Pergamos - The Illegal Marriage

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. Amen. There are seven churches of Asia. Last week I spoke about sending the girls, or here come the girls, or no more open plan system, and particularly the worldly church.

[0:26] And today I want to continue from there, but hopefully focus more on the illegal marriage.

[0:41] I will be talking about illegal marriage. The illegal marriage. So, just a quick recap.

[0:52] Last week, let me read the scriptures first. Revelation chapter 2. I want to read from verse 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos writes, These things say he who has the two-edged sword.

[1:11] 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.

[1:31] Who was killed amongst 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 stumbling block between the children of, stumbling block before the children of Israel, to each thing sacrifice to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

[1:55] Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Which thing I hate?

[2:06] Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Verse 17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

[2:19] To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to it, 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.

[2:35] Amen. Amen. Wow. Wow. Wow. It's that this, verse 12, to the angel of the church in Pergamus, right?

[2:47] These things say, he who has the two-edged sword. All right? Jesus Christ said, I have two-edged sword. I told you earlier on that in Revelation chapter 1, from verse...

[3:07] 10. He said, I heard this loud voice behind me. And then verse 11. I tend to see who is speaking to me. Or verse 12. And then he said that I saw. Verse 12 said, I tend to see who is speaking to me.

[3:19] And then verse 13 said, I saw. Verse 12 said, I saw a candle lampstand. But in the candle lampstand, lampstands, one like the Son of Man. So he began to describe who he saw.

[3:30] Somebody, one like the Son of Man, who is Jesus. Verse 13. Clothed with garments down to his feet and gathered about the chest with a golden band. Verse 14.

[3:41] His head and his hair were white like wool and as white as snow. And his eyes like a flame of fire. Verse 14.

[3:52] His feet was like fine brass, as if refined in fairness. And his voice as the sound of many waters. Verse 16.

[4:03] He had in his right hand seven golden stars. And out of his mouth went a two-edged sword. And his countenance was like the sun shining in his strength.

[4:15] Then he goes on. So he was describing the personality he saw. Who was Jesus Christ. Now, in Revelation chapter 2, verse 1. He says that to the angel of the church of Ephesus write.

[4:27] Like, these things say he who holds the seven stars in his right hand. He who walks in the midst of the seven. That is what he saw. He saw a man, a particular person. And he described who he saw in verse, chapter 1.

[4:41] You remember what we just read? His hair was like as white. His head and hair as white as wool. And he gave a lot of description about this person. But when he comes to writing the letters, Jesus himself describes himself as first one.

[4:55] And he said that this is what he, me, who am I? The one who holds the seven stars in his hands and walks among the candles. So, go to the next verse.

[5:06] Verse 2. I know your way. So he said, this is what I'm saying. So, who is the issue? When he's coming to talk to the church, he presents himself in a particular way.

[5:17] Depending on the problem in the church. So, depending on what he's coming, or the kind of church he was addressing, he presents himself in a particular way.

[5:28] Based on what the guy, John, saw him to look like. So, he's not the same to all the churches. So, when he came to the church of Smyna, verse 9.

[5:41] Verse 9. The church of Smyna. Oh, sorry. Verse 8. Let's go. I'm sorry. Verse 8. He says that, and to the angel of the church of Smyna, right. These things say the first and the last. He who was dead. And now, when you read Revelation chapter 1, verse 17.

[5:54] He will tell you. He will say, I'm the one who was dead. And I'm alive forevermore. So, he actually describes himself. And then, when he's coming to the church, to talk to the church, he presents himself. He actually presents himself according to one of the descriptions that was shown.

[6:09] Now, then we go to the church of Pergamos. And then, the church of Pergamos. See how he describes verse 12. And to the angel of the church of Pergamos, right. These things say he who has the two-edged sword.

[6:19] That's all. Sorry. Sharp two-edged sword. Sharp is necessary. What's sharp for? What does sharp go note? For what?

[6:31] For what? Cutting. When you talk about sharp knife. Sharp knife. Sharp sword is supposed to be able to cut easily. When they are selling knives, and if you watch the television, the adverts of those knives, they just take tomatoes or something.

