Part 6 - It's a Trap - Logos Sermons

Scripture Introduction

Christ-Centered Sermons: Models of Redemptive Preaching Use for the Useless (Judges 6, 7, and 8)

An old Peanuts cartoon shows Lucy, Linus, and Charlie Brown lying on the grass and looking at the clouds. “What do you think you see, Linus?” asks Lucy. Linus points at the clouds and answers, “Well, those clouds up there look to me like the map of the British Honduras on the Caribbean. That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor. And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Stephen, I can see the apostle Paul standing there to one side.” Then Lucy asks, “What do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?” Says Charlie, “Well, I was going to say I saw a duckie and a horsie, but I changed my mind.”

Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Sermons: Models of Redemptive Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 41.

If you ever thought you might want to deliver one of John’s letters to one of the seven congregations, you might want to think again, especially about this letter to Pergamum. In this letter, John represents Yeshua as a potential judge against his own body. Yeshua, through John, speaks of a possible coming judgment—first upon false teachers, and then upon those who know but do nothing about it.

His tone is sharp, if not angry. There is a sickness running through this congregation. And the problem, is the sickness is being presented as a cure and the people are buying it faster than it can be sold.

Twice in this one letter Yeshua refers to himself as the one who has the two edged sword coming out of his mouth. He declares that he will come and make war with those offering a cure that is really a poison and with those who do nothing to stop it.

These statements about Yeshua as a warrior and as a judge are meant to call us to attention. To pay attention to what we hold to be true. John wants God’s people to realize that to hold to false teaching is to declare open warfare on Yeshua and that there comes a time when we must take the truth to struggle.

Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Sermons: Models of Redemptive Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 91.

Ha-foke bah Hebrew

Ha-foke bah English

Revelation 2:12–17 TLV

To the angel of Messiah’s community in Pergamum write: “Thus says the One who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know where you live—where satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to hold firm to My name, and you did not deny your faith in Me even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where satan resides. “But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who was teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before Bnei-Yisrael, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then! If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. To the one who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone—and written on the stone a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Revelation 2:12-

The sound was unmistakable. The voice on the other end of the phone was struggling to say each syllable of my name, “Ra-bbi Mi-ch-ael.” I knew the voice, a young lady from our youth ministry, and I knew that terrible sound of a heart stricken with grief. “Melissa, what is wrong? Are you okay? Are you in danger?”

She did not say a word but just released a series of gut wrenching sobs followed by the sound of her releasing the dam of tears she had been holding back for as long she could. I asked again, “What is wrong? Talk to me?” By this time, Lauren had joined the call.

As she forced back the tears, we heard her say, “But, he said that God told him it was okay?” What are you talking about? Who told you that? She released more tears. I knew this pain was more than heartache, someone had told her in the name of God that something she knew was wrong was right. Who was this false teacher. What did he say to deceiver her. What had happened.

Slowly she started to utter words. They forged there way through tears, rivers of tears. At first, all I could make out was “worship leader” and “it’s okay” and “sex.” It was hard to understand but I pressed in and asked, “Did the worship leader say it was okay for you to have sex?” She responded and said, “He told me he loved me, he told me that he was going to marry me, he told me that the Bible never says we have to have a ceremony to be married, we just needed to be intimate with each other, that was marriage and that one day he was going to have the ceremony but not now.”

My hand hung low. I could not believe it. She then said, “And now, he said that he does not feel like it is God’s will for us to be together and he broke it off with me? Why did I ever let him convince me? Why did I do this when I knew it was wrong?

I can’t stand moments like this in ministry. These are some of the hardest to heal. The pain and hurt runs deep and usually takes years, not months to work through. Though I can’t stand when things like this happen, I understand why they happen.

We all know what it is like to close our eyes to the truth in order to open our eyes to an easy pleasure. We all know how hard it can be to take the truth to struggle, to speak up on behalf of the truth when it might threaten the status quo or upset current relationships even though we know that not doing so runs against all we hold sacred and dear. Sometimes it just seems easier to let things slide, to convince ourselves, “it is not that bad.”

