Present Word Ministries
Robbie Phillips
‘He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit is saying to the churches’
December 9 & 10, 2013
"Pergamum!"
The church in Pergamum was addressed by our risen Lord. They had remained loyal to Him even in the midst of persecution. Antipas, His faithful witness, was martyred for the Faith – yet the church stood firm – with this the Lord was well pleased.
And yet that was not the whole story. The Lord had some displeasure with this church. Some, perhaps prominent among them, held to the teaching of Balaam. Balaam 'taught' the wicked king Balak to entice the sons of Israel to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. This gave some of the Pergamites the 'right' to commit immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Not only this, they had among them those who held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
The name Nicolas is interesting: it's a combination of two Greek words meaning 'people rulers'. And so the Nicolaitans were known for their ruling over the people of God.
So much about the church today is similar to the church in Pergamum. On the one hand, there is the Lord's blessing and favor. Except in the case of the church at Laodicea, the Lord always sees good things about His people. And so He sees good things in the church in America. And for that He gives a big thumbs up.
But just as the Lord saw evil in the church at Pergamum, He sees distressing things in the church of America. He sees slackness toward sin. He sees toleration of wickedness. He sees our lack of trusting Him wholly. He sees our lack of prayer and fasting, especially for our nation. Like the church at Pergamum, He sees that we have those who rule over parts of the church. And the Lord calls us to repent! He calls us to "turn from our wicked ways" and to seek Him.
This is a solemn hour. We are called to seek Him, to seek His face with our fasting and prayers. We are at a point as a nation that we must have His influence, we must have His intervention. Oh let us seek Him today! Let us call on Him today! Let us turn to Him today! Amen, Oh Lord!
robbiewphillips
Note: Photo added by Editor of Love For His People, Inc. Not with original article above. Steve Martin
