Pergamum - Stand Firm Against Compromise | A Sermon on Revelation 2:12-17

Introduction
Christmas in the middle of July seems like kind of an ironic way to turn Christmas upside down. Normally, we think of it being cold, and the pictures—at least the pictures of our Christmases—have snow in them, even if we don't actually have real snow. Doing it in the middle of summer when it's hot outside seems a little bit backwards.

But I think, Christmas is such a familiar tradition to us, something that we've celebrated all our lives, and we can remember year after year after year. We forget how upside-down the actual birth of Christ was that we celebrate. It was backwards and upside-down, and everything seemed to be unusually, not the way it's supposed to be—out of order, out of the norm.

Think about it. All of the songs that we sang today have angels in them. And in the Christmas story, angels are singing. Now, if you just saw one angel, that would be extraordinary. But in the Christmas story, there are a whole heavenly host of them in the sky singing. And who are they singing to? Not to the rich and the powerful. They're singing to shepherds, the people that were the outcast and forgotten of society, telling them about what? The birth of the Messiah, the Son of God.

You would think He would be born in a palace and everybody would know about it, but nobody knew about it. That's why the angels had to announce it. And He wasn't born in a palace. He was born in a manger in a stable because there was no room in the inn for Him to be born. Totally backwards.

Now eventually, the Magi come—these wise men come to visit Jesus. Did they come from Jerusalem? You would think they would come from Jerusalem, the capital of God's people. But no. The Magi had to come all the way from thousands of miles away in the land of the East, what is modern-day Iraq. And they come all the way over and they visit Jesus, the Messiah, the King of the Jews.

So it's so backwards and so unusual. You would think, just like the Magi did, “Let's go to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people, and ask them where their King is.” And of course, we know how that story goes. Nobody in Jerusalem knows. They're absolutely oblivious to it. And when they find out that their King has been born, what do they try to do? They try to kill Him. I mean, everything about the Christmas story isn't the way it's supposed to be. It's upside down.

And I think that that's a fitting tie-in for our message today as we continue our study in the book of Revelation. Revelation is also a book—a vision—that turns everything upside down. It's told to a persecuted Christian people who are suffering, and it tells them, “I know you're suffering. I know your world is falling apart. I know that everything seems like it is darkness around you.” But it all has a meaning because it is connected to what is happening in the spiritual realm.

The battle that is raging between the spiritual forces of darkness and the heavenly kingdoms is playing out in your world. And that's why everything looks wrong. But this vision seeks to open their eyes to see what is happening in the spiritual realms. Revelation uses divine images and symbols to paint a picture to show what is really going on. And the overwhelming, overarching message is: stand firm. Have faith. God has already won the battle—even though it doesn't seem like it from your perspective.

So let's get into it today as we study the letter to the church of Pergamum from Revelation 2:12–17.

Revelation 2:12-13
¹² “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

¹³ “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

Pergamum: The City of Satan’s Throne
Jesus writes a letter to the church in Pergamum—a real first-century city in Turkey—where Jesus says Satan has his throne.

Now, what does that mean? “Satan’s throne” on earth?

Pergamum was a wealthy city in the Roman Empire. There were Christians living there, but they were a small minority. There were also Jewish people living there, also a minority. But what Pergamum was famous for was the Temple of Zeus.

Zeus, as many of you know, was one of the Greek gods—actually the top god in their mythology. The king of all the Greek gods. And his temple was in Pergamum. People worshipped Zeus in Pergamum.

Now what Jesus is saying is: “What you see is a temple of Zeus, but in reality, the altar of that temple is the throne of Satan.” That’s what Jesus calls it.

This is what’s going on right there in their city—and yet, the Christians in Pergamum are being faithful.

In addition to the temple of Zeus, Pergamum was also part of the Roman Empire, and the emperor was Domitian. He thought he was a god. He told all his subjects in the Roman Empire, “You have to worship me. You have to honor me as a god.”

So not only are the people in Pergamum worshiping Zeus, but they’re also being told to worship the Roman Emperor, Domitian.