Whether we abandon what is true for the sake of pleasure, or out of fear, or in some attempt to prove we are tolerant and accepting, the end result is usually the same: more regret, more stress, more heartache and pain.

That is why the Scriptures from Moses to Revelation, warn God’s people to not abandon God’s truth. There is a clarion call from the days of Moses in the Wilderness to this 3rd congregation in Pergamom that God stands as a judge against false prophets, teachers and their teachings and He call believers in every century to take the truth to struggle when it is be challenged.

At one point an evil enchanter deceives the knight into thinking that the fair lady, the body of the Messiah, has been unfaithful to him. So he leaves her and strikes out on his own. As he makes his way, he finds another lovely young lady, with whom he comes to a quiet, secluded repose under a foreboding tree.

The knight then hears someone shout a cry of warning, telling him that he should flee lest he should buy pleasures from a lurking lady at the cost of his life. At first the knight is frightened by this cry, but then he is overcome by the beauty of the lady, who is a witch in disguise.

Because Yeshua judges false teaching, we should declare Messiah in difficult situations ()

Then the tree speaks to him, telling him that he was formerly a man, but a witch disguised as a beautiful young maid transformed him into a tree. The tree tells him that though he is a tree, the heat and the cold pain him, and he relates how one day he happened to see the witch as she really was: A filthy foule old woman I did vew [view], That ever to have toucht [touched] her, I did deadly rew [rue].

When he recoiled from the witch in horror, she turned him into a tree. The point that Spenser is making is simple: false teaching always promises, but it never pays in good only evil. False teaching disguises itself as something attractive, refreshing, rewarding. But underneath the false exterior, it is filthy and foul, and those who have indulged in it know only regret it.

Because Yeshua judges false teaching, we should declare Messiah to difficult people ()

Because Yeshua judges false teaching, we should declare Messiah despite the difficulties ()

We must take the truth to struggle in the public square ().

Read and describe the historical context of this letter from Yeshua to the believers at Pergamum.

Revelation 2:12–13 TLV

To the angel of Messiah’s community in Pergamum write: “Thus says the One who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know where you live—where satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to hold firm to My name, and you did not deny your faith in Me even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where satan resides.

Pergamum was the seat, the center, the capital, the first Roman world center of idolatrous worship.

The first city to win the “bid” to host the worship of Caesar Augustus.

The chief city for the worship of all the great Greek gods.

The kind of city that new how to have a religious party.

Yeshua is the judge, not the one with a knife tongue. He is the judge not the Roman proconsul.

The city of Pergamum the Pro-consul was famous for his two-edged sword of judgment. It was the sign of his power over life and death.

Yeshua says he has the final authority over a death beyond death. Not just the death of the body but the second death itself (cf. Rev 19).

Of all the letters only this one is concerned about “where you live” over “what you have done.”

In light of the certainty of Yeshua’s divine judgment on this place, how must we respond?

Explain: In light of the certainty of Yeshua’s divine judgment on this place, how must we respond? a-d

Revelation 2:13 TLV

I know where you live—where satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to hold firm to My name, and you did not deny your faith in Me even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where satan resides.

Those who don’t know his name: We must convince them (13a, d)

There are those who don’t know what they don’t know and those who know what they don’t know.

Pergamum was mainly full of people who did not know what they did not know because the Gospel was not mainstream.

Pergamum had some who also knew what they did not know and chose to remain closed to it.

The believers were ready to convince people of the truth of Yeshua.

Holding fast to His name is not gentle like holding a Teddy Bear.

Holding fast to His name is an aggressive act like someone taking your Teddy Bear From You.

What was the Name? The Name was Jesus, Yeshua, Yeahsoos.

Those who are antagonist to his name: We must not deny him (13b).

We know two things about Antipas:

Martyred under Domitian’s Rule.

Received the same honorary title as Yeshua: Faithful Witness

We know two things about the Believers

TheyHad Personal Faith: your faith.

They Had Commitment to to This Faith: not deny

They Had Personal Faith: your faith in me.

Those who are fed up with the hypocrites: We must be a faithful witness (13c)

We know two things about Antipas:

Martyred under Domitian’s Rule.

