How does God grow the Church? - message #6 - God uses the preaching and teaching of His Word

How does God grow the Church?

God uses the preaching and teaching of His Word

Message #6

2 Timothy 3:10-4:5

[Intro:]

Last week in message #5 of our series How does God grow the Church? We studied the biblical truth that God is the one who saves the souls of people and changes their lives. God chose some before the world was created to be save through the Lord Jesus Christ. God made the choice based on His grace, not based on human choice or performance. God is Savior and He alone gets glory for saved souls. We as Christians are just the mirror (reflecting Christ) and the mouthpiece (sharing the gospel).

This morning in our final message in this series. We are going to study the biblical truth that God uses the preaching and teaching of His Word to grow the Church. Preaching is out of style today. Teaching straight Bible without lots of stories, jokes, and steps to recovery is not popular. This is the reason why the Church is in such terrible shape spiritually!!!! We have traded the eternal divine wisdom of Scripture for the psychological wisdom of man, which is a cheap imitation. We have done away with the preaching and teaching of straight Bible and we have/will reap terrible consequences for that in our churches and our lives!!!! We have abandoned the truth as irrelevant. The buzz-word today is relevant. Professing Christians have viewed the preaching and teaching of straight Bible as irrelevant. We have to talk about people's felt-needs, and contemporary issues! We have turned the Church into a Dr. Phil episode. Let's replace the seating with couches and start charging people an hourly rate because we have ceased being the church which Paul describes as, “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Man we have got to get back to the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. We need straight Bible! Paul encourages Timothy to teach and preach the Word of God. Paul says, give people straight Bible!

[Message:]

#1 - Obedient Christians will be persecuted (3:10-12)

Paul speaks to Timothy and reminds him of the fact that he has followed Paul's teaching and example. Timothy has even experienced the persecution that Paul has experienced. In each case God had spared Paul's life. Now, some might read this and think well that was out of the ordinary for a Christian to suffer for Christ. Some others would foolishly say that maybe Paul was suffering because he was not in God's will (the prosperity gospel). But Paul clears all of that up for us when he makes the statement, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Ti 3:12). I really want us to think about this biblical truth statement for a moment. God speaking through Paul says that when born-again Christians live obedient lives for Christ, they will suffer persecution. It is not a possibility, it is a guarantee!

Do you know what that does for those that are teaching from pulpits around this country that say God wants you to be healthy, happy, and wealthy? It exposes their teaching for the lie that it is. God has saved sinners from eternal judgment in Hell for the purpose of conforming them to the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). God is more concerned with us being holy, than He is with us being happy. God desires for us to choose joy. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Php 4:4).

John Piper shared the following in his book entitle Desiring God, “[Some] things have changed. But not my commitment to the message of this book. It is my life. That God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him continues to be a spectacular and precious truth in my mind and heart. It has sustained me into my second half-century, and I do not doubt that it will carry me Home.”

Piper writes later, “As we grow older and our bodies weaken, we must learn from the Puritan pastor Richard Baxter (who died in 1691) to redouble our efforts to find strength from spiritual joy, not natural supplies. He prayed, “May the Living God, who is the portion and rest of the saints, make these our carnal minds so spiritual, and our earthly hearts so heavenly, that loving him, and delighting in him, may be the work of our lives.”

#2 - The Word of God is all that we need to effectively minister for God (3:13-17)

As soon as Paul finishes sharing the truth that godly Christians will suffer he jumps directly into a very serious warning for Timothy. As time goes on evil men and false teachers will get worse (13). Their ministry of deception will increase as they themselves are deceived. There will always be people in the world teaching things that are contrary to the Word of God. Let us make sure that we are not one of their number.

Paul uses this as an opportunity to encourage Timothy in his ministry (14-15). Timothy is not to be like these deceivers. Instead, Timothy is to continue in the Word of God (14). He is to read it, study it, meditate on it, hold to it, and live by it. Timothy is a born-again Christian and he believes the Word of God. He is convinced of its truth. Paul tells Timothy stick to the Word of God. Paul will make it absolutely clear why Timothy should do so in the remaining verses. Even from the time of his childhood Timothy was taught the Old Testament Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5). A Jewish boy would begin to formally study the O.T. At the age of five. Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother before he reached the age of five. The Old Testament Scriptures present prophecies of the coming Messiah. Paul states that Timothy's knowledge of the O.T. Scriptures would point him toward faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins (15). The Scriptures are the means which God uses to bring about the salvation of lost sinners. The Scriptures are sufficient to bring about the salvation of souls. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Ro 10:17). "For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." (1 Th 2:13).

The next words that God speaks through Paul are huge. Paul writes that the Word of God in its entirety is inspired by God (16). It means God-breathed. The Holy Spirit communicated through the human authors of Scripture what He wanted communicated, without dictation or squelching the unique personalities of the human authors. Timothy already knew that Scripture was inspired. Paul uses that truth to launch into the sufficiency of Scripture for ministry and life. The Word of God is beneficial in four different ways:

1^st - It is profitable for teaching – Scripture is the source of all reliable knowledge of God and His will and ways. "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Heb 5:11-16). Knowledge of the Scriptures leads to a closer relationship with God and an increased level of spiritual maturity (1 Pet. 2:1- 3).

