Seven Churches of Revelation Series. Sermon 3: Pergamos. "The Conformed Church!"

 

Introduction:   Watch clip about Rosa Parks:

 

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNzQW_lwOko

 

A.   What does it mean to "Be true to a cause?"

B.   Maybe, to stand up for something we believe in no matter what.

C.   But it is so easy to give in to pressure and be untrue to a promise.

Trans.

Today, we will look at the church in Pergamos and see what we can learn about being true to a cause from their situation. Remember, we are interpreting Revelation as either Historic or Metaphoric, and as we do, we can take what Jesus says to these churches and apply it to today.

 

                            Prayer

                          Rev. 2:12-17

 

I.   Pergamos: the city and its background.

A.   Not as important as Ephesus and Symrna:

1.   Commercially

a.   no sea port

b.   Trade was slow because you had to go elsewhere for shipping.

2.   Politically

a.   Not as large, so not as noticeable.

b.   Not as important a town.

 

B.   But religiously, Pergamos was famous.

1.   Many religions were there: pagan religions.

a.   Zeus: (zoos)   god of the elements, moral law and order, and punisher of                                      guilt. (Webster & BKC)

b.   Athena: Greek goddess of wisdom (Webster &                                                           BKC)

c.   Dionysius: Greek god of wine. (Webster &                                                           BKC)

 

d.   Asclepius:     a pagan god of healing represented in the form of a                                    serpent. (BKC)   You had to come and let snakes  crawl over you to get healing.                                                     (Don T.)

2.   Pergamos was the capital of "emperor worship" for  this entire area.  Here you worshipped the emperor  if you knew what was good for you!

 

C.   So the Christians in Pergamos were a small, and strange group of people to the rest of the town.

 

II.  Pergamos the Church.

A.   Commendation:  faithfulness even in the midst of Satan's throne. (vs. 13)

1.   Refers to emperor worship!

2.   Even when one of them was killed (Antipas), they still remained true.

 

B.   Reprimand: 

1.   The Church OK's the teachings of Balaam.

a.   He was a Hebrew false teacher who led Israel

into idol worship and adultery w/Moabite women.

b.   Pergamos, the church, had evidently okayed

attending idol feasts and perhaps the immoral

sexual rituals which went with them.

2.   Again, as in Ephesus, the Nicolaitines are

mentioned.

a.   Remember the Nicolaitans were make believe

Christians who taught that Christians were free

To eat food offered to idols and to practice

fornication in the name of religion.@

(Mercer Bible Dict.)

b.   Again, Christ says, "I hate their doctrine!"

c.   But this time there are people here who hold

to this doctrine!

 

C.   Exhortation:

1.   Repent!

2.   If not, Christ would consider them as against Him.

3.   He would cut them off as with a two edged sword!

 

D.   Promise:  Those who remained true would receive:

1.   Hidden manna.

a.   As Israel had in the wilderness, God would

provide this for them.

b.   God would provide what they needed to meet

their needs!

2.   A white stone.

1.   Scholars differ as to the meaning of the

white stone.

2.   The important point is the stone's

inscription which gives the believer "a

new name" indicating acceptance by God!

 

III. Pergamos' message to Forsyth UMC.

A.   Be thankful we are not persecuted for being Christians (to

the degree they were back then).

 

B.   Be careful not to accept or condone immorality in our

personal lives! (Notice, Pergamos was reprimanded for

their own sin, not because they were allowing sin to go

on around them.  None of these churches are reprimanded

for living amongst sin; God does not expect us to control

the sins of those around us, just to show them a better

way!) Again, be careful not to accept or condone

immorality in our personal lives:

1.   Is it alright to cheat a little?

2.   To look at pornography?

          3.   If we are sexually active, are we living in sexually

              monogamous relationships?

          4.   Do we treat those who are not like us with love and

              dignity?

5.   Do we keep our commitments?

a.   We are to be transformed, not conformed!

(Rom. 12.2)

b.   However, we should be careful not to act better than others, and we should always welcome all people (those on the outside)  because Christ died for all! (John 3:16)

6.   This is more about being true ourselves than about standing up and making others conform!  You can’t force Christianity!

 

C.   Strive to be more in touch with God, so we can:

1.   Receive hidden manna:

a.   Strength.

b.   Courage.

c.   Patience.

d.   Comfort.

e.   Encouragement.

2.   Receive the white stone of approval showing that  God is pleased with our lives!

 

 

     D.   Strive to be faithful to God in spite of opposition!

          1.   Don’t do something or not do something we feel Christ

would have us do or not do to be accepted!

          2.   Rosa Parks stood or sat on her convictions even when

it would have been easier to conform, and she changed

the world in the US.

          3.   Make sure your convictions are what Christ taught or

stood for (love, helping the sick and the outcasts,

acceptance, and grace) and not what everyone else

says you should do, and then stay true to that!

 

Conclusion:

A.      Do we feel that God is pleased with our lives?

 

B.   Are we conforming or being transformed?

1.   Are we being careful not to condone immorality in

our own lives?

2.   Are we accepting to all people?

3.   Are we striving to be more in touch with God?

 

C.   Or do we need to ask God to help us with this one as we

encounter Christ at the table today?

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion