The Danger of Compromise
October 14, 2018 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must not compromise our holiness with worldliness.
Focus Passage:
Introduction: In 1871, an American named Heinrich Schliemann began excavating an ancient city in Turkey. To the amazement of many, this retired businessman had discovered the lost city of Troy. Today, you can still see the ruins of its towers and its walls, which were 16 feet thick.
According to the Homer’s Iliad, the Greeks besieged Troy for ten years without success. After the death of the warrior Achilles, many wanted to give up the fight. But the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, came up with a plan to get the Greek army into Troy. Odysseus built an immense wooden horse. He and his warriors hid inside it. After leaving the horse at the gates of Troy, the Greek army sailed away. The Trojans thinking the Greeks had given up and had left the horse as a gift, brought it inside the gates. That night, while the Trojans were sleeping, the Greek ships quietly returned. The soldiers in the horse slipped out and opened the city gates. The Greek army quietly entered Troy and started fires all over the city. The Trojans awoke to find their city in flames. As they tried to flee, they were killed by the waiting Greeks. The story of the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy have come to represent the subversion of anything from within. [https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/compromise-scott-carroll-sermon-on-discipleship-119916?ref=SermonSerps]
I. Compromise defeats achievement
a. Jesus gave accolades to the church at Pergamum
b. He practically bragged on their faithfulness
c. Yet, He said “Nevertheless” which took the legs out from underneath the accolades
II. Compromise allows worldliness
a. Compromise is like a Trojan Horse to the church and individuals
b. SOME had compromised on holiness, specifically regarding morality
i. Balaam - While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel. (Numbers 25:1-3 NASB)
ii. Nicolatians - a reminder to us that many false doctrines can creep into the church, doctrines hated and despised by God
c. SOME had allowed that compromise to continue
III. Compromise has consequences
a. Jesus gave a choice
b. Repent
c. Face judgment
Application/Invitation: What does compromise look like in your personal life? What does compromise look like in your family? What does compromise look like in the church? Do you look at social media pages that you know are not spiritually healthy? Do you entertain thoughts that you know are now spiritually healthy? Do you go places that you know are not spiritually healthy? Do you allow your kids/grandkids to watch shows that aren’t spiritually healthy? Do you take your spouse to places that are not spiritually healthy? Do you take your spouse to parties/events that are not spiritually healthy? Do you tell others that what you do is none of their business, especially when other believers try to warn you?