2^nd - It is profitable for reproof – Scripture is the tool to use to confront and expose sin in the life of another believer. God's Word is truth and it is to be used to expose sin/darkness. "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light." (Eph 5:11-13).

3^rd – It is profitable for correction – The Word of God is the tool to use to help someone re-align themselves to what is right. This is the only time this Greek word is used in the N.T. It was used in Greek culture to describe the setting a fallen object upright; or of helping someone who had stumbled back to their feet. The Word of God helps to confront those in sin and also to point the way back to the right path of obedience to God's Word.

4^Th – It is profitable for training in righteousness – The Word of God is the tool to use to help train a person in how to properly live for God. This Greek word was used to describe the training that a child would receive to be able to properly and effectively live life as a productive citizen. The Word of God is essential to the proper instruction of a believer for the purpose of godliness/Christ-likeness (1 Tim. 4:6-16). The Word of God is essential in the process of a believer's mind being renewed (Rom. 12:1-2).

Paul shares this truth with Timothy all for the purpose of what he declares in verse 17. As a result of Scripture being profitable for these four things just mentioned, the man of God (the pastor-teacher, the evangelist) will be prepared for ministry (adequate). The man of God has everything that he needs to minister (equipped for every good work). Two different Greek words are used here that emphasize the truth that the Scriptures are all that the man of God needs to: evangelize (cf. 3:14-15) and to disciple believers to spiritual maturity (cf. 3:16-17). In the day in which we live there are more resources, tools, and strategies than ever before. The Word of God informs us that ultimately all we need is the Word of God preached and taught for the salvation of souls and discipling of the saints. Since that is what our mission is from Christ, the Word of God is all we need. We need to remember that now.

#3 - The Word of God must be preached (4:1-5)

Paul has just given Timothy the all-important reminder that all he needs is the Word of God to be able to effectively reach the lost and effectively disciple the saved. Now he charges Timothy and he brings God the Father and God the Son into the situation (1). Every single person will stand before Christ to answer for how they have lived. Christ will return and establish God's Kingdom on this earth. Paul presents God the Father and God the Son as witnesses in this command he gives to Timothy.

Paul commands Timothy to preach/proclaim the Word of God (2). Timothy is to preach/proclaim the Word of God when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. There are going to be times when people will want to hear/learn the Word of God and there will be times when they won't want to hear it (cf. 1 Tim. 4:6-16). The Word of God must be preached and it must be taught. There is no true Christianity without the Word of God being preached and taught!

As Timothy preaches and teaches the Word of God he is to use it to:

1^st – reprove – This is from the verb form of the Greek word that was used in verse 16. It refers to the Word of God being used to expose the darkness of sin with the light of the Scriptures. It is meant to call a believer to account for how he is living in opposition to the Word of God. You use the Word of God to show a person his sin and call him to repentance.

2^Nd – rebuke – This refers to express strong disapproval for the actions and attitudes of someone involved in sin. It has the idea of strongly warning the individual in sin. Timothy is to use the Word of God to strongly disapprove of sinful actions and warn those involved.

3^Rd – exhort – This refers to using the Word of God to urge, appeal, encourage someone to obedience. People have twisted this idea of encouragement to mean that a person encourages someone to feel better about themselves. This is not biblical encouragement. Biblical encouragement relates to a person urging, encouraging another to obey the Word of God.

Timothy is to use the Word of God to reprove, rebuke, exhort and he is to do this with great patience and instruction (2). Timothy was to be prepared to use the Word of God in any and all situations. The Word of God is sufficient, it is all we need (cf. 3:17)! Timothy was to teach and preach the Word of God with great patience. He was to continue to teach and preach, no matter how long it took for change to take place. Timothy was to endure in teaching and preaching the Word of God because it is sufficient. Timothy was to teach and preach the Word of God over and over. He was to continue to teach and preach the Word of God, no matter how long it took for things to change because it is the only thing that will bring about the salvation of the lost and the maturing of the saved!!!!

In the concluding verses of our message this morning we are going to see another important motivation and warning (3-4). Paul says that there was a time coming when people would not want to endure hearing the Word of God preached and taught (3). This is not referring to those outside of the assembled church, it is referring to those who are assembled!!!! There will be professing believers who don't want to hear the Word of God preached and taught anymore. They will find preachers and teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Do you think it is any accident that there is more felt-needs, issues-driven preaching than ever before? This is the fulfillment of Paul's warning in Scripture. People want to have counseling sessions, instead of hearing the Word of God preached and taught. The reason why there is so much psychological counseling going on today is because people have refused to obey the Word of God and submit to the Lordship of Christ. The refusal to obey God's Word has led to a lot of depression, bad marriages, and numerous other things. People come to church desiring to feel better about themselves. Pastor-teachers have begun to teach and preach less because of unbelief! We have begun to think that the Word of God is not enough, that it isn't all we need. We are guilty of unbelief!

