Enduring Faithfulness: The Cost and Reward of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Enduring Faithfulness in the Face of Tribulation

Christ commends the church of Smyrna for their unwavering faithfulness, even as they endure tribulation, poverty, slander, and the threat of imprisonment and death. True devotion to Christ is not measured by comfort or private feelings, but by a public, steadfast allegiance that does not waver when the cost is high. The call is to remain faithful, not just when it is easy, but especially when it is costly, knowing that Christ himself endured suffering for us and promises the crown of life to those who overcome. [39:11]

Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB)
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to compromise your faith for comfort or acceptance? How can you choose to stand firm for Christ today, even if it costs you something?

Day 2: Christ’s Suffering and Love as Our Example

Jesus not only sees our afflictions but has experienced them himself, enduring agony and suffering on our behalf out of love. His willingness to endure the cross for us is both our assurance and our example—he calls us to endure for him as he endured for us. Our endurance is not rooted in mere duty, but in a deep, active love that mirrors his self-giving love for us. [01:02:17]

Luke 22:44 (NASB)
“And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”

Reflection: When you face hardship or temptation, do you reflect on Christ’s love and suffering for you? How might meditating on his sacrifice change your response to trials today?

Day 3: The Danger of Compromising for Temporary Gain

The church is warned not to let the pursuit or preservation of material wealth, status, or reputation become an idol that leads to compromise or denial of Christ. True riches are found in Christ alone, and the willingness to lose everything for his sake is a mark of genuine faith. The world may threaten loss, but nothing temporal compares to the eternal riches and belonging we have in God. [01:11:11]

Hebrews 10:34 (NASB)
“For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.”

Reflection: Is there anything—possessions, relationships, status—that you are holding onto more tightly than Christ? What would it look like to surrender that to him today?

Day 4: The Power and Danger of Slander

Slander and false accusations are powerful tools of the enemy, used to harm the church and its people, often leading to loss of reputation, freedom, or even life. Christ warns that those who lie and persecute the church are doing the work of Satan, and calls his followers to avoid participating in gossip or slander. Instead, we are to stand firm in truth and love, even when falsely accused, trusting that Christ sees and will vindicate his people. [01:22:17]

John 8:44 (NASB)
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Reflection: Have you ever been tempted to speak negatively or falsely about someone in the church, or to believe slander without evidence? How can you commit to guarding your words and standing for truth this week?

Day 5: The Eternal Reward for Perseverance

Enduring faithfulness to Christ, even unto death, is rewarded with the crown of life and freedom from the second death—eternal separation from God. The trials and losses we face for Christ are temporary, but the reward he promises is eternal. Let the hope of this crown and the assurance of Christ’s victory motivate you to persevere, knowing that nothing you lose for his sake is ever wasted. [01:25:27]

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NASB)
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Reflection: What “crown” are you running for in your daily life? How can the promise of Christ’s eternal reward reshape your priorities and perseverance today?

Sermon Summary

As we continue our journey through the seven churches of Revelation, today’s focus is on the church in Smyrna—a community that Christ commends for their unwavering faithfulness in the face of suffering, loss, and persecution. The heart of this teaching is a call to become a balanced church, one that mirrors Christ’s own life: intimacy with the Father, radical community, and missional zeal. Christ is not satisfied with a church that excels in one area but neglects the others; He desires a people who are faithful in doctrine, love, and public witness.

Smyrna stands out because Christ finds no fault in them. Their strength lies in their enduring faithfulness, even as they face tribulation, poverty, slander, imprisonment, and the threat of death. Their refusal to denounce Christ, despite the cost, is a public demonstration of love—not just a private devotion. This is a crucial distinction: true love for God is not hidden; it is displayed in the choices we make when our allegiance to Christ is tested.

The opposition Smyrna faced came from both the Roman government and certain Jewish groups, rooted in their confession that Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh. This confession cost them materially and socially, yet Christ reminds them—and us—that He is the First and the Last, the One who died and came to life. He endured tribulation for us, and now calls us to endure for Him, motivated not by mere duty, but by love.

Endurance is not about seeking suffering, but about being willing to pay whatever cost faithfulness to Christ may require—whether loss of possessions, reputation, freedom, or even life. The promise is that these losses are temporary, but the reward—eternal life and the crown of victory—is everlasting. The challenge is to examine our hearts honestly: what are we unwilling to lose for Christ? What do we idolize that could tempt us to compromise or walk away when the pressure mounts?

