Destroy Your Idols

Introduction

Gospel presentation- different place because this letter is addressed to the believers.

Fill out sheets as we go along.- the answers will be on a slide towards the end, but are also in your bible!

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: 13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me,, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna., I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Context

We continue this week through our walk through Revelation and the 7 churches. This week, we turn our eyes to the church at Pergamum, having the previous weeks looked at Ephesus (the pharasitical or lost love church) and Smyrna (the persecuted church). As a reminder to you, of these 7 churches, only two did not receive a critique or judgment from Christ (Smyrna and Philadelphia), the other 5 either had something wrong with them that needed to be addressed or nothing right with them at all.

It’s important to remember that these letters came from Jesus Christ Himself, who gave the apostle John in a vision and instructed John to send these letters to the churches. We understand that in biblical books of prophecy (which revelation is), that the number 7 is often used as a representative number to show whole or completeness, so as Jesus is sending these letters it is not just to the 7 particular churches, but to all churches through all of time. So, Jesus is telling us, Lafayette Baptist Church, I have a message for you, so listen up!

The city of Pergamum, much like the previous two cities was also a very rich town, but in turn a very wicked town as well. This town served as a sort of epicenter to multiple pagan cults offering worship to many Pagan deities, especially that to Zeus, Caeser, Dionysus, and Ascelephius (the healing God, which was represented by a snake). A quick side note, where I shared with you information in the past that I now understand better from this week’s study; the serpent sign on ambulances, some do represent the serpent on the pole that that represented healing with Moses and the Israelites ( I thought it was most, but turns out that’s not true), but most that we see with the two serpents going up a single non-cross pole call back to the healing Ascelephius, a symbol of a pagan deity. We see this symbol often.

So, worship to false God’s was a way of life for all living in this city, and to take a stand against worship to false God’s would have quite difficult and a big sacrifice. We as believers now and forever more are called to do just that, to put away the things that want to be worshiped with, near, or over God and instead focus our love, devotion, and admiration towards Him completely. God isn’t interested in sharing His worship with anything or anyone else. As He stated very clearly in the 10 commandments, He is jealous for His own worship, so He takes His worship very very seriously.

Back then, their false God’s (aka idols) were both hidden and obvious. Today, we tend not to have as many obvious idols, but we have a great many hidden idols. In fact, most of them are right under our noses and we have to be diligent to see them and remove them from our lives. One could easily argue that The Church in the United States or churches in the United States have more of these hidden idols than any other churches that ever have existed. So, as Christ is calling us, let’s take a look at Pergamum and a look at ourselves and see where it is that Christ is calling us to step away from those idols and step towards Himself. As we dive in,From the text today I want you to apply these truths to yourself and our church as Christ calls us to Destroy your idols.

Message

Christ knows your culture

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: 13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me,, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

Christ begins this address just as He does to the other churches, by stating who the letter is to and a description of Himself that relates to the message that He is sending to the church. Notice in your Bible that it says the He (Jesus) has the sharp, double edged sword. This sword is a representation of the Word of God and it’s ability to separate the believers from the world (from the non-believers, people who do not follow Jesus). These non-believers are condemned for their sin (a sword of death), in turn; the sword for believers is sword of salivation for the conquerors; for those that call Jesus Lord. So, Jesus is saying, listen up church at Pergamum! I (the one who will separate the sinful doomed for destruction and the forgiven bound for glory) am speaking to you. I know where you are, I know your situation. I know that the way your city is, the culture inside of it (what influences everyone) is not an easy place to be. It is very difficult, I know this, in fact the city you live is an epicenter of evil and false worship. Despite this, despite this difficulty many of you are holding close to my name; you have the most important things right, even the face of the brutal death of your brother and my faithful servant Antipas’ death, many of you do not deny me.

Can you imagine having this kind of faith. That even though you saw the crowds pull out and murder a brother or sister Christian in cold blood just because they were a Christian; still you remained loyal to your Savior, to God. This is despite the fact, that with all the evil and wickedness it is hard to see or remember your awesome and powerful and Holy king. The darkness seems to be all around, covering you up, enveloping you, aiming for your destruction and drawing you in with little secrets and lies. This was the life of the believers in Pergamum. Despite this situation, notice Christ is not giving them a pass. He isn’t saying, I know it’s really hard for you right now Pergamum, so I’m going to give you a pass from time to time because It’s just so hard! No, Christ is saying, “ I know it’s hard, but stay strong.”