We need to repent of our selfishness, and our unbelief. We need to be in awe of Almighty God! We need to submit to the Word of God and the Lordship of Christ. Then you will have joy in the midst of intense sorrow and pain. Paul said this time of watered-down preaching and teaching was coming. It is here. Do you know what God says we need? Not felt-needs, issues-driven preaching and teaching. God says we need to have the Word of God preached and taught. That is all we need!!!!

As a result of listening to this felt-needs, issues-driven preaching and teaching the people will turn completely away from the truth of God's Word and they will believe myths (4). Paul calls Timothy to be clear-headed in the way that he conducts himself (5). He is to keep his eyes on Christ and not get all out-of-sorts. He is to make sure that he doesn't begin to preach and teach these watered-down things. Timothy will have to endure hardship and he must cling to God. He is to do the work of proclaiming the gospel. Remember, the Word of God is sufficient for the salvation of the lost. Paul calls Timothy to fulfill his ministry. God called Timothy to preach and teach the Word of God. Timothy is to continue preaching and teaching the Word of God when people desire it and when they don't. He is to remain faithful no matter what the desires of the world or the church.

[Conclusion:]

#1 - Obedient Christians will be persecuted - God speaking through Paul says that when born-again Christians live obedient lives for Christ, they will suffer persecution. It is not a possibility, it is a guarantee!

#2 - The Word of God is all that we need to effectively minister for God - The Word of God informs us that ultimately all we need is the Word of God preached and taught for the salvation of souls and discipling of the saints. Since that is what our mission is from Christ, the Word of God is all we need.

#3 - The Word of God must be preached and taught - Not felt-needs, issues-driven preaching and teaching. God says we need to have the Word of God preached and taught. That is all we need!!!! God called Timothy to preach and teach the Word of God. Timothy is to continue preaching and teaching the Word of God when people desire it and when they don't. He is to remain faithful no matter what the desires of the world or the church.

Spurgeon in the book Lectures to my Students said, “We have a fixed faith to preach, my brothers, and we are sent forth with a definite message from God. We are not left to fabricate the message as we go along.”

A Call to be Consumed by Christ #6

A Call to be Consumed by Christ

A Message to the Church in Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6

Intro:

Last week we looked at Christ's message to the church in Thyatira. He condemned the fact that the church had allowed false teachers to remain in the church and had not corrected professing believers who were living in unrepentant sin. Since the church had not dealt with these sin issues, Christ promised that He would deal with them. Christ Himself was going to remove the false teachers and the professing believers involved in unrepentant sin through sickness and tribulation. He concludes the personal message to the church in Thyatira by promising true believers eternal rewards in heaven.

Sardis, known as modern-day Sart (a small village among the ruins of the former city), was the ancient capital of Lydia. It was located in western Asia Minor about 50 miles east of Smyrna and 30 miles southeast of Thyatira. Sardis was a city of great wealth and fame. Much of its wealth came from its textile manufacturing, dye industry, and jewelry trade. The acropolis was a natural citadel on the northern spur of Mount Tmolus. It rose 1,500 feet above the lower valley. Most of the inhabitants of Sardis practiced paganism. There were many mystery cults or secret religious societies. The temple of Artemist/Diana was erected in the 4^th Century BC. and is still found in ruins there today. Near the temple is found the ruin of a church building. The church in Sardis continued until the 14^th Century AD. but was never prominent.

The people of Sardis worshiped the mother-goddess Cybele. The ruins of her temple still remain today. Cybele worship was composed of sexual orgies (like those of Dionysus) practiced at festivals held in her honor. Andrew Tait observes the following about Sardis, “Sins of the foulest and darkest impurity were committed on these occassions; and when we think of a small community of Christians rescued from such abominable idolatry, living in the midst of such gross depravity, with old friends and lifestyles trying to pull the believers toward wickedness, one wonders how the few believers in Sardis were not led astray and swallowed by the evil.”

I) Christ's self-description (1a)

Christ introduces Himself to the church in Sardis as the One who has the seven Spirits and the seven stars (1). The seven Spirits of God refers to the seven-fold Holy Spirit. The Spirit is referred to in the O.T. In a seven-fold way (Zech. 4:2-10). The Messiah is described in the O.T. as having the seven-fold Spirit on Him (Isa. 11:1-2; the Spirit of – the Lord; wisdom; understanding; counsel; strength; knowledge; and fear of the Lord). Christ says that He has possession of the Spirit of God and as a result knows and sees everything (cf. Rev. 4:5; 5:6). The passage in Zechariah 4 describes the Spirit of God knowing and seeing all things. The seven stars refer to the angels who are responsible for overseeing the local churches in each of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2-3. Christ is intending to put the church in Sardis on notice that He knows all things and He is in charge of the church as its head (Eph. 1:22-23).

