The Hopeless Spirituality

(Rev 2:8-11 KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; {9} I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. {10} Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. {11} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

As we continue our study of the seven letters to the churches this week, we turn our attention to this second letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. I title this message The Hopeless Spirituality because of the works that this congregations is suffering. When you are suffering and God does not rescue you from your suffering, it becomes very difficult to believe that Christ is still alive and has all power. You feel poor in spirit and abandoned. Jesus has a message for you that are suffering and that feel poor in spirit; you are really rich.

But, when you are suffering tribulation and poverty you don’t feel rich because your human feelings come to the surface. When the times are good and you are enjoying the blessings of the Lord, it is easy to forget that part of your Lord’s message to you was that you should deny yourself and follow Him. He suffered, He was mocked, spit upon, betrayed by His friend, deserted by His followers and tempted in all points. Yet He overcame and serves as our strength and power to also overcome every tribulation that may come our way. And so let us study this subject today that you may be encouraged to not lose hope. The Bible reminds us in

(1 Cor 13:13 KJV) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

It is these three qualities that give strength and courage to the Christian. Last week we considered the greatest of these – love. Today we address the second abiding quality and that is hope. Because you have hope, you work, endure hardship and refuse to give up. Without hope you would surrender and slide into a dark tunnel of depression that would overwhelm you. We have hope because we believe our Lord. And as we remind ourselves of what our Lord teaches us, we continue to have hope even in the darkest hours of life. The Lord’s message to us is to remember that He is alive.

In each of the seven letters, Jesus introduces Himself with different characteristics depending on the need of that particular congregation. To the Smyrna church He reminded them that He is the first and the last, He was dead but He is alive. This is His message of hope to those that are suffering tribulation and persecution. Don’t be discouraged to the point where you lose hope. Remember that your Lord suffered much, yet He arose from the grave triumphant to reign forever more on the right hand of the Father. We read in

(Heb 2:9-18 KJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. {10} For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. {11} For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, {12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. {13} And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. {14} Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. {16} For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. {17} Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Here we are reminded that Jesus was made a human being just like you. He was tempted, He suffered so that He could intercede for you. It was necessary that He be made like you so that He could understand how you feel when you suffer. He did not take on Him the nature of angels for if He had done that, then how could He understand the feelings, the emotions and the pain of the human? He was every bit as human as you are and He suffered every bit as much as any human that has ever lived. He did it to prove that you can overcome evil also by following His example. He had hope to hold on to for He believed the Father that He would come out of the grave and He did! Now He serves as your intercessor in the heavens.

(Heb 4:14-16 KJV) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. {15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

He knows how you feel, He was tempted in all points just like you are. He did not yield to temptation to commit sin and you don’t have to either if you will accept Jesus as your high Priest and listen to Him. Come boldly to the throne of grace in time of need and you shall obtain mercy. Our God delights in mercy and He delights in seeing His children stand true to Him through the trials and tribulations of life. If you will consider the suffering of Jesus as He prepared to go to the cross to be crucified, you will see that He was very human.

(Luke 22:39-44 KJV) And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. {40} And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. {41} And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, {42} Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. {43} And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. {44} And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

As we review His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, we see that He did not want to die. He was pleading with the Father to change the plan of salvation and do it some other way. He was in agony Insomuch that his sweat appeared as drops of blood. He spent the entire night there in the garden praying and pleading for the suffering to be avoided. This is the way we humans want things. We do not desire to suffer and when we do suffer we want it to end quickly. When we suffer we also tend to lose patience with our friends as Jesus did when He found His disciples asleep. “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” He asked them.

(Mat 26:38-46 KJV) Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. {39} And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. {40} And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? {41} Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. {42} He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. {43} And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. {44} And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. {45} Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. {46} Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And then He went and prayed again the second time and came again to find His disciples asleep again. Again He chided them and warned them and yet they could not really understand because they had seen Jesus perform so many miracles how could they be concerned that this time He would end up dying on a cross? Many times when you suffer and it seems that your close friends don’t suffer with you it is easy to get upset at them. But remember they don’t feel your suffering unless God miraculously places it on them. As the disciples did not feel the pressure that our Lord felt that night. Notice then that after the Lord prayed the third time and finally gained the victory in Himself, that He no longer chided His disciples. He now had it settled. It was His mission to suffer the death on the cross and He has yielded himself to the Father’s will. The disciples will have their turn but it is not today. Today is Jesus’ turn to suffer and He has hope that the Father will bring Him out just like He promised He would. And He did it!

