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Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000669S
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00:00 (Breath of Life Theme Music)
00:06 Sermon #B669 - Pergamos: The Compromising Church 00:20 Dr. Byrd: I want to invite you to take your bibles 00:22 and go with me to the Book of Revelation. 00:24 We're going to continue in our study today part three of the seven churches of 00:28 Revelation. God truly blessed us last week 00:32 and I know he's got something great in store for us today. 00:35 Revelation chapter 2 is where we want to go and we want to go to verse number 12. 00:40 Revelation chapter 2 and we want to begin reading verse number 12. 00:46 I'm reading from the King James Version of the bible. 00:49 The Word of God says in Revelation 2:12, 00:55 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write. 00:58 These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges, 01:05 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, 01:14 and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, 01:18 even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, 01:27 where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things", Jesus says, "against thee, 01:32 because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, 01:38 who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, 01:45 to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 01:50 Verse 15, so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, 01:57 which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, 02:05 and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 02:08 Verse 17, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, 02:14 to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, 02:17 and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, 02:23 which no man knoweth saying he, saving he that receiveth it. 02:31 Today, we're going to talk about church number three. Pergamos, the Compromising Church. 02:40 Pergamos, the Compromising Church. Before we talk with you, 02:44 let's talk with God Father in heaven, right now, speak, 02:47 as we have begun this series two weeks ago and we're now in our third week, God, 02:52 the same spirit that was with us then we need you now. 02:57 Speak through these lips of clay. I'm so unworthy to stand here 03:00 but I thank you for those twins called grace 03:02 and mercy that afforded me the privilege to be able to stand in your pulpit today. 03:07 Speak through me and hide me behind your cross, forgive me of my sins and, 03:10 God, at the appeal time, as you do every week, do something special. 03:15 Speak to your people. Convict them, convert them, 03:17 and may they surrender their life to you. We love you, and we thank and praise you. 03:21 In Jesus' name, asking you, Lord, to forgive us of our sins. Amen, and amen. 03:29 Pergamos, the Compromising Church. 03:34 We've now come to the third of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, 03:40 the church at Pergamos. 03:43 The third church to receive a letter from Jesus Christ. 03:47 Now, you need to know, my friends, that Pergamos was a wicked city. 03:51 It was so bad that it was nicknamed Satan City. It was nicknamed Satan City 03:58 because of all of its idolatries practices 04:00 and even Jesus himself called it the place where Satan had his throne. 04:07 So, you know Pergamos had to be bad but although Pergamos was a wicked city. 04:12 Pergamos was a beautiful city. Pergamos set on top of a huge mountain 04:16 and stood 1,000 feet up in the air above the surrounding Countryside from Pergamos 04:23 you could see the Mediterranean Sea from 15 miles away. 04:28 When you approach Pergamos you were struck in awe, you were struck by its Splendor. 04:35 It was beautiful. But let me remind somebody today that knows that everything that looks 04:42 good to you is not good for you. Ask that person who bought that red delicious apple. 04:50 Only to bite into it and taste -ed a mess. Ask that woman who got with that man 04:57 because she thought he was tall dark and handsome kind of like Pastor Byrd. 05:02 Only to find out that he was a modern-day Freddy Krueger ask that man who got with that 05:08 woman because she looked good. She looked fine. 05:12 She at that coke bottle shake only to find out they didn't have a match made in heaven, 05:18 but they had a nightmare on Elm Street. 05:21 Everything that looks good to you is not good for you. 05:25 Are you hearing what I'm saying today? But not only was Pergamos a beautiful city. 05:29 Pergamos was also one of the cultural and educational centers of the world. 05:33 In fact, it had the second largest library in the world with over 200,000 volumes 05:40 and every book was written by hand 05:41 because remember back then there were no copy machines. 05:45 Pergamos was also a religious Center and home to many temples, 05:49 but three of them are worth mentioning right now. 05:51 The first I want to mention was the temple with the massive Pagan art altar built as 05:56 a tribute to the Roman God Zeus. 05:59 It was built on a huge ledge that towered above the city. 06:02 It was the largest and most famous altar in the world. 06:06 Then number two was the temple to Asklepios, which was a serpent God of healing 06:13 but then there was temple number three. 06:16 It was a temple for the worship of Caesar Augustus 06:19 and once per year every citizen was required to go to one of these three temples devoted 06:26 to Emperor worship and offer a pinch of incense to Caesar and proclaim Caesar is Lord, 06:34 and if the people didn't do this, they could be executed. 06:39 Although a religious Center, Pergamos was also known for its Emperor 06:43 and Pagan worship often characterized by sexual immorality, prostitution, 06:49 homosexuality, drug use, wild parties. It's life centered around pleasure and self-gain. 06:58 If it felt good then in Pergamos do it. 07:03 So Pergamos even with all its beauty, all its culture, all its education, 07:11 all its religion, Pergamos was still a wicked City. On the outside, 07:18 it was a beautiful city, but on the inside it was spiritually corrupt, wicked and evil. 07:25 It's now, to this city, to this church that, Jesus writes his third letter. 07:32 Jesus begins this letter with some strong words. 07:36 He says in verse number 12, the one who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things 07:44 he's talking about himself. Now remember a double-edged sword is a weapon of war. 07:50 It's designed to give the person using it the opportunity to defend against attacks 07:55 coming from both sides of the attacker, which means it's equally deadly from both sides. 08:02 In other words, in our everyday vernacular we say a double-edged sword cuts both ways. 08:10 So why then does Jesus use a double-edged sword to describe himself? 08:15 Jesus is saying that this sword can cut both ways because it can cut to protect the good. 08:23 But it can also cut to attack the bad and while the church at Pergamos us was a good 08:28 church. It had allowed the poison of compromise to gain entry within its ranks, 08:34 which we're going to talk about in just a minute. 08:36 So Jesus then in essence is telling the church at Pergamos that if they fight 08:42 against compromise, if they don't bow down to Caesar then he will use the one edge 08:48 of the sword and he will fight with them. 08:51 But if they don't fight compromise, if they go along with Caesar, 08:56 he will turn against them with the other edge of the two edged sword. 09:01 So he says look, how can cut you both ways. I can cut to protect the good 09:06 and I can cut to attack the bad. 09:09 Jesus finishes verse 12 and then he moves his verse 13 and he begins with the four words. 09:13 I know thy works. Now, when you read Revelation Chapter 2 in Revelation chapter 3 09:24 you will notice that Jesus makes this same statement. 09:28 I know thy works to all seven churches in each individual letter to them which means 09:37 he knows each church individually and each letter is specific to each church. 09:44 He says, “Ephesus, I know thy works. Smyrna, I know thy works. 09:50 Pergamos I know thy works. Thyatira, I know thy works. Sardis, I know thy works. 09:59 Philadelphia, I know thy works. Laodicea, I know thy works.” 10:05 Jesus knows everything about his church. Jesus knows everything about you 10:09 and me so you can run from Jesus, but you can't hide from Jesus. 10:13 Jesus says “Pergamos, I know your works 10:17 you held fast my name you have not denied 10:19 my faith. Even those days wherein Antipas my faithful martyr who was slain among you.” 10:26 Now, here Jesus begins in this verse by commending Pergamos for their faithfulness. 10:32 They stood strong in the face of persecution even to the point of death. 10:36 He specifically mentions Antipas and his faithfulness. 10:40 History tells us that Antipas was the pastor at Pergamos. 10:44 His name meant against all. 10:47 Antipas stood against all that Satan brought whatever Satan brought, 10:52 Antipas stood against it. He refused to accept Caesar as God he refused to do this 10:58 and because he refused he was placed in a brazen bull shape alter. 11:03 A fire was built under this Altar and Antipas was roasted alive, 11:10 but Antipas didn't die in vain because Jesus knew his name. 11:16 Jesus remembered his name, not only did Jesus know his name, 11:22 not only did Jesus remember his name, but Jesus called his name. 11:28 Antipas died for the cause of Christ and the church at Pergamos stood with him 11:33 and would not deny their faith either. 11:36 But you need to know not all was well at Pergamos although they held fast the name of 11:42 Jesus and they were strong in the faith the Bible teaches that they were 11:45 internally compromised. What am I talking about? 11:49 Jesus says in verses 14 and 15 and verse 13, he commends them but in verses 14 and 15, 11:55 Jesus says to the people who held the teaching of Balaam some of them. 12:02 Some of them who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, 12:08 the some ate things sacrificed to idols. Some committed sexual immorality. 12:16 So Jesus says all of you who've been practicing this and all of you been teaching 12:22 this and teaching of the Nicolaitans among you which I hate, we got a problem. 12:30 The Pergamos church had two problems. 12:33 The first was a teaching problem and the second was a morality problem, 12:38 which came as a result of the teaching problem. 12:41 First, let's deal with the teaching problem. 12:43 Jesus tells the church in Pergamos that there were teachers who were 12:47 holding on to the teachings of Balaam. Balaam means not for the people. 12:53 We find Balaam in the Old Testament in Numbers 22 and 23. 12:57 When you read these chapters you will discover that the Bible will tell you, 13:01 that after defeating enemy after enemy. The Israelites moved to the plains of Moab. 13:08 The king of Moab during this time was a gentleman by the name of Balak. 13:13 Balak was intimidated by the move of the children of Israel 13:16 because he had heard about the children of Israel. Their reputation had preceded them. 13:22 He had heard about their military exploits. 13:25 He had heard that they had just defeated the Amorites 13:28 and Balak was concerned about his territory 13:31 because he was scared that the Israelites were going to overtake his territory. 13:37 Balak calls for Balaam to come. 13:40 Balak tells Balaam, “look I want you to infiltrate the Israelite Camp. 13:46 I'm going to pay you. I want you to go in and curse Israel so we can overtake them 13:51 because if you go in and you pronounce the curse on them, 13:54 then I can go in and overtake them” 13:56 but Balak was wasting his time asking Balaam to curse God's people 14:02 because Israel was God's chosen. 14:05 Israel was God's bless and I'm a witness that when you're God's chosen, 14:09 when your Gods blessed, no devil in hell can stop the blessing on your life. 14:15 When you're God's chosen, when your Gods bless, 14:18 no weapon formed against you it's going to prosper. 14:21 Let folk talk about y'all they want. Let folk curse you all day want, 14:25 but God says he'll bless those that bless you and he'll curse those that curse you. 14:30 That's why when you're blessed and folk are cursed 14:33 and you wonder why they're never blessed it's because they've been cursing Gods blessed. 14:38 I wish I had a witness in his place, and so 14:40 because Israel is blessed God looks out for them. God takes care of them. 14:46 God protects them. 14:48 Ellen White says in Patriarchs and Prophets page 457 “that when Balaam was called to 14:52 curse Israel. He couldn't even with all his enchantments bring evil upon them.” 14:58 But not only that when you study the word of God 14:59 and you read the entire chapter of numbers 23, 15:02 you will discover that Balak was not finished. 15:05 He took Balaam to several other places to try to entice him to curse the Israelites. 15:10 He thought a change in scenery might change Balaam's mind, 15:14 but changing locations will not change God's will. God blesses people not places. 15:21 I wish I had a church with me right now. 15:22 Balaam goes in, Balaam looks around the Israelite camp 15:26 and he sees how God takes care of Israel. So then he goes back to the king. 15:31 He goes back to Balak and says “listen King, I went in not once, not twice, 15:36 but three times and I found out something. I found out some things about God. 15:41 I can't curse God's blessed.” So Balaam comes up with a plan B. 15:47 He tells Balak to make friends with the Israelites. 15:50 He tells him to introduce them to the most beautiful women 15:53 and invite them to commit fornication and intermarry with these women. 15:58 Balaam tells Balak to invite them to Balak's religious celebrations 16:03 and let them eat from the Pagan altars. 16:05 The plan works and the plan removes God's hedge of protection from Israel as 16:10 they were seduced with immoral relationships and as a result of their disobedience, 16:15 the Bible teaches that 24,000 Israelites died. 16:19 Balaam wasn't able to use curses against the people. 16:23 So he leads them away with their lust. 16:27 When you read the New Testament Second Peter chapter 2 verses 15 and 16. 16:31 It says “they have left the straight way 16:34 and wander off to follow way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness, 16:41 but he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey an animal without speech who spoke 16:48 with a human voice and restrained the prophets madness 16:53 and just like Balaam led the children of Israel into idolatry. 16:59 The Nicolaitans were doing the same thing to Pergamos. 17:04 The Pergamus church was being persecuted because they wouldn't bow to Caesar. 17:09 They were being persecuted because they wouldn't offer a pinch of incense on the 17:13 Altar and they wouldn't participate in the festival's at the Pagan temples. 17:18 So the Nicolaitans told the church members at Pergamos look just bend your knee, 17:23 just offer up some incense, just go to the festivals and play along. 17:28 It will be easier for you. You will advance in society. 17:32 You will progress to persecution will ease up on you, if you just go with the flow, 17:38 bend a knee, run with the crowd, go along to get along, 17:42 be quiet about your faith, hush your mouth 17:45 and you'll be done with all this persecution you're experiencing just compromise. 17:52 God will understand, and so what happened the Pergamos is church began 17:58 compromising its stand on the word of God. Yes. 18:02 There were a few faithful who were doing the works of Christ. 18:06 But they had allowed some among them who were not. 18:10 There were some people who were teaching immorality. 18:15 They were attending Pagan feasts, which would be filled with homosexuality, 18:20 incest, prostitution and then they were coming back to the church. 18:25 The true church was mixing with those who taught false doctrine 18:30 and just like the Pergamos Church. 18:34 There are churches today that have let compromise creep in, 18:40 but we cannot let compromise and cannot compromise just to gain the favor of this world. 18:47 We cannot compromise just to avoid trouble. 18:50 We cannot compromise just to increase attendance. 18:54 We cannot compromise and lower our standards for the sake of cooperation 18:59 and perceived growth. The church today is no different from the church of Pergamos then. 19:05 We are called today. 19:06 Sadly, there's a notion today to make sure it's comfortable for culture. 19:10 I hear people tell me all the time “Pastor, 19:12 we don't want to offend or make someone feel uncomfortable.” 19:16 But since when do we want someone to feel comfortable engaging in sin? 19:22 God loves the sinner but God hates the sin. 19:26 God has delivered us out of the slavery of sin. 19:29 We don't entertain the world we were delivered out of to make anyone feel 19:34 comfortable in their sin. We must encourage people 19:37 and we want people to flee from their sins. Yes, we should love people. 19:43 Yes, we should embrace people. Yes, we should welcome people. 19:47 Yes, we should be accepting people. 19:49 But accepting people and being accepting of their sin or two different things. 19:56 Too many people want the pleasure of sin through the week 19:58 and then they want God on the Sabbath. 20:00 Too many people want to sow their wild oats during the week 20:03 and then pray for a crop failure on the Sabbath but you can't have it both ways. 20:08 You can't serve two masters. You're either in the river 20:12 or you're on the bank choose you this day who you going to serve 20:15 but as for me and my house, we going to serve the Lord. 20:19 Let me tell you something in the name of Jesus. Truth doesn't bend to popular demand. 20:25 That's why this letter to Pergamos is for us because judgment starts with us. 20:31 Judgment starts with the household of faith. When Israel refused to repent. 20:39 When their leadership of Israel failed to purge evil from the midst of them. 20:45 The Lord himself warred against the people 20:49 and he said sent a plague that consumed 24,000 of them. 20:54 But I love the Lord, not just because he loves me but I love the Lord 21:01 because he knows when to execute justice, but he also knows when to extend grace 21:07 because not only does God punish those who are unfaithful 21:12 but God promises to reward those who overcome hallelujah. 21:17 Jesus closes with verse 17 by saying to him that “overcometh I will give some of the 21:25 hidden manna. I will give also that person a white stone with a new name written on 21:31 it known only to the one who receives it.” 21:35 There are two things that Jesus promises to show those who repent and turn back to him. 21:41 First, there is hallelujah divine provision and second there is divine favor hallelujah. 21:50 First provision he promises manna. He says “it's hidden manna.” 21:57 You do remember that when the children of Israel, we're in the wilderness traveling 22:01 and God provided food for them in the form of manna. Every day they got enough manna. 22:07 They couldn't keep the manna overnight 22:09 because if they did the manna would spoil and then on the sixth day on Friday, 22:14 they got a double portion of manna because on the seventh day, 22:17 they took the second portion. They got on the sixth day and ate it on the seventh day. 22:22 There was always enough for them. Y'all don't hear what I'm saying each and every day. 22:27 Somebody said, he's Jehovah-jireh, he's a provider. He always gives us more than enough. 22:34 I wish I had a witness in his place. Strength and nourishment from Jesus, 22:38 the bread of life every day, 22:41 which means you will live your life with the fullness of God's abundance. 