Richer Than You Think

Tell somebody that God is generally familiar with what you're going through and we also have a God who lives way out there just kind of has a large view of the world. This interested remove them personal God, but in God became very very close to you and to me think of the worst things you could ever go through poverty, betrayal, tortured, and remember Jesus endured them all hello and welcome to Destin for victory with pastor Paul Sheppard, senior pastor, destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont California today we continue working her way to the letters to the seven New Testament churches is recorded in the book of Revelation pastor Paul spoke earlier this week about the church offices whose members have begun taking the grace of God, far beyond the today we move ahead to God's letter to the church at Smyrna will be encouraged as you discover that God not only knows what you're going through. He's been through it himself right there or visit pastor Paul.net to listen on demand any time that's pastor Paul.net you can also listen through Alexa tried out by saying Alexa open Destin for less join pastor Paul first message Richard than you think second chapter of Revelation, beginning with verse eight it says this to the angel of the church in Smyrna write the words of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again. I know your actions and your poverty.

Yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.

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 10 days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you a 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 at all by the second death. As we continue to explore these early verses in Revelation chapter 2 we come now to the letter that John received by divine inspiration from Christ for the church in Smyrna.

There were seven churches that God gave messages to and John was to deliver those messages once the end of this exile on the island of Patmos was a return to Asia minor. Roman Asia, which today is Turkey and he was to deliver these messages to those churches, but as we discovered these were just messages to actually existing churches.

There also messages to the church of Jesus Christ down through the ages for all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and all of us are called to benefit from the divine inspiration in these Scriptures and in letters such as this so I want to look with me at the letter to the church in Smyrna and noticed that it opens with Christ identifying himself in a way very similar to the way he identified himself to John in Revelation chapter 1 he says here I am the first and the last I'm the one who was dead but I came to life again. Why is Christ wanting discharge to know that he is in the last that he was dead but he is alive again because he wants us to understand that always remember that we are not part of a religion founded by dead holy man Christianity at its core is really not religion. I know in the general sense and fits the definition of a religion, but in a very specific said Christianity is not religion because it has to do with relationship with a living Savior. Jesus wants you to know you are not simply following the teachings of somebody who used to be alive and used to teach good things that will save us a way of living and a philosophy of life know we all risen Savior and he is alive for evermore Jesus that I want this charge to know that I'm the first and the last that day creation that predate history that I am on the way with the, as we said in our study of elation chapter 1 Jesus has a terminal is and he wanted them to know on the first on the last I will, but I'm alive again and I am alive forevermore that's extremely important because he wants you to know that you serve as Savior, who was not created by you not understand that Jesus had stayed in the grave after he was crucified. He was not always from the bed, he would not be able to be living Savior, to give you hope to give you salvation to give you a future. But the fact that he was in bed by father means that he was not treated by those who crucified him. He is now our Savior leave Victoria I need you to know Savior who has not been victorious. Leave Victoria Jesus trial over all. Rachel on the crossing child over Satan and all the powers of evil. Jesus is leave Victoria city wants to start and he wants you to know I am the one who is alive for ever and I have all power in my seat.

I need you to make sure that you don't confuse your theology with your Star Wars ideas you like me. I love those Star Wars movies when it first came out for their entertainment value. The first three Star Wars movies were the ball when they first came out decades ago so you will remember that and I know since then they've made some other stop and I don't think that was that anointed but the original one original remembers and then the buyer strikes back, and then return… If you got it and I'm sure that barley but you got enjoy it for entertainment value only if you make the mistake of mixing that in with your theology you will understand who Jesus is ghostly and Star Wars force, and then the was divided into two dimensions and you have the good side of the force. That's where you had Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker and you know Yoda little ugly self and all that stuff but then you had the dark side of the force, and that's where you had the Emperor and that's where you had Darth Vader you know and what have you Star Wars philosopher you got this epic struggle between good and evil and you're not quite sure what is going to triumph over evil and all that good Star Wars, but that's not Bible you need to know that we are not so God who is try to beat the devil in which evil women in our lives need to know that when on that call. He said nobody has taken my life, my life down so that I can give you. You you I can give you more when Jesus was three days later say all power is in my hand.

