"Who?" not "Why?"

(NLT) — 8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

MAIN POINT- The question, “who am I?” Matters more than the question, “Why is this happening?”

“Tonight I’m talking to those who are not quitters… ”

“Those who may know about struggle…”

“I want to speak to someone tonight who maybe is tiered…”

KEY- When we go through struggles one of the first questions we ask is, “Why is this happening”

ILLUSTRATION- Scary maze kid, “Why would you do that…”

POINT- Why does not matter.

KEY- Those who ask why to every tragedy in their life will spend their whole life analyzing their past instead of walking in their future.

CHALLENGE/ MAIN POINT- When you are experiencing struggles and trials don’t ask, “WHY is this happening?” Instead ask, “WHO am I?”

KEY- This is not intuitive, but it puts your focus back on what it needs to be on.

POINT- The enemy is trying to figure out who you are.

DEFINE- The word test in this passage that comes from the greek word “peirazo” which means, to put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of someone specifically on their imperfections and faults.

This same word is used for the word temptation, trap or attempt to trap, accusation, and at times even devil.

QUESTION- So who are you? Not who you want to be, not the you a year from now. Who are you right now?

KEY- God was pulling their focus back on what matters.

The church in Smyrna was struggling in life, this is likely because many of the people who lived in the town of Smyrna were not giving the believers jobs or doing business with them. This is because Smyrna was the home of a temple to the Roman emperor Tiberius and was a center of the Roman imperial religion. People were afraid of offending the Romans so they would have nothing to do with the Christians.

KEY- But God was pulling their focus back on what matters.

CHALLENGE- Stop looking back over the wreckage of your life and start looking from the wreckage of the cross.

QUESTION- So who are you? Not who you want to be, not the you a year from now. Who are you right now?

Look at Daniel eating the write stuff for 10 days…

The church in Smyrna was clearly a church that was doing some things right, as it was only 1 of 2, of the 7 churches that received no critique from Christ in the letters to the churches.

(NLT) — A psalm of David. 1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

^^^This was the church of Smyrna… The only way you can be this is if you are found in Christ and have true repentance.

(NLT) — 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

POINT- Who you are matters.

The church in Smyrna was clearly a church that was doing some things right, as it was only 1 of 2, of the 7 churches that received no critique from Christ in the letters to the churches.

(NLT) — 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

QUESTION- Are you rich?

(NLT) — A psalm of David. 1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

KEY POINT- Who you are can change, for the better and for the worse. Repent and change so you can be rich.

(NLT) — 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

^^^This was the church of Smyrna… The only way you can be this is if you are found in Christ and have true repentance.

QUESTION- Are you rich?

(NLT) — 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

If you are a child of God you are rich.

If you are redeemed you are rich.

POINT- Who you are matters.

Who you are matters…

(NLT) — 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

KEY- God was pulling their focus back on what matters.

The church in Smyrna was struggling in life, this is likely because many of the people who lived in the town of Smyrna were not giving the believers jobs or doing business with them. This is because Smyrna was the home of a temple to the Roman emperor Tiberius and was a center of the Roman imperial religion. People were afraid of offending the Romans so they would have nothing to do with the Christians.

KEY- But God was pulling their focus back on what matters.

CHALLENGE- Stop looking back over the wreckage of your life and start looking from the wreckage of the cross.

The church in Smyrna was clearly a church that was doing some things right, as it was only 1 of 2, of the 7 churches that received no critique from Christ in the letters to the churches.

(NLT) — A psalm of David. 1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

^^^This was the church of Smyrna… The only way you can be this is if you are found in Christ and have true repentance.

(NLT) — 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

POINT- Who you are matters.

(NLT) — 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

QUESTION- Are you rich?

KEY POINT- Who you are can change, for the better and for the worse. Repent and change so you can be rich.

(NLT) — 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

QUESTION- Are you rich?

If you are a child of God you are rich.

If you are redeemed you are rich.

ILLUSTRATION- If I go to my bank to make a withdraw they are going to ask to see my ID, because they want to know who I am. Why don’t you just show your adversaries the ID written in the blood of Christ that says I am a child of God.

(NLT) — 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

KEY- My ability is not determined by what I have it’s determined by who I am.

ILLUSTRATION- Lori at a conference saying, “You’re a pastors kid figure it out.”

(NLT) — 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

We see it again, God explaining who I am… I am a branch off of THE VINE, and as long as I remember who I am, as long as I stay in my lane, as long as I abide myself in Christ I can do all things. BUT if I detach myself from my identity I can do nothing.

(NLT) — 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

I know I’m preaching a message reminding you that sometimes believers are going to have difficulty in life. I know… but understand the underlining point here is not, “Oh how tough it is to be a follower of Jesus it is…

…When life gives me difficulties I’m going to rise above.

…When the struggle is real I’m going to rebuke it and tell it to change.

… When life does not make sense I tell my faith to grow.

When this world gives me trouble I’m not going to stand around and say why me why me, I’m going to rejoice in my God because he is lifting me to new heights…

BIB ILLUSTRATION- David didn’t cry out to God oh why would you allow this bear to attack my sheep, why would you allow this Lion to attack my heard… He grabbed the animal by the jaw and clubbed it to death.

POINT- Those who cry out, “why me???” Cower behind their disappointments, but those that have asked who am I and have recieved revelation know that they can run, they can fight, they can stand.

ILLUSTRATION- If I go to my bank to make a withdraw they are going to ask to see my ID, because they want to know who I am. Why don’t you just show your adversaries the ID written in the blood of Christ that says I am a child of God.

(NLT) — 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

KEY- When you know who you are, you know that your future is not determined by the enemy, God controls your destiny.

I know my situation is going to turn… How do I know that?

My God works all things for the good of those who love him…

I know I’m going to worship… How do I know that?

Because if this flame kills me from life to death and to life everlasting my lips will sing his praise and if he spares me from the heat of the furnace I’m also going to praise for power on display. BUT either way I’m not going to bow down to my struggle, I’m going to praise the Lord.

KEY POINT- When you know who you are you are able to know your outcome.

(NLT) — 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

Who are you? Are you a child of God? Then every one of the promises made to his children are for you.

(NLT) — 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

There is a story in the bible about the good Samaritan and in this story crooks had beaten and robbed a Jewish man and a Samaritan who was HATED by the Jews. The Jews wanted nothing to do with the Samaritans…

(NLT) — 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Can’t you see yourself in this story…

There we were, beaten, robbed, by the enemy and stripped of our dignity, our hope, our lives…

And the law walked by and though its purpose was to bring life it didn’t…

And the appointments of man walked by and could do nothing…

But then God came by hated by us, for while we were still sinners Christ died for us… And despite our rebellion, and despite our hatred demonstrated by our actions (if you love me then you will obey my commands) picked us up and paid for our healing, paid for our redemption…

The law saw us as just another casualty of the destruction of the enemy, but God saw us as his beloved…

(NLT) — 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

Because Jesus paid the price of the 2nd death we are free from it’s harm.

"Who?" not "Why?"

1. Who you are says what you have.

Why points out what you are lacking.

2. Who you are says what you can do.

Why says what you can’t.

3. Who you are says what you will expereince.

Why keeps you in the past.

Conclusion…