Following Jesus 90

The Smyrna Church. Revelation 2:8-11. The Persecuted Church. 
 
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘the words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that 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 throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
 
What type of church does the Lord Jesus Christ find favor? What type of church does He not find fault. Is it a big church or a small church? Is it a traditional church or a contemporary church?
 
Granted, no church is perfect or without sin. No church is perfectly righteous in what it does and does not do. No group of believers can say they never make mistakes. It is also a given that a church pleasing to God and living for Him is a biblical church.
 
However, the Scriptures tell us that there is a group of believers of which the Lord especially finds favor. They are the persecuted.
 
Recently, there have been several publicized news stories of Christians in Egypt who have been martyred by ISIS. Just this past week, over 220 Christians in northeastern Syria were abducted from their homes and whose condition and fate is not yet known.
 
What does Jesus say about a church which is living and pleasing to Him? 
 

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