Christ Wants A Law-Abiding Church
Notes
Transcript
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Introduction: Holy Temple, I must confess that I forgot to give you all the facts. For the last two Sundays you have been under the scrutiny of the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples that upon this rock or truth that He builds His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. One of the foundational pieces for His church is a Loving church. A church that loves the Triune God above all and then loves His children, the saints. Another building block for Christ’s church is that it is a lasting church. A church that weathers the storms of poverty, pain, and persecution. A body of believers who will be faithful until death.
I know that you may be asking this morning what else is in this church that Christ is building. Saints, Christ wants a Law-Abiding Church. Tell your neighbor,
Christ Wants A Law-Abiding Church.
Christ Wants A Law-Abiding Church.
Not a law-breaking church, but a law-abiding church.
I must tell you that
I. Christ Knows Your Surroundings
I. Christ Knows Your Surroundings
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
(Satan’s seat is) Committed to His Name
You adhere strongly to His Name, You hold fast to His Name
of commitment to someone or something hold fast (to) someone or someth
The holding or adhering to the Christ’s name, holding firm, a sign of strength
Despite your surrounding or the atmosphere or political climate or social climate or immoral climate
You continue holding to the faith in spite the persecutions, problems
Despite the increasing You continue to
Mt 18:20 Gather in Christ’s NAME
Despite the increasing You continue to
JN 16:26 PRAY IN MY NAME
Despite the increasing You continue to
MK 9:37 RECEIVE CHILDREN IN MY NAME
Despite the increasing You continue to
AC 9:15 (PAUL) TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE OTHERS
II. Christ Knows Your Strains
II. Christ Knows Your Strains
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
(Antipas)
Conviction not to deny my faith (Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith)
Did not deny
His power to forgive
His power to raise the dead
His power to heal
His power to comfort
His power to love the unlovable
His power to perform
Not only does Christ know your surroundings and your strains but there is no hiding from Him, because He knows your short-coming s
III. Christ Knows Your Short-comings
III. Christ Knows Your Short-comings
Look here at this church of Pergamos. it has done
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Under the banner of unity they compromised by including
Undermine the very faith that we defend
Instead of upholding they compromised
They did not maintain doctrinal purity
They permitted or tolerated individuals that held to a different doctrine
Jesus said that the errors of the church fell into two categories. The first is what was promoted
Teachings of Balaam – stumbling block , eat things sacrificed unto idols (violate conscience)
It Will Not Hurt
It Will Not Hurt
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
To Look
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
To Listen
With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
Ain’t nothing wrong
and the second what was practiced
He lead them astray
Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.
APP: 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us
Institution of marriage (acceptance, integration,
Premarital Sex-
Drugs- pot, grass, weed, blunts, roach,
Cheating-
Different Doctrines (Karma, Yin and Yang,
Laziness,
Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.
Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.
IV. Christ Knows Your Solution
IV. Christ Knows Your Solution
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
EXP: REPENT (MIND, EMOTION, WILL)
There are some that have come IN the church but have not allowed the church to get IN them.
There are some that have surrounded themselves with the saints of God but have not allowed the Savior to surround them.
There are some that have done the work of God but have not allowed God to work in them.
Christ is Not looking for a defiant church,
but a docile church
Christ is Not looking for a contrary church,
but a compliant church
Christ is Not looking for a disobedient church,
but an obedient church
Christ is Not looking for a willful church,
but a submissive church
Remove those teaching
When You turn
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
HIDDEN MANNA
VICTORIOUS ATHLETICS WOULD RECEIVE A STONE WITH THEIR NAME ON IT WOULD
Your gift will make room for you
Emmanuel
The Good Shepherd
Bread of Life
Wonderful
Counselor
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Alpha and Omega
Light of the World
Water of life
The Great Prophet
The High Priest
The Lamb of God