Tim Rivers: We're in this series called Upset the Church, and if you hadn't figured it out yet, I am not Tim Ross.

[laughter]

I'm the other Tim, and I'm going to be with you all for the next month, the month of July, and I'm excited to be here. We're in this new series called Upset the Church, and let me just catch you up real quick. Last week we talked about the church of Ephesus and how they were moving away from their first love Christ and they were drawn away by distractions. We called that message side chick Jesus. This week we're going to continue in the book of Revelation. Now the book of Revelations generally is not a book that most people put in their devotional for just morning inspiration, but I want to demystify Revelations for you.

The book of Revelation is not really about beasts and seals and angels and candlesticks. The book of Revelation is about Jesus Christ. It opens the book by saying that Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega. Then John writes about all the stuff that's going to happen, but guess what happens in Revelation 22? Jesus is still on the throne. He's still the first and the last. He's still the beginning and the end. He's still the alpha and the omega. What this is telling me is that no matter what you go through in life, God is still the beginning and the end.

Congregant: Amen.

Tim Rivers: The first and the last, the alpha and the omega. He's still on the throne in your life. As we go into this serious Upset the Church, we are really looking at where is Jesus in our lives when we go through different conditions. We're spending the next five weeks and we're just dissecting the seven letters written to seven churches in Asia, and this week we're want to be talking about the church in Smyrna.

If you have your Bibles, let's go to the book of Revelation 2, and while you're turning there I want to say this. I've had the pleasure now of preaching here several times, and I honor and love Pastor Tim and Juliet, and the staff. Well, I also want to give a special shoutout to those that often are unsung heroes and that's all of our volunteers who make this service and these things happen online as well. Come on. Can you put your hands together for volunteers.

[applause]

Man, so appreciate that. All right. Revelation 2:8, here we go, "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.'" Woo. "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 10 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." Somebody say, amen.

Congregants: Amen.

Tim Rivers: Now, remember when we're talking about these letters, they're written to the churches, but the churches made up of individuals, you and I together. When we look at these letters, they're actually written to us as individuals. Not every one of these letters is going to apply to you, but some of them will apply to you depending on where you are in life.

Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want one of these letters written to me, not this letter to Smyrna. Just imagine that you are going through hell, you're going through a trial, you're going through a tribulation and Jesus decides I'm going to write you a letter while you're in the midst of this, and Jesus writes you this letter, he says, "Hey, listen. Listen, fam. I know what you're going through. I see the trial that you're in. I see the tribulation that you're facing and I'm here to encourage you more tribulation is coming."

[laughter]

At that point, I'll be trying to throw in the towel, but Jesus is literally writing to the church of Smyrna and he's saying, "I know what you're going through, and I'm telling you, it's probably going to get worse, but let me encourage you. Don't stop. Don't quit. Don't settle." Pastor Stan was about to preach my message. I leaned over to Eunice, I said, "My man better wrap it up. He gone take my sermon?" But the reality is how many have ever been through hell? Let me see your hand. You've gone through hell?

Congregant: Yes.

Tim Rivers: Online, you can go ahead and put it in the chat. You've had to face some stuff. Come on. New levels, new devils. You've been through some stuff. The fact that you're here means that you made it through, but here's the fact, a lot of times when we're going through hell, we just got to keep on going. My title for today, since we had a provocative title last week, I got one for you this week, is this, Why in Hell Would You Stop? Why in hell would you stop?

If there is one guarantee that you have as a believer is this, "You will go through trials." Jesus told his disciples, "In this world, you will have trouble." Jesus told one of his favorite disciples, Peter, "Peter, Satan desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat." Here's the thing, Jesus didn't say, "But bro, I prayed against it. I'm giving you the shield of faith to resist it." He said, "Peter, I just prayed for you that your faith will not fail." Peter said, "Hey, don't think it's strange concerning the fiery trials which are to try you, as though some strange things happen." Today we're want to talk about it. All right? Why in hell would you stop?

Let's pray. Heavenly Father we thank you so much for your goodness and your mercy and your grace. In the next few moment as we begin to unpack your word, I pray that you would speak to us and that we would get new revelation and that we would walk out of here different than the way we walked in. We thank you for what you're doing in us and through us in Jesus name. Somebody say, amen.

Congregants: Amen.

Tim Rivers: Here's the fact. All of us are on a journey. It doesn't matter how old you are. You could be 3 or 30 or 75. You are on a journey. From the very first moment that you took in a breath of air, you started on a movement toward a purpose, and all of us are aware of this because this is a desire innate within us given to us by God. God has designed every one of us, it's in our DNA, it's etched within the fiber of our being. God has designed all of us to move into more and all of us are aware of that because there's almost this insatiable appetite for more.

There's almost this dissatisfaction that we all deal with. We all want to move forward. We all want to go further. We all know that there's more to life than this. Now, ironically, we live in a world that celebrates anti-settling. You see this all the time on social media, #DontSettle, #Next, #MissMeWithThat, #TakingCareOfMyselfRightNow, #SelfLove, #IDeserverMoreThanThat. We live in a culture that celebrates not settling, but every one of us, if we would be honest, will look around and you will find people who have just settled, just stopped, just quit.

In fact, it reminds me of this story of a young man who was dating this girl, and they were starting to vibe together and they were starting to talk about marriage and the future and what life would be like if they were together, and so all this stuff was happening. This young man decides, you know what? The most important thing I got to do is I got to introduce her to my mom's. He gets this young lady, Felicia, and he brings her to his mom and says, "Hey, mom, I want to introduce you to my new girl. Her name is Felicia. Now we've been talking a while and now we're talking about marriage and the future and so I think it's very important that you get to meet her and y'all get to vibe."

You know how any guys ever introduce your young lady to your mom and how nervous you were? I know I was. Because your moms can be cruel. My man is sitting here, he's introducing Felicia and he's talking about all the great things that go on in their relationship and all this stuff. His mom is sitting there looking both of them up and down, and then finally his mom stops and goes, "Why would you settle for that?" Then this young man, just like any good young man would do, he said, "Now, wait a minute, mom, you ain't want to talk to my girl like that. I'm in love with her." Before he could get another word out his mom stopped and said, "Young man, shut your mouth. I was talking to her."

[laughter]

Well, here's the fact, a lot of us just settled. They did some research and they interviewed all these couples and they found out that over 75% of couples that they interviewed said that they settled for the one that they were with because the one they loved got away. If you're married, do not say amen. Do not say amen. The reality is most of us don't plan to settle. I don't know anybody that plan to be in a mediocre marriage.

I don't know anybody that planned to be in a dead end job. I don't know anyone that said, "Hey, I would like to go to a dead dry dull church that don't preach the word." I don't know anybody that sets out on a journey toward the purpose that God has for them and say, "You know what? I planned on just going halfway." The reality is that in this life, there are trials, there are tribulations, there are things that come our way that cause us to stop before we get to where God wants us to be.

As I begin to dissect the word and I was reading the word, God led me to a story in Genesis 11:31. If you have your Bibles or you can follow us on the screen, Genesis 11:31. This is the story about a man named Terah, who is the father of Abraham. Here's what the script says. "Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. Now, pay attention to that. "But--" somebody say, but.

Congregants: But.

Tim Rivers: Always pay attention when you see those divine buts in the scripture. "But when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran." Now, most of us have heard about Abraham, right? We've heard about father Abraham. We know that he's one of the patriarchal fathers. We all know about Abraham, but most of us have not read or heard about Terah. I have read the scripture many, many, many times, but this time the scripture was different for me because I took note of this man named Terah.

Now, Terah-- let me give you context. Terah is the father of Abraham. At that time Abram. Terah gathers his family together, Abraham, his wife, his grandson. He gathers them all together and he says, "You know what? I like where we're at, and it's cool and all, but I really feel like there is more for us in another place called Canaan." Now, if you look at a map on where the Ur of the Chaldeans is and where Canaan is, it's a straight shot across, but because of the topography, the in between, a lot of desert, it was very treacherous. You had to take the trade routes and go northwest up to the middle point, which was Harran. Then you will go down into Canaan.

Terah gathers his family together. He goes, "You know what? I really feel like there's more for us in Canaan. There are probably greener trees. There's going to be more land for us, for our livestock. There's good things that I really feel led to go to Canaan." They take off towards Canaan. Now, as they're on their way to Canaan, they have to pass by this place called Harran. When they get to Harran, they stop there because it takes about a few months to get to Harran and then a few more months to get to Canaan.

Terah is up in age, he's making the move, and along the journey, I can promise you it's treacherous. It takes a lot of work. He's older. His body is aching and he's making this journey to go to Canaan. When he gets to Harran, they decide to rest. Now here's the thing about Harran. Harran was a place that was a thoroughfare for trade. People would come from all over and they would come to Harran and they would trade goods. It was almost like a place that you would meet to buy and sell goods, and then go back to where you came from. When they get there, Terah decides, "Hey, let's just rest for a couple days. Then we're going to continue the journey."

A couple days turn into a week and a week turns into a couple weeks and a couple weeks turns into a couple months and a couple months now turn into years and Abraham, no doubt, and Lot are going, "Hey, dad, listen, we never planned to settle here. You said we were going all the way to Canaan." Terah begins to explain to Abraham that, "Guess what? I know I told you I was going to Canaan, but I'm tired. I'm worn out. I'm up in age. I'm just going to settle here." Terah makes the decision, "Hey, I wasn't planning to go to Harran. I planned to go to Canaan, but because of some things in my life, I just want to stop. I just want to rest. I just want to quit. I want to just die in peace."

I began to think about this story and the application it has to us because most of us are like Terah. Most of us have a purpose and a plan that we know God has for our lives. Maybe it's a job that you were going after, or a degree that you were going to finish or a ministry that you want to get involved in. You are on your way to Canaan, which happens to be the promised land. We're on the way to the place that God has for us, but along the journey, most of us settle. I began to pray and I said, "God, why do we settle? Why did Terah settle?"

Now the scripture doesn't give us specifics on why Terah settled, but if I can just interject my own thoughts into the story, I want to give you three reasons why I believe most people settle. Number one is it's comfortable in the present. If we're not careful, we will sacrifice great for good. Now there's a difference between contentment and apathy. Some people get confused on the both, but contentment is simply a state of being satisfied and possessing joy. The scripture says that, "I will learn that in whatever state that I am in to be content." That means no matter what I go through, no matter the circumstance, my contentment, my joy is not predicated on what I'm going through in the moment. That's contentment.

Apathy is you lack joy and you lack contentment, and there is no forward movement. Can I tell you that most people, some people will end up being in a toxic relationship because it's comfortable. They will be in a dead end job because it's comfortable. They will hang around people that they cannot stand because it's comfortable. They will not move from the neighborhood that they're in, shots being fired every night and they have the opportunity to get out, but they will not because it's comfortable. Too many people decide to settle and stop because it's comfortable.

Maybe you're in this place. Remember we're upsetting the church. Maybe you feel yourself getting upset and that's the good thing, but you got to ask yourself the question, have you settled because it's comfortable? Because the journey toward the promise land is not comfortable. The journey to Canaan was not filled with ease. Terah was not sleeping on a nice feathered pillow. My man was sleeping intense and having to stop, but he may have stopped because where he was inherent was comfortable.

Here's the second reason why most people will settle and quit. Fear of the future. Can I tell you that what God has for you is for you and the enemy knows that when you move towards the future, if he can do one thing, he's going to try to get you to fear what God has for you. Here's the thing about fear of the future. You don't know what's coming, but neither does the devil. The only trick he got is a lie. He's going to tell you, "Man, it's scary over there." I'm like, "Devil, you ain't even been over there." Why would I believe this joker? I want to believe the report of the Lord, man.

This is what happened to Israel. Israel gets delivered out of Egypt, with plagues and a mighty hand. God takes them through the red sea on dry ground. He swamps all of the enemies in the sea. Now they're in the desert. They're singing praises to God and good things that are happening. All of a sudden they're like, "Man, we thirsty." God makes water come from a rock. They're like, "Man, we hungry." All right. He makes manna come. "Man, we wants some meat." Then comes quail. All these miracles are happening in their lives.

Then God brings them right to the edge of the promised land. Now they can see it. The spies come back and they're like, 'Man, listen, fam, is exactly how they described. Houses we didn't build. Vineyards we didn't plant. Wells we didn't dig. Surely the land flows with milk and honey. It takes two of us to carry a cluster of grapes. This is absolutely phenomenal." Then this is what Israel did. Israel said, "Man, I hear you, but y'all said there were giants over there? No, fam. I'll deal with slavery before I deal with giants."

Because here's what happens. When you fear the future, you will make excuses for the trauma of the past. When you are afraid of where God is taking you, you will start making excuses about how great the past was even when the past wasn't great. You will not move forward into another relationship because you fear what that relationship is going to be. You end up staying in a toxic relationship.

We will settle for the past and not move into the future when we're paralyzed by fear, but I'm here to preach and tell you that what God has for you in the future is better than your past, it's greater than what you've been through, it's better than what you can see. Don't settle. Israel rationalized slavery, sand, garlic-- Listen. Check this out. God is showing you land filled with milk and honey, right? You're like this. "I really like garlic and onions." That's what happens when you are afraid of the future.

Here is the third reason why most people settle. Fatigue. I would venture to say that fatigue is one of the main reasons why people will stop. Fatigue is one of the main reasons that people will just settle. "I'm just tired." Now Terah was not a young man. He was up in age and he's making this journey. When he gets to Haran-- Now, here's what's interesting. If you look the map, it's kind of a bell curve. Ur of the Chaldeans is here, Haran is about in the middle and then you go to Canaan.

Isn't it interesting that he gets halfway to where he was wanting to go? He gets so tired that he stops. Before getting all the way to where God had him, he was so tired. He was so anxious. He was so weary. He was going through so much that he said, "You know what? I just want to rest." I can tell you, this is what Jesus is writing to, when He's writing to the church at Smyrna and He says, "Listen, church, I am well-aware that you've been going through tribulation. I'm not trying to downplay the fact that you've been going through some real stuff. In fact some of you are going to be thrown into prison." Like some of us in 2020 feel like we're being persecuted because, "Well, they didn't give me a discount at Luby's."

[laughter]

We think we're going through persecution. We know nothing of persecution compared to the first century church. They're getting legitimately thrown in prison. In fact, at the time that this is written, John is on the island of Patmos. You know why he's on the island of Patmos? Because they tried to kill him several times. In fact, the last effort that they tried to kill him with is they tried to boil him alive in hot oil and the man wouldn't die. They said, "Man, if we can't kill you, we're going to just abandon you on an island." John is on an island by himself when he is writing this to the church of Smyrna, he's saying, "Listen, guys, I know that you're going through some real stuff and I'm not trying to downplay it.

I know that your marriage is messed up right now, I know that your kids are acting crazy right now, I know that your money is acting funny right now, I know that your faith is on trial right now, I know that what you've been praying for, you haven't received yet, I know that your body is wrecked with pain from that sickness, I understand that you're going through trials and I understand that you're tired. Listen, Smyrna. Keep the faith. Don't stop. Because for too many when they're going through hell, they stop there." Let me ask you this question. Why in hell would you stop? If you're going through hell, go through it. If you're going to face a trial, don't stop. While you're getting beat, keep running.

[applause]

Keep the faith. Keep going the race because here's the thing. The race is not given to the swift but it's given to those who endure to the end. Our race is is won when we cross the finish line.

The third is fatigue. Here's what I love about the story. I'm not here just to leave you in this story. Because here's the thing about the seven letters that are written to the seven churches. There're only two churches left mentioned that didn't receive a rebuke. One of them was Smyrna. It was just an encouragement. The other is Philadelphia. We'll talk about that later.

Jesus said, "Guess what. I ain't got a rebuke for you. All I got to ask from you is just keep going. I just need you to keep pressing. It doesn't matter. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. If you can't crawl, roll. I just need you to keep moving forward, because here's the thing, it's better than where you've been." [laughs] The old saints used to say, "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God, I'm not where I used to be."

I don't know about you but I don't want to live in my past. I want to move forward into the future that God has for my life. Can I preach and upset the church and tell you that the latter days are greater than your former days and your future is better than your past. You just just got to keep moving. This is what I love about the story. See, Terah's story is wrapped up in two versus. Terah left Ur of the Chaldeans, he planned to go to Canaan. He stopped in Haran. That's where he died. End of story.

Then God picked up the story with his son Abraham. He says, "Abraham, listen. This is what I need you to do. I'm going to bless you. I'm going to make you so great that you-- If you can count the sand of the sea, that's how great your name is going to be. If you can count the stars in the sky, that's how great I'm going to bless you. In fact, I'm going to make you so great that those that bless you will be blessed, those that curse you will be cursed. I will make you so great that everywhere you step, I'm giving it you to. You step over here, it's yours. You step over, it's-- " I'm preaching now. "Wherever you step, that's what I'm going to give to you."

God says to Abraham, "Abraham, I'm going to make of you a great nation and there's going to be no denying that I am your God." Abraham says, "All right. What do I got to do?" [chuckles] God looks at Abraham, "Abraham, this is what I need you to do. I need you to do one thing. I need you to leave the land of your father because your daddy didn't go all the way. I need you to finish what he started. Terah's story stopped in two verses, but, Abraham, by the time I get through with you, they're going to say, 'He's the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.'"

I can't help to wonder when I read the story, I start to wonder. I wonder if Terah would have gone all the way. I wonder if Terah would have been mentioned as one of the patriotic fathers. I wonder if we would have read the scripture and it would say, Terah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Terah was a quitter but Abraham stood up and said, "I don't know where I'm going but I ain't staying here."

[applause]

"My dad was planning to go to Canaan, well, I'm going all the way." Is it any wonder that where God leads Abraham is to where? Canaan. Oh, my Lord. The place that his dad planned to go. God picks up the story and says, "Abraham, I'm taking you all the way. The only thing I need you to do, Abraham, is go." That was literally the only instruction that Abraham got. Here's two reasons why you should not settle. Why in hell would you stop? I'm about to give you two reasons not to stop. Ready? Here's the first one. You are meant for more. I don't care how old you are. The promise on your life doesn't expire until you do.

[laughter]

You could be 2, you could be 22 or 92. It don't matter how old you are, you got to keep moving forward because the promise that God has on your life does not stop. It ain't over till God says it's over. With God it's never over until I'm over. You're meant for more. Abraham had to wake up at some point and go, "You know what? This ain't where I'm supposed to be. This is halfway to where I'm supposed to be." He got up and he moved forward.

Can I tell you no matter what you're going through right now, you are meant for more. God has a plan for your life. That's why I'm not slowing down and I'm not quitting. I'm not giving up. I'm not giving in. You know why? Because what God has for me is for me and I'm not stopping until I get what God has for me. When Jesus wrote the letter though the penmanship of John, to the church of Smyrna, He said, "Listen. Some of you are going to die, but you better die running." [laughs] "Some of you are going to go to prison but you better go to prison singing."

I don't know what you're going through today but can I tell you, just keep going. Because why in hell would you stop? Why would you stop when tribulation is coming? That's the time when you got to lean on Jesus. Why would you quit when you're going through tribulation? That's the time when you got to lean on the wonderful name of Jesus. When you're going through stuff, that's the time when you got to get deeper into Christ.

Here's the second and final reason why you should not stop. You leave a legacy. Did you know that wherever you stop is where the next generation starts. This is why I love NextGen Ministry. Because here's the thing. Wherever you stop is where they start. If you stop in bitterness, your kid is going to start there. If you stop in unforgiveness, that's where your kids will start. If you're stop in unhealth, there's where your kids are going to start. Here's the thing about Abraham. Abraham could have woken up in Canaan but instead he woke up in Haran. Here's the good thing about God, God will still take you all the way.

