Lessons from the Lamps 2- Persecution and Poverty

I am sharing a series on the 7 churches Jesus prophesies to in the first few chapters of the book of Revelation. The other week we saw a very successful, busy and hard working church at Ephesus, but their problem was that they had forsaken their first love.

 

I hope you fell in love with Jesus once again last week. He is worth being in love with!

 

But this week we want to look at Jesus’ words to the church at a place called Smyrna…

 

Revelation 2:8-11 (ESV Strong's)

To the Church in Smyrna

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

 

DYING TO SERVE

 

The Church at Smyrna is one of the two churches Jesus did not rebuke. Why was that? They were suffering, and God has a heart of compassion to those who are suffering righteously. Jesus didn’t commend them so much as express deep sympathy and love for a hurting people.

 

Smyrna was a seaport situated 35 miles north of Ephesus. Jesus’ opening words to this church set the tone…

 

Revelation 2:8 (ESV Strong's)

To the Church in Smyrna

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

 

Smyrna in Greek literally means bitter, and is the name for the spice myrrh, which was used as a perfume during burial, famously used when Jesus was buried. So when Christ says He died and came to life, He is playing on the name of their city, and also the fact that some of them would face persecution to the point of martyrdom. Jesus was encouraging this heavily persecuted church to stand firm. He was saying, no matter what they throw at you, no matter what they say, read the end of the book and find out that WE WIN!

 

So what’s with this persecution?

 

SMYRNA- THE POOR LITTLE RICH CHURCH

 

The Church at Smyrna was right in the firing line, because the city was not only a prosperous city, but it was the centre for the Roman imperial cult of Caesar worship. In 195 B.C. a temple to the Goddess of Rome was constructed, and in A.D. 26 a temple to Tiberius was also constructed. These and other temples were built upon a hill which produced a dramatic visual effect, looking like a crown, and the temples were popularly described by the phrase “the Crown of Smyrna.”

 

Anyone refusing the say, “Caesar is Lord” was certainly going to be persecuted and experience hardship, maybe even death.

 

The city was set up around various guilds to whom you had to belong if you wanted to be employed, in much the same way some unions are set up today. To be a part of a guild they required all members to worship Caesar, so anyone refusing to acknowledge Caesar as Lord was certain to be excluded from the guilds, meaning unemployment and poverty.

 

There was also a large Jewish community in Smyrna, but because they were officially recognised as an acceptable religion to the Romans, they were exempt. And they hated the Christians. The bottom line is that these believers were persecuted by both Jews and gentiles, slandered and condemned to abject poverty in what was a very wealthy city.

 

 And you may be experiencing this even now… persecution for being a Christian, or poverty, when others around you seem to have everything. If this is you today, let me tell you that Jesus cares, just as He cared for the Church at Smyrna. He loves you and has a plan. You just need to trust Him!

 

This church at Smyrna knew what suffering was, and faced even more ahead. Jesus said…

 

Revelation 2:10 (ESV Strong's)

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna, and was trained for ministry under the apostle John. He was a close friend of the apostle John, and know as a great and honourable pastor and man of God. During the reign of the Roman emperor Antonius Pius, a great persecution against Christians occurred. When the aged Polycarp was arrested and ordered to renounce Christ, he proclaimed: “I have served Him for 86 years and He has done me no wrong. Can I revile my King who saved me?” Polycarp was then burned alive at the stake. Yes, this Church knew much about suffering, and Jesus was preparing them for even more in the near future, even to the point of death.

 

Think about that… whatever suffering, whatever persecution, whatever poverty you face, it’s unlikely that it will involve death for what you believe in. Yet this Church faced such a prospect with hope and with joy, and their leader set the tone for the Church, as I must for you!

 

 

PERSECUTION AND POVERTY

 

Revelation 2:9 (ESV Strong's)

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 

Jesus uses two interesting words here… tribulation is Thlipsis in Greek, and it literally means intense pressure. I would liken tribulation to a python killing its prey. The snake does not squeeze, it tightens and holds the tightening. When you breathe out, it tightens again until there is no breath remaining. This is typical of persecution, especially in our country. They don’t line us up in front of the wall and shoot us, they squeeze and squeeze and try and make us conform to their image of what we should believe.

