robes and uh it describes

348
00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,240
these

349
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,159
people a great multitude of many

350
00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,399
different nations says this

351
00:12:02,159 --> 00:12:06,078
uh these are those who have come out of

352
00:12:04,399 --> 00:12:08,480
the great tribulation

353
00:12:06,078 --> 00:12:10,479
they have washed their robes and made

354
00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,720
them white in the blood of lamb

355
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:15,039
blood of the lamb therefore they are

356
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,959
before the throne of god and serve him

357
00:12:15,039 --> 00:12:18,719
day and night in his temple

358
00:12:16,958 --> 00:12:20,399
and he who sits on the throne will

359
00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,200
spread his tent

360
00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:25,278
over them that is give them protection

361
00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,120
never again will they hunger never again

362
00:12:25,278 --> 00:12:29,439
will they thirst the sun will not beat

363
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,759
upon them nor any scorching heat

364
00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,639
for the lamb at the center of the throne

365
00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:34,958
will be their

366
00:12:32,639 --> 00:12:35,839
shepherd he will lead them to springs of

367
00:12:34,958 --> 00:12:38,638
living water

368
00:12:35,839 --> 00:12:40,560
and god will wipe away every tear from

369
00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:42,799
their eyes well that's a wonderful

370
00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,838
statement of promise and how god will

371
00:12:42,799 --> 00:12:47,199
treat

372
00:12:43,839 --> 00:12:48,240
the martyr who goes to heaven and stands

373
00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,240
there before him

374
00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,959
the the those who die in their faith

375
00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:56,000
will not be disappointed in the reward

376
00:12:52,958 --> 00:12:59,439
they receive from god now

377
00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:02,240
the the word smyrna itself

378
00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:04,639
really is the word for myrrh myrrh would

379
00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:06,159
be in aramaic or hebrew word but smyrna

380
00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:09,200
would be the greek but

381
00:13:06,159 --> 00:13:11,360
myrrh uh was a perfume the fragrance was

382
00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,839
released by the crushing of the myrrh

383
00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,720
and that's a picture of the fragrance of

384
00:13:13,839 --> 00:13:16,480
christ

385
00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,200
being released through a christian's

386
00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:21,600
life when they face persecution

387
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:24,480
their face persecution christians can

388
00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:26,399
expect the power of god to sustain them

389
00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,800
if they will simply turn to god in faith

390
00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:31,039
and sustain them and bring them through

391
00:13:28,799 --> 00:13:33,439
that experience by the way the word

392
00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:35,599
ellipsis which is the word uh

393
00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,800
person not persecution but for hardship

394
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,959
or tribulation

395
00:13:36,799 --> 00:13:41,519
that word is also used to describe the

396
00:13:38,958 --> 00:13:43,919
crushing of grapes in order to make wine

397
00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:45,759
those are two pictures of what happens

398
00:13:43,919 --> 00:13:46,719
when christians face rejection

399
00:13:45,759 --> 00:13:49,759
persecution

400
00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:53,440
and respond with grace we

401
00:13:49,759 --> 00:13:55,759
see the character of christ is released

402
00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,920
and the fragrance of christ is released

403
00:13:55,759 --> 00:13:59,919
before an

404
00:13:56,919 --> 00:14:01,439
uncaring world remember it was the it

405
00:13:59,919 --> 00:14:05,278
was the martyrdom

406
00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:06,399
of stephen that was what god used in

407
00:14:05,278 --> 00:14:09,679
order to

408
00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:11,440
turn saul begin to turn saul from the

409
00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:14,799
persecutor of the church

410
00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:16,720
to a christian himself now

411
00:14:14,799 --> 00:14:18,159
it's interesting as we see this go back

412
00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,959
to that statement that christ

413
00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:21,759
made about who he is i mean look at this

414
00:14:20,958 --> 00:14:24,078
church

415
00:14:21,759 --> 00:14:25,759
they especially the persecuted church or

416
00:14:24,078 --> 00:14:29,439
the persecuted christian

417
00:14:25,759 --> 00:14:31,360
we really do need to have a firm grasp

418
00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,800
of the grace of god to us when we go

419
00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,440
through persecution

420
00:14:32,799 --> 00:14:37,198
we need to make sure we grasp how great

421
00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,839
god's grace is

422
00:14:37,198 --> 00:14:41,759
we often ask for things from god that we

423
00:14:39,839 --> 00:14:44,639
think will help us a little bit

424
00:14:41,759 --> 00:14:45,120
when god has a different plan for us god

425
00:14:44,639 --> 00:14:48,159
goes

426
00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:50,159
far beyond what we could imagine

