Hold fast to Christ who defends His people-Christ commends those holding to Him -8, 10, Matt. 13-5-6, 20-21, John 15-5--Consider the enemies they faced -8-9, Ps. 116-15--Christ can open a door -7-8, 6-10, Is. 22-15-25, Acts 14-27- 1 Cor. 16-9- 2 Cor. 2-12- Col. 4-3--Christ defines who are His -9-11a, Rom. 2-28-29, Is. 45-14, 49-23, 60-14--Christ will make His own unshakeable -10b-12-

Why have a Creed or Confession or Statement of Faith---Errors to avoid with Creeds-Confessions-Statements of Faith

Wake up and seek the garments and name Christ gives--A dead church -1-3, Lk. 6-26, Jn. 7-7, 15-18-19, 1 Jn. 3-13, Eph. 2-1-3, Mk. 5-35-42--Wake for a coming thief -2-3, Mt. 24-36-51, Lk. 12-35-48, 1 Th. 5-1-11, 2 Pet. 3-1-14, 1 Cor. 10-12--White garments -4-5a, 16-15, Gal. 3-27--A lasting name -1, 5b-6, 13-17, 17-8, Matt. 10-32-33, Lk. 10-20-

Don't tolerate a Jezebel, but let genuine faith show in your good works-A Church with good works that is on the ascent -19, 24b-25, Acts 16-14--A church with a Jezebel -20-21, 1 Ki. 16-31-33, 18-4, 19-2, 21-25, 2 Ki 9-22--How could this happen- -20-22, 24, Rom. 2-4, Jude 4, 2 Cor. 11-4--Christ comes to give judgment -18, 22-23, 25, 29, 1-7, 22-12, 2-5, 16, 25, 3-3, 20, Jer. 17-10--The place of works -19a, 22b, 23b, 26a, Eph. 2-8-10, 2 Tim. 1-9, Tit. 3-5, Rom. 3-20, 28, Heb. 12-14, Phil. 2-12-13, Matt. 5-30, 7-16--Conquerors will share in His rule -26b-28, Ps. 2-9, 1 Cor. 6-1-11, c.f. 4-8-

Partnership-Fellowship-Sharing in Ministry-Partnering by Prayer-Partnering by Giving-Partnering by Co--laboring-Applications

Blessings in sharing Christ's sufferings-Fellowship with Christ in our suffering-Fellowship with His body in suffering-Suffering Today-Ways we can -waste suffering--Applications- Lay hold of the blessing of suffering together

See Christ's sword against false teaching-A Church that has held fast and been faithful -13, 1-5, Ps. 116-15--A battle of teaching -14-15, Num. 22-25, 31-8, 2 Pet. 2-15-16, Gen. 6-1-2--Similar issues today -1 Cor. 8, 10--Christ's weapon of warfare -12, 16, Is. 53-2John 12-47-48, Matt. 24-35--The reward to conquerors -17, 19-12-13, Matt. 4-4-

A Call to Servanthood-Serving Upward and Downward-The Servant's Heart-Applications

Believe Christ, even unto death-What was Smyrna like- -Historical Context--Trust Jesus to define the Church -8-9, Is. 44-6, Jn. 10-33, 1 Jn. 2-23 Jms. 2-5, Rom. 2-29--Tribulation, poverty, and slander -9-10, Heb. 10-34--Not surprise nor condolence nor plotting -9-10, 2 Tim. 3-12, 1 Pet. 4-12-14, Matt. 5-11-12, 6-19-20, Jms. 2-5--Death and Conquering -10-11, Jn. 16-33, 1 Jn. 5-4-

Love what Christ loves and hate what He hates--Let us hear what the Spirit says -1, 7, 1-11, 20, Matt. 13-9-16, 43, Is. 6-10, Col. 4-16, 1 Ti. 5-20--We know some things about Ephesians- but Christ knows all -2-3, Acts 18-24-20-1, 17-34--Commendation ... for testing and hate-- -2, 6, 14-15, Act. 20-28-31, 1 Th. 5-21, Is. 8-20, 1 Jn. 4-1-3, Jude 23--What was their first love- -4-5, Acts 19--A removed lampstand -5b, Matt. 5-13-16-