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Life’s Hard, God’s Good

Series:  Letters to the Boondocks

Revelation 2:8-11

5/2/2010

Point:  God is faithful.

 

Smyrna: The Glory of Asia

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of 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 will not be hurt at all by the second death.   Revelation 2:8-11

 

 

The Certainty of Suffering

If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.  “When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you.   John 15:18-20

 

The apostles . . . rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.   

Acts 5:41-42

 

 

• Poverty

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

1Corinthians 1:26

 

• Slander

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

Proverbs 26:22

 

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:23

 

• Prison

 

• Death

Psalm 23

 

 

 

God is Good

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.                     Psalm 56:3

 

• Is Victorious

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.                Revelation 1:18

 

 

• Understands our Needs

We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.                        Hebrews 4:15

 

• Has Limitless Provision

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way . . .             1 Corinthians 1:4

 

Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me . . . the unsearchable riches of Christ.                        Ephesians 3:8

 

 

• Is in Control

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

 

 

• Redeems All Things

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.           James 1:2-4

           

For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.       1Peter 1:7