The Church That Believed a Lie
Revelation 1:17-19 NIV
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”
1. JESUS IS SPEAKING IN A NONLINEAR FASHION.
--- CONTEXTUALLY
--- PROPHETICALLY
--- INDIVIDUALLY
2. JESUS IS NOT SPEAKING JUST TO BE “UNDERSTOOD.”
Revelation 1:3 NLT
God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
2. JESUS IS NOT SPEAKING JUST TO BE “UNDERSTOOD.”
--- WE MUST READ IT
--- WE MUST HEAR IT
--- WE MUST OBEY IT
Revelation 2:12-13 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 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, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.”
Revelation 2:14-17 NIV
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
ABCs TO OVERCOMING A CULTURE THAT LIES:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU ARE.
Revelation 2:13 NIV
“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, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.”
YOU CAN’T DEFEAT WHAT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DEFINE!
John 17:16 NLT
“They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”
ABCs TO OVERCOMING A CULTURE THAT LIES:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU ARE.
2. BELIEVE THE TRUTH OVER LIES.
Revelation 2:14 NIV
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.”
The Church of Pergamum believed the LIE that they could have Jesus AND their sin.
James 1:14 ESV
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
We are lured away and enticed when WE CHOOSE to believe the LIES of the culture above the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD!
Revelation 2:12 NIV
“These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB
For THE WORD OF GOD is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the DIVISION OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, of both JOINTS AND MARROW, and able to judge the THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART. And there is no creature hidden from HIS SIGHT, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we must answer.
ABCs TO OVERCOMING A CULTURE THAT LIES:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU ARE.
2. BELIEVE THE TRUTH OVER LIES.
3. CHANGE YOUR APPETITE.
James 1:15 NIV
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE SMALLEST DECISIONS THAT ULTIMATELY DETERMINE THE GREATEST OUTCOMES.
Revelation 2:16-17 NIV
“REPENT therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Metanoia: To change your mind
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
REPENTANCE: the changing of your MIND that gives God ROOM to change your HEART
Deuteronomy 34:10 NLT
There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 NLT
“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
ACTIVATION PRAYER
Jesus, I come before you today taking inventory of where I STAND. My feet have been planted in some places that they shouldn’t be. I repent for allowing myself to be influenced by the culture of this world, and thus deceived.
I break agreement with any ungodly beliefs that do not line up with Your word. I repent for accepting a LIE OVER YOUR TRUTH. I commit to align myself to You and Your word and give You permission to continually cut away any roots of deceit in my heart.
Finally, I repent for feasting on WORLDLY THINGS, for they have diminished my hunger for You. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I commit to spending time with You daily—in Your Word, in worship, and in Your presence. And I devote myself to You, Jesus, the BREAD OF LIFE
For YOU, KING JESUS, ARE MY GREAT REWARD.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
