WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:04.879 Good morning, everyone. It's good to see you. It's a beautiful Sunday. 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:11.000 If we haven't met, my name is Kevin. I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:16.600 If we haven't met, come say hi to me after the service. I would love to connect with you. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:24.240 It's a real joy to be here with you this morning and to continue preaching on our Lenten series. 00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:29.039 We're looking at the seven letters to the seven churches, which is the very beginning of Revelation. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:34.979 And this will be a shorter series and then we'll do a deeper dive into Revelation through sometime in July probably. 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:42.420 And we're going to be looking at the letter, the second letter this morning, the letter to the church in Smyrna. 00:00:43.019 --> 00:00:51.140 And in one way or another, each of these letters is about dispelling the false idea that it's possible to be a casual Christian. 00:00:51.140 --> 00:01:00.060 The church is the bride of Christ and Jesus is the bride room who desires his bride to be passionate about following him. 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:07.740 He desires a passionate bride, a bride who's all in, who's willing to live for him and, as we'll see, is willing to die for him. 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:11.879 And there's really just one main theme that dominates this letter to Smyrna. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:13.859 It's very short, but it packs a big punch. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:17.079 And that theme is suffering, suffering persecution. 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:25.659 As Tommy told us last week, the book of Revelation is aimed not so much at our head or our hearts, but at our imagination. 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:33.359 In one way or another, it seeks to jolt us out of a spiritual sleepiness, to wake us up from spiritual stupor. 00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:37.680 And I think the book helps us to reframe what the Christian life is all about. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:44.020 It helps us to ask the question and to answer the question, what does following Jesus in this world really look like? 00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:46.840 What's required of us if we decide to follow Jesus? 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:49.460 What does it cost to follow Christ? 00:01:49.820 --> 00:01:56.800 I think we spend a lot of time, and rightly so, talking about how we need to think about Jesus and the world. 00:01:56.940 --> 00:01:58.340 So developing proper doctrine. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:02.340 And we spend a lot of time talking about what it looks like to live for Christ. 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:05.040 So living lives in line with the scriptures. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:13.260 But we probably don't spend enough time talking about the fact that to follow Jesus means that you're going to live a life that's marked by suffering. 00:02:14.140 --> 00:02:15.719 And so that's what we're going to talk about this morning. 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:20.280 It's a pretty intense topic, but one that is important to explore. 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:28.900 And I was thinking, you know, if this is somebody's first Sunday, you know, it could be kind of a... 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:32.120 Almost like I want to apologize, in a way, for talking about it. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:37.400 But at the same time, if you're here and you're looking to follow Jesus, you kind of need to know what you're getting into. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:43.420 So I thought maybe we should have a warning label if we invite people to follow Jesus that just has a big sign that says, 00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:45.099 Danger. This way leads to death. 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:51.800 And of course, right after that, in like bold parentheses, and through death to the resurrection, to eternal life. 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:56.060 So that's what we're going to be talking about this morning. 00:02:56.920 --> 00:03:03.439 And the idea of letting people know what they're signing up for reminds me of this story of a pastor. 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:04.900 He is a Romanian pastor. 00:03:05.380 --> 00:03:09.020 And this is a story about how he would prepare youths. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:10.720 I don't know how old they were for confirmation. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.220 The pastor's name is Richard Wurmbrand. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:15.480 Some of you may have heard of him. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:19.140 He's sort of like the Romanian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, if you will. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:24.339 He was imprisoned and he was tortured by the communist regime in Romania in the mid-20th century. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.959 He spent 14 years, many of those years, in solitary confinement. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:32.119 And he wasn't killed by the Romanians, fortunately. 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:33.179 He escaped. 00:03:33.299 --> 00:03:34.419 He was in prison several times. 00:03:34.619 --> 00:03:39.519 But he went on to write many books and to lead and equip the persecuted church. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:42.799 And in one book called Preparing the Underground Church, 00:03:42.799 --> 00:03:47.279 it's sort of a manual for Christians in places where they're persecuted. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.400 He writes this about how he prepared a group of children for, 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.539 I imagine they're teenagers, he doesn't say. 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:54.340 Maybe they're children. 00:03:55.140 --> 00:03:55.860 For confirmation. 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:56.780 He writes this. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.080 I remember my last confirmation class before going to prison. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:04.340 I took a group of 10 to 15 boys and girls on a Sunday morning, 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.460 not to a church, but to the zoo. 00:04:08.420 --> 00:04:10.360 Before the cage of lions, I told them, 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:15.580 Your forefathers in faith were thrown before such wild beasts for their faith. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:18.540 Know also that you will have to suffer. 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:20.740 You will not be thrown before lions, 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:24.300 but you will have to do with men who would be much worse than lions. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:28.680 Decide here and now if you wish to pledge allegiance to Christ. 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:32.240 And he writes that they had tears in their eyes when they said yes. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:34.720 Now, I'm not saying that we should do that this summer when Jane's away, 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:35.819 take the kids to the zoo. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:38.099 I'm also saying we shouldn't do that. 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:39.480 Something to think about. 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:41.259 But the point of this story is, 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:44.759 the Christian life is, it's not easy and it's not for the faint of heart. 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:48.439 And so often I think we become lax in what it means to follow Christ. 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:52.759 It actually requires a great deal of courage in the face of fear. 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.699 And the call to be a Christian is not the call to be a hero. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.560 It's the call to be a saint, someone who's faithful unto death. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.600 And so this morning I want to look at our passage, Revelation 2, 8 through 11, 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.800 to help equip us for that journey. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.300 And so there are three things that I think this passage teaches us. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:11.639 First, it teaches us what we can expect in the journey of following Christ. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.500 It teaches us what we are promised to make it through that journey. 00:05:15.960 --> 00:05:19.340 And then I want to talk a little bit about how we can prepare for this journey. 00:05:19.580 --> 00:05:20.240 So let's pray. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:27.879 Father, we are reminded that the call to follow you is the call to take up our cross daily 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.840 and to follow you. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:33.939 Lord, I'm reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words. 00:05:34.719 --> 00:05:37.639 When Christ calls us, he bids us come and die. 00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:43.479 I pray that you would equip us by your spirit that we would be not cowardly Christians, 00:05:43.679 --> 00:05:46.679 but that we would be faithful and courageous Christians, 00:05:46.799 --> 00:05:50.659 willing to suffer with Christ in order that we might be glorified with him. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:54.840 And so I pray for our time brief, though it may be this morning, 00:05:54.840 --> 00:05:58.540 that you would speak to each one of us in the ways that we need to hear. 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:00.100 I pray these things in Christ's name. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:00.640 Amen. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.980 Okay, so first, what can we expect? 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.400 So in a word, we can expect persecution. 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:10.420 We can expect to suffer because of our allegiance to Jesus Christ. 00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:12.980 So I want to give you a little background on Smyrna, 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:15.100 the city that this letter is written to. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:16.819 Smyrna was a seaport. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.600 It's about 35 miles north of Ephesus. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:22.480 That's the church that Tommy talked to us about last week. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:26.620 So 35 miles north in a seaport on the coast of the Aegean Sea. 00:06:27.400 --> 00:06:31.480 And Smyrna was fiercely loyal to Rome and to Caesar. 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:36.939 The city earned the right to be the center of emperor worship in Asia Minor, 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:40.439 which is where all of these cities are, which is in modern-day Turkey. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.279 One thing you need to know about the imperial cult, the worship of Caesar, 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:50.420 is that the imperial cult was baked into basically every aspect of life in Rome 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:52.360 or Roman colonies in Asia Minor. 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.759 Really, the only way to economic prosperity and to greater social standing 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:02.279 was by participating in the worship of the Roman gods and especially of Caesar. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:05.800 And so if you were a Christian that found yourself in a Roman colony, 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:07.199 you would have to make a decision. 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:09.740 Is Caesar Lord or is Jesus? 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:15.379 Now the trouble is you can't really have a share in the city's public life 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:18.500 if you're not participating in the Roman religious life. 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:22.939 So that is a little bit troublesome if you're a Christian trying to be salt and light in the world. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.980 And the greater trouble is you can't just really opt out without consequences. 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:32.060 If you refuse to participate, this refusal was viewed as a threat to Roman power 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:36.379 because you are considered an atheist and they thought that was very destabilizing. 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:39.079 You're viewed as disloyal and unpatriotic 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:45.420 and you are punished by not being allowed to participate economically in the marketplace. 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:47.019 So you would struggle financially. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:48.959 But you could also be imprisoned. 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:49.699 You could be beaten. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.899 You could be exiled. 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:52.160 And you could even be executed. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:56.320 This is actually the reason why Socrates was executed. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:01.320 If you read Plato's Apology, he was executed for being an atheist 00:08:01.320 --> 00:08:04.260 because he didn't acknowledge the same gods as the Greeks. 00:08:04.320 --> 00:08:08.240 So it was a pretty common thing for people to be imprisoned for 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.020 and to be punished for to be on the fringes of Roman society. 00:08:11.760 --> 00:08:13.680 Another thing we need to know about Smyrna 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:16.820 is that there was a considerable Jewish colony in Smyrna. 00:08:16.960 --> 00:08:20.580 In the early church, Jews were, it's called the Jewish Diaspora. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:23.039 They were spread out all over the region. 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:27.939 And churches would plant and grow in the places where Jewish communities were. 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.399 Paul would go to those places and he would preach the gospel. 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:35.460 And oftentimes the early Christians were Jews who decided to follow Jesus. 00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:40.120 And there was a great deal of hostility and tension and conflict for this reason. 00:08:40.579 --> 00:08:42.039 If you decided to follow Jesus, 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:46.620 you are perceived as a traitor to your Jewish community and your background. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:49.539 And so what we see in Smyrna, 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.099 this is the situation on the ground, 00:08:51.219 --> 00:08:53.439 is that the Jews were slandering the Christians. 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:57.159 And the Jews knew that they didn't have the authority 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:00.179 to really do damage to the Christians themselves 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:04.919 because they were under Roman rule and Roman subjugation. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.120 Only the Romans had authority to punish 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.879 and only they had the power to punish other people. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:16.620 And so basically what the Jewish community would do to hurt the Christians 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:19.679 was they would basically out them to the Roman authorities 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:21.440 and say these people are Christians 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:24.860 and they're resisting the Roman religion 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:28.139 and they're destabilizing Roman society. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:28.879 They're a threat. 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.639 And they knew if they did that, 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:36.019 that the Christians in Smyrna would be pushed outside of the marketplace 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:36.840 so they would suffer. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.139 They would be in poverty. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:41.080 And they might even be thrown into prison. 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:42.559 And they might even be killed. 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:45.120 We see something similar in Acts 17 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.960 just across the Aegean Sea in Thessalonica. 00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:50.240 Paul was in the city 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:53.899 and there was a mob of angry Jews 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:57.659 that basically they outed Paul 00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:59.639 and the other Christians to the authorities. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:03.240 And they said that the Christians were turning the world upside down. 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:05.000 They were destabilizing the society. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.740 They were destabilizing Roman power. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:09.819 And the charge against them 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:12.340 was that they were acting against the decrees of Caesar 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:14.699 saying that there's another king, Jesus. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:17.120 And so if Caesar hears that there's a group of people 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.220 who think there's another king, 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.159 they want to wipe those people out. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.480 And this led to persecution. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.319 One thing I want to note here is in verse 2-9 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:26.840 there's some really strong language 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.439 that John uses about the Jews. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.059 He says the Jews are slandering Christians 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.279 and he calls their community a synagogue of Satan. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:37.059 It's pretty intense language. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:40.379 The word Satan means slanderer or accuser. 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:42.100 And I want to note 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:45.659 that I don't think John is being anti-Semitic here. 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:48.259 I think that what he's doing 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:50.600 is he's calling out the profound corruption 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:51.860 in the first century synagogue. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.740 We see some of that corruption in our gospel lesson 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:59.000 where basically the Jews 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.039 Jews in the first century 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:03.980 didn't recognize Jesus for who he was 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:06.019 and they were actually in opposition to him. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:08.080 And so what John is saying 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.279 is basically there are forces at work 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.980 in the first century synagogue 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.519 that are going against 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.039 and working against God's plans 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.639 and purposes in the world. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.639 One other thing that I want to highlight 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.220 is that strong language like this 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:24.019 isn't reserved just for Jews alone 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:25.919 or it's not reserved or excluded 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:28.559 from being applied to Jesus' own followers. 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:31.139 I'm reminded of the passage 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:32.819 in the Gospels in Matthew and Mark 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:35.279 where Peter is opposing Jesus. 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.179 Jesus is saying, 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:37.139 I have to go to Jerusalem 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.019 and I have to die. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:38.639 And Peter says, 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.759 like, absolutely not. 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:40.779 You're not going to do that. 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:43.740 And Jesus says these really strong words 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.879 to Peter, his right-hand man. 00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:45.220 He says, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.320 get behind me, Satan. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:47.180 Right? 00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:49.920 And the reason why he does that 00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:51.160 is because at its core, 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.440 any opposition to the things of God 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.740 is demonic, is satanic. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.540 And I think this explains 00:11:57.540 --> 00:12:00.139 the otherwise just startling 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.940 and surprising and bizarre move 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:02.740 in verse 10 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:05.600 where John says, 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:06.320 you know, 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:08.139 the Jews are slandering you 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:10.519 and the devil is going to throw you into prison. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:12.740 Like, how do we get from there to here? 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:15.060 John is identifying the real enemy. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.560 In this situation. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.200 Revelation, 00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:19.820 so the book that we're studying 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:20.580 is called Revelation. 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.160 The Greek word is also translated as apocalypse 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:25.899 and it literally means an unveiling. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:28.080 And Revelation is an unveiling. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.040 It is a revealing of God's perspective 00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:31.139 on what's going on 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:32.800 behind the scenes in human history. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.560 And God reveals it to us 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:36.180 because it wouldn't otherwise be available 00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:37.540 to our empirical reason. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.100 You can't just observe what's going on 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.519 and see it. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.759 God reveals it to us. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.980 So certainly the Jews and Romans 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:44.480 are conspiring together 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.740 to persecute the church. 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:48.460 But it's all being orchestrated by the devil. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:50.039 That's what John is telling us. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.940 The ultimate adversary 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:52.379 and the opponent of God. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.659 Essentially what's happening 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:55.100 is John is pulling back the curtain 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:56.820 so we can see what's going on 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:57.779 behind the scenes. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.740 And this happens to be the case 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:02.639 with all opposition to the kingdom of God. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.240 The real enemy and the real battle 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.840 is always a spiritual one. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.740 This is what Paul writes 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:08.379 in Ephesians 6 verse 12. 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.860 For we do not wrestle 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:11.039 against flesh and blood 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:12.559 but against the rulers, 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.639 against the authorities, 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.320 against the cosmic powers 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.620 over this present darkness, 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:18.899 against the spiritual forces of evil 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:20.539 in the heavenly places. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.120 You know, as I was thinking 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.759 about the sermon, 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.700 I was just reflecting on 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:26.679 how often do I think 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.700 about the cosmic powers? 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:30.379 How often am I really paying attention to 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.080 or actually thinking 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.440 that there's something else going on 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:34.639 besides what I can see and feel? 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.059 Really not that often, 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:36.759 if I'm honest. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.839 This reminds me of the famous line 00:13:38.839 --> 00:13:40.739 from Charles Baudelaire's short story, 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.679 the greatest trick of the devil 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.339 is to persuade the world 00:13:44.339 --> 00:13:45.759 that he does not exist. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.879 Are we persuaded that he does not exist? 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.819 The book of Revelation, 00:13:50.979 --> 00:13:51.899 this passage in particular, 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.139 I think this morning 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.579 John is trying to wake us up. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.419 He's trying to tell us 00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.539 that the devil is real, 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.399 the devil is terrible, 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:00.759 and the devil wants nothing more 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.000 than to dismantle and destroy 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.299 our faith in Jesus Christ. 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:05.439 And if you think this is over the top, 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.780 I want you to consider this image 00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:09.160 from the epistle of 1 Peter. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.580 Peter writes to the church. 00:14:11.380 --> 00:14:12.660 He uses this really powerful 00:14:12.660 --> 00:14:13.800 and terrifying image 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:15.200 to describe the devil. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.440 He writes this in 1 Peter 5.8, 00:14:17.540 --> 00:14:20.560 Be sober-minded, be watchful. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:22.620 Your adversary, the devil, 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:25.620 prowls around like a roaring lion 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:27.740 seeking someone to devour. 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:30.080 That is terrifying, right? 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:32.160 I often, I don't think about that enough, 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.420 that like everywhere I'm walking, 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:35.199 the devil is sort of like hiding the grass, 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.279 waiting to pounce on me, 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.579 waiting to destroy me, 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:40.079 waiting to disrupt my faith in Jesus 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:41.419 in one way or another. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.459 And I wonder how our lives would change 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:45.579 if we actually lived like that was true, 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.719 that the devil really was prowling around 00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:49.099 trying to dismantle and destroy 00:14:49.099 --> 00:14:50.079 our faith in Jesus Christ. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.559 How would that change our prayer lives? 00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:53.079 How would that change 00:14:53.079 --> 00:14:54.240 how much we read the Bible? 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.479 How would that change 00:14:55.479 --> 00:14:56.879 how much we rely on Jesus 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.699 to get us through? 