CHALLENGES IS A PART OF YOUR TRAINING AS A DISCIPLE

InSpired

CHALLENGES IS A PART OF YOUR TRAINING AS A BELIEVER

This week, we start with the Letter to the churches in Smyma of our Master and King forever Jesus Christ.

He acknowledged the church was going through difficult times, Satan's assaults  and the ridicule, reproach and mocking coming from those who claim to be the Children of God by been the seeds of Abraham but their true identity in Heaven estimation  is ' Synagogue of Satan'

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!........ Rev. 2:8-11.

We will attempt to examine each attributes of this Church as given by The LORD and pray it is an encouragement to any believer going through difficult times presently.

Remember " Tough times don't last but Touch people conquers by the power and wisdom of the Spirit".

In the past, I was plagued by great perplexity because  what l was reading in the Bible was different from l was hearing from the Pulpit 

Then l would go back  to the Bible especially The New Testament and will read again and again with questions unanswered in my heart.

I would say " Lord, what l am reading is different from the preachings l hear. What do l believe LORD!

I got to this point where l decided " Let God and the Bible be the Truth and every other teachings that does not compile and align with the truths in the Bible be a Lie.

Also, I was teaching in a Bible Study class and make a statement that my leader then immediately corrected. I said " Your love for God, His Word and His Way qualifies you for Satan' s attack. "  I said " the more your love for God, the higher Satan's attack". 

But Christ promised ultimate victory because you are seated in heavenly places in Christ and if our Master overcame; you shall surely overcome in His name. 

The popular teaching in the Church today is that once you give your life to Christ, there is nothing like hardship, pain, difficulty and even perlexing situation. 

What are the proposed basis for this belief? Jesus Christ suffered so that you will not need to face any challenging times.

 Therefore if you are a believer going through difficult times. You are judged along the lines of these argument 

1. You are told, you have little faith and cannot access God promises.

2. Some people advocate.you are living in sin or ignorant and therefore cannot Inherit your blessings in Jesus Christ

 The Scriptures reveal Jesus, the Son of man had his own share of challenges. Several times, the Enemy tried to kill our Master Jesus Christ and He had to hid Himself. 

He did not stay in the Enemy's territory believing God's angels will deliver Him. The Bible stated that He escaped death by avoiding the places and the people who plotted to kill Him.

"At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8;59

It seem the Jesus Christ that is popularly preached today is different from the Jesus Christ in the Bible.

There are two witnesses in the New Testament ( after The Christ resurrection and not before His resurrection) that shows that a Believer can be afflicted and go through very difficult times not because of lack of faith, ignorance or even sin.

Rather they are severely opposed and attacked by Hell and even by their fellow believers as stirred by Satan to tempt them to deny Christ and follow the way of the World.

But remember the Bible says : " steadfastly resist the Devil and that in all these things we are more than conqueror through Jesus.

 

APOSTLE PAUL'S HARDSHIP

 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Cor 6

THE CHALLENGE OF THE CHURCHES IN SMYMA

'To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. 

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Rev. 2;8-11

A.L. Hephzibah