The Church of Pergamos - 9

Well turn with me if you would to the book of the Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter 2 want to consider what price to walks in the midst of his churches in the midst of the Golden lampstands, what he has to say to the church and Pergamum's Revelation chapter 2 beginning in verse 12 and to the angel of the church in Pergamum is right.

These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is and you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith even in the days in which aunt up as was my faithful martyr who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Baylon, who taught Bailey to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the net collation which thing I hate, repent or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them. Sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To him, will overcome us.

I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him receives were in the middle of a series on the letters to the seven churches.

My Bible is read letter in this section, alerts us in large me to the fact that these are the words of Christ, the head of the church to his churches so therefore all of Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable regardless whether to read letter or not but it is particularly pertinent and important to us because these are indeed the very words of the risen Christ.

One who gave himself for his church, the one who shed his blood for his church and therefore we dare not minimize nor take away from the import of what we find here.

Some say well what could be relative to us here in the day and age in which we live. What does a letter words of Jesus written to a church a couple thousand years ago. What is that had to do with me and my needs on this Sunday and 2021 well I found it quite interesting as I was considering these opening words of the letter and just these opening thoughts I have for you of what we heard this morning concerning the word of God and what Paul said commendation to the Thessalonians. There, he said. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you receive the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God which also effectively works in you who believe, so this is again I remind you the word of God. It is the word of Christ to his church. What could be more important to us. What could be more important to people who make up the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ and words from him who is the head of the church and not only the words written here and read but as we were reminded this morning that it is in reference to the preached word that isn't just the words of the preacher that your hearing tonight. Your hearing the words of Christ speaking to you through me as I preach, so it is very relative to our interests.

Tonight and is I preach this message to you. I think you'll see how very contemporary. It is how very relevant it is for our day, how it speaks to the church at large and how it alerts us to danger and how it warns us and how we learn what it is that is commendable.

What Christ commends in his church and what he hates in his church and how we should respond to those things that are transpiring in his church so tonight as we consider this letter to Pergamum is the third of the seven letters I want you to hear. First, some words of introduction what is he say to the angel of the church in Pergamum is right. These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Each of these letters is drawing from a vision that John had that is recorded in chapter 1 we were to go back to John chapter 1 in verse 16, you would find this vision that John saw of of the glorified Christ with a two-edged sword in his mouth and it is those words that are being drawn from here in chapter 2 in verse 12, these things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. What are we to make of that. Well here is the living word speaking, revealing the written word were reminded of the writer of Hebrews telling us that the word of God is like a sharp two-edged sword, so is a reference to the word of God and its authority. It's a picture of unrivaled authority is a picture of judgment these things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword was the last time you've have felt this is subjective, but there is a subjective element to the Christian life. This is a generality, but I think it's pretty fairly accurate. Most churches there focus is more on the subjective aspect of Christianity than it is on the objective reality that undergirds that subjective aspect. This church are emphasis percentagewise is a large measure focused on objective truth and until your experience is grounded in objective truth. Your subjective experiences really on flimsy ground. That being said, there is a subjective element to the Christian life there from when I ask you as we begin this evening when was the last time you experienced you felt you were cognizant of conscious of the operating work of the Spirit of God with the sharp two-edged sword of the word of God where you were pierced were you were cut sensed God was dealing with you. God was performing spiritual surgery on you that there was something I missed something that should not be there and God had put his finger on it in the word of God come to you in power and you are conscious conscious that the spirit of God was working in you now.

None of us are very anxious, let me say I doubt any of us are very anxious to come under the knife, but if we have a physical need and its necessitates surgery were thankful for a skilled surgeon and therefore knowing the repercussions of not having the surgery we submit to the surgeon's knife, knowing that it's necessary for physical health will spiritually speaking, it's, it's the same there are things that are a detriment.

Things that are a hindrance to us that the spirit of God will put his finger on the word of God will come to us in power and identify that area and we sense pain inward pain. The pain of repentance putting to death the deeds of the flesh, death, Sonata, a pretty thing. Death is a painful thing and send eyes a hard death.