427
00:14:48,159 --> 00:14:53,360
and we see many examples of this for

428
00:14:50,159 --> 00:14:56,000
example the dying thief on the cross

429
00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,959
he asked for too little but he asked in

430
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,360
faith and

431
00:14:56,958 --> 00:15:01,359
and christ answered his prayer according

432
00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,879
to his plan according to his power

433
00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,039
remember the thief said

434
00:15:02,879 --> 00:15:06,720
remember me when you come into your

435
00:15:05,039 --> 00:15:08,399
kingdom now christ was

436
00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,959
dying on the cross so that was a

437
00:15:08,399 --> 00:15:12,000
statement that he believed that christ

438
00:15:10,958 --> 00:15:16,078
would have a kingdom

439
00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:18,480
beyond death but he said remember me

440
00:15:16,078 --> 00:15:19,359
that's simply a statement that one day

441
00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,159
maybe god

442
00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:24,240
you will remember me and i'll be in hell

443
00:15:22,159 --> 00:15:25,679
but remember me that i do put my faith

444
00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,879
and trust in you

445
00:15:25,679 --> 00:15:32,479
but jesus said to him jesus replied

446
00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:36,958
said to him today not someday

447
00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:39,120
today you will be with me in paradise

448
00:15:36,958 --> 00:15:40,078
yes that's so typical of what we what we

449
00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,440
asked for something

450
00:15:40,078 --> 00:15:45,599
so small the prodigal returning home to

451
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,519
the father the prodigal said

452
00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,199
make me as one of your hired servants

453
00:15:47,519 --> 00:15:51,600
that's what he planned to say

454
00:15:49,198 --> 00:15:52,319
but the father interrupted the prodigal

455
00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,199
son

456
00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:56,240
and he said for my son was dead and is

457
00:15:55,198 --> 00:15:59,838
now alive

458
00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:02,879
and he put on him the the garments of

459
00:15:59,839 --> 00:16:04,639
honor and acceptance uh the publican

460
00:16:02,879 --> 00:16:06,480
remember the publican or the tax

461
00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:07,120
collector who came into the temple to

462
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,199
pray

463
00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,440
while the pharisee was praying the

464
00:16:09,198 --> 00:16:13,838
publican beat upon his breast

465
00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,120
and did not even dare look up but he

466
00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:18,240
said lord be

467
00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:21,278
merciful to me a sinner he was just

468
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,000
asking for the mercy of god but christ

469
00:16:21,278 --> 00:16:25,120
said

470
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:28,000
that he returned home justified

471
00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:29,679
before god justifies a much higher

472
00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:33,198
reception of grace than

473
00:16:29,679 --> 00:16:35,439
mere mercy and we see that god always

474
00:16:33,198 --> 00:16:37,359
surprises us with his answers

475
00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,480
remember the paralytic whose friends

476
00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,000
came to

477
00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,639
let him down through the roof before

478
00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,360
jesus they just wanted jesus to heal his

479
00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:45,600
body

480
00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,879
but jesus looked at his soul and said

481
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,040
your sins

482
00:16:46,879 --> 00:16:50,078
are forgiven you and that's always the

483
00:16:49,039 --> 00:16:52,719
way it is for god

484
00:16:50,078 --> 00:16:54,559
we we see something we think we need and

485
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,879
god says i'm going to bless you

486
00:16:54,559 --> 00:16:59,758
far beyond what you're asking for

487
00:16:56,879 --> 00:17:02,720
because this is my plan this is my grace

488
00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:04,240
and god's grace always always goes far

489
00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,880
beyond what we could ever imagine

490
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,759
or hope for so that's why it's helpful

491
00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:13,280
for christ to say i'm the one who died

492
00:17:09,759 --> 00:17:16,240
i covered all your sins by my death

493
00:17:13,279 --> 00:17:17,279
and i'm the one who was raised to life

494
00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,919
and i will cover

495
00:17:17,279 --> 00:17:21,838
all your best hopes and ambitions for

496
00:17:19,919 --> 00:17:22,959
the future because i have a wonderful

497
00:17:21,838 --> 00:17:25,038
plan for you

498
00:17:22,959 --> 00:17:27,038
better than you could ever imagine in

499
00:17:25,038 --> 00:17:29,200
yourself and the

500
00:17:27,038 --> 00:17:30,640
and the persecuted christian needs to

501
00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,679
realize that

502
00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,799
when we can see how great god's grace is

