Who In The World Are You? | Seven Churches of Revelation| Week 3
Series: Seven Churches of Revelation | Week 3
Text: Revelation 2:12-17
Only people who are different can make a difference.
A calling for believers to live faithfully in a culture that often opposes the way of Jesus. Through the example of the church in Pergamum, the teaching highlights three qualities that shape world-changing disciples: a devoted heart, a discerning mind, and a different source of strength and identity. Blending Scripture, church history, and practical reflection, the message invites listeners to examine what shapes their lives, guard their hearts, resist cultural compromise, and anchor their identity in Christ rather than the world.
Here’s a thought: Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character."
When I go away I get the opportunity to step back and reflect on the direction of my life. In the midst of the busyness and routine it is very easy to lose sight of the big picture. What really is most important in life? How is our world going to be changed and how can I contribute to this change?
In surroundings that seem to be apathetic to Jesus at best and hostile to Jesus at worst how can we as His people make a difference? Such questions were running through the minds of His early followers 2,000 years ago.
The Lord addresses these questions in Revelation 2:12-17:
12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live - where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight 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 him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. NIV
World-changers have:
A Devoted Heart
Jesus identified with the church in Pergamum, “I know where you live – where Satan has his throne.” Pergamum had a vast library of 200,000 volumes, which was moved by Antony to Egypt and presented to his lover, Cleopatra. In this town was first discovered the art of making parchment, which was called pergamena. The city was addicted to idolatry, and its orchard, which was one of the wonders of the place, was filled with statues and altars. The wealth of her leaders had raised Pergamum to become the most beautiful city in Asia. It was a combination of a pagan cathedral city, a university town and a royal residence, built during a succession of kings who all knew how to spend money and had the ability to do so.
Antipas, the leader of the church in Pergamum and apparently one of Jesus’ first disciples, was put to death in a skirmish there by pagan priests, who had a well-known health centre and temple in that city.
I have been to enough pastors’ conferences to hear the popular claim repeated, “Oh, my community is so hard. Very few people are interested in Jesus where I live.” Not just pastors claim this, but I have heard followers of Jesus claim of various communities, “Oh, my city is the occult capital of Canada.” This may or may not be true, but what is dangerous about such a claim is that it can put a lid on what God can accomplish through His people.
Regardless of your surroundings, Proverbs 4:20-27 points us to what should be our priority:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. 24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. NIV
In her later years the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) lived in an apartment high over Paris. One day an old admirer climbed all the stairs to see her. He asked her breathlessly, "Why do you live so high up?"
"Dear friend," she replied, "it is the only way I can still make the hearts of men beat faster."
The human heart was designed to show affection. Why do you think so many love songs dominate our music and so many love stories permeate our books and screens? How can you cultivate affection for God?
Choose to pursue Him. You have just one life to live. What will be the focus of your time here on earth
Keep your heart pure. Be very careful of what you allow to come into your heart and to grow in your heart. Bitterness, unforgiveness and rebellion are typical doors through which demonic corruption can enter.
World-changers have:
A Devoted Heart
A Discerning Mind
In Numbers 22 Balaak, king of Moab, asked the prophet Balaam to curse the nation of Israel so they would lose their power. Balaam could not curse them but advised the Moabites to infiltrate their ranks by intermarrying with them and capturing their minds through gradual, subtle sin (see Numbers 25:1-3 and 31:16). This Satanic strategy worked, since the curse that could not penetrate from outside got within the minds of the Israelites to bring spiritual decay.
The same strategy was employed by a group called the Nicolaitans, luring the Christians into sexual immorality and loose living. This same strategy is being used to tempt followers of Jesus today.
There is a cultural revolution going on around us, but the most frightening to me is how it is infiltrating our minds. The morals within the church are often much the same as those outside the church. If we are just like the world around us we are in no place to change the world.
