Well, thank you very much, Alice.
Please do keep that passage open in front of you as we explore it over the next few minutes.
But let us pray together before we do that. Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning and recognize that to understand your word,
we need your spirit to work in our hearts.
And so, Father, that is our prayer, that you would soften our hearts,
that we would hear your word and, Father, that we would be transformed.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
I recently saw a funny video that was a secret social experiment
to see how people copy those around them without really thinking about it too much.
So they filmed a doctor's surgery waiting room and there were 10 people sitting in this surgery.
It was before COVID, don't worry.
But nine of those 10 people were actors.
And one of the people there was the test subject, but they didn't know that they were being tested.
And every minute or so, a buzzing sound would come over the speakers
and all the actors would stand up for a few seconds and then sit down.
The test subject confused the first time he saw it, wasn't sure what was going on,
but then the second time stood up confidently.
And as it continued time and time again, his confidence grew.
But then one by one, the actors left the room and the buzzing sound continued.
With each buzz, he stood up with more and more confidence.
And yet the point where he was alone in the room.
All the actors had left.
The buzzing came on.
No pressure to conform to those around him.
No peer pressure.
And yet he still stood up.
Now this is a silly and small experiment which points to a deeper and more serious reality
that we conform to, we copy what goes on around us.
And I'm saying this because it has something to do with our passage this morning.
Because in these short verses in Revelation chapter 2,
we're going to hear a sober warning.
Not to conform to the world around us.
The warning in this passage that should be sending off alarm bells in our minds
is that we cannot hold to Christ and to the world.
We cannot conform to the sinful patterns that are always going on around us.
Do not conform to the world, Jesus says, but cling to him.
Last week in Smyrna, the church were suffering persecution
and they were in need of encouragement.
So Jesus revealed himself to them as the first and the last.
The one who had died, but also the one who had risen to life again.
And each of these letters in the book of Revelation begin with a description of Jesus
that is particularly relevant to the situation of each church.
So turn with me to verse 12 and see how our passage begins this morning.
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
Now we might read that and think, yes, how encouraging.
Jesus is reminding this church who are suffering that he has the power and the means to protect them.
But we need to take the whole Bible into consideration when we look at this verse
because that is not what Jesus is saying.
If you flick over a few pages previously to Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12, this is what it says.
For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two double-edged sword.
It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
This sword is the word of God proceeding from the mouth of Jesus.
And we see that in Revelation chapter 1 verse 16.
Jesus is warning the church in Pergamum that he will come
and he will use this sword on the body of believers that meet there.
With this word of God, Jesus comes and uncovers, he lays bare the hearts of the people in this church
and he judges their hearts.
And he sees something that he commends.
But he also sees something that he condemns.
And that will be subject to his judgment.
Friends, that is why it is so important that everything we believe is based on the Bible.
Not what culture says.
Not what the newest, trendiest religious leader says.
And definitely not what the world says.
Everything we believe must come from this book because it is God's revealed word.
And on that final day, as we all stand before Christ,
he will judge with power and authority.
So at the beginning of this short letter to the church in Pergamum,
we get this warning from Jesus that he will uncover everything
and judge the hearts of this church.
Jesus sees what's going on.
And he sees something he commends and something he condemns.
Well, the first thing we see in this passage is what Jesus commends in verses 12 to 13.
Jesus commends.
So Jesus begins, as he does with most of these letters,
encouraging this church with reasons that he has to commend them.
But notice how he starts in verse 13.
This is the voice of a loving Lord and Savior.
This is the voice of comfort and reassurance.
This is not a threat.
But Jesus says he knows their situation.
If you were on the street and you saw someone crying on their knees in pain and agony
as they are afflicted and neglected,
what would you do?
If someone felt alone and abandoned,
well, you would get down on your knees next to them, wouldn't you?
When someone's entire life seems to have fallen away from under their feet,
you sit with them in their pain and you listen.
Listen, that is what Jesus is doing here.
He's drawing alongside a church that is hurting and he's saying,
look, you're not alone.
I know where you live.
I know the situation you find yourselves in and I am here for you.
The church in Pergamum, or your Bible may say Pergamos,
it's the same city.
This city was very religious.
There were temples to both Greek and Roman gods,
temples to Zeus and Athena and more,
and three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor.
That is why twice in these few verses,
this city is described as the place where Satan lives
or the place where Satan has his throne.
And as we thought about last week with Archie,
the first century Christians initially had protection under the Roman Empire
because they were thought to be Jews.
But at this point, that protection had stopped.
Now they were being seen as a sect like everybody else
and they needed to conform to the pagan worship that was going on around them
and pay homage to and worship the emperor.
