Prayer: Positions and Hindrances

Today we continue on our subject of prayer by taking a look at positions and hindrances.

Martyrdom - Revelation 2:8

Today we are introduced to the second Church of Smyrna. Let’s pick it up in Revelation 2:8 where it says, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”

At this time Rome had mandated the worship of Caesar. The city of Smyrna had built a temple for the worship of Tiberius Caesar and every citizen in Smyrna had to burn an incense offering to Caesar and state publicly that he was the supreme Lord, under the penalty of death. After doing this, the citizen would receive an official certification that verified their pledge of loyalty and worship. Of course, the Christians and Jews in Smyrna couldn't say that Caesar was the Lord as that they knew he was not and that it would constitute idolatry. The Bible says in Exodus 20: 3-5, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”

As a result, Smyrna produced many martyrs. They were burned at the stake and killed by wild beasts.  One of the most famous Christians in the 2nd century was Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna. He was the pastor of the church at this time. The Romans eventually burned him at the stake for refusing to worship Caesar. History tells us that the Roman authorities said, “Curse Christ and I will release you." In response Polycarp said, "Eighty-six years I have served Him. He had never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?" They then burned him at the stake.

The word "Smyrna" is directly descended from the Hebrew word "Myrrh." Myrrh is a gum that comes from cutting the bark off a certain tree. Then it is crushed to yield its perfume-like aroma. This perfumed Myrrh is used for embalming.  In this way, myrrh is symbolic of death. Remember the three gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus? They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These three gifts were both symbolic and prophetic. Gold is a metal which is always associated in the Bible with kingly rule. Frankincense was the spice that was used by the priests in the temple. Myrrh was the spice that was used in embalming bodies for burial. By bringing gold, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be a king. By bringing frankincense, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be a priest. By bringing myrrh, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be put to death.  Jesus was a prophet, priest and king! Exactly thirty-three years after He was born, arrested and convicted by an illegal trial, He was killed on a cross between two thieves. 

This is also hinted at to this church when the title that Jesus Christ used to describe Himself was "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." The prophet Isaiah prophesied that one day again the Lord will receive some of these same gifts in Isaiah 60:6 where it says, "All those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord." Notice that the gifts will not include myrrh this time.  That’s because He will never die again!

Notice the term "first and the last." Jesus had used this expression in chapter 1 when He said in 1:17, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last." He also called himself the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet in 1:8 when He said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega." There are a couple of fascinating things hidden in the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures in regards to this "first and last" title. Alpha in this sentence is the word "Alpha" spelled out. But the Omega is the singular letter Omega. It is a linguistic picture, indicating that the beginning has been completed, but the ending is still yet to be. There is so much to learn while studying the Bible!

Prayer: Motivations and Belief

We continue our study on the issue of our prayers being answered as long as they are for the right reasons and asked in belief.

Prayer: Thy Will Be Done

Today we see that God does indeed hear our prayers, but will only answer them if what we are asking for is according to His will.

Answered Prayer - Luke 18:1

Today we continue our study in the area of prayer by starting to take a look at some of the promises that are found in the Bible in regards to answered prayer.

The Tree of Life - Revelation 2:7

Let’s pick it up today in Revelation 2:7 where it says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” I remember when I was in Bible College, I had a teacher who used to tell us that the reason God gave us one mouth and two ears was so that we would listen twice as much as we talk. That is very true.

What the Lord is saying is that we would all be wise to listen to both the compliments paid and the warnings given to this first Church of Ephesus. They were complimented for their great work, love, labor, patience, and because they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans that we discussed last week. However, they were warned because they had left their first love. Yes, we would all be wise to take those compliments and warnings to heart.

If we do listen, we are told that God will give us the opportunity to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. The first place the tree of life is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 2:9 where it says, “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Adam was later told by God that he could eat of everything in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16-17). The implication is that he could have chosen to eat of the tree of life, but when given the option, choose not to do so.

Instead he chose to eat of the one tree God told him not to. Isn’t that just like us? You tell a child to do a hundred things but one, he will choose the one. It’s his rebellious nature that he inherited from you. You received it from your parents and they received it from theirs. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The Bible says in Isaiah says in Isaiah 30:9, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:”

What if Adam had chosen the tree of life first? He would have lived forever! But no, he chose to rebel and do exactly what God told him not to and ate of the tree of knowledge. It cost him paradise and his life. He and Eve were expelled from the garden because God did not want to allow them to turn and then take of the tree of life and live forever in their fallen sinful state. That’s the first time we see the tree of life in the Bible, but not the last.

Where is the tree of life now? We were just told in Revelation 2:7 that it is no longer in the Garden of Eden but in the “midst of the paradise of God.” That’s not the Garden of Eden, but Heaven. We are told this again in Revelation 22:1-2 where it says, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” And then again in Revelation 22:14 it says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Today, we have the same choice set before us: death or life. Unfortunately, Adam’s rebellion has already infected us all for it was passed down to us. However, there is a way of escape. We can still take of the tree of life through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” If you do, you’ll live forever!

Nicolaitanism - Revelation 2:6

Today, we pick it up in Revelation 2:6 where it says, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. In these verses we see another compliment paid to this Church of Ephesus in that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans which God also hates. So the question is: Who were the Nicolaitans and what did they do that was so bad? Well, let’s start out by looking at their very name. The first part of the name “nico” comes from the Greek word which means “to conquer or enslave.” The second part of the name “laitans” comes from the Greek word meaning “people.” It’s from where we get the word “laity” today. Hence, their name means “to conquer or enslave the people.” 

The Nicolaitans were a group who divided the laity from the clergy in an effort to re-establish the priesthood that was done away with by the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross. God hates this. Why is this so hated by God? We are told in Matthew 27:50-51, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom….” Notice that the veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom upon Jesus’ death. Why? - It signified that there was no longer a need for a priesthood after the order of Aaron. Remember that only the High Priest was allowed to go behind that veil once per year to make sacrifice for the sins of the people. That veil was really the only thing that separated the “laity” from the “clergy”. Upon Jesus’ death, it was once and for all removed. However, the Nicolaitans immediately set out to re-hang it and have been trying to do so ever since.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me....” He was saying that the people no longer would have a priest between them and God. Instead, He would be their High Priest. That’s why the Apostle Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

In effect, when Jesus died upon the cross, the priesthood was abolished and Jesus Himself became our High Priest. That’s why the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is the “mediator of the new covenant” (Hebrews 12:24). Jesus is the Mediator. He is the “go between” between us and God now. If we want to get to the Father, we must go through Jesus!

Now many will nod their heads in approval with all that I’ve just said, but will turn around and go to another man or an idol as a means of reaching God. It should not be! This damnable doctrine was introduced by the Nicolaitans and was hated and still is hated by God to this day. It is also interesting to note that here in the Church of Ephesus the works of the Nicolaitans are described as “deeds”. However, by the time we get to the Church of Pergamos in Revelation 2:15 that they are called “doctrines”. Deeds refer to a one time action that is carried out. While doctrines refer to a body of principles presented for acceptance or belief. In others words, what started out as deeds in the Church of Ephesus became full blown excepted doctrine by the time the Church of Pergamos came on the scene. 

We are encouraged in Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Why is Christ Jesus sitting at the right hand of God?  He is acting as our High Priest.  He is making intercession for us to the Father. Hebrews 3:1 says, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

In conclusion, Jesus is our High Priest. He is the one we all must go to for salvation and no other. If we will but go to Him, He will go to the Father for us. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus is the only way!