Message by Dr. David Drake
What Kind Of Church Are We?
Pergamos, The Worldly Church
Revelation 2:12-17
Revelation 2:12-14 (NASB)
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: 13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 ‘But I have a few things against you,
Pergamos means “married.”
A “pagan” is one who follows polytheism.
Titus 2:11-12 (NASB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
“A god is that which one gives their life to!”
Three Warnings
1. Worldliness produces unfruitfulness.
Matthew 13:18, 22 (NASB)
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower.
22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
2. Worldliness produces a lack of devotion.
1 John 2:15-16 (NASB)
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
3. Worldliness will capture your mind.
Proverbs 23:7 (NASB)
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
Defective doctrine breeds confusion and brings destruction.
Revelation 2:14-15 (NASB)
14 ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Colossians 2:8 (NASB) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Three goals of a defective doctrine:
*to take you captive
*to create deception
*to create spiritual conflict
A Demanding Request
Revelation 2:16-17 (NASB)
16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’
Jesus calls for our REPENTANCE!
Jesus calls for our RESPONSE!
Jesus reveals our REWARD!
Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
We need to say, “I have decided to follow Jesus…”
Pergamum is “married ” to the world.
Are we married to Christ?