II) Christ's warning to the church in Sardis (1b-3)

Christ informs the church that He knows how they have been living (1b). Jesus says that the church has a reputation for being alive, but in fact it is dead. This is an astonishing statement by Jesus. This church gathers and functions, which makes onlookers believe that it is living. According to Christ, appearances are not the whole story. This church gathers and does things, but it is dead. It seems that Sardis has already experienced a judgment similar to that with which Christ threatened the church in Ephesus (2:5). Barclay observes, “a church is in danger of death whenever it begins to worship its own past...becomes more concerned with forms/traditions than life...when it loves systems/programs more than Christ...when it is more concerned with material things than spiritual things.”

Christ calls the church to wake up (2). He commands them to wake up and strengthen the few evidences of spiritual life that still remain in the church. Jesus says even these few evidences of life were about to die! Christ tells the that He recognizes they are not living up to their obligations as Christians. Christians are a part of the New Covenant through faith in Christ and as a result Christians obligations to God, which entail living according to His Word found in the N.T. The church at Sardis was not living in an obedient, devoted way for Christ. The Word of God details for us in the N.T. the kind of life that born-again Christians are to live. Christ sees the discrepancy between God's expectations and the way the church is actually living. God has a purpose for them and they aren't fulfilling it (Eph. 2:8-10).

Christ urges them to remember the truth they received through the apostles and prophets – N.T. Scriptures (3). He calls them to remember God's Word and obey it. This will require repentance on their part. If this church is to begin to function properly through obedience to God's Word, their hearts and minds will have to change – repentance. The church will need to stop its half-hearted devotion and begin to passionately obey God's Word. History has taught us that when the church/Christians repent, revival results. Christ tells them that if they don't repent He will come in judgment on the church and they won't know when it is coming. Again, we see in Scripture that repentance averts judgment. Jesus clearly warns the church in Sardis to repent and if they refuse, His judgment will come at an unexpected time.

III) Christ's encouragement to true believers (4-5)

Christ tells the church in Sardis that there are a few (who are true believers) in Sardis who haven't soiled their clothes with unrepentant, worldly living (4). These true believers lived faithfully in devoted obedience to God's Word, in-spite of the wickedness occurring around them. Jesus promises that these true believers will be clothed in white in heaven (5; cf. 19:8). True believers wearing white refers to purity of life. Jesus says that they are worthy of wearing white because they are true believers (6:11; 7:9). All true believers overcome through Christ (1 Jn. 5:4-5).

A second reward for all true believers is that their name will never be erased from the book of life. This refers to the names of the elect which are written in the book of life (Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 20:15). There is absolutely nothing that can remove the name of God's elect from this book (Jn. 6:35-40, 43-44; 10:24-30). Christ will confess the name of every true believer before God the Father with the angels present (5). Their names will be confessed by Christ because they are written in the book of life. God the Father chose the elect before the foundation of the world existed (Eph. 1:3-4). The process of election is described in Romans (8:28-39; 9:14-26). Christ taught that the Father gives the elect to Christ (Jn. 6:37) and the Father is the One who works out the process in life-events of drawing the elect to Christ (6:44). Jesus is not ashamed to call the elect brothers (Heb. 2:10-13). Jesus also mentioned this issue during His earthly ministry (Matt. 7:15-23; 10:32-33; Lk. 9:23-27). Christ will gladly confess the names of the elect as His own because their names are written in the book of life.

IV) Christ's invitation (6)

Christ concludes His personal message to the church in Sardis by inviting those who are spiritually capable to act upon the Words that the Holy Spirit is communicating. Jesus gives this invitation at the end of each personal message directed to the seven churches in Asia.

Conclusion:

Christ delivers a serious message filled with correction to the church in Sardis. He tells them that although outsiders believe the church is alive, He knows they are dead. Christ calls them to remember the Word of God or He is going to come and judge them. The church in Sardis gathered and did activities, but according to Christ they were spiritually ineffective and powerless. They need to repent and begin to obey God's Word. Even in the midst of this spiritually dead church, Christ states that He has a few who are true believers. He encourages these true believers by describing their future heavenly reward: clothed in white and confessed as Christ's own before the Father.

This message to the church in Sardis teaches us a very serious and sad truth. There are churches that gather and conduct programs which are spiritually ineffective and powerless – they are dead. One thing that is worth nothing – they aren't dead because they used AWANA Club instead of Word of Life curriculum! They aren't dead because they didn't have enough events on the social calendar! They aren't dead because of programming! They are dead because they haven't obeyed the timeless, non-negotiable truth of God's Word! Wow, did we all hear that? Programming is not the issue! Today we believe that if we have every program under the sun (which leads us to exhaustion and ineffectiveness) that our churches will be full. We view full as effective. We don't ask the right question which is, “Do we have people who are true believers becoming more like Christ and becoming more obedient to God's Word?” This is the question we should be asking. Are the believers in our church becoming more like Christ through obedience to God's Word? Jesus said that Sardis had programs but they weren't becoming more like Christ through obedience to God's Word. Christ commands them to repent and obey God's Word!