[6:48] They throw it and they just slice it nicely. It tells you that the knife is so sharp. It cuts so fine. He said, me, I can cut so fine, effortly. And when it comes to the church of Pergamos, he said, I'm coming with a sword.

[7:06] I'm coming to cut. Because this illegal marriage is not allowed. I'm coming to bring divorce. Separate it. You have to cut to separate.

[7:17] Amen. Cut some things out. That's why you need a knife for circumcision. That's right. Knife is necessary for circumcision.

[7:29] And when you go to the theater surgery, the knives are different. They are so sharp. Small, but sharp. And Jesus, he said, my sword is two-edged.

[7:40] It's not only one-sided. When I go back, it's cutting. When I go forward, it's cutting. Anywhere I move, it's cutting. So I'm cutting in the mind and I'm cutting in the heart.

[7:53] That's why it's two-edged. It's necessary. So when you go to Hebrews 4, verse 12. Oh. Hebrews 4, verse 12. It says that, For the word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of the soul and the spirit, of the joints and the marrow, and is a designer of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.

[8:15] The word of God. He always wants to deal with matters in your heart. God is very interested in what is in your heart. And in your heart. So he said, Church.

[8:30] You worldly church. Tell the worldly church that I'm coming with a sword. And the sword is in his mouth. Chapter 1, verse 16.

[8:41] The sword is in his mouth. It comes out of his mouth. Interesting. You see, watch this. He said, He had a sharp two-edged sword. That thing was coming out of his mouth.

[8:52] What makes you think that pastors, any pastor who is really speaking God's word shouldn't catch your heart? You see? He's because he's talking about me. No, no.

[9:02] The thing must cut. It must cut. Because I just read it. It said the word of God. It said it's like two-edged sword. Hebrew. We just read it.

[9:13] Hebrew chapter 4, verse 12. It said, For the word of God is living in his world. Powerful in his world. Sharper than any two-edged sword. The word of God is described like, It's even sharper than any two.

[9:23] It's sharp. So when Stephen preached the gospel to them in Acts chapter 7, from verse, I think, 50, 54, 55, 56, the Bible says, And they were cut to the, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart.

[9:38] What cut them? The things they heard cut them. Why do you come to church, and you are living in a way that does not glorify God, and you are a believer, and the word of God shouldn't cut you?

[9:48] The devil is a liar. I am believing God for a word that will cut you. It must cut. It must cut. Before we pray for you, we must cut you.

[10:01] It must cut. Say, Catch me, Lord. I know some people can't see it. Say, Catch me, Lord. Catch me, Lord. With your word.

[10:11] With your word. Bible says that, Acts chapter 2, verse 37, And when Peter's, Now when they heard these things, they heard, you see, hearing, hearing, they were cut to the heart.

[10:25] After the preaching of Peter, they were cut to the heart. And I'm praying that this morning, the service will be filled with people, who, watch this, who will respond this way, when they are cut to the heart. When they were cut to the heart, and they said to Peter, and the rest of them, Man, what shall we do?

[10:40] That is what a genuine Christian does. But the stubborn ones, they take stones to kill the pastor. Look at, again, chapter 7, of Acts, verse 54. They were cut to the heart, when they heard it, and they gnashed their teeth.

[10:55] I think. The same word, cutting. Some people, when they cut them, they said, Please, help us. What shall we do? And then Peter said, Repent. What shall we do?

[11:08] Others, when they were cut to the heart, There are two types of people here right now. Some are cut to the heart, and they are upset with me.

[11:19] No, no, no. You see, when God calls you to preach the word, you risk being stoned. It's part of our calling. Some of us will be stoned to death.

[11:30] Some of us will be stoned emotionally. But it's part, why do you want to be a pastor? I don't want anybody to stone you. That's why you have deleted your message. No, no, no, no.

[11:41] I'm not saying you have to be obnoxious. I'm not saying you have to be obnoxious, annoying, or irritating people, and speak rubbish. No. I'm saying that if you are going to uphold the word of God in its integrity, it cuts to the heart.

[11:55] Yes. It cuts to the heart. That gentleman who is living in fornication will come with his girlfriend to church, or the lady has brought him to church, thinking that once he comes to church, he will also become a rehabilitation, and then he will start coming to church so he will marry you.