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.639 So what can we expect? 00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:00.120 As Christians, 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.220 we can expect opposition. 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:04.000 We can expect suffering and persecution. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.779 We shouldn't seek it. 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.279 We shouldn't seek to be martyrs. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.460 We shouldn't seek suffering. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.740 But we shouldn't be surprised when it comes. 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.840 And the reality is, 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.899 it's not a matter of if, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.720 but when. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.500 So the second thing, 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.500 well, what are we promised? 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:19.139 If we can expect persecution, 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:20.899 what can we, 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.159 what are we promised? 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.960 And I'm going to highlight three promises 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:25.399 that we see in this passage 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.560 that ought to encourage us 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:28.500 to breathe courage into our hearts 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.480 so that we can make it through 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.720 and be faithful unto death. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.200 The first promise 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.279 that we see in this passage 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.940 is that Jesus knows. 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.200 Jesus says in verse nine, 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.559 I know your tribulation 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.960 and your poverty 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.039 and your slander. 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.600 Jesus knows what we're going through. 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:43.840 He's aware of it. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.539 It's not a secret to him. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.820 He's not surprised by it. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.620 He is aware. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.820 And when Jesus says he knows, 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.539 I don't think he's just saying 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:53.080 that he has sort of like 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:54.259 a cognitive awareness. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.639 He sees what's going on. 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.200 Like he's, 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.480 the ascended Christ 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.759 is at the right hand of the father 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.980 and he's just like spectating, 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.019 watching us suffer 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:03.460 at the hand of the Jews 00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:04.000 and the Romans 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.720 and ultimately of the devil. 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.279 He's not just saying like, 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:10.460 I know that you're suffering cognitively. 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.639 And I don't think he's just saying, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.360 you know, 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:13.820 I know what it's like to suffer, 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.860 where he's remembering 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.940 his earthly life, 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.379 dying at the hands of the Romans. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.420 I think what he's saying 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:22.200 is he's currently experiencing 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.420 our suffering alongside with us. 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:25.800 He personally knows 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.220 he's experiencing it with us. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.019 He is in it with us. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.680 So why do I say that? 00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:32.860 Well, I'm reminded of Acts 9 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.420 when Saul, 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:37.019 the chief persecutor of the church, 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:39.680 he was sort of enemy number one 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.600 of the early church, 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.720 overseeing the murder 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.700 of the first martyr, Stephen, 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.860 arresting the people 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.920 who were following Jesus. 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:48.960 He was on the Damascus road 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.340 and he gets interrupted 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.620 by the resurrected Jesus. 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.360 Jesus appears to him on the road. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.960 He becomes blind 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.200 and he hears this voice 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.700 and it's the voice of Jesus 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.340 who says, 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.320 Saul, Saul, 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:02.280 why are you persecuting me? 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.080 He doesn't say, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.319 why are you persecuting the church 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.000 that I care about? 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.360 He's saying, 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.600 why are you persecuting me? 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.720 Saul says, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.340 who are you, Lord? 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.319 And Jesus says again, 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.840 I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.000 What this passage tells us 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.799 is that Jesus is in it with us. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.660 He so identifies with the church 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.680 that when the church suffers, 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.380 Christ suffers. 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:20.620 And how is this possible? 00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:21.680 Well, Jesus is with us 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.560 by his spirit. 00:17:23.060 --> 00:17:23.840 We're not alone. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.980 We're empowered by his spirit 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.940 and we can't make it through. 00:17:26.040 --> 00:17:27.620 We can't endure the suffering 00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:28.120 and the trials 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:28.860 and the persecution 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:30.860 unless we're relying on the spirit. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.960 Paul writes in 2 Timothy 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.060 that God gave us 00:17:34.060 --> 00:17:35.320 not a spirit of fear, 00:17:36.020 --> 00:17:37.240 but a spirit of power 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.440 and of love 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.720 and of self-control. 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.220 And the way I interpret that 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.820 this morning is 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:43.380 power to endure suffering. 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.580 If we have the spirit, 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.700 we cannot endure suffering. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:48.640 The spirit to love those 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.779 who persecute us 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.740 because they're not our main enemy. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.059 The devil is. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.819 And a spirit of self-control 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:56.600 to not abandon the faith. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.519 The second promise 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.860 is in verse 10 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.080 and this is an encouraging one 00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.740 that our suffering 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.500 will be temporary. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.200 The tribulation 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.360 will not last forever. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:05.900 Verse 10 says, 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:06.740 do not fear. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:08.000 The devil is about to throw 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:08.920 some of you in prison 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:09.980 that you might be tested 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.819 and for 10 days 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:13.799 you will have tribulation. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.600 Whenever you see 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.659 a number in Revelation, 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.819 it's symbolic. 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:23.019 There's a whole field 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.579 of theology 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.639 called numerology 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:25.679 that tries to understand 00:18:25.679 --> 00:18:26.159 all the numbers. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.639 I wouldn't claim 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.500 to know all the numbers. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.859 There's some strange 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.819 and interesting theories 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.759 about it in Revelation. 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:33.279 But I think what's going on 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.279 in the 10 days, 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.379 it basically just means 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.119 it's going to be temporary. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.899 There's an end to it. 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.000 And I think it's a clear allusion 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.179 to the book of Daniel 00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.899 from the passage 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.819 that we read this morning. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.399 As we read, 00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:45.560 the situation in Daniel 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:46.800 is that Israel 00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:48.140 was in exile in Babylon. 00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:48.840 Nebuchadnezzar 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:49.820 had conquered Israel. 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.759 And basically, 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.000 what the king of Babylon 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.720 was doing 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:55.120 was he called 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.680 a few of the elite Israelites 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.360 to come into Babylon 00:18:58.360 --> 00:19:00.620 to be indoctrinated 00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:01.960 into Babylonian culture 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:04.500 and to Babylonian education. 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.400 And this was basically 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.880 a form of soft power. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.160 Nebuchadnezzar 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.600 was trying to subjugate 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.519 the people of Israel 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:12.200 and was using cultural forces 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.660 rather than military forces, 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.779 which is pretty effective. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.160 And Daniel 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:19.079 was a faithful Israelite. 00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:20.160 He was a faithful Jew. 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.519 And even though 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.599 he was living in exile, 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.420 he wasn't going to 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.359 compromise his faith. 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.539 He's a great model for us. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.599 And so, 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.559 he went along 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.160 with the education, 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.920 but he refused 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.819 to go all in 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:32.119 whenever he was asked 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.559 to do something 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.579 that compromised his faith. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.700 He always remained faithful. 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.559 And so, 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.400 he just would refuse 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.519 to eat the king's food 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.539 because he didn't want 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.359 to be defiled by it 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:39.859 because the food 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.619 wasn't kosher. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.459 It wasn't in accordance 00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.819 with the dietary restrictions. 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:44.839 And so, 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:45.219 basically, 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.599 he said, 00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.479 I'm not going to do that. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.399 And the guy 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:48.359 who was the eunuch 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.179 who was in charge 00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:50.079 of the students 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:52.459 was a little worried 00:19:52.459 --> 00:19:53.259 because he thought 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:55.279 if these students 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.479 become malnourished 00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:56.959 and weak, 00:19:56.979 --> 00:19:57.859 he's going to get in trouble 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:59.219 by the king. 00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.159 And so, 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.959 Daniel basically says, 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.159 okay, 00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:01.819 let's make a deal. 00:20:02.219 --> 00:20:03.099 Let me go vegetarian 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.879 for 10 days. 00:20:03.979 --> 00:20:04.459 I'm not going to eat 00:20:04.459 --> 00:20:05.699 the king's food and wine. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.959 And if I'm, 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.839 after 10 days, 00:20:07.879 --> 00:20:08.519 you'll see how I am 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.019 and then you can make 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:09.480 a decision. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.079 And what we read 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.660 in the passage 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.900 was after 10 days, 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.079 Daniel and his crew 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.319 were, 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.059 they're fatter, 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.900 they're happier, 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.079 and they were smarter 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.139 than the rest of their cohort. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.119 After this test, 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.740 they were blessed 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.639 and they had favor 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:21.460 from the Lord, right? 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:21.839 And so, 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.019 the eunuch was like, 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.500 okay, fine, 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.000 you guys can do 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.480 whatever you want. 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.500 You're doing pretty well. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.480 And so, 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.759 Daniel is a model for us 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.859 of taking a risk, 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.980 taking risks of faith 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.019 even when it costs. 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.099 But I think we need 00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.539 to be careful 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.119 not to take 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.039 the Daniel analogy 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.940 too far. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.960 Unlike Daniel, 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.399 Christians aren't 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.099 actually promised 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.500 to make it through alive. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.720 The time of testing 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.639 will not be forever, 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.559 which is an encouragement, 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:46.019 but it might end 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.619 in death. 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.599 This makes me think 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.420 of Hebrews 11, 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.420 this great, 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.779 encouraging chapter 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:53.220 of basically 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:53.879 recounting 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.819 the honor roll 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.440 of faith 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.399 in the Old Testament. 