Let’s look closer at the photo we saw earlier …
This was taken at the launch of a German army vessel in 1936, during a ceremony that was attended by Adolf Hitler himself. Within the picture a lone man, August Landmeeser, stood with arms crossed as hundreds of men and women around him held up their arms in salute and allegiance to the Nazi Party and its leader, Adolph Hitler.
Eventually the German army became increasingly mired by its desperate circumstances and Landmesser would be drafted into service along with thousands of other men. He would go missing in Croatia where it is presumed he died, six months before Germany would officially surrender. His body was never recovered and he was declared legally dead in 1949. August Landmeeser continues to inspire us to stand against evil – and to stand alone if necessary.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reinforces the Bible’s role in cultivating a discerning mind:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. NIV
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) once said:
A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will come out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.
Eventually, what dominates our innermost thoughts and imaginations reveals who or what we give our allegiance and worship. Indeed, long before Emerson, Jesus warned similarly that “where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also” (Matthew 6:21).
When you take a serious and long look at yourself who has more influence: you on the people around you or others on you? If it is the second option it is time to take intentional steps to cultivate a devoted heart and a discerning mind. This begins with repentance – acknowledging that a change is needed, asking the Lord to forgive you. From there it requires daily choices to fill your mind with godly thoughts and to follow Him.
World-changers have:
A Devoted Heart
A Discerning Mind
A Different Source
Jesus promises “hidden manna” to His people who overcome. God fed the Israelites as they travelled out of Egypt and through the wilderness into the Promised Land by this white, bread-like substance called manna that fell from heaven. The Jews believed that the ark of the covenant, the stone tablets, Aaron's rod, the holy anointing oil and the pot of manna were hidden by the Jewish king when Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians about 600 years Before Christ; and that these shall all be restored when the Messiah returns in the fullness of His glory. This manna was hidden, but Christ promises to give it to him who overcomes.
When His disciples urged Jesus to eat (John 4:31) He replied, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." He then elaborated, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Our source of unwavering power and provision is not from this world. We can begin tapping into the resources of heaven right now! We do not need to wait until we get to heaven – our eternal, fulfilling life begins the moment that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
2 Peter 1:3-4 expresses it this way:
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV
A man rides in on Friday, stays two nights and three days then leaves on Friday. How is this possible? His horse is named Friday.
We have been provided with a new identity through Jesus Christ. He promises to give a white stone to His people. It is supposed that the white stone means pardon or acquittal. This could refer to a custom of judges in ancient times, who would reveal their decisions by white and black stones - a white stone declared the accused to be innocent and a black stone declared the accused to be guilty.
The name written on this stone would be a pledge of his favour - as a name engraved on a seal would be a pledge of friendship to him who received it. The victorious disciple of Christ will receive, with his name engraved on a stone, this pledge of God’s friendship and reward.
The strong men and women of God that made an impact on their world lived with the realization that they were strangers in this world. Years ago we had the opportunity to stay in a condo in Panorama, B.C. Brenda and I watched as someone drove out of their attached double car garage with a golf cart that they could drive to the beautiful Grey Wolf Golf Course just down the road. As I walked around the resort and by all the beautiful chalets that people have there I couldn’t help but be impressed.
The question kept nagging at me, however, “Is this the ultimate of what life has to offer?” The Bible tells me that being wealthy can be just fine, as long as you concentrate on your investments in eternal assets. We typically define who we are and who others are by earthly descriptions. For example, “he is an accountant” or “she is rich.
I am always interested to learn what a person is doing long after they have stepped out of the limelight. What about retired athletes, politicians or movie stars?
Jill Carattini asks:
In this world of choices, we are forging in the fires of earthly decision an identity that is either storing up the treasures of heaven or hording away the qualities of something far less. What if you were to determine that what you are fostering here on earth, you will discover more of in heaven? Would it change the way you make decisions today?
If you were to be stripped of all your earthly possessions and of all your accomplishments who would you be?
Who or what shapes your identity? Is it first of all by the imprint of heaven or this world? We are called to a different source of provision and identity.
World-changers have:
A Devoted Heart
A Discerning Mind
A Different Source
Only people who are different can make a difference.