Lets peer inside Pauls heart, and see whats in there. However, when they entered Rahab's house, they found a woman who had already been touched by the Spirit and However, many Christians are not as faithful as they need to be in their service to God. He went away grieved, for he had great possessions: loving the wrong world [Mark 10:22]. Thats a great man, a marvelous man; thats Gods man. 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. In the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy is one of the most unusual parabolic instances of devotion that you could ever think for or find in all literature. We Christians must be faithful. Romans 6: 10-23 Or it could refer to a garland, a victors crown. The connection of this passage will help us to understand its meaning. However fate or providence may assail us, our commitment to our Lord is, first, and supreme. Baptist. In broad, open daylight where everyone could see, he knelt down before the Lord, the Prophet from Nazareth saying, Agathai didaskai [Mark 10:17]. As we remember the words of Scripture, we will be able to fight off temptation and thus remain faithful. In fact, Polycarp was a disciple of John, who wrote this book of Revelation. 3:14). Leave me as I am, for the One who enables me to endure the fire will also enable me to remain on the pyre without moving. Then Polycarp prayed a final prayer and when he said amen, the men in charge of the fire lit it. Speaking of winning the lost, Paul says, The love of Christ compels us (2 Cor. The Bible tells us that there is a sin that leads unto death - one single sin - and it might not be what we expect. That means we are never turning back. WebFAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. For almost 300 years Smyrna had a close connection with Rome. Not only that, but to receive from Jesus this comfort, its not simply the comfort of a really good friend who can put an arm around you or a counselor or a therapist or a pastor who can listen to you say and say, I feel so bad for you.. 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. Some of those Christians have been killed by other Christians. And it happens. There are absolutes in the Christian life. The most remarkable Polycarp, who proved to be an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own time, bishop of the catholic church, meaning the orthodox, universal church in Smyrna. [My Glorious Victor, Prince Divine, Handley C.G. FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH II Kings 2:1-12 For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. He literally opens up his heart and lets take up his cross, and follow Me. The cross is an instrument of death. So the first command to the Church dont be afraid what youre about to suffer. ON POINT, I We dont want to make the mistake of saying that just because one worships three times a week every week he is faithful. For the child of God, heaven is our ultimate destination. Most people dont consider that they will die. Rev James Porter Be Thou Faithful Unto Death Be faithful unto death. Or the story of Polycarp. And what you do and what you believe and how you carry yourself is thought strange? The Bible says that Zaccheus was a rich man [Luke 19:1-2]. That number of about 0.8% of Christians throughout history, in fact, has been constant over many centuries. Truly, temptations----works of the devil challenge our daily thoughts and decisions. read more. It continues to the last stitch. WebFaithfulness unto death is Gods standard for human life. Paul takes a look around as he gives his last testimony. living faith, consumed with one desire to please Him(John 12:42-43), 1. And the Lord, looking deep in the soul of the young fellow, said to him, Your heart is in the world. So you add them all up, and what? But in particular it blames some of the Jews. Jesus does not offer a rebuke to Smyrna. The fourth characteristic, the fourth mark of a true disciple of our Lordone who continues unswervingly in the Word of God. We can remember the benefits of remaining faithful. In Jesus we pray. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. [First John] 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another [1 John 4:11]. Nathan Hale entered Yale University as a ministerial student studying to be a preacher. repudiation of the world, a. Jesus Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You (Ps. Picking things up after Polycarp has been arrested and hes being brought into the stadium in Smyrna. We respond in Faith! In fact, we do. Come. 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. The apostle John writes in 1 John 2:15-17: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Death has no power over anyone who is in me! Thats why Jesus is able to say in verse 10, Be faithful unto death, and I will give you He was soon to dieto be rejected [Mark 10:32-34]. John 15:12-13: This is My commandment, That you love one another . But if I abdicate the throne, and no longer is itself, but if I enthrone my Lord, life becomes infinitely blessed, infinitely precious, infinitely meaningful. It is used twice in the Bible. 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. He comes with comfort. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways (Prov. Could I take time to turn aside? Hebrews says since the children have flesh and blood, He, too, shared likewise in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy the one who holds the power of death, that is the devil, and set free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.. And on the first anniversary of that wonderful experience, he wrote that marvelous hymn: [O for a Thousand Tongues, Charles Wesley]. We all love to be accepted. Instead, He told them to be faithful unto death. [The Pearly White City, Arthur F. Ingler]. But notice who this Jesus is. A hundred years old and Sarah, ninety years of age and no child is born [Genesis 17:17]. And that beautiful, symbolic portrayal in the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy is symbolic of all of us. Certain things I try to pray for each day, certain things I try to pray for on a day of the week, and persecuted church is one of those. The cross before me, the world behind me, [I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, attributed to S. Sundar Singh]. WebSermons by Bible: Sermons by Category: Sermons by Topic: Sermons by Speaker: Sermons by Language: Sermons by Date: Staff Picks: Comments, ALL -1 sec: Top Sermons: Online Bible: Hymnal: Daily Reading: Our Text: Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. He knew they would experience difficult times in their lives. He never knows a turning back or an ultimate defeat. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris. As we apply this standard, our views on many things undergo a radical change. It tarries through the last breath. This was the problem with the Ephesian church-I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Rev. He comes with comfort, and notice He comes with commands. Would You hold fast Your Church around the world, facing so much more in opposition than we face, and when we are called upon to face whatever trials and difficulties, whether suffering at the hands of others or suffering from natural disasters and infirmity and the age of life, may we be faithful even unto death. And I wonder if those of you this morning who are facing uncertain times, facing hardships, illness, chronic problems, test results, wayward family members Can you hear this comfort? There was 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? It is on the Aegean Sea; it is in Turkey on the western shore of Asia Minor. Thats loving Jesus. Certainly Christians in many places are relatively free from that threat, but at all times there will be part of the Church that will be called upon to make the good confession in the midst of danger, hostility, and death. But listen to the heroes of the faith. [John 13:34-35, 15:12-13, 15:7; 1 John 3:14, 4:7, 4:11, 4:21], Great Doctrines of the Bible: Practical Theology, And an unswerving continuance in the Word of God, A continuing living faith in a victorious Christ, And the last one that I mentioned: a devout, fervent love for Gods people. Remembering the things of God will help us overcome temptation. He hands it back to you doubly blessed; sanctified, hallowed when I place Jesus first in my life. In the little city of Bethany, they plotted His death. They were poor, but Jesus says, Youre rich. They were persecuted by Jews who Jesus says were not really Jews. We cannot be defeated. Say away with the atheist.. My fortieth year as a pastor still preaching the Word, V. A continuing living faith in Christ, A. That is an extreme and harsh word taken in itself. To Him be the glory, honor, majesty, and eternal throne, from generation to generation. read more, Scripture: 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. When 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. Inspirational devotions delivered right to your email inbox. The ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity (Lk. The Lord never said that to him. It is a place on which somebody is executed, a cross. Could you imagine it? As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But here in the second half of the first century, several things had happened to make this situation untenable. Darrows The Story of My Life said there is no evidence of immortality, B. Gods Irenaeus tells the story that on one occasion when Polycarp came face-to-face with the gnostic heretic Marcion, Marcion asked, Do you recognize me? to which Polycarp responded, I do, indeed. Please, sir, your Majesty, said the pastor, could you grant pardon to the boy? He did it. Sometimes people do. Verse 10: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Matthew 9:24, Luke 8:53), 2. You, too, can read that. Luke 14:25 and 26: And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them, If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, his wife, and children, his brothers, and sisters, and yea, his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 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. 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. Our resurrection is dependent on his resurrection- Paul said When the boy was sixteen years old, he went to hear George Whitefield preach, and he was converted; wonderfully converted, listening to George Whitefield preach the gospel. Revelation chapter 2, beginning at verse 8. While we stand and while we pray. Dont you find those martyrdom stories inspiring and yet utterly overwhelming? Pastor Wayne Tindale He motioned toward them with his hand and then groaning as he looked up to heaven said, Away with the atheists. Meaning the atheists. Selfishness prevents people from being faithful. 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