WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:05.080 Well, a very good morning to you. I hope you are well. It's great to see you here. If this 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.880 is your first time to Brunsfield, then a special welcome to you. You join us in an exciting 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:14.140 time over the summer. We're in this series in the book of Revelation called You've Got 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:19.719 Mail. And we've been looking at the words of Jesus to the churches in what is now modern 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:24.839 day Turkey. So can I invite you to turn to the book of Revelation? And our verses this 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:31.140 morning are chapter 2, verses 12 to 17. We're looking at the city and the church of Pergamum. 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:39.320 And as well, this morning as having your Bibles, it's going to be fantastic if you have a really 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:43.399 helpful sermon outline. You should have received one of them on your way in this morning. If 00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:46.859 you don't have one of them, then if you put up your hand and a couple of people have allocated 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:51.200 to get them to you. And it's also going to be really helpful if you have a pen with you. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.500 There's pens at the end of the pews if you don't have one of them. Get those things together 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:58.340 and then we'll get stuck into Pergamum. So let's pray. 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:02.980 Let's ask God would speak to us this morning as we turn to 00:01:02.980 --> 00:01:04.439 His Word. Let me pray. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:11.420 Almighty God and 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.439 our gracious Heavenly Father, 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:18.359 speak to us now, Lord, as we turn to Your Word. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:28.459 may Your voice, may it penetrate deep into our lives. May Your light shine into every nook and 00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:37.939 cranny of our minds. May Your Word blow away every cobweb that's in our hearts. And may You thrill 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:40.659 every part of our souls. 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:49.979 O Lord, would You move in on us this morning? Would You help us to grasp something more of the 00:01:49.979 --> 00:01:56.439 greatness of Your Son, Jesus Christ? So be with us now, gracious Father, we ask, because we ask 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:59.620 in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:07.340 Well, I had the real privilege of a month or so ago to be involved in a summer youth camp run by an 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:13.819 organization called Christians in Sports. And while I was at this youth camp, I made a decision to make 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:19.159 an investment at the tuck shop, which you'll see. So you agree, it's beautiful. It's lovely. It's a 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:24.599 their new range. I am a sucker for merchandise. So as soon as I saw, I thought I've got to have that one. 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:32.579 And I wore it every day after I bought it at this camp, every day. And I proceeded to wear it every 00:02:32.579 --> 00:02:37.479 day when I came back from the camp because I'm Scottish and I like to get value for money out of 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:43.299 my investments. I don't know if you're like that. So I wore it when I came back to my life in Edinburgh. 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:51.000 I wore it as I walked to the office every morning. I walked down Lothian Road wearing it. I went to 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:57.099 Tesco to buy some milk wearing it. I hung out with my friends and my family wearing it. And all of a 00:02:57.099 --> 00:03:06.219 sudden, when I saw people looking at it, I suddenly became very conscious that I was wearing a badge 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:15.719 that labeled me a follower of Jesus Christ. Now, how did I feel? Well, I felt very, very different. 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:22.620 I felt different. Have you ever felt different in our world because of your faith in Jesus Christ? 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:29.599 Well, here was my thought process. I started thinking about how I felt massively outnumbered. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:35.219 And then I started thinking about how the statistics would tell me that only two or three percent of 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:40.240 people in this city would wear the same badge as the one that I was wearing. And then I started 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:44.960 thinking about the words of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would tell me the Great 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:51.500 Commission to go into this world and to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:56.000 in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to take the gospel to our world. 00:03:56.939 --> 00:04:07.020 I looked out and I thought to myself, how am I going to live my life in this city for the glory of Jesus 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:13.200 Christ? Have you ever felt different as you've lived your life for Jesus in this city? 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:20.680 Well, we're turning this morning to the city of Pergamum. It's a city in what is now modern-day 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:28.920 Turkey. And we're looking at the words of Jesus Christ to a group of Christians who, as they live 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:38.459 their lives in their city, are feeling very, very different. Because Pergamum, it's a city that 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:46.259 commands worship. This is Pergamum. It commands worship. And it commands worship of two prominent 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:55.459 things. Firstly, of pagan gods. So in Pergamum, you've got a massive altar to Zeus in the city. 00:04:56.159 --> 00:05:02.120 People flock to Zeus to bow before him and to worship him. You've also got, to give you a taste of this, 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:09.920 a temple dedicated to Ascleopas, the pagan god of healing. And people flock from the surrounding 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:16.180 world. They travel in to worship at his feet. Because if they worship at his feet, he will turn 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:24.160 and heal them. Pergamum is a city that's full of pagan gods. It commands the worship of pagan gods, 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:31.820 and it commands the worship of human gods. It's the center of emperor worship. There are temples all 00:05:31.820 --> 00:05:36.860 over the city dedicated to the glory of Caesar and to the glory of Rome. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:48.120 So you can imagine, if you're a Christian living in this city, and a confession from your mouth is, 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:55.800 no, Zeus isn't the all-powerful God. Jesus Christ is the all-powerful God. No, Caesar isn't the God who 00:05:55.800 --> 00:06:00.740 rules all things and has the final word on all things. Jesus Christ is the Lord of all things and 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:06.600 has the final word. You can imagine, if that is your confession, that is going to make you very radically 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:14.620 different and is going to cause you some serious problems. So what is the question of the Christians who 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:21.220 are in this church in Pergamum? Well, the question is, how, as I look out in this world, how do I live 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:29.399 my life for the glory of Jesus Christ in my city? Do you see it's the same question? The Pergamum might 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:33.399 be a million miles different from Edinburgh, but the question of the Christian is still the same. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:39.600 How do we live for him? How do we live for his glory? And that's why what we see this morning is so 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:45.620 massively encouraging for us. It's challenging for us. And I hope it's going to equip us to live for 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:52.200 him in our city, because Jesus says to this church, he says four things, four things that 00:06:52.200 --> 00:07:00.020 these Christians need to know about their savior, Jesus Christ. Four things they need to know. And 00:07:00.020 --> 00:07:04.900 friends, if we can get our heads even just a little bit more around any of these four things, 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:11.459 oh, it would massively transform how we live for his glory in this city. So you ready for this, the four 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:15.819 things? This has thrilled my heart this week. Here's the four things. Here's the first thing that they need 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:24.259 to know as they live their lives in this city. Firstly, they need to know what Jesus is. They need to know 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:34.060 what he is. And what is he? We'll check out verses 12 and 13. What is he? He is great. He's great. 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:42.759 Why is he great, you ask? Well, two reasons. Firstly, because Jesus is the great king who rules over all 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:50.920 things. See the second half of verse 12. Jesus, how does he introduce himself to this church? As the one 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:58.939 with the sharp, double-edged sword. As if to remind them that he is the one who has defeated the grave. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:05.460 He is the one who holds the keys of death and life in the palm of his hands. And his is a power that is 00:08:05.460 --> 00:08:13.439 greater than any earthly Caesar or any earthly pagan gods. And the word from his mouth, the word that is 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:19.900 sharper than a two-edged sword, that word is the word that's going to have the last word in their city and 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:28.959 in their world. King Jesus is the powerful, great king who rules over all things. Secondly, 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:39.379 they need to know that King Jesus is the great king who knows all things. Look at verse 13. What does he say 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:53.559 to this church? Incredible, encouraging words? I know where you live. Or you've got an ESV there. I know where you 00:08:53.559 --> 00:09:05.700 dwell. I know what life is like in Pergamum. I know what goes on in Pergamum. I know about the emperor 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:11.980 and the pagan gods who you are being commanded to worship. Incidentally, presumably that's what the 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:20.120 reference to Satan's throne means there. I know where you live, says Jesus Christ through his church. 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:27.780 Would you see this morning that Jesus is a great king who doesn't stand far back looking on at his 00:09:27.780 --> 00:09:34.780 people? Jesus is not a king who is unconcerned about how his people are dwelling in their lands. 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:45.179 Jesus is a great king who knows every doubt, every fear, every niggle, every shun, every insult, 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:52.939 every pressure that these people face in their city. What do they need to know? They need to know 00:09:52.939 --> 00:09:55.620 that Jesus Christ is great. 00:09:58.179 --> 00:10:03.159 Rico Tice, the chap who wrote the Christianity Explored course, he writes this. 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:04.759 He says this. 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:11.199 There are lots of people in our world who have authority, but they have zero compassion. 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:15.279 And there are many people in our world who have lots of compassion, 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.600 but they have zero power to do anything about it. 00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:26.259 But Jesus Christ is a man who is absolute power and absolute compassion. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:29.659 That is the king we need. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:33.919 And that is the king who Jesus is. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:38.139 He is one of absolute power and absolute compassion. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.399 This is Jesus. 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:41.120 He is great. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:46.939 Let me ask you this morning, is that how you understand him this morning? 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:53.620 Friends, do you know that he knows where you dwell? 00:10:53.620 --> 00:11:00.419 You'll see on the sermon outline, if you've got it there, just to help us think about this thing, 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.159 you'll see six little circles. 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:09.100 If you've got your sermon outline there, can I just invite you just to write in what goes on in your life in those circles? 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.620 What are your circles? 