SEVEN SERIES
To
accompany our ‘SEVEN’ teaching series at Community Church Putney, over seven
weeks (this is week 2) I will put out a blog each Monday, looking at the seven
letters to the seven churches in Revelation 1 -2. These letters are hard-hitting
and so relevant and useful in the times that we find ourselves.
Letter 2: MY TRUE WEALTH IS? – The letter to the Church of Smyrna 2:8-11
Explanation and daily studies for
personal/family use week beginning 16/1/17
i) Explanatory notes on
2:8-11
Smyrna was a very beautiful and
large city. As an important port town it prospered materially and
intellectually. It was saturated with idolatry having temples to Cybele, Zeus,
Apollo, Asclepius and Aphrodite. It was also a centre of emperor worship with a
great temple to Tiberius for this purpose. From A.D. 81 during the period of
this letter, the worship of the emperor was compulsory, leading to the persecution
of Christians. Along with these pressures was a hostile Jewish community. Social
and financial hardships would have afflicted every faithful Christian in Smyrna
at this time.
i) Description
of Jesus – Eternal, Sovereign Saviour
Read Revelation 2:8
“First and
last” declares that Jesus is eternal. He creates and is in control over all of
history as we see in throughout this book.
“Died and
rose” speaks of His love and victory over sin and death for our salvation.
These two statements help to teach us that a healthy
church is one that trusts Jesus in the events (even persecution) of life. They
derive hope as they look on Jesus’ death and resurrection – they are loved,
forgiven, and have the hope of future resurrection.
ii) Praise
– You are rich
Read Revelation 2:9. Despite poverty and
persecution they have remained true to Jesus. He declares, “Yet you are rich!” This speaks of the spiritual riches that they
have in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-10 delineates some of these riches: ‘Chosen…holy and blameless…in
love…adopted…redeemed through his blood…forgiven…’ (See also James 2:5)
iii) Criticism
There is no criticism of the Church of Smyrna
iv) Warning
– You will suffer
Read Revelation 2:10a. Jesus
warns them of impending demonic attack. Jesus allows this to happen! As the ‘first and the last’ He could, of
course, intervene to stop it. Why doesn’t He? This is where we must trust and
worship Him no matter what.
v) Promise
– Eternal life
Revelation
2:10b-11. Life is promised to those
who remain faithful even unto death. The ‘second
death’ refers to Judgement Day after Jesus’ return, when all people will
rise from death in order to face final judgement. Those who have faith in
Christ need not fear death or final judgement (See Jn. 5:24, James 1:12, and
Rev. 20:6)
ii) Daily Studies on 2:8-11
This week we want to focus on thinking about whether
we are rich in the primary way that God wants us to be. Jesus said of the
church in Smyrna that although they were poor by the standards of the world,
God saw them as rich; let’s learn from them.
Monday – Memory verse for this week
Take time to
memorise, meditate upon and pray based upon this text.
Ephesians 1:3 ‘Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with
every spiritual blessing in Christ.’
Tuesday – Are we spiritually rich?
Are you rich? Think about
that for a moment.
What might you say are the
things that make one truly wealthy?
Christians are rich in many
ways – knowing God, being loved by God, having eternal hope, having the family
of the church, having purpose… Read Psalm 103:1-5 and take some time to thank God
for the riches that you have.
Wednesday –
Distractions from true wealth
Our culture tends to
over-emphasize one aspect of wealth – financial/material
Even when people have access
to food, clean water, housing, healthcare, education, the vote… they can still
be unthankful! When was the last time you rejoiced in an indoor toilet?!
Joylessness is caused by an empty soul; such a person will feel they are
lacking, no matter what they have!
As Christians we are not
immune to putting our hope and hearts in material things. Let’s set our hearts
on God, who He is and who He’s made us to be. Let’s be overflowing with
thankfulness.
Read Philippians 4:4-9 and
take time to revel in the riches that God has given to you.
Thursday – How to
get spiritually rich
To get materially rich we
may inherit, win, work or steal but how do we get spiritually rich? Spiritual
wealth is the free gift of all who are in Christ. By faith in Christ we are
adopted into His family and have all that comes from being a son of the King of
Kings.
Read and worship out of Ephesians
2:18-22
Friday – Generosity
reveals where our riches are
How we use money indicates what our riches are. If
God, His people and mission are our riches, we will see our money as a gift
from God for these purposes. If wealth is our ‘treasure’ we will look to
protect, grow and keep it.
Read and pray out of Matthew 6:19-24, 33. Your local church is a family and home to you, please be prayerful about your giving.
For a copy of the
full ‘SEVEN’ study, please email us at office@communitychurchputney.com or come
along on a Sunday morning.
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