Morning Stars

Posted on by korgrocker

“To all who are victorious, who obey Me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from My Father, and I will also give them the morning star! “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:26-29‬ ‭NLT

These are difficult verses to get our minds around. We understand the need to be victorious, to be able to come to the end of our journeys through life, intact but triumphant, perhaps a bit bruised and battered, but able to stand before Jesus, saying, like the Apostle Paul, “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Tim 4:6-7). An obedient and faithful end to our lives ticks the “victorious” box. 

But Jesus then goes on to say we victors will have authority over all the nations. But wait a minute! We’ve just crossed the Great Divide into our new life in Heaven and Jesus gives us a new assignment. We’re told we will have authority over all the nations. What about the rest we read about in Hebrews 4, “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labours, just as God did after creating the world.” What about the wonderful fictional stories of getting to Heaven where we will be kitted out with a pair of wings and given a harp to play while sitting on a cloud? 

But Jesus goes on to say that the “victorious” will be ruling the nations with an iron rod. Someone who rules with an iron rod brings to mind a person who is maintaining strong discipline, if necessary using physical force and punishment. Nothing wishy-washy here. No democratic shenanigans. And we read that the iron rod approach will smash the nations like clay pots. Why is Jesus proposing such a hard line? We must bear in mind two events portrayed in the Bible. In Psalm 2 we read that there will come a time when the nations of the world will conspire to destroy the Kingdom of God. Verse 2 reads, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One“. Such arrogance! And in verse 9 we read again, “You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots“. There will come a time when God’s righteous judgement will prevail, and from today’s verses in Revelation, it looks as though we will have a role to play. You see, as Christian we have picked the winning side. There will one day be a pay back time for rebellious and sinful nations and generations, and Jesus has delegated to us His authority over them. However, how that will all pan out in practice is still hidden from us.

The second event prophesised in the Bible concerns Jesus Himself. We are told unequivocally in several places in Scripture that one day Jesus will come again. In some ways we are living between two major events – Jesus’ first coming as a baby, born to a young peasant girl in Bethlehem, and His second coming, with power and glory. Matthew 24:30, “And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory“. 

So what do we make of this revelation that we will be ruling the nations? These verses today give us a tiny glimpse of what may be coming. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. That’s good enough for me. And as we stay close to our wonderful Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus, we are assured of our future. His love and grace will cover us like a cloak, and one day we will be in His presence. 

As well as His authority, Jesus promised to give the Thyatiraeans “the morning star“. In astronomical terms, the morning star is the planet Venus, reflecting the light of the sun, giving a hint of the coming day. So those who will be ruling and reigning with Jesus will perhaps reflect the glory of God in the life to come. And in our time here and now in 21st Century planet earth we have the opportunity to show the glory of God to the people in our families and our communities. In our schools and workplaces. In the supermarkets and gyms. How do other people see us? As a God-reflection or as a misery? As a morning star or a black hole? Hmmm…

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your revelation of our future in Your presence. And we thank You that You have entrusted to us Your mission to the communities and families around us. Please helps us to be as effective in this life as we will be in the life to come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Deeper Truths

Posted on by korgrocker

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:24-25‬ ‭NLT

It appears that not all the Thyatiraeans followed the false teaching of the Jezebel in their midst. The church there must have been divided and in conflict, riven by the sinful practices of some of their number. Perhaps the church leadership were involved in the sin as well, or they were at least turning a blind eye to what was going on. Perhaps they were intimidated by the Jezebel woman, afraid of the prophetic messages she was uttering. Afraid to cross her in fear of being cursed. Or elevating church unity above the sinful practices. We don’t know. But what we do know is that there were some in their fellowship who had rejected Jezebel’s false teaching.

In His message through John, Jesus called the sinful practices promoted through Jezebel “false teaching“, coming straight from the devil himself. Apparently, its adherents tried to sanitise the sin by calling it “deeper truths“. And Jesus commended those who refused to get involved. He encouraged them to keep going in their faith. To maintain its purity. And not to let go of what they believed. 

