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| Unsheath the sword and used it wisely |
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sungai-Dua/108589972497999
October 13, 2019
#TwoEdgedSword
#Unsheathe_It
#Balaamites
#Nicolaitanes
Rev 2
¶12 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 Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
===
Some thoughts
1. The church's circumstances:
- Behold! This is a church of Christ in the
very midst of Satan's stronghold; "I know where thou dwellest, EVEN where
Satan's seat is" and "where Satan dwelleth." It was a place and
time when the faithful's blood was shed for Christ's sake.
- There have been, and there are still churches
in similar circumstances.
- Christ has said, "I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
2. Christ's self-designation to the church:
a. He who has the sharp double-edged sword;
out of whose mouth "went a sharp two-edged sword," Rev 1:16.
Take note that the double-edged sword comes
out of the mouth of Christ, and not the mouths of preachers. Christ, the
eternal Word of God made flesh, is sharper than any two-edged sword, Heb 4:12.
This double-edged sword that proceeds out of the mouth of Christ has the power both
to quicken the dead and to slay the wicked. It has power even to destroy Satan,
2Th 2:8
b. The double-edged sword also speaks of the
word of God committed to the saints, Eph 6:17 "And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The
Lord and Captain of the church has equipped His church with a weapon that is
mighty both to build up the saints as well as to pull down the strongholds of
the devil.
- 2Co 10:4 "For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds."
- 2Cor 2:16-17 "To the one we are the
savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And
who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the
word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we
in Christ."
3. Christ's commendations of the church:
a. Despite being in the devil's den, they
have works that are noticed and commended by the Lord.
- They have works of love unto God, love unto
Christ, love unto His people, and love unto His cause. The works that are in
harmony with the calling of the church to hold forth the word of life, the
preaching of the gospel - in the church and to the world, to uphold and to
maintain the true and spiritual worship, the gospel duties owe to Christ as the
Head of the church...
b. The church was holding fast the blessed
name of Christ; the name represents Christ's Person as the only begotten Son of
God, the eternal Word made flesh, His offices as prophet, priest, and king; His
work of redemption for His people, and His commandments and His faith.
- Despite dwelling in the stronghold of
Satan, they did not waver but remained steadfast and faithful, true.
c. The church was holding fast the faith of
Christ, and denied not, but confessed the doctrine of Christ in the worst of
times, and the riskiest of circumstances, even where Satan dwells.
They had the truths of the gospel once
delivered to them by the apostles; they counted it precious and valuable. There
were powerful and evil forces to deprive them of Christ's faith but they held
it fast, with great courage, magnanimity, and steadfastness, though they were
attended with reproach and persecution.
4. Christ's complaints against the church:
The church in its hostile environment has its
own unique temptations... to compromise and to accommodate those who would
introduce things that are hated by Christ.
- Both the Balaamites and the Nicolaitanes
were tolerated.
- The same is happening in not a few churches
today; the Balaamites and the Nicolaitanes are still doing their havoc, and
bring ruin to churches because they are tolerated.
- When a church tolerates the things the Head
of the church hates, its ruin demise is assured.
- Wield the double-edged sword against these
Balaamites and Nicolaitanes. Don't tolerate them.
Beware, a church can be faithful but at the
same time tolerating the Balaamites and the Nicolaitanes in her midst. Be
warned.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches.
