(Breath of Life Theme Music)
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Sermon #B669 - Pergamos:
The Compromising Church
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Dr. Byrd: I want to
invite you to take your bibles
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and go with me to
the Book of Revelation.
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We're going to continue in our
study today part three of the
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seven churches of Revelation.
God truly blessed us last week
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and I know he's got something
great in store for us today.
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Revelation chapter 2 is where we
want to go and we want to go to
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verse number 12. Revelation
chapter 2 and we want to begin
reading verse number 12.
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I'm reading from the King
James Version of the bible.
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The Word of God
says in Revelation 2:12,
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"And to the angel of the
church in Pergamos write.
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These things saith he which hath
the sharp sword with two edges,
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I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's
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seat is, and thou holdest fast
my name, and hast not denied my
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faith, even in those days
wherein Antipas was my faithful
martyr, who was slain among you,
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where Satan dwelleth. But I
have a few things", Jesus says,
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"against thee, because thou hast
them that hold the doctrine of
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Balaam, who taught Balak to cast
a stumbling block before the
children of Israel,
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to eat things sacrificed
unto idols, and to commit
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fornication. Verse 15, so hast
thou also them that hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,
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which thing I hate. Repent,
or else I will come unto thee
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quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
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Verse 17, He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches,
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to him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the hidden manna,
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and will give him a white stone,
and in the stone a new name
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written, which no man knoweth
saying he, saving he that
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receiveth it. Today, we're going
to talk about church number
three. Pergamos, the
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Compromising Church. Pergamos,
the Compromising Church. Before
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we talk with you, let's talk
with God Father in heaven, right
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now, speak, as we have begun
this series two weeks ago and
we're now in our third week,
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God, the same spirit that was
with us then we need you now.
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Speak through these lips of
clay. I'm so unworthy to stand
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here but I thank you
for those twins called grace
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and mercy that afforded me the
privilege to be able to stand in
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your pulpit today. Speak through
me and hide me behind your
cross, forgive me of my sins
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and, God, at the appeal time, as
you do every week, do something
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special. Speak to your people.
Convict them, convert them,
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and may they surrender their
life to you. We love you, and we
thank and praise you.
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In Jesus' name, asking you,
Lord, to forgive us of our sins.
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Amen, and amen. Pergamos,
the Compromising Church.
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We've now come to the third of
the seven churches in the Book
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of Revelation, the
church at Pergamos.
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The third church to receive
a letter from Jesus Christ.
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Now, you need to know, my
friends, that Pergamos was a
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wicked city. It was so bad that
it was nicknamed Satan City. It
was nicknamed Satan City
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because of all of
its idolatries practices
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and even Jesus himself called
it the place where Satan had his
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throne. So, you know Pergamos
had to be bad but although
Pergamos was a wicked city.
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Pergamos was a beautiful city.
Pergamos set on top of a huge
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mountain and stood 1,000 feet up
in the air above the surrounding
Countryside from Pergamos
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you could see the Mediterranean
Sea from 15 miles away.
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When you approach Pergamos you
were struck in awe, you were
struck by its Splendor.
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It was beautiful. But let me
remind somebody today that knows
that everything that looks
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good to you is not good for you.
Ask that person who bought that
red delicious apple.
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Only to bite into it and taste
-ed a mess. Ask that woman who
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got with that man because she
thought he was tall dark and
handsome kind of like Pastor
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Byrd. Only to find out that he
was a modern-day Freddy Krueger
ask that man who got with that
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woman because she
looked good. She looked fine.
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She at that coke bottle shake
only to find out they didn't
have a match made in heaven,
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but they had a
nightmare on Elm Street.
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Everything that looks good
to you is not good for you.
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Are you hearing what I'm saying
today? But not only was Pergamos
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a beautiful city. Pergamos was
also one of the cultural and
educational centers of the
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world. In fact, it had the
second largest library in the
world with over 200,000 volumes
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and every book
was written by hand
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because remember back then
there were no copy machines.
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Pergamos was also a religious
Center and home to many temples,
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but three of them are
worth mentioning right now.
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The first I want to mention was
the temple with the massive
Pagan art altar built as
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a tribute to the Roman God Zeus.
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It was built on a huge ledge
that towered above the city.
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It was the largest and
most famous altar in the world.
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Then number two was the temple
to Asklepios, which was a
serpent God of healing
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but then there was
temple number three.