Now you might ask, “Well, how could they worship Zeus and also worship the Roman Emperor?”

This is the thing about the Roman Empire—it was wide, diverse, and full of many different peoples and religions. In order to maintain peace, the Romans were smart. They said to most people, “You can worship your gods, practice your religion—that’s fine. As long as you also worship the emperor.”

Everyone had to do that—except the Jews. Because the Jewish religion (and by extension the Christian religion) taught: “You shall have no other gods before me.” That’s one of the Ten Commandments.

So the Jews could not worship the emperor. And because of their long history and reputation, the Romans made an exception. The Jews were the only group that did not have to worship the emperor.

Early Christians were considered a Jewish sect, so they were also granted this exception. But over time, Jewish leaders who did not believe in Jesus began to say, “You Christians are not Jews.”

That created a real problem. Because if Christians weren’t Jews, then they were breaking Roman law by refusing to worship the emperor.

This is what Christians in Pergamum were dealing with. They had to decide: Are we going to be faithful to Jesus Christ? Or are we going to bow to Satan’s throne and worship the emperor?

And Jesus says to them, “You have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred.”

Now we don’t know exactly how Antipas was killed. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But I did some research.

Tertullian, an early Christian writer who lived around A.D. 160 to 220, wrote that Antipas was roasted alive inside a bronze bull. That’s a horrifying way to die. They would put the victim inside a hollow bronze statue of a bull, light a fire underneath it, and roast them alive. The screams would echo through the mouth of the bull like an bull bellowing.

That’s what Antipas suffered—because he refused to worship the emperor or deny Christ.

This is the kind of world these Christians were living in. That’s why Revelation was given. To say, “Even though it looks like evil is winning, God is doing something. Don’t give up. Stand firm.”

Revelation 2:14-16
¹⁴ “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. ¹⁵ In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. ¹⁶ Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Teaching like Balaam
Now Jesus is shifting. He’s gone from praise to a warning. He says, “Even though you’ve been faithful in the face of persecution, you have some teachers among you who are compromising in other areas.”

He references Balaam. Do you remember Balaam from the Old Testament (Number 22-24)? He’s the prophet who was hired by King Balak to curse the Israelites. But Balaam knew he couldn’t actually curse them—God had blessed them. So instead, Balaam showed Balak another way to trip them up. He advised Balak to tempt the Israelites into sin—specifically, sexual immorality and idolatry.

And it worked. The Israelites gave in to the temptation and sinned, and God’s judgment came upon them.

Jesus says that something similar is happening in the church at Pergamum. Some people in the church are teaching others to compromise—just like Balaam did. They’re mixing faith in God with worldly practices.

They’re eating food sacrificed to idols—participating in pagan religious feasts. And they’re engaging in sexual immorality, like all the pagans around them practiced.  

Jesus also calls out the Nicolaitans, a group we’ve mentioned before. The Nicolaitans took it even further. They said, “You can do whatever you want—God will forgive you.” They used God’s grace as an excuse to sin.

Jesus says, “Repent of your sin, or I will come to you and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Now what is the sword of Jesus’ mouth?

It’s His Word—powerful, sharp, and penetrating. It’s full of truth, judgment, and authority. Jesus doesn’t need a sword in His hand. His Word alone cuts through lies, exposes sin, convicts hearts, and brings both judgment and life.

This is serious. Jesus is saying: “Don’t tolerate compromise in your church. Don’t let false teachers lead you astray. If you do, I will deal with them Myself.”

Revelation 2:17
¹⁷ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

Two Symbols
Here Jesus gives two promises to those who remain faithful.  

First, there is Hidden Manna.  This is spiritual nourishment. It refers back to the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness back in Exodus. They didn’t know where their next meal was coming from, but God provided. In the same way, Jesus provides spiritual nourishment—He is the Bread of Life. Those who remain faithful will be sustained by Him in ways the world cannot see.

Second, Jesus promises a White Stone with a New Name. This is rich with meaning. In the ancient world, white stones were used as symbols of:

• Acquittal in a court of law (a white stone meant “not guilty”).

• Victory in athletic competitions (a token of triumph).