Pergamum isn't called the city of Satan specifically because of emperor worship.
The emperor here is not Satan.
But Pergamum is called the city where Satan lives
because this whole city was characterized by worshiping false gods.
It invaded every area of life.
If you wanted to be someone in this city,
you needed to go to the right festivals,
the right meetings,
the right celebrations,
all revolving around pagan worship.
Satan has power in this city.
And he has his people there who are making life horrible for Christians.
It was so bad that Antipas was martyred.
Now we know next to nothing about this man
except for the description Jesus gives him here as a faithful witness
or a better translation of that word is a faithful martyr.
Jesus describes himself in the same way in Revelation chapter 1 verse 5.
So this man followed in the example of Jesus
and gave up his life for his faith.
But even in this city where Satan has power,
the resounding truth that the Bible teaches
and the repeated emphasis of the whole book of Revelation
is that no matter what weapons Satan throws against you,
no matter what weapons Satan does use,
Jesus wins.
Does Satan have power?
Yes, he does.
But that power is held in check
by a God who is in control of all things.
Satan is a defeated foe
who will never, ever overcome the Lord's people.
But Jesus knows that this is a hard place for them to live in.
And so he says to this hurting church,
I know your situation.
Yet be comforted because I know that you remain true to my name
and have not renounced your faith in me.
This church stood firm in the face of opposition and persecution
when the pressure around them was mounting up
to renounce Christ for a more comfortable life
so that they could join in with the world.
Just renounce Christ.
That was what they were being told every day.
Some people in this church stood firm in their faith
and they said no.
When the world came knocking
and they were being dragged through the mud,
they would not bow to fake gods
and renounce Jesus.
They stood firm.
Friends, can the same be true about us?
Would Jesus say the same thing?
We need to hold fast to our confession in Jesus.
Stand firm in face of opposition and persecution.
We are surrounded by a world
and people who worship a plethora of fake gods.
Sure, they may not be graven idols
that we see on people's mantelpieces
as we go into their homes,
but the world idolizes sex as a thing to chase after
and enjoy regardless of the costs.
And that is contrary to the Christian worldview
that sex is to be enjoyed between one man
and one woman in the covenant marriage relationship.
And when we stand up for those truths,
we will be opposed.
When the world thinks about success
and it pushes that idea
that you need to have a big house,
a flashy car, the latest upgrade,
the newest branded clothes,
we are called to stand firm in Christ
and not get sucked into the idolatry around us.
But what about those times
when everyone is acting a certain way,
mocking the government,
breaking the guidelines,
getting drunk,
and the list continues?
As Christians, we should stand firm.
It will mean that we are seen as weird.
It will mean that we will be sidelined and shunned,
but it is better to live for the approval of Christ
than it is the approval of the world.
Jesus says to you this morning,
if this is you,
I know where you live.
Sure, our situation is not the same
as the church in Pergamon.
We're not being persecuted to this extent.
But the reality is the same.
And Jesus draws near to you this morning
and he says,
I know your struggles.
I know your pain.
I know your temptations.
Friends, my prayer is that
for every single one of us,
Jesus could say,
yet you remain true to my name.
You did not renounce your faith in me.
Jesus commends this church in Pergamon
because even in their suffering,
they hold firm to Christ.
But at the same time,
there were those in the church
who were flirting with the world.
And the second thing we see in this passage
is what Jesus condemns
in verses 14 to 17.
Jesus condemns.
The big problem in the church in Pergamon
is that there were Christians,
regulars at church,
those who sat in services week in,
week out,
listened to their teaching and sermons
and yet were compromising their faith
and mixing it in with the ways of the world.
And there were also those
who knew it was happening
and did nothing about it.
There were some in this church
who were trying to have their feet
in two camps,
in the church and in the world.
But like every spy movie
has ever taught us,
working for two completely different sides
never works.
There were some who were professing Jesus
with their mouths
but engaging in pagan worship
at the same time.
They would sit in services,
be saying and doing all the right things
but then go home
and do things completely contrary
to the word of God.
They were playing a dangerous game.
Jesus says in verse 14,
read with me,
There are some among you
who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites
to sin so that they ate food,
sacrificed to idols
and committed sexual immorality.
Likewise,
you also have those
who hold to the teaching
of the Nicolaitans.
There were people in this church
who thought that they could hold
the teaching of Christ,
the teaching of the Christian faith
at the same time
as that of other religious leaders
and establishments
that promoted sexual immorality
and eating food
that had been sacrificed to idols.
The problem in this church
is that sexual immorality
and idolatry
have been called out
as the main sins
and temptations
because they've become normal
for them.