There are many examples of suffering in the Bible. Let us look at John, the Baptist.

(Mat 11:2-6 KJV) Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, {3} And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? {4} Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: {5} The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. {6} And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

John the Baptist had been preaching his message of repentance and baptizing those that repented in the Jordan river. One day Jesus came to his baptism and requested to be baptized.

(Mat 3:1-6 KJV) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, {2} And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. {3} For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. {4} And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. {5} Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, {6} And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

(John 1:29-34 KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. {30} This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. {31} And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. {32} And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. {33} And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. {34} And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John was very confident when he baptized Jesus. He boldly proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God, the Son of God who would baptize with the holy Ghost. Now we look in on John about three years later and find him in prison. He had been cast into prison because of his preaching and things were looking very bleak for him. He was suffering much and it was impossible to understand what was going to happen. It is in this time of suffering that John sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask the question, “Are you really the one?” It seems that John is having second thoughts because things are not turning out like he thought they would. Here he is in prison facing death and Jesus his Lord is healing the sick and performing all kinds of miracles but none of those miracles are getting him out of prison.

It is evident that John was very discouraged to the point that he was losing hope. The message that Jesus sent back to John was meant to strengthen John. Tell John that great things are happening, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And John, blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Or in other words, John, you are not going to be delivered from your death sentence. You are going to lose your life for my sake and the Gospel’s. Don’t be offended because it does not seem fair. The Father has chosen for you a special role in the presenting of the Gospel and your destiny will serve to let all people know that even though you live a godly life and even though you are used mightily of God, you may still suffer a martyr’s death.

This is a message that all Christians need to know. It is the plan of God that as a Christian you will suffer persecution.

(2 Tim 3:12 KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Suffering church, Jesus knows your works. He knows your tribulation. Don’t fear the things that you will suffer. Be faithful unto death and He will give you a crown of life. Some of the most difficult things to suffer are false Brethren. Those that claim to be your brothers and sisters in the Lord and yet they turn on you and rend you. Remember that Judas was one of the 12 and he raised up against the Lord to sell Him out. Jesus says that they claim to be Jews, but they are really of the Synagogue of Satan. That is a harsh statement but it is the message to Smyrna the suffering church. Don’t give up hope because false so called Christians turn on you and you end up getting cast into prison. Stay faithful to God and He will reward you; if not in this life, in the life beyond.

It is this hope that has held multitudes down through the ages true to the Lord. The Apostle Paul testifies of his experiences.

(2 Cor 11:23-28 KJV) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. {24} Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. {25} Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; {26} In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; {27} In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. {28} Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Most of us will never suffer the many things that Paul suffered. Yet there are those in our world and in our time that are suffering strong persecution. We don’t hear much about the church that is being persecuted, but believe me it is real in our present time. Pray for those that are suffering much that they will stand firm, be faithful and hold on to their hope in the delivering power of the Lord. History is filled with the faithful being tortured, burned at the stake, thrown to the lions, cut apart little by little and all kinds of horrible treatment. Thank God millions have suffered and held on to their hope in the Lord. They stand as testimonies to us that we also can suffer and overcome if we will hold fast to our hope in our Lord.

Dwelling on the things that you don’t understand will discourage you. There are many things that you will never understand in this world. Remember that God’s ways are higher and His thoughts are beyond us. Learn to trust Him and commit to be faithful to your duty no matter what.

(Isa 55:8-9 KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Remember that whatever happens to you as a Christian is for your good.

(Rom 8:28-29 KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

God knows all about you and He wants to perfect you so that you will enjoy your life in this world and in the world to come. Therefore all things work for your good as long as you remain true to His calling. His purpose is conform you to the image of his Son. There is a crown of life laid up for you if you will remain faithful unto death.

(2 Tim 4:6-8 KJV) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. {7} I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: {8} Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Jesus is alive and in control today. He is aware of your suffering. He knows your works. He has a crown for you and He wants you to keep the faith so He can present you your crown. Do you think that because you see and hear of so much evil prevailing in our time that the Lord is dead? I have news for you. The Lord is alive and souls are still being delivered out of the quagmire of sin. Saints are still being made and the Lord is powerful in our midst. He will not fail us and we should not fail Him.