R1603 Worldliness and the Church

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based reading of Dr. Don Wilton message: worldliness and the church as we open the word know the phone lines open as well.

At 866899 word 866-899-WORD 9673 or online at TW online.blowhard Bibles the book of Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter on getting my Bible out. This is an amazing passage okay quickly get you to really get a hold of this sewing Revelation book of Revelation is about how the world in and what happens when the world in which we were lots of questions on chapter 4. When you go to chapter full. The first thing you read this is that heaven opens heaven open up the heaven opens and when heaven opens Jesus comes out. How do we know that this first Thessalonians, tells us first Corinthians tell us Bible tells us Jesus going to come out swinging. Heaven opened, by the way heaven opened when God sent his son Jesus came out of heaven, and he was born in Bethlehem as a baby and then he lived for toss you into the cross he died and rose from the dead, went back to the mount of the sanctioning he ascended to be seated in the right hand of father heaven open to receive Jesus back into heaven back into heaven now this is the next time that the heaven opens heaven opens.

Let's Jesus outwardly comes into the clouds doesn't come back to the suit comes in the clouds.

Okay, when he comes into the clouds.

He's going to bring with him all people who already in heaven. So your mom is in heaven. She's coming with your best friend may be your husband. As they will perfect that are in the best place ever like coming with him and then we if we still alive. We might not be if we still love those of us who are alive on this earth. We got to be called school director going to be court up going to meet Jesus and all our family and friends up there in the clouds, then he's going to turn around and take all of us back in the heaven. We gonna be with him forever. And that's going to begin a whole lot of events that are going to take place until heaven is going to open again.

She's going to come out this time with all of us and we will coming back to this earth. That's cool. The second coming.

I know it's a lot to conduct think on rye which is what Jesus said in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation chapter 1 chapter in chapter 3. Jesus has a special word to the church to believers to people who belong to the church of God. We are the bride of Christ. The church that's all of us who love Jesus Methodists in brace prepares Babel is not about nominations about loving Jesus right Jesus belongs to us. We belong to him. We have repented of our sin can face Dowson given our lives to Christ with Christians.

Hello, we are Christian people on the Christian man's word for you and for me the church, by the way, it's the ultimate sign what Jesus has to say about the church is the ultimate Sunday. Lots of signs in the Bible about when Jesus coming back. Lots of the cash cashless society evincing the Middle East. The Internet sharing the gospel across the whole world, famines and earthquakes.

Hey what about viruses, pestilences, this virus regard.

It's got something to do that in times but the ultimate one is the condition of the church.

So when we get to the church at Pergamum. Pergamum in chapter 2. I'm going to read to you and it's incredible and the essential message to Pergamum is about worldliness. So take the word world's and adjectival description of worldliness. The word worldliness. When Jesus talks to this church to believers. He's trying to tell us something about the church and the world and worldliness is Jesus talking about the fact that the church is looking awfully like the wound instead of like the church guys this is a fine line done done confuse things here done confuse things these times they are changing we get.

I understand I've lived a few years myself.

I'm telling you I know I don't look like that now but when I was 21. My hair was down to my elbow. Everyone had long hair and people still have long voice slept long. What's wrong with that. There are Association, the Lord God did not block. We didn't really act to change. We also God to show us how to partner with change in the best way now. Won't you listen to me there's a difference between adapting and becoming part of becoming all things to all people, and by all means we might win some and participating in worldliness guys. You go to listen to this is gonna apply to your life. Where's that line what is Jesus saying let me read what he said to the church at Pergamum you're ready here it is.

It's an incredible passage on in chapter 2 in verse 12, to the angel of the church in Pergamum write the words of him who has the shop to Ridge sword. I know where you dwell with Satan's throne is. Yet you hold Foss my name and did not deny my faith even in the days of anti-pass, my faithful witness, who was killed among you with Satan grows, but I have a few things against you, you have some there some who hold to the teaching of Baylon who taught the lock to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality, so also have some of you who hold to the teachings of the Nicollet attends. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and I will reward them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear to hear bidding hear what the Spirit says to the churches and to the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give that person a white stone with a new name written on that stunt that nobody knows except the one who receives it. I mean this is powerful guys that any tell you about Pergamum just just the thumbnail. Newman was a landlocked city they they didn't have trade routes they didn't have a port great ships could coming and in the middle of Pergamum. There were four temples and they worshipful major gods like Zeus and they worshiped the Emperor and all the pagan stop and let me tell you what they did, they imported they paganism didn't come by ship I mean no disrespect but I'm an austere question. If I say Las Vegas. What's the first thing that comes to your mind, you know, I've always thought Pergamum was the Las Vegas. The Jesus was talking about in the Bible so I'm in the Telluride of some of my absolute best friends live in Las Vegas.

Some of the greatest gospel preachers live in Las Vegas. Some of the most powerful Christians I've ever made live in Las Vegas I been to Las Vegas several times.

What's Las Vegas known for you on select Christian why do the majority of people want to go to Las Vegas just saying and I landlocked folding board in. So yes, Pergamum. There are some unbelievable Christians the for rent hear about them and worldliness had regarding how do you define it will. Jesus defines it in Jesus doesn't reduce it to the level of stupidity like where you can't be spiritual if you don't wear a tie when you go to church.

Jesus doesn't say what you already spiritual. If you sing hymns or using courses. Jesus doesn't say, well, you know, you better stand up when you worship another people so you need to be said something site be loud required. What's what's worship without a musical quite amusing. That's a preference.

We celebrated worship, but not worldliness. So here's what Jesus sees what he sees. Okay, what did he say to this church, one Jesus tells them that he's got a sword, a double-edged sword. He just lets them know what's the Bible saying he was chapter 4 Bible says in Hebrews chapter 4. Listen to this word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces as far as the division of the soul and the spirit both joints and marrow, and God. Jesus is able to get this get this done full out your seat. Jesus wanted them to know that he is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart of the heart. That's how he starts talking about the church and worldliness. Second thing he tells them he says not only do I have a sword, he said, but I know where you live. I didn't make that up.

Verse 13 I know where you live any questions.

I know you live. I know you I know what's going on in your city and in Pergamum's cases.

I know that's where Satan lives. That's ready throne. I know you're in the midst of all of this got that I know what you're dealing with on that campus. I know you court. I know you are. Trains try to pull you away on the loss not they wanted you to be immoral in your behavior. I know what the locals popular on the way you look. You know what that means when Jesus is no way you live means three things means he sees personally sees person he sees me personally sees our church personally sees our city person CCU person number two. He knows intimately knows all the details. Member the sword bone marrow joints, heart got it knows intimately as the base. He understands compassion does understand. Please forgive the eruption to help you understand. Dr. Wilton insisted I interrupt to let you know we're here for you are available 24 hours a day in this phone number 866899 word 866-899-9673 were also available online as well.

TW online.org you. There'd be sure and follow Dr. Wilton social media which also might want to sign up for the daily Encouraging Word devotional. It's right there on her website tewonline.org G insight from God's word application to how we live it out in our lives every day against you know it's going. Dr. Don so it'll be a blessing you can sign up online TW online.org also a great place to discover walking with Giants a powerful resource another book from one of our dear friends Laura story called I give up all of its there@twonline.org. Now back to today's message with Dr. Wilton guys Jesus. Jesus was tempted in all points. All points just as we all yet without sin.

What's the difference between Jesus and me both tempted accepting Jesus had no sin. He never succumbed me Ossa, is on a Cinnabon nature in the Cinnabar choice. He knows where I live. Makes me think you ever gone to church and said man agrees to church. You know this and that but men when I get out here.

Nobody is watching. Enough feces 20 tells us number three and I love this third thing he says he said he salutes the frightfulness he salutes the faithfulness coming get this. He says he brought it he says, yet you hold false mom name and did not deny my faith even in the days of anti-past, my faithful witness, who was killed among you there in the place where Satan lives. So at Pergamum there was such persecution of the church there was such in the morning for the church to look like the world I mean there were people running around saying if the church can just shoot me I'll go but all I was forgetting although I may demand long as they can stroke my what I want than men. I do this in the will. This is what my bowl game I'm using at symbolic is what my ballgame looks like. I want that in the church.

This is how to talk out there.

This is how people talk you on me. Listen to the politicians I mean people get angry just blow the fuse out that I want that in the church are not in writing the middle of this.

In Pergamum there was such persecution, we don't know it to the 16th even though it sure started to heat up in Pergamum there was a man named anti-past and he was a wonderful Christian man. You know they Damond that they worship the emperor and do pagan practices and eat food sacrifice I get involving sexual immorality and all these things antiparasitic note I'm not going to bring the world into my church I'm a Christian, not enemy. I write you not they did to him, guys, I can really unpack us in grocery credits.

Fax is fax Rod not they did. They got a big pot huge big part they put oil in it.

They boiled the oil and they put anti-past. They dropped them in the burning oil boiling they boiled him alive in scolding that horrible award paint are: go there and you know what the Christians were watching when you will not watch how the world persecutes Christians for not accepting the standards. What's the first thing you want to do is rotten and just say will then I'll do that just to so I don't get the same stuff I want to be unpopular and what Jesus was saying is listen you held for.

He salutes they faithfulness that fantastic, but he quickly drawn seasons and he pinpoints basin verse 14 he pinpoints basin he just goes right.

Talks about two things talks about by a limited need talks about the Nicollet attends. You can read about vitamin numbers 22 through 20 fold all stories they and Baylon recruited a fella called Ballack B a L a K Ballack.

He was the king of Moab.

He was very influential.

I want you to get that influential. He was the king. The leader and they went out, got among the Christians among the religious people. The Christians and they entice them with worldliness. Said man is in a fantastic just to let your inhibitions go become engaged in immorality manages.

Let's just do it all. Jesus looked at them and said some of you have adopted. They pagan practices inside the church you are behaving like this. They need spoke about the Nicollet and some of you've even been led by the Nicollet's by the way, would name for a man by the name called Nicholas Nicholas was one of the seven leaders of the church in Pergamum and his particular assignment. He was the minister of food distribution. He told that key. This guy had influence.

This was social ministry guys he had influence and Nicholas began to use his leadership position to entice church members in the name of the church away from the truth of God into worldliness.

You know what I hear him say he's talking to someone like me because I'm a Christian spiritual leader. He what he was saying something to you as a life group leader. The Sunday school teacher as an elder as a deacon.

The choir lead the discipleship leader is a worship leader told the people of influence and he was saying.

You be careful what you do with your information.

Go out the inside left to people the way you speak what you say to other people in the name in the name of ministry and the church. This is what Nicholas that he went out as it always this great guys but we can't have this, we need to accept this. I want you to know as far as we could and I'm not going to do this and I'm not going to do that Jesus had something to say to him that he saluted the faithfulness of the people man by the way you get the same and posse. No need to cite but on the assignments.

I think this coronavirus has been a taste of our faith. I really do been a task for the church for faithfulness because we basically lift our own devices were isolated and then he pinpoints basin center Baylon the sin of the Nicollet attends many Damond as they repent. I mean that verse in verse 16 and beat around the bush. He says repent only what you respond if you if you have allowed worldliness to become part of your Christian life. Repent of it sent. You can be in the world but not of the world. James chapter 4 verse four. Now God's word says friendship with the world is enmity with God. Sorry matter what the sin of disabled counsel, the faucet friendship with the world is enmity guys do you get that. That's why we pray so hard with crying out to the Lord because our hearts. We want to just be the big warm embrace all kebab man, I'm telling you down to the smallest thing just because her sons got a beat doesn't mean decide on is Jesus tell you guys. This makes me uncomfortable just because we do something you lost the question all the time in the church is what we're doing. Worshiping Jesus lifting hi his name.

I love you for that man.

So what is he closed by doing says repent and many guarantees. Their reward in verse 17. Now watch this. He guarantees their Lord gives them an invitation in many guarantees. The promise to follow Lisa's listen when you remain faithful to me. I'm going to give you manna from heaven. What is man awarded that mean to them what I understood it as they were out in the wilderness back there in the day that had nothing to eat I were fleeing the pagans. They didn't know where their next meal was coming and God said, I got this heaven opened every time. Best meal I've ever had and so much they fold up trays and trays of all backspace that leftovers for the next five years that's how much food God poured out from heaven and what Jesus was saying look, you may reject the pagan practices in the church eating this delicious food. This top food. These sirloin steaks and the filet mignon is that the world is offering to idols because it's polluted and it's pagan and you saying no. He said that you are. I'll give you manna from heaven I'll give you so much good food and then left over some you want be able to stain yourself even though you don't even know where it's going to come from that of great promise and then the second thing is, he says I'll give you a white stone with a new name written on Whitestone people get accused of crimes everywhere from the worse crimes to the never committed a crime and they get the jury together and when the trial was over, the judge, so to speak would say members of the jury of you reached your verdict and when the chairman over the chairman of the jury would get up and he would walk over to the accused, and he would hand the accused a white stone you not to grant admin got good news for you, you been found not guilty, you been declared free.

You being acquitted. You got a new name.

No more hanging over you no more stop. Go in peace regarding Jesus save our times. Dr. David know that's what Jesus said we trust the red letters telling the words of Jesus I pray you open your heart you for Dr. Wilton preach but as is coming the studio.

He has a most important question for you next. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sins and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. I believe some of you just prayed with Dr. Wilton need to take it to the next step. Give us a call. Let us put the resources we have the Dr. Don chosen for you absently free in your hands because you've given your life to Christ. Or maybe rededicate your life to Christ. Our phone numbers 86689. That's 866-899-9673 let us connect you with those resources directed are other resources as well. On our website@twonline.org resources like this, God intended purpose for virtual teams are not defeated Harris through Jesus Christ. The word of God is relevant all times in which we led countless testimonies of people in the Bible are our cloud of witnesses to encourage ice on the Christian journey learned from Nan.

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