• Invitations to special banquets or feasts.  The white stone was the token to gain intrance to the party.

Jesus says He will give a white stone with a name only the one who receives it will understand. It’s a personal, eternal identity—something beautiful, known between you and God alone. A sign of His intimate love and reward for your faithfulness.  It shows that the receipient is innocent (because Jesus washed their sins away).  It showed they were victorious (because Jesus won the victory over sin and death).  And it is symbolizes the recipient has been invited to the eternal banquet with Jesus in the Kingdom of God. 

Closing
So Jesus is saying:
If you will be faithful,
If you will resist unholy compromise,
If you will stand firm even when the pressure is on,
Then I will sustain you with heavenly manna—My presence, My provision, My life.
And I will give you a white stone that declares you are Mine.
Not guilty.
Victorious.
Invited.
Known and loved.

That was the message to the church in Pergamum.
And it’s the message to us today.

We live in a world that constantly tempts us to compromise our values to fit in.
We are encouraged to live in harmony with diverse people—and we should.
We can’t expect non-Christians to live by Christian standards.
But we must never compromise the Word of God in order to be accepted by the world.
We are called to speak the truth in love,
To live with grace and conviction,
To be faithful witnesses like Antipas—even when it’s hard.

Let me ask you:

·       Have you allowed the world’s values to soften or silence your faith?

·       Are there places in your life where you’ve compromised God's truth to avoid conflict or gain acceptance?

·       Have you made peace with sin instead of standing for righteousness?

·       Are you more shaped by culture than by Christ?

·       Are there people or pressures that have nudged you away from full faithfulness?

Jesus praised the church in Pergamum for staying loyal even when it cost them everything—
but He also called them to repent where they had tolerated compromise.

What about you?  Today is a time to reflect…
To repent if needed…
To renew your commitment to Christ…
To tune your ears to what the Spirit is saying…
and to stand firm.

Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,  You are the One with the sharp two-edged sword.
Your Word pierces through confusion and compromise.
Forgive us, Lord, for the times we’ve drifted,
For the ways we’ve let culture speak louder than Your truth.

Give us courage to stand firm, even when it's uncomfortable, unpopular, or costly.
Help us be people of grace and conviction—full of Your Spirit, faithful to Your Word,
Shining light in a world that desperately needs You.

Give us ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying.
Strengthen us to live it out this week—at home, at work, in school, in every part of life.

In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Jesus' Temptation | A Sermon on Matthew 4:1-11

Introduction
Last week, we read the incredible, powerful story of Jesus’ baptism.  When Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  What a wonderful affirmation that was for Jesus as He marked the beginning of His public ministry. 

Immediately after that remarkably special moment, Jesus faced a very dark and difficult test.

Matthew 4:1
¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 

Three Things
I want to pause here and point out a few important ideas. 

First, the peaks of our spiritual highs are often followed by difficult lows.  Life has its ups & downs.  Make peace with it. Soak it up and savior the highs.  And understand the lows won’t last forever.  Be faithful and cling to your faith.  Things will improve & there are more incredible victories coming.  Don’t give up.  Keep the faith.

Second, testing is part of the spiritual journey.  
Right after the high of Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted.  And it specifically says it was the Spirit who led Him there.   It was important for Jesus to be tested.  A person’s real character is not revealed unless it’s tested.  That’s true for everyone—even Jesus.  People can dress up and look good on the outside, but when pressure squeezes a person, the juice comes out.  That’s when you find out who they really are inside. 

Third, I want to say Jesus understands what we go through because He went through it too.  Jesus didn’t live a sheltered life.  He faced all the same life struggles we all face.  He even met the Devil face to face and it was awful. That’s why He told us to pray about it in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”  Even though temptation and evil are an inevitable part of our experience from time to time, Jesus encourages us to pray that God would protect us from them as much as possible.  But for Jesus, in this chapter of His life, it was important for Him to face the Devil.  And He did.