503
00:17:33,679 --> 00:17:37,600
to us

504
00:17:34,798 --> 00:17:38,798
how much we have sinned against him and

505
00:17:37,599 --> 00:17:41,918
against others

506
00:17:38,798 --> 00:17:45,918
then we can more easily accept

507
00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:48,000
the the injustices we experience

508
00:17:45,919 --> 00:17:49,280
and then when we can understand how

509
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,240
great his plan

510
00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:53,918
is for us we can also understand how

511
00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,480
temporary this world is

512
00:17:53,919 --> 00:17:58,640
how quickly it passes and how long

513
00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,319
eternity is how wonderful eternity will

514
00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:02,640
be with christ and we can

515
00:18:00,319 --> 00:18:04,879
keep in the right perspective remember

516
00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:08,320
the story of the unmerciful

517
00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,880
servant it was an unforgiving servant

518
00:18:08,319 --> 00:18:12,798
who

519
00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:16,080
owed his master a huge amount

520
00:18:12,798 --> 00:18:18,639
it describes it as a 10 000 talents

521
00:18:16,079 --> 00:18:19,279
someone estimated that be around 10

522
00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:24,559
million

523
00:18:19,279 --> 00:18:27,119
euros today and he owed a huge amount

524
00:18:24,558 --> 00:18:29,759
and the master demanded that he have it

525
00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:32,000
and he said give me more time

526
00:18:29,759 --> 00:18:33,359
give me more time and i'll please be

527
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,359
patient with me

528
00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,959
and he was begging for patience he's

529
00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,359
begging for patience but

530
00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,960
that's the type of debt we know that it

531
00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,879
wouldn't matter

532
00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:45,279
you couldn't pay that back in a lifetime

533
00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:47,679
not in 10 lifetimes

534
00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:49,759
and and don't think about that it was

535
00:18:47,679 --> 00:18:52,080
such a staggering amount

536
00:18:49,759 --> 00:18:53,919
and the master forgave him but then he

537
00:18:52,079 --> 00:18:56,000
went out and found a servant who owed

538
00:18:53,919 --> 00:18:59,038
him just a little bit like about 20 year

539
00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:01,279
old and he took him into court

540
00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:02,240
and the master understood what happened

541
00:19:01,279 --> 00:19:04,160
and he

542
00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,759
he put him in prison at that point but

543
00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:09,120
description simply of how

544
00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:11,519
great the grace of god is to us how much

545
00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,479
god has forgiven us that when we

546
00:19:11,519 --> 00:19:14,639
consider how

547
00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,279
great god has forgiven and how how

548
00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:19,200
graciously he has dealt with us

549
00:19:17,279 --> 00:19:20,480
then even towards those who are

550
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,360
persecuting us

551
00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,880
we should have patience and compassion

552
00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:27,678
whatever they do

553
00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:29,440
whatever they do is not nearly as severe

554
00:19:27,679 --> 00:19:31,759
as what we have done

555
00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,600
to god and his grace has forgiven us so

556
00:19:31,759 --> 00:19:35,599
we should share that grace

557
00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:36,639
even towards those who are persecuting

558
00:19:35,599 --> 00:19:40,480
us who are treating us

559
00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:42,160
unfairly now this is a great

560
00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:45,440
piece of the saints when they face

561
00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:47,840
persecution simply turn it over to god

562
00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:50,160
and let it rest in god's hands that's

563
00:19:47,839 --> 00:19:52,639
what that's what christ is telling them

564
00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,679
just let it go be faithful even to the

565
00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,440
point of death

566
00:19:53,679 --> 00:19:56,720
be faith that's all you have to do just

567
00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:00,240
be faithful i

568
00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:03,519
will take care of you i will give you

569
00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,960
the crown of life now let's talk about

570
00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:08,000
the overcomer

571
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,600
how christ described him he said this he

572
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,558
says this in all the letters

573
00:20:09,599 --> 00:20:14,000
he who has an ear let him hear what the

574
00:20:12,558 --> 00:20:15,839
spirit says

575
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,359
to the churches you know the reason god

576
00:20:15,839 --> 00:20:20,798
made gave us ears

577
00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:22,879
and a mind to to perceive and even the

578
00:20:20,798 --> 00:20:25,359
ability to read and

579
00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:27,360
to see and interpret these things is so

580
00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,479
not that we could just please ourselves

581
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,038
but so we could

582
00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,400
understand what he is saying to us it

583
00:20:31,038 --> 00:20:34,640
says if you have an ear

584
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,519
all the sounds and things you're