Ultimately, the call is to reflect deeply on God’s love for us. It is this love that compels us to endure, to stand firm, and to value Christ above all else. As we prepare for increasing discomfort in a world that opposes the gospel, let us be a people who are ready to pay any cost, knowing that Christ is worth it, and that He has already endured the greatest cost for us.

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Key Takeaways

1. Enduring Faithfulness Is Public, Not Merely Private True love for Christ is not confined to private acts of devotion but is demonstrated in public allegiance, especially when it is costly. Private worship and spiritual disciplines matter, but if our public lives deny Christ, our love is hollow. The test of faithfulness is not what we claim in secret, but what we are willing to lose or risk for Christ in the open. [49:33]
2. Tribulation Reveals the Depth of Our Devotion Discomfort, loss, and persecution are not anomalies in the Christian life but are expected realities for those who follow Christ. Tribulation exposes whether our faith is genuine or superficial, and whether we are prepared to endure for the sake of Christ. The goal is not to avoid suffering at all costs, but to be so rooted in Christ’s love that we can withstand whatever comes, knowing that He endured for us first. [42:18]
3. The Cost of Discipleship Is Real, But the Reward Is Greater Faithfulness to Christ may require the loss of material possessions, status, relationships, or even freedom and life itself. Yet, these losses are temporary, and Christ promises the crown of life to those who overcome. The riches of belonging to God far surpass anything this world can offer, and only those who value eternal riches above temporary gain will endure to the end. [65:32]
4. Beware of Subtle Compromises and Idols of the Heart Every believer has a “number”—something they might be tempted to value above Christ when threatened. Honest self-examination is necessary to identify these idols, whether they are family, career, reputation, or comfort. Only by confronting and surrendering these can we be prepared to stand firm when the real test comes, refusing to become “soft apostates” who compromise under pressure. [71:11]
5. Reflecting on God’s Love Is the Key to Perseverance It is not our love for Christ that sustains us in tribulation, but our deepening understanding of His love for us. When we meditate on the reality that Christ endured suffering, shame, and death for our sake, we find the strength to endure for Him. This reflection transforms our motivations, compels obedience, and anchors us through every trial, making perseverance possible. [98:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:32] - Theory vs. Practice in Faith
[39:11] - Prayer for Obedience
[40:11] - Lessons from the Boxing Ring
[42:18] - The Discomfort of True Discipleship
[43:39] - Tribulation and the Great Falling Away
[46:12] - Betrayal Within the Church
[49:03] - Preparing for Tribulation
[55:04] - Smyrna’s Faithfulness Amid Persecution
[56:30] - The Cost of Confessing Christ
[57:26] - Holding Fast to Christ’s Words
[61:04] - Christ’s Suffering and Our Endurance
[65:32] - The Real Cost: Poverty, Slander, and Imprisonment
[77:27] - The Synagogue of Satan and Slander
[85:27] - Faithfulness Tested by Imprisonment and Death
[89:36] - The Call to Ongoing Endurance
[98:23] - Communion: Reflecting on God’s Love
[100:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB) — 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until 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 by the second death.’”