The problem of letting sinful practices enter the church is one not just relegated to history. It is still with us today. There is a constant battle between those who maintain the integrity of the Bible and believe it is the inspired Word of God and want to follow its ways and teachings, and those who want to replace or ignore certain parts of it so that social customs of the day can be absorbed into church or denominational liturgies. The debate in the US over the practice of abortion is such an example because the Bible is clear that new life starts at the moment of conception, even though Western thinking says otherwise, as we all are aware. And there are other issues regarding relationships and sexual customs that are at odds with the traditional and Biblical teaching of the Bible. So the question must be asked – would Jesus be equally as scathing over these matters today as He was 2000 years ago? To bring it up to date, will He consign those who allow sinful practices into their denominations or churches to a “bed of suffering“? Will He withdraw His Spirit from such places allowing them to wither and die, cutting them off from the source of His sustenance and life (John 15)?

For today’s pilgrims, we must stick tenaciously to Biblical teaching, checking out our faith regularly to ensure compliance. This is not a legalistic practice. We have a loving Heavenly Father and the last thing we would want to do is to engage in anything that would drive a wedge between Him and us. Bluntly, if God has said that something is sin, then it has to be repented of to maintain the purity of our relationship with Him. Psalm 24:3-5 says, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their Saviour“. That’s the place I want to be – receiving the Lord’s blessing and in a right relationship with my loving Heavenly Father. 

Dear Lord. We pray for the discernment we need to call out the devil’s practices. We pray for wisdom when we come up against sinful ways in our churches. And we pray for forgiveness for all our sinful thoughts and deeds. Please help us in our daily walks in this life, as we look to You for our spiritual food. Please help us to maintain the integrity of Your Word in all we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Wrong Spirit

Posted on by korgrocker

“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.“
Revelation 2:20 NLT

A few more thoughts about this Jezebel. Firstly, how can anyone lead another person astray? It can only be by presenting a series of ideas and suggestions that connect with what another person is already doing or thinking, confirming their thoughts and leading them into situations that are wrong. Or introducing into their thinking an alternative or totally different way or course of action. But however the process is completed, there is a synergistic connection, and thoughts are translated into deeds. What might be festering in the back of someone’s mind can be brought into the light of day by the right catalysts. Now, every society has issues with sexual sin. What God designed sex to be can become distorted and abused because our enemy, the devil, knows humanity’s weaknesses and he knows that he can quite easily bring about sexual sin. So if this Jezebel plays to generic weaknesses, perhaps by packaging her prophecies into plausible arguments for immorality, then people with such tendencies will be led astray. Easily and willingly.

But who or what is a Jezebel? The Jezebel of the Old Testament was a controlling, evil, idol-worshiping woman who was determined to get her own way, regardless of the consequences. She even set herself up against a man of God, Elijah, who fled from her in fear (1 Kings 19:3), in spite of the fact that he had just performed an amazing miracle at Mount Carmel. She was a formidable woman.

There are some Christians who speak about a Jezebel spirit. They refer to someone who wants to be in control of their local church or fellowship and cause disruption and problems to try and get their own way. They make things difficult for everyone else in the church, particularly the leadership. They use all sorts of techniques to try and get other people on their side, perhaps by a whispering campaign, or spreading lies about others, or by playing a persecuted role, inviting sympathy, encouraging people to take sides. But they can be very clever in the way they go about their nefarious business, packaging what they say innocuously, chipping away with a steady drip, drip, drip, until their objectives are realised.  Some may not even fully realise what they are doing. But it needs a strong leader to discern and call out such a person and deal with their evil ways. 

As pilgrims, we need to be aware of other people’s agendas, particularly when they are different to ours. And if we are uncomfortable about what someone is saying about another person or leader in the church, we should gently and graciously close down the conversation. We must never let our thinking or talking become corrupted by another person, no matter how plausible it may seem. The Apostle Paul gave some good advice in Ephesians 4:29, “… Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them“. And in Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone”. But how do we deal with the Jezebel figure trying to lead others astray in the church? The temptation would be to make an appointment with the church leaders to warn them, or start telling other people to beware of such a person. But this would be a wrong course of action. The church in Thyatira was guilty of permitting the sinful woman to spread her falsehoods unchecked. Jesus gave us guidance about how to deal with people who seem to be walking a sinful path, particularly one that is at variance with the purity of the Word. He said, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17). But having said that, I have only rarely seen an issue resolved by the Matthew 18 process. Prayer is the most effective way of dealing with a wrong spirit. It may take time and patience, love and grace, but in 1 John 4:4 we read, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world“. And as we read in the rest of the message to the angel of the church at Thyatira, Jesus will ultimately bring about a solution for a failure to repent.

