REVELATION STUDY - 2:12-17 Pergamum (part 2) Revelation 2:12a "And to the messenger of the church at Pergamum write" I haven’t really pointed this out before, but the primary emphasis of each of these letters is on the minister or pastor or leaders of these seven churches, and thus the leaders of the churches today. We are all obviously responsible for the warnings and principles expressed in these letters, but there is a greater measure of responsibility placed upon the leaders. The opening of Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give account.” In the context of the letter to the church at Ephesus, the pastor and the leaders were held to a greater level of responsibility for the church leaving its first love. On the other hand, they also will receive a certain measure of praise and reward for the good and the righteousness of the church. In the context of the letter to the church at Smyrna, the pastor and leaders are receiving a measure of praise and reward for this church being prepared and willing to suffer persecution and severe testing. Thus the context of the letter to the church at Pergamum places a greater measure of responsibility on the pastor and leaders for their compromise with the world, as well as the good that resided in this church. This does not let any of you off the hook for your personal adherence to God’s Word, it just points to the importance of the church following the biblical guidelines in selecting and appointing qualified leaders, and the importance of those leaders to be uncompromising in carrying out the mandates of Scripture regardless of how unpopular they may be at the time. Revelation 2:12b "The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this" The imagery here is undeniable: The Lord Jesus judges everything by the Word of God. We are drawn back once again to Hebrews 4:12, which says, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” When the church as a whole, and/or individually, loses sight of the importance of reading and studying and meditating upon and memorizing and acting upon the Word of God, that church will begin to look and act like the world; that church will lose its effectiveness in reaching the lost; that church will lose its ability to confront sin; that church will fall woefully short of what God requires of it; and that church will fall under God’s mighty hand of judgment. Beloved, we can miss a lot of things and still be on the right path, but if we miss the Word of God we will go nowhere. If we miss the Word of God we will fall for most any of Satan’s traps and schemes. If we miss the Word of God we will be susceptible to false teaching. If we miss the Word of God we will not be able to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. If we miss the Word of God our love for one another will wax cold. If we miss the Word of God we will have absolutely no influence on a lost and dying world. If we miss the Word of God we will forfeit the blessings and promises of God. If we miss the Word of God we miss it all! The One who has the sharp two-edged sword, the One who is the very Word of God has something to say to us, so we all should straighten up and pay attention. Revelation 2:13a “I know…” Just as we studied previously, Jesus knows. Our Lord is omniscient; He knows everything. Nothing escapes His blaring gaze. Jesus sees your every trouble and trial and heartache. Jesus knows. So we can turn all things over to Him. We can repel every offense that comes our way and leave it in the capable hands of our Lord. As some of you know, two years ago I heard from the Lord. I was out on an exercise walk and heard God’s voice so clearly that I literally stopped and looked around to see where the voice was coming from. The words were simply this: “The attacks will become more intense.” At the time I did not know if the words for me personally or for the church in general. I now see that they applied and still apply to both. The attacks have come fast and furious and more intense over the last 6-12 months. But the mere fact that God told me they were coming also tells me that God will take care of every one of them as long as we allow Him to. Jesus says, “I know.” Satan is not pleased with Grace Church! Satan is ticked off at this debt-free building and at the direction we are heading! Satan is furious that God’s Word is taught and preached here! So he is going to do everything he can to stop us in our tracks. He is going to pull out every trick in the book to trip us up. He is going to use believers and unbelievers alike to try to derail us. He is going to resort to lies and rumors and innuendo to divert our attention away from our God-ordained purpose. But beloved, we have the power to stop him! You have the power to stop him! Jesus says, “I know” and we can rest in that truth; we can take this simple yet profound truth and we can resist the devil, and bless God, His Word says he will flee from you! We don’t have to worry and fret, we don’t have to wring our hands or drop our heads or rub our brows, we simply have to rest in the truth that Jesus knows and that His Word is faithful and true. We have to stop giving Satan any credit, we have to stop attributing any power to Satan, and we must resist him and rebuke him in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! The only power Satan has in your life is the power you give him! The only power Satan has in the life of this church is the power we collectively give him! He is a defeated foe and he knows the end is near and he will try to deceive you into thinking you’re no match for him. But beloved, he is no match for you in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the power of God’s Word, and in the power of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and in the power of Almighty God! Jesus says, “I know” – so stop acting as if He doesn’t and stand strong in the power of His Word!
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:50:13 +0000
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