The Compromising Church

The Church at Pergamum

Let’s read...

Revelation 2:12–17 (ESV)

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.

14But 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.

15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

17He 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.’

INTRODUCTION

To the loveless church

at Ephesus he says Jesus is the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the lampstands which are the churches.

To the suffering church

at Smyrna he says Jesus is the first and the last who was dead and now has came to life.

Now to the Compromising church

at Pergamum he says Jesus is the one who has the sharp two edged sword.

Do you notice a pattern here? I do. I see God revealing a part of the Character of Christ to each church and their specific need for him at that moment.

To the loveless church it was the presence of Christ

To the suffering church it was the life-giving Christ

To the compromising church it was word of Christ

Pergamos:

It was an extremely religious city.

It had temples to Greek and Roman so-called gods.

It also had three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman Emperor.

This city was especially known as a center for the worship of the deity known as Asclepios. Get this. This God was Represented by a serpent,and was the god of healing and knowledge.

This could be the meaning of verse 13 where it mentions dwelling among Satans throne.

The Perversion of God’s Word

in our text I see three things. The first is the perversion of Gods Word.

Notice how Jesus says “I have”.

Now at first glance we might say so what, but these two words “I have” form the word in greek that we get for “Echo”

and what it means here is something that someone holds dear or very personal to them.

It means Christ was personal distraught with what he was about to describe.

Christ was distraught about not what was happening outside the church but what was happening from within the church.

After they have withstand persecution after persecution, they were now being attacked from the inside.

Now Christ was personally disturbed by what was happening. That those from the inside were spreading false doctrine and seducing them.

While there were faithful Christians, some within the church were beginning to be influenced by false teaching.

Some Christians were slowly starting to embrace a compromised lifestyle

that soon found idolatry and immorality acceptable.

Some began to welcome sexual immorality into the church that was once resisted by believers.

The spiritual seduction that was seeping into the church was very subtle

and, over time, would spiritually infect the entire church.

I am sure this was very difficult for the church, because these leaders have been there for a long time, some from the very beginning and they loved them.

Now though they have gotten off track and they weren’t the same people they use to be.

Because of the relationship they had with the people it made it difficult for the church to stand up to them because they didn’t want to confront those that they love.

But if these leaders at Pergamum who were sharing false doctrine weren’t confronted then it would lead to compromise which would lead to disaster in the church.

John addresses two areas that Jesus had against the church in Pergamum:

Some people were following the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans who were...

Teaching that they were to eat food sacrificed to idols

Teaching that they should practice sexual immorality

It appears the church, and church leaders, were unaware of the spiritual compromise that was happening among the church body.

1. A Slow and Quiet Compromise: Following the Teaching of Balaam

The Israelites knew the practice of idolatry was forbidden and would have rejected it if openly presented with it; but they willingly accepted the idea when they were seduced to sin.

2. How we Compromise the Word of God today

We need to recognize how their is compromise in the church today. From our sexual identity, purity and doctrine of holiness, there are some that attack it in the name of worldly love.

We need to remember to show biblical love to everyone. This love extends grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone. but we are not to condone it. You can love people and not accept their behavior.

next we see…

The Power of God’s Word

Jesus gives a call for repentance to those who have strayed and are leading others astray.

Jesus says I have a few things “against” you.

Now this word against implies Christ would resist them until they repented of their deeds.

This carries a strong weight of authority and power.

Which tells us that Jesus doesn’t tolerate. tolerance. in. the. church.

Basically Jesus is saying that if the church doesn’t deal with it then Jesus will deal with the church.

This shows us why Jesus shows up with a sharp two-edged sword

The double-edged sword that John refers to in verse 12 is a picture of a weapon that was used in battle, having two sharp cutting edges.

No matter how it was wielded it would cut true and deep.

In verse 12, John references Jesus as one who has the double-edged sword. Friends,

the word of God will cut true and deep to divide truth from error.

The word of God will cut through all the false teaching and worldly lies.

The word of God will separate and clearly reveal the Believer from the unbeliever

The word of God cuts deep, much like a double-edged sword used properly on a battle field, to reveal sin and bring spiritual healing and life to those who believe.

The word of God will accomplish all that it is designed and intends to accomplish when used correctly.

The word of God is all powerful and it can cut through a spiritual heart of stone.

now along with seeing the perversion, and the power of the word we see…

The promises of Gods Word

A. Hidden Manna

To him that overcomes:

The one who overcomes this spirit of the perversion of the word from false teaching will receive hidden manna.

Now to understand this hidden manna we need to go back to the old testament with Moses and the promised land.

The israelites were on a journey and they were depleted of resources and started to complain about their difficulties.

Even though God parted the red sea

Even though he set them free from their bondage

Even though he led them by a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night

Even though he gave them water from a rock.

They even questioned God and asked if he could set a table in the wilderness.

They wondered if they would make it to the end or if they would starve to death.

But God in HIS mercy rained down manna from heaven for them to eat

Now we know from the gospel of John that Jesus declares that HE is the bread of life. That He is all we need.

B. White Stone

Jesus says “and to the one who conquers I will give him a white stone:

In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations.

A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet,

a sign of friendship,

evidence of having been counted,

or

as a sign of acquittal in a court of law.

Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.

Adam Clarke wrote: “Others suppose there is an allusion here to conquerors in the public games, they had a white stone given to them, with their name inscribed on it;

Adam Clarke gives examples of the different kinds:

“One was used as our cards of invitation,

or

tickets of admission to a public feast or banquet;

But the most remarkable of these were thoses, which were given as badges of friendship and alliance,

and

on which some were engraved, as a testimony that a contract of friendship had been made.

C. A New name

And on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it:

What is the meaning of this new, secret name promised to him who overcomes?

One idea behind this new, secret name is that it shows what an intimate relationship we have with God.

Now weve heard of the perversion of God’s Word, the Power of God’s Word and the promises from God’s Word.

Two stories come to mind.

Woman caught in Adultery

The first one is with the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. The Pharisees brought her to Jesus and said according to the law of moses she should be stoned to death.

But Jesus stooped down on the ground and wrote something with his finger on the ground

and said…

let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone

and

once more he wrote on the ground and then one by one the pharisees walked away.

Woman at the Well

The second story is Jesus met at the well who he lovingly confronts about her sin and He offers her living water of eternal life.

Both these stories you hear Jesus offer forgiveness, grace, truth and love.

Let us never forget to do the same and ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness.

Let us be known to love God and love people.

******FINAL SONG*****

*****HOLY COMMUNION AFTER SONG*****