 

Jesus uses the Greek word ptochaia for poverty, which is a descriptive word which goes beyond being poor to the point of being a beggar… it is the grossest form of poverty. In our country we rarely see true poverty on the scale you might see overseas, but many of us are struggling financially.

 

In many Asian countries I know of, Christians face exactly this situation… they refuse to take part in bribery. This means they miss out on business opportunities, work, and many plunge into poverty as a result.

 

But dude, this is Australia, it’ll never happen here! Well folks, what we are seeing right now is the start of our persecution, and far from being upset or bewildered about it, I believe this is our moment to light up and shine more than ever before. This is our chance to ignite and burn brightly when all around is dark!

 

And what tools will the enemy use in our case? The media, popular opinion, even the government, and what will they attack? They will attack our reputations and they will attack our wealth and finances. This plebiscite is not really about gay marriage, it’s about an attack on the family and the Church. So said Arch Bishop Julian Porteous at our state convention the other week.

 

They’ve already started slandering us, they’ve already started an insane level of attack against Christians on social media, and they will pick on certain Christian businesses try and bankrupt them. They did it to a cake store in Portland, Oregon… we will be no different. They are out to destroy the Church, or render it powerless. Interestingly, Jesus uses 2 different words in verses 9-10 to describe the enemy… Satan and devil. 1. Satan literally means the accuser, and 2. Devil means slanderer. How apt! That’s why in Revelation 12:10 he is called the accuser of the brethren.

 

Slander, Financial pressure and poverty are great weapons in the hands of the enemy… but we need not fear them, or him. They will attack, they will persecute but don’t fear them, because my bible says …

 

1 John 4:4 (ESV Strong's)

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 

IT’S NOT HOW THEY ACT BUT HOW YOU REACT!

 

The fact is, we live in a fallen world, and bad things happen to good people. And bad people sometimes seem to prevail, even when it doesn’t seem right. Have you ever looked at what you don’t have, and how things are not working out for you, and cried out to God saying, “How come the wicked seem to prevail and the righteous don’t?”

 

That’s exactly the question asked by the prophet Habakkuk..

 

Habakkuk 1:4 (ESV Strong's)

So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

 

Habakkuk 1:13 (ESV Strong's)

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong,

why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up

the man more righteous than he?

 

In a couple of chapters, the Lord more or less says, “Let me deal with them, what they have done will not go unpunished.”

 

And then comes the great declaration for faith, and this is how we should approach any difficult time we face. We shouldn’t complain. Or compare ourselves with others, but by faith stand for what is right no matter what they say or do. And no matter what the circumstances!

 

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV Strong's)

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

 

That how to face poverty! That’s how to face persecution! That’s how to face the times when things just don’t seem to work out! Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

 

You miss out on that job. You prayed for healing and got sicker. That person accuses you of something you know you haven’t done. You’re down to your last few bucks. You feel you’ve been missed out, misrepresented or misunderstood. You feel overlooked, overstressed and you’re just over it. You feel like the bottom of the pile, the bottom of the barrel, the bottom line is your luck’s bottomed out! No matter what it seems like, no matter what circumstances you face, it’s time you stood up and said with the church of Smyrna and the prophet Habakkuk, “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord.”

 

See that’s when God really takes notice. That’s when Jesus is full of joy, when the hard times come and you don’t complain and whinge or accuse God of abandoning you or leading you in the wrong direction. We all face hard times, but this doesn’t bless God, especially if we whine, complain and lash out at others. This Church at Smyrna faced persecution, yet through it all they stayed faithful and true, not compromising, not turning aside to the right or the left, not complaining or whinging, not lashing out at people who love us, not leaving churches to try and find a better one. They chose to stand firm where God had placed them, and Jesus commended them!