One last thought. If in our local fellowships we find that our vision is at variance with that of the leaders. Or if the denomination of which we are a part is considering or allowing sinful or worldly practices into our churches. Or if we cannot agree or endorse the direction the leaders are taking us, then we must prayerfully consider our membership of that body of believers. And if, after a serious and prayerful period of reflection, we are still having problems, then we should move on to somewhere more in line with what we believe. What we mustn’t do is to become a root of bitterness, becoming a Jezebel. We won’t of course find a perfect church but we must find one that upholds the purity of God’s Word.

Dear Lord. Please help us to maintain the purity of Your Word and Your Spirit in our churches. Please give us discernment and wisdom in our daily walk with You and our fellow pilgrims. Amen.

Bed of Suffering

Posted on by korgrocker

“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:20-23‬ ‭NLT

Jesus makes a complaint against the Thyatiraean church. And its reading is grim. After the accolades and commendations of the previous verse, all of a sudden they receive a hammer blow shaking them all to their very cores. They receive an accusation of sin, made all the more serious because they didn’t see it coming. John, in his writing, does not hold back with his message. It is direct and to the point. The Thyatiraeans have allowed sin to enter their fellowship. Strangely, it is the Thyatiraean “angel” who is getting the hard time, but in this context, it has to be the church leaders who were responsible. 

Jesus’ accusation was that a certain woman – John called her Jezebel – was leading the people astray. Sometimes a charismatic figure can emerge in any walk of life and present a story that seems so very plausible. In this case, once again we see that the message involves sexual sin and food offered to idols, both at odds with the Apostolic declaration from the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. Sadly, sexual immorality and idol worship was prevalent in the societies of those times.

So who was this “Jezebel”? John said she called herself a prophet and probably some of the people were taken in by her “prophetic” messages. The “Jezebel” in Old Testament times was the wife of a wicked Israelite king called Ahab. The account of this heathen queen can be found in 1 Kings – too much to include with this blog – but suffice to say that Jezebel was a wicked, controlling woman who promoted Baal worship over the true worship of God. So when John referred to this woman in the Thyatiraean church as a “Jezebel” he was associating her with the anti-God practices of her spiritual ancestor. A damning indictment. Worse, for this woman, the time for her to repent had run out, but she didn’t want to stop her immoral practices. So it was judgement time. We don’t explicitly know what a “bed of suffering” was, but there were occasions in Jewish history when God sent plagues, boils, snakes and even a sink-hole that swallowed up an entire family, in judgement for sinful practices. And John continues with a warning to those who follow this Jezebel’s ways. They too will suffer, he says, unless “they repent and turn away from her evil deeds”. The warning from Jesus didn’t end there, however. He said that her children would be struck dead. A grim situation indeed. I don’t think this just applied to her natural children, should she have had any, but to her spiritual children as well.

Verse 23 in today’s reading ended with the reminder that Jesus can see into every heart. He knew what the Thyatiraeans were thinking. He knew how their thoughts could develop over time, rationalising their actions, and, before they knew it, they could end up in sinful practices. One day, He said, they will be called to give an account for their deeds.

Today’s pilgrim needs to be on his or her guard. Jesus will not, and can not, allow sin to take root in His church. The Jezebel of the Thyatiraean church called herself a prophet. Now, prophecy was one of the gifts God gave to the church. But like many gifts, it can be misused or abused. Jesus warned about false prophets in Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles”? It would be easy for us, in the 21st Century, to take the moral high ground and say we would never allow a Jezebel to rise up and lead us astray in our own churches. Certainly not through sexual immorality or with food offered to idols. But there have been Christian movements and sects that have been led into sinful practices. Perhaps started by a seemingly innocuous thought (remember the devil’s suggestion to Eve in Genesis, “Surely God didn’t say…?) before moving into sin. Some sects have even made changes to the Bible, adding, removing, or re-interpreting texts, to justify their theological positions. And for all these deviations, as in the church at Thyatira, usually a charismatic leader emerged first. So today’s pilgrim must test all prophecies. Do they line up against God’s Word? Could they lead to sinful practices? And if we’re unsure, we must discard them.