Brothers and sisters, the same is true for us as well. Christ knows our culture, he knows what we are living in, he knows what our trials are. He also knows what You are living in, what You are going through, and What Your trails are. It’s clear here, with this important matter of following God, with faith in Christ, and once a believer seeking to follow Him more and more as your life goes on; Christ doesn’t give us doesn’t give you a pass. Christ doesn’t say, I know you live in Hollywood where may of the terrible things of your culture often come from; so you get a pass on this whole faith in Christ thing. Christ does not and will not say, I know you are living in Lafayette, a relatively poor and very small town; so I’m going to give you a pass because so many things are so difficult for you. No! Do not be deceived. No One, No one, No-Body is exempt! You must turn your heart, turn your faith, turn your mind to Christ! No exceptions! Christ knows your culture, he knows your situation. He knows everything about You. Yet, He is still calling each person to complete loyalty to Him that puts all other things second. Let me say that again, ALL things aside. This brings us to our next point;

The next truth to apply as Jesus calls us to destroy our idols is that: Christ knows your idols

14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Up to this point, Jesus has been commending the church at Pergamum. Then, He shares something. But…. I have a few things against you. There are some of you that are holding out on me, trying to have it both ways. There are some of you that worship false God’s…… You are trying to worship a false God and Me, and that is impossible; because to worship something means that you value it above all other things.

In this section, Christ draws their memory and awareness back to what happened to Israel in the book of Numbers, chapter 22-24. Here, a false prophet (Balaam) was hired by Balak (the king of Moab) to convince the Israelites to take on false God’s and worship. Not being deceived at first, instead Israel fell pray to a scheme by Balak and Balaam, to get the people of Israel to receive as wives the women of Moab. And sure enough, with time the false god’s of the wives became false god’s that were actively worshiped in Israel. So, time came and day by day, generation by generation year by year the people fell further away from the true God and grew closer to the false God’s. Jesus is telling Pergamum, you too are doing this, you are worshiping many god’s. These false god’s, you are worshiping them and even as a part of your false worship to them you are involved in sexual immorality. So, listen up church; Repent, otherwise I (Christ( will come to you and will fight against you, I will destroy you with the sword of my mouth, the sword of The Word and those people will be destroyed.

Just to be clear, and you have heard me say this many times and you will hear me say it many more times. An idol is anything in your life that is more important to you than your relationship with God. Many things are idols, idols are all around us, and they are often hidden right under our noses. I’d even go so far as to say that we all have idols. You see, There is an old preacherism or saying that preachers have about idols and ourselves. That is, “Our hearts are idol factories.” We love idols so much, that we often turn good things that God has given us, into idols. Meaning, we love the gifts that God gives more than the gift giver (God). Examples that hit home all to often can be: Family, family is a good thing but it is an idol when your family is more important to you than God is. Jobs, having a job is good thing but it is an idol when your job or work is more important to you than God. Security, being safe and secure is a good thing; but it is an idol when it is more important to you than God. Perhaps the most common idol I come across (and I have to attack these idols as well myself) is in fact myself and my own pride. This means we have to offer forgiveness to those that have wronged or continue to wrong you. I see this often in our town (as I listen to our hurts and the hurts of others around), where something that happened a long time ago still (many years later) affects how think and act towards and talk about and treat others. What keeps us and them from forgiving and moving on? That same sin; pride. This is a hard truth and there are more examples of common idols than we have time to name any day.

This rings true for everyone. Our hearts love finding and making new idols. What we are called to do as believers, as lovers of God is find what those idols are a get rid of them! Destroy them, repent of them and turn towards God. This is something that our natural selves do not want to do. In fact, on our own it is impossible. Only through God the Holy Spirit empowering us to turn to Christ and replace false worship to idols with worship to Him can destroying the idols be done. Believer, Christ knows your idols. He knows what you value over Himself. He is calling you to put them aside and turn into a new deeper relationship with Him. Repent of those idols, and put your worship, your time, your energy, your devotion into something that matters. At the end of the day, just like the church at Pergamum, Christ knows how hard it is to do that, He knows. BUT, just because it’s hard doesn’t mean He is giving you a pass, He by know means will ever tell you that it’s ok to have this idol for now, just do better later. NO! He says, put it aside! I care about, I am jealous for the worship that I deserve and I created you, yes you so that you would do just that; worship and glorify me. So, child of God, do that. Because Christ knows your idols, and He is calling you to destroy them, to put them down at the level they are supposed to be, which is below God. Yes, they may be important and worthy of your time, attention, and energy, but they will never and should get as much time, attention, and energy as your relationship with God should.

