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Church praised by Jesus

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[Revelation 2:9 / 3:8]

I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who

say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.

I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

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Jesus appeared directly to John who was praying on Sunday at Patmos Island.

Jesus appeared among the seven golden candlesticks in a majestic appearance.

Jesus was holding seven stars in his right hand.

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Jesus told John that the seven golden candlesticks represent the seven churches.

And he gave words of praise, reproof, and counsel to the seven churches.

The names of the seven churches are 'Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,

Philadelphia and Laodicea.'.

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Among these seven churches, there are two churches that have not received reproof

and warning from the Lord. It is Smyrna Church and Philadelphia Church.

Let's take a look at what Jesus praised these churches.

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When churches were first established in each region, there was a lot of interference from

Jews everywhere. Smyrna church were no exception.

The Jews used all sorts of measures to harass the Smyrna Church.

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Biblical scholars say that Smyrna was the center of emperor worship.

The members of the Smyrna Church may have suffered greatly from Jews who accused them

of being rebels who did not worship the Emperor, scholars say.

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Smyrna Church was a very difficult place to live a life of faith environmentally.

However, they did not give up their faith even in the midst of those difficulties and kept it

to the end. In the eyes of the people around them, they looked very shabby and foolish.

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But Jesus said of Smyrna Church:

[I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who

say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.(Revelation 2:9)]

Contrary to the opinions of people, Jesus said that Smyrna Church is a real rich person.

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Another church is the Philadelphia Church.

The Philadelphia Church was not a church with many people.

And none of them were world-famous or capable.

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It was difficult environmentally, but the members of the Philadelphia Church held their faith.

They did their best to live the teachings of Jesus.

They were not afraid to preach Jesus under any circumstances.

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There was also persecution by Jews in the Philadelphia Church.

But with all that persecution, they did not give up their faith.

They held on to Jesus' words to endure and endured well to the end.

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Jesus said to the Philadelphia Church:

[I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.

I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied

my name.(Revelation 3:8)]

Jesus knew how hard the Philadelphia church was to serve the Lord.

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Jesus made three promises for the Philadelphia Church.

First, He promised to protect them in the time of suffering to come.

Second, He promised that He would make them the pillars of God's temple to those

who overcome.

Third, He promised to engrave the new name of Jesus on those who overcome.

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Two of the seven churches praised by Jesus had common characteristics.

Those churches were poor in sight. They didn't even have a great ability to admit.

However, they were praised by Jesus for keeping Jesus' words firmly and practicing them.

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The church that Jesus praises is a church that keeps faith in any environment.

Jesus does not evaluate by visible size, number, or ability.

He compliments and exalts the churches who obey the word of Jesus in any environment,

are not afraid to preach Jesus, and have faith that is unshakable even when difficulties come.

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Those whom Jesus exalts are the same.

He exalts those who act according to the words of Jesus,

those who are not afraid to share Jesus with others, and those who have faith that remains

unshakable even when faced with difficulties.

I hope that those of us who have heard the word today will have faith that is exalted

by Jesus like the two churches praised.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)