[12:10] And then the one who cuts his heart, and he says, I'm born again. I can't walk with you again. It must cut you. It must cut you.

[12:21] And this morning, I have a long two-edged sword. It must cut all of us. Sometimes I'm preaching, it's cutting me.

[12:33] And it's cutting you. And when it cuts, when it cuts, it cuts you to the heart. What are you supposed to do? You are supposed to say, men and brethren, what shall we do? It's a repentant heart.

[12:46] That's when you begin to see the blessing of God over your life. Because God's plan is not to punish you, it's to polish you. I see you moving into your next face.

[13:00] Wow. Wow. So, it says that, this is he, this is, this is what he who has the two-edged sword says. So, two-edged sword is for cutting.

[13:10] Look at verse 13. I know your works. And where you dwell. He said, I know where you dwell. I know you are sitting in church, but where you are is not good.

[13:22] Wow. Not physically, but where you dwell. Where are you dwelling? You dwell in the place where Satan's throne is. What has church got to do with Satan's territory? How can church and Satan be sharing the house?

[13:39] How? How can a Christian brother, a Christian sister, you are sharing the same dodgy deals at workplace with other unbeliever colleagues?

[13:52] Doing the same dodgy deals. Doing the same thing. How can a Christian sister, a Christian brother be speaking so evil about the church like unbelievers do?

[14:08] What they did, what they did, it is not good. Yeah, it's not good. But be careful. Can you imagine, you remember the way some people, your mother, sometimes, she is like, sometimes you can admit that my mother has issues.

[14:23] But you won't allow people to be in public and your mother, no, no, you say, excuse me, excuse me, how dare you talk about my mother like that? How dare you talk, it's still my mother, okay, especially when you're in a relationship and that other person wants to pick on your sisters and your family, it's not nice at all.

[14:40] So, in the same way, when somebody's picking on the church, you shouldn't take it lightly. Yeah, yeah, it's true. What a person may be saying is true, it's not nice.

[14:52] But it doesn't give them the audacity now to begin to take the thing to another level. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. The real point I'm making is you have to stand up for the church. Yeah, right. Stand up for the church.

[15:06] Stand up for the church. You have come for prayer in the church. But you, you won't stand for the church when you're out.

[15:19] Right. What the church has got to offer for you, it will not work. That's true. Because you have to validate it. Yes. By the way, you stand up for the church.

[15:30] If the church is good and the prayer will work for you, then you must be able to defend the church. Yes, yes. It's very important. Yes. It's very important. Let's defend.

[15:41] Because in our generation, people hate the church. People can't stand the church. Be an antipas. That's right. That's right.

[15:52] Be an antipas. I didn't say antichrist. Antipas. Antipas. Everybody say antipas. Antipas. I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.

[16:06] And you hold fast my name and did not deny my faith. Even in the days in which antipas was my faithful matai.

[16:17] Antipas. Was a faithful... The word matai I told you last week it means it's the same as witness. The same Greek word translated as witness. So sometimes it's translated as matai.

[16:28] At that time it's translated as witness. All right. So we are called to be witnesses. And you know what God is looking for? Faithful witness. Can you imagine? Watch this.

[16:38] I know some of you attention hasn't come on this. Look at that. What did he say about antipas? Faithful. What did he say about antipas? Faithful. One more time. Faithful.

[16:49] Are you not saying it? Let's all say. What did he say about antipas? Faithful. Faithful. Can you imagine that Jesus is in heaven and he's calling somebody this one is my faithful mine.

[17:00] He said my he's my faithful. My faithful witness. May God say that about us. That God can look from heaven and say that you are my faithful my faithful witness.

[17:14] My faithful parish church member. We can say about you that you are a faithful person. This is why I said if you know us saying it Jesus himself says my antipas is my faithful mine.

[17:25] And because of antipas antipas it's the church has become so worldly that they were losing their testimony but because of antipas in his days some people were able to still hold the name of Christ.

[17:40] So he says that I know and you have hold fast you have hold fast my name and did not deny my faith. Why? Because of antipas those days antipas gave people a reason to stand firm.

