Do Not Fear Your Suffering - Revelation 2:8-11
Posted by Calvary Chapel Fremont at 8/15/2010 7:05 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Fear Suffering Revelation
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Fear Suffering Revelation
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday August 15, 2010
Do not Fear your Suffering
Revelation 2:8-11
The glorified Jesus in c1 directed John to write to seven churches. This is the 2nd of seven churches addressed – map.
B4 a revelation of the antichrist – how to live for Jesus Christ.
The description of the Lord has something to do w/ the message to the church. He is the One who has gone through what you are about to go through and has come through. Jesus Christ has known tribulation/poverty/blasphemy/suffering. Satan was allowed to throw Jesus n2 prison of death. He has been faithful unto death. Crown of life = resurrection. He does not ask that you do what He has not done.
Six aspects of suffering Jesus brings to their attention
1. You are about to suffer
They suffered cultural tribulation - 5 charges brought against Christians
* Cannibalism - because they ate the "body and blood of Christ".
* Sexual orgies - observed a celebration called the Love Feast.
* Antifamily - belief caused division in the family.
* Atheism - because they refused to worship other gods.
* Treason - because they refused to sacrifice to Caesar.
* Today: narrow minded/bigoted/arrogant/hateful/intolerant
They suffered economic persecution
* To make a living you had to belong to the guild. To belong you had to sacrifice to the deity of that union. Go along to get along. Christians refused. Boycotted/alienated/forced out of business. Property was confiscated - lost all rights/property.
* San Francisco, CA 8.12.10– The federal judge who last week declared Prop. 8 unconstitutional further decided today not to stay that ruling pending appeal. In anticipation of the ruling, San Diego County has already indicated that no accommodation will be given to employees of the county clerk's office who morally object to being involved in gay marriages.
* The result was abject poverty. They had to depend on God for daily provisions. What is Jesus' message to a church like that? … but you are rich. They gave up everything to have the one thing.
They suffered religious blasphemy
* Smyrna had a large/influential Jewish population.
2. Your suffering isn’t due to sin, but Satan
* Satan oppresses the godly through the ungodly. You live among a people who care nothing for your faith. Peter/Paul - it wasn’t a guy w/ a pitchfork/horns that threw them n2 prison – it was a Roman soldier. Even as God uses people, so does Satan. The devil uses people to beat up on you.
* It is possible they would not have interpreted the upcoming trouble as being demonically inspired – Jesus wants them to see the real cause. We don’t fight against flesh/blood.
* When a gun is used in a crime, we don’t prosecute the gun, but the one who pulled the trigger. Fighting against flesh/blood is like prosecuting a gun and letting the trigger man go free. Satan is the trigger man.
* If he can’t convince you that other people are to blame, the devil attempts to convince you that your suffering is due to your own sin. Your trouble in your fault. It’s not that he’s bad – you are.
* Though your conscience is not bearing witness against you, though the Spirit of God is not convicting you of sin, though your brothers/sisters know nothing against you, though your life and thoughts line up with the Spirit of God - you’re just convinced that it’s something secret that God’s not telling you.
* Know this: God exposes sin, and if there is any sensitivity to the Spirit of God and desire to know Him, you’ll discern if there is anything God seeks to bring to your attention.
* It is interesting that b4 the devil is blamed, people will blame others/ themselves/God. Satan has done a good job of hassling you and making you think it’s the fault of others/you/God.
* Your suffering isn’t because of others/yourself/God – it’s because of Satan.
* Many of you belong to the church of Smyrna – you may have seasons of suffering, but not defeat. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
3. Your suffering is to be experienced as imprisonment
* Brought into place of confinement/restraint – can’t get out.
Some of you are in this place now – buffeted by false accusations feeling trapped in unfulfilling marriage/dealing w/ issues of childhood abuse and abandonment. Not by choice or personal sin you have been brought to this place by the sin of others.
* This isn’t to blame others, but to expose strategy of the devil.