Received the same honorary title as Yeshua: Faithful Witness

Illustrate: Be tolerant; just don't be tolerant.

I think it is easy to imagine that old Antipas was just a closed-minded intolerant fundamentalist hard liner. But I think Antipas would say hold on, wait a minute I was taught “Be tolerant; just don't be tolerant” in the public square.

Let me explain what I mean by this little maxim about taking the truth to struggle in the public square.

There were Two brilliant thinkers one named Voltaire and the other Lessing proposed and a definition for “Tolerance.” But, they meant two different things by this one word.

See Voltaire made a classic statement that used to be our definition of tolerance, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This definition of tolerance assumed (1) objective truth exists, and we should pursue it (2) people will disagree over the truth claim thinking the other is wrong (3) that the best chance for uncovering the truth is by an unhindered exchange of ideas not by coercion or force, by convincing.

But Voltaire’s answer really did not float well in the water. The horrible bloodshed of the Crusades, the thirty year war of 1618-48 which destroyed Germany and wiped out 1/3 of its population, the ongoing religious wars on the British Isles and in Europe made it seem like people would only use force and coercion to prove objective truth.

Imagine the earliest believers: Small, embattled groups surrounded by an alien culture with its own established language, literature, culture, civic institutions—and, most powerful of all, the rich intellectual tradition of Greek philosophy. How would the early church defend its faith in the resurrection of Jesus over against the highly developed philosophies of the day?

So the brilliant German philosopher Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. He put forward a parable that gave a new definition for Tolerance.

In this parable, there are three representatives Saladin a Muslim, Nathan a Jew, and Christian Knight Templar. Saladin asks Nathan, “You are so wise; now tell me, I entreat, what human faith, what theological law strikes you as the truest, the best.” Nathan then tells a parable about a Father who had an opal ring of un-surpassing beauty and imbued with magical powers so that the one who wore it was loved by God and by human beings.

This Father had three sons and at one point in time or another he had promised the one ring to all three sons. When the father came close to the age that he would die, he realized he could not make good on his promise. So he had a jeweler make two exact copies of the ring. They were perfect matches.

Now on his deathbed, the man called each of his sons individually to his side and gave him a ring. The man died, and only then did his sons discover that each of the sons had a ring. They began to argue about which one now possessed the original magic ring.

Wanting to resolve their dispute, the brothers ask a wise judge to settle the issue, but his ruling refuses to discriminate:

If each of you in truth received his ring

Straight from his father’s hand, let each believe

His own to be the true and genuine ring. - Nathan the Wise, p. 252.53

The judge urges the brothers to abandon their quest to determine which ring is the magic original. Each brother should instead accept his ring as if it were the original and in that conviction live a life of moral goodness. This would bring honor both to their father and to God.

This made sense to Lessing’s audience and it answered the question, “How should believers defend faith in Yeshua in the public square?” The answer, “It’s okay if you privately think your faith is the best as long as you live a decent life and let other also think their’s is the best. There is no need to defend your faith anymore.”

In that moment, Lessing forever changed culture by changing the definition of one word: Tolerance from “accepting the existence of different views” to “acceptance of different views,” from recognizing other people’s right to have different beliefs to actually accepting another person’s position as being true, or at least as true as your own.

T “accepting the existence of different views” to “acceptance of different views,” from recognizing other people’s right to have different beliefs or practices to accepting the differing views of other people, is subtle in form, but massive in substance

This shift from “accepting the existence of different views” to “acceptance of different views,” from recognizing other people’s right to have different beliefs or practices to accepting the differing views of other people, is subtle in form, but massive in substance

The Intolerance of Tolerance The Old Tolerance and the New

This shift from “accepting the existence of different views” to “acceptance of different views,” from recognizing other people’s right to have different beliefs or practices to accepting the differing views of other people, is subtle in form, but massive in substance

D. A. Carson, The Intolerance of Tolerance (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012), 3.

Since the days of Lessing, in the West, we have been told by the public square that we don’t have to deny our faith in Yeshua, that we should be faithful witnesses and live a good life but don’t try to convince other that Yeshua is the way, the truth, and the life.