[17:52] Faithful antipas. Thank God for the influence of antipas. And in every every Christian church there will be some antipas and especially when the world is coming into the church we need antipas to rise up and the meaning of the name antipas the meaning is against all.

[18:12] He stands against anything worldly he will be the one to oppose it. No! We won't take it. No! I'm not for this. No! I'm not for this. And so they had to kill him and get rid of him. He was martyred.

[18:23] He was killed because he was so faithful he would not allow this illegal marriage to go. We need some antipas in our generations.

[18:35] May God help Carice Church to be an antipas in our generation. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Before I go any further let me go back and then mention to you what the name Pergamos means.

[18:52] Last week I said it means a strong tower and marriage. Okay so it means two things. Pergamos means marriage it means strong tower. So we are dealing with the marriage.

[19:05] Last week I spoke a lot about the situation of the marriage but let me just bring a little highlight about the tower the significance of the tower. The church has become married to the world and the church has become a tower.

[19:19] The church started a delightsome church a pleasant church it was a desirable church church of Ephesus. Then we have a persecuted church a precious church pressured church and a suffering church that is Smyrna.

[19:36] Now the church we come to the church who is married to the world the church that has become a tower and married to the a strong tower and married to the world.

[19:48] And Jesus said that's not the church I'm expecting. Now let's look at Matthew chapter 13. Remember last week I quoted Matthew 13 those of you were here but I didn't get to go in this time I'll go in.

[20:03] Matthew chapter 13 verse 31 Thank you Jesus.

[20:17] Matthew chapter 13 verse 31 Another parable he put forth to them saying the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field which indeed is the least of all the seeds but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the best of the the best of the air come and nest in its branches.

[20:51] Wow. Wow. Verse 31 The kingdom of heaven let's all say the kingdom of heaven.

[21:01] The kingdom of heaven Let's say it again. The kingdom of heaven Matthew was very fond of saying the kingdom of heaven he was always careful about saying the kingdom of God because Jews don't easily pronounce the name of God.

[21:19] It's an ineffable name. So Matthew always said the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of heaven. So he said the kingdom of heaven is like when watch this the church is the kingdom of God okay the kingdom of God you just said the kingdom of God is in your midst so he was the kingdom when he came the kingdom was in our midst and then when he went now the church is the kingdom of God on earth.

[21:41] when it was in the days of Israel God actually they were referred to the kingdom of God at a point in time so the church is not the kingdom of God the territory where God reigns it's not everywhere God is reigning even though he's powerful and he has influence and he can do whatever he wants his rule and his reign is clear in the church that's why it's a problem when Satan the church brings Satan in and they didn't just bring Satan but Satan's throne throne is where power place of authority how can the church be where Satan is also now executing his powers and his authority meanwhile that is the kingdom of God so it's the kingdom of God and watch this oh thank you Jesus thank you he says the kingdom of God watch this is very interesting the kingdom of God the church life it's like it's like a small seed which a man took and sowed in the field we have been sown in the field of London sown in the field and guess what happened the verse 32 which indeed is the least it looks insignificant that's why it's easy to marginalize the church that's why it's easy to talk against the church because we look very insignificant and not powerful the church by nature socially speaking and politically speaking is not powerful

[23:08] I'm going some way the church politically is not a political force when the church becomes a political force when the church or Christianity comes into union with secular powers it is called Christendom and Christendom is different from what Jesus died for very interesting the church is not allowed is not permitted to come into union into marriage with political force so that the church becomes like the church begins to gain sovereignty and dominion in a geographical territory geographical territory the whole territory is ruled and the laws and the rule and the behavior are upheld by Christian doctrine Christian practices and it's just you don't have to be a Christian but the whole thing is controlled by Christian no that's Christendom it's very interesting it's something good to think about so a man takes a seat a master seat saws it in the field and it's the least of all seeds but when it's when it is grown it's greater than the herbs greater than what the herbs now master seed master master is not a tree it's a herb do you understand what I'm saying like tomato tomato you don't have tomato trees no or watermelon trees no some of you don't know you didn't know okay I'm telling you now there's there's no watermelon tree there's no tomato tree okay and so master seed is not a tree it's a herb but it grows up and now becomes bigger than the herb and becomes a tree hey what is this what is this

