YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR PURITY PART 3 OF 7
Revelation 2:12-17
Tonight I am going to continue with my series of messages from the Book of Revelation on the topic, “Getting Ready For Your Future.”
Our text is found in Revelation 2:12-17 and the title of my message is, “Your Future And Your Purity.”
The church in Pergamum is symbolic of the many churches and Christians who have and will compromise with the world in the future. The name “Pergamum” means married.
2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.”
As we get ready to enter the 21st century one of the greatest challenges Christians are going to face is the temptation to compromise their purity and spiritual life by giving into the world. As Christians we are married to Christ, not the world.
Two members of a church committee thought they both could write the better slogan to put on the outdoor bulletin board. The chairman of the board remembered the old saying that two heads were better than one and suggested that the two men should compromise. He asked one member to put his slogan on the back side of the bulletin board while the other member would put the second slogan on the front side of the board. The result was that on the front of the board the slogan urged readers to “Make your worst enemy your best friend.” On the back of the board the slogan announced, “Drink is man’s worst enemy.”
As believers we might have to be in the world but we don’t have to be of the world. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to this world. James says in James 1:27 that we are to keep ourselves unstained by the world. He goes on in James 4:4 to tell us that anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. John tells us in 1 John 2:15-17 that we are not to love the world nor the things in the world.
What Does Jesus Think About Compromise?
Revelation 2:12, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”
Jesus tells us in John 17:16 that we are not to be of the world as He is of the world. Here in this opening verse we find Jesus presented as the one who wields a sharp two-edged sword. What is this sword?
Ephesians 6:17, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is (WHAT) the word of God.” (NLT)
2 Characteristics Of God’s Word
* It is POWERFUL
Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.” (TEV)
* It is PRODUCTIVE
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 17Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” (NCV)
The Word of God can produce SALVATION or JUDGMENT
Those who compromise their spiritual life and give into the world will one day face Jesus and be judged.
If you are thinking about compromising you should consider the Civil War soldier who tried to play it safe by dressing himself in a blue coat and gray pants. When he ran out on to the battlefield he got shot by both sides.
How do you not compromise in a corrupt world?