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It was a temple for the
worship of Caesar Augustus
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and once per year every citizen
was required to go to one of
these three temples devoted
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to Emperor worship and offer a
pinch of incense to Caesar and
proclaim Caesar is Lord,
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and if the people didn't do
this, they could be executed.
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Although a religious Center,
Pergamos was also known for its
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Emperor and Pagan worship often
characterized by sexual
immorality, prostitution,
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homosexuality, drug use, wild
parties. It's life centered
around pleasure and self-gain.
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If it felt good
then in Pergamos do it.
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So Pergamos even with all its
beauty, all its culture, all its
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education, all its religion,
Pergamos was still a wicked
City. On the outside,
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it was a beautiful city, but on
the inside it was spiritually
corrupt, wicked and evil.
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It's now, to this city, to this
church that, Jesus writes his
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third letter. Jesus begins this
letter with some strong words.
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He says in verse number 12, the
one who has the sharp two-edged
sword says these things
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he's talking about himself. Now
remember a double-edged sword is
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a weapon of war. It's designed
to give the person using it the
opportunity to defend against
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attacks coming from both sides
of the attacker, which means
it's equally deadly from both
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sides. In other words, in our
everyday vernacular we say a
double-edged sword cuts both
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ways. So why then does Jesus use
a double-edged sword to describe
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himself? Jesus is saying that
this sword can cut both ways
because it can cut to protect
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the good. But it can also cut to
attack the bad and while the
church at Pergamos us was a good
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church. It had allowed the
poison of compromise to gain
entry within its ranks,
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which we're going to
talk about in just a minute.
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So Jesus then in essence is
telling the church at Pergamos
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that if they fight against
compromise, if they don't bow
down to Caesar then he will use
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the one edge of the sword
and he will fight with them.
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But if they don't fight
compromise, if they go along
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with Caesar, he will turn
against them with the other edge
of the two edged sword.
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So he says look, how can cut you
both ways. I can cut to protect
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the good and I can
cut to attack the bad.
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Jesus finishes verse 12 and then
he moves his verse 13 and he
begins with the four words.
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I know thy works. Now, when you
read Revelation Chapter 2 in
Revelation chapter 3
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you will notice that
Jesus makes this same statement.
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I know thy works to all seven
churches in each individual
letter to them which means
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he knows each church
individually and each letter is
specific to each church.
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He says, “Ephesus, I know thy
works. Smyrna, I know thy works.
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Pergamos I know thy works.
Thyatira, I know thy works.
Sardis, I know thy works.
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Philadelphia, I know thy works.
Laodicea, I know thy works.”
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Jesus knows everything about his
church. Jesus knows everything
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about you and me so you can run
from Jesus, but you can't hide
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from Jesus. Jesus says
“Pergamos, I know your works
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you held fast my
name you have not denied
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my faith. Even those days
wherein Antipas my faithful
martyr who was slain among you.”
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Now, here Jesus begins in this
verse by commending Pergamos for
their faithfulness.
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They stood strong in the face of
persecution even to the point of
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death. He specifically mentions
Antipas and his faithfulness.
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History tells us that Antipas
was the pastor at Pergamos.
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His name meant against all.
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Antipas stood against all that
Satan brought whatever Satan
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brought, Antipas stood against
it. He refused to accept Caesar
as God he refused to do this
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and because he refused he was
placed in a brazen bull shape
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alter. A fire was built
under this Altar and Antipas was
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roasted alive, but Antipas
didn't die in vain because Jesus
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knew his name. Jesus remembered
his name, not only did Jesus
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know his name, not only did
Jesus remember his name, but
Jesus called his name.
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Antipas died for the cause of
Christ and the church at
Pergamos stood with him
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and would not deny
their faith either.
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But you need to know not all was
well at Pergamos although they
held fast the name of
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Jesus and they were strong in
the faith the Bible teaches that
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they were internally
compromised. What am I talking
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about? Jesus says in verses 14
and 15 and verse 13, he commends
them but in verses 14 and 15,
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Jesus says to the people who
held the teaching of Balaam some
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of them. Some of them who taught
Balak to cast a stumbling block
before the children of Israel,
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the some ate things sacrificed
to idols. Some committed sexual
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immorality. So Jesus says all of
you who've been practicing this
and all of you been teaching
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this and teaching of the
Nicolaitans among you which I
hate, we got a problem.
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The Pergamos
church had two problems.
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The first was a teaching problem
and the second was a morality
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problem, which came as a
result of the teaching problem.
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First, let's deal
with the teaching problem.
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Jesus tells the church
in Pergamos that there were
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teachers who were holding on to
the teachings of Balaam. Balaam
means not for the people.
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We find Balaam in the Old
Testament in Numbers 22 and 23.
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When you read these chapters
you will discover that the Bible
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will tell you, that after
defeating enemy after enemy. The
Israelites moved to the plains
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of Moab. The king of Moab during
this time was a gentleman by the
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name of Balak. Balak was
intimidated by the move of the
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children of Israel because he
had heard about the children of
Israel. Their reputation had
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preceded them. He had heard
about their military exploits.
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He had heard that they
had just defeated the Amorites
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and Balak was
concerned about his territory
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because he was scared that the
Israelites were going to
overtake his territory.
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Balak calls for Balaam to come.
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Balak tells Balaam, “look I want
you to infiltrate the Israelite
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Camp. I'm going to pay you. I
want you to go in and curse
Israel so we can overtake them
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because if you go in and
you pronounce the curse on them,
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then I can go in
and overtake them”
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but Balak was wasting his time
asking Balaam to curse God's
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people because
Israel was God's chosen.
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Israel was God's bless and I'm
a witness that when you're God's
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chosen, when your Gods blessed,
no devil in hell can stop the
blessing on your life.
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When you're God's
chosen, when your Gods bless,
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no weapon formed against
you it's going to prosper.
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Let folk talk about y'all they
want. Let folk curse you all day
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want, but God says he'll bless
those that bless you and he'll
curse those that curse you.
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That's why when you're
blessed and folk are cursed
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and you wonder why they're never
blessed it's because they've
been cursing Gods blessed.
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I wish I had a
witness in his place, and so
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because Israel is blessed God
looks out for them. God takes
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care of them. God protects them.
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Ellen White says in Patriarchs
and Prophets page 457 “that when
Balaam was called to
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curse Israel. He couldn't even
with all his enchantments bring
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evil upon them.” But not only
that when you study the word of
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God and you read the
entire chapter of numbers 23,
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you will discover that
Balak was not finished.
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He took Balaam to several other
places to try to entice him to
curse the Israelites.
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He thought a change in scenery
might change Balaam's mind,
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but changing locations will not
change God's will. God blesses
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people not places. I wish I
had a church with me right now.
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Balaam goes in, Balaam
looks around the Israelite camp
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and he sees how God takes care
of Israel. So then he goes back
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to the king. He goes back to
Balak and says “listen King, I
went in not once, not twice,
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but three times and I found
out something. I found out some
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things about God. I can't curse
God's blessed.” So Balaam comes
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up with a plan B. He tells
Balak to make friends with the
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Israelites. He tells him
to introduce them to the most
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beautiful women and invite them
to commit fornication and
intermarry with these women.
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Balaam tells Balak to
invite them to Balak's religious
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celebrations and let them
eat from the Pagan altars.
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The plan works and the plan
removes God's hedge of
protection from Israel as
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they were seduced with immoral
relationships and as a result of
their disobedience,
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the Bible teaches that
24,000 Israelites died.
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Balaam wasn't able to use
curses against the people.
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So he leads them
away with their lust.
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When you read the New Testament
Second Peter chapter 2 verses 15
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and 16. It says “they
have left the straight way
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and wander off to follow way of
Balaam son of Bezer, who loved
the wages of wickedness,
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but he was rebuked for his
wrongdoing by a donkey an animal
without speech who spoke
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with a human voice and
restrained the prophets madness
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and just like Balaam led
the children of Israel into
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idolatry. The Nicolaitans
were doing the same thing to
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Pergamos. The Pergamus church
was being persecuted because
they wouldn't bow to Caesar.
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They were being persecuted
because they wouldn't offer a
pinch of incense on the
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Altar and they wouldn't
participate in the festival's at
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the Pagan temples. So the
Nicolaitans told the church
members at Pergamos look just
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bend your knee, just offer up
some incense, just go to the
festivals and play along.
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It will be easier for you.
You will advance in society.