One day we Christians will stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. Thankfully, God has given us all the resources we need to live a righteous life honouring to Him with His Word. And if that wasn’t enough, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us as a sacrifice for all our sins, giving us a righteous standing before God. And just to make sure, He sent His Holy Spirit, to live in each one of those who accept Him. Good News in a world full of bad news. 

Dear God. Thank You for all You have done and still do in our lives. Where would we be without You? Please help us in our daily walks to remain close to You, heeding Your Words and following your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Constant Improvements

Posted on by korgrocker

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭NLT

Wow! What an endorsement from the Master Himself. Jesus said that He had observed the lives of the Thyatiraeans and, in particular, He singled out their love, faith, service and patient endurance. He also noted that they weren’t satisfied in staying at a certain level. He said they were improving. I cannot think of a better accolade for Christians in any generation, let alone those in the hostile environment in which the Thyatiraeans lived. As the letter was read out to them I can imagine the smiles on their faces; an endorsement for their diligent approach to their lives in Christ.

Was there any significance in Jesus just selecting these four attributes? Why not their prowess in praying for the sick? Or their attendance records for Bible Studies? Or their diligence in missionary work, knocking on the doors of the people in the next town? No. Jesus selected four examples of a Godly character. Internal attitudes and examples of a deep relational experience with their loving Heavenly Father. That sweet spot where their Christian lives were nurtured and developed to become more like Jesus.

The four attributes selected by Jesus were particularly important and significant in the society and culture prevalent in First Century Greece. They would not just have involved the way the people in the church related to each other but would also have included how they related to those in the society around them. This would not have been easy for them but their counter-cultural witness would have made significant gains for God’s Kingdom, swelling their numbers as the devil’s frontiers were pushed back.

Society and culture today is different in many ways to the Ancient Greek ways of life. Gone are the extravagant temples erected in the honour of the pantheon of Greek gods. Gone is the devilish practices that pervaded the society in those days. Today, the same issues prevail but in a more subtle way. So we pilgrims must ask ourselves if Jesus would commend us too for our love, faith, service and patient endurance. And are these character attributes growing within us day by day? Sometimes it is good to undertake a personal spiritual check up just to make sure. And how about the churches of which we are a part? Can we tick the “constant improvement” box? Or is there a “could do better” note on our report cards? But whatever the personal or corporate outcome, we know that God is helping us. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-13, “…Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him”. If God is working within us we cannot fail. And in Ephesians 2:10 we read that we are His workmanship, created to be like Jesus. So as we remain close to God, being obedient to what He says, we cannot fail to win the accolade received by the Thyatiraean church. 

Dear Lord Jesus. We are so grateful for Your encouragement. You are always there for us on our daily walk through life, helping us to grow more like You. Please help us to be open to the work of Your Spirit in our lives. Amen.

Eyes and Feet

Posted on by korgrocker

“‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭NIVUK

It is fascinating to watch a fire. There seems to be something within it that is alive. The flickering. The feel of heat. As a child, I remember sitting on the hearth rug looking at burning coals. Seeing the tar melting and bubbling out, sometimes making a hissing noise. The crackles and pops adding to the experience. And occasionally, there was a sharp crack as a piece of slate or something else incombustible shot out, burning a hole in the carpet or making the family pet dog suddenly move away. The coal fire provided heat to the room, often heated the water through a back boiler, and acted as a place where the odd piece of rubbish was consumed. But in these enlightened days, open coal fires are rare and discouraged. 

Jesus told the Thyatiraean church that His “eyes are like blazing fire”. So we can see eyes that are alive, with a constantly-changing depth, full of images that vary from a roaring inferno to dull redness. A perpetual fire that is never extinguished. A fire that exposes and consumes. A fire that spits out all that is unwanted. A fire that warms and gives life. The eyes of Jesus perceive all that is within His followers, seeing into their hearts with a penetration that knows no limits. A fire with the promise that one day those who have rejected Him will see through His eyes of fire directly into another fire, that never goes out.