A Call to be Consumed by Christ #5

A Call to be Consumed by Christ

A Message to the Church in Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

Intro:

Last week we read Christ's message to the church in Pergamum. Christ confronted those in the church who were advocating worldly living. The worldly living included marrying unbelievers, worshiping idols, and immorality. There was teaching being propagated in Pergamum that promoted sinful living, because as believers they were already forgiven through Christ. Christ states that unless they repent He is going to declare war on them.

This week we read Christ's message to the church in Thyatira. It is now known as Akhisar. It was founded by Seleucus I (311-280 BC.) as a military outpost. It was known for its many trade guilds. Lydia was from Thyatira (Acts 16:14, a seller of purple fabrics). Christ addresses false teaching and immoral living which were present in the church. They were ignoring it, which is not good. Christ condemns their unwillingness to exercise corrective church discipline to maintain the purity of the church and the testimony of Christ. Throughout church history this has repeatedly occurred when the church tolerates false teaching and unrestrained immorality in its midst, which has led to God's judgment. Let us seek to learn from Christ's message to the church in Thyatira.

I) Christ's self-description (18)

Christ in addressing the church at Thyatira proclaims that He is the Son of God. He is deity. He has eyes that are like a flame of fire. This refers to holiness. Christ is able to look at every person and see the attitudes and actions of each one. Christ is holy and hates sin. He also has feet like burnished bronze. This again is a reference to Christ's holiness, but also a picture of His visible glory. Jesus is about to confront the sinful conduct of the church. He deliberately draws attention to His holiness and His glory.

II) Christ's commendation of recent faithfulness (19)

Christ informs the church that He knows exactly how they have been living. Jesus knows exactly what their level of devotion has been. He informs them that their Christian living recently is better than when they were first saved. Apparently spiritual growth and devotion came slowly in the church at Thyatira. This evaluation has double significance. They are living more devoted lives now, but it is a condemnation of their former lack of devotion.

III) Christ's condemnation of unfaithfulness (20-23)

Even though Christ is more pleased with their recent living, He has some substantial problems with what is being tolerated in the church (20). Jesus tells them that they are wrongly tolerating Jezebel. Jezebel was married to Ahab king of Israel (1 Kg. 16:28-33). She enticed Ahab to worship other gods and to live in immorality (which led many Israelites to do the same as their king). Christ is using this background to describe a woman who is currently in the church at Thyatira. Christ says that this women claims to be a prophetess. We are going to see quickly that she is not a prophetess of the one true God. She is a false prophetess. Jesus says that this woman teaches and leads believers away from the truth. They are led away from the truth because she has gotten believers to live in disobedience to God's Word and be involved in idol worship. Christians are not to live in unrestrained continual sin (Rom. 6:1-7, 11-14). Christians are to worship only God. Christ says that this continual disobedience to God's Word and idol worship should not be occurring in the church. He is telling them that the church should have put her out and those involved in this sin, until they repented (excommunication). Jesus says that He has given this women opportunity to repent of her false teaching but she chose not to do so (21).

Since this woman has not repented of her false teaching, Christ is going to punish her (22). He uses the metaphor of the marriage bed to communicate how He is going to judge her. Jesus is going to punish her with sickness. Jesus is also going to punish those who follow her false teaching by bringing great tribulation into their lives. There will be judgment upon these individuals if they don't repent of this false teaching and immoral living. In each of Jesus' warnings, repentance on the part of those involved in sin deters God's judgment. This is an important truth to remember. Repentance of sin avoids judgment. Jesus says He is going to bring deadly sickness to those who are involved in teaching that it is appropriate for Christians to live in unrestrained sin, disobedience to God's Word (23). Those who teach this false teaching are the spiritual children of this false teacher Jezebel. All of these false teachers are off-shoots. The result of Christ's judgment on these false teachers and their followers will be that the church will realize that Christ knows what is in the hearts and minds of all people. They will know this about Christ because only the false teachers and their followers will be judged in this instance. Christ is going to reward each person according to how he has lived. This is evidenced by His judgment of sin in this church.

IV) Christ's encouragement to the faithful (24-25)

Jesus addresses those who have been faithful to God by not succumbing to the false teaching (24). He says they haven't known the deep things of Satan. There was a belief in later Gnosticism that to defeat Satan one had to enter his stronghold, which entailed experiencing evil deeply. The Bible never teaches believers to seek battle with Satan. In fact, believers are called to resist him through God's strength and armor (Eph. 6:10-17). There are still groups today who wrongly seek to do battle with Satan. They use mystical methods and witchcraft (or sorcery) many times to do so. In reality, they become his puppets. They become prideful and superstitious in their preoccupation with him. The devoted believers has not become involved in this evil because they have not fallen prey to the false teaching. The bad part is that the faithful believers didn't put the false teachers and immoral Christians out of the church until they repented. Jesus tells them that He is not going to request anything more of them. He does tell them to hold on to what they have until He arrives (25). Jesus is telling them to keep their faith in the gospel for the forgiveness of sins and to hold on to the Word of God.