And we see that
because of the names mentioned,
Balaam and Balak.
These names take us back
to the book of Numbers
in the Old Testament
where Balak,
a Moabite king,
called on Balaam,
a prophet of the Lord,
to curse the nation of Israel.
And you can read this later on
in Numbers chapter 22,
22 to 25.
And Balaam,
who was supposed to be
a prophet of the Lord,
told the king of Moab
to seduce Israel
into sexual immorality
and idolatry.
These names are used
as examples of the depths
of depravity
of some of the people
in this church.
There were people
who were caught up
in this idolatry
and sexual immorality
and they were going
unchallenged.
But before we cast
this church off,
we need to come to terms
with the reality
that the same thing
can be happening
in this church today.
It may look very different,
but it can be true.
Maybe we're not going
to pagan temples
and sacrificing
to idols made of wood
or stone.
Today,
that might look like
us neglecting
our church family
on the altar of comfort.
Neglecting to engage
in a meaningful way
in church
because we're happy
to go it alone.
And instead,
going out for walks
on Sunday morning
instead of tuning
into church.
Maybe we aren't
going to temples
and engaging
in sexual immorality
with prostitute
priestesses
and priests.
But how many people
in the church
today engage
in sex
outside of marriage?
How many people
are addicted
to pornography?
How many people
have lustful thoughts
as they walk
down the street
and see someone else?
Friends,
this passage,
this message
is not just relevant
for a church
2,000 years ago.
It is a message
that we need
to hear today.
You cannot,
you cannot
hold to Christ
and conform
to the world
at the same time.
Jesus and the world,
sin and perfection,
holiness and debauchery
are not compatible.
the sins
that you do
in private
or the sins
that you
do in public
that ensnare
your life,
that draw you
to idolatry
and sexual immorality.
There's everything
outside of God's plan.
All of those sins
are seen
by the Lord
and you may hide
them for a while
but everything
will come to light
one day.
Jesus is the one
with the two-edged sword
that penetrates
the heart
and lays bare
everything before him
and he will judge.
All of us
will need to give
an account of our lives
before the Lord
on the end.
Nothing
can be hidden
from him.
And our responsibility
as a church
is to hold each other
accountable,
to care for each other
because the problem
in Pergamum
was this was going on
and people knew about it
and yet they did
nothing about it.
Friends,
we need to get out
of our comfort zones
and start calling
sin, sin.
We need to go
the extra mile,
make ourselves
uncomfortable,
submit fully
to Christ
and live in a way
that pleases him
through the power
of his Holy Spirit.
And if we fail
in this regard
which we will
because we are
sinful human beings
there is comfort
because that is not
the end.
Look at verse 16
Jesus says
repent.
It is never
too late
for people
to return
to the Lord
and ask
for forgiveness
and the promise
that we see
in Scripture
is all those
who come to Christ
forgiveness
is given.
But we are called
to flee sin.
A Christian
cannot flirt
with the world
and expect
to remain pure.
We must
Usain Bolt
it in the other
direction.
And Jesus
tells us this
not because
he is a killjoy
but because
he loves us
and because
he knows
the situations
that we are in
he knows
we are weak
and he knows
that we cannot
expect to dabble
in sin
to flirt
with the world
and not
sin.
And if
this morning
you are trying
to hold
on to the
world
and at the
same time
hold on
to Christ
listen to
those words
in verse 16
repent
therefore
otherwise
I will soon
come to you
and will fight
against them
with the sword
of my mouth.
Now this is
sobering language
that should wake
us all up
this morning.
If you are
living in sin
whether privately
or publicly
and at the
same time
trying to
confess Christ
Jesus says
that he will
come
and he will
fight against
you.
It's also
a wake up
call for all
of us
brothers and
sisters in
the body
of Christ
to look out
for each
other
because we
should see
this and
not want
anyone to
fall into
that judgment.
We have a
responsibility
to care for
people and
to do it
wisely.
Friends
wake up
from your
slumber
and your
sin and
return to
Christ.
Reject
the fleeting
comforts of
this world
because they're
meaningless.
They are
short-lived
and they will
only leave you
empty and
hurting and
under the
judgment of
Christ because
you cannot
have Jesus
and the
world.
But the
Bible isn't
naive.
Living like
this is
difficult.
But the
reality, this
is the reality
of the
Christian life
because it
means dying
to ourselves
and living
for Christ,
forsaking all
else but
him.
And that's
precisely why
Jesus goes
on to explain
the result of
those who
do renounce
the world
and live
for him
in verse
17.
To the
one who
is victorious,
I will give
some of the
hidden manna.
