Issue 818 – Calling Darkness Light – Seven Churches Part 5 – August 6, 2022
Back to Pergamum this morning. The Lord had encouragement for the faithful members of the Pergamum church who were holding fast despite persecution, but strictly condemned those who were following false teaching.
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Revelation 2:12-17
This is a church in trouble, even without the very real threat of persecution and the possibility of martyrdom. A large part of the church is keeping the faith but at least two groups have drifted off into serious, sinful error.
These unfaithful members are twisting the truth to accommodate sexual and other immorality. Sexual immorality is still sinning and needs to be repented of, but twisting the truth to permit it takes the sin to a much deeper, more depraved level.
That wasn’t a new problem, even then.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:20-21
Paul spoke of such things, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32
Jesus warned about the dangers of false teaching.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Matthew 7:15-18
It goes on today, devouring congregations and even entire denominations, as they slip off the path of truth.
Kathy and I came to faith in a bible-believing congregation in what we later learned was a typically liberal-leaning direction. We had no idea that there were even such things as liberal or conservative churches. It was an assembly we loved deeply.
Eventually, the mandate came from the denominational leadership that celebration was to be celebrated, a classic case of calling evil good. That congregation dwindled from 200+ on a Sunday morning to less than fifty in short order as those who could not in good conscience agree drifted off. While that congregation eventually settled in at less than 20 attending it did manage to stay open until very recently when they made the decision to close the doors. The denomination has gone from seven churches in that area to one. That is heartbreaking.
Certainly, the celebration issue was not the only one, but it was a major contributing factor. They went to war with Jesus and lost.
The Pergamum church eventually lost and it is no more.
That doesn’t mean the faithful believers were lost to Christ. He has great promises for those who stay the course,
To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
It’s figurative language, but the bottom line is that Jesus holds on to His own and keeps a place for them in glory. That is good news.
Continue to hold fast, my friends, and contend for the truth in love.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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