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:15.080 Think about it. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:20.220 The things that go on in your life, the places that you dwell, your office. 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:22.120 Just scribble it in. 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.540 Jesus knows your office. 00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:25.200 Your family. 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:27.379 Jesus knows your family. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.560 Your sports team. 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:31.399 Friends, Jesus knows your sports team. 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:34.379 He knows where you dwell. 00:11:36.040 --> 00:11:41.879 I want to just allow that to sink in this morning and encourage you from God's word. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:50.139 What a difference that would make to our lives if we could just grasp the greatness of Jesus Christ a little bit more. 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:52.840 I mean, this is what I find. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.919 I wonder if you are like me. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:59.779 The problem with my evangelism is not that I haven't gone on a course to tell me how to do evangelism. 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:00.899 Okay? 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:02.799 The materials that we have, fantastic. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.139 Christianity Explored. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.860 The Word 1 to 1. 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.500 Guys, I've got it down. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:07.940 Right? 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.379 I know how to do these things. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.720 The problem isn't the material. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:15.320 Why will I not tell my friends about the glory of Jesus Christ, my Savior? 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:21.480 Well, it's because in my head, my view of the greatness of Jesus is low. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:25.180 And the view that I have of the greatness of the world is high. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.840 Is that not it? 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:34.019 That so often we are scared about telling people about the greatness of Jesus because we haven't fully grasped the greatness of Jesus. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:51.519 And as I've been challenged from this passage this week, my prayer has been, gracious Father, would you help me as I read my Bible every day and as your Spirit speaks to me through your word, would you fill my mind and captivate my heart with the greatness of Jesus? 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:58.000 Would it thrill me so that my opinion of the greatness of man, it drops? 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:02.360 And my opinion of the greatness and love for Jesus Christ, it grows. 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:09.340 Oh, what a difference that would make if I could grasp just a little bit more of the greatness of Jesus Christ. 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.560 I know we had a great home group on Wednesday night. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.960 I love our home group. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:14.879 Absolutely love it. 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:18.740 And we spent some time at the end of a meal just praying together. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.519 How can we be praying for one another? 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.299 And somebody said, I won't embarrass them with it this morning. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:32.740 They said, my prayer, what you could pray for me, is that I would be more bold in sharing my faith with my colleagues who don't believe in Jesus. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.699 What a great prayer. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.559 What a great prayer. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:47.199 It wouldn't be amazing if not only was that our prayer, but that's what we would be praying for one another, that we would grasp the greatness of Jesus and we would take the gospel to all nations, to our world. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:52.960 Isn't it sobering to stop and think about the Great Commission? 00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:57.200 That the Great Commission is great not because I am great. 00:13:57.800 --> 00:14:00.360 The Great Commission is great not because we are great. 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:04.180 The Great Commission is great because Jesus is great. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:08.280 Oh, that we could grasp that just a little bit more. 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:11.120 The greatness of Jesus Christ. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.900 This is what this church need to know. 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:18.799 They need to know and we need to know the greatness of who Jesus is. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:19.600 He is great. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:23.799 Secondly, they need to know what Jesus loves. 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:26.120 What does he love? 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.939 Verse 13. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.519 Check it out. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.220 He loves courage. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.419 He loves courage. 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:35.419 He loves that they are still standing strong in their faith, in their city. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.059 He loves it. 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:41.359 Despite all the pressures in Pergamum to conform. 00:14:42.479 --> 00:14:48.679 Despite all the pressures, all the sneers, all the taunts, despite all the temptation, all the ridicule, 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:53.479 these Christians are standing tall for their Savior Jesus Christ. 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:55.500 And he loves it. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.459 What does he say specifically? 00:14:58.619 --> 00:15:04.159 He says that they are not renouncing their faith and they are remaining true to Jesus' name. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.860 It's what he loves. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.839 And just in case we thought he was being generic in his encouragement and compliment, 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:15.079 would you see that Jesus mentions Antipas? 00:15:16.819 --> 00:15:22.559 Would you see how closely Jesus identifies himself with this man, Antipas? 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:25.659 Jesus knows his name. 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:28.959 Jesus knows what went on. 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.980 And what does Jesus call him? 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:34.100 My faithful witness. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.959 Do you see the ownership there that Jesus has to this man? 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:41.059 My faithful witness. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:45.480 Now it says witness there in our English Bibles. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.259 The Greek word there is marturas, which is, we can understand, 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:52.980 is where we get the word, our word martyr from. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:16:00.480 So this man, Antipas, who perhaps was maybe one of the church leaders in this church in Pergamon, 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.139 we don't know. 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:06.000 Whoever he was, he refused to bow the knee to the world around him. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:11.519 And he walked the same road that his master walked before him. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.639 And it cost him his life. 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:19.399 And even when it all kicked off, the other people in this church, they stood right next to him. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.439 And they said, he's our brother. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:27.640 And Jesus says to the church of Pergamon, I love your courage. 00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.860 I love your courage. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:39.360 Now we may be here this morning and we're thinking, well, we're not going to face death for our faith in Jesus in this city, we don't think. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:47.060 But so many in this country down the years have faced death because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:53.519 And so many Christians in our world face death as a daily prospect because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:17:03.539 But let me ask you this morning, if that's not one for us, let me ask you, are you willing to take a hit because of your faith in Jesus Christ? 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:12.220 When they have to work drinks, they go a little bit overboard and people say, go on, go on, just have another, don't be a killjoy. 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:17.839 Friends, do you have the boldness and the courage to stand and say, no, I'm not going to order another pint. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.200 It'll be a Coke for me this time. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:31.399 When jokes in a conversation, when they turn crude and when they turn slanderous, friends, do we have the courage to say, no, that is not my life in Jesus Christ. 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:33.540 That's not giving glory to him. 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:40.600 When you know your loyalty and your faith in Jesus Christ will cost you and your friends and your family. 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.220 Are you willing to take your stand? 00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:45.280 The circles that you've just put on your sheet. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:50.540 Are we willing to take our stand for Jesus Christ in those circles? 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.640 Now, I'll be honest, that kind of scares me at times. 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:59.820 Are you content to stay undercover and cozy? 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.159 Well, so often I am. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:05.119 This morning we hit snooze about three times because I love my covers. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.119 I love staying cozy. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:10.240 But be encouraged if you find this scary. 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:14.799 If you find standing for your faith in Jesus Christ scary because help is at hand. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:17.819 And this is where we need to get our thinking correct. 00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:24.759 Because these Christians are standing, not just because they are courageous and bold, although they absolutely are. 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:34.960 These Christians are standing strong because they are being sustained by the power, the supernatural power of the risen Jesus Christ. 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.539 He's sustaining them. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.519 We sang it earlier. 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:40.420 I can't remember what the line was, but I remember thinking, yes, that's what that line is. 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:43.960 The truth is that Jesus knows where they dwell. 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:47.940 Jesus has placed them where they dwell. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.200 And Jesus holds them where they dwell. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:59.059 By his spirit living in them, he is giving them the power to stand and say, yes, I follow this man, Jesus Christ. 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:07.000 Is that not such an encouragement this morning that when we take our stand in this city, that we're not standing on our own, 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:12.140 but we stand in the power of our risen and victorious Lord? 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:42.120 He gives power. 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:51.200 Well, here's the point where, as this letter is publicly read out to this church, here's the point where everything changes. 00:19:52.020 --> 00:19:57.600 Because here is the point where Jesus goes from encouraging them and telling them about the things that he loves, 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:03.500 and he moves to a stinging critique of the way that they are behaving. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:08.520 He moves on from what Jesus loves to what Jesus hates. 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.000 This is what this church needs to know. 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:11.519 What Jesus hates. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.019 And what does he hate? 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:15.339 Verses 14 to 16. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.139 He hates compromise. 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.759 He hates compromise. 