My Truth is Connected to the Church
Notes
Transcript
My Truth is Connected to the Church
INTRODUCTION
OCEAN TOWER
South Padre Island’s Ocean Tower. Ocean Tower was originally designed to be a 31-story building which housed high-end condominiums. However, construction of the tower couldn’t be completed because of foundation problems discovered in early 2008. The expansive soil beneath the tower began to compact, causing the building to sink and lean. Construction ceased and the building had to be demolished in 2009.
What truths are you building your life on?
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
We can only stand with conviction when Truth is fixed and never changing.
Compromise happens when we stop building our life on the Rock.
Pergamum- similar situation as Smyrna- persecution from emperor worship.
However, they had a few people compromising within the church.
The whole church is condemned for a few.
Body of Christ-- bad body parts effects the whole body.
Revelation 2:12-17
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
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.’
5 Reasons the Church's Foundation is God's Word
1- It Focuses Us on Jesus (12)
1- It Focuses Us on Jesus (12)
Revelation 2:12
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
Jesus is God and his Words are God’s.
Truth belongs to Jesus.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
“Two-edged sword”= offensive weapon for believers.
Revelation 1:16
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
ILL- Ehud in Judges 3
Ehud made a two-edged sword, one cubit long, that he used to kill Eglon king of Moab.
He was left handed and placed sword on right thigh.
Eglon was a very fat man.
He put sword all the way in him and left it inside of him.
The Word of God is our offensive weapon.
Ephesians 6:17
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
The Word of God is our foundation and that foundation cannot be moved.
We need every part of the body of Christ building on the foundation of God’s Word.
2- It Keeps Us From Compromise (13)
2- It Keeps Us From Compromise (13)
Revelation 2:13
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Shows the true way - Keeps us from getting sidetracked.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Keeps us from accepting the ways of a godless culture
ILL- Recognize counterfeit money by studying the real thing.
We recognize false religion/cults by knowing God’s Word.
They did not give into the culture.
Jesus noticed and praises them for it.
ILL- I don’t mind working hard around the house- but I want someone to notice.
Their culture demanded influence within the church
Pergamus was worse of 7 cities.
Emperor Worship - like Smyrna
Satan’s Throne.
Large, throne shaped temple to Zeus.
Asklepios= the god of healing. - killed by Zeus by lightening because he feared he would make man immortal.
Serpent on staff.
Called Savior
Mix of medicine and superstition- sleeping in temple with snakes.
Uncompromising unto death.
Antipas- died for his faith
Martyr= witness - in early church.
Today- witness means - invite someone to church.
He did not compromise to his death.
We compromise for far less-- what’s more fun, what’s easier...
When we stand on God’s Word we will not compromise to any degree.
3- It Reveals to Us Heresy (14-15)
3- It Reveals to Us Heresy (14-15)
Revelation 2:14-15
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
They recognized false religion on the outside of the church but did not recognize heresy within the church.
Doctrine is built on the Bible- not personal opinion or preferences.
2 False Doctrines
Doctrine of Balaam
It is OK to be a Christian and do the things acceptable to the culture.
Story:
Balaam was a prophet who was bought by Balak, King of Moab.
Balaam tried to curse Israel but could only speak blessings.
Balaam gave Balak a plan -- Moabite Women
Seduce them with beautiful Moabite women.
Caused Israel to commit adultery and sacrifice to idols.
24,000 Israelites were killed by a plague.
These Christians said it was OK to worship the emperor and other temples.
They were led astray by poor relationships with unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 6:14
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
I’ve seen too many good christian young people be ruined by falling in love with unbelievers.
Doctrine of Nicolaitans (15)
Brought temple practices into the church.
2 classes of people. = priests and others.
Destroyed unity of the body of Christ.
Compromising one part of body effects entire body.
“some who hold”= whole church suffered because of the teaching of the minority.
4- It Provides Us Conviction (16)
4- It Provides Us Conviction (16)
Revelation 2:16
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
The Word of God shares truth- standard of holiness
It reveals darkness.
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
It’s convictions will provide coming judgement.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 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.
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Purpose of conviction is repentance.
Conviction that doesn’t lead to repentance becomes offensive.
Conviction prepares us for judgment.
Romans 1:18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Romans 1:29-32
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
It is not our place to decide what we like and don’t like about the Bible.
It is our place to surrender.
5- It Gives us Life (17)
5- It Gives us Life (17)
Revelation 2:17
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.’
The Word of God reveals to us God and necessary for salvation.
Romans 10:14-17
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
“hidden manna”= Bread of Life
Jesus withdrew after feeding 5000. A group followed him to other side of sea.
John 6:32-35
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
The one who conquers
1 John 5:4-5
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
“white stone”= invitation to party as a reward during Olympic games.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:13
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
“new name”= represents a new life. Life that is changed.
CONCLUSION
Are you building your life on God’s Word?
Has your life been changed by the God of the Bible?