Beyond Suffering – Part 1

Revelation 2:8-11 

 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

This last Sunday, I had the privilege to worship with my father’s congregation at Bass Lake again. Pastor Herk pointed out how, even though God is with us always, we miss our church and our church family because of the true love connection. He urged everyone to get involved in ministries inside and outside of the local church to help others with the love of Christ. The Little Church in the Pines is going through a sermon series on the messages to the seven churches in Revelation. This Sunday was Smyma.

In Matthew 5:11-13a,the Lords tells us, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth.”

Pastor Herk used four “C’s” to give us four elements of the Christian church and showed from Holy Scripture that being willing to suffer for our faith is the evidence of our love. The first element is the Characteristics of the Church. We should find it worthy to suffer for the name of Christ, our Lord, because Jesus is the first and the last (eternal); the only One worthy of worship. We should anticipate the same ultimate victory that He experienced. Christ blazed the trail to follow and His Word is truth. We need to walk in His footsteps on the “right” path, trusting on Him, knowing that our lives have been designed and calculated by our good, just and holy God. It is not a matter of “if”, but a matter of “when” the storms of life come against the Christian, but trials and tribulation will soon be over. What can be greater than the Lord and His reward? Waiting for us is the “crown of life”. 

Hebrews 5:8 “Although He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

The second element of the Christian church is “Commendation”. The God-rejecting world system doubts reality. Every church goes through testing, but it is comforting to know that nothing is hid from God and He is both aware and takes notice of our situation. Jesus reminds us that we are spiritually rich, even when economically or situationally poor. We are rich in faith and love as we store up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). We need to invest in the Kingdom of God, not earthly things, because there the faithful have an inheritance. Many forsake Jesus; slanderers with false religions that poison minds. They forget about the judgment, wrath and fire to come. Stand strong in faith and serve the Lord. 

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message of "suffering in Christ's name" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian