Battle Plan: Pergamum

City Intel

Strong Christian Persecution

How do we prepare for hostility?

Romans 12:9–21 ESV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Witchcraft was Prevalent

Modern day application:

Birmingham

Books Beans and Candles Store

sells occult supplies

Offers witchcraft classes

Montgomery

Coven of the live oak

post about cursing people in the Bible belt

Horoscopes

Babylonians started => Egyptians picked it up => Greeks Modernized it

Ouija Boards

Boards to talk with the dead and spirits

Owned by Hasbro

We have made messing with the satanic a game

First advertised as a game in 1891

Leviticus 19:31 ESV

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

Acts 19:15–17 ESV

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Medical magic Healing

Snakes were central in it

How are snakes portrayed in Revelation?

As wicked

Revelation 20:2

People were looking towards satan for help in times of great need.

How does this end?

death

distracted from Christ

How does this look today?

Steve Jobs practiced Buddhism and tried to treat his cancer by Buddhism

I have an uncle with a brain tumor who turned to Buddhism

Alter to Zeus

Sacrifices around the clock

Looked like a throne (Possibly the throne of satan referred to)

Interestingly Hitlers stage he spoke on looked like this alter.

How is this prevalent today?

Sin is pushed around the clock

Look at the sexual content and language in movies, television, and music

Dionysus Worship

god of wine, merry-making, and insanity

Sounds like a frat party

How do we see this today?

Pleasure over everything

I deserve to enjoy stuff (entitlement)

Is that what we see in the Bible?

Church Intel

Pros

Hold fast to Christ and did not deny faith

It appears as if most the church was strong in their faith, but had an individualistic view rather than a community view

False sects of teaching and leadership arose in the church

Possibly from a lack of church accountability and discipleship

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Antipas was a church leader

Possibly cooked in a bronze bull

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Count the cost

Possibly martyred for casting out demons

Helping people and doing what is good for them is not always popular

Why do people get hostile when you threaten their wickedness?

Cons

Some follow teachings of Balaam and the Nicolatians

Food, sexual immorality,and temple worship

They were mixing worldly practices with the church

Loosing heart of the Gospel for entertainment and comfort

Balaam caused 24,000 to die by plague because of the immorality the Israelites were led into (Numbers 25:9)

Untreated wickedness can spread quickly causing great harm.

Signs of a lack of church discipline and accountability

Training Camp

How to bear the two edge sword (v. 12)?

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

How do we use the word of God responsibly?

Church is like soccer not basketball

Mission Statement

Focus on building your faith strong, and as your faith becomes more established build up those around you.