Don't let folk who not on their way to heaven keep you from maximizing heaven's opportunity.

Dr Tony Evans talks about why it's more important than ever for Christ followers to be faithful.

This is not a time for weak me Christian. an ever for Christ followers to be faithful.

This is not a time for we need Christians.

This is a day to name the name of Jesus Christ.

This is the alternative with Dr Tony Evans, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

in Dallas, Texas and president of the Urban Alternative.

When life becomes difficult, our faith will usually had one of two very different directions.

Today, Dr Evans takes us to Revelation 2-8 for help on staying strong even under stress. Let's join it.

John the Apostle writes to the second church,

the church at Smyrna. He says the first and the last the one who was dead and alive

says this. So I'm going to give the message but Jesus is doing the talking.

So if you get mad at what I'm getting ready to say,

talk to Jesus, leave me alone.

Because he just told him to say what he was saying.

So in that little phrase, Jesus speaks of both his deity and his humanity.

He's the first and the last, he's got, but he died.

So he's man.

He says, I know your tribulation. I know your trouble. I know what you're going through.

I know what you're going through. I know you're hurting right now. He says I am

fully aware that you're going through it because I'm God, but I'm also fully aware of what

it feels like because I'm man. If you feel like you're dying I know what that feels like because I died.

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