00:20:58.060 --> 00:20:58.740 All of the people, 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.759 our mothers and fathers 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.240 in the faith 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.240 are spiritual forebears 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.220 who had amazing 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.240 exploits of faith. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:07.259 As the chapter goes on, 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.560 the author of Hebrews 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:08.900 says, 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.120 you know, 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:11.340 some of our forebears 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:11.700 in the faith 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.440 stopped the mouths 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:12.880 of lions. 00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:13.980 Some even quenched 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.420 the power of fire, 00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:16.120 referring clearly 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:16.700 to Daniel. 00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:18.019 But then it goes on 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.340 to say, 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.040 yet others 00:21:19.040 --> 00:21:21.100 didn't have quite 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:22.259 such a nice fate. 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.180 Others were tortured, 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.940 refusing to accept 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.940 release so that 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.220 they might rise again 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.980 to a better life. 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.019 Others were stoned, 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.839 they were sawn in two, 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.200 they were killed 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.900 with the sword. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.180 They went about 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.279 in skins of sheep 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.740 and goats, 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.400 destitute, 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.019 afflicted, 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.600 mistreated, 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.539 and I love this line, 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.920 of whom the world 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.880 was not worthy, 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.120 wandering about 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.220 in deserts and mountains 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.980 and in dens 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.299 and caves of the earth. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.360 You see, 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.779 the call of the Christian 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:49.480 is to trust the God 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.640 and to leave 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.980 the consequences to him 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.339 because we know, 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.420 and this is the third promise, 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.720 that if we endure 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.360 to the end, 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.500 we have the ultimate promise, 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.720 the ultimate reward awaits, 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:00.940 which is the resurrection. 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.880 Our passage describes 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.420 the resurrection 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:05.019 as the crown of life 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.940 and the conquering 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.940 of the second death. 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.039 Verse 210 says, 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.279 be faithful unto death 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.000 and I will give you 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.740 the crown of life. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.240 This is referring 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.860 to the resurrection. 00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.000 And then again, 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.259 it says, 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.180 the one who conquers 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.940 will not be hurt 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.680 by the second death. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.620 What is the second death? 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.039 It's the last judgment. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.720 So everyone is going to die 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:23.380 and John is telling us 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:23.860 that there's actually 00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:25.240 something worse than death, 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.259 namely dying twice. 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.240 After, 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.579 when Jesus comes back, 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.360 he's going to judge 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.200 the living and the dead, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.360 the thing that we say 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:33.160 when we recite 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.960 the Nicene Creed. 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:36.240 And those who are faithful 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.980 to Christ 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.900 will be raised 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.019 to resurrected life 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.079 and live with Jesus forever 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.000 and those who are not 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.539 will suffer the second death. 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.720 And this is why 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.200 the resurrection 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.579 is so important 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.559 because if we don't have 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.079 the resurrection, 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.740 if we don't have 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.679 this ultimate hope, 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.939 there's no reason 00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:52.039 why we should be 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.639 willing to suffer. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.419 We should hang on 00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:53.859 to our life 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:55.240 as long as we possibly can. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.179 So I've talked about 00:22:57.179 --> 00:22:58.099 what we can expect 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.579 and what this passage 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.500 promises us, 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:02.799 how we can have 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.699 great consolation 00:23:03.699 --> 00:23:04.699 in the midst of suffering. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.339 Lastly, 00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:05.939 I want to talk about 00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:06.759 how we can prepare 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.480 for the test, 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.779 how we can prepare 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.059 for when the troubles come. 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.960 Now I know most of us, 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.919 maybe you're thinking, 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.240 look, 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.139 we live in America, 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:16.059 I'm probably not going 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.439 to be killed 00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.179 for my faith. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.220 That's probably true 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.220 but let's not be too, 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.740 let's not get too comfortable. 00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:23.039 You know, 00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:24.460 I was thinking about 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:28.000 20th century Germany. 00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:30.019 Germany was, 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:32.039 right before World War II, 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.000 was sort of the pinnacle 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:37.039 of cultural progress 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.720 at the time 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.359 and things devolved 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:39.980 really quickly. 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.619 In a few years, 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.720 it went from sort of 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:45.299 the climax of European culture 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:48.019 to Hitler taking over 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.220 and the Holocaust 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:51.700 and Christians being 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.339 thrown into prison 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:54.799 and killed as well. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.440 So things can turn 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.079 pretty quickly, 00:23:57.399 --> 00:23:57.980 I think. 00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.680 But right now, 00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:01.159 I think our lives, 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.539 at least, 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.019 are safe. 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.940 And so we might not 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:05.379 be in danger 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.740 of physical death 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.419 but I do think 00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:08.319 each one of us 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.899 faces a kind of death 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.720 in a way. 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.940 It's more social death 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.960 and economic death. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.819 We might suffer 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.720 public shaming 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.539 or social ostracizing 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.940 or damage to our careers, 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.220 loss of opportunities 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.200 with our jobs 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.200 because of our faith. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.860 And I think this is 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.579 where our tests are 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.259 and so this is what 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.940 I want to talk about 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.460 this morning. 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.759 And the question 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.500 I want to ask is, 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.620 are you being faithful 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:33.120 unto these kinds of deaths 00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:34.220 because of your faith 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.720 in Jesus? 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.559 And so as we close, 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.460 I want to think about, 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:38.720 I want you to think about 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:40.019 the areas in your life 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:42.319 where you are most tempted 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.240 to hide the fact 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.339 that you are a Christian. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.039 What are the tests 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.819 that you are facing? 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.900 Think about those spaces. 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.860 Maybe it's at work. 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.539 Maybe it's with your boss 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.480 or your coworkers 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.660 where if they knew 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.480 that you were a Christian 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.519 and what that meant, 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.860 that might do damage 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.500 to your career. 00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.400 It might give you a ceiling 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.819 for how you could progress 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.819 in your job. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.440 Maybe it's with your family. 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.839 Maybe it's with your parents 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.679 or your siblings 00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.939 or an extended 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:08.279 distant relative. 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.240 What would they think of you 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.899 if they knew 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:13.639 how serious you were 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.899 about following Jesus? 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:17.659 Maybe it's the parents 00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.519 at your kids' school. 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.059 What would they think of you 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.799 if they knew you went 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:23.639 to the Church of the Advent? 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:25.299 What would they think of you 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:26.419 if they knew 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.500 what you believed? 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.079 Maybe it's your neighborhood, 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.000 wherever it is. 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.079 I'm not going to name it for you. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.359 I want you to think about it. 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:34.500 But think about those scenarios 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.740 in which you're most tempted 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.359 to bail on Jesus, 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:39.099 where you're most tempted 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.199 to be a closet Christian, 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:40.839 where it would just be 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.659 a lot easier 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.559 if people didn't know 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:44.039 what you actually believed. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:46.139 This is probably your test. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.319 And so the question 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.379 we need to ask ourselves 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.619 is how can we prepare 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:51.240 for these types of tests? 00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:52.859 How can we be faithful 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.679 unto death? 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.719 I want to read another passage 00:25:56.719 --> 00:25:58.399 from Richard Wormbrand's book, 00:25:58.479 --> 00:25:59.819 Preparing for the Underground Church. 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.299 And I think it's really helpful. 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.579 He gives us some great advice. 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.119 He's somebody 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.759 who's had personal experience. 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:07.139 He suffered a great deal 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.659 and he endured the test. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.619 He was faithful. 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:10.359 And so I think 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.579 he has a lot to teach us. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:13.240 This is what he writes. 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.960 What shall we do 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.099 about these tortures? 00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.259 Will we be able 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.960 to bear them? 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.799 We must prepare 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.539 for suffering 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:22.680 and we must start now. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.919 It is too difficult 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:26.379 to prepare yourself for it 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.180 when the communists 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.139 have put you in prison. 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.859 We have to make 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.839 the preparation now 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:32.059 before we are imprisoned. 00:26:32.959 --> 00:26:34.259 In prison you lose everything. 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.019 You are undressed 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.339 and given a prisoner suit. 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.879 No more nice furniture 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.719 or nice carpets 00:26:38.719 --> 00:26:39.399 or nice curtains. 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:41.399 You do not have a wife anymore 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.599 and you do not have your children. 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.179 You do not have your library 00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:45.619 and you never see a flower. 00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:47.379 Nothing of what makes 00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.419 life pleasant remains. 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:49.939 And he says this line 00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:51.299 that's haunting to me at least. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.139 Nobody resists, 00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:53.899 that is, 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.719 nobody remains faithful to Christ 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.480 who has not renounced 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.299 the pleasures of life beforehand. 