THE COMPROMISING CHURCH Revelation 2:12-17 April 13, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee

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1 1 THE COMPROMISING CHURCH Revelation 2:12-17 April 13, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee - The longer I am in ministry the more concern and love I have for the local church. The word most often translated church in English is the Greek word ekklesia, which literally means the called out ones. When God saves you through His Son Jesus Christ, He calls you out from the world and He desires to place you in a local church. It is God s desire for every person born physically to be placed in a loving home of nurture and discipline and for every person born again or spiritually to likewise be placed in a loving place of nurture and discipline a local church. - Ecclesiology is the study of the ekklesia, or the church. I am a fan and student of church history. I believe every believer in Christ should have a solid understanding of the church throughout history. Besides the family it is the single most important institution in the world. - Some Bible scholars believe that the seven churches in ancient Asia Minor recorded in the book of Revelation correspond to seven epochs of church history Ephesus being a reflection of the early church; Smyrna the first 300 years in which the church received its greatest persecution; and Pergamos with the church during the Middle Ages or Dark Ages where the church compromised greatly with the world. - I have said on more than one occasion that I love all churches, but I especially love this church because this is where God has placed me to serve Him. It is an honor to be a part of GHBC. When I travel and speak in other churches or events I cannot wait to get back to our church, and that is a wonderful compliment to what God is doing here. Our church is very doctrinally sound, is healthy, and has a wonderful group of pastors and others staff, and a fine group of lay leaders like our deacon body. Last Sunday when Dr. Lowery was here with us I found myself taking such joy in bragging on our people. When Joshua Watson got baptized last Sunday I saw Doug Shuffield hop to his feet and stand in honor of Joshua, and I leaned over to Charles Lowery and said you see that guy in the choir standing, he is the chairman of our deacons. And I told him about how amazing our deacons are and how they serve. - We are becoming a radiant church and it is very exciting. Like every church, however, we have challenges no doubt. We owe 5.3 million dollars on our facilities. This note matures in 2020 and at that time we can pay it off or refinance. But in the meantime we have pressing needs on our campus related

2 2 to flooring, parking, and much needed technical and aesthetic upgrades to our sanctuary. We live in a very unchurched city and I want us to do all we can to poke holes in the darkness. We are growing again and need more servant leaders who will step up and help especially in our preschool/children/student ministries. You have got to love the church. There is nothing in the world like it! - The church at Pergamos is the third of the seven churches featured in chapters 2-3 in Revelation. Let us open our Bibles and read the text and study what Jesus had to say about this church. - Read Revelation 2: 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. I. IDENTIFICATION (VS. 12) - Jesus gave the Apostle John the message He wanted delivered to the angel or pastor of the church at Pergamos. The church was probably planted by the Apostle Paul on his third missionary journey in AD while he stayed in Ephesus and ministered from that city. - A. THE CITY - The city of Pergamos is the modern day city Bergama in Turkey. It was the capital city of Asia Minor and a city of much cultural, educational, medicinal, political, and religious influence. It was located about 100 miles north of Ephesus. Pergamos was home to the second greatest library in the world at that time with 200,000 scrolls; Alexandria had the largest, and there was competition between the two. When a third century Pergamene king tried to lure the librarian away from Alexandria Egypt, the Pharaoh refused to let the librarian depart and furthermore he stopped exporting papyrus to Pergamos. The Pergamenes perfected the usage of parchment, made from treated animal skins,