Jesus also told the “angel of the church in Thyatira” that His “feet are like burnished bronze”. Burnished is another word for polished or refined. Bronze that had been purified in the fire, bringing a perfection befitting to the Son of God. A purity that is able to tread on all that is impure, bringing light into darkness. A metal alloy denoting strength and permanence, never to wear out. Never to disappear. 

To today’s pilgrim, the eyes of blazing fire and the feet of burnished bronze remind us that Jesus is real. That Jesus is eternal with an authority that has been with Him since before the creation of the world and will still be with Him when this world is replaced by the new Heaven and earth. That Jesus has a depth and presence not far from each one of us – we only have to reach out and touch Him. That there is a side to Jesus that will one day bring justice to this sinful world.

Dear Lord Jesus. We thank You that we see in Your blazing eyes a love and compassion beyond measure. We are so blessed by your presence in our lives. Amen.

A White Stone

Posted on by korgrocker

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NLT

Jesus finishes His message to the Pergamum church with the non-negotiable instruction that we “must listen to the Spirit”. Looking at the converse, that means the Pergamums, at times, failed to listen to what God was saying to them. The same applies to modern churchgoers today, I’m sure. And because we don’t hear Him, we are unable to follow His instructions. I always think of God’s faithful servant in Damascus, Ananias. He heard the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit and listened to what God was saying about a man called Saul, who had been blinded by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road. Ananias had an always-on connection with God. He was ready to listen to the Holy Spirit and was able to discern what He was saying, to the extent that he was confident enough to put into practice what to some would have been a very unpopular request. 

To the pilgrim today we should carefully note the sequence. Firstly, we must have “ears to hear”. This means we must have a connection with God, with spiritual ears trained and ready to hear when God speaks. Secondly, we must “listen to the Spirit”. It is not enough to hear Him when He speaks. We must “listen”. This means we must concentrate on what God is saying, making sure we are hearing right. How many times has my wife spoken to me only to find I haven’t been listening? Confession time? Thirdly, having heard, having listened, we must make sure we “understand what He is saying”. This means we must convert what we hear into the thoughts and actions that God intends.

Moving on, we have a reference to “manna”. Manna was the food supplied by God to sustain the Israelite nation during their journey between Egypt and the promised land. We can read all about it in Exodus 16. The name “manna” is a Hebrew word meaning “What is it?”. But, as a food, it was unique and amazing. It was a miracle food containing all the nutrients required by a human being. And the miraculous extended to the way it was supplied. Just enough. Just for the day ahead. Much too can be written about the spiritual meaning of manna, the bread from Heaven. Jesus said that the victorious would have access to manna. The victorious are those who have overcome sin, who have stayed the course, who have reached their Heavenly goal. And, to me, the manna hidden away for the victorious in Heaven will have all that is needed for a life in God’s presence.

Something else awaiting the victorious in Heaven is a white stone. Apparently, in the culture of the time, white stones were used as a sort of ID, or calling card. But more than that, the white stones had a relational significance, of friendship and commitment. And to me, quite simply, Jesus was saying that He was giving us each a token of His love, but in a very special way. You see, He will give each one of us a special name that only we know. And notice that our unique names will be engraved on the stone. Not just written with a pen, with ink that will wash or wear off in time. Engraved means that it will be there for eternity.

Sometimes, married couples or others in close friendships will have an intimate name they use for each other. But how much more amazing to have our own individual relationships with Jesus. Relationships so special that each one of us uniquely and individually has their own new name. Bringing it home to me personally, I try and imagine what it must be like to hear Jesus calling my new name. A name only Him and I know. With a love so deep that it can’t be measured. With His presence so close that He is touching me. What else can I do than fall on my knees before Him in gratitude?

Dear Lord Jesus. With a deeply grateful heart I worship You today. The wonderful God who came to this world to show me the way into Your presence. Into a life of intimacy with You. Thank You. Amen.

