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Complete Sermon Notes

The Compromising, Silent Church Rev. 2:12-17

IF JESUS VISITED: What would He say about our worship and the depth of our prayer? Fortunately, we have a gauge to measure the spiritual condition of our churches and our lives.

 

RECAP: Unteachable, Unloving – Know it all…to..Perseverance thru Persecution.

Now it’s Compromise and Silence – THE MR. ROGERS CHURCH:

1] When you compromise in the area of sin, you’re often silent about it. 2] Or, it can be a lack of boldness. 3] Or, it’s simply easier.

ONE REASON WHY MANY PARENTS DON’T DRAW A HARD LINE – it’s easier not to “rock-the-boat.”

 

Like a thermostat, the Pulpit affects the spiritual temp. of the church.

The silent church allows false teaching – the pulpit may not be dead but it will be misled. Pastors of these churches are cheerleaders but never coaches. They encourage but rarely convict.

What if God’s Word remains silent? What if worship lyrics and preaching remain silent? What if police departments just handed out candy?

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Rev. 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

*Let it cut out the compromise.

JESUS ENCOURAGES: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

They were holding to the faith even in the face of martyrdom – so this is not necessarily a lukewarm church. A martyr is a witness.

It was the center of political power and worship – the devil felt at home – he was clearly ruling and reigning.

Satan’s Throne: Temples to Zeus (huge altar for him), Apollo, and many others were there including the god of healing – the snake symbol is still used today in the medical world – they allowed snakes to crawl on bodies for healing.

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JESUS THEN CONVICTS: “Mr Rogers, you’re a nice guys – you feed the homeless and paint homes for people…14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” [READ NUMBERS 22 thru 24.]

Breakdown – The Doctrine of Balaam.

There is a very troubling trend toward moral compromise in the evangelical church. I’ve witnessed soft porn images on Christian websites, questionable movie clips during PowerPoint sermons, and youth pastors talk about their favorite sexually charged…

 

He put “a stumbling block…” … an obstacle to progress before them.

“You have there those who hold to.” Error was allowed: “Well, at least they are coming to church. Who am I to say anything?”