V) Christ's promised reward for all true believers (26-29)

Christ concludes by encouraging all the true believers (26-28). He tells them that as overcomers who have lived faithfully for Christ they will have authority over the nations (26). Christ received from the Father authority to rule over everything and Jesus gives true believers this authority (27). This truth is stated more clearly later in the book (20:4-6; cf. Dan. 7:21-22, 27). Jesus also mentions a second reward for true believers, which is that they will receive the morning star (28). Later in the book, Christ refers to Himself as the bright morning star (22:16). The reward relates to being in Christ's presence eternally. Jesus calls all of the saved, who are spiritually sensitive, to respond to the message He has just given (29).

Conclusion:

Christ condemns the fact that the church has not removed this false teacher and her followers from the church. Since they have not done so, Jesus is going to remove them by judging them. Jesus encourages those who are not involved in this wickedness to cling to the gospel and the Word of God, living according to its teaching. He informs the true believers of the reward that awaits them in the future, ruling and reigning with Christ.

There is far too much tolerance of false teaching in local churches today. The teaching of Jezebel is alive and well today. It is frequently taught that it does not matter how Christians live once they are saved. They are taught that since their sins are forgiven they can live however they want. This has led professing Christians to be inconsistent in so many areas of life such as: poor church attendance (Heb. 10:23-25); not faithfully tithing (Gal. 6:6-10); living in sexual immorality; marrying unbelievers; all of these things are rebellion against the Lordship of Christ and the Word of God. The Word of God calls us to repentance or we will face the consequences of our unfaithfulness to Christ and the Word of God.

A Call to be Consumed by Christ #4

A Call to be Consumed by Christ

The Church at Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

Intro:

Last week we heard Christ's message to the local church in Smyrna. It is only one of two churches that Jesus addresses which don't receive a negative evaluation. He acknowledges that He knows the persecution they were enduring at the hands of the Roman government (demanding emperor worship) and the persecution coming from the unsaved Jews. Christ warned them about a coming persecution which will lead to the death of some. He reassures them that if they die, He will reward them with the crown of life. Christ states that a true believer is an overcomer and will never enter the final abode of the unsaved, which is a place of eternal torment.

This week we will hear Christ's message to the church at Pergamum. Pergamum was the ancient capital of Asia, which was built on a cone-shaped hill rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding valley. The Greek word means citadel and is the origin of the word parchment (lit. “from Pergamum”). There is a legend that parchment was first manufactured here. The people of Pergamum worshiped power. The first temple of the Caesar-cult was erected here in 29 BC. They also worshiped Zeus – the god of power. The altar from Zeus' temple is presently in the Berlin museum. There was not a distinction between religion and politics in Pergamum. The pagans saw religion as politics and politics as religion. This became a temptation for the Christians to compromise their beliefs and conduct for political gain. Christianity has always had a precarious relationship with politics. When government is on the side of Christianity, it tends to weaken the church. When government is against Christianity, it tends to persecute it (which inevitably makes the church stronger). Sadly, persecution throughout church history has led the church to seek political power as a means of protection and self-preservation. In time, the church becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding culture and spiritual ineffective. Ed Hindson observes the following, “It has been observed more than once that the ultimate weakening of Christianity occurs whenever we confuse spiritual authority with political power.” The church is called to make disciples of Christ through the Word of God, evangelism, discipleship, and prayer. None of this is accomplished through political means.

The church in Pergamum was faced with the temptation of seeking political power. This power came with a price. The idols and immorality were a part of the package, which made the church worldly. A worldly, sin-infested church won't be a godly testimony to unsaved people.

I) Christ's self-description to the church in Pergamum (12)

Christ begins His address to the local church in Pergamum by referring to Himself as, “the One who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (12). This is intentional and done by Christ for effect. This church is in need to a reminder of Christ's holy hatred of sinful living. The author of Hebrews refers to the Word of God with this imagery (Heb. 4:11-13). The Word of God reveals our true motives and attitudes. God sees and knows everything. The Word of God separates things. It separates saved and unsaved, it separates righteousness and sin. Christ is about to warn this church that if there is not repentance on the part of the sinning offenders, He is going to come and unleash this sword on them (cf. v. 16).

II) Christ knows their circumstances (13)

Christ informs them that He knows exactly where they live. In fact, He describes Pergamum as the place where Satan lives! Jesus says that Satan's throne is located in Pergamum. Pergamum was the official center of emperor worship in Asia. Christ commends them for remaining faithful to Him. They didn't deny Him by worshiping the Roman emperor Domitian. They didn't abandon the faith to avoid persecution. Christ mentions Antipas (lit. “Against all”) who was killed among them. Antipas was the first martyr in Asia. Tradition has it that he was slowly roasted to death in a bronze kettle during Domitian's reign (AD. 81-96). Jesus refers to Antipas as “My witness, My faithful one.” Wow, what a way to be known by Christ! Jesus is pleased with Antipas' faithfulness to Him, which resulted in death. Christ strongly emphasizes the strong Satanic presence in Pergamum. It is a reminder of the strong demonic presence and influence in Asia (Eph. 6:10-17).

