Revelation 2:8

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

September 4, 2022

The Dependable Church #

Revelation 2:8-11

Introduction

This is the shortest of the letters to the churches.

Nothing negative is mentioned in the letter to the church of Smyrna. Smyrna was also a wealthy commercial city. Perhaps not as great as Ephesus, but still a wealthy city.

The message is that of encouragement through persecution. Persecution, is not an enjoyable topic, and yet, it is given by Christ himself, who know more about persecution, and suffering than anyone else! Jesus lived an absolutely SINLESS life, and didn’t deserve not even one lash of punishment, yet he took it, for our sakes. It is he, “which was dead, and is alive;”

Proverbs 18:9

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

February 12, 2020

Stewardship #

Prov. 18:9 ¶ He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

I. Stewardship – slothful, Diligence #

A. Slothfulness #

1. Physical Rest is not the same as slothfulness. #

- The Bible gives us provision for rest… matter of fact, God rested on the 7^th^ day as an example to man.
- The law even provided times for the fields to be left to ‘rest’.
- Gen. 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
- Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
- Matt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. Sin of laziness (How does God view laziness) #

Slothful – inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle

- We live in a lazy society… $50 an hour, no work.
- People are lazy spiritually… Bible reading… too much work…. They have time for a ball game, friends, and all kinds of other activities. - Preaching to the choir
- If we are not careful, laziness can creep into every one of our lives! - boiling frogs… (Gibbs)
- Rom. 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
- May we not become slothful in our spiritual business.

B. Waster #

Waster – one who squanders, consumes or expends extravagantly a prodigal.
Prodigal – given to extravagant expenditure expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish; wasteful

Luke 15:11-13 - “wasted his substance with riotous living”
Everyone of us know that is not right.

C. Brother – similarities #

Brothers are usually similar in appearance.

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