585
00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,400
listening to

586
00:20:35,519 --> 00:20:40,960
be sure you also listen to the spirit

587
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:43,840
the spirit speaks to us through the word

588
00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:46,000
listen to him and and hear what he has

589
00:20:43,839 --> 00:20:49,199
to say and then not just hear it

590
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:51,038
but obey it and it says he who overcomes

591
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,519
will not be hurt at all by the second

592
00:20:51,038 --> 00:20:54,240
death

593
00:20:51,519 --> 00:20:55,200
that is the the eternity separated from

594
00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,960
god in hell

595
00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:59,038
he won't be hurt at all but rather we

596
00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,880
will enter into the life

597
00:20:59,038 --> 00:21:03,679
of christ and not have to worry about

598
00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,559
those things this life is so short

599
00:21:03,679 --> 00:21:08,480
it's over in the flesh and and we have

600
00:21:06,558 --> 00:21:10,240
eternity before us we ought to look

601
00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,200
forward to that and not worry about

602
00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,519
these things

603
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,279
it's the faith that we have in christ

604
00:21:13,519 --> 00:21:16,480
that gives us the victory where we can

605
00:21:15,279 --> 00:21:21,599
live beyond

606
00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:21,599
the threats that are in our life now

607
00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:26,319
as we look at this church in smyrna we

608
00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,559
see in historical incidents that

609
00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:32,000
happened in the second century

610
00:21:28,558 --> 00:21:34,879
that this this is a uh precursor to

611
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,440
this is that is the martyrdom martyrdom

612
00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,400
of the

613
00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,960
bishop polycarp polycarp was put to

614
00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,880
death in 156 a.d

615
00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,798
for his faith in christ it was a time of

616
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,799
persecution and they tried to find the

617
00:21:44,798 --> 00:21:49,200
bishop and finally someone

618
00:21:46,798 --> 00:21:50,960
mentioned who he was now ponikarp was an

619
00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,440
old man by this point

620
00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:55,440
and according to tradition polycarp was

621
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:58,880
originally discipled

622
00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:01,200
by john the beloved as john the apostle

623
00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,400
so john lived to be a ripe old age to

624
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,640
have a ripe old age

625
00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,559
and polycarp as a young man was

626
00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,559
discipled by john

627
00:22:06,558 --> 00:22:11,678
so he carried that message of the

628
00:22:08,558 --> 00:22:15,038
apostle of love or the apostle

629
00:22:11,679 --> 00:22:16,960
john into the church at smyrna so when

630
00:22:15,038 --> 00:22:20,000
he was arrested

631
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:23,120
they brought him before the proconsul

632
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:26,319
and they demanded of him

633
00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:28,000
to to worship caesar and he was

634
00:22:26,319 --> 00:22:30,079
unwilling to do that and

635
00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,599
and then they said if you'll simply

636
00:22:30,079 --> 00:22:33,839
point to some christians

637
00:22:31,599 --> 00:22:34,879
they had arrested some other christians

638
00:22:33,839 --> 00:22:37,439
they had the crowd

639
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:39,520
out there cheering him and and had the

640
00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,360
christians a few arrested here

641
00:22:39,519 --> 00:22:44,158
and they said if you'll merely point to

642
00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:46,719
them and say away with the atheists

643
00:22:44,159 --> 00:22:47,360
that will be enough the police are being

644
00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:50,000
the

645
00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,798
wise old man he was looked at the pro

646
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,759
council

647
00:22:50,798 --> 00:22:55,679
looked at the unruly crowd rather than

648
00:22:53,759 --> 00:22:57,119
pointing to the christians he pointed to

649
00:22:55,679 --> 00:23:00,480
the crowd and said

650
00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:04,239
away with the atheists and then the

651
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:05,440
pro council said to him they said swear

652
00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,640
by the fortune

653
00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:11,038
of caesar swear by caesar

654
00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:14,080
and he answered this he said since you

655
00:23:11,038 --> 00:23:17,038
are vainly urgent

656
00:23:14,079 --> 00:23:18,558
that as you say i should swear by the

657
00:23:17,038 --> 00:23:21,440
fortune of caesar

658
00:23:18,558 --> 00:23:21,918
and pretend to not know who i am and

659
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,038
what i

660
00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:28,000
am hear me declare with boldness i

661
00:23:25,038 --> 00:23:30,000
am a christian that's who i am and if

662
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:33,038
you wish to learn the doctrines

663
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:35,200
of christianity give me a day

