Intro. Watch this clip: (kids discuss how much money it takes to be rich.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C4LNVuyBec
A. How much money would you say a person has to
have to be considered rich?
B. Today, we will look at some rich, poor
people, and
hopefully, we
will see what "Rich" really means!
Prayer
Rev. 2:8-11
I. Again, a few comments about the interpretation of Revelation
in case you were
not here last week.
A. There are three methods of interpreting
Revelation. They are:
1. Post millennial - it's all historical. (Barr)
2. Pre millennial - it's all prophetical. (Barr)
This method only became popular during the
mid 1900s,
but
it is very popular today with some traditions.
3. Al-millennial view - Symbolical. The seven
churches represent seven kinds of churches
that
exist
in any age and any time.
(Barr -
"New Testament Story" pg. 269)
Another
name for this type of interpretation is
Metaphoric because it uses metaphors to reveal truths
that are applicable to any age. I
think this is the
most accurate way to interpret Revelation.
B. If we view it as either Historic or Symbolic,
we can
take
what Jesus says to these churches and apply it to today.
C. That is what we are doing as we examine these
letters to
the
churches of Revelation.
II. Smyrna: The City and Its Background.
A. Smyrna was a large and wealthy city 36 miles
north of Ephesus. (BKC)
B. Like Ephesus, Smyrna was also a seaport.
(BKC) It was also a great trade
center.
C. Politically, it was pro Rome. Even when Rome was young, Smyrna was
for her.
D. Religiously, Smyrna practiced Emperor
worship. In 195 B.C., a temple was
built for emperor worship.
E. Apparently, the local Jewish synagogue was
called the Synagogue of Satan! (BKC)
Also see Rev. 3:9.
III. Smyrna, The Church.
A. Commendation: (vs. 9)
1. Although materially poor, they had remained
rich in Spirit!
a. It is possible that their poverty was a result
of Jewish conniving; the Jews in this city would tell lies to people to keep
the Christians from getting jobs etc.
b. Also, property was confiscated by order of emperor Domitian; again, Jews could tell who Christians were and demand that they bow down and worship the emperor, and when they refused, they lost all!
2. Christ commends them for holding on and
keeping Spiritually rich when it would have been so easy to
give up!
a. It
would have been so easy to bow down to the
emperor and somehow justify it, but they did
not. The church has been
strongest when stands
for Christ’s teachings of love, grace,
generosity, and acceptance, even when it stands
against nationalism.
b. During the time of Constantine when
Christianity was made the state religion, it
became popular to be a Christian, but the real
teachings of the church suffered.
c. Christ taught to turn the other cheek, to
love
your neighbors as yourself, to accept those on
the outside, but Constantine put crosses on
their shields and slaughtered in the name of
Christ.
d. When Christianity co-ops with nationalism, it
is never a good idea. The Church
gets swallowed
up and begins to justify things that are against
Christ’s teachings. The Church at
Smyrna did
not do this! They stood fast for
Christ against
persecution!
B. Reprimand:
1. There is no reprimand to Smyrna.
2. Smyrna is one of only two of the seven
churches who receives no reprimand!
3. This was a model church!
C. Exhortation:
(vs. 10a)
1. To prepare for new suffering which will be
for a short time.
a. Tribulation.
b. Prison.
c. Even death.
d. It is not always easy to be a Christian!
2. Whatever they face, Christ exhorts them not
to give up!
D. Promise:
(vs. 10b)
1. To those who were true, a crown of life!
2. Even if they gave their lives, it would be
worth the cost! They would
have the rewards of Christ!
3. They would really be rich, if they didn't let
their
poverty cause them to compromise and do as the Jews in Smyrna had done.
III. Smyrna's Message to Forsyth UMC.
A. To thank God for our riches, both
1. Materially (to much of the world we are rich).
2. Spiritually.
B. To realize the meaning of "Rich."
1. If we spend our lives seeking material "Riches" and we find them, are we rich? Do we feel satisfaction?
2. People who are "Rich" are those who
find a
meaningful life
in Christ! That satisfies!
3. People who are “Rich” are rich spiritually!
C. To never become like the pious Jews.
1. They prevented those different from them from
becoming
a part of them.
2. We must never make anyone feel like they do
not belong.
a. It is easy to only associate with those who are
exactly like us.
b. Let's be careful to reach out to all people.
3. The Jews of this synagogue of Satan
compromised their
beliefs to be accepted by Rome.
a. Let’s never compromise the
teachings of Christ
to be accepted by the government!
b. Christ taught to welcome the stranger! (Matt.
25:31-40) The Hebrew people were
instructed to
“Treat foreigners and refugees as citizens – and
with love.” (Lev. 19:34)
c. Jesus accepted women and treated them as
equals
even in a society that did not view them that
way! Let’s not readily accept laws that “put
women in their place!” Even in the
early
church, women became leaders!
d. Contrary to what some would have us think,
Christ never mentioned homosexuality,
abortion, or many of the issues we deal with
today, but He was big on love, grace, turning
the other cheek, and acceptance!
Let’s use
that model to deal with the issues of the day and let God be the judge!
Look at the issues through that lense!
e. Let’s not accept laws that are unfair to any
minority in our society, just because they are
not like us! Let’s respond to and for all people
with Love!
f. To be accepted by the government or to make
money, let’s not make the word Christian stand
for anything that Christ would not have stood
for! Again, Christ was big on Love, acceptance,
grace, and turning the other cheek! Let’s think
long and hard before going against the things
Christ stressed most of all! Let’s make those
things the things that we stand for and
emphasize!
g. We boast of being a Christian nation, but we
are
not a Christian Nation when we stand for or
against things Christ would not have stood for
or against!
h. Unlike in Rome, the good thing about being a
citizen of the United States, we can
“peacefully” vote our mind. We do
not have to
agree with everything the government does or how
the vote goes, but we can vote for the things
we think are more in line with Christ’s
teachings, so each time you vote, do that!
Weigh it out and don’t just go by what they say
but also what they do and support!
Anyone can
say they are Christian, but we are known by how
we live!
4. The Church at Smyrna did not compromise and
bow to
Rome even at the risk of being persecuted. They
stood true to Christ! Smyrna would say to us, stay
true to Christ first and to your country second and
not the other way around! There is a theological
reason we have 2 flag poles flying the US Flag and
the Christian flag flying at equal height and not one
flag pole with the Christian flag flying under the
US flag! Think about it!
5. The Church at Smyrna was Spiritually Rich
even when
the world they lived in was not.
We can be
Spiritually Rich in our world!
Smyrna would say, go
Forsyth UMC and be Spiritually Rich; your ability to
be rich is not controlled by outside forces!
D. Lastly, Christ would say to Forsyth to live
our lives
richly,
anticipating the time when we receive our
crown
of life.
1. No Christian should have a defeated outlook;
we are
on the winning side!
2. We have a reason to be spiritually rich, even
when
we
are having hard times.
3. Let Christ's promise of life help us live
this life more richly!
Conclusion:
A. Have we let the tone of today's world get us
down and discouraged? I don’t know about you, but I needed this one!
B. Let's ask Christ to help us see the blessings and find out how rich we really are as we encounter Christ at the table this morning!
Prayer of Confession
Service
of Communion
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