SEVEN SERIES
To
accompany our ‘SEVEN’ teaching series at Community Church Putney, over seven
weeks (this is week 3) I will put out a blog each Monday, looking at the seven
letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 -3. These letters are
hard-hitting and very relevant and useful in the times that we find ourselves.
Letter 3: INFLUENCE(D)? – The letter to the Church of Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17
Explanation and daily studies for personal/family
use week beginning 23/1/17
i) Explanatory notes on
2:12-17
A city devoted to idol and
emperor worship. Any follower of Jesus would have provoked enmity as had
“Antipas, my faithful witness” a martyr of that city. Persecution and death
were a present, threatening reality. Under such pressure some in the church had
compromised, embracing false teaching, idolatry and sexual immorality, all
things that would have been sensually enjoyable, but also helped one to fit in
to where they lived.
i) Description
of Jesus – Speaking in Power
Read Revelation 2:12.
“Sharp, double-edged
sword” communicates
the authority and power of Jesus’ words – What He says is true and will happen,
His word has authority over us. This
should have sent a clear message to those embracing lies.
ii) Praise
– Faithful against pressure to compromise
Read Revelation 2:13. How bad has a place
got to get to be the “throne of Satan”! Pergamum was very
religious; devoted to emperor worship, the goddess Roma, Asklepios the god of
healing symbolised by serpents, and the worship of Zeus. All religion that robs
Jesus of glory is demonically influenced (1 Cor. 10:20).
Many want to embrace all religions, but Jesus is in no
doubt that embracing other gods is unfaithfulness and demon worship!
iii) Criticism
– Some Hold to false teaching
Revelation 2:14-15. Unfortunately some
are also being INFLUENCED By false teaching. Whatever the specifics of the
teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, it led to idolatry and sexual sin.
Oftentimes, false religion contains these elements: salvation that is not based
upon Christ alone and deviation from God’s design for sex: heterosexual
marriage. For example, the New York Times article of 2014 reported,
‘The
founder and prophet, Joseph Smith (of the Mormon Church)…took as many as 40
wives, some already married and one only 14 years old!’
iv) Solution
– Repent of false teaching
Read Revelation
2:16a. Repentance is the solution. Let’s never be slow to
turn in mind and lifestyle (which is what repentance requires) when God speaks
to us. You may say, “I feel that okay about my approach to religion, sex and
relationships”. Let’s be clear, God’s
word trumps all feelings – God’s word is God’s revealed will.
v) Warning
– Jesus will oppose you
Read Revelation 2:16. No one wants Jesus
fighting against them! Those, in the church, who distort Jesus and promote
sexual sin face Jesus’ displeasure and discipline. The church, in every age,
faces pressure to embrace popular belief and lifestyle. Let’s never forget that
the church is always out of step with the world at large.
vi) Promise
– Eternal love
Read Revelation
2:17. True Christians have “ears to hear what the Spirit
says”. This imagery speaks of heaven. A ‘white stone’, was given to victors of
the games or those acquitted in court; Christians, those with faith in Christ
as Lord and Saviour, are victors and acquitted. “New name written on it” speaks
(at least) of His personal love and knowledge of us.
ii) Daily Studies on 2:12-17
INFLUENCE(D) – Letter to the church in Pergamum
2:12-17
Jesus prays for Christians, “My prayer is not that you take them out of
the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not
of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth;
your word is truth.” (Jn. 17:15-16) D.L.
Moody wrote, “The place for the ship is
in the sea, but God help the ship if the sea gets into it!” Let’s learn how
to live and bring influence to this world but not to be influenced by it.
Monday – Memory verse for this week
Take time to memorise,
meditate upon and pray based upon this text.
Romans 12:2 ‘Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.’
Tuesday – The
authority of Jesus’ words
·
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What
does this say about the source, use and effects of coming under the authority
of the bible?
·
Read Ephesians 6:17, where
we see the bible likened to a sword for protection and advance. Are you taking
your need for the bible seriously? What is your current bible intake practice?
Could you do anything to take it to the next level?
Wednesday – Know
where you live
Read 2 Corinthians 4:4. We
live in a culture that is profoundly un-Christian; it’s this way, not through
greater wisdom, but because of evil Spiritual domination, they are ruled by
Satan! God is in ultimate authority, but the world around us is profoundly
dominated by dark powers.
Thursday – Satan’s
work
The devil
wants to keep people from becoming Christians, and if they do, to keep them
from the fullness and fruitfulness that are available. There is much we could
say but here are a few demonic goals:
·
To destroy our love and
trust in God (Gen. 3:4-5)
·
To destroy our faith in
Jesus for salvation (Eph. 6:10-17)
·
He seeks to destroy relationships
by unforgiveness (2 Cor. 2:11)
·
He Tempts us to betray God
and destroy ourselves (Luke 22:3-4, Matt. 27:5)
Use Ephesians
6:10-17 to guide you in prayer (Please talk to one of your church leaders if
you have been unsettled by any of this).
Friday – Fear
God and repent
Read again Jesus’ warning in
Revelation 2:16. God loves His church so He will oppose those who would lead
her astray through false teaching. It’s comforting to know that God is fighting
for us! But let’s examine ourselves, are we teaching error or leading people
into sexual sin through word or example? Let’s commit ourselves again to coming
under the loving authority of Jesus.
For a copy of the
full ‘SEVEN’ study, please email us at office@communitychurchputney.com or come
along on a Sunday morning.
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