I will also
give that
person a
white stone
with a new
name written
on it,
known only
to the one
who receives
it.
Do you see
that victory
language?
Jesus knows
that living
this way is
a battle.
It is a
fight, a
spiritual war
that is won
by patient
obedience and
responsiveness to
God's word.
And
persevering to
the end,
overcoming sin,
clinging to
Christ will
result in a
wonderful
inheritance.
And Jesus
highlights two
rewards that
await those who
fight the good
fight and
continue to the
end.
So this
morning, if you
are in this
spiritual battle,
if you are
feeling beaten
and you want
to throw in
the towel,
if you're
struggling in
your holiness
and finding it
hard to focus
on Christ,
here is what
Jesus says
awaits for those
who are
victorious,
who overcome
the sins of
conformity and
tolerating sin
in our lives.
Jesus promises
first that he
will give hidden
manna to his
people.
As God's
people, we're
in the wilderness
in the book
of Exodus.
The Lord
provided them
with manna,
a type of
food that
sustained them
in the wandering
in the wilderness.
The point that
Jesus is making
here to this
church is that
he will sustain
and provide for
them in this
tension between
the kingdom of
God not yet
being complete
and the
suffering that
they face.
Friends, this
means that as
you battle
against your
flesh and
blood, to
live for
Jesus, as
you release
your grip on
the world and
you cling fully
to Christ, he
will sustain
you.
That's what he
promises.
He will give
you the strength
that you need
by the Holy
Spirit to
persevere until
the end.
But it is
hidden.
You will not
see it.
You may not
even feel it all
the time.
But Jesus
promises to
provide for
and sustain
you in your
present suffering
until that day
that his
kingdom comes
in all of
his glorious
fullness.
And then the
second reward
that Jesus
offers in
verse 17
is a white
stone with
a new name
written on it
known only to
the one who
receives it.
Now there
are a number
of ideas what
these white
stones could mean
but I think the
most convincing
is that stones
were used for
voting.
So a black
stone was a
negative vote
and a white
stone was a
positive vote.
So if someone
was tried in a
court of law
they were given
a white stone
if proven
innocent once
the trial was
over.
And so Jesus
is saying that
on that final
day he will
give those who
remain faithful
to him a
white stone.
A sign of
their complete
innocence through
his death
and resurrection
and their
perseverance to
the end and
he will give
them a new
name.
This fulfills a
prophecy in
Isaiah 62
verse 5.
Please do look
at it later.
That those who
remain faithful
to the Lord
in Israel will
be given a
new name.
As a
Christian your
identity has
changed.
And if you
live that out
until the end,
if you wage
war well
and persevere
you will be
given a new
name by your
Lord and
Saviour in
the end.
This short
letter to the
church in
Pergamon is
bookended by
the comforting
truth and
challenging
truth that
Jesus knows
everything about
each and every
one of us.
Jesus knows
where you live.
He knows that
you are
surrounded by
temptation.
He knows
that you get
invitations all
the time to
go to the
wrong places,
to hang out
with the
wrong crowds,
and he knows
that it's so
easy to
accept.
He knows
you're surrounded
by things that
draw you to
sin all the
time, but he
calls you to
persevere and
to stand firm
in him.
Think back to
the test
subjects, sitting
in the
doctor's
waiting room
and acting
like everybody
else.
The reality
is that as
Christians we
can so easily
be caught up
to do the
same as the
world and
to conform to
the sinful
patterns that
go on around
us every day.
But Jesus
tells us that
he knows all
things.
He knows our
lives and he
says do not
conform to the
pattern of this
world.
do not
think that
you can hold
on to Christ
and the
world at the
same time,
but instead
wage war
against sin.
Wage war
against wrong
theology and
cling to Christ
alone.
Because
persevering to
the end,
running the
race until
the finish
line means
that we will
dwell with
him forever
in perfect
harmony.
And he
promises to
sustain you
until that
day that
we hear those
life-giving
words,
well done,
good and
faithful servant.
Let's pray
together.
Heavenly
Father, we
pray that as
we read
your word,
by your
spirit you
would show
us things
that we
are to be
commended
for,
but also
show us the
reality of
things that
we know
deep down
we will be
condemned
for.
And Lord,
would that
reality wake
us up?
Would it
help us
release our
grip on the
world and
cling solely
to you?
Father,
forgive us.
Father, we
thank you for
that comforting
truth that for
every time we
fail and we
repent,
that your
forgiveness is
granted,
that Jesus
has paid the
price,
and that we
are forgiven
by the
precious blood
of the
Lamb.
Jesus,
thank you.
Amen.