[25:12] I saw master seed now it's a tree hey hey so the master the kingdom of God is like a seed planted and suddenly it has become a tree what is this what is this what is this that's Pergamus for you the church has not become Christianity it has become Christendom become a huge institution a tower powerful tower you can't deal with you can't win elections without the influence of the church in in at a period of time in European history the church was controlling everything that's why the society have risen and rebelled against the church because then we have then you end up having priests and bishops who are not Christians because it's an institution it's just an institution and so some of us were Christians by people who are not Christians some of us were baptized by people who don't even believe in the

[26:17] Bible some of you who have been exposed to maybe religious studies or in universities you are doing some Christians there are people who are reverent they have reverent doctor bishop teaching religion and they don't even they'll tell you I have a friend who went to Bible school somewhere in the UK he said a bishop one of the lecturers said bishop he said let me tell you I don't really believe in the Bible I'm teaching it how many of you have heard or seen bishops or priests who tell you that no I don't believe in everything in the Bible most of some of them some of them are not Christians they are just it's career it's a job it's a job it's a career when the church becomes an institution then you have all kinds of things coming to make their nest in the church so Satan feels comfortable in the church now go back to that text again Matthew chapter 13 verse 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds but when it is grown it's greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that birds of the air birds of the air in the scripture birds of the air is signs of it's demonic demons demons can I show you the same

[27:43] Matthew 13 go to verse 4 Matthew 13 go to verse 4 and he sowed and he sowed some sorry as he sowed some fell some seeds fell by the wayside and the bears came and devoured he's talking about the word of God which was sold okay and bears and so when he says look at verse 19 when he was explaining the parable to them verse 19 he said and anyone let him hear and he sorry anyone when anyone hears the word of the kingdom do you see that and does not understand it the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart this is he who received by the wayside so who is the wicked one who comes the bears came the bears of the air did you see that so the bears of the air of the air verse 2 again verse 4 I'm sorry the bears of the air is standing for anyone so where's side and the bears came and devoured the seed and Jesus says that the enemy is the bear that comes to devour the seed

[28:46] Revelation chapter 18 verse 2 Revelation chapter 18 verse 2 and he cried and he cried mightily with a loud voice saying Babylon the great is falling is falling and has become dwelling place of demons a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean and hated bird so bears of the air in the scripture sometimes most times represent demons and their influence guess what the seed was sown it becomes an institution a tree instead of a herb it becomes a tree powerful and it had branches it has branches verse 2 verse 2 verse 32 verse 32 it has branches Matthew 13 32 thank you Jesus and then

[29:47] Bible says that so the best of the air came and nest in work is branches institution with all different branches and different wings it's very interesting that's what has happened to some of the huge established churches I'm not saying that they are demon possessed and always in the church of pegamos there are some faithful ones like Antipas but watch this I said this about a month or a few weeks ago that in the New Testament there's no way you see in the New Testament the church being depicted as a building or an organization or an institution nowhere in the New Testament would you see the church being depicted as an institution when you read the Bible it's not it so the church is not an institution the church is not a building and the church is not just a human organization it's a collection of God's people gathering of God's people called out ones thank you

[31:06] Jesus praise God and so now back I need to show you this one too look at verse 33 I think you like verse 33 even more verse 33 shall we all read it shall we all read it let's go let's read it again another parable let's go let's start let's go another parable he spoke to them can you give me an ivy so that at least the english can be straightforward let's see how an ivy boost it he told them still another parable the king of her is like yeast say yeast that a woman took a mix mixed into a lamb amount of flour until it worked it worked all through the dough put the yeast in and every part of it is affected he said the kingdom of heaven is like a yeast king james the kingdom of heaven is like a living that's yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal hid it inside it is there any see I used to read this and I used to think this is positive thing it's pegamos pegamos leviticus chapter 2 let me show you something leviticus chapter 2 verse 5 and verse 11 now when god asked them to make bread look at his restrictions he said but if you are offering grain offering baked in a pan it shall be of fine flour unleavened mixed with oil say unleavened that means without leaven or without yeast god has always instructed his people the bread you make must be unleavened bread no yeast he said the kingdom of god of heaven is like a woman who took fine flour yeast and hid it in fine flour three measures of fine flour until the whole lamp is leavened look at verse 11 no grain offering which you bring to the lord shall be made with leavened do you see that you shall burn no leavened nor any honey in any offering to the lord made by fire it is supposed to be unleavened why do you put leavened in a door which has got to do with god in first corinthians chapter five verse six seven eight very interesting your glorying is not good you are boasting it's not good do you not know that a little leavened leavened the whole lamb do you know what it means first corinthians chapter five is quite an interesting text because they were they were sleeping around in a church and there was in verse five there was no verse two also there was a particular guy he was sleeping with his father's wife and he comes to church to lead praise and worship verse five

