"Being faithful." "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev 2 v 10. These words were particularly meaningful to the believers at Smyrna. The city was an important centre of the Roman Imperial Court and anyone who refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord suffered greatly. Employment was denied them. They experienced real poverty (v 9). But they were rich in Jesus Christ. Smyrna was also a great sports centre where the best athletes contended for the victor’s crown. Winners were adorned and awarded crowns of life. Believers knew the significance of the Master’s message. A greater then Caesar was going to adorn His conquerors. They would wear an incorruptible crown and receive a greater acclaim than all the applause of this world. Who were the worthy winners according to Christ’s estimate? Those who were faithful! “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”. What bearing does such a message have in our day and on our lives? 1. We must be faithful to the Great Commission. Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel. There can be great negligence here in a comfortable church environment. The command of Jesus Christ is neglected by many. They never speak earnestly for the Lord; they don’t give sacrificially to help or send forth others for the Master; they have a small, or non-existent interest in missions to earth’s perishing multitudes. 2. We must be faithful to the message of the Cross. The cross work of Jesus Christ is the heartbeat of redemption. Satan and his cohorts have worked incessantly to remove the message from the pulpit, the hymnbook and the evangelism of these end times. We have been called to be unashamedly on the side of the Blood stained message of the Cross. Will you stand with your pastor this year for the crowning message of the precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? 3. We must be faithful to the souls of men and women. The Saviour placed an inestimable value on a soul. Its worth can only be appreciated in the light of how much He gave to save the soul. Calvary is the measure of the worth of your soul and mine. All around us are immortal souls bound for heaven or hell. The majority is on the broad road. We have been called to be God’s servants in the breach. “Rescue the perishing” is meant to be more than a hymn. It is a mission. 4. We must be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, it is Him to whom we must give account. He will bestow the awards to the faithful. He needs faithful, dedicated, sanctified people. He is neglected, ridiculed and blasphemed every day. Now is the time to step forward and stand up for the Lord. Let us resolve to be among the faithful even if there were no reward at the end. It will still be worth it! If you would like spiritual counsel and feel you would like to talk to our pastor then click HERE to e-mail him directly. Written for this website by Rev. E. Stewart. Due to be updated: end February Archived Messages. 27/12/03 Advent Prediction. 11/10/03 Watchman - Guilty or Guiltless? 14/05/03 An epoch making day. 20/04/03 All hail the risen Lord. 22/03/03 Heart Cry for Revival. 02/01/03 The Church of the Open Door. 02/12/02 The River of Blessing. 01/09/02 The Revelation of the River. 04/05/02 The Greatest Watershed in History. 29/01/02 Knowing and doing the Will of God. 22/11/01 Things Which Cannot Be Shaken. 07/07/01 The Soulwinner's conflict 24/04/01 The Divine Dividend 17/03/01 The Move That Made The Difference 10/01/01 Marching On In The Will of God 15/12/00 Christmas Message 07/10/00 The Inheritance of Divine Fullness (2) 15/09/00 The Inheritance of Divine Fullness (1) 28/07/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (4) 15/06/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (3) 07/05/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (2) 09/04/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (1) 22/04/00 Easter Message