4. Your suffering is a test
* PEIRAZO – to pierce or search into. What are you really made of? God allowed Satan to throw Job n2 a prison of suffering. Satan can only trap/test you if God allows it.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail… Luke 22:31-32
* Satan is about to sift you like wheat. Satan is seeking to expose u4 what ur. What was the premise of Satan’s assault on Job?
o God’s goodness doesn’t really change/transform, it only placates/medicates.
o What happens when medicine wears off – pain returns/man rages
* And because of this, Satan knows that suffering throws many into a crisis of faith. A test measures what’s inside/gauges what you’re made of/reveals faith or lack of it.
* The name Smyrna incorporates another word: Myrrh - the aromatic spice that gives off its fragrance when it is crushed/bruised, a reference to our Lord's suffering. Jean Gough – something of Jesus is seen.
5. Your suffering is temporary
* Ten - # of completeness – 10 plagues/Commandments. UR about 2b thoroughly tested – be faithful! Could this be 10 periods of persecution from 90–313 AD?
* When you bring together the passages dealing w/ Satan, the Lord is saying, I will allow him to test you only so far/for only so long.
* Regardless of what you are enduring now, you can say with faith/ confidence, ‘What I am going through will soon be over and I will emerge victorious for God is faithful and He will see me through”.
6. Your suffering cannot harm you – ergo, do not fear
* Description of fear – lion in room. Don’t take eyes off, step w/. Do not fear what you are to suffer – don’t keep your eyes on it and try to keep step w/ it. Don’t let it unduly influence you. It doesn’t have the ability to take from you what is of real value. Don’t let it define every move you make. Don’t fear those who can kill the body.
* Lawrence was put in charge of caring for the poor/administering church goods when Sixtus became Bishop of Rome in A.D. 257. Roman Emperor Valerian persecuted the Christians/had Sixtus beheaded in A.D. 258. Lawrence was ordered to hand over the Church's wealth to the Roman prefect. Lawrence asked for three days to do so.
When the three days were up and he was to present the treasures of the Church, he stood before the Roman prefect and "stretched his arm out over the poor", the blind and crippled and suffering and, according to Fox's Book of Martyrs, said:
"These are the precious treasure of the Church; these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Jesus Christ hath His mansion-place. What more precious jewels can Christ have, than those in whom He hath promised to dwell? What greater riches can Christ our Master possess, than the poor people in whom He loveth to be seen?"
For this, Lawrence faced the wrath of Rome. Fox reports that the man was whipped/ punched/clubbed/pinched with hot tongs and finally roasted to death on a grid-iron - a horrific/fiery death. One legend does give Lawrence a bit of a sense of humor about the ordeal. He reportedly said, "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."
* Suffering cannot separate you from the love of God. When God tells the church, ‘You are about to suffer’, it doesn’t mean, ‘You are about to be destroyed and defeated’.
* Suffering isn’t defeat. Unbelief is defeat. Jesus tells the church of Smyrna that their suffering is not an indication that they have lost their hold on Christ. He tells them just the opposite – that their hold on Christ is so tight, that the devil is trying to loosen their grip on Christ. Satan knows that he can’t loosen Christ’s grip of you, so he attempts to loosen your grip. Be faithful – don’t let go!
Not hurt by the 2nd death
Born once, die twice/born twice, die once. What is the 2nd death – eternity apart from God. Faith overcomes…
The book of Revelation is not hard to understand – it is not a veiling, but an unveiling. It comes w/ its own outline – 1:19
The things which were C1
The things which are C2-3 7 churches in various conditions of health
The things which shall take place C4-22
The rapture of the church C4-5
The great tribulation C6-18 Seals/trumpets/bowls
The 2nd coming of Jesus C19
The Millennium C20
Eternity C21-22
The Seals (Sea/Air/Land Commandos) believe that only a man driven to the limits of his endurance can w/stand the rigors/horrors of SEAL combat. The training that drives them to the limit of their endurance is called Hell Week. Exposure to cold/sleep deprivation/ mental confusion/emotional overload/physical torture.
* Surf Torture: immersed for long periods in cold water/fully clothed/repeated many times during week. Many candidates panic/run out of the surf as hypothermia sets in.
* Sugar Cookie Drills: a combination of surf torture and whistle drills that leave you covered head to foot in sand - in preparation for a 4 mile run on the beach.
* Sleep: allowed only four hours of sleep all week, immersed in mud up to the neck.
* This is Hell Week - pushed to the limits of your endurance.