[35:14] they put the verse five there it's actually reported say reported say reported reported it's okay to report things in the church okay it's not fake news it's actually reported that there is sexual immorality amongst you and such sexual immorality as it is not even named amongst un-Christians Gentiles that a man has his father's wife in church and it's like it was okay it was okay no we won't be a church where somebody's going out with somebody and they are not supposed to and then it's like we know it by no it's not fine it's not fine I will preach that devil out we are looking for revival so he said that I hear it has been reported to me some of you must report something to the pastors information reaching us it said it has actually it is actually reported that there is sexual immorality amongst you the church and such sexual immorality as it is not even named amongst unbelievers when you were in the world you go for somebody's girlfriend or boyfriend and people don't take it lightly it's a big issue and you have come to church and we want to normalize it that a man should go for it so this is what he's saying and he said such a man remove it it's interesting what's it go to the next verse verse six your glory glory is not good glory is not good you are nice host team ladies who are in the host team so he said your glory is not good how many of you have actually met maybe a

[37:13] Christian in a certain church and you say I attend this church and you are listening to them but you know that I know why not to put in your church I don't know what I'm talking about they are a bad image to the church and you can tell you can tell in your head that sister this church you are talking about your glory is not good tell somebody today God wants to cut something out of your heart let me add this and I move on one of the things I'm believing God for is that if anybody male or female finds themselves in this church and start going out with a woman in this church or a man in this church they will say finally I didn't know such a person exists we want we want people who Christ has affected their life they are sweet but they are firm and they are authentic and genuine and faithful to God but we all got there

[38:15] I know tell somebody listen I'm still in the process I'm in the process allow me allow me to God is working on me God is working on me God is working on me God is working on us I don't know if you believe God is working on us all of us none of us has arrived all of us okay that's why we are happy you are in our company you are not a misfit you fit you haven't realized that God is working on you and you are not complying so from today start complying he says that your glory in God is not good verse 6 of 1 Corinthians chapter 5 alright he said do you not know that a little yeast livens the whole lamp did you see that he is talking little yeast and the kingdom of

[39:17] God is like a woman who takes yeast and put it in a fine flour put it inside the next verse Christ is our Passover therefore purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lamp since you truly are unleavened for indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for verse 8 verse 8 sacrifice therefore let us keep their fist not with old leaven nor with the leaven of malice or weakness but with the unliving breath of sincerity and truth we are supposed to be unleavened Galatians chapter 5 verse 9 he says that we shouldn't be leavened Galatians 5 said little leaven leavens the whole lamp let's read it out from the screen let's read it out loud one more time how does the message put it verse 9 let's read it and please no this one is too long new living translation let's go oh it's interesting introduce a new term false teaching so what is the yeast this one

[40:53] I don't know why they use the but they are right the translator Matthew 16 6 then Jesus said to them take heed and beware of the living of the pharisees and the sadducees the living they are bringing it inside be careful and then they were thinking about bread when Jesus was talking about living there thinking about is it because we did not take food is it because we have eaten is it because we they were thinking about something else and Jesus just to settle let me tell you look at verse 11 then Jesus said how is it that you do not have understanding that I did not speak to you concerning bread but beware of the living of the pharisees and the sadducees look at the next verse then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the living bread but the doctrine of the pharisees the teachings ah you remember the teachings of Balaam he said a woman the kingdom of God is like a woman taking strange teaching and when you see a woman most of the time when you see a woman in the bible this is a woman or the new testament stands for the church so I can't wait to get to revelation chapter 70 where it says that there was a great halot talking about the church even