Complaints

Posted on by korgrocker

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT

The story of Balaam and Balak can be found in Numbers 22-24. It’s a fascinating read, involving angels with swords and a talking donkey. Balak, of Moabite royalty, wanted Balaam to curse the oncoming Israelite nation because he was concerned that they would “…devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!” He involved the Midianites, and together they asked a man called Balaam to curse the Israelites, but instead he ended up blessing them, delivering the message God told him to say. The story concludes with Balaam cursing the surrounding nations after blessing the Israelites. Balaam wasn’t a Godly man, because the Scriptures record that he was involved in divination, a practice that carried the death penalty for the Jews. He was also a Gentile. However, that did not stop God using him to deliver His message. In several places in the Bible we see that if necessary, God will use influential people in Godless nations to carry out His plans. 

At the start of Numbers 25 we see that the Israelite men were starting to cohabit with Moabite women, even getting involved in their Baal worship. And as a result they were guilty of the sins in the complaint we read about in today’s Scripture, they sinned, “by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin”. Though we cannot find a direct Scriptural reference to Balaam teaching the Israelites how to sin, the theological consensus seems to be that Balaam advised Balak of a more devious response and solution – get them involved in the sinful practices of the Moabites and Midianites so that God will punish them. And in Numbers 25 the story of their sin and its consequences played out to a sad conclusion.

After referring to the story of Balaam, John continued in today’s verse, by exposing the Nicolaitans amongst them. They too followed the same practices of eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. As we found earlier, the Ephesian church had also been infiltrated by adherents of this sect. 

Jesus’ response to those engaging in these sinful practices was a warning. He said that He would come to fight them with “the sword of [His] mouth”. And this fight would happen suddenly. Back in the wayward Israelites’ day, when their sin with the Moabites had been uncovered, the solution was physical, with God sending a plague which only stopped with a gruesome ending – one of the ringleaders and his foreign partner were skewered by a spear. But “the sword of [His] mouth” attack against the Pergamums was not to be through some physical punishment. It was through God’s Word, the Scriptures, bringing repentance from sin. The Old Testament remedy was a physical death. The New Testament solution would end up a spiritual death. But in both cases, and in the context of eternity, the outcome was the same. Eternal death.

Back to our usual question – how do these verses help the 21st Century pilgrim? One lesson is that we pilgrims must diligently maintain the purity of our faith. Sin has a habit of creeping up on us, nibbling away at the margins, disguised as something minor or inoffensive, something easily rationalised away. Remember – our adversary the devil is extremely good at finding our weak spots. In the garden of Eden, the serpent found a chink in Eve’s armour, – “Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1). And followed it with a plausible, subtle, and clever restatement of God’s instructions. 

Another lesson is that the worldly practices around us, and as portrayed on films and television, can numb our spiritual discernment. The constant bombardment from devil-backed lobby groups, from advertising, from conversations with people who aren’t Christians, will potentially dull our senses and, particularly when we’re tired, will lead to sin. Each day we must put on our Ephesians 6 armour, and take up the sword, God’s Word. By so doing we can be effective witnesses, counter-culturally standing as beacons of hope in a dying world. And if we have weak spots that the enemy will penetrate, we must avoid the circumstances that can give him an opening. 

A common tactic of the enemy is to revive our embarrassing memories. He will remind us that because we once did something bad, we are no good and not suitable to be a child of God. But we must tell him that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are new creations. No more defined by our past, but instead defined by our future. In Hebrews 12:1, we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13b-14, “… I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.

The Pergamums earned a rebuke from Jesus because they allowed worldly customs and idolatry to prevail in their lives and in their church. Let us not fall into the same trap.

Dear Jesus. We thank You that You love us too much to allow us to wallow in customs that You disapprove of. We pray David’s prayer from Psalm 139 today, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Amen.

The Martyr

Posted on by korgrocker

“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pergamum, or Pergamon, or Pergamos, depending on which history book or Bible version we read, was the Northernmost city of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. it was an important city with life spanning hundreds of years and several rulers. Many ruins remain today. But the reference to satan is interesting. A huge, throne-shaped structure was removed from the Acropolis in Pergamon in the nineteenth century and reassembled in a museum in Germany. And it was the shape and size of this, together with the association with Greek gods, that led to its name as the Throne of Satan. 