Matthew 4:2-11
² For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

³ During that time the devil^[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, ⁶ and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’^[c]”

⁷ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’^[d]”

⁸ Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

¹⁰ “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him.’^[e]”

¹¹ Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Why Did Jesus Need to Be Tempted?
You may wonder, “Why did Jesus need to be tempted?” One reason is because we are.  Hebrews 4:15 says of Jesus, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” 

Another reason is explained in Romans 5:18-19.  Jesus is the second Adam.  Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve were tempted and ate the forbidden fruit.  Their disobedience caused everything in creation to fall apart.  That is why there is sin and suffering and death and corruption in our world.  It is why the world and people are so broken.  But Jesus is the second Adam.  He is obedient where Adam and all of Adam’s offspring (us) fail.  Jesus’ obedience takes the place of our sin—fulfilling God’s original intent for humankind.

Jesus’ response to Satan also shows us how we can resist the Devil too.

How to Resist the Devil For Dummies
First, understand Satan’s plan.  The Devil often tempts us the same ways he tempted Jesus: with physical needs (bread), power (control), and testing God (pride).  Satan takes good things and twist and corrupts them.  Food is a good thing, but if we overindulge it is bad for us.  Power and influence can be used for good, but not if they require us to compromise godly values.  And we can certainly rely on God to help us through our trials, but it is sinful pride to expect God to protect us when we do something stupid.

And notice, Satan’s strategy is often to come quoting Scripture to back up His evil temptations.  (He tries to trick Jesus to jump off the highest point of the Temple by quoting Psalm 91.)  But Jesus doesn’t fall for it because Jesus doesn’t just pick Scriptures to prove his own points.  He knows the over-arching meaning of the whole Word of God.  And we must know it too so that neither Satan (or anyone) can lead us to sin by quoting the Bible to us.

As Jesus said in John 8:44, “[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  So listen to 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”,

Second, Use the 5 Finger Defense Technique. 

The 5 Finger Defense

1.     Thumb – Stay Close to God through Prayer & Submission – The thumb is closest to you, reminding you to stay connected to God.  Do this through Prayer and Submission.  You will never be able to resist the Devil on your own.  You need God’s help.  And a life of prayer is the most important way to stay close to God where Satan cannot overcome you. Develop a strong, vibrant, regular prayer life.

2.     Index Finger – Know & Use Scripture to Point to the Truth – Just like you use this finger to point, use God’s Word to point out the lies Satan tells you.  But it’s important to KNOW the whole truth—not just over-simplistic random quotes from the Bible.  Even Satan quotes Scripture.  So ask yourself, “What is God really saying in Scripture?  What is the whole Truth Jesus reveals?”  Know Jesus’ Truth and live it!

3.     Middle Finger – Guard Your Mind and Stay Pure – The tallest finger reminds you to rise above sin and keep your mind focused on God.  Thoughts lead to actions.  Heed the Apostle Paul’s advise in Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

4.     Ring Finger – Avoid Triggers and Be Committed – Just like a wedding ring symbolizes commitment, commit to avoiding temptation.  Examine the times you failed and fell to sin.  Learn from your mistakes.  What triggered you?  How can you avoid those triggers in the future?  Learn to be content with what God has already given you.  Then, Satan’s temptations won’t entice you.

5.     Pinky – Stay Faithful in Small Things – The smallest finger reminds you that even small, daily acts of obedience give you strength to resist the devil.  Satan often starts eroding your faithfulness to God through little things.  He’s not going to ask you to rob a bank right from the start.  He’ll start with stealing a pencil.  He won’s start by asking you to cheat on your wife.  He’ll start by tempting you to lust after someone you see on TV.  If you stand firm in the small things, Satan won’t be able to get through your defense and hit you with something bigger.

Remember: Jesus faced every temptation we do, yet He remained faithful.  Through Him, we have the strength to resist the devil and walk in righteousness too.  This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season where we refocus spiritually, just as Jesus did during His 40 days in the wilderness. It's a time for prayer and fasting, reflection, and drawing closer to God, resisting the distractions and temptations of this world.  What will you do during the 40 days of Lent from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday to help you grow in faith? 

Ask Pastor Chris: Can Satan Hear Our Prayers?

