Cycles of Resistance || Overcoming Tribulation
To the Church in Smyrna
Rev 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “‘I know your tribulation (a pressing, pressing together, pressure ) and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander (speech injurious to another's good name) of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil (accuser) is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested (to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin,) and for ten days you will have tribulation (a pressing, pressing together, pressure). Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers (or overcomes) will not be hurt by the second death.’
We overcome tribulation by learning to endure through it.
What is Tribulation? ||
A pressing, pressing together, pressure
Metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, strait
Tribulations often come to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin
When we come to faith in Jesus Christ tribulation is a guarantee. We will experience a “pressing” and a “pressure”.
Jesus said in John 16:33
33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Garden of Gethsemane: Matthew 26:36-50
2 things to note about tribulation:
The Tribulation is working FOR YOU!
2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction (tribulation/pressure), which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope
Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
There is a Holy Work happening in every tribulation!
The Tribulation is producing Christlikeness in YOU!
2 Cor 4: 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
2 Cor 12:7b So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Exhortation:
The tribulation/pressure will only increase as the day of His return draws near.
(Read Matt 24:21-33 for more)
If we crumble during current tribulation or pressure, surely will not endure the coming tribulations.
We must learn to overcome the present tribulation or pressure by learning to endure through it.
The Church in Smyrna
They were experiencing severe tribulation of many kinds:
Poverty
Slander
Suffering
Persecution
Testing/Trials of their faith
Jesus says nothing negative to this church. Through the tribulation and the pressure they were enduring!
Instead, Jesus encourages them:
To not fear
To be faithful
Those who overcame were promised the crown of life and would not be hurt by the 2nd death
Endure by Remaining:
Faithful
Faithful, regardless of what you will lose!
The church in Smyrna experienced extreme poverty because of their faith in Jesus!
v. “All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not even formally conform.”
May the Lord find us faithful in the tribulation. May we be loyal to Him alone: His commands, His ways and His teachings. May not run to idols or little g gods for our rescue, but may our hope, confidence and trust be placed in Him alone! Though we may look poor in man’s eyes, may we be rich in HIS eyes!
What do you run to in the pressing, when you experience the pressure or tribulation? Identify the other “little g gods” in your life, remove them and commit to being faithful to Him alone.
Obedient
Obedient, regardless of what they say.
The Church in Smyrna were slandered and ridiculed by their own people!
However, regardless of what people said of them they remained CONSISTENTLY obedient to the commands and teachings of Jesus!
They refused to bow to the customs of their culture or conform their life to the world’s. They lived as citizens of heaven, fully submitted to the Lordship of King Jesus.
May the Lord find us obedient in tribulation. When the obedience gets hard and risky, may we remain consistently obedient. When we are slandered and falsely accused may we remain consistently obedient to His commands. May we live our life according to His Word! From the hidden places to the public places may we be found: Obeying right away, all the way with a happy heart.
What are the areas of our life that don’t align with God's Word? In what areas of our life have we been inconsistent in our obedience to His word? In what areas of our lives are we conforming to the world and not to the Kingdom of Heaven?
In His Love
Behold, the devil (accuser) is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested (to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin,) Rev 2:10
The Christians in Smyrna were tested and they passed the test.
When we remain in Christ nothing can separate us from His love.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Song of Songs 4:6-8 "I've made up my mind. Until the darkness disappears and the dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountaintop with you— the mountain of suffering love and the hill of burning incense". Verse 7: "Every part of you is so beautiful, my darling. Perfect is your beauty, without flaw within". Verse 8: "Now you are ready, my bride, to come with me as we climb the highest peaks together. Come with me through the archway of trust. We will look down from the crest of the glistening mounts and from the summit of our sublime sanctuary, from the lion's den and the leopard's lair"
A lovesick bride will endure the testing. A lovesick bride will end the pressure. A lovesick bride will endure the tribulation.
May we be the Bride of Christ that knows the love of Christ as a result can only respond with a lovesick cry. A bride who will cry out: I WILL GO! In spite of the shadows (the things hidden from me) in spite of my fears I WILL GO to the mountain top of suffering love! Wherever you call me I will follow! Where you go I will go! No matter the cost I will go! May He sing over us: THERE IS MY READY BRIDE…WE SHALL GO TOGETHER TO THE MOUNTAIN, THROUGH THE ARCHWAY OF TRUST!
He is inviting His bride up to the mountain, through the archway of trust: Will you trust Me through the pressing? Will you trust Me through the pressure? Will you trust Me in the tribulation?
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
