Nurturing Christian Ideals—part-1

NURTURING CHRISTIAN IDEALS-Part-I—Revelation 2:12-17

Animating Proper Ideals

Need:

Giving Life/Animating to improper/non-christian ideals

Jesus cautioned the Pergamum Church about not maintaining an atmosphere which nurtures Christ’s ideals.

The church of God must maintain an atmosphere which is conducive to Christian ideals.

What atmosphere is conducive to Christian ideals?

6 elements of an atmosphere which is conducive to Christian ideals.

1—An atmosphere conducive to Christian ideals

NURTURES THE SWORD(:12)

—Explanation:(:12)

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”

“Sword”—romfaia—A long sword probably worn across the shoulder.

“Sharp”—oxuV—Sharp or swift/quick

Jesus’ mouth/sword 1)Reproves & exposes sin; 2)Slays what is ungodly; 3)Determines punishment—Sovereign/Judgemental/Determinative/ Standard quality of God’s word.

—Argumentation:

Heb. 4:12—“For the word of God is living & active & sharper than any two-edged sword, & piercing as far as the division of soul & spirit, of both joints & marrow, & able to judge the thoughts & intentions of the heart.”

—Illustration:

CAT scans & MRIs/Pierces to separate & identify each individual body part & aberrant growths/Hospitals maintain these diligently/NURTURES THE SWORD

GA Baptist Disaster Relief trainees/Id badges & hats required on site or refused official participation in disaster relief/Atmoshere conducive to professional disater relief/NURTURE the SWORD

—Application:

?Our atmosphere nurture JESUS’ SWORD?

?Is our atmosphere conducive to Christian ideals?

2—An atmosphere conducive to Christian ideals

NURTURES THE FAITH(:13)

—Explanation:(:13)

“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; & you hold fast My name, & did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

“Where Satan dwells”—Roman govorners of Asia centered in Pergamum.

“Hold fast My name”—kratew—To hold in one’s hand, to seize or keep carefully.

?Why Jesus’ name?—Epitomizes His character & thus the Gospel.

“Did not deny My faith”—

Mk. 8:38—“For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words in this adulterous & sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

“My faith”—

“Even in the days of Antipas”—What was in Smyrna’s future was already in Pergamum’s past.

—Argumentation:

2Cor. 13:5—“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?”

Acts 16:5—“So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, & were increasing in number daily.”

Col. 1:22-23—“...yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy & blameless & beyond reproach--if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established & steadfast, & not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, & of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”

2Tim. 1:12-14—“...I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed & I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith & love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

—Illustration:

Wild Adventures/Hangman & Cheetah rollercoasters/Hold on tight or let go/Faith in coaster’s safely bringing me to the loading area/Wild Adventures TV ads & postcards highlight both coasters/NURTURES THE FAITH

—Application:

?Our atmosphere nurture JESUS’ FAITH?

?Is our atmosphere conducive to Christian ideals?

3—An atmosphere conducive to Christian ideals

NURTURES THE HARBOR(:14-15)

—Explanation:(:14-15)

:14—“‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, & to commit acts of immorality.”

:15—“‘Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

“In the same way”—Harbor/give place to false teachers.

?What does Providence allow to remain in her midst?

Offer harbor to those who are intent on doing harm to faith in Christ for number’s sake.

—Argumentation:

2Tim. 4:2-4—“Preach the word; be ready in season & out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience & instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; & will turn away their ears from the truth, & will turn aside to myths.”

—Illustration:

Savannah/Cap’n Sam’s Cruises/Private dock/Nothing else allowed to moor their boat there/NURTURES THE HARBOR

Savannah/Georgia Kaolin/Only those ships designated for meeting GA Kaolin’s needs/NURTURES THE HARBOR

—Application:

?What is moored/anchored at your/our HARBOR?

?Our atmosphere nurture JESUS’ HARBOR?