Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.42UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.58LIKELY
Joy
0.58LIKELY
Sadness
0.56LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.68LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.03UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.96LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.82LIKELY
Extraversion
0.13UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.42UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.74LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
(NASB95) — 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
God’s sovereign will, both good and the dark side of it.
When we think of God’s soveriegn will in choosing the believer, we normally think of the good aspects of that sovereignty.
We tend to think of the bad parts of the sovereign hand in the midst of suffer.
However, the idea that God has called us to be like Jesus and that Christ likeness is seen in suffering is sometimes very hard to understand.
The uniqueness of the American Church, very little persecution.
Persecution is particular kind of suffering.
Normally we attempt to avoid this type of suffering.
i will say that USA has been unique in the history of Church history.
We have had very little persecution.
Though I think that it is great, that we have not had major persecution.
I think that this is a gift.
It may be a gift that we have squandered but a gift none the less.
I have heard believers say, “The only way to purify the church is to have some persecution!”
On the one hand that there is a nugget of truth.
With persecution, some real dedicated believers will be separated from the professing believers.
Yet, on the other hand, to assume that persecution is the purifier is not altogether true.
It also suggests that the only way that God can work in the lives of believers is if we are being hurt.
No he works through the Spirit and the Word.
Persecution is coming
However, I am no prophet, I think that persecution in the USA is coming.
As our society becomes more secular it becomes more anti-christian.
I think that it is coming.
I think that we should get ready for that coming persecution now.
Today, we are going to talk about the Church of Smyrna the church that is persecuted, we are going to see three things:
THE IMPRESSIVE SAVIOR AND HIS SAINTS (8)
THE OPPRESSED SERVANTS BY SATAN (9)
THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS THROUGH SUFFERING (10-11)
THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS THROUGH SUFFERING (10-11)
THE IMPRESSIVE SAVIOR AND HIS SAINTS (8)
THE SAINTS (8a)
Verse 8: And to the angel in the church in Smyrna write:
And to the angel in the church in Smyrna write:
BKC says this, “The name of the city, Smyrna, means “myrrh,” an ordinary perfume.
It was also used in the anointing oil of the tabernacle, and in embalming dead bodies….Smyrna were experiencing the bitterness of suffering, their faithful testimony was like myrrh or sweet perfume to God (934).”
Expositors says this, “Smyrna was also a center of the emperor worship, having won the privilege from the Roman Senate in A.D. 23…of building the first temple in honor of Tiberius.
Under Domitian (A.D. 81-96) emperor worship became compulsory for every Roman citizen on threat of death.
Once a year a citizen had to burn incense on the alter to the godhead of Caesar, after which he was issued a certificate (437).”
MacArthur goes on to says this, “Though the Christians willingly submitted to the emperor’s civil authority (), they refused to offer sacrifices to him and worship him.
For that refusal they were branded rebels and faced the wrath of the Roman government (71).”
MacArthur says this, “Smyrna was said to be the most beautiful city in Asia….In addition to the natural beauty of its surroundings, the city itself was well designed.
It stretched from the day up the slopes of the Pagos, a large hill covered with temples and other public buildings.
The streets were well laid out, with the outlying ones lined with groves too trees.
Smyrna’s most famous street, the “Street of Gold,” curved around the slopes of the Pagos (70).”
He goes on to say, “Smyrna was a noted center of science and medicine (70).”
THE IMPRESSIVE SAVIOR (8b)
The first and the last: HE IS DIVINE , , His divinity and eternal perfections.
The first and the last,
The description of Jesus demonstrates his deity.
It also demonstrates his timelessness.
It speaks of his eternal nature.
It also shows that Jesus is divine.
God says this of himself in other passages (, ).
the one who was dead and came to life, says this: HE IS HUMAN: He had to be human to die but it spoke of work.
the one who was dead and came to life, says this:
This speaks of the humanity of Jesus Christ.
We realize that Jesus adding on humanity was specifically for his work.
However, there is comfort in these words.
The church of Smyrna is about to be persecuted and Jesus was persecuted.
He knows first hand what it is like to be slandered by the Jews and killed and crucified.
THE OPPRESSED SERVANTS BY SATAN (9)
THEY ARE AFFLICTED BUT THEY ARE REALLY OVER COMERS: I know your affliction: Word means pressure, they were receiving pressure because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ
Verse 9:
I know your affliction : Affliction: Word means pressure, they were receiving pressure because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ (MacArthur 71).
Affliction: Word means pressure, they were receiving pressure because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ (MacArthur 71).
THEY ARE POOR BUT THEY ARE REALLY RICH: and poverty but are rich
and poverty but are rich,
Poverty: This poverty is a result of a couple factors: 1. not a lot of possessions 2. emperor worship limited believers economic options 3. stolen
Many believers were slaves and therefore did not own a lot of physical possessions.
Since the believers did not worship the emperor meant that they were marginalized in society and in the market place.
Often persecution means that material possessions are stolen by the persecutor.
Rich: Present tense
Rich: Present tense (, ): Every believer is rich through God’s grace and mercy.
The NT teaches that every believer is rich, notice the texts:
(NASB95) — 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
(NASB95) — 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Every believer is rich through God’s grace and mercy.
God not only gave us salvation but then indwells us with himself.
He give us every spiritual blessing.
All believers the same inheritance.
There is no junior varsity for the saints.
We are not defined by earthly perspectives but by heavenly realities.
THEY ARE DEFAMED IN THE WORLD BUT THEY ARE REALLY COMMENDED BY GOD
and the blasphemy
BDAG says, “[S]peech that denigrates or defames, reviling, denigration, disrespect, slander .”
The common accusations of the EC were:
Cannibalism, misunderstanding of the teaching of the Lord’s table.
Immorality, misunderstanding of the holy kiss
Breaking up homes, misunderstanding that sinful man breaks up homes not the christian faith.
However, Jesus did say, “ ”
Atheism, misunderstanding of the nature of God.
We do not have idols and they assumed that meant we are atheists.
Political disloyalty, by far the greatest charge.
Christians are obligated to obey the laws of the land.
We are not obligated to follow laws that encourage us to worship other gods or laws that teach us to break clear commands of scripture.
In ancient Rome, you had to swear allegiance to the Emperor by saying, “Caesar is my Lord!” Christians felt that they only have one lord, Jesus.
Therefore, they did not sacrifice, pray, or swear allegiance to the emperor.
from the one who are calling themselves Jews and are not — but a synagogue of Satan.
are rich: Present tense
The source of these attacks came from false Jews and following Satan.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9