And yet we must be given, we must give ourselves to the mortification of the flesh. We must give ourselves to putting to death the deeds of the flesh. So again in your experience. Can you say you know it's been a while. It's been a while since I was conscious of that.

Let that be a bit of a marker, a barometer write a litmus test to you because I think we believe that the Christian life is a life of ongoing repentance we are repenting repent. There's we have repented with the Christian life is a life of ongoing repentance and what we what is repentance repentance is a change of mind that brings about a change of direction our minds change about something that were tolerating in compromising with in the spirit of God with the word of God puts his finger on it and that is got to go.

We got have a change of mind about that which results in a change of direction.

Our life is going to change. So pray about that.

Examine your life in growth is painful. Growth is not easy.

The idea that the Christian life is just a just a walk in the park is just one moving from one level of ecstasy to the is is really I think a false notion when you come under the exercise of the spirit of God, and you begin to weep over your sin. There's nothing fun about that. Now we look beyond the immediate turmoil and internal turmoil that that brings to the progress of our walk with God and we say, you know it's worth it, but it's a painful thing so just a thought. There were for you to think about word about Pergamum's forgiveness means Citadel Citadel. The city was built on a thousand foot heel in a broad, fertile region, some 20 miles inland of the Aegean Sea. It was the capital of the relevant Roman province for nearly 250 years. It has the distinction of being the first city in Asia minor to build a temple to Caesar worship to worship the emperor. Such is the notoriety of the city. Pergamum's forgiveness was a place of Roman domination and oppression in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ existed amidst judgment and persecution because it would not compromise it would not bow the knee it would not give worship to Caesar, and therefore, the church was under persecution. It's a symbol of the Roman supremacy and control what was it the sword. The sword you will bow to Roman supremacy by the sword. The use the sword for control but here speaking in the opening verse to this church is him who has the double-edged sword. He who has the sharp two-edged sword. He is the one of ultimate authority. He is not the Roman king, the Roman Emperor, but he is ducking King of Kings and Lord of lords. So beyond the opening statement there in verse 12. Let's walk through this letter in this fashion.

Similar as we looked at the other letters.

There is words of commendation church will look at that there is a complaint that you registered against the church and that's found in verses 1415 and the nurse counsel given to the church in verse 16 and then there are words of compensation to the church. In verses in verse 17. So let's think through this together. Words of commendation. What is the church of Pergamum's commended for notice what it says verse 13. I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is and you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith even in the days in which antibias was my faithful martyr who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Now they were living under the tyrannical control, domination of the Roman government and the church had remained faithful despite severe persecution, but the more going on here than the Roman government is under you notice two times in verse 13 Satan is mentioned, the head of the church says to the church in Pergamum as I know your works, and I know where you dwell in you know where you dwell, you dwell, where Satan's throne is and you dwell, where Satan dwells. The latter part of verse 13 says something about the darkness that must have permeated the culture and society.

The church existed where Satan's throne is and where Satan dwells. A place where Satan was at home. It was his home base. We could say it was a place characterized by satanic influence, and in the midst of that in the midst of that darkness in the midst of satanic influence.

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ existed and not only existed but remain faithful to the head. Christ. So despite the difficult circumstances in which they found themselves the believers at Pergamum Apartments. They courageously maintain their faith in Jesus Christ and he commands them you hold fast to my name and you did not deny my faith. They held fast they didn't deny the Lord in the midst of pressure satanic hatred that manifested itself in the death of one man named whom we know very little about, but his name was antivirus.