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:01.420 I think there's great wisdom 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:04.420 here from this amazing Christian man 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.640 who endured suffering 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.559 and torture 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.680 and imprisonment for Christ. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:09.200 And two things about this passage 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:11.019 from his book stand out to me. 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.480 First is a sense of immediacy 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.500 and the second is the need 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.799 to sever the attachments 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.819 that we have to the world 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.440 right now. 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.720 And so, 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.360 as we're in this season of Lent 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.740 and we've talked about it before, 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.519 sort of low-hanging fruit 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:25.160 for a thing we can do immediately 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:27.279 and a thing that we can do 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.220 to sever our attachments 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.960 to the world 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.879 is fasting. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.019 I know we've talked about it 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.500 quite a bit, 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.900 talked about it at Ash Wednesday, 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:34.539 but I'm just going to keep pushing it 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.819 because this is one of the main practices 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.460 and disciplines 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.680 that our tradition 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.940 has handed on to us 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:40.160 in their great wisdom. 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:42.960 Fasting is tailor-made, 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.599 tailor-fit 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.839 to this type of preparation. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.339 And it's a practice 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:48.000 we can begin right away 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.700 and it helps to free us 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.519 from our dependence 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.660 and our love 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.579 for the things of the world. 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.419 You see, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.179 when we fast, 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.879 we engage in these little acts 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:56.819 of self-renunciation. 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.740 We forego food and drink 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:01.059 and we practice disciplining 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.519 and renouncing 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.039 our bodily appetites, 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.639 resisting our bodily appetites. 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:07.139 And as we practice 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.059 this kind of suffering, 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.339 this kind of death, 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.879 we grow strong. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.299 We develop our spiritual muscles 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.960 and we grow in our ability 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:16.460 to resist a number of things. 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:18.199 We become less attached to 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.619 and less dependent 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.960 on the comforts and cares 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.179 of this world. 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:23.879 One of the things 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.859 that I'm fasting from 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.399 this Advent, 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:28.079 in addition to food 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.599 on some days, 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.099 is alcohol. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.399 And as I've done that, 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.039 I realized, 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.519 wow, 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:34.359 actually I had a, 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:35.919 you know, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.960 like if I have a tough day 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.439 at work 00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:39.639 for whatever reason, 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:41.259 one of the things 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.000 that I would be tempted 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.939 to go to 00:28:42.939 --> 00:28:44.119 to bring myself comfort 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:45.419 was to have a glass of wine 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:46.179 or to drink a beer. 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:48.840 and as I fasted 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:50.200 through the season of Advent, 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:50.840 I realized, 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.100 man, 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.680 I actually had 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.900 an inappropriate dependence 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.900 on this thing. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.880 I was attached 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.400 to these things. 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:57.940 I was finding 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:59.660 my comfort 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.380 and consolation 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.560 in something other than God 00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:02.660 and I was exposed 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.240 in fasting. 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.259 And as it's been exposed, 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.000 I've brought that 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.460 to the Lord 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:08.720 and it's really grown 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.539 my faith quite a bit, 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:09.920 actually. 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.620 I've become less 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.140 attached to these things 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.120 and I've developed, 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:14.980 I think, 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.820 a strength of character 00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.480 through it. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.420 So rather than being 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.160 controlled by our 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.060 bodily appetites 00:29:21.060 --> 00:29:22.100 and being overly dependent 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.560 on things other than God, 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.019 we develop a sense 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.180 of mastery and control 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.759 and we get a sense 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.380 of confidence. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.720 And this confidence 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.500 and this resistance 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.720 is transformable 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.680 to other areas 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.380 of our lives. 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:35.060 We develop this sense 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:35.539 of character 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.400 and self-control 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.580 and confidence 00:29:37.580 --> 00:29:38.680 to resist temptation, 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:40.080 to remain faithful 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.039 unto death. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.860 And so this season 00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:44.140 of Advent, 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.400 wrapping up here, 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.900 may we be a church 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.380 that practices 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:51.039 joyfully renouncing 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.160 the pleasures of life 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.820 now, 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.440 that we might be faithful 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.039 unto death 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.100 whenever the troubles come 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.900 and they will come 00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:58.560 and so ultimately 00:29:58.560 --> 00:30:00.279 receive the crown of life. 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.140 Let's pray.