* San Francisco’s domestic partner policy for all those doing business w/ the city. How many Christians financially affected by this?
Download | Duration: 00:52:48
Do not Fear your Suffering
Revelation 2:8-11
The glorified Jesus in c1 directed John to write to seven churches. This is the 2nd of seven churches addressed – map.
B4 a revelation of the antichrist – how to live for Jesus Christ.
The description of the Lord has something to do w/ the message to the church. He is the One who has gone through what you are about to go through and has come through. Jesus Christ has known tribulation/poverty/blasphemy/suffering. Satan was allowed to throw Jesus n2 prison of death. He has been faithful unto death. Crown of life = resurrection. He does not ask that you do what He has not done.
Six aspects of suffering Jesus brings to their attention
1. You are about to suffer
They suffered cultural tribulation - 5 charges brought against Christians
* Cannibalism - because they ate the "body and blood of Christ".
* Sexual orgies - observed a celebration called the Love Feast.
* Antifamily - belief caused division in the family.
* Atheism - because they refused to worship other gods.
* Treason - because they refused to sacrifice to Caesar.
* Today: narrow minded/bigoted/arrogant/hateful/intolerant
They suffered economic persecution
* To make a living you had to belong to the guild. To belong you had to sacrifice to the deity of that union. Go along to get along. Christians refused. Boycotted/alienated/forced out of business. Property was confiscated - lost all rights/property.
* San Francisco, CA 8.12.10– The federal judge who last week declared Prop. 8 unconstitutional further decided today not to stay that ruling pending appeal. In anticipation of the ruling, San Diego County has already indicated that no accommodation will be given to employees of the county clerk's office who morally object to being involved in gay marriages.
* The result was abject poverty. They had to depend on God for daily provisions. What is Jesus' message to a church like that? … but you are rich. They gave up everything to have the one thing.
They suffered religious blasphemy
* Smyrna had a large/influential Jewish population.
2. Your suffering isn’t due to sin, but Satan
* Satan oppresses the godly through the ungodly. You live among a people who care nothing for your faith. Peter/Paul - it wasn’t a guy w/ a pitchfork/horns that threw them n2 prison – it was a Roman soldier. Even as God uses people, so does Satan. The devil uses people to beat up on you.
* It is possible they would not have interpreted the upcoming trouble as being demonically inspired – Jesus wants them to see the real cause. We don’t fight against flesh/blood.
* When a gun is used in a crime, we don’t prosecute the gun, but the one who pulled the trigger. Fighting against flesh/blood is like prosecuting a gun and letting the trigger man go free. Satan is the trigger man.
* If he can’t convince you that other people are to blame, the devil attempts to convince you that your suffering is due to your own sin. Your trouble in your fault. It’s not that he’s bad – you are.
* Though your conscience is not bearing witness against you, though the Spirit of God is not convicting you of sin, though your brothers/sisters know nothing against you, though your life and thoughts line up with the Spirit of God - you’re just convinced that it’s something secret that God’s not telling you.
* Know this: God exposes sin, and if there is any sensitivity to the Spirit of God and desire to know Him, you’ll discern if there is anything God seeks to bring to your attention.
* It is interesting that b4 the devil is blamed, people will blame others/ themselves/God. Satan has done a good job of hassling you and making you think it’s the fault of others/you/God.
* Your suffering isn’t because of others/yourself/God – it’s because of Satan.
* Many of you belong to the church of Smyrna – you may have seasons of suffering, but not defeat. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
3. Your suffering is to be experienced as imprisonment
* Brought into place of confinement/restraint – can’t get out.
Some of you are in this place now – buffeted by false accusations feeling trapped in unfulfilling marriage/dealing w/ issues of childhood abuse and abandonment. Not by choice or personal sin you have been brought to this place by the sin of others.
* This isn’t to blame others, but to expose strategy of the devil.
4. Your suffering is a test
* PEIRAZO – to pierce or search into. What are you really made of? God allowed Satan to throw Job n2 a prison of suffering. Satan can only trap/test you if God allows it.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail… Luke 22:31-32
* Satan is about to sift you like wheat. Satan is seeking to expose u4 what ur. What was the premise of Satan’s assault on Job?
o God’s goodness doesn’t really change/transform, it only placates/medicates.
o What happens when medicine wears off – pain returns/man rages
* And because of this, Satan knows that suffering throws many into a crisis of faith. A test measures what’s inside/gauges what you’re made of/reveals faith or lack of it.