Apply: We who also proclaim the Word of God in the public square must be ready to convince, not deny, and live faithfully to defend the Gospel.

Because Yeshua judges false teaching, we must proclaim the Word of God to defend the truth ().

I will not let a rigorous discussion on the truth be foreclosed upon simply by someone throwing up the word “intolerant.” iIf we really believer there is something objectively truth, like 2 + 2 is objectively true, then of course I want to convince other people of this. Why would I want someone to spend there whole life believing 2+2=63? I can no more deny the objective truth of math than I can deny the objective truth of the Gospel so I will not let the one word “intolerant” shut down an honest conversation about the truth.

I could not imagine that if my child said to me, “Abba, it is so intolerant of you to tell me that I am wrong for thinking 2+2=63.” And then for me to say, “Okay, I concede that is intolerant and you are right it is 63 and I am right it 4.” If I parented like that, someone would lock me up and throw away the key.

I understand that what I am saying runs against the grain of today’s world much like it runs against the grain for Prager U to take on Google and Youtube for suppressing their videos. Why is Prager U suppressed because they do not hold to the new view of tolerance but the old view where objective truth requires free speech and public discourse.

You don’t need to be the brainchild behind a video social platform like Prager U to defend the Gospel - because we all have a life that exists in the public square. When a friend at your work expresses doubt about faith in Yeshua, you need to be ready to convince them by the word of the Scriptures and the word of your testimony but you also need to show them by living as a faithful witness and not denying who Yeshua is by your words or by your actions. Mothers and Fathers, when your children are discouraged about their faith, when they go through real doubts and periods of unbelief, you must be there for them. Don’t shut them down and point your finger at them and tell them that you are not willing to have an open, honest discussion about the truth. Be respectful to their emerging thoughts and disagreements but also be ready to convince them of the Gospel and more than anything else don’t deny what you believe by living like you don’t believe it.

We all have our public square, our place where me must be prepared to convince, not deny, and be a faithful witness to the Gospel.

[When I think about how Yeshua will judge false teaching, my natural inclination is to think about those “outsiders” those out there in the public square but the hard reality is that Yeshua calls us to not just take the truth to struggle in the public square but also in our own sacred halls.]

We must take the truth to struggle in our sacred halls ()

Explain: There is a real need to “pay attention” to our doctrine.

Revelation 2:14 TLV

“But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who was teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before Bnei-Yisrael, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

When others abandon sound doctrine.

Revelation 2:14 TLV

“But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who was teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before Bnei-Yisrael, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

In verse 14, Yeshua says some, not all, but some among you have abandoned sound sound doctrine to their own demise. In v. 14 when he says “they hold to” the teaching of…it is the same idea as a before. This is their new teddy bear that they had developed an attachment to.

Some had latched onto a teaching about spiritual supplements.

Others had latched onto a teaching about new moral freedoms.

False teaching about cultural compromises.

It is my opinion, that the congregation at Pergamum was being taught to minimize sin for the sake of tolerance. The believers were not being asked to abandon their faith just to be more open to amending or supplementing their views to accommodate a greater culture. Just add a little bit here and there.

Rabbi Paul warned in that when it comes to false teaching, “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump of dough.”

In this case the image is more frightening. The reference is to where the prophet Bilaam discovers that God will not change his mind about blessing his people but he then wonders, “What would it take to get God’s people to change their minds about being blessed by their God alone?” And the answer came to him “a meal” and “better moral freedoms.” Unlike God who did not waiver in his covenant to Israel, Israel quickly went after the pagan meal and offer for a more lax sexual morality.

We can understand why God’s plague broke out taking the lives of 24,000 people. God had just road blocked Israel from a curse and within a matter of moments Israel acts like their God is second fiddle to the gods of the nations.

Our day is no different, people don’t abandon Christianity they abandon sound doctrine while sitting in very excellent congregation. They publically applaud with the choir but privately turn from truth to lies that appear more satisfying but we are called to struggle with the truth when people abandon sound doctrine.

Being prepared for people to abandon what is sound requires us to anticipate others teaching what is false. We must also struggle with the truth when others honor false teachers.

When others honor false teachers.