Even in the days in which anti-purpose was my faithful martyr who was killed among you, so that held fast to their testimony, and they did not deny the faith despite fierce and bloodied persecution. Some believe that the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ is persecution, but history tells us that persecution doesn't destroy or weaken the church. In fact, it strengthens the church. It purifies the church. It builds the church and the church advances. Here we have a church that existed where Satan's throne is and where Satan dwells. Satan's headquarters, a place he felt most comfortable. And here the church of Jesus Christ not only exists but is flourishing. People make up the church are holding fast. They've not denied the faith, so perhaps we need a change in our thoughts about persecution. Perhaps there's a greater threat to the church than persecution and I think we'll see that here in a moment despite the fact that there are tens and hundreds of thousands of Christians across the globe who are enduring persecution, God is sustaining his church's church is advancing. His church is conquering his church is triumphing in the midst of it truly the blood of the martyrs is indeed the seed of the church. Now we must not forget our brother. We must not forget those who are suffering for Jesus. We need to pray for them. We need to uphold them. There are places where it will cost you an awful lot. Maintain your faith for Jesus Christ, but it certainly weeds out false professors. What is the greatest challenge to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the South as part of our country with a lot of answers to that question but I think one significant problem church deals with is easy believe is him go knock on doors and communities and asked people and you will find rare will it be that you'll find somebody who says no I'm not a person.

People are Christians almost across the board know that's a greater danger so if the devil can't make inroads through persecution. What is he do see stripped of his armor as he stripped of his strategy.

No know he he employs a more subtle form of attack upon the church. Therefore, Paul warns us and reminds us that were not to be ignorant of Satan's devices because he is subtle, you can appear as an angel of light and will see the subtlety of his attack on the church year where he could not make inroads through persecution, but the word of commendation is followed by a complaint. Notice that with me in verse 14, despite the fact that they were strongly commended that they had remained faithful to Christ and Christian truth that it had the church had faithfully persevered at the very headquarters of Satan himself. Even in the face of martyrdom.

All was not well in the church at Pergamum's because verse 14 says, but I have a few things against you, I have a few things against you, and there are two mentioned that is that there is the doctrine of bail him and there is the doctrine of the in the Galatians so much for those who say doctrine is an important.

I have two things against you, you have tolerated the doctrine of Baylon and you have tolerated the doctrine of the net. Galatians now this is the second time in three letters that the manipulations of, there mentioned in the letter to the church at Ephesus, but is not the teaching of the neck.

Galatians it's mentioned in the church at Ephesus. It is the deeds of the net.

Galatians here it is the teaching or the doctrine of the neck. Galatians and I want to just pause and and connect those two ideas with you to help reinforce the idea of the importance of right doctrine. He hates Christ he hates the deeds of the net. Galatians, Ephesians, chapter 2 and verse eight.

This is to the church at Ephesus, but this you have, you hate the deeds of the net Galatians, which I also hate this church is commended because they hate the deeds of the net. Galatians here. He says in verse 15. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the net. Galatians, which thing I hate, so Christ states unequivocally that he hates the teaching the doctrine of the net Galatians and he hates the deeds of the net Galatians and behavior and deeds flow a lot of doctrine teaching and that's why right doctrine is so absolutely critical. That's why you can't dispense from the emphasis on doctrine because were doctrine is wrong behavior will be wrong so those two things go together. It is because there was the false teaching of the net.

Galatians that Christ hates that there was the deeds of the net. Galatians, which Christ also hates so again when the devil wasn't successful and persecution he was successful in a more subtle covert way and what was that by introducing the compromising worldly influence of the net. Galatians those who held the doctrine of Baylon so what we make of that what is the doctrine of bail. In verse 14. I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine available to get this picture here's the church at Pergamum's and they were tolerating a false teaching called the teaching the doctrine of bail him in the church there were those who embrace this false doctrine and the church was compromised because they were tolerating it well. The teaching of Baylon goes back to the book of numbers.

Baylon was a notorious Old Testament prophet who sold himself out for money. Fearful of the Israelites, because of what they had done to the Amorites bailiwick, king of Moab hired Baylon. This profit and he hired the prophet to curse the Israelites and it's interesting when you go back and read that despite what he took money in order to do what he willfully tried to do every time he opened his mouth to curse the Israelites words, a blessing came out and things to go back and read the account three different times.

That happens since he was unable to curse the Israelites. He then decided to corrupt them by teaching by putting a stumbling block before the sons of Israel. What was that, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality to engage in perversion to engage in sexual activity to imbibe the false worship was going on there in the city.

Pergamum's now bail him's plan was successful, to a degree, but not to the extent that he had hoped why because God intervened in God severely chastened Israel. You read the account there numbers chapter 25 20,000 Israelites died in China and in God's chastening of them for their sin and many of the leaders were involved in that and complicit in that and God judge them will hear is the teaching there in verse 14. The teaching or the doctrine of Baylon, who taught bailiwick to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. What is this covert way that Satan tries to make inroads into the church to bring compromised to the church to weaken and dilute the church. It is worldliness, worldliness its compromise and the church was. Not disciplining those in the church who were guilty of this sin talk about church discipline in our day is abhorrent to people you discipline church people you how unloving is that and how they they completely misunderstand the purpose of church discipline.

It is the citadel of the church. It is the way of protecting the purity of the church and is not something that we should be ashamed of it. Something that God is given to the church to preserve the church and to protect the church and to preserve its holiness in its purity but again Satan had made inroads at the church of Pergamum's and he's making inroads in many a church through this very means then there is two things he says I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Baylon and taught Baylon Baylon they like to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the net. Galatians which things I hate.

We talked about the manipulations earlier history suggests to us that the net Galatians, out of the influence of Nicholas who was one of the seven chosen in acts chapter 6 and the distribution of food to the widows manipulations derive their name from Nicholas and what we have here is again compromise that the Nick net Galatians were involved in sexual immorality is a perversion. It is against holiness. It is against purity and these things were going on in the church. This is what church Christ has against the church. I think with me. The majority of the believers at Pergamum's did not participate in these errors had not been seduced had not come under the subtle influence of the these two teachings, the teachings of bailiwick in the teachings of the net.

Galatians, but there were some in the church who had Christ had something against the church because the church had tolerated these groups refusing to exercise church discipline and therefore they shared in their guilt which brought the Lord's judgment. Really, if were going to be faithful to Christ, the head of the church. We can't turn a blind eye to sin, to violations of the decorum that is consistent with a Christian testimony in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ not going to discipline for anything and everything. But there are some sins that are unrepented of that are to be judged are to be discipline so words of instruction to start with than words of commendation than words of concern. Christ then we have the Council, what is he say to that church where these things are going on were 16 repent or else repent or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth and that's why when that we saw at the beginning picture of Christ being described here who has the sharp two-edged sword.

It is a reference to judgment of chastening judgment, repent or else I will come to you quickly. Here is the only remedy for any sinful behavior and what is it it is to repent what is that, again, it is a change of mind that results in a change of direction.

We live in a day where tolerance is lauded where tolerance is the word except there is no tolerance for Christianity there's no tolerance for those who daresay there are absolutes. There is no tolerance for us in that realm, but in a day where tolerance is lauded your to tolerate any any sin, any corruption, any activity, regardless of what it might be Christ does not view tolerance in his church is a virtue but a sin that is to be repented of and so serious a matter is it that should the church here fail to repent price is going to come to them quickly and he's going to judge them enough so we have that picture of Christ, judging their numbers. Those who had been guilty of perversion and sexual immorality, and 24,000 Israelites were chastened and death. The church won't discipline its members. Christ will and then what we have. Next is words of compensation, words of compensation. Notice verse 17 he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To him, overcomes North eat three things promised, here to overcome her's to him overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. Christ promises three things to those who remain faith to those who are over commerce. Here, the church of Pergamum's he will give them some of the hidden manna to him overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. We know what the manna was as God fed the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness every day except the Sabbath day.

