MFM Devotional 16 September 2021 –SMYRNA: The Persecuted Church (II)

 Mountain Top Life DAILY DEVOTION

SMYRNA: The Persecuted Church (I I)

16^TH September, 2021

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zechariah 1-7

FIRE SCRIPTURE:   Revelation 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.

MEMORY VERSE: ”Love These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”

–John 16:33

 

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
As the world hated Christ, so it hates those who bear His image.

PRAISE WORSHIP: Take a worship song as led by the Holy Spirit

 

PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY:
THE GRACE TO ENDURE PERSECUTION AND SERVE THE LORD TO THE END IS YOURS FROM TODAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

 

The MESSAGE:

The letter to Smyrna came to them at the time of great persecution. There were many Jews in this city, but they were very hostile to the church. The church was in serious trouble that God told them that more problems were coming: tribulations, poverty and imprisonment (Revelation 2:10). Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-18, how much of troubles and persecution they went through in the course of his missionary activities. Yet, there is hope for him in eternity.

Are you going to choose the kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world? There is no peace or joy in this world. No matter how long one lives here on earth, it is with troubles and travails. The world is filled with terrors, killings, kidnapping, armed robberies societal dissidence and more. It appears as if nothing works. Mortality rate now is very high, but in the kingdom of God, believers will live forever in God’s presence. This is our joy and hope as children of God.

God still encourages the church not to fear all these things that they will suffer. He also advised them to be faithful unto death. He said those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. This is because they are already wearing a crown that death cannot kill, and they have life that swallows death!

Beloved, the second death is spiritual death, the permanent separation from God into eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Faithful overcomers will escape the second death. Alleluia! How have you been running your race? If you are in trouble or suffering today and you call on Jesus, He will understand what you are going through and will arise to help you. When you complain that life is tough, remember that Jesus went through it too! The church at Smyrna suffered more hardship and yet, held on to their faith and first love. Do everything possible to remain faithful and you will overcome!

Open your mouth and declare this three times with aggressive faith: “I shall stand for Christ till the end of my life. I shall be an overcomer. I shall receive the crown of life. The second death shall not hurt me, in the name of Jesus.”

 PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1.    Father, show Yourself strong to Your enemies in my life and deliver me, in the name of Jesus.

2.    Powers assigned to weaken my faith, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.

3.    Every gate of hell assigned against the church, collapse, die, in the name of Jesus.

 EVENING

4.             Cloud of darkness in this environment, scatter, in the name of Jesus.

5.    Every evil label assigned to my life, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.

6.    The promise of God for the faithful ones, my life is available, manifest, in the name of Jesus.

7.    No power shall be able to disrupt my life, by the power in the blood of Jesus.

 

 DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

 

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)