Antipas
Dear Church...Love Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 34 viewsCIT: Antipas was a church member in Pergamos/Pergamum who was killed because he followed Jesus. He is not mentioned by anyone else anywhere else...except by the Lord Jesus in this one verse
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Young man named Manga
Nigeria
He, his father and brother, attacked by Boko Haram
Told to deny Christ
They refused
Killed father
Left Manga and brother for dead
Survived
But with scars
Dear Church…Love, Jesus
Dear Church…Love, Jesus
Antipas
Antipas
Revelation 2:13 (NKJV)
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
1. Who Was Antipas?
1. Who Was Antipas?
A believer
A Christ follower
A member of the Pergamos church
That’s it
Ordinary guy
Was he prominent?
Was he well-known?
Did he have a great reputation?
Was he wealthy?
Does it matter?
Those same questions
Apply to yourself
Then ask:
Does it matter?
Because all of those questions will not answer who Antipas was
None of those questions will answer who you are
Because who we are is simply this:
Made in God’s image
Engaging Him at the spiritual level
Only way we can get there
Is to be IN CHRIST
2. What Happened to Antipas?
2. What Happened to Antipas?
Lost his life
Observed by church family
“among” you
“by your side”
No other details are known
(Open Doors USA) Paul
Truck driver from Kenya
Delivering goods near Somali border when Islamic group Al-Shabaab attacked truck
Occupants in truck lined up
Forced to say Shahada
“There is no god but allah, and muhammad is his prophet”
Paul would not
“If you want to kill me, I will remain in Jesus”
Summarily executed
No one has heard of Paul either
But…Jesus saw him too
Truth:
What is happening in your life may not be on anyone else’s radar
Your sufferings may be done entirely by yourself
But…not entirely
3. Why is Antipas Noteworthy?
3. Why is Antipas Noteworthy?
Not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture
Not mentioned anywhere else in church history
Yet Lord noticed
My faithful one
My witness
ὁ μαρτύς
Word was developing in time to mean one whose witness for Christ led to his death
Truth:
Can we come up with a greater accolade than the Creator of the universe declaring us to be His?
Result
Antipas received massive celebration party when he arrived in heaven
Definitely will be a chief regent in the Lord’s Millennial reign…and for eternity
Now What?
Now What?
Antipas is a hero in Heaven
Because he was faithful
Because he pointed to Jesus
At the cost of his own life
The cost for following the Lord was great for Antipas
How great a price are you willing to pay to follow Jesus?
Remember:
Everlasting life is a free gift
Because Jesus paid for it all
Believe in Him to give it to you
Because He is the only One who can
Discipleship—Following Jesus
Is where the cost for you and for me comes in
What’s holding you back from being all in?
From following Jesus with no reservation?
Next step on the greatest journey of your life
Begins the moment you believe
Now turn around and submit to Him