This study was first taught on January 27, 2019

Topic: The Assessment of the Churches (8): The Church of Smyrna (What is at Stake in the Gospel?)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we discussed the proving of the church of God, and noted that God uses tribulations and trials to prepare us for the onslaught of Satan, whom He allows to tempt those who will represent Him here on the earth—the church. We noted that once God delegates true spiritual power to the church, Satan would be unable to operate effectively in that locality; knowing this, Satan would seek God’s permission to tempt the church, with a view to making them fall, be disqualified, disapproved by God, and as a result, not be given the power, thus making Satan free to continue to do as he pleases unchallenged in that locality! We saw that this is what happened to Adam and Eve, who failed, and allowed Satan to operate all over the world. But when he came to tempt the Lord Jesus, He overcame Satan, and now, by the blood and testimony of Jesus, Satan is overcome! Satan did it with Peter, and Peter failed, but thank God that the Lord Jesus had prayed for him, and so he was restored, and went on to be a ‘pillar’ in the kingdom of God.

For the church today, we must submit ourselves to God’s training/discipline through trials and tribulations, which prepare us for Satan’s temptation, so that our faith fail not. The tribulation and poverty of the church in Smyrna was to prepare them for Satan’s onslaught and they were forewarned by the Lord to remain faithful, even if it meant death! We must, likewise, not be averse to trials and tribulations, as they help us to develop spiritual muscles of patience, perseverance, endurance, character, hope, and trust in God’s love, in the face of life’s challenges, hence, enabling us to overcome Satan’s temptation. We must focus on Christ, and not be blind-sided by what we think we are missing from the world, for we are citizens of heaven, and that is the realm that should be our focus. May the Lord establish, strengthen, and settle us, after we have been tempted by Satan and have overcome (1 Peter 5:10).

Scripture Text(s)
Revelation 2:8-11
From the Lord’s encouragement to the church in Smyrna concerning the sore temptation they were about to face from Satan, and what awaits them should they be victorious, it’s clear there’s more to being Christian than obtaining things here on the earth, which to a very large extent, sadly, is what we find in the church today. We pray that the Holy Spirit would help us to understand what it is that we are being asked to endure temptation for, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
There is far more at stake in the gospel than we can obtain and experience here on the earth. Indeed, Scripture challenges us to seek those things that are above, where Christ dwells, rather than things that are here on the earth, that perish with the using.
Colossians 3:1-2; John 6:26-44; 1 Peter 1:3-7; Luke 12:13-15, 16-21; Matthew 16:24-27; Psalm 49:6-9; Philippians 3:18-21; 1 Corinthians 15:19, 30-33, 51-58; 9:24-27; 3:11-15; Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10; James 1:12; Revelation 20:4-6, 7-15.

Conclusion
The church of God today must be brought to appreciate the reality of what really is at stake. What is at stake is not properties, possessions, fame, etc.; it is not even spiritual gifts and ministry for their sakes; rather, what is at stake is eternal—the things above, the things that endure unto eternity, the things that matter to God! These things include eternal life, and deliverance from the second death! Indeed, as the Lord said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Beloved, you are worth more to God than houses and other mundane things you keep asking God for night and day. Indeed, your soul is worth much more to God, and His desire is that you will endure till the end here on the earth, and remain faithful to Him, even at the expense of your earthly life; then you shall receive the prize—the crown of life—and you shall certainly escape the second death—a death reserved for those who died without accepting Christ into their lives; all those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life! Thus, our pursuits must be to ensure that our names are not just only written in the Book of Life, but that they are never removed once written! (Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:4)

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