22:45 But number two divine favor. He promises a white stone. 22:49 White stones were used in ancient times for a number of reasons. 22:53 One reason they were used was the white stone is best understood relative to games 22:57 that were held back in the day. Those who were victorious in the games were given a 23:02 white stone with their name inscribed on it. 23:05 It was a symbol of victory the white stone identified you as an overcomer 23:12 and one who was a victor 23:14 but not only that the white stone in ancient times was often given to grant entrance 23:20 into important event. 23:22 So then to be given a white stone by Jesus suggest that not only are you an overcomer, 23:29 not only are you a victor, but you have a right to enter in through the gates 23:34 and into the city. 23:37 Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life 23:41 and may enter in through the gates into the city. So meet me in the city. 23:46 There are twelve gates to the city, three gates to the north, 23:50 three the gates to the south, three gates to the east, three gates to the west, 23:54 there is no dying there. There is no crying there. There is no coronavirus there. 24:00 There is no cancer there. The walls are made of Jasper. 24:04 Streets appear as gold, but there's one more thing. I'm ready to shout. 24:09 But there's one more thing. 24:11 Notice that the text says verse 17 “that this white stone has a new name written 24:18 on it that no one knows except the one who receives it.” 24:23 Which means not only are we victorious, not only are we are overcomers, 24:29 not only do we enter heaven, but I'm praising God because I'm a get a new name, 24:35 a new name given to you by God. You see friends of mine. 24:38 God specializes in giving new names. Come here Abram, I'll make you Abraham. 24:45 Come here Sarai, I'll make you Sarah. Come here Jacob, I'll make you Israel. 24:51 Come here Saul, I'll make you Paul. Come here Cephas, I'll make you Peter. 24:57 Come here Carlton, I'll make you a Christian. 25:00 Come here compromiser, I'll make you converted. [Congregation: Amen] 25:03 Come here drunkard, I'll make you a deacon. 25:05 Come here alcoholic, I'll make you an Adventist. 25:09 Come here backslider, I'll make you a believer. 25:12 Come here liar, I'll make you a law give keeper. 25:15 Come here prostitute, I'll make you a preacher. 25:18 Come here adulterer, I'll make you abstinent. 25:21 Come here swindler, I'll make you a Sabbath school teacher. 25:24 Come here sinner, I'll make you saved by grace. 25:30 Come here today, I'll give you a new name. 25:35 There's a blessing in a new name. [Congregation: Amen] 25:39 You're not the man you used to be. 25:42 Those people that were baptized today, they're not who they used to be. 25:45 You're not the woman, you used to be. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, 25:51 old things are passed away, all things become new. I'm not the man, I used to be. 25:58 Jesus has given me a new name. I belong to him and he belongs to me. 26:04 My name is written in the lamb's book of life and nobody can remove my name. 26:09 Our names might be different, but Jesus knows our different names. 26:14 I call every sinner in the name of Jesus, 26:17 I‘ll call every backslide in the name of Jesus. 26:19 I called everybody today whose compromise, who's messed up, who's blown it 26:24 and your life looks a mess you feel like giving up and walk away. 26:28 I called you to Jesus today. I call you in the name of Jesus 26:35 and Jesus will give you a new name. 26:41 His blood allows you, it allows me to have a new name and I told Jesus, 26:54 It would be all right if he changed my name. 27:03 Today who wants a new name? The church is Pergamos the Compromising Church. 27:15 Yes, they preach. Yes, they taught. But they let compromise creep in. 27:20 God is telling us today. 27:22 Don't let compromise creep in my church for what has happened to us. 27:29 Not only collectively but individually, don't let compromise creep in 27:37 Thank you very much for tuning in to this week's Breath of Life broadcast. 27:42 We hope and pray that you've been blessed by Dr. Byrd's inspirational message. 27:47 If you would like to hear this sermon in its entirety, 27:49 please feel free to visit us at www.breathoflife.tv. 27:55 Or, call us at (256) 929-6460. 28:02 [END] 28:09 Dr. Byrd: Pain, loss, trama, 28:18 in life we experience these things. 28:21 My wife and I have a story, 28:24 we have a testimony of how we lost 28:28 our first born daughter in a horrific car accident. 28:35 We have this new sharing book, its en-titled “Gone.” 28:40 And, in it I want to share with you 28:44 how God has helped me, 28:47 how God has helped my wife, how God has helped us, 28:51 as we had to endure the fact that our first born daughter is gone. 28:57 www.breathoflife.tv |
Revised 2020-05-29