Pergamum must have been a difficult place to be a Christian in, steeped as it was in the worship of false gods, and where the counter-cultural believer and follower of Christ would have been severely persecuted. And that is what seems to have happened, with the martyrdom of a man called Antipas. However, in spite of the persecution, the congregation in Pergamum remained loyal to their faith. We don’t know how many church members there were, but subsequent verses in this section of Revelation 2 seem to indicate that it might have been at least a medium-sized fellowship of believers.

So the usual question – is there any relevance in this verse for Christian pilgrims today? I think there is. Loyalty to our faith is an important attribute of the followers of Christ, though loyalty to anything today in our Western societies is not exactly a popular trait. But a refusal to deny Christ, even when one of the followers in Pergamum was martyred, indicated how strong their loyalty was. So how loyal are we? First and foremost is our loyalty to God. Sadly, I know Christians who, when going through hard times, facing into health, family or financial issues, and finding that their prayers are not answered in the way they would like, take time out from their faith. They stop reading the Bible, and praying. They stop attending church services. They cut themselves off from their church friends, refusing to answer calls, ignoring social media posts, or the door when visited. But then after a time they will reappear, as though nothing has happened. I always think it strange that some people, when in times of greatest need, seem to turn away from God. A conditional loyalty isn’t an option in the Kingdom of God.

There is also our loyalty to our church leaders. They do a difficult job, often for little reward. But a loyal congregant gladdens their hearts. With loyal followers, they can build Jesus’ church, developing the vision God has given them. And we mustn’t forget our loyalty to each other. There is nothing more encouraging than being part of a church full of loyal believers.

When the going gets tough, loyalty is an essential quality. That moment when we can honestly say to God that no matter what is happening, or is about to happen, we will never desert Him. If faced with the dilemma Antipas was facing, can we stand firm, loyal to our faith? I believe God gave him the strength he needed and eased him into his new life in Heaven. God is always with us in our hours of need.

Dear God. We thank You for Your faithfulness to us. You are always watching over us 24/7. Please grant us the grace and courage to stand firm in difficult times. Amen.

Two-Edged Sword

Posted on by korgrocker

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In his vision, the old Apostle John moves on to write down Jesus’ message to the church at Pergamum. This was a famous and illustrious city spanning Greek and Roman periods in history, and extensive ruins still exist. However, there is no longer a church there. But in the first century, it contained a Christian congregation, apparently active and thriving, but with a few problems that Jesus pointed out to them. More to come on that.

Again this message was directed to an angel. This time the “angel of the church in Pergamum”, probably a reference to both the church leaders and the whole church membership. But what is the significance of “the One with the sharp two-edged sword”? In the previous chapter, John received a vision of the Son of Man. He was standing in the middle of seven lampstands, and a sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth. We receive a good description of what the meaning of this sword is from Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires“. The “sharpest two-edged sword” is indeed a powerful weapon but the writer to the Hebrews informed them that the Word of God is even sharper. Imagine the most fearsome and devastating weapon available to our armies today and then realise that the Word of God is still even more powerful. It fact it is even more powerful than any man-made device, for one simple reason. Any earthly weapon can indeed kill a human being, bringing on their physical death, but the Word of God can bring condemnation, judgement and eternal death for the same human being, in his or her life after their physical death. But, uniquely amongst weapons of destruction, it can also bring life, everlasting life for those who obey its precepts. That is why the “sharp two-edged sword” is so powerful. The Word of God is His legacy, His power, His manual for a life to be lived His way, and all encapsulated in a book always accessible to His followers everywhere. No wonder that pariah and totalitarian states want the Bible banned – they are only too aware of its power. In fact, it is so powerful that it has the capability to bring down their evil regimes.

If a pilgrim was ever asked what he should take in his back pack, one of the most important items has to be his Bible. In our pilgrimage through life we must have it. We will not reach our Heavenly goal without it. And one day we will discover that the truths contained within the Book will be transformed into glory for our wonderful God and Father.

Dear Lord God. We thank Your word, the Bible. Please help us to never neglect its reading. May its truths indeed penetrate to our very “innermost thoughts and desires”, helping us to live our lives Your way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.