Sermon Tone Analysis

Purpose: Jesus encourages us not to fear temptation, but to remain faithful until death.

We have all heard the phrase No Pain; No Gain.

a fews years ago the concept was shortened to “No Fear.”

The principle remains the same pain precedes gain.

The church at Smyrna was used to pain.

They were so used to pain, that Jesus knew they needed a word of encouragement concerning the eternal gain that awaits all who live fearless and faithful to the Word of God.

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise with eternal benefits.

We live in a culture of criticism.

Just the morning my day started off with the question, “Did you figure out what you did wrong.”

Well Yes!

I figured it out.

Lighting struck the new computer.

I hooked up the old

computer, so we could have church.

The old computer didn’t work properly.

So yes I figured out what I did wrong.

I was not standing between the lighting bolt and the power supply of the new computer.

Isn’t life just like that?

In a world, content on criticizing rather than problem solving, we can expect to be beaten down, boycotted until broke , and blamed for everything that makes others unhappy.

Are are often tempted to just give up and go with the flow.

This is not a new dilemma.

The church at Smyrna faced similar temptations, in their critical circumstances.

Nobody likes to be criticized, so I have some good news for you.

If you have made it to preaching today, you have gotten one thing right this week.

The pain of making weekly worship a priority is worth the gain of eternal benefits that are only found in the gathered worship of the church.

Jesus gives us 4 expectations when we gather for worship and preaching:

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise with eternal benefits.

We all have to deal with temptation.

Today we can learn form the Church at Smyrna how to deal with temptation.

Smyrna was a prosperous and beautiful city 35 miles north of Ephesus.

Today it is the city of Izmir, in modern day Turkey.

The church faced trails and troubles on two fronts.

The Jews wanted them to deny Christ as Lord, and the Romans wanted them to deny Christ as lord of All. the Smyrna Christians could worship worship gods other than the emperor as long as the emperor received the majority of the worship.

You can go to church as long as it does inconvenience anyone else.

If you gave Christ more attention than other religions or trusted God more than the government you would suffer the consequences.

The Smyrna christians were always anxious and troubled about what would happen next.

You can go to church as long as it does inconvenience anyone else.

What if you couldn’t get a tax deduction for your tithes.

What if you had to pay a tax to attend church.

Would you still make worship service a priority?

What if you had to give up a promotion at work to attend weekly worship services?

Would you still make weekly Church attendance a priority?

How do you make church a priority?

How would you explain to an non-believer the benefit of coming to Sunday worship?

Dewayne Hare; Deer and Fence Sundays.

We are constantly faced with the temptation join the criticism club, when we should join the fearless and faithful few.

Jesus tells the church at Smyrna to remain fearless and faithful, because the eternal gain out weighs the temporal pain of their circumstances.

Is the pain of making weekly worship a priority worth the gain of an eternal perspective.

The pain of making weekly worship a priority is worth the gain of eternal perspective.

There are benefits found only in the gathered weekly worship of the church.

Jesus gives us 4 expectations, of eternal benefit, when we gather weekly for worship and preaching:

Expect Jesus to send you a message.

Expect Jesus to give you an honest evaluation of your spiritual condition.

Expect Jesus to give you a plan of action.

Expect Jesus to give you a fresh promise of eternal benefits.

Jesus gives us a message of dealing with the pain of temptation.

The Lord God, who has power over time, death, and the grave has a message for you.

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Jesus knows you circumstances.

He was before your problems begin and he will be after your problems end.

Jesus gives us an honest evaluation of our temptation.

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Jesus gives us a plan to overcome the pain of temptation.

Jesus promises

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Ten Days symbolizes a limited time:

What is the difference in not making a cake, against your doctrine of faith, and a Chevrolet dealer not selling you a new Ram truck.

Ten Days symbolizes a limited time:

Crown of Life: (στεφανος) is a laurel wreath presented to an athlete who endured to the end to win the contest.

The crown of Life represents the resurrection life Jesus gives the believer.

Jesus promises that the eternal benefits of fearless and faithful living out weighs the temporal pains of temptation.

Polycarp was a disciple of John, who became Bishop Smyrna.

About 60 years (156 AD) after John wrote this letter to Smyrna, he was martyred by the Romans.

As Polycarp entered the arena, a voice was heard from heaven saying, “Be strong, Polycarp, act like a man.”

No one saw the speaker, but all present reported the voice.

The proconsul asked “Are you Polycarp.

He said, “I am.”

Looking at the old man the governor said “Have respect for you age . . .

Swear by the Genius of Caesar; repent and say away with the atheist.”

Swear the oath; deny Christ and I will set you free.”

Polycarp looking around at the emperor worshippers and heathen, He replied away with the atheist.”

Then came the fearless faithful quote heard down through the centuries:

“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong.

How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Friends repeat after me: “No shame in Life; No fear in Death, here in Christ alone I stand.”

Zack Williams says it this way:

If you have Pain He is the PAIN TAKER

If you are Lost, He is the WAY MAKER

If you need Freedom and Saving, HE IS THE PRISON SHAKING SAVIOR

If you have Chains, HE IS THE CHAIN BREAKER

In revelation to overcome means to conquer, to finish the course, or to win.

In the context, the one who overcomes is the one who has placed faith in Jesus’ plan for your life.

Jesus never desires anyone to be in pain.