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Chapter 5 THE WORK OF CHRIST
(Rev 2:12-17 KJV) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; {13} I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. {14} But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. {15} So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. {16} Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. {17} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
Pergamos was where the Greek god Zeus originated. Known for arts and literature, it is where Antony gave Cleopatra a 200,000 book library. Pergamos means “much marriage." It represents having a love affair with the world and at the same time being in love with the Lord. DIVIDED INTEREST!
In verse 12 God has entrusted to them the Word -- Revelation has been given. But now He is saying the revelation that they must receive is one that will divide: (Heb 4:12 KJV) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
The Lord is wanting them to look deep into their hearts to find what is of Him and what is of them. He looks for motives!!! (Where we thought we were serving the Lord for Him, we were really serving for ourselves. Where I thought I was showing the love of God, I really wanted something out of it.) The Lord is coming right now to the church and is asking us to look deeper than we have looked before and to see that area we do not want to die in. How often do we walk in mixture? He wants to show us every time we begin walking in the spirit but end in the flesh. Thoughout the day He wants us to see when we are beginning to walk in the Revelation of the Lord.
We do this by becoming aware of our areas of vulnerability. As Christians we should know our areas of vulnerablility that must continually be brought under the blood and taken to the cross daily until we are dead to them. Then we will not walk in fear, but in the love of Christ.
The reason we cannot find complacency today is that as soon as we get one area under control, the Holy Spirit shows us the next area, if we are willing to keep looking. But we MUST NOT grow weary in this battle. He has compressed the time and speeded up the process because it is getting late.
What is the outcome of this awesome work of Christ in us? (Isa 49:2 KJV) "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword;” We will begin to speak words of life that will bring to others the same soul searching that the Spirit has given to us. Didn’t everything that Jesus speak bring division? Some preachers are not liked for what they do. Others are not liked for what they preach. Preaching should cut to the depth of the souls of mankind. People are afraid to speak today because of the trouble truth brings. But we must not be afraid to speak the Word of the Lord.
(Luke 6:45 KJV) "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
We must become yielded swords, weapons for the Master Warrior to use in this battle. The sword becomes the level of authority that we must have in Christ.
In Ephesians 6:17 part of our armor that must be maintained is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. You cannot fight spiritually unless you know the Word. If you want daily solutions for this hour, it will be by the Word in you.
To Pergamos, Jesus said the Word is a two-edged sword. That means it not only cuts, but it also heals. The words of man will cut you to the quick and leave you wounded. But the Word of the Lord will bring forth wholeness.
Verse 13 - Satan’s seat - This is where the altar of Zeus was located. It is also where Antipas, the first Christian was martyr'd by the Roman state. The Lord said it was the seat of Satan. The worship of this area was Satanic, yet the Christians were still serving the Lord. They were overcoming the tribulation they were living with. Today, we need the revelation that we are overcomers! As the work of Satan continues and the days become darker, we must live in the revelation that we are more than conquerors and overcomers in Christ. Do not allow fear to rule your hearts.
(Psa 91:5-7 KJV) "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; {6} Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. {7} A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."
He wants to teach you to rule over whatever belittles you, disables you, or defeats you.
Verses 14-15 - “Hold fast to the teachings” Mixture was operating in their understanding of who they were. The same thing is true today of the church. This mixture it is being exposed through fears and by our reactions to what we see and hear. Remember, the Nicolaitanes were the ones who lived by being born-again and that was enough. They used their born-again experience to control others. Today much fear comes in many Christians' lives when they realize how free they can be in Christ, but the issue of control which holds them back must be dealt with. He alone must control us. That means we submit one to another. I must allow the Christ in me to help you as you allow the Christ in you to help someone else. Instead, we think we do not need to listen to one another. Our mind says, “Who do they think they are?”
Who was Balaam? The Moabites went against Israel, and they tried to get Balaam to prophecy against Israel. Moab means “Who’s your father?” (Descendants of Lot). Who’s in charge of your life? Balaam means “Who controls?” Isn’t that the battle we face daily? Who’s going to control my life today?
The church is full of people who do not know who the Father is. They run to this one and that one trying to find answers because they do not want to submit to the One who has the answers. Do not say you are submitted to God if you will not submit to your brothers. Are you afraid someone might control you? They will not if you have the revelation of the Father through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit -- He’s the control! At least He should be.
What we have from the story of Balaam today is superstitious beliefs.The superstition comes in because Balaam was sent to curse Israel:
(Num 22:6 KJV) "Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.”
Those who do not know who their Father is believe whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed. Balak believed that Balaam, who was a man of God with a powerful ministry of prophecy, would go forth and curse or bless in the name of the Lord. The church has many today who take their gift and use it for their own means. This is why the charismatic movement stalled. It was the move of giftings. But people used the gifts to their own advantage instead of by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
God is not obligated to do anything you say unless it is by the Holy Spirit alone. That takes away all control and puts it in the hand of the only One who can control with righteousness and truth.
Much of our reactions today are because people have said hurtful things to us and we believed what they said. They said we were dumb and we believed. They said we couldn’t do certain things and we believed it. They said we weren’t capable of accomplishing anything of value in this life and so we haven’t. NO MAN HAS THAT MUCH CONTROL. But if you do not know who your Father is, you will believe they do.
Verse 16 - Repent or He will fight against you with words of truth and revelation. Many will resist the truth and will fall. But for those who will hear: Verse 17 - To him that overcomes (some will not and do not want to), the hidden word will come alive and sustain you to the end -- not by man’s knowledge, but by His wisdom and understanding. Do you think understanding is everywhere? It isn’t! It is something you seek after.
At this time in Rome when a criminal was brought to court and he was found guilty, a black stone was given to him. But if he was found not guilty, the stone given him was white. YOU WILL BE FOUND NOT GUILTY IF YOU FEAST FROM THE REVELATION OF TRUTH.
How did Jacob receive his new name? He wrestled with God until his flesh was subdued. The new name is given to those who go from being carnal to those who become spiritual. That overcoming is our victory. Yes, our victory is our relationship with Jesus in spirit and truth. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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