III) Christ's warning to the church in Pergamum (14-16)

Christ proceeds to expound a few things that are displeasing to Him in Pergamum (14). There are some in the church who believe/practice the teaching of Balaam. Balaam advised the Midianites how to lead the Israelites astray by intermarrying with the Jews (Num. 25:1-2; 31:16; cf. Jude 11). The Israelites married unbelievers and began worshiping other gods. This is a fitting parallel to what was happening in Pergamum. The false teaching in Pergamum deceived believers by inciting them to live worldly lives. The believers in Pergamum were likely being encouraged to intermarry with non-believers. The false teachers led believers to think that God didn't care if they lived sinfully. This was a damaging teaching in the early church, a destructive cancer. Unrestrained sinful living by Christians is repeatedly condemned in the N.T. (Rom. 6:1-7, 12-14; Eph. 5:13-14). When Jesus mentions eating things “sacrificed to idols” He was alluding to how this practice was preceded by idol worship. This was not proper for a Christian. “Committing acts of immorality” usually had to do with temple prostitutes, which were a part of idol worship. Christ hates these things! The line between Christian teaching and living was being blurred with worldly living.

Jesus says that they also have some in the church who believe/practice the teaching of the Nicolaitans (15). The Nicolaitans were a cult that sprang up within the church. They believed and taught that believers could worship idols. This led them to teach that worshiping Domitian was not a problem. They also encouraged believers to live in immorality because God had already forgiven their sin. All of this false teaching includes license to live in unrepentant sin without consequence. Christ told the Ephesian church that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans and so does He (Rev. 2:6). Jesus hates false teaching. Christ hates any teaching that is contrary to the Word of God.

Christ concludes His observation of false teaching and ungodly living in Pergamum by calling the church to repent (16). He guarantees that if they don't repent He is going to make war against those involved in this false teaching and immoral living. This sword is a long sword, similar to a spear, which is sharp on both sides. This judgment is a real time judgment on those individuals involved in the false teaching and immoral living. When Christ returns at the end of the 7 year Tribulation Period, He will kill the armies of those who oppose Him with the sword which comes from His mouth (Rev. 19:15-16, 19-21).

IV) Christ's promised reward for true believers (17)

Christ invites the saved who are spiritual sensitive to listen to, and act on what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches (17). Every true believer will overcome and will receive a reward in heaven. Every true believer will receive some of the hidden manna. Manna is heavenly food, which every true believer will receive because he is in heaven. Christ also promises a second reward to true believers. Every overcomer will receive a white stone which has a new name written on it. Only the individual knows the name which is written on the stone. Some have viewed this as a replica of the contemporary practice of giving a stone as an invitation to an event, in this case heaven. Alford proposes that the significance is found in the new name inscribed on the stone, which represents acceptance by God, signified in the new identity. The parallel is found in the biblical teaching on having a new identity through regeneration (2 Cor. 5:17).

Conclusion:

Pergamum is warned that if those involved in the false teaching and worldly living do not repent, Christ is going to judge them. He says He is going to make war against them with the Word of God. There were people in the church who were living worldly lives and encouraging others to do the same. Christ warns impending judgment on these people unless they repent. Sadly, the church in Pergamum was tolerating this ungodly living. The church in Ephesus excommunicated unrepentant individuals like this until they repented of their sinful living, and Christ approved of the church's response (Rev. 2:2-3, 6).

True believers, who are called overcomers, will receive rewards in heaven (manna and a white stone inscribed with a new name). This is an encouragement for true believers to faithfully obey God's Word and not compromise the truth of God's Word.

A Call to be Consumed by Christ #3

A Call to be Consumed by Christ

The Church at Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

Intro:

Last week we heard Christ's message to the local churches in Ephesus. He commended them for their right beliefs, their right teaching, and their testing and rejection of false teachers. Then Christ lowered a serious condemnation, they have left their first love. They are just going through the motions. They are just playing church. They are not living passionate, Christ-consumed, God-honoring Christian lives. Christ tells them that if they don't repent of this empty Christianity, He is going to remove His power and presence from their churches. They will continue to exist but Christ won't be involved in the church. This is a serious warning. Historically we learn that the local churches in Ephesus did not repent. They continued to exist but Christ's power and presence was not in their churches.

In our passage this week Christ addresses the church in Smyrna. Smyrna was a large and prosperous city which was 35 miles north of Ephesus. Like Ephesus it was a seaport. Unlike Ephesus which is a deserted ruin today, Smyrna is still a large seaport with a population of 200,000. The church in Smyrna was one of only two churches addressed in Revelation 2-3 that is not given a negative evaluation. They are experiencing great persecution at the hands of unsaved Jews and at the hands of the Romans who are calling them to worship Domitian as a god.

I) Christ knows what is happening to these believers in Smyrna (8-9)

Christ addresses the second church in Asia, the church at Smyrna (8). Christ gives the church at Smyrna His identification card, just as He did with Ephesus. Christ says that He is “the first and the last.” This is Christ's title referring to Him as the eternal One. He existed before everything and nothing is greater than Him. Christ is Creator and Judge. He then reminds them that “He was dead.” Christ paid the sin debt for all of mankind by His substitutionary death on the cross. But Christ completes His introductory statement by clarifying that He “has come to life.” Christ in introducing Himself personally to the church at Smyrna reminds them that He has resurrected bodily and that He is alive forever.

