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Do not be Afraid

Words of Faith Final

Do not be Afraid

Words of Faith 11-18-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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[10]  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of 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. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

 

           We often shy away from the pages of Revelation because it is deemed to be “scary.” While we see some things that will come in the future that will be frightening, the overwhelming message of Revelation is to Fear Not.

          Jesus writes to the church at Smyrna, Do not fear what you are about to suffer. The word used here is pas-kho. We actually get the word Pasch or Passion from this word. It is the word for the suffering of Christ and Passover Lamb. It means to experience a sensation or impression that painful. There is no way around that.

         Jesus makes it clear, I know what is ahead for you… the painful stuff. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and for ten days, you will have tribulation. Ten days may have been literal or may be figurative. The main thing is that this signifies a finite period of time. Your suffering will not be forever. 

         There is a victory ahead for you. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. There is a "crown of life" that is given by Christ himself. This is the powerful truth for every one of us—under persecution or not.

          Suffering has a way of reminding us which things in life really matter. Suffering forces us to depend radically on God. It purifies our obedience to God's will. It even sifts our loyalties.

          Jesus closes with this reminder… 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.  This is for all the churches. This is for us. The “second death” refers to the lake of fire, eternal death in the world to come. (20:14; 21:8).

           Jesus said something similar during His earthly ministry… Luke 12:4-5 - "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

           Oliver Cromwell put it this way– “I have learned that if you fear God, you have no one else to fear.”

           How is your fear level today? Put your whole trust in Jesus. He has got this.

 

           Lord, ease the fears within me. Counter the attacks of the Enemy. Give me a clear focus upon You. In Jesus' Name.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.