[42:18] Jezebel is talking about an aspect of the church is not a gender it's not about a gender but in the bible that's why we are the bride of Christ that's why we are the bride of Christ that's why the new Jerusalem is presented to the lamb as a wife a bride a wife so he said that the kingdom of God is like a woman a church that takes different doctrine and puts it into the five which is Christ and now the whole thing is leavened the whole thing is leavened that is the church of Pergamos they took the world and brought it in the church and made an institution out of the church and the thing has become something funny the church becomes married to the world why this is an illegal marriage it's not acceptable God said I will never accept this and I'm going to fight against you with the sword of my mouth nah nah he said

[43:27] I know your works look at verse 14 of Revelation chapter 2 then he says but I have a few things against you because you have you have there you have in the church those who hold that see the teachings have come in teachings have come back in church we have become so worldly now you have endorsed certain teachings those I have against you those because you have you have you have in your means those those who who hold the doctrines of Balaam who taught Balaam to put stumbling block before the children of Israel to each thing sacrifice to idols and to commit sexual immorality idolatry and sexual immorality go together God has a problem with sexual immorality because as soon as you start engaging in sexual immorality idolatry is going to follow check with Solomon I don't mean brother Solomon but Solomon in the Bible sexual immorality paves the way for idolatry idolatry distracts watch this idolatry distracts us from the person of Jesus and to other things that are not central so we are in church but Jesus is not the center anymore other things have become central that's idolatry so idolatry distracts from the person of Jesus and sexual immorality denies us from enjoying

[44:52] Christ it must be our enjoyment now other things have become exciting to us like the songs some of us like the songs more than we like Christ yeah oh we are singing here I am to worship and you you actually like it when certain individuals lead it lost forward without to say lord you take my breath out and then you begin to feel emotional still my soul my soul cry out you are holy and this is the song I like the song you see and then after the song you go and quarrel with an usher so it's not Jesus you love it's the song you like because if it's Jesus it's actually whether there is singing or no singing your life is constant especially when it comes to the things of church how come you are rolling on the floor in church but you don't give offerings how come you come to church you are dancing praise nine we will see you you are dancing like nobody's business and you are not a titer you don't care you have just left the ashes you have left the choir you have left and you can't be bothered whenever you want you are not a lover of

[46:10] Jesus so it's not the Jesus you love but assume you are enjoying something instead of enjoying Christ that's fornication James 4 4 he said ye adulteress and adulteresses are you married rise to your feet my darling I cannot call her an adulteress why because she's not married you can't call someone who is not married an adulteress or an adulterer because she's not married thank you my darling the people is saying that you are all of you adulteress and adulteresses why because you are married to God and you have become friends with the world you are cheating on God he said do you not know the friendship with the world is enmity with God you are an adulteress

[47:17] I'm married to you church we are married to Jesus we can't attempt to make the world our friend they may not like us that's okay because we are married to Jesus our marriage is with Jesus not with the world when the world becomes the church becomes married to the world he said this is not acceptable and then suddenly we begin to develop teachings to endorse our behavior it's true it's true begin to develop teachings there are people who can prove sexual immorality or what do you call adultery adultery is okay in the bible you see then we begin to develop teachings we begin to develop doctrines of Bala when you enter into sexual immorality you have turned the hand of God away from you now chapter 31 verse 16 now chapter 31 verse 16 the bible says that look these women caused the children of

[48:34] Israel through the council of Balaam to trespass against the Lord in the ancient of Paul and in the incident of Paul and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord how that's what I was teaching last week he was cursing them it wasn't working he was cursing they said get some girls let them join the praise and worship and let them wear tight tops tight tops and then when they are jumping let them keep jumping don't worry the boys will stop worshiping they'll start lasting they'll stop worshiping they'll start lasting send in the girls Balaam now the teachings of Balaam have come into the church the worldly church has now accepted the teachings of Balaam and it's not only the teachings of Balaam the worldly church accepts verse 15 they have also accepted the teachings of the Nicolaitans yeah yeah yeah yeah teaches that you also have those who hold their doctrine doctrine means teaching who who holds the doctrine of the

