Sermons

FILTER BY:

← back to list

Oct 09, 2022

7 Letters - 3 - Name and Nourishment (Pergamum) (click for resources)

Passage: Revelation 2:12-17

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Seven Letters

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: light, direction, dark

Theme: God’s people have always struggled with compromise. We begin with The Truth, and then subtract a little here and add a little there based upon the opinions of our current culture. The two specific examples in this passage show that some believers in the Pergamum church were engaging in Spiritual Adultery (participating in cult worship) while others are engaging in physical sexual adultery. We want God, and we also want what will give us a “good name” among the people around us. The Gospel promise is that the Lord has already given us a unique “good name” and fills us with True Satisfaction (“secret manna”), both of which are eternally better than the names and nourishments that the world tries to tempt us with.

Theme: God’s people have always struggled with compromise. We begin with The Truth, and then subtract a little here and add a little there based upon the opinions of our current culture. The two specific examples in this passage show that some believers in the Pergamum church were engaging in Spiritual Adultery (participating in cult worship) while others are engaging in physical sexual adultery. We want God, and we also want what will give us a “good name” among the people around us. The Gospel promise is that the Lord has already given us a unique “good name” and fills us with True Satisfaction (“secret manna”), both of which are eternally better than the names and nourishments that the world tries to tempt us with.

 

CENTRAL TEXT:

Rev 2:12-17

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

BENEDICTION:
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”