Tony Evans - A Challenge to Greater Convictions (03/02/2018)

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Jesus addresses the church in Pergamum, a city deeply influenced by Satan, commending them for holding fast to His name despite persecution. However, He condemns their tolerance of false teachings and compromise, exemplified by the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, warning them to repent or face His judgment, while promising hidden manna and a white stone to those who overcome.

The Authority of Christ's Word

Let me tell you a little bit about Pergamum. It was a city some 45 miles north of Ephesus and Smyrna, the two churches we've already seen. It was a very wealthy city but a city controlled by the devil. We'll talk about that in a moment. It was a very progressive city, a very noted city, but it was a city run by hell. Jesus starts, and He speaks as the first and the last, which He said about Himself in Smyrna. Now in verse 12, "The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this." So Jesus Christ is talking, but He describes Himself as the possessor of the two-edged sword.

This is not the first time we've seen that phrase. Revelation chapter 1 verse 16 says, "In His right hand He held the seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword." So when you read about Jesus having the sword, He is speaking about authority. Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20: Jesus says, "All authority belongs to Me in heaven and on earth." Translation: I'm in charge now. So when Jesus says a sword is coming out of My mouth, He is laying claim to authority from heaven to history, from eternity to time, from heaven to earth.

So Jesus Christ sits as the risen Lord, ascended on the right hand of the Father, speaking to His people, the church at Pergamum. And He says, I'm in charge here, and I have a sword. Where is the sword? It's coming out of My mouth. Christians in particular, and certainly society at large, has lost confidence in God's Word. They are going to every other word. They may sprinkle a little Bible on it to make it sound good, but they're going to every other word and they're wondering why the Word is not working.

Because the Word that works must be the Word coming out of His mouth, not the word coming out of your mouth. He says the sword from My mouth is sharp, and if you're uncut, it can't be coming from My mouth. If you follow the logic, if you're unaffected, unchanged—because the way you know you're affected is you're changing—so if there's no change, you've not been affected, no matter how much you enjoy the word you heard. Because if you cut, you bleed. He says to the church at Pergamum, the sword that comes out of My mouth, My Word, is sharp. It cuts. It has authority.

Commendation in a Hostile World

Having said that, He now commends them in verse 14. "I know where you dwell." I know where you live. I know where you have church. I know the community you're in. He says that to Pergamum Bible Fellowship: "I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast My name and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." You and I are living in a time, in a post-Christian era, where identification with Jesus Christ is increasingly becoming a negative.

Those of you who were growing up in my generation know what it's like to have a culture that respected your faith as a Christian even if they didn't agree with it. There was just a respect for the Christian faith and for Jesus Christ. The children that are growing up today are growing up in an environment where there is not only a rejection, there is a hatred—not for the name "God," because that can be very vague—but a hatred for what He calls "My name." Because at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

And so as God is kicked out of the classrooms, nativity scenes are removed off the lawn, and God's Word is removed from the courtroom, and over and over again as kids are not allowed to pray in front of football games—as you're seeing this onslaught of the rejection of the Christian faith—as it now becomes that to be a Christian and to hold His Word is now being called hate speech, you are now living in a world and a society that is antagonistic to the claims of Christ.

Where it's not some easy thing anymore, in increasingly large places, to be identified with the second member of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ. But He wants you to know, before He gets any deeper into this, I got the sword in My mouth and it's sharp. You see, if God is not the government or giving the guidelines for the government, men who would like to be god will seek to become god over the people. That's a whole discussion time will not allow us to get into.

But He compliments them and He says you're doing this where Satan dwells. You're living in a hostile environment.

The Problem of Compromise

But now He comes to verse 14. He says, "But I have a few things against you." Okay, now I like the fact that you're still claiming Me. You're claiming My name. You're claiming Christianity in a hostile environment. But I have a problem because you have there some who hold the teachings of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.

He says here's my problem: while you still claim Me, you compromise. You still will say "I'm a Christian," but you will tolerate compromise. So the issue with this church is a lack of conviction. You will compromise like Balaam. Now the story of Balaam is found in Numbers chapters 22 to 25. So let me summarize. The story: Balaam is a prophet. Israel is on the march. Balak (not Balaam), Balak who's the king of Moab, he's a little scared because Israel has gotten so large and so powerful. He's got to do something.

So he contacts Balaam. Balak contacts Balaam. Balak says, "Balaam, I want you to curse God's people and we're going to give you some change to do it. We're going to give profit for the prophet. We will pay you to curse God's people." Balaam can't curse the people of God. God keeps blocking the curse. So Balaam tells Balak, "I'm not going to be able to curse him. I know you offer me a lot of money, but God's blocking this thing. So if you want to get them, here's how you got to get Israel: make them compromise."

It says intermix them with your women. Get them to marry. They will adopt your gods. If you would just get them to compromise, then God will curse them for you. Oh, so much theology there. I can't curse them because they're God's people, but God's character can't stand compromise. So if we can get them to compromise, because God's character won't accept compromise, God Himself will do for you what you're asking me to do that I can't do. God will interject because God won't accept compromise.

And so that's exactly what Balak did. He got them to intermarry, interconnect. He calls it immorality leading to idolatry, which brought God's judgment on Israel so that God was no longer operating for the people. So many Christians wonder why God is not moving: because of compromise. You compromise spiritual value. You compromise with other gods. You compromise. We compromise with lifestyle. We compromise in so many ways. What you need to understand: once you do that, the God who is for you can no longer be for you.

The God of the Bible does not accept compromise on biblical principle—not preferences, principle. He says, and you've got this going on in your church.

Tolerating False Teaching

And He comes to the next verse and He says who they are. He says in verse 15, "So you also have some who in the same way hold the teachings of the Nicolaitans." The Nicolaitans were doing the teachings of Balaam. So here's the problem: they tolerated compromise. Because He said, you have some in your midst who are teaching this and you're not saying anything. So, amen, even if you are not compromising but you tolerate compromising, you tolerate the Nicolaitans that is infecting the church by saying it's okay to compromise your standards, compromise your morals, compromise your deities.

You can compromise and God understands. Let me say it another way: they misunderstood grace. One of the greatest words, the greatest word in the Christian language, is grace. It means unmerited favor. But they did not use grace properly. They were using it like Romans chapter 6 verse 1: "Shall we sin that grace may abound?" Let's put it another way: shall we sin just because we know God will forgive me? And you've heard people say that: "Oh, God, forgive me." Okay. So they were using grace as an excuse to sin.

That is both a misunderstanding and misuse of the greatest word in the Christian language. Here's how you know you are using grace properly. You are using grace properly not when it frees you to sin, but when it is so powerful it's freeing you from sin. "Shall we sin that grace may abound?" He says, "God forbid." He says at the end of Titus chapter 2, grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, not be comfortable in it. That's called having the grace of God in vain.

The grace of God is designed to free us from compromise, not make us comfortable in compromise. There is this false view: "Well, that's their business. Um, I don't judge." Okay, let's get this straight. You are not supposed to judge preferences, but you are to judge principles. You see, it's not that you don't judge at all; that's a misunderstanding. You judge principles because we want the sword to be sharp. Refusal to compromise can cost you money. Refusal to compromise can cost you relationships.

Refusal to compromise can cost you position. Refusal to compromise can cost you notoriety. So I don't want to stand up here and tell you that if you don't compromise it's all going to work out right then and there and there will be no price. It cost Antipas his life. But if you want to see the two-edged sword, you don't just want to have church. You don't just want to sing songs and clap your hands. You want the sword, and not dulled. Then He says it can't be with compromise.

He says, and you tolerate the teachings of the Nicolaitans. That's why, whether it's a pulpit up here or whether it's a Sunday school class or whether it's a small group, false teaching that contradicts the Word of God is not to be accepted. Nor does God want a little bit of His Word and a little bit of the world stirred together to make the Word more palatable. Like putting 10% arsenic in food to kill rats, all you need is 10%. The rest of the food can be solid, but that