* The name Smyrna incorporates another word: Myrrh - the aromatic spice that gives off its fragrance when it is crushed/bruised, a reference to our Lord's suffering. Jean Gough – something of Jesus is seen.
5. Your suffering is temporary
* Ten - # of completeness – 10 plagues/Commandments. UR about 2b thoroughly tested – be faithful! Could this be 10 periods of persecution from 90–313 AD?
* When you bring together the passages dealing w/ Satan, the Lord is saying, I will allow him to test you only so far/for only so long.
* Regardless of what you are enduring now, you can say with faith/ confidence, ‘What I am going through will soon be over and I will emerge victorious for God is faithful and He will see me through”.
6. Your suffering cannot harm you – ergo, do not fear
* Description of fear – lion in room. Don’t take eyes off, step w/. Do not fear what you are to suffer – don’t keep your eyes on it and try to keep step w/ it. Don’t let it unduly influence you. It doesn’t have the ability to take from you what is of real value. Don’t let it define every move you make. Don’t fear those who can kill the body.
* Lawrence was put in charge of caring for the poor/administering church goods when Sixtus became Bishop of Rome in A.D. 257. Roman Emperor Valerian persecuted the Christians/had Sixtus beheaded in A.D. 258. Lawrence was ordered to hand over the Church's wealth to the Roman prefect. Lawrence asked for three days to do so.
When the three days were up and he was to present the treasures of the Church, he stood before the Roman prefect and "stretched his arm out over the poor", the blind and crippled and suffering and, according to Fox's Book of Martyrs, said:
"These are the precious treasure of the Church; these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Jesus Christ hath His mansion-place. What more precious jewels can Christ have, than those in whom He hath promised to dwell? What greater riches can Christ our Master possess, than the poor people in whom He loveth to be seen?"
For this, Lawrence faced the wrath of Rome. Fox reports that the man was whipped/ punched/clubbed/pinched with hot tongs and finally roasted to death on a grid-iron - a horrific/fiery death. One legend does give Lawrence a bit of a sense of humor about the ordeal. He reportedly said, "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."
* Suffering cannot separate you from the love of God. When God tells the church, ‘You are about to suffer’, it doesn’t mean, ‘You are about to be destroyed and defeated’.
* Suffering isn’t defeat. Unbelief is defeat. Jesus tells the church of Smyrna that their suffering is not an indication that they have lost their hold on Christ. He tells them just the opposite – that their hold on Christ is so tight, that the devil is trying to loosen their grip on Christ. Satan knows that he can’t loosen Christ’s grip of you, so he attempts to loosen your grip. Be faithful – don’t let go!
Not hurt by the 2nd death
Born once, die twice/born twice, die once. What is the 2nd death – eternity apart from God. Faith overcomes…
The book of Revelation is not hard to understand – it is not a veiling, but an unveiling. It comes w/ its own outline – 1:19
The things which were C1
The things which are C2-3 7 churches in various conditions of health
The things which shall take place C4-22
The rapture of the church C4-5
The great tribulation C6-18 Seals/trumpets/bowls
The 2nd coming of Jesus C19
The Millennium C20
Eternity C21-22
The Seals (Sea/Air/Land Commandos) believe that only a man driven to the limits of his endurance can w/stand the rigors/horrors of SEAL combat. The training that drives them to the limit of their endurance is called Hell Week. Exposure to cold/sleep deprivation/ mental confusion/emotional overload/physical torture.
* Surf Torture: immersed for long periods in cold water/fully clothed/repeated many times during week. Many candidates panic/run out of the surf as hypothermia sets in.
* Sugar Cookie Drills: a combination of surf torture and whistle drills that leave you covered head to foot in sand - in preparation for a 4 mile run on the beach.
* Sleep: allowed only four hours of sleep all week, immersed in mud up to the neck.
* This is Hell Week - pushed to the limits of your endurance.
* San Francisco’s domestic partner policy for all those doing business w/ the city. How many Christians financially affected by this?
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