[49:45] Nicolaitans which I hate but in chapter 2 verse 6 he said you also hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans so the backsliding church in chapter 2 the church of Ephesus he said but this you have that you hate the deeds say the deeds say the deeds so the Nicolaitans it used to be the deeds they were doing it in Ephesus the deeds of the Nicolaitans but it was not like generally accepted now in the worldly church it has been accepted and now they are teaching it in the schools they are now teaching it in the schools they are now teaching it it's all in our faces on the screens in the syllables in the movies curricula they have to teach the doctrines so it's different if a deed practices some practices can be done and people don't endorse but now it has advanced to become a teaching the worldly church and what are we what's the doctrine

[50:50] I think you need to know about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans the doctrine of the Nicolaitans the Nicolaitans the Greek word is made up of two words Nicole and the laitans so laity Nicole is like you get that's where you get Nicolaitans from Nicolaitans ruler conqueror victor so someone who conquers someone who rules someone who gets victory so Nicol Nicol Nicolaitans all that and then laity laity is the masses ordinary people the ordinary people the ordinary masses so Nicolaitans or Nicolaitans are people who rule over the masses but God did not make Christ did not mean for the church to be just a section of people who are ruthless no it should be we all together led by a few called ones a few who have been given the responsibility to oversee so I am not more powerful towards

[51:57] God than you I don't have access to God more than you I don't have the right to tell you that God will not listen so sit down if you have a problem come and talk to me and I have to consult God regularly on your behalf that is not the Christianity but Nicolaitans teaching begins to put stuff like this so it's only about certain special clergymen they have access to God they have it's just like the United Kingdom and the royal family they have special privileges so the Nicolaitan teaching is in the church some people have special privileges they are more children of God than everybody it is not of God so when the church becomes worldly then it begins to import worldly mindsets so church leaders become like politicians so very powerful people and others are nobodies but this one certain people are very special very powerful and they are the unique ones for God as for the rest of us we are nobody we can't endorse that and even me

[53:02] I have to be careful that I don't begin to endorse the Nicolaitan deeds and Jesus said because the deeds of the Nicolaitan you know what it does it dilutes the effectiveness of the body of Christ we are supposed to operate as a body but when the Nicolaitan teachings come in now it begins to dilute and weaken our effectiveness because the body must all function together that's why everybody must do something in church you must be part of it if you are not part of it you are practicing the Nicolaitan deeds it's only these people who can do it the teachings of the Nicolaitans we do it and then suddenly the teachings of Balaam which distracts us from the person of

[54:07] Christ and then the teachings of the Nicolaitans which dilutes the effectiveness of us as a body and then the church becomes wimpy spineless weak ineffective in the world that's what you are having around us then the journalists will say the churches are declining they are not growing because they are referring to wimpy churches they are referring to churches that have become like pegamos yeah yeah but they should come and see church of Ephesus may the Lord touch our hearts this message is not for everybody those Bible said God knows those who are his some of you have been called by God to uphold the name of Christ to be like Antipas others can be bodied doesn't matter what you say it goes into one ear and bounces or flies out and it does not bother them that's okay probably you are not called probably you are not part of the true church probably you are not part of the end time harvest probably you are not part of the army of God but if you are part

[55:27] I can call you he calls you as I speak and you hear the calling in your heart it's not in the mind it's in your heart you hear God talking to you you hear it and you can't deny it you know that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about because he's doing something to me God is using him because yesterday I was even discussing it three days ago four weeks ago I was thinking about this three weeks ago I was thinking about this how come pastor knows exactly what I'm thinking pastor doesn't know squat it's Holy Spirit who is talking to you because you are one of the people he has chosen he's talking to you let's divorce this illegal marriage let's break this illegal marriage we thank God for using his server Reverend Dr.

[56:07] David Entry to share this awesome word if this message has blessed you in any way please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at charis.org remember to stay connected with us on Facebook Instagram YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Charis Ministries stay blessed