This heavenly food fell to the ground and they were instructed to gather it and to eat it and it sustained their life and it is a type. It is a picture of Christ, who is the true man that's come down from heaven. The promises that Christ will be given price will be given to those for the strengthening for the nourishing of their souls in the midst of the persecution all that we have need of Christ will be the ample supply is the promise to those who overcome so to him overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat to partake in. That's what we do when we feed on the word of God.

We receive nourishment from it and we are receiving Christ through the medium of faith, our souls are strengthened and we are fed spiritually and I will give him a white stone, a white stone, there's a lot of speculation among commentators on what is being referred to here and again I I certainly don't want to propagate air. I don't want to be wrong and again I can be dogmatic and red and thought about this for some time, try to understand what is the most likely interpretation here.

There was an award given to those who participated in the games they are in Rome and one of those awards given was a white stone given to the victor and whatever the athletic competition might've been an inscribed on that white stone was the name of the participant and that stone with the name granted them entrance into a great and glorious celebration or their triumph and for their accolades. I suppose that is as commendable as any. As we think about this, and again you may want to read about that and think about some of the other things that are suggested to him overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives so the sounds to be like there's something rather individual about that. Something that can't be known, I ahead of time, but something that's known at the time and I don't know the author of this him whether he had this text of Scripture in mind, but it's been a long time since I've heard the song, but you know the refrain near there's a new name written down in glory and its mind. Oh yes, it's mine and the white robed angels sing the story a sinner has come home for there's a new name written down in glory and its mind. Oh yes, it's mine with my sins forgiven. I am bound for heaven. Nevermore Jerome whether that hymn captures the or not, but it came to my mind as I was preparing this message here are words of commendation to those who overcome to those who persevere. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives JC Ryle had something to say that I'd like to speak to about here. Inclusion of this message. He says this how little fit for heaven are many who talk of going there while they manifestly have no saving faith and no real acquaintance with.

He says you give no honor here. You have no communion with him do not love him. Alas, what could you do in heaven. It would be no place for you, its joys would be no joys for you. It's happiness would be a happiness into which you could not enter its employments would be a weariness and burden to your heart, all he says repent and change before it is forever. Too late. John Piper says this about that quote from JC Ryle. Nothing fits a person to be more useful on earth than to be more ready for heaven. This is true because readiness for heaven means taking pleasure in beholding the Lord Jesus and beholding the glory of the Lord mean means being changed into his likeness. Nothing would bless this world more than more people who are more like four in likeness to Christ. The world might see him. That's what we need. We need to root out worldliness. We need to be on guard against worldliness and its inroads into the church and it is one of the responsibilities of the leadership of the church to be on guard against it and to warn against it in to teach against addenda judge it when it manifests itself in the church, and unrepentant fashion but not just for the leadership or for those who make up the church to be on guard and to watch for we are living in evil days we are living in dark days. There's compromise all around us and we can be guilty of compromise in the completely ignorant of it oblivious to it because it is so subtle and it it is so pervasive, but it is one of the subtleties of the evil one. So let's not be ignorant of Satan's devices.

Let's live our lives for the words of commendation from Christ were there were something very powerful about this church that they were commended for they had persevered. They had pressed on.

They had held fast to the name of Christ. They had not denied him in the face of terrible severe real persecution and yet were some things that Christ, the head of the church had against this church and they both had to do with false teaching false doctrine that had been embraced by members of the church and was being tolerated by the church that was diluting the effective nests of the church and weakening the church and that's a serious matter for Christ and if it's a serious matter for Christ and as a warning of judgment here at ought to be a serious matter for us to hear our very appurtenant in relative words for us on this Sunday in 2021. Let's spell and pray father, thank you for your word. Thank you for its instruction.

Thank you that your word is indeed profitable to us for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness. Thank you for this word to the church at Pergamum's or safeguard the church help us father to be a church that receives your commendation.

We thank you God for what we've learned this evening. We pray that you would buy your spirit continue to work in us both to will and to do according to your good pleasure for the honor and for the honor and glory of him who loved us and love this church so much that he gave himself for pray in Jesus name, not to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior, or who alone is wise to be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever