The Bible contains many examples of those who forsook God because of evil influences. Just to give you some numbers from the time of Jesus to the year 2000, so just say about 2000 years, there were roughly 36 billion people on the planet. We all love to be acclaimed. You can understand how this might happen. William Akehurst HSWC We allow ourselves to be involved in so many activities that we no longer have the time to devote to Bible study and prayer. Maybe take a half hour to read it. 10/18/2006 But as Polycarp entered the stadium, there came a voice from heaven: Be strong, Polycarp, and courageous. Or some translations, be strong and play the man. And no one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard the voice and then, as he was brought forward, there was a great uproar when they heard that Polycarp had been arrested. Baptist. But pastor, does God say anything? You couldnt see their god, so they said they were atheists. He gained the information, but on his way back to report to General Washington he was recognized and seized and hanged in what is today New York City, on Market Street and East Broadway. This is a study of the book of Genesis. And they had a little boy born to the home and they named him JohnJohn Fawcett. A third characteristic of the true child of Christ: we are one who has deliberately chosen the cross. . I trust everyone understands the significance of the Gospel in relation to salvation in Christ. To us, we use the word cross to refer to some handicap or some suffering or some disappointment, I have an incorrigible child, an obstreperous child, and it is a cross for me to bear. Or, I have some physical ailment, I have a cross to bear. Or, I have a frustration or a disappointment in my life; it is my cross. There is no such idea of that in the Bible; in the Scriptures a cross is something to die on. Let me finish, then, where we started. And of those 8 billion Christians in the 2000 years since Christ, even nominally Christian, about 70 million have been martyred by one definition or another, a little less than 1%. . When we think of all Jesus endured to save our souls, how could we not be faithful? And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Fearing death is natural, but Jesus means to set us free. And on page four hundred he says, If there is one scrap of proof that we are alive after we are dead, why is not that scrap given to the world? Well, the magistrate was not happy with this. read more, Scripture: WebFAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. But in this context, in Smyrna, apparently, it was some of the Jews, whether because they felt like the Christians had sold them out or because they were worshiping another god, or they claimed to have had the Messiah, they would sometimes rat them out and be the informers that would then bring upon the Romans to these Christians in Smyrna. His salary was less than two hundred dollars a year. All of us do. I dont want to suffer. He famously died a martyrs death in 155 or 156, and when he died the church at Smyrna sent out a letter, To tell the story of those who have suffered martyrdom, especially blessed Polycarp, who as though he had set his seal by his martyrdom brought the persecution to an end.. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! We know what the commentator says, and we know what the politician says, and we know what the philosopher says, and we know what the academician says. It is a place on which somebody is executed, a cross. It is in riches. I read in the Book of Hebrews beginning at the eleventh chapter beginning at verse 9: By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange countryFor he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Amen.. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight. Give it up and come, take up the cross, and follow me. He literally opens up his heart and lets us look inside. In a different context, James says, Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (Js. In fact, we do. We cannot be defeated. You could not help but love him. living faith, consumed with one desire to please Him(John 12:42-43), 1. Heres part of the story, the martyrdom of Polycarp. Certainly under all of the rules of logic the one who assumes that an apparently dead person is still alive should be able to produce substantial proof. Given But as long as I listen and bow before self, my life is shriveled and small. And as a youth, I read The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow. Jesus is not going to lose. Charles Wesley was an Anglican minister. That is to say, even in Charlotte, North Carolina should you be a true, passionate, on fire, biblical Christian, absolutely in love with Jesus, no matter what it counts, at some point you will face opposition. While we sing our appeal a thousand times welcome, come. That is the mark of a disciple of Christ. 1 Cor 15:14 . Now, listen to His exact word: Give away what you have. What was important to them in the beginning was no longer important. Say away with the atheist.. "Faithful unto Death" Sixth Sunday after Pentecost St. Mark 6:14-29 July 16, 2006 IN NOMINE JESU In the rite of Confirmation, the confirmands are reminded of what And if the challenge in Ephesus was lovelessness, here it is the hatred of those who do not love Christ, or love the truth. It is like water to a thirsting soul. Not some physical anguish or personal disappointment, 2. Hezekiah held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments (2 Ki. by choice to our Lord and Master forever, 1. Father in heaven, we give thanks for Your many blessings. I recognize the first born of Satan. So he didnt mess around. It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faithFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of If youre faithful unto death, you will get the crown of life. But faith has ten thousand answers for every how. And he gave his life to be a Baptist preacher, John Fawcett. There is nothing but praise from our Lord for the church in Smyrna [Revelation 2:8-11]. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways (Prov. And Jesus is waiting for the day of our coming. They assume they will go to heaven. Come do what you wish. Polycarp was then found guilty of confessing to being a Christian. Its been translated into English. One of the marks, I say, of a true disciple of Christ, he never wearies, hes never seen, hes never sated listening to the Word of God. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal. Heres the key-those men and women were just like we are. Well, we are all like that. Give us ears, give us courage, no matter the time, no matter the opposition, no matter the circumstances. Elishas dedication to Elijah might Remember this is a letter from whom? Any psychologist, any psychologist, will tell you that one of the driving forces in human life is to be acceptableespecially to be acclaimed among our peers. Or suppose I were to stand in this pulpit and lecture on the humanities, or any subject you would choose to name: philosophy, psychology, medicine, astronomy, anything. Isa 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. My fortieth year as a pastor still preaching the Word, V. A continuing living faith in Christ, A. Deliberately choosing the cross(Matthew 10:38, 16:24), 1. Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. First Corinthians 15:19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.. In Mark 5, in Matthew 9, and Luke 8, they laughed Him to scorn at Capernaum [Mark 5:40; Matthew 9:24; Luke 8:53]. read more, Scripture: He was arrested by Herod when Philip of Tralles was high priest, during the proconsulship of Statius Quadratus, but while Jesus Christ was reigning as King forever. love for Him so great, any other in comparison is as hate, B. He knew they would experience difficult times in their lives. Faith, trust, commitment brings God into our lives and into our scene; and faith knows absolutely nothing about defeat. But from salvation to glory there are three vitally important way stations that The sermons and original blog posts are Copyright by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr. It is like manna from heaven to a hungry heart. Kids, young people, you will face even more pressures. When the lad was thirteen years old, because of the poverty of the family, they sent him away to London; there apprenticed him to a tailorjust receiving something to eat and something to wear. Will you be willing to be faithful when youre misunderstood as a Christian? When I was a youth growing up, Clarence Darrow, the great agnostic and atheist, literally covered the horizon in the legal profession. James 1:12: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. 5-12-03 1 John 5: 13-21 And our Lord may the flow of our lives be in praise, and in adoration, and worship, and in love for Thee, O blessed God, that as grace and mercy reached down even to me. Are you faithful? Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and So we dont have to long for it and want it. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. THE CHURCH THAT WOULD NOT SURRENDER Jesus Himself said, Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.. Isnt that unusual, that you would have a minister really converted? In Matthew 16:3 Jesus uses it describing the face of a sky before a violent storm. But look at Jesus (John 1:10-11, Mark 5:40, Title: Death of two great patriarchs Jesus told the church in Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10, KJV). Your browser does not support the audio tag. We dont have a small Christ who is coming and just saying, Oh, I will shed a tear for you. No, this is the One who is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. The master of the house was to take an awl, a punch, and pierce the ear of the slave and drive it against the wall, against the door of the house; a sign and a symbol that this slave was driven to the loving service of his master forever [Deuteronomy 15:16-17]. Of those 36 billion who have lived in the past 2000 years, by a very generous estimate, 12 billion were evangelized, had some access to the Gospel. Scripture is a powerful force in our efforts to remain faithful-You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them (2 Tim. Dont think youre the only one to whom injustice has ever happened. We can remember the great examples of Scripture. Youre going to suffer. a man loves the world and the things that are in it, he will find his hands Every Christian wants to be able to say with the apostle Paul, as he thought about his own death ( 2 Tim. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Fathers which sent Me. Any true disciple of our Lord has a deep, haunting, never-sated thirst for the word of God. 4:10). Now, before I mention the last one may I recapitulate? How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? There proconsul continue to press him to recant Christ and swear by Caesar and Polycarp refused. The gate is too strait, and the way is too narrow for a man to enter heaven holding the love of the world in his arms [Matthew 7:13-14]. When that moment comes, you trust that the Lord gives you the words to say, gives you the courage. The things of this world prevent people from being faithful. Self, by nature, is on the throne of my heart. But listen to the heroes of the faith. The third thing that had happened is by the end of the first century, some Jews had compromised with Rome. And it is one of the seven churches of Asia [Revelation 2:1-3:22]: Ephesus, and then right north, Smyrna. [Matthew 27:57]. Would it be murder, rape, spouse abuse, adultery, theft, gambling, or perhaps lying? Indeed, the devil will throw some of Dethrone We all know the occasions where suffering brings out the absolute best in people, and weve seen it in our own church. Text: Genesis 49:28-50 And yet, my God, keep me from turning back. It had been for a long time. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith being fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able to perform. FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. 2:20). 4:2). Number one. I dont look forward to it. Evil influences prevent people from being faithful. Behold the We can remember the things of God. Church Of God, Joshua 2:1-15 THE GREAT ESCAPE Intro: Ill. Many people have is just the opposite. WebFeaturing a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter. The young fellow knelt down before the Lord [Mark 10:17]. Notice the Lord Jesus says in verse 9, I know your tribulation and your poverty. This was a church that had more pain than they had money. A hundred years old and Sarah, ninety years of age and no child is born [Genesis 17:17]. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. And after he began his preachingafter he was a preacher, he was wonderfully converted. If God says anything, preacher, tell us what does God say? The apostle John writes in 1 John 2:15-17: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. But we also know that suffering brings with it many temptations. As we begin the New Year, I felt compelled to preach a series that deals with the foundational element of our faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The cross before me, the world behind me, [I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, attributed to S. Sundar Singh]. Any other in comparison is as hate, B ; it is in Turkey on the front of. Sundar Singh ] Remember this is a place on which somebody is executed, cross! 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