Scripture:
Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV
[12] “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: [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 Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. [14] But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. [15] Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. [16] Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight 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 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 it.” ’
Observation:
Today’s title was chosen due to the heading in this particular letter to the church in Pergamos. If we had our Bibles open, we would be able to see that this letter to this church came after the one we got to look at yesterday. I think that’s important. We’ll, in fact, I’m sure that’s important. The heading over this portion of scripture is “the compromised church.” And if we looked back at the church we spoke about yesterday, we could see some differences between the two of them. The first thing I noticed is that this church had digressed a little further towards sin than the church from the SOAP yesterday. In verse 13, Jesus tells this church about the works it has been doing much like yesterday… However, it’s a very short mention of them, and it seems that there is nothing good about it. I don’t know that we can afford to miss that. Where the church yesterday had seemed to fall out of love with Jesus, this church was just all together hanging out where Satan dwells. However, they were holding fast to their profession of faith. So let me draw you a picture here so you can get what is being said in verse 13. This church was saying they believed in Jesus Christ as their LORD and SAVIOR, yet they were not living a changed life. Their belief seemed to be in word only. Verses 14 and 15 open up to that statement. I am very curious about what the bible says… not just what is said on the surface but at the root of the word. I wanted to know what the doctrine of Balaam was because GOD thought it was important enough to mention it must be important enough to dig into. So Balaam taught that it was ok to compromise the conviction of the church in order to grow. They would slightly modify their church covenant to gain popularity. In other words, they were seeker-friendly church. Allowing things to go on that they otherwise would not so that the church would grow. So, the rebuke that Jesus puts down for this church doesn’t get better from that point. Just like the doctrine of Balaam had to be known, I had to discover what the Nicolaitans taught as well because these were important enough to be mentioned by Jesus in a book that is meant to warn us. After all, the return of Christ is near. We need to know where we stand. The Nicolaitans were just as bad as Balaamand. Honestly, they seemed to be just a little worse. Their teaching condoned adultery and compromise. They perverted the grace of GOD to be a license to sin. In effect making what Jesus did on the cross cheap and without value. Now, here is the kicker in all this. It’s not my opinion that matters it’s what the word says that brings the dividing line. In verse 16. Jesus tells them what has to be done. Now remember these letters are warnings to the church. They need to be paid attention to. HIS word is REPENT. The sane word HE spoke when HE came out of the 40-day fast and the temptation period after being baptized. HIS message never changed. To wrap it all up, we have to look at verse 17, The word “overcome” sticks out to me… then the statement about the stone with a new name.
Application:
I know that this is not a popular opinion, but it is honestly not my opinion it’s what the word of GOD says, and we need to have ears to hear it. The label over this portion of the scripture states that compromise is not ok. Jesus did not die on the cross so that we could live in sin… he died so that we would know how to overcome sin. It’s over and over in the scripture. Look at it. I can’t stress it enough. Jesus is coming back, and HIS heart’s cry is that we repent. All the letters to the churches in the Book of Revaluation tell us one thing. There is not one letter that does not mention that word. Can I tell you something? You were built to overcome. It’s ingrained in you. Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, you can do it. I get to see it every day. The men who work with me as the light comes on and their lives start to come together, they overcome a little sin here and then a bigger sin, and before they know it they are a completely different person. But here is the sticky spot. It just takes a little bit of leaven to work its way through the loaf. I have seen it in my own life. One compromise here leads to a big compromise there, and before I know it, I’m back to the starting point. The Bible tells us we are in this world, but we are not to be of this world. When we let the world influence our decisions and we compromise our beliefs because of what the world is doing, we are in the wrong. Our lives need to be different. We are set apart. GOD’S grace is in place to draw us out of our sin, not leave us trapped within it. We need to be steadily progressing towards HIS kingdom, not consistently compromising our principles to fit into the world. So this is my cry out to all of us. If you have a compromise in your life that you know does not line up with GOD’S word, stop repenting and turning to the Father. You honestly do not have to live like that. Jesus died so that we could overcome. Let the Holy Spirit guide your steps. You are more than a conqueror you are made to overcome.
Prayer:
Father helps us to identify the areas in our lives where we have slid backward even if it’s a little bit. Show us how to get back to our first love. We want our lives to bring you glory. Plant our feet firmly on your path. Help us hold tightly to your principles and not look to the approval of man or our level of popularity. We do not want to be found in opposition to what your word says. As we make the intentional effort to draw near to you, Father draw near to us. We want you not our sin. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.