Today’s Reading: Revelation 2:12-29; Psalm 5

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” – Revelation 2:17a

There are five more messages to five more lampstand churches. Let’s look at two more this morning. Lord, show us if one of these “performance reviews” describes where we are at spiritually. Protect us from false guilt while opening our hearts to the truth as revealed by your Spirit. Amen.

Pergamum is the COMPROMISING CHURCH. Jesus recognized that they were living in a culture where sin was glorified. He described Perganum as “the city where Satan has his throne.” One of the believers had been killed for his faith, yet the church remained loyal to God during this difficult time of persecution. They continued to praise the name of Jesus, but they had also begun to tolerate false teaching in the church. They continued to call themselves Christ-followers, but they were compromising the standards of holiness by eating food offered to idols and by allowing sexual sin in the church.

“Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” – Revelation 2:16

JESUS CALLED THE CHURCH’S TOLERANCE SIN.

The church had remained loyal during times of persecution but they had also become tolerant of false teaching. They had a choice set before them – repent of your sin or I will come and fight the false teaching myself with the sword of my mouth. Even if they did not endorse it, they allowed it, and Jesus called their tolerance sin.

The heart of Jesus is revealed here in these verses, showing that his desire was for them to repent of their sin so that they could experience everything He had for them. He was sending this message to the Church in Pergamum, knowing that believers would be reading his words for generations to come. Just as the warning is for us today, so is the promise of victory! But let’s not miss that not only is the promise for us, so is the warning.

To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. – Revelation 2:17b

The Church in Thyatira had a similar problem – they had been the OVERLY TOLERANT CHURCH. God had seen their love, faith, service and patient endurance. In the presence of constant improvement, they had unfortunately allowed teaching that permits sexual sin and the eating of food offered to idols. When given the opportunity to repent, they had chosen immorality over God’s plan. To this church the Son of Man is saying – I know the thoughts and intentions of every person and I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. If you choose to obey me to the very end, you will be given victory and authority (2:18-29).

“To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7b

I believe the church in America is making the same mistakes as the church in Pergamum and in Thyatira. We live in a culture that no longer appreciates our faith and no longer uses biblical teaching as a standard of morality. The truths found in scripture are now defined as hate speech, and our response has been tolerance on several different issues. Leaders are looking the other way, allowing a spirit of compromise and tolerance in the church, while other leaders have begun to endorse what scriptures have defined as sin.

We have forgotten how to extend grace and show love, while also speaking truth. We have softened our stance in order to fit into the culture of the day. We continue our routine of faith but we have watered down the word of God. In our efforts to show the love of Christ, we have instead become OVERLY TOLERANT of sin; we are a COMPROMISING CHURCH.

To those believers who were not following the false teaching being allowed in the church, Jesus said — “I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.” (Revelation 2:24-25). It seems to me that Jesus is saying to hold on to the truth; do not grow weary and let go of the foundation of truth on which your salvation was built. Do not run after the newest idea or fall prey to the false teaching that has made its way into the church. Hold tightly to what you have until Jesus comes again.

Father God, forgive us for getting off track. We pray for revival to sweep through our nation, starting with the Church. Show us how to respond in love to the world around us without watering down the message of salvation. Give us the right words to show others the plan you have for their life, offering them freedom FROM sin rather than freedom TO sin. Give us the heart to authentically love them so that they see our concern for their future as genuine, not as judgmental. May your grace and love be evident in all that we say and do. Amen.