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You will progress to persecution
will ease up on you, if you just
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go with the flow, bend a knee,
run with the crowd, go along to
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get along, be quiet about
your faith, hush your mouth
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and you'll be done with all this
persecution you're experiencing
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just compromise. God will
understand, and so what happened
the Pergamos is church began
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compromising its stand
on the word of God. Yes.
00:17:58.57\00:18:02.71
There were a few faithful who
were doing the works of Christ.
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But they had allowed
some among them who were not.
00:18:06.58\00:18:10.62
There were some people
who were teaching immorality.
00:18:10.65\00:18:15.46
They were attending Pagan
feasts, which would be filled
with homosexuality,
00:18:15.49\00:18:20.46
incest, prostitution and then
they were coming back to the
00:18:20.50\00:18:25.50
church. The true church was
mixing with those who taught
00:18:25.53\00:18:30.07
false doctrine and just
like the Pergamos Church.
00:18:30.11\00:18:33.98
There are churches today that
have let compromise creep in,
00:18:34.01\00:18:40.65
but we cannot let compromise and
cannot compromise just to gain
the favor of this world.
00:18:40.68\00:18:47.46
We cannot compromise
just to avoid trouble.
00:18:47.49\00:18:50.96
We cannot compromise
just to increase attendance.
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.86
We cannot compromise and lower
our standards for the sake of
00:18:54.93\00:18:59.43
cooperation and perceived
growth. The church today is no
different from the church of
00:18:59.47\00:19:05.21
Pergamos then.
We are called today.
00:19:05.24\00:19:06.81
Sadly, there's a notion today to
make sure it's comfortable for
00:19:06.84\00:19:10.95
culture. I hear people
tell me all the time “Pastor,
00:19:10.98\00:19:12.85
we don't want to offend or make
someone feel uncomfortable.”
00:19:12.88\00:19:16.75
But since when do we want
someone to feel comfortable
00:19:16.79\00:19:22.39
engaging in sin? God loves the
sinner but God hates the sin.
00:19:22.42\00:19:26.46
God has delivered us
out of the slavery of sin.
00:19:26.49\00:19:29.86
We don't entertain the world
we were delivered out of to make
00:19:29.90\00:19:34.04
anyone feel comfortable in their
sin. We must encourage people
00:19:34.07\00:19:37.91
and we want people to flee from
their sins. Yes, we should love
00:19:37.94\00:19:43.81
people. Yes, we should embrace
people. Yes, we should welcome
00:19:43.85\00:19:47.42
people. Yes, we
should be accepting people.
00:19:47.45\00:19:49.68
But accepting people and being
accepting of their sin or two
00:19:49.72\00:19:56.12
different things. Too many
people want the pleasure of sin
00:19:56.16\00:19:58.39
through the week and then
they want God on the Sabbath.
00:19:58.43\00:20:00.73
Too many people want to sow
their wild oats during the week
00:20:00.76\00:20:03.63
and then pray for a crop failure
on the Sabbath but you can't
00:20:03.67\00:20:08.27
have it both ways. You can't
serve two masters. You're either
00:20:08.30\00:20:12.04
in the river or you're on the
bank choose you this day who you
00:20:12.07\00:20:15.61
going to serve but as for me and
my house, we going to serve the
00:20:15.64\00:20:19.28
Lord. Let me tell you something
in the name of Jesus. Truth
doesn't bend to popular demand.
00:20:19.31\00:20:25.42
That's why this letter to
Pergamos is for us because
judgment starts with us.
00:20:25.45\00:20:31.93
Judgment starts with the
household of faith. When Israel
00:20:31.96\00:20:39.90
refused to repent. When their
leadership of Israel failed to
purge evil from the midst of
00:20:39.93\00:20:45.61
them. The Lord himself
warred against the people
00:20:45.64\00:20:49.11
and he said sent a plague
that consumed 24,000 of them.
00:20:49.14\00:20:54.15
But I love the Lord, not just
because he loves me but I love
00:20:54.18\00:21:01.16
the Lord because he knows when
to execute justice, but he also
knows when to extend grace
00:21:01.19\00:21:07.73
because not only does God
punish those who are unfaithful
00:21:07.76\00:21:12.43
but God promises to reward
those who overcome hallelujah.
00:21:12.47\00:21:17.64
Jesus closes with verse 17 by
saying to him that “overcometh I
will give some of the
00:21:17.67\00:21:25.28
hidden manna. I will give also
that person a white stone with a
new name written on
00:21:25.31\00:21:31.92
it known only to the
one who receives it.”
