This evening as we look at the church of Smyrna we can see a church which suffered much persecution. We will relate that persecution to a church that maybe did not grow by leaps and bounds but unlike even the church at Ephesus had not left it first love. Though this may sound to be at opposition with all that you might think. The truth is continuous persecution kept the faithful just that, faithful. The church at Smyrna was clearly persecuted for their faith. If the church today, the individuals who make up the body could recognized their persecution is a direct result of their attempted obedience to Christ the Lord and God the Father then they too might would find the necessary will by the power of God to stand firm in obedience unto God. So, just as the persecution of the church in Smyrna resulted in the persecuted being inclined to turn more to Christ so would the truly faithful today if they only recognized the cause of their persecution.--A little info about Smyrna. Smyrna means myrrh, and is a perfume substance used on the living and the dead alike. Smyrna was an Asia Minor city of medicine and science. It was said to be the most gloriously beautiful city of all Asia Minor. Smyrna maintained a very strong loyalty to Rome, and as such was also a hot bed for emperor-worship cults. This resulted in it proving to be a very hostile community to the early church.