HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH and LIVE UNCOMPROMISINGLY

by Tammy Phillips
September 16, 2021

TO:                 To the angel (messenger, pastor) of CHURCH OF PERGAMOS (Compromising Church) Pergamos was the political capital of Asia Minor.  It was a cultural and education center.  Pergamos was a religious city and a center for the worship of Asclepios who was a false, Roman god of healing and knowledge. Pergamos was evil.

FROM:          Jesus, “He who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (Rev.  2:12 NKJV). The two-edged sword is the word of God coming from the mouth of Jesus. (Rev. 1:18). “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

I LIKE THIS:            “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(witness), who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” (Revelation 2:12-13 NKJV)

Pergamos was described by Jesus as where Satan lives and had his throne, yet the Church arose there.  One might call Pergamos, an epicenter of evil.  Jesus knew where the people lived and how hard it was.  Antipas had been killed for his faithful witness in Pergamos.  However, the church stood in faith, held fast to the name of Jesus, and did not deny His faith.

I DON’T LIKE:        “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^{. 15} “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:14-15 NKJV)

In the Old Testament, we see Balaam wrongly mixed the sin of idol worship and immorality in attempt to be a “people pleaser” to King Balak.  Like present day, the Roman Empire was all about sexual immorality.  The fact that “everybody was doing it,” did not make it right. All sex outside of marriage is sin in God’s eyes.  False teaching and immoral conduct are still issues in the church today.   “Truth is being watered down and altered to reflect the inclusive values of a changing culture.” (Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems II, pg. 665). The word of God is being diluted. The Word is not a priority in peoples lives, they believe a lie, and thus, perish from a lack of knowledge. 

DO THIS:      REPENT. Simply, turn from the wicked way and any shape of compromise.

OR ELSE:     “I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” (Revelation 2:16 NKJV).  Peter said: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”  His word is truth and transformative.  Jesus was/is NOT backing down.  His word is encouraging, but it is also corrective. The church of God cannot “ride the fence” in hopes of avoiding persecution.  The church had to align with the word of God and stand, or else.

REWARD:    “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].” (Revelation 2:17 NKJV).   Jesus said in John 6:41, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” (John 6:41 KJV). He is the Bread of life that supplies the overcomer with the power and provision to prevail each day in body, mind, and spirit.  The hidden manna strengthens the overcomer to uncompromisingly walk by faith, run the race, answer the call, and complete his assignments.  

A white stone would be given, too.  It had multiple meanings in New Testament times.  A white stone could be cast as sign of innocent, not guilty, in a trial.  White and black stones were also cast in public elections.  A white stone cast meant you were in favor  of the issue and the black stone meant you were opposed to it.  Jesus may have been alluding to one of these meanings to the church:  you are NOT GUILTY of your past sins.  You are covered in the blood of Jesus. You are free.  He could have also been telling the church, I favor you.  I vote for you. You have my full support. Either way, I cannot wait to get my new stone with my new name.  How about you?

I enCOURGE you to be faithful and uncompromisingly stand in the Lord.  If you are living a compromised life in any way, not according to the word of God, repent. Get off the fence and move to the side of the Lord.  Follow Jesus and no one else.