Still we're talking about you and me. The reason why we should not stop is because we got a legacy to leave. If I stop in blessing, my kids begin in blessing. If I stop in praise, my kids begin in praise. If I stop in blessing, my kids begin in blessing. Wherever I stop, that's where the next generation starts. Let me ask you that question. You're on your way to Canaan that's why you're here, that's why you're online. You may be by the poolside sipping on coffee right now, but you’re still on that journey. If you're here physically, I'm preaching to you right now and I'm telling you God's trying to take you all the way to Canaan. I was just going to teach a nice smooth message but I'm fired up.

[applause]

Because if there's one thing I'm passionate about, I'm passionate about people getting to where God wants them to go, I'm passionate about seeing you get to the full extent of where God wants you to go. Will you go through trials? Yes. Will you go through a hard time? Yes. That's why Peter said, "Hey, I ain't going to sugarcoat it for you all. It ain't going to be easy, but it's going be worth it."

[applause]

Let me ask you this question today as you may be in this place that you may feel like the church of Smyrna where you're like, "Man, I'm either too comfortable, or, man, I'm afraid of what's around the corner, or I'm just tired. Pastor Tim, it just took everything within me just to get up and get over here. I’m not going to listen to you yelling and screaming talking about why in hell would I stop? I'm tired, bro."

I'm here to encourage you now's not the time to stop. There may be some gray-haired soldiers of the faith, you’ve been living for God longer than I've been alive and you may be wondering, "What else is there for me to do?" There's a lot for you to do because we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses. I believe in heaven and on earth. We, my generation, needs the prayers of saints that have been there. We need you to move forward. We need you to keep pushing, so can I encourage you to church, don't stop. Don't quit.

If you feel I quitting, if you feel like giving up, if you feel like giving in, don't do it. You ain't got to run faster, you just got to keep going. What I love about the scripture and I'll close with this is that He says, "To the one that conquers, I will give the crown of life." What this is it's an image that John is writing about a race that's happening, because at that time when John was writing, Centennial, the Olympics, these sports were happening in the Roman Empire.

One of the biggest races was a foot race and what they would do is these guys would go and they would run these laps just much like the Olympics that we see now. What would happen is to the guy that crossed the finish line, it didn't matter if you are first or last, but if you crossed the finish line, you receive a wreath or a crown of life for finishing the race. What John is telling the church is you're not going to get a gold medal, you're not going to get a silver medal, you're not going to get a bronze, God's going to hand out wreaths. He's going to hand out wreaths to those that just crossed the finish line. Someone also will barely going to crawl past the finish line but you still won’t get that wreath. Whatever it takes, keep moving forward, keep pushing, keep pressing, go to your Canaan, whatever it may be. You will close your heads and bow your-- close your eyes, and bow your heads. Don't close your head, it'd be difficult.

[laughter]

If you can do it, come up here we'll pray for you.

[laughter]

Bow your heads and close your eyes. I want to see the hands of those that would say, "Man, I'm in one of those three categories. I'm tired, I'm afraid of the future or I'm just too comfortable." Let me see your head. If you're online just let us know in the chat. Great. I want to pray for you right now. Heavenly Father we thank you, I thank you, Lord, that your saints that are here hearing these words and those that will hear it this week have tuned in even though they may be tired, even though they may be going through tribulation and trials.

I pray God that you would just give them supernatural faith to continue moving forward that even while trials and tribulations may come your grace is sufficient for us. Right now, Lord, as we're going through the series of we're being upset and we're looking at these letters, if this is convicting our hearts and this is where we are, I pray that your saints would just move forward. I pray for grace in the time of need, I'm praying for healing, if their body is sick, I'm praying you will make away where there seems to be no way because you're the God of the breakthrough. Now we thank you God for what you're getting ready to do in our lives. We give your name all the praise and the glory in Jesus's name. Somebody shout amen.

Congregants: Amen.

Tim Rivers: Come on put your hands together, and give Jesus some praise.