The Persecuted Church

Angel – means messenger

1. Jesus is the first and the last – He has always been

First – means He is the Creator – Genesis 1:1-3

God is Elohim – plural, revealing the trinity

Created – means to make something out of nothing

2. Jesus died, but came to life – v8

Death is just another step into life – eternal life – 2 Cor 5:8

Smyrna – means myrrh, and there will be some bitter times that happen in our lives.  Myrrh is a bitter fragrance

Know – means to observe and see

 SOME P’S

Verse 9 – I KNOW YOUR PRODUCTIVITY (WORKS)

Tribulation – means affliction/trouble/anguish/crushed

-They were rich spiritually

– I KNOW YOUR PROBLEM – Matthew 21:21

The problem was a mountain – a mountain of fear

verse 10 – John told the church at Smyrna not to fear/live in fear

1. MAKE A CHOICE – Deuteronomy 30:19

-There are over 500 different kinds of fear

-Make the choice not to walk in fear

1. We will feel fear, but move forward anyway

2. Fear has no real power over us unless we give it power

2. SMASH FEAR IN THE MOUTH – Revelation 2:10 & 2 Timothy 1:7

-Fear is a spirit – a demonic spirit

-Take authority over a spirit of fear – Eph 4:27

-Revelation 2:10 says that we do not have to fear anything – NONE AT ALL

Fear will return, but remember:

Freedom from fear does not mean the absence of fear

Speak to that mountain of fear – confront it – Name it

3. FEAR DISMISSES THE POWER OF GOD – Luke 1:37

Fear causes us to think either that the Lord is not willing to help us or is incapable of doing so

-The word nothing means nothing – not one thing

So focus on the Mountain mover and not on the mountain…….

Talk about Jesus more than you talk about the mountain