 

How can you face such persecution and poverty and keep a right attitude. The secret lies in

 

Revelation 2:9 (ESV Strong's)

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)

 

That’s the secret… they might look poor, but they knew they were truly rich. And so are you!

 

DECEPTION OF WEALTH… JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE

 

Our society is built around the drive to get wealth, isn’t it? Wealthy people are considered blessed, poor people are considered cursed. Our world is about keeping up with the Jones, or the Kardashians.

 

The Bible has a lot to say about wealth, and not much of it is good. The rich young ruler, for example, walked away from Jesus not because he had wealth but because wealth had him!  So lets get this straight…  it is not wrong to have money, but a Jesus said,

 

Matthew 6:24 (ESV Strong's)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

 

So you can have money, have lots of it if you wish, but don’t serve it. Most wealthy people become obsessed with money, and want more and more. Oil tycoon and richest man in the world at the time, John D Rockefeller was once asked, “How much money is enough money?” He famously replied, “Just a little bit more.”

 

But this church at Smyrna was far from wealthy in financial terms, just like you and I.

 

Revelation 2:9 (ESV Strong's)

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)… What does Jesus mean?

 

TRUE WEALTH

 

So they had no money, but they had something that was priceless, riches beyond measure. What did they have? Their relationship with Christ, that’s what. And this relationship gave rise to a wealth of wisdom and understanding that far outweighs and eclipses money, houses, cars and thick wallets.

 

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV Strong's)

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Godly wisdom, righteous maturity, the love of your family, eternal life… these cannot be bought and their worth cannot be measured.

 

I’ve known many people, some of who, are in his room, who have little money, are on pensions and have few assets, but they have a godly wisdom I respect and crave, a deep love of God, a level of faith and contentment you simply cannot buy. This is what the church at Smyrna had… this is true wealth!

 

Romans 11:33 (ESV Strong's)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

 

If you face persecution today, if you face poverty, if you face sickness, fear, anxiety, lack, it’s time to take your eyes off the situation, take your eyes off the circumstance and recognise the wealth you possess, what many people overlook, but which is right in your hands…

 

 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (ESV Strong's)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

 

People with money often become obsessed with money, getting more of it, the things it can buy, the power it can wield. Most I know are never content… never!

 

Money is not evil, the love of money is the root of all evil. People are basically greedy, but the Church at Smyrna inspires us to be so much more. To take our eyes off the money, and recognise how blessed we really are. We’re wealthy folks, whether the world can see it or not. You might not have much right no, but you’re still in the top 5% of the world for standard of living.

 

Serve God, or serve money? People who choose money are, in my experience, far from fulfilled. They crave something more, they crave wisdom, crave knowledge, crave families that love them, faithful partners, contentment, fulfilled lives. Yet they try and meet these cravings with money, and it doesn’t work. You can’t buy happiness, you can just be miserable in comfort. But I’d rather be genuinely happy!

 

HOW WEALTHY ARE YOU?

 

Look at your life. Go on, take a good long look. You may not have a lot of money, but look at the true wealth you have. Have you got the Word of God? This is gold, this is precious stones. Reading this every day, you open the door to wisdom

 

James 3:17 (ESV Strong's)

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

 

You have salvation. You have the opportunity to gain a godly wisdom from above, to have an amazing understanding beyond human contemplation.

 

You have a church like this, full of people who love you, who want to get to know you, support you, care for you, inspire you. You have people around you who love you, friends, spouses, kids. If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you have wealth that lasts for eternity.  It’s not pie in the sky when you die by and by, it’s really power for living, starting right here, right now by the Holy Spirit.

 

So today, some of you here are battered and bruised. Persecuted, mistreated, hurt by others. Some of you struggle with poverty, with lack… no job, little money, much depression. You cannot buy the things you want, for yourself or those you love. But listen to what Jesus said..

 

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV Strong's)

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Today I challenge you… what are you treasuring right now? Where is your treasure, and where is your heart.

 

Stand if you are facing financial hardship. Today I want challenge those who are desperate enough to pursue God first, not wealth. To pursue the divine, not the dollar.

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV-WS)

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to tread on the heights.