Dear Pastor Chris,

            Can Satan hear our prayers?  I ask this because I actually pray silently, in hopes that the Devil can't, or maybe won't, be able to know what I am praying.

Your Inquisitive Friend,

Prayer Warrior

Dear Prayer Warrior,

James 4:7 says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  Humble obedience to God should be our main concern.  If we keep our focus on God, Satan has no chance.  It’s only when we take our focus off God and his Kingdom that we are in danger.

            Sometimes it feels like Satan is taunting me as I pray, trying to discourage me, but I just tell him to get lost.  I’ve even told him, “Say what you want, Devil, but you already know you lose in the end.”  I think that really drives Satan nuts and it ends my concerns on the matter.

            For me, I think the Devil’s presence (or perceived presence) during my prayer times has more to do with my own insecurities.  When I dwell on my sin or failures or shortcomings, it opens the door for Satan to come taunt me.  Thankfully, my faith in God’s goodness, forgiveness, and love reminds me to kick the Devil back out the door and to lock it tight.  I know God loves me no matter what, in spite of all my flaws.  I believe with my whole heart—“…nothing can ever separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38).  So the Enemy’s hateful, hurtful words are just his futile attempt to scare me or depress me or distract me, and I’m just not going to let him.

Can the Devil hear our prayers?  Maybe sometimes, but I think this would be true whether we say them out loud or silently in our heart.  I think Satan is a spiritual being and if and when he overhears our prayers, he can overhear our inner prayers too.  Don’t let that unsettle you though.  Satan has no power over God and he cannot intercept, disrupt, or stop our prayers from reaching God.  I suppose some might be concerned Satan will get a little inside information he could use against us.  I just don’t think God would allow it.  God is too powerful.  Actually, it must be incredibly frustrating to Satan to hear you pray about something, to see beforehand how God is going to answer your prayer, and how God’s answer is going to defeat Satan, and Satan can’t do a thing in the world to stop it.

However, if you still have a concern Satan might be eavesdropping on your prayers, I would just start my prayer by asking God to keep the conversation private.  Pray “Lord, stop up Satan’s ears so he can’t hear what I’m about to tell you.”  Done.  God will answer that prayer and Satan won’t be able to hear a thing you pray—whether you pray in your heart or screaming out loud.  (It’s sort of comical to think about really—everyone within ten blocks being able to hear your prayers because you’re screaming; and Satan is totally oblivious.)

Remember, God love you and so do I!

Pastor Chris

The Green Light

The Truth As Far As I Can Tell…

James 4:7 – So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

            “It’s the green light.”  He said. 

            “What do you mean?”  I asked my friend, Ken.  Ken Stephens was an experienced Methodist minister who served a church a few miles down the road from mine.  He was patient, faithful, and wise from years of ‘fighting the good fight’ in the Lord’s Kingdom.

            Ken and I and a number of other pastors in Forsyth, Georgia were planning a community-wide mission event.  Unfortunately, we had experienced some minor setbacks in our plans.  It was nothing major, but enough to make some of us less experienced ministers question if we were doing the right thing.  Was God trying to tell us we were off track?  Were we doing the right thing?

            “It’s the green light.”  Ken repeated.  “When Satan sees the Church working together and doing the will of God, Satan feels threatened.  He doesn’t like it.  So, he tries his best to disrupt and discourage God’s people.  But that’s the green light for the Church.  It tells us we are on the right track.  We are making the Devil nervous.  So we’ve got to press on.  The Devil’s telling us to stop, but God’s giving us the green light to go ahead.”

            I never forgot Ken’s advice.  Whenever I know I am doing the right thing, I don’t let Satan discourage me with his minor disruptions.  Now, I just see these as the green light.  They are confirmation that I am on the right track.  If Satan is fighting us, it is only confirmation that we are on the right track.  So I pray for God to chase the Devil away and I ask other prayer warriors to join with me, knowing if we resist the Devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7). 

            Satan cannot stand against us.  Through Jesus, we have already won the victory.  Of course, I’m no expert and certainly don’t claim to know everything, but that’s the Truth as far as I can tell…

Remember, God loves you and so do I!