00:21:31.95\00:21:35.29
There are two things that Jesus
promises to show those who
repent and turn back to him.
00:21:35.32\00:21:41.80
First, there is hallelujah
divine provision and second
there is divine favor
00:21:41.83\00:21:50.74
hallelujah. First provision
he promises manna. He says “it's
00:21:50.77\00:21:57.41
hidden manna.” You do remember
that when the children of
Israel, we're in the wilderness
00:21:57.45\00:22:01.18
traveling and God provided food
for them in the form of manna.
Every day they got enough manna.
00:22:01.22\00:22:07.62
They couldn't keep
the manna overnight
00:22:07.66\00:22:09.29
because if they did the manna
would spoil and then on the
sixth day on Friday,
00:22:09.32\00:22:14.00
they got a double portion
of manna because on the seventh
00:22:14.00\00:22:17.70
day, they took the second
portion. They got on the sixth
day and ate it on the seventh
00:22:17.73\00:22:22.24
day. There was always enough for
them. Y'all don't hear what I'm
saying each and every day.
00:22:22.27\00:22:27.68
Somebody said, he's
Jehovah-jireh, he's a provider.
He always gives us more than
00:22:27.71\00:22:34.82
enough. I wish I had a witness
in his place. Strength and
nourishment from Jesus,
00:22:34.85\00:22:38.42
the bread of life every day,
00:22:38.45\00:22:41.02
which means you will live your
life with the fullness of God's
00:22:41.06\00:22:45.23
abundance. But number two divine
favor. He promises a white
00:22:45.26\00:22:49.93
stone. White stones were used
in ancient times for a number of
00:22:49.96\00:22:53.27
reasons. One reason they were
used was the white stone is best
understood relative to games
00:22:53.30\00:22:57.84
that were held back in the day.
Those who were victorious in the
00:22:57.87\00:23:02.78
games were given a white stone
with their name inscribed on it.
00:23:02.81\00:23:05.71
It was a symbol of victory the
white stone identified you as an
00:23:05.75\00:23:11.99
overcomer and
one who was a victor
00:23:12.02\00:23:14.32
but not only that the white
stone in ancient times was often
given to grant entrance
00:23:14.36\00:23:20.93
into important event.
00:23:20.96\00:23:22.60
So then to be given a white
stone by Jesus suggest that not
only are you an overcomer,
00:23:22.63\00:23:29.10
not only are you a victor,
but you have a right to enter in
00:23:29.14\00:23:34.51
through the gates
and into the city.
00:23:34.54\00:23:37.28
Blessed are they that do his
commandments that they may have
right to the tree of life
00:23:37.31\00:23:41.78
and may enter in through the
gates into the city. So meet me
00:23:41.82\00:23:46.72
in the city. There are twelve
gates to the city, three gates
00:23:46.76\00:23:50.73
to the north, three the gates to
the south, three gates to the
east, three gates to the west,
00:23:50.76\00:23:54.93
there is no dying there. There
is no crying there. There is no
00:23:54.96\00:24:00.37
coronavirus there. There is no
cancer there. The walls are made
00:24:00.40\00:24:04.21
of Jasper. Streets appear as
gold, but there's one more
thing. I'm ready to shout.
00:24:04.24\00:24:09.14
But there's one more thing.
00:24:09.18\00:24:11.31
Notice that the text says verse
17 “that this white stone has a
00:24:11.35\00:24:18.62
new name written on it that
no one knows except the one who
00:24:18.65\00:24:23.76
receives it.” Which means not
only are we victorious, not only
are we are overcomers,
00:24:23.79\00:24:29.60
not only do we enter heaven, but
I'm praising God because I'm a
00:24:29.63\00:24:35.34
get a new name, a new name given
to you by God. You see friends
00:24:35.37\00:24:38.94
of mine. God specializes in
giving new names. Come here
Abram, I'll make you Abraham.
00:24:38.97\00:24:45.58
Come here Sarai, I'll make
you Sarah. Come here Jacob, I'll
00:24:45.61\00:24:51.72
make you Israel. Come here Saul,
I'll make you Paul. Come here
Cephas, I'll make you Peter.
00:24:51.75\00:24:57.36
Come here Carlton,
I'll make you a Christian.
00:24:57.39\00:25:00.16
Come here compromiser, I'll make
you converted. [Congregation:
00:25:00.20\00:25:03.40
Amen] Come here drunkard,
I'll make you a deacon.
00:25:03.43\00:25:05.90
Come here alcoholic,
I'll make you an Adventist.
00:25:05.93\00:25:08.97
Come here backslider,
I'll make you a believer.
00:25:09.00\00:25:12.01
Come here liar, I'll
make you a law give keeper.
00:25:12.04\00:25:15.38
Come here prostitute,
I'll make you a preacher.
00:25:15.41\00:25:18.51
Come here adulterer,
I'll make you abstinent.
00:25:18.55\00:25:21.15
Come here swindler, I'll make
you a Sabbath school teacher.
00:25:21.18\00:25:24.55
Come here sinner, I'll
make you saved by grace.
00:25:24.59\00:25:30.63
Come here today,
I'll give you a new name.
00:25:30.66\00:25:35.63
There's a blessing in a
new name. [Congregation: Amen]
00:25:35.66\00:25:39.23
You're not the
man you used to be.
00:25:39.27\00:25:41.97
Those people that were baptized
today, they're not who they used
00:25:42.00\00:25:45.77
to be. You're not the woman, you
used to be. If any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature,
00:25:45.81\00:25:51.68
old things are passed away, all
things become new. I'm not the
00:25:51.71\00:25:58.05
man, I used to be. Jesus has
given me a new name. I belong to
him and he belongs to me.
00:25:58.09\00:26:04.69
My name is written in the lamb's
book of life and nobody can
00:26:04.73\00:26:09.53
remove my name. Our names might
be different, but Jesus knows
our different names.
00:26:09.56\00:26:14.44
I call every sinner
in the name of Jesus,
00:26:14.47\00:26:17.14
I‘ll call every
backslide in the name of Jesus.
00:26:17.17\00:26:19.84
I called everybody today whose
compromise, who's messed up,
00:26:19.87\00:26:24.78
who's blown it and your life
looks a mess you feel like
giving up and walk away.
00:26:24.81\00:26:28.32
I called you to Jesus today.
I call you in the name of Jesus
00:26:28.35\00:26:35.29
and Jesus will
give you a new name.
00:26:35.32\00:26:41.00
His blood allows you, it allows
me to have a new name and I told
00:26:41.03\00:26:54.81
Jesus, It would be all
right if he changed my name.
00:26:54.84\00:27:03.45
Today who wants a new name? The
church is Pergamos the
Compromising Church.
00:27:03.49\00:27:15.86
Yes, they preach. Yes, they
taught. But they let compromise
00:27:15.90\00:27:20.94
creep in. God is
telling us today.
00:27:20.97\00:27:22.30
Don't let compromise creep in my
church for what has happened to
00:27:22.34\00:27:29.14
us. Not only collectively but
individually, don't let
compromise creep in
00:27:29.18\00:27:37.95
Thank you very much for tuning
in to this week's Breath of Life
00:27:37.99\00:27:42.52
broadcast. We hope and pray that
you've been blessed by Dr.
Byrd's inspirational message.
00:27:42.56\00:27:47.13
If you would like to hear
this sermon in its entirety,
00:27:47.13\00:27:49.33
please feel free to visit
us at www.breathoflife.tv.
00:27:49.36\00:27:55.40
Or, call us at (256) 929-6460.
00:27:55.44\00:28:02.34
[END]
00:28:02.38\00:28:09.25
Dr. Byrd: Pain, loss, trama,
00:28:09.28\00:28:18.76
in life we
experience these things.
00:28:18.79\00:28:21.73
My wife and I have a story,
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.80
we have a
testimony of how we lost
00:28:24.83\00:28:28.94
our first born daughter
in a horrific car accident.
00:28:28.97\00:28:35.81
We have this new sharing
book, its en-titled “Gone.”
00:28:35.84\00:28:40.72
And, in it I
want to share with you
00:28:40.75\00:28:44.42
how God has helped me,
00:28:44.45\00:28:47.12
how God has helped my
wife, how God has helped us,
00:28:47.16\00:28:51.89
as we had to endure the fact
that our first born daughter is
00:28:51.93\00:28:57.93
gone. www.breathoflife.tv
00:28:57.97\00:29:13.05