664
00:23:33,038 --> 00:23:36,720
and i shall share them with you because

665
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,880
they refused that

666
00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:40,960
they refused that request and he was

667
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:43,360
burned at the stake for his faith

668
00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,038
but is a wonderful testimony we should

669
00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,479
never be ashamed of our faith

670
00:23:45,038 --> 00:23:48,079
people make fun of us for being a

671
00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:50,798
christian we should say yes

672
00:23:48,079 --> 00:23:51,678
i am a christian if that results in

673
00:23:50,798 --> 00:23:54,720
rejection

674
00:23:51,679 --> 00:23:56,798
or persecution or even ridicule and

675
00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,798
laughing or whatever whatever happens

676
00:23:56,798 --> 00:24:01,679
because i'm a christian

677
00:23:58,798 --> 00:24:03,359
so be it i will stand for christ well

678
00:24:01,679 --> 00:24:05,919
that's what we ought to be doing and

679
00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,678
we find that the presence of christ will

680
00:24:05,919 --> 00:24:08,240
give us the power and strength to do

681
00:24:07,679 --> 00:24:10,159
that

682
00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,000
so what persecutions are you facing

683
00:24:10,159 --> 00:24:14,799
right now or anything at all

684
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:15,519
maybe nothing or next to nothing maybe

685
00:24:14,798 --> 00:24:18,558
it's simply a

686
00:24:15,519 --> 00:24:21,038
subtle bit of ridicule or something

687
00:24:18,558 --> 00:24:24,000
that really doesn't disturb you it could

688
00:24:21,038 --> 00:24:25,919
be because this is on the web going out

689
00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,000
across the world it could be you're in a

690
00:24:25,919 --> 00:24:30,400
much more serious situation

691
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,440
well christ promises to be our strength

692
00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,840
and our help

693
00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:36,480
in those days and he will give us the

694
00:24:33,839 --> 00:24:38,879
strength we need to be faithful to him

695
00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:41,440
whatever the circumstance let's pray

696
00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,760
father we thank you for your grace to us

697
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,798
we thank you that you have saved us from

698
00:24:43,759 --> 00:24:46,640
all our sin

699
00:24:44,798 --> 00:24:48,720
that you have given us a new nature

700
00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:50,480
you've given us a new heart a new life

701
00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,798
and a new eternity

702
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:55,440
lord we thank you and praise you because

703
00:24:52,798 --> 00:24:57,519
of your great grace towards us

704
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,798
lord we lift up the persecuted church

705
00:24:57,519 --> 00:25:00,400
today we lift up

706
00:24:58,798 --> 00:25:02,720
all the christians who are facing

707
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,679
persecution and all the churches as well

708
00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:07,839
we especially lift up those places

709
00:25:05,679 --> 00:25:09,519
where it's very difficult to be a

710
00:25:07,839 --> 00:25:11,678
christian today

711
00:25:09,519 --> 00:25:14,000
those nations that are on the worst

712
00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:17,200
nations list lord we pray

713
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:19,599
for courage for protection for wisdom

714
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,840
we pray that persecution would lessen

715
00:25:19,599 --> 00:25:22,558
and just go away altogether across the

716
00:25:21,839 --> 00:25:24,879
world

717
00:25:22,558 --> 00:25:27,278
we pray that you would give christians

718
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,480
peace and grace in the midst of this

719
00:25:27,278 --> 00:25:30,880
persecution

720
00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,319
and lord we pray that our hearts would

721
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,480
connect with their hearts

722
00:25:32,319 --> 00:25:35,359
and that we would pray for them and love

723
00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,919
them and speak

724
00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:40,079
up whenever we can for those who are

725
00:25:37,919 --> 00:25:42,400
unable to speak up for themselves

726
00:25:40,079 --> 00:25:44,240
lord we pray that with whatever form of

727
00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:47,600
persecution we face

728
00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:50,720
may we respond with grace and patience

729
00:25:47,599 --> 00:25:53,038
we pray that as we respond in faith as

730
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:55,360
we respond in patience that you would

731
00:25:53,038 --> 00:25:57,038
assure us of your presence in our life

732
00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,918
now lord we pray that you would give us

733
00:25:57,038 --> 00:26:00,319
courage

734
00:25:57,919 --> 00:26:02,960
to stand for you in this world and give

735
00:26:00,319 --> 00:26:06,079
us the grace to do so graciously

736
00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:10,720
we pray this in jesus name amen thank

737
00:26:06,079 --> 00:26:10,720
you may god bless you today