Revelation 2:15 TLV

Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Notice that the parallelism of v. 14 and v. 15. In other words, the Nicolaitans are just the most current manifestation of false teachers that have existed since there was such a thing as doctrine from God’s mouth.

We all love teachers who tell us what we want to hear and who make us feel good about ourselves by not requiring us to question beliefs or practices with which we have grown comfortable. Many people flock to one type of teacher or another because that person makes them feel happy or satisfied with themselves. Because people are apt to listen to such things, there is never a lack of false teachers.

Not only must we defend the truth when others abandon sound doctrine and when others honor false teachers, but also

When others think that grace removes responsibility.

Revelation 2:16 TLV

Repent then! If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

In v. 16, Yeshua says that an attachment to false teaching is an act of treason that will provoke immediate action. With the background of the incident of Baal Peor in mind from , Yeshua is portrayed here like a second Pinchas. He will not be calling a court session, he will not be calling in witness, he will act decisively and immediately in judgment.

I don’t want to pretend to know exactly what it means for Him “to make war” with people who abandon sound doctrine but I know it is not pretty. I know he acted this way, decisively and immediately, when Ananias and Saphira lied to the Holy Spirit and immediately their soul left their body.

I do know what it means to repent in this context. It means to go back to sound doctrine, back to the truth that there is but One Father over all and one Lord Yeshua the Messiah and One Holy Spirit, that there is One body made up of Jews and Gentiles, and that there is a holiness from the Lord that we will give an account for when he appears a gain.

I know at a minimum it means we are called to take the truth to struggle when people abandon sound doctrine, flock to false teachers and believe that grace removes all responsibility for sound doctrine.

Illustrate:

On one occasion, my wife and I got to dine at a very nice restaurant in Dallas. After dinner was over the waitress brought a tray of their finest deserts. I knew right away which one I wanted, so I reached out to the trey and said, “Ma’am I will take this one right here.”

She looked at me and smiled and said, “Sir, these are not real they are made of wax. It was quite embarrassing to me, reaching out for something made of wax thinking that it was real!

I had mistaken something artificial for something that was real. But, when the real thing came out boy was I happy. It’s possible to have an artificial congregation that that looks real. It’s possible to be an artificial Christian but look real.

Apply: It’s possible that there is a lot of artificial wax in the sacred hallways. It is very possible that the place the truth needs to be struggled with the most is amongst those who claim to know the truth the most.

There are a raft of issues that call for addressing within the sacred hallways and by those who frequent them.

When messianic congregations are becoming more-and-more indebted to rabbinic theology rather than the sound doctrine in the name of the doctrine of “unity and relativity” we must struggle with the truth.

When religious leaders fleece the flock for private jets, expensive cars, high end homes, in the name of the doctrine of prosperity are we really supposed to abandon biblical stewardship for biblical prosperity.

When congregations abuse their pastors and leaders through slander, gossip, hate speech in the name of the doctrine of “keeping him humble.”

When a number of Christian leaders and politicians say they are personally against abortion but will participate in legislation that defunds states that are pro-choice. After all, isn’t this just the doctrine of the separation of church and state.

In the business world should believers be able to abandon doctrinally sound ethics to make a buck by exploiting migrant workers and there lack of U.S. citizen status. Should the doctrine of “you get what yours and I get what is mine” really trump the age old doctrine founded in the garden of eden that says, “We are all made in the image of God” and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity because of that image.

When a leading and influential Christians psychiatrist calls upon wives to accept and participate in pornography in the bedroom in the name of the doctrine of “genetic determinism” (men are genetically predisposed to porn so embrace it don’t suppress it) are we supposed to just abandon sound moral ethical doctrine.

In those situation, I do not believe we are supposed to just succumb to the herd mentality that honors false teachers. I don’t think we are supposed to ever forget what really matters and what is really at stake when we abandon sound doctrine we are declaring an all out war on the Messiah.

On one occasion, I walked into a hotel lobby and saw a bowl of fruit set out for guests. I decided to grab an apple. I bit into it only to discover that it wasn’t real. It was wax. It was quite embarrassing to bite into a wax apple thinking that it was real and then not know quite what to do with it! Do you put it back with teeth marks on it? Do you steal it and take it with you?

