Sermons

FILTER BY:

← back to list

Oct 02, 2022

7 Letters - 3 - Through The Valley (Smyrna) (click for resources)

Passage: Revelation 2:8-11

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Seven Letters

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: heaven, love, hope, suffering, pain, hell

We are all walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death - that’s what this world is as we all are walking in and through brokenness, but we are not alone. We have One who has walked through the Valley, and came out the other side as the Great Conqueror, carrying His Children with him into victory. We cannot avoid this Valley, but in Christ we have hope for today as well as the promise that we will not have to walk through the “Second Valley”

THEME: We are all walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death - that’s what this world is as we all are walking in and through brokenness, but we are not alone. We have One who has walked through the Valley, and came out the other side as the Great Conqueror, carrying His Children with him into victory. We cannot avoid this Valley, but in Christ we have hope for today as well as the promise that we will not have to walk through the “Second Valley”

MAIN PASSAGE

Rev 2:8-11
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • The believers of Smyrna were facing enormous “Pressure, Financial Insecurity & Slander” - which of those hits most at home with you?
  • How have you seen these different “responses” in your life?
  • Deny it Fight against it Lay down in despair Walk though it
  • Why is it so common for us to get mad at God when things are hard?
  • Explain how our frustration at pain is because we are trying to make this world our Heaven (since we’ve been made for Eden, not brokenness).
  • Read about Paul’s hope-filled-battle with suffering in 2 Cor 4:3-18.
    • What words stick out to you?
    • How can this make some sense out of suffering?
  • How does Jesus’ description (2:8) give us the key to the whole thing?

PURITAN PRAYER

O GOD OF MY EXODUS,
From “The Valley of Vision” collection of Puritan Prayers

Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell,
and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives for ever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.

Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died,
in him I rose,
in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
in his ascension I shall be glorified.

Adorable Redeemer,
thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as Man of sorrows
wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
no agony more bitter,
no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious,
no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car leading captive
thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
Thy death is my life,
thy resurrection my peace,
thy ascension my hope,
thy prayers my comfort.