Comeback 2 - Return

REVIEW the mistakes, then RETURN

· After a person REVIEWS his error, he is to RETURN to the place where the error began in order to proceed on the correct path.

Compare the 7 churches to today’s church –

· notice the similarities.

· We should heed the same counsel they received.

Jesus knows who YOU are, and Who HE Is

Revelation 2:12 NLT

12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

Sword = Word of God –

· to separate believers from the world, condemn world for sin.

· The church should speak the same Word of God in the same way that God said it = SHARP. A Word that “cuts through” the culture of the day in order to penetrate the hearts of men. Contrary to popular opinion, this form of delivery is not mean and cruel, but kind and compassionate, for it is a surgeon’s scalpel cutting away the disease that is weakening the church’s effectiveness to reach the world.

· The speaking of God’s Word must have a sharp edge to it, not dull and blunt. Compared to today’s modern “talks” that have little to no lasting positive effects on the lives of the hearers.

Jesus Knows where you live, what you have done

A – REMAIN Faithful

· REFUSED to Deny Jesus

Commendation – held fast the Name, faithful under fire

Revelation 2:13 NLT

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

· The saints there were commended for being true, even when Antipas (which means “against all”) was martyred.[1]

Then and now: Compare and consider:

A large and influential city – second only to Ephesus

· Pergamum was wealthy and wicked

· WEALTH

o Of knowledge – 200,000 volume library – possibly the world’s 2nd largest

o Of resources – Large university

o Of abilities - large Manufacturing base

· WICKED – to twist

o Worshipped government rulers as gods as well as false gods.

o USA worships presidents, entertainers, news anchors, athletes.

o Atmosphere was hostile to Christianity – cannot serve two masters

B – RESET to the Truth

Revelation 2:14 NLT

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.

Balaam –

· Caused Israel to fall by intermarrying them with non-believers (pagan, heathen)

· This is the ONLY form of “Mixed marriage” – leads AWAY from God and TO sin

Tolerate - to fail to prevent

· (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference

· Condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, give in to, to put up with, accept

o Why?

§ Possibly to gain favor and popularity with the affluent members of the congregations

§ Possible that the Leadership was guilty of the same things

§ Historical – to make their lives easier by appeasing the government and not causing trouble – avoiding persecution and disbarment.

Revelation 2:15 NLT

15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

Correction – error in teaching, sexual sin, commanded to repent

The Christians at Pergamum had been true to God under severe testing but had compromised their testimony in other ways[2]

ISSUES in the church: Tolerant of evil behavior, doctrine

Leadership = weak

· Tolerant of evil behavior, doctrine

o Evil BEHAVIOR – immorality

o Evil DOCTRINE –

· Compromise with the world’s system – wanted to fit in,

Nicolaitans –

· ERROR – Compromise with worldly morality

· The World system and way of life dominated the church instead of the church dominating the world – lost her saltiness…

· Pagan doctrines was prevalent in the church

· Departure from biblical faith always results in a corrupted church

· IRONY – The Church at Ephesus was commended of not tolerating this teaching, but Pergamum was condemned for tolerating it.

Evil Doctrine = allowed error – led people astray

· Its bad enough when a person fails, but it is worse when the error affects others or those under him or her.

· The more people affected, the more serious the offense

· God holds leadership accountable for their actions or inactions

RESET = back to the original intent of Christ

· factory RESET = RETURNS to the original settings. –

o original mandate, original vision, go back to the original direction

· RESET the church – back to her original condition, purpose

· Prodigal returned – came to senses after realizing his situation

· Comeback to the Bible – sound doctrine

RECANT – the BAD

· RESOLVE to never fail again

Revelation 2:16 NLT

16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Sharp rebuke –

· cutting words – precision accuracy – not politically correct

· unlike their leadership and teaching

C – REWARD with Honor

· Addressed only to those willing to hear!

· Promise belongs to the Overcomer

Revelation 2:17 ESV

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

· Stone - Hidden manna,

· personalized white stone – acceptance by God – possibly symbolic of the OT priest’s breastplate?

Closing – A Message for us all

· RESET the Morals – Warning against compromise in your WALK

· RESET the TEACHINGS – Do not deviate from the purity of God’s Word – your TALK

What about you? Is your faith Compromised?

· one foot in the world?

· Are you tolerating sin in your life?

· Are you trying to please the world at the expense of pleasing God?

· Are you willing to RETURN to the Lord?