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:28.839 Would you notice the severity of the language and the words that Jesus uses here? 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.839 He is against compromise. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:32.019 He is against compromise. 00:20:32.959 --> 00:20:36.899 And he is against them because of their compromise. 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:42.579 And to illustrate how serious a problem this is in the life of this church, 00:20:43.199 --> 00:20:45.099 Jesus refers to Balaam. 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:50.099 Now, it's a story that's told towards the end of the book of Numbers. 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:55.079 And it's a story of how through the influence of Balaam, the prophet, 00:20:55.919 --> 00:21:00.879 the people of God are led towards spiritual and moral compromise. 00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:06.899 Balaam entices them away from worshipping the God who had saved them from Egypt 00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:09.480 and who was leading them towards the promised land. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:14.099 And he entices them and moves them straight towards sin and compromise, 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:18.539 or in these verses, idolatry and sexual immorality. 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.740 How do God's people behave? 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:24.220 They start flirting with the nations all around about them. 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:28.799 They start bowing to the gods of the nations around about him. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:35.440 They start adopting their practices instead of worshipping the true gods who has rescued them. 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:43.759 In a nutshell, Balaam leads God's people away from God and straight towards sin. 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:47.859 And you, says Jesus, you in your church, 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:50.539 you have characters like that in your church, 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:56.439 who are not calling sin that which God has clearly called sin. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:04.559 And then you have others who are spreading false teaching around your church as well. 00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:06.679 You've got the Nicolaitans. 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:11.180 Now, whatever the precise nature of that particular teaching was, 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:18.580 we can be sure the reason that it displeases Jesus is because it's causing this church to lose their grip 00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:25.539 and love for the gospel and take their eyes off Jesus and go towards sin and the world. 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.519 That's what this teaching is doing. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:30.200 And Jesus says, 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:32.940 All that stuff that's going on in your church, all of that stuff. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.200 I hate it. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.319 I hate it. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:41.140 And I am against you because you've swallowed it hook, line and sinker. 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:46.880 So you can imagine they've gone from fist pumping each other, 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.020 congratulating each other to absolute silence. 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.460 You can hear a pin drop in this church at this point. 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:59.660 It's a stinging criticism of how they are behaving. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:04.820 Compromise is a serious, serious thing in the eyes of our Lord. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:11.879 Friends, let me ask you this morning, have you become all too pally with sin? 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:21.019 Have you become comfortable with habits in your life that we should not be comfortable with? 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:26.679 Maybe it's even the stuff that's specifically mentioned here. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.339 Maybe it is sexual immorality. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.899 Maybe you're flirting with somebody you should not be flirting with. 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:35.140 Maybe you're looking at something you should not be looking at. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:39.140 Friends, would you see how serious Jesus takes compromise? 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:44.759 Are you trying to negotiate a living arrangement with your sin? 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:49.740 Now, I wonder if you've ever heard the story of the bear and the hunter. 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:56.160 One day, a hunter goes into the woods and after hours of searching, 00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:59.100 to his delight, he comes across a grizzly bear. 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:02.339 And the bear takes one look at him and he says, 00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:04.859 why on earth are you so happy to see me? 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:13.079 Oh, says the hunter, I've looked long and far and wide to get a genuine fur coat. 00:24:13.959 --> 00:24:18.240 And the one that I see on you is the finest one, the finest one that I've ever seen. 00:24:19.679 --> 00:24:20.859 That's funny, said the bear. 00:24:20.959 --> 00:24:22.539 You are desperate for my fur coat. 00:24:22.959 --> 00:24:24.299 And I'm desperate to eat. 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.500 So how about you come here? 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:31.019 Let's embrace, let's hug it out and we'll see if we can come to some kind of arrangement agreement. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:35.000 Now, you can imagine how the story ends. 00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:40.380 An hour or so later, the man gets his wish and the man is surrounded in the fur coat of the bear. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:46.099 But he's surrounded by the fur coat inside the stomach of the bear, not free on the outside. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.660 Get the point, don't we? 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:57.640 Friends, do not, we cannot, it's impossible to negotiate a living arrangement with our sin. 00:24:58.560 --> 00:25:02.660 Do not be deceived into thinking that you can negotiate a living arrangement. 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:05.360 Either you kill sin or sin kills you. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.900 It's really as simple as that. 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:14.280 The false teaching doing the rounds in Pergamum, it's leading people into sin and to compromise. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.120 What are people saying? 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:22.720 They're saying that you can be friends with the world and friends with Jesus and they can live together like a horse and carriage in the throne of your heart. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:26.240 And Jesus says, no, no, it doesn't work like that. 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:27.900 That's not what has happened. 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:31.660 Jesus hates that some of them have swallowed this. 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.820 They've just swallowed it without thinking. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.840 Hook, line and sinker. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:43.000 And as I kind of pressed into this passage this week, I'll be honest, I found this so uncomfortable. 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:47.040 So uncomfortable because I know my deceitful heart. 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.900 I know what goes on inside of there. 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:53.180 And I know my left of my own devices, my deceitful heart. 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:57.000 If Christ is over here and sin is over here, okay, I'm not going that way. 00:25:57.900 --> 00:26:00.120 Left of my own devices, I'm going that way. 00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:01.259 Right? 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:16.820 So often tempted to compromise with the world, to love the things that the world loves, to adopt its practices and norms, to chase its dreams, to evaluate success and happiness by what it tells me. 00:26:16.820 --> 00:26:20.680 To derive my purpose and my identity from what it tells me. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:26.120 How I look, what I earn, where I work, where our kids go to school, where we live. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:32.060 That's what I'm tempted to do. 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:40.180 And as a friend reminded me this week, that my heart is a great friend, but it's a terrible leader. 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:43.180 It's a terrible leader. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.799 So how do I stop? 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:47.779 How do we stop our hearts being led into compromise? 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:52.519 How am I able to discern truth from error as I live my life in this world? 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:58.460 Well, it's when I become so familiar with my master's voice. 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:02.860 As I let God's word inform my mind. 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:07.620 As I allow the one who created me to guide my path. 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:14.860 As I let the word of him whose word is sharper than a double-edged sword shape my understanding. 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.900 That's how I'm going to discern. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:22.340 Sinclair Ferguson, a great Scottish pastor, he writes this. 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:26.299 How can we develop Jesus-like discernment? 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:34.519 Answer, by the spirit-aided digestion of the solid food of God's wisdom in his word. 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:41.079 The world hits us with a lot of messages telling us how we should think. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:48.679 We should learn from the church in Pergamum how to evaluate the world that we're living in 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:51.220 through the lens of God's word. 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:54.860 I'll give you an example of this this week. 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:57.779 In my life, I was walking down Lothian Road. 00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.940 Walked down Lothian Road to the office every day to our home. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.900 Walking down Lothian Road. 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:05.779 And if you know the junction between Princess Street and Lothian Road, 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:08.080 there's St. John's Church which sits right on that corner. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.640 I've never been in that church. 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:11.420 I've never met anyone who works at that church. 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:15.480 But what I do know about that church is outside they've got one of these big banners. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:19.200 And up there they put on their political art of the month. 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:21.400 I wonder if you've seen any of them as you've walked past. 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:27.180 Well, as I walked past it five times this week, it grabbed me. 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:34.519 If you look at it there, the things on the right, the things in the colors and balloons 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:37.940 are the things that are to be rejoiced over in our city. 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.980 They're to be celebrated. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:45.420 And you read it and you read inclusion, diversity, openness, and you think, amen. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:46.920 Absolutely. 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.099 Celebrate these things. 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:53.500 And on the left of this picture, symbolized by darkness and by a ball and chain, 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:56.620 are the things that are wrong with our city and need to be stamped out. 00:28:57.420 --> 00:29:02.720 So you've got there exclusion and racism and prejudice. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.299 And you think, absolutely. 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.860 Absolutely. 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:10.240 And all of a sudden, this next one caught my eye. 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:12.839 I wonder if you can see it on the screen there. 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:14.640 I just captured it on my mobile phone. 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:17.660 The next one on the ball and chain says, certainty. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.920 Is that not interesting? 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:26.860 Message to me and to the thousands of others who pass that billboard every day 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:32.279 is that people in our city who claim to be certain about anything 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:34.759 are one of the things that is wrong with our city. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.039 Certainty is oppressive. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:42.079 If you find anyone who claims certainty, then that is a ball and chain for you. 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:44.339 That's what I took from that picture. 00:29:46.479 --> 00:29:49.599 And as I got to the office, I got my Bible out, 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:53.959 and I turned to John's Gospel, the words of Jesus, John 14, 6, 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.719 where Jesus says, 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:59.920 I am the way, the truth, and the life, 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:03.940 and no one comes to the Father except through me. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:08.940 I thought to myself, that seems a pretty certain claim from our Lord. 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:13.779 And I know that to be a liberating claim. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.720 I know that to be a life-giving claim. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:19.620 I know that to be a claim that I can base my life upon. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:22.980 I know that to be that, not to be ball and chain. 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:28.539 Do you see how we need to start thinking in our world, 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:33.519 discerning what goes on here by what God has declared to be true 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:35.180 and what Jesus Christ has said? 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:39.839 Friends, are you living your life in terms of what the world tells you to think 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:43.160 and how to live instead of how Jesus Christ has told us how to live 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.299 and to think? 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:47.859 Because the truth is that truth matters. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.879 That was the problem in the church in Pergamum. 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.879 They'd stop thinking. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.059 They'd stop discerning. 00:30:54.639 --> 00:31:00.379 And if that's you this morning, then you need to heed the seriousness of the words of Jesus Christ here. 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:03.340 And you need to see what you're doing is not right. 00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:04.980 And you need to repent. 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:10.680 You see, the church at Pergamum, they need to know what Jesus hates. 00:31:11.020 --> 00:31:13.040 And we need to know what Jesus hates. 00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:14.240 He hates compromise. 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:20.620 And lastly and fourthly, this church needs to know what Jesus gives. 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.360 And what does Jesus give? 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.220 Verse 17. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.960 He gives life. 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:31.519 And in these verses, Jesus promises to give his people two things. 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:33.779 If you notice it there. 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:36.220 Firstly, he promises to give them hidden manna. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:40.220 I think that's speaking of sustenance and life, 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:44.960 that Jesus alone, the one who called himself the bread of life, can give his people. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:50.480 And secondly, and perhaps the more difficult of the two for us to immediately comprehend, 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.980 is that Jesus gives his people a white stone. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:57.980 Now, if you're a Christian in Pergamum, if you're living in that culture, 00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:01.240 you're familiar with the use of a white stone. 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:06.019 And you're familiar with the use of it in particularly with two aspects. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:12.319 Firstly, a white stone was commonly used as an invitation to a special event, 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.539 sometimes a royal event. 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:18.539 And without a white stone, you were not entitled to be at that special event. 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:22.559 Now, you can imagine that, just think about it, in our city, 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:24.659 where does Liz hang out sometimes? 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.059 She hangs out at a Holyrood house. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:28.359 She throws these garden parties, doesn't she? 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:31.759 You can imagine trying to swagger up to one of these garden parties, 00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:33.039 trying to blag your way in. 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:36.799 You're not getting past the guards, are you, without an invitation. 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:40.779 And the minute that you present that invitation, 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:42.399 everything's going to change for you. 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:45.059 Because you're entitled to be there. 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:47.279 Well, that's what a white stone did in this culture. 00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:49.279 It spoke of access. 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:55.079 And secondly, a white stone also was used by juries in a court of law. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:58.799 So when they are making a decision about whether to acquit or whether to condemn, 00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:02.619 they had two choices that they had to make. 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.099 The white stone meant acquittal. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.059 The black stone meant condemnation. 00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:07.259 That's what it meant. 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:13.680 So you can understand in this culture, a white stone, it speaks of freedom, 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:15.839 and it speaks of access. 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:19.980 Friends, is that not the story of the gospel? 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.640 Isn't it? 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:27.240 That Jesus is the one who has taken our black stone of exclusion and condemnation 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:30.059 that we deserve because of our sin, 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:35.419 and through his death he is given as his white stone of inclusion and freedom. 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.500 It speaks of access. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.460 Inclusion to what? 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.339 Well, to the very presence of God. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:45.139 To the family of God as well. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:48.539 That we are adopted as his children into his family. 00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:50.299 The white stone, it speaks of access. 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:53.659 And it also speaks of freedom. 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:55.240 What does it speak of freedom for? 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:58.980 In relation to the penalty that was ours because of our sin. 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:03.919 It speaks of access and it speaks of freedom. 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:09.219 And would you see as well that this stone has their name individually written on it? 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.639 A new name is going to be theirs that Jesus is going to give them. 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:16.099 What an incredible promise. 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:20.420 See, this is what the church in Pergamum need to know, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:23.880 that Jesus is the only one who gives life. 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:27.559 And let me ask you this morning as we come to a close, 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:31.159 is do you know Jesus as the white stone life giver? 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:35.019 You know, maybe you're here and you've just walked in and you think, 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:37.519 I have no idea what this Christianity thing is about. 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:40.420 I don't know who this Jesus character is. 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:43.900 Well, can I invite you this morning to come and let's talk it out. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.880 Let's have a conversation. 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:48.139 Here is one who is claiming to give life. 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.219 This is who Jesus is. 00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:52.799 Here is one claiming to give forgiveness and to bestow grace. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:55.460 This is who Jesus is. 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:58.080 This is what the church in Pergamum need to know, 00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:00.340 that he is the one who gives life. 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:06.200 And so let me ask you as we leave this church in Pergamum this morning, 00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.780 as we close our time together, 00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:09.860 let's come back to the start. 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:13.760 Friends, are you willing, are we willing to wear the badge? 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:16.019 Are we willing to stand up and say, 00:35:16.120 --> 00:35:17.560 yes, I follow this king. 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:20.940 This king is king of my life. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.799 Have you got your sermon outline there? 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:25.239 Have you flipped to the back? 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:28.460 Just to help us to think over these things, 00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:31.019 as we don't rush on from God's word this morning, 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:33.000 and as we allow the challenge to hit us, 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:35.539 just think through some of these questions. 00:35:37.759 --> 00:35:40.239 Have we grasped, have you grasped, 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:42.380 the greatness of Jesus Christ? 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:52.059 Are you willing to be courageous for the sake of the salvation of many people in our city 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:54.019 and for the glory of God in our city? 00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:02.780 Are you willing to be resolute in the fact that you won't compromise on God's truth 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:06.640 for the sake of his renown in our city? 00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:12.280 And do you know the life that Jesus alone can give this morning? 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:17.720 And before I pray and before we stand to sing our final song, 00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:19.039 let's just maybe take a minute, 00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:22.539 maybe just think through some of those questions in the back, 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:25.059 maybe just think through and reread the passage this morning, 00:36:25.160 --> 00:36:28.539 and let's allow God's word to have the final say this morning. 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.400 And then I'll pray. 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:30.500 Amen. 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:42.079 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:48.099 Our Father, help us to be those who prize above all else 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:52.260 the all-surpassing greatness of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:57.519 Help us to be those who live our lives for his glory 00:36:57.519 --> 00:37:00.440 and who stand for his truth 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:06.880 and who treasure his renown in the midst of our city, Edinburgh. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:11.220 Our Father, we thank you for the encouragement this morning 00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:14.280 that you know where we dwell. 00:37:15.640 --> 00:37:17.500 Thank you for your word. 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.099 And we thank you for our time this morning. 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:21.720 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:37:22.140 --> 00:37:22.460 Amen. 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:22.639 Amen. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.599 To be continued...