The great commission was preceded by his words all power has been given to me in heaven and in earth. Paul said when he read the church at Philippi that because Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross where, for God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that the name of Jesus we will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.

What that means is that God is late victorious league beat the devil 998.

He is really victorious. He said I was. But I'm alive and I'm alive for ever. I want to let you know you serve all risen leave Victoria Savior and you have a right to in the God of your salvation buys himself as the first and the last is the one who was dead but came to life again. Now look at verse nine of Revelation to he says to this church in Smyrna and to all of us. I know your afflictions and your poverty pause right there and I want you to understand that I am the all powerful one. I'm the one who is really victorious and have triumphed the enemy. He said I want you to know that I am very much aware of what you're going up next the second half of today's suggestion for victory message with pastor Paul Sheppard. We want to thank all of you whose prayers and financial support help Esther Paul share the gospel all over the world and right now as we begin to recover from the challenges of the past year.

Your support is even more critical today because more people than ever before are looking for answers that only Jesus can give.

So as God leads prayerfully consider making a gift to Destin for victory. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not unfamiliar with our suffering he endured pain that was far greater than most of us will ever have to go through not only understands our pain.

He sympathizes with this is pastor Paul with the rest of today's message richer than you think.

I will tell somebody that God really familiar with what you're going through God's way out there who just kind of has a large view of the world. This interested removed personal God, but in Christ. God became very close to you and to me.

The Bible says about Jesus. We don't have a high priest who cannot be touch with the feelings of our infirmities. We saw one who knows and who cares about what you're going through. I will let you know God is familiar with what's going on in your life. He says of this church in Smyrna ICU.

I see that you're dealing with corrections and you're having to deal with poverty. I want somebody listening to this message to know that God is aware of what's happening in your life. He sees what's happening in your personal life.

He sees what's happening in your challenges on the job or your need for a job you see what's happening in your economics. He sees what's happening as you feel your relationship with people in your family. Please see the kids in the relative God knows exactly what happening in your life right now he's familiar with what you're going through. He said I know your afflictions and your poverty, God knows what's going on in your life and that's what poses for many of us, a particular problem because once we realize that the Lord is very familiar with what we're going through many of us 21st century Christians say no Lord since your where what's happening in my life since you see the madness.

I'm going through in this season of my life since you say what the economic downturn is going to me since you see what I'm facing in my marriage you're dealing with my children are dealing with people I know since you are aware, I am. What's up with this. I will be honest to God you get clean with God.

Not a lot of people want to believe I never questioned God. I met just don't question God that's great if you arrived at a place in your prayers with the Lord where you don't question God, that is wonderful but I'm here to tell you if you are a believer who has not yet alive that that place you got a whole lot company. A lot of believers who say you know you are my situation and for that very reason I want to know I sent you loudly since you think you see what I'm dealing with. Why are you allowing this to some of us have been there as well because which is never questioned God what they mean is another question him out loud, but if you have a lot in your heart the mouth says to lie down on the inside and every now and then we settled since you see, since you are aware of our afflictions of our challenges of what we're dealing with. Why in the world are you allowing this to happen. I know you love me. I know you care about me so long I don't get it.

Why is this little I want to let you know that the reason why he says to the church at Smyrna. I know your afflictions and your poverty and the reason why he says about your life. I know exactly what you're going through, but has not absolutely immediately change your circumstances, it's because there are more promises in your Bible than the ones you like to grab. We have a generation of believers who love grabbing positive promises. We love it when God promises us provision but my God shall supply all your needs.

We grabbed a Scripture. Thank you Jesus.

God is what we grabbed your body by doing what you will shall be done. We grabbed grabbed that we got bad from a positive promises that we carry around with us. Here's the thing that are more promises in your inspired Bible than the ones you grabbed and some of them tell you not only does God promise you provision.

