This study was first taught on November 1, 2011

Topic: Entering Into The Kingdom of Heaven (3.2.2)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week, we saw that the Lord is concerned about our suffering and hardship; but not necessarily with a view to bringing us out of it, if it is His will for us to go through with it. In His message to the church in Smyrna, not only did He say that He was aware of their tribulations (afflictions, troubles), poverty (lack, deprivation), and blasphemy (slander, evil speaking) against them; but He also warned them to prepare for more of such tribulations and hardship. We noted that many believers think of ministry as involving grandeur, and indeed, do not believe that suffering can be one of the major determinants that give access into the kingdom of heaven. We said that the Lord’s message to the church today, is for it to be prepared to endure tribulation, persecution, and hardship of all sorts for the name of Christ, even if it means dying in the process, as it is indeed, one of the factors that constitute “the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19; Matthew 7:21).

We saw that the important theme of “suffering for the sake of Christ” (be it deprivation or hardship in a physical, economic, social, emotional sense), is almost extinct today, as many churches are filled with messages that elevate ‘bliss’, while eliminating teachings on Christian suffering; messages that claim that suffering is what happens to failures, rather than one that lets them know that suffering can be the will of God; messages that tell believers that they are to be on top always, rather than one that teach that times of hardship, deprivation, and tribulation do come even to the righteous; messages that speak of having wealth beyond reason, rather than one that challenges believers to live within the provision of God; messages that tell us not to be satisfied with what God has made available to us, rather than one that encourage us to be content with whatsoever God has given us; among others.

We noted that messages that are contrary to the word of God do not prepare us for the inevitability of suffering for the sake of Christ. We saw how the Lord forewarned His disciples, and the church in Smyrna, of impending hardship; and is even now, warning us, today’s Christians, to prepare to endure hardship, and be careful not to become overcharged with surfeiting, drunkenness, and the cares of this life. We saw examples of people of faith who endured hardship even when it led to their death, and even when they did not receive the promise of God. In conclusion, we said that the kingdom of heaven will not be open to those who avoid or refuse tribulations, poverty, and slandering that is necessary in the course of their work for God.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:21-22; Revelation 2:8-11
Tonight, we shall be concluding on the Lord’s message to the church in Smyrna. We pray that the Holy Spirit will prepare us to persevere and overcome tribulation, poverty, and slanderous comments, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the message to the church in Smyrna, the Lord infers that the proof of our being Christians indeed, is in our ability to endure not just suffering, but all that the devil throws at us, till the end. What the Lord expects of us is that we remain faithful even if it means death, as that is the basis for avoiding the second death, and receiving the crown of life.
1 Peter 1:6-9; Job 23:10; Matthew 13:20-21; Proverbs 27:21; Acts 12:1-11; 16:16-35; Job 1:6-22; 2:1-10; Acts 20:14-25; 21:10-14; Matthew 4:1-11; 16:21-27; 10:28; Psalm 56:11; Revelation 2:13; Psalm 37:1-5; Hebrews 12:1-4; James 1:12; Romans 8:35-39; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8.

Conclusion
The proof of a child of God is in his victory over trials and temptations. The genuineness and quality of our faith in God is proven only after we have overcome the temptations of the devil. Therefore, if you are going to be reckoned as worthy of entering into the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age, you must have successfully overcome the temptations of the devil even if it means that you die doing so! Your response to praise and suffering will tell if you will avoid the second death and receive the crown of life; for example:
(a) Does the praise of men or suffering prevent you from doing the will of God?
(b) Do you curse God when suffering, and praise men when prosperous?
(c) Does suffering or prosperity stop you from doing the will of God?
(d) When things are not going your way, do you murmur, and when they do go your way, do you forget God?
(e) Will you go where God wants you to go or do you go where you want to go?
(f) Are you reconsidering whether or not you want to continue serving God?
(g) Are you persuaded not to continue with God’s mission?
(h) Are you seeking the ‘power of God’ for selfish reasons or to prove a point?
(i) Are you living irresponsibly and expecting God’s protection?
(j) Will you try alternatives when it seems God is taking too long?
(k) Do you act contrary to the word of God in order to receive the glories of this world?
(l) Is your life worth more to you than doing the will of God?
(m) Do you fear the devil or man, rather than God?
(n) Can hardship, pleasures, angels, demons, etc., separate you from the love of God?
(o) Will your faithfulness continue, even if it means death?

If all you have to present on ‘that day’ when you stand before God are: the sermons you have preached, the people you have cast out demons from, and the miracles you have wrought, then, it is unlikely that the crown of life will be given to you. This is because, the crown of life is an award of triumphing over death or the threat of death, and is reserved for people who have indeed, endured and overcome tribulation, temptation, trials, hardships, etc., and still love God, right to the end. Are you one of such?

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