The next truth to apply as Christ is calling you to destroy your idols is that: Christ rewards the conquerors

17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna., I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

So, listen up Pergamum, listen up LaFayette Baptist, listen up churches and believers everywhere. Hear what God is saying to us, to you. Jesus says, the one who conquers, the person who puts aside their idols, the person wo puts them (idols) behind God ( the person who makes and, and treats, and acts like, and thinks like God is the most important thing in your life) this person is the conqueror. The conquerors are the people who worship God above all other things first and foremost. To these people, to the conquers, He says He will reward them.

First, He says He will give some of the hidden manna, at the marriage supper of the lamb (which we read about in Rev 19:9) this will be given, the manna; which in the days of old for the Israelites was what God gave to them every day to feed them. Bread, food, from Heaven that was fulling, sustaining, refreshing, and everything that they needed. He says he will give a white stone with a new name inscribed on it. We don’t know exactly what this is, or what it means, or what the purpose of the name will be; the best we can do is make an educated guess. However, we do know that if God is giving it as a special reward to conquerors, then it must be very special and very important. One theory I have heard, is that this stone includes your name and invitation to the marriage supper. Let me read from you about this celebration, in Revelation Chapter 19,

verses 1-9 says, “19 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true[a] and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.3 A second time they said,Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever!4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying,Amen! Hallelujah! 5 A voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great! 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he[b] said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.

Brothers and sisters, you aren’t going to want to miss that. You don’t want anyone you know to miss this. Unfortunately, a great many people will. Most will, only a few will get to experience the marriage feast. Those that will, are believers and followers of Jesus. Everyone who is not, will only know hell and eternal torture and separation from God. So, believer, we have to do our part. If you love someone, if you really care about them; then you will share Jesus with them. Without the knowledge of Christ given to them, without the gospel presented to them, it is impossible to respond to God and be forgiven. So, beloved as we are loving God, this motivates and moves us to love others not only by good and kind works; but primarily by sharing the gospel with them and give them the opportunity to become disciples of Jesus. That’s our churches mission. To love God, love people, and make disciples. It’s the reason mankind was created, To love God, love people, and make disciples. It’s the reason you are alive; to love God, love people, and make disciples. It is the meaning and secret to life; to love God, love people, and make disciples.

Conclusion

Beloved, hear me; hear my heart. If you aren’t doing these things, something’s wrong. If we as a church aren’t doing these, something is wrong. Chronically and critically wrong. Brothers and sisters, Christ’s is calling us to destroy our idols. Remember, Christ knows your culture he knows what you have, will, and might go through and despite this and any “unfair hand” you may have or difficulty; still despite this Christ knows your idols and He is telling us He is telling you to get rid of them; because nothing deserves worship other than God. Those that do this, that seek Christ with trueness and faith can know that Christ rewards the conquerors. Conqueror the idols. Don’t try to have it two ways as those that received condemnation in Pergamum did. You cannot serve two God’s. It’s impossible. Many before you and many after you have and will try, and they have or all will fail. You can only serve one God, so put Him first; choose Him before all other things.

Right now, I want you all to contemplate this and pray through and about it. Take a few moments, think about the things that you choose over God. Think about why you do this and then think about the God that has never left you and is calling you into a deeper, fresher, and new relationship with Him.

In turn, also think about what we as a church body have loved over God himself; have worshiped over God Himself. As much as it hurts, I know and you know that there are a few. What have we loved doing over worshiping God, what have loved doing over come to Him in prayer and laying ourselves out before Him in humility. What have we loved over leading others to Him. All of this, so that He will receive more of the glory that He deserves.

As we contemplate this, I want to invite you; if you have not yet filled out your worksheet, the answers will be on the screen. Take a few moments to fill it out, consider it and the implications it has on us. Then, take a few moments in personal prayer about it. While you do this, the alter will be open and anyone who needs can come forward. Also, as you go through the week, continue to pray as we have done today, and if anything comes to mind, write it down on your worksheet. After this few moments Then, I will lead us in a prayer to God that He would remove any idols and false worship from each of our hearts.

· Give 4-5 minutes to fill out worksheet and for prayer.

· Lead a prayer

o Lord help our unbelief

o Help us find our idols as a church

o Help us find our idols as a people

o Holy Spirit move in us and make us see them and remove them

o Make our lives more about knowing and glorifying God in all that we do.

o Less and less of me and what I want and more and more of You and what You want.