How many heads would turn and mouths hang wide open if in those situations believers were to say, “I can’t do this because to do so would violate the Word of God”? I will not tell you that such a struggle with the truth will meet with everyone’s approval. I cannot promise you that others will leave the false teachers they cling to or be convinced. But I can promise you that Yeshua will be honored by those who stand for him, and there will be souls safe in eternity because they have witnessed sacrificial faithfulness that is a beacon of truth.

I had mistaken something artificial for something that was real. It’s possible to have artificial church that looks real. It’s possible to be an artificial Christian but look real.

How many heads would turn and mouths hang wide open if in those situations believers were to say, “I can’t do this because to do so would violate the Word of God”? I will not tell you that such a proclamation of God’s Word will meet with everyone’s approval. I cannot promise you that others will even listen. But I can promise you that God will be honored by those who stand for him, and there will be souls safe in eternity because they have witnessed sacrificial faithfulness that is a beacon of truth. Knowing this, may you and I be motivated to say with Martin Luther, “ ‘My conscience is captive to the Word of God,’ and I will stand for the truth even when others do not listen.”

even when others do not listen.”

And I know this is true because of what comes next.

Taking the truth to struggle receives a great reward ().

Explain: What makes it all worth it? What makes the struggle with the truth in the public square and the sacred hallways worth the speaking up? Yeshua promises the overcome a better provision than the food of idols and a better satisfaction than immorality.

Revelation 2:17 TLV

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. To the one who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone—and written on the stone a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

We are Given a Better Provision, the Hidden Manna.

In the days of Jeremiah, the sacred Ark that housed the Ten Words, the Jar of Manna and Aaron’s staff was taken away and hidden. To this day, no-one knows its location except the Lord.

The Hidden Manna is a reference to this jar of manna that was stored in the ark from the days of Moses. It represents something powerful. These were the day s of Israel’s Manna economy. You remember how it came about? Israel got hungry and greedy, they were sick and tired of the manna and wanted the food of Egypt. God sent them quail until they puked it out. They got greedy for a provision other than God’s and then God said store the manna in a jar

To receive the hidden manna is to go back to the pleasure of the wilderness economy. To being provided for by God. A simple provision but a reliable and satiating provision.

To the one willing to struggle with the truth in the public square and sacred hallways there is the reward of the elegant, lovely, simple, satiating provision of the Word of God in Messiah Yeshua.

Better Pleasure of the White Stone

Scholars say there are at least twelve different ways this one metaphor might be interpreted. And, I was taught in seminary that you need to be smart enough to admit when you know what you don’t know. I don’t know exactly which metaphor this relates to but let me give you the one I think is the most plausible.

We are told that in the ancient Roman World if a gladiator fought valiantly and won the favor of the crowds and the emperor, he would be awarded a white stone with his name upon it with a new honorary title. This stone meant that he was free from the gladiatorial games, he was now able to retire in freedom and under the protection of the Emperor.

This makes the most sense to me because it appears that Antipas received his white stone and it had his name upon it but also a new name, an honorary title that know one knew except Yeshua, “Faithful Witness.” His new name, reflected his Master who bore the same name. What a thrill, that to those who struggle with the truth would here a new name called over them that is also called over the Master Messiah Yeshua who they refused to abandon.

Apply and Illustrate: Notice the offer of the promise is to all but each individual must respond on his or her own.

Notice he speaks to all the communities. Not just Pergamum. All the communities through all of time but he speaks to the individual in each of those communities “to the one who overcomes. There is both an individual and corporate responsibility.

Idolatry arises from a need to have our needs met in some way. False teaching always offers for that provision as long as we are willing to bow one knee to an idol and one to Yeshua. Here Yeshua promises to meet those needs in a much better way.

Immorality arises from a longing for intimacy and validation. Here Yeshua promises a better intimacy and stronger validation. It is intimacy with God in his Kingdom and the validation of a new name, possibly one of the very names of honor that Yeshua himself bears.