Not only does God promise you protection. Not only does God promise you power. Not only does God promise you peace and joy and righteousness but there are seasons of your life. Well, God promised you that things aren't always going to go the way you wish they would, and is every bit promise as the rest of ongoing probity. John chapter 16 now in the Gospel of John chapter 14 through 16. You were familiar with your Bible, you know that Jesus is speaking in that section of Scripture, and he is preparing his disciples for the fact that he is not going to remain on earth, so he's getting them ready for the fact that he soon to be crucified is going be resurrected. Spend 40 more days on earth really is going to send back to heaven and they will not have him as a living being that they can reach out and touch physically there after, and he's getting them ready and so you know, in John 1415 and 16 Jesus gives us some wonderful information. He tells us in John 14 one let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, you may be also.

All that we thank God. Jesus is the way prepare a place possible to spend eternity with him and not something to rejoice in their later on in John 14. He promises us. The Holy Spirit will leave you by yourself, but to send you the comfort of the counselor. He will abide with you forever regret that.

Thank you Lord that the Holy Spirit is go walk with me through this life and that is going to give me power and he's gonna help me develop spiritual fruit in character and all that, we rejoice in that in John 15, he began to teach us spiritual truths from an agricultural mindset. He says I am the vine, you have a branch of the father, God is the gardener and he says every branch in me that bears fruit. He pulled that my bear more fruit and all that stuff we love that, and that's a Scripture, and what you'll find if you abide in me as a branch and I my words abide in you, you will ask what you will we let John 14 we live. John 15 John 16 he started talking about what the Holy Spirit will do in our lives and he's gonna teach us about righteousness and about judgment and all that stuff and just down the 33 and he says not been telling you all of this so that you can have peace with God. Thank you. I want peace, Betty tells you why you don't need peace. John 1633 world you held off the language of promise have tribulation, he says, but be a good chair. I have overcome the world. That is not a promise many folk put in the bank but it's a promise, just like the other ones he said in this because of where you live you live in a fallen world. You live among fallen people. Even creation itself. The Bible says is groaning for redemption, when God is going to finally straighten everything out, but in the meantime we live in a fallen world we live among fallen people we are battling against the fallen enemy, Satan himself and he says and you are gone. I have tribulation was at me walking with God, you're enjoying the salvation of God in the presence of God. But in the minutes of all that they are going to be seasons and times when you go through tribulation.

It was promised right in your Bible just because you didn't claim that promise me and the promise done come to pass in your life for some promises you claim other promises claim you. And that promise claimed you that in this world you will have tribulation. Now, here are some of the well was tribulation in the Greek you want to get out of what you're going through your hope in the Greek will bail you out. What is tribulation mean in the original Greek language you want to bring let me give you a great and you will be jacked up sometime right not to sell out they no times change. Seasons change.

Circumstances change. Certainly learned that during the past year, but in the midst of life's chaos and uncertainty. God remains the same.

He's endured what you've endured, he suffered what you have suffered, and through it all is study the solid rock upon which the foundation of your life can be safely built. Thanks so much for being here for today's message richer than you think. It's been another great week on Destin for victory were so glad you are part of it before we say so long for the weekend though. I want to thank you on behalf of Pastor Paul Shepard in the entire ministry team for all you do to make the destined for Victor ministry possible. As a listener supported ministry were counting on your continued prayers and financial support because so many people out there need the saving grace that only Jesus Christ can give your donations do make a difference. So please consider making a special gift today to help assure the truth of God's word with a growing audience for your generous gift. This month we have a gift her own to share with you. Pastor Paul's booklet traits of a virtuous woman based on Proverbs 31. This booklet dives into some of the ways that godly women can have a profound impact in the lives of her family and those around her will and will find biblical instruction. What a godly woman looks like and others will be strongly encouraged to honor those women who sown the seeds of wisdom and grace into their lives. That's traits of a virtuous woman booklet from Pastor Paul and our gift to you today by request for your generous gift to Destin for victory call us at 855-339-5500 to give over the phone or visit Pastor Paul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destin for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 let somebody know I cannot tell somebody do not circumstances. Define who you are. Just because you're going through what you're going through. Do not start calling yourself what you're going through this next time it Pastor Paul Shepard's message richer than you think. Until then, remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory