Ring The Bell...Not What We Want

Revelation 2:12-17
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 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. 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’


Hopefully you have learned a great deal about the positives and negatives ofthe church at Pergamon. Today we examine the or else component of this church. Jesus says to repent or else He will come quickly and will fight against them with the sword of His mouth. First let us understand that the first order of business is to change direction, to repent. We just as the church at Pergamos must be willing to turn from whatever God says is not good. Sin, life plans, career goals, friends, relationships, whatever God says is not good, we must be willing to repent and head towards God. Secondly, we must repent quickly. When God reveals something to us we must not repent when we get ready, we must be ready when He is ready. So the time to repent is right now. The time to change is right now, not next week, not next year. Right now. So we are to repent and do it quickly. If we will not then we are simply reaching out our hand much like Apollo Creed did in Rocky III as he was ringing the bell to fight Rocky after his bought with Clubber Lane and saying Ding Ding. We are challenging Jesus to a fight, we are inviting Him to oppose us. Please look at what He says He will fight with, the sword of His mouth. This is the same weapon He used to defeat satan as satan tempted Him. Jesus was victorious. You and I are no match for Jesus. We are by no means ready for this, we will utterly fail and it will be painful and destructive. On the other hand, we could just repent and surrender to what He is saying. We will be an overcomer. Verse 17 says,"...To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’ If we repent we will be fed. We will be provided for and we will be able to walk powerfully. We will be given a white stone with an new name. We will be secure in the hands of Jesus Christ. We will be His child walking according to His plan. 

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother Big Daddy

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