Illustrate

Conclusion

IN EDMUND SPENSER’S ALLEGORICAL POEM from the 16th century called The Faerie Queene, Spenser depicts the body of Messiah as a lovely lady who is accompanied by a Knight, who corresponds in many ways to the individual believer.

At one point an evil enchanter deceives the knight into thinking that the fair lady, the body of the Messiah, has been unfaithful to him. So he leaves her and strikes out on his own. As he makes his way, he finds another lovely young lady, with whom he comes to a quiet, secluded repose under a foreboding tree.

The knight then hears someone shout a cry of warning, telling him that he should flee lest he should buy pleasures from a lurking lady at the cost of his life. At first the knight is frightened by this cry, but then he is overcome by the beauty of the lady, who is a witch in disguise.

Then the tree speaks to him, telling him that he was formerly a man, but a witch disguised as a beautiful young maid transformed him into a tree. The tree tells him that though he is a tree, the heat and the cold pain him, and he relates how one day he happened to see the witch as she really was: A filthy foule old woman I did vew [view], That ever to have toucht [touched] her, I did deadly rew [rue].

When he recoiled from the witch in horror, she turned him into a tree. The point that Spenser is making is simple: false teaching always promises, but it never pays in good only evil. False teaching disguises itself as something attractive, refreshing, rewarding. But underneath the false exterior, it is filthy and foul, and those who have indulged in it know only regret it.

Hamilton Jr., James M.. Revelation (p. 85). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

At one point an evil enchanter deceives the knight into thinking that the fair lady, the body of the Messiah, has been unfaithful to him. So he leaves her and strikes out on his own. As he makes his way, he finds another lovely young lady, with whom he comes to a quiet, secluded repose under a foreboding tree.

The knight then hears someone shout a cry of warning, telling him that he should flee lest he should buy pleasures from a lurking lady at the cost of his life. At first the knight is frightened by this cry, but then he is overcome by the beauty of the lady, who is a witch in disguise.

Then the tree speaks to him, telling him that he was formerly a man, but a witch disguised as a beautiful young maid transformed him into a tree. The tree tells him that though he is a tree, the heat and the cold pain him, and he relates how one day he happened to see the witch as she really was: A filthy foule old woman I did vew [view], That ever to have toucht [touched] her, I did deadly rew [rue].

When he recoiled from the witch in horror, she turned him into a tree. The point that Spenser is making is simple: false teaching always promises, but it never pays in good only evil. False teaching disguises itself as something attractive, refreshing, rewarding. But underneath the false exterior, it is filthy and foul, and those who have indulged in it know only regret it.

But not all hope is lost. In the poem, the lady who is a symbol of the believers in the body of the Messiah, does not give up on the knight. She goes looking for him and as she looks for him she meets a lion, who, rather than an adversary is her protector and champion. A lion that tells the lady that he is on the hunt for a deceptive witch. With the lion, the lady sets out to find the knight.

In God’s great mercy, the Lion of the tribe of Judah is indeed the protector and champion of every congregation of the Body of Messiah. Do not flirt with the teaching of the Nicolaitans no matter what name they go by today. False teachers always make promises that they know something no one else knows, they have knowledge no one else has a freedom you really crave. But like the great whore Babylon, it is a golden goblet on the outside and inside it is full of dead mens bones. Their promise do not keep. That is why we are called to struggle with the truth in the public square and sacred hallways.

The words of Yeshua are meant to remove the false beauty of the witch, so that we see sin as it is. It is ugly, vile, disgusting. It promises nourishment and intimacy, but what it delivers is only a cheap imitation of real blessings. Sin never satisfies. Do you have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? Fight the good fight. Overcome. Feed your soul on the manna Jesus gives. Enjoy the intimacy he promises. He knows you as you are, and he loves you. There is no love better than his.

Hamilton Jr., James M.. Revelation (pp. 91-92). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Hamilton Jr., James M.. Revelation (p. 91). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Part 6 - It's a Trap

Sermon Introduction

Introduction

Principle Consistent Outline

Principle Consistent Outline

Part 6 - It's a Trap

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Sermon Introduction

Introduction

Principle Consistent Outline

Principle Consistent Outline