3 3 for their writing material. There is a good possibility that the word parchment derives its name from a form of the word Pergamos. (MacArthur, p ). - The city was also known for its developments and research in medicine. The prominent doctor, Galen, was born and studied in Pergamos. He and his rival Hippocrates founded scientific medicine. (Robert North, ISBE, p ). - Pergamos was a city of influence and beauty. In AD 95 when John wrote Revelation, it had been the capital city of Asia for nearly 250 years. One archeologist (William Ramsey) said, Beyond all other sites in Asia Minor it give the traveler the impression of a royal city, the home of authority; the rocky hill on which it stands is so huge, and dominates the broad plain of the Caicus [River valley] so proudly and boldly. (MacArthur, p. 84.) - Pergamos was also a very religious city with multiple pagan shrines and temples. There were three temples alone dedicated to the roman emperors. Jesus referred to Pergamos in vs. 13 as the place where Satan s throne is and where he dwells. There were temples to Dionysus, Athena, and Demeter. (Written note: There was a famous temple to Greek god of healing called Aesculapius. There were thousands of harmless snakes around the temple. (Believers Study Bible p. 1805) There was also a large monument called the ltar of Zeus. It was 40 feet high. North writes, This lofty pagan shrine could have been the Satan s throne of Revelation 2:13, either because it was of imposing height... or because it symbolized Rome s power administered at Pergamum. (North, ISBE, p. 769.) - B. JESUS (VS. 12) - Jesus identified Himself as He who has the sharp two-edged sword. There is a similar description found in 1:16. The sword protects and punishes, and it represents judgment. (David Jeremiah, p. 68) The church at Pergamos had some people within who were compromising with those who held false beliefs and Jesus warned them that He was going to fight against them if they did not repent (vs. 16.) II. COMMENDATION (VS. 13) - Jesus commends them for three specific actions. - A. WORKS - They too were a working congregation like the believers at Ephesus and Smyrna. Ergon is the general term for work or labor. They were busy serving the Lord at Pergamos and Jesus commended them for it. - Churches by the way should be busy doing God s work. It was such a blessing a couple of Saturdays back when about 40 of us came together and packed buckets to be sent to south Africa. Bill and May Dean shared some great stories with us how God uses these buckets to literally change peoples lives. One

4 4 African told how they had found the Jesus in the buckets. Whether in Africa or Austin, the churches that tangibly demonstrate the gospel and literally help people, those are the churches that will not only survive in the midst of numerous ecclesiological corpses but they will also thrive. - B. DWELLING - Jesus told them He knew where they dwelt. They lived in a very difficult place as we mentioned earlier. They permanently resided in a hostile, pagan place. They were not poised for relocation like so many in our country. Our nation is full of folks who complain constantly. If they are upset with their spouse they look for another one; if their children disappoint them, they disown them; if their church upsets them they find another one; if their job gets too difficult they abandon it for something else. Not so among the people at this church. They lived in an extremely difficult environment the place where Satan dwells, said our Lord, and yet they remained. - C. CHRIST-CENTERED - Notice the two things Jesus said about their commitment to Him - 1. You hold fast to My name. - The word translated hold is krateis present active indicative, they were continually holding fast, and it means to seize, to use strength, to lay hold on, and retain. (Strong s Concordance) The majority in the church was tenacious in their commitment to Jesus and exhibited fervent love for Him and for the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith Did not deny My faith. - They too faced persecution like the believers in Smyrna, and they remained steadfast and faithful in the midst of the persecution. - Jesus mentions Antipas, one of the martyrs in Pergamos. His name literally means against all (David Jeremiah, tape.) The believers at Pergamos knew there was a good possibility of severe punishment if they served Jesus, and they did so anyway, and our Lord commended them for their love and commitment to Him. III. EXHORTATION (VS ) - Notice the first word in vs. 13 but. Jesus said you have those, plural. There was a group of people in the church who were adhering to some harmful doctrines and practices and Jesus rebuked them and the church for tolerating them. The church compromised with these unfaithful members, and Jesus called them on the carpet in their compromise and tolerance. - Perhaps the leadership and the people reasoned that they were doing so many good things that they did not need to confront these wayward members. But

5 5 Jesus who knows all rebuked them for tolerating such people. I can understand the hesitancy of the leadership to confront wayward members. It is a painful process and procedure to confront others in the church. Here at GHBC we hold our membership accountable and when necessary engage in church discipline. I am grateful for my staff and deacons who do most of it. If I personally confronted everyone and attempted to hold him or her accountable that would take a tremendous amount of time and effort on my part. As a pastor of a very large church you must choose carefully which tasks you will engage in and which ones you will delegate. - David Jeremiah has these insightful comments about our text p. 70: In each of the churches we have examined so far, Satan has had a different strategy to try to undermine the Church. Just as Satan knows our weaknesses and tries to trip us up accordingly, he knows the weakness of churches as well. His strategies are not random; rather, they are specific and calculated. Removing love for Christ was his strategy at Ephesus, and persecution by the Roman Empire was the strategy in Smyrna. In Pergamos he is going to try to weaken the church through compromise. INVITATION/CONCLUSION - Those of you who do not know Christ I implore you to commit your life to Him. Repent and believe. - Others believe that this is where the Lord is leading you to join. Then you come be a part of Great Hills Baptist Church and get involved serving the Lord Jesus.