Christ moves on to His main message. Christ knows what is going on in their lives (9). He knows about the persecution that they are suffering. Domitian demanded that the empire worship him as a god. Those who refused to do so were persecuted and many times killed. There was a large Jewish population in Smyrna and many of the non-believing Jews were hostile toward Christianity. This made it very difficult to be a Christian living in Smyrna. Polycarp, who lived at a later time, was one of the first to die for his faith. He was bishop of Smyrna. Christ also mentions their poverty. They were extremely poor, in a wealthy city. Christ informs them that they are rich. They are rich spiritually through Christ (Jas. 2:5; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Tim. 6:17-19). The Jews that were persecuting the believers in Smyrna are described by Christ in a very unflattering way. The Jews were the Old Covenant people of God and had been entrusted with the O.T. Revelation. A Jew was to be known for loving God and doing His will. Instead of being godly, Christ says the unsaved Jews in Smyrna were Satanic. They rejected the gospel and they persecuted Christianity. Christ also confronted this reality during His earthly ministry. As Christ was debating the Jewish religious leaders who considered God to be their Father. Jesus told them that Satan was their father (Jn. 8:39-47). Jesus speaks the truth. The unsaved Jews and Gentiles are used by Satan to persecute Christians. Isn't this a comforting thought that Christ knows exactly what is going on with these believers in Smyrna? He also knows exactly what will happen to them in the future, and He is allowing this persecution and suffering as a part of His sovereign plan.

II) Christ encourages the believers in Smyrna about a persecution that is coming (10-11)

Next, Christ gives the church a warning. They are about to suffer something very difficult, of which Christ says not to fear (10). Christ tells them that some of them will be imprisoned and He ascribes it to the activity of Satan. Their persecution was going to continue. Christ says that they will be tested during this time. The non-believers who are Satan's instruments will incite the imprisoned believers to deny Christ and abandon the faith. Their test will be to remain faithful to Christ and hold to the faith. Christ says that this specific tribulation will last ten days. This refers to a short period of time, not an exact number of days (Alford proposes this based on Scriptural precedent – Num. 11:19; 14:22; 1 Sam. 1:8; Job 19:3). Walvoord discusses how Christian suffering causes confusion on the part of believers. It is easy to understand why the unsaved would experience suffering, but why the saved? The Bible teaches that believers suffer at times for some of the following reasons: discipline (1 Cor. 11:30-32; Heb. 12:3-13); preventive measures (2 Cor. 12:7 – Paul's thorn in the flesh); the learning of obedience (Heb. 5:8 – Christ; cf. Rom. 5:3-5); or for the providing of a better testimony for Christ (Acts 9:16).

Christ provides them with an encouraging promise. In His promise is found the reality of death for remaining faithful to Christ and holding to the faith. Christ says that even though faced with death for refusing to deny Him, remain faithful to Christ and He will reward them with the crown of life. One thing that Christ makes clear to them is that even if their persecutors take their lives, it will only result in the believers receiving the crown of life in heaven. This is a reward to individual believers in Smyrna who die for not denying Christ and the faith.

Christ uses a call that He had used during His earthly ministry. Those who were saved and spiritually sensitive would hear what the Holy Spirit was saying to the believers in Smyrna (11). Christ says that the believer who overcomes will not be hurt by the Second Death. The Second Death is the Lake of Fire, which Christ mentions later in the letter (20:11-15). The Lake of Fire was created for Satan and his demons (Matt. 25:41-46). Only the unsaved will be harmed by the Second Death. Christ says that the one who overcomes will be rewarded by protection from the Second Death. The overcomer is described by John as a person who has repented of his sin and trusted by faith in the gospel for the forgiveness of sin (1 Jn. 5:1-5). Every true believer is an overcomer. No true believer will ever be hurt by the Second Death, the Lake of Fire.

Conclusion:

Christ encourages the church in Smyrna by letting them know the He knows exactly what is happening to them. He knows they are poor materially but informs them that they are rich spiritually and heavenly. He warns them that a more severe persecution is coming and some will die because they refuse to deny Christ. Jesus encourages them by telling them that if they die for Christ, He will reward them as martyrs with the crown of life. Some feel they would lose something if they died, but Christ tells them that they will gain a crown for doing so. Christ concludes by telling them that everyone who overcomes (all true believers) will not end up in the Lake of Fire. All true believers will spend eternity with Christ. It does not matter what is done to a true believer during this earthly life, but his eternal destination will never be effected. A true believer's eternal destination is assured by Christ.

The application for believers today is simple. True believers should always remain faithful to Christ and cling to the faith, no matter how difficult or deadly it becomes to do so. Christ says that if you die for Him, you will be rewarded! Not only will you be rewarded, but you will be in the presence of Christ eternally. A true believer will never be sent to the place of eternal torment, the final abode of the unsaved, the Lake of Fire.