Observation Questions

According to Revelation 2:8-11, what specific challenges and forms of suffering did the church in Smyrna face?
How does Jesus introduce Himself to the church in Smyrna, and why is this significant for their situation?
What does Jesus promise to those in Smyrna who remain faithful, even in the face of death?
In the sermon, what were some of the public costs the Smyrna believers endured for not denouncing Christ? ([55:04])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus finds no fault with the church in Smyrna, unlike some of the other churches in Revelation? What does this reveal about what He values most? ([49:03])
The sermon says, “True love for God is not hidden; it is displayed in the choices we make when our allegiance to Christ is tested.” What does it mean for faithfulness to be public rather than just private? ([49:33])
The opposition Smyrna faced came from both the government and religious groups. How does the confession that “Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh” create conflict, and why is this confession so central? ([56:30])
The sermon talks about “subtle compromises” and “idols of the heart.” What are some examples of these, and why are they so dangerous to enduring faith? ([01:11:11])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine what we are unwilling to lose for Christ. Is there something in your life—possessions, reputation, relationships, comfort—that you would struggle to surrender if your faith was tested? How can you begin to address this honestly with God? ([01:11:11])
The Smyrna church’s faithfulness was public, not just private. In what ways is your faith visible to others? Are there areas where you tend to hide your allegiance to Christ out of fear of loss or discomfort? ([49:33])
The sermon warns about “soft apostasy”—making small compromises now that could lead to bigger denials later. Can you identify any small compromises you’ve made recently? What would it look like to reverse those and stand firm? ([01:29:36])
When have you experienced discomfort, loss, or even slander because of your faith? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([01:05:32])
The pastor said, “It is not our love for Christ that sustains us in tribulation, but our deepening understanding of His love for us.” What are some practical ways you can reflect on God’s love for you this week, especially when facing trials or temptations? ([01:38:23])
The sermon mentions that tribulation is not something to seek out, but something to endure when it comes. How can you prepare your heart and mind now for future trials, so that you are ready to stand firm when the time comes? ([42:18])
The reward for faithfulness is described as “the crown of life.” How does keeping an eternal perspective help you endure present difficulties? Is there a specific situation where you need to remind yourself of this promise? ([01:25:27])

Sermon Clips

Christ not only sees our affliction on behalf of him, but he also experienced his own affliction on behalf of us. Christ's death on the cross was substitutionary. Meaning it was on our behalf. Meaning that when he was in the garden praying for his suffering to stop, his suffering was because of you and me. And even though he asked for another way to save us, when the father said there is none, he didn't quit. He endured the suffering to the point of death. Christ knows what it feels like to experience tribulation for another. We are the another. And so he ain't asking us to do nothing that he ain't do himself. He says I endure tribulation for you. Now endure for me. [01:01:52] (45 seconds) #ChristEnduredForUsWeMustToo

The question that we have to ask ourselves, church, is will we endure for the one who endured for us? Will you denounce your life, your job, your career if threatened for Christ? Or will you denounce Christ if your life, your job, your relationships, or anything else that you deem important is threatened if you don't? This is a question that we got to ask ourselves. And I hope the answer is yes, but let me explain this to you. The only thing that will cause you to say yes is the same thing that caused him to endure. Love. Christ loved us so much that he endured and until we love Christ in action, we will never endure when it gets uncomfortable. [01:02:37] (33 seconds) #LoveCompelsEndurance

His love was self -giving, so our love back to him must be self -giving. Only love keeps us pressing, but it begins with understanding his love. And for Paul said that the love of Christ compels him, right? And that's why in that miniseries before my sabbatical, I stressed over those four messages trying to help us understand how great God's love was for us so that we would choose in a result to love him back from that understanding. So if anything, if any reason that you endure, remember that he did it for us, so we should, say should, do it for him. [01:04:51] (36 seconds) #LoveThatCompelsEndurance

Satan uses tribulation to test if we are faithful as we say we are when it doesn't cost or when it doesn't lead to loss. Remember, that's the purpose of tribulation. That's the point. Try to get us to denounce. Threaten the life, threaten the things that we love and the life that we desire to see if we are full. But Christ says, be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Christ is telling the church, don't let the trial prove that you have a false devotion. If a person folds when it's uncomfortable, what they say out their mouth means nothing. Passing the test means enduring and not just a loss of material poverty, a loss of reputation, slander, a loss of freedom, jail, but even a loss of life, death. [01:25:43] (36 seconds) #FinishTheCourseWithFaith

When people denounce Christ to end temporary affliction they cause themselves to endure eternal affliction they denounce Christ to end temporary affliction and the result of that was they were thrown into the lake of fire where there is eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth so don't let what is temporary cause you to forfeit what is eternal and enduring what is temporary will result in the opposite [01:30:12] (29 seconds) #FaithfulLikeSmyrna

``Reflect on God's great love for you. Then those things help keep you in line, give you language, help you uncover some stuff so you can deal with some things. You know what I'm saying? So that's all I have. If you ask me anything, you ain't got to call me no more. Change how I do this. Reflect on God's love for you. Was you saved from anything? Hit you with the old people. Baby, Has God not done Because it's the answer. It's the answer, y 'all. I got nothing else for y 'all over the next 365 days but reflect on the love of God. I got nothing else for you. Because it's that, when that takes place, we'll see change in our life. [01:38:03] (54 seconds)

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