April 30, 2019
Revelation 2:8-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
When life happens, do you ever need a word of assurance? The Word of God can always get assurance to us. We can all find ourselves going through times of intense pressure; we sense the pressure from the opposition that takes place in the spirit realm. The world is subject to the power of sin and our faith in Christ the Deliverer will always face hostility until the Second Coming. Satan’s goal is to hinder the work of faith in God’s people.
The Apostle Peter assures and prepares us, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are (5:6-9). Charles Spurgeon reminds us: “Faith is believing that Christ is what He is said to be, and that He will do what He has promised to do, and then to expect this of Him.” As we place our trust in Christ, we know Satan will come to oppose our faithfulness to “believe.” Therefore, we must resist the lies and attacks of Satan and always remember he is no match for our loving and all-powerful God. In the Spirit, slap that roaring lion yelling in your ear to the curb and keep following Christ’s guidance. As Christ’s followers, our focus must be fixed on joyful obedience to the Word as we follow the Spirit, because we overcome the attacks of Satan by remaining true to the Word of God.
In our passage today, we read not just about a specific church called Smyrna or its congregation, but this message is for the church of all time. We all need to take this message from the Lord. Satan is opposed to the Church—Christ followers—so we should not be surprised when we face hostility; the devil has followers, too. Satan wants to put our faith in prison; but Jesus has already liberated us. Every human being is an eternal being, but not every being will spend eternity with God; only the faithful. We are given the ability to hear and know good and evil; so, we must choose to whom we will listen and obey. Who will be your Lord for eternity? The Apostle John tells us if we are faithful to listen and follow the Spirit until God calls us home, we will enjoy eternal life with him (the second death). Fight the good fight of faith my family!
Revelation 2:8-11 The Message to the Church in Smyrna
8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your assurance over my life and faith, today. My soul needed this Word. I stand firm in your mighty power. Please increase my focus and faith in the Word. Keep speaking Truth to me and guiding my path each day. I’m listening. In Jesus’ name. Amen.