TOPIC: Compliance in Your Christian Faith

TEXT: Revelations 2:8-11

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

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They say that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. This also means "whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with all your might"

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

This is applicable both in our secular affairs and in our spiritual work. As long as you have decided to follow Christ, and called by His name, you must ensure that you abide by His laws and follow His pattern of lifestyle especially in service and in faith.

• Jesus said anyone that will follow him must deny himself.
  Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
• Anyone that claims to follow Christ must walk in the lightand not in darkness. (1 John 1:5-7)
  1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
• Anyone that will follow Christ must take Him as a priority. God comes first before any friend, family member, or work.
  Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

In our text (Revelations 2:8-11), Jesus Christ talks about the church in Smyrna. Jesus reminded and encouraged them that they will surely face oppositions, persecution, trials, imprisonment, and even death. (Rev. 2:10), just as He told His disciples in Matthew 10:22 that they will be hated by all men for His name's sake. Remember that friendship with the world is enmity with God.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:35 "What shall separate us from the love of Christ...?" He confessed that tribulations, trials, persecution and so on cannot separate us from the love of Christ. This must be the confession of every genuine Child of God. To reign with Christ on the last day, we must keep doing God's will without getting weary or fainting.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life of righteousness. To comply with out Christian faith therefore, we need to follow the examples of Christ and the Apostles. This is when we are doing God's will. Complying also implies that we keep His commandments. According to 1 John 5:3, His commandments are not grievious.

• Complying with our Christian faith helps us to live a holy life.
• It helps us live righteously and blameless before God.
• It gives us room to reign with Christ on the last day.
• The crown of life awaits everyone who remains faithful even unto death (Rev. 2:10)

Remember! He that he that endures till the end shall be saved...