rec0228-112009<\/a><\/p>\n Proverbs 28:9 (NASB) (the shortest letter written)<\/strong><\/p>\n Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB) <\/p>\n Job 36:15<\/strong> “But those who suffer HE delivers in their suffering; HE speaks to them in their afflictions.”<\/p>\n 1 Peter 1:6<\/strong> “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”<\/p>\n 1 Peter 3:14<\/strong> “But even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n 1 Peter 4:16<\/strong> “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”<\/p>\n 1 Peter 4:19<\/strong> “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Smyrna” comes from the root word “myrrh” which means “bitter \/ death\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Myrrh was present at the birth of Jesus – Matthew 2:11<\/strong><\/p>\n Myrrh was present at the death of Jesus – Mark 15:23 \/ John 19:39<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Revelation 2:9 (NASB)<\/strong><\/p>\n 9 \u00a0‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.<\/p>\n Luke 6:27-31 (NASB) 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB) Proverbs 28:6 (NASB) <\/p>\n Revelation 2:10 (NASB)<\/strong><\/p>\n 10 \u00a0‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.<\/p>\n Romans 8:28, 34-39\u00a0(NASB) Psalm 30:1-5 (NASB) <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Message by Dr. David Drake rec0228-112009 What Kind of Church Are We? Proverbs 28:9 (NASB) 9 \u00a0He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. Smyrna, The Suffering Church (the shortest letter … Continue reading What Kind of Church Are We?<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\nSmyrna, The Suffering Church<\/h3>\n
Revelation 2: 8-11<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:<\/span> <\/span>The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:<\/span><\/span>
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.<\/span>
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.<\/span>
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n1.\u00a0 Smyrna was a church “rich” in “poverty.”<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>27 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,<\/span>
\n28 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.<\/span>
\n29 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0“<\/span>Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.<\/span>
\n30 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0“<\/span>Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.<\/span>
\n31 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0“<\/span>Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
\n17 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The world is passing away, and also<\/i> its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n2. Smyrna was a church “rewarded” through their “persecution.”<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>28 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His<\/i> purpose.
\n<\/strong>34 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
\n35 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
\n36 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; <\/span>WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”<\/span>
\n37 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
\n38 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
\n39 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>1 <\/span><\/sup> \u00a0I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, <\/span>And have not let my enemies rejoice over me.<\/span>
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.<\/span>
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.<\/span>
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name.<\/span>
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; <\/span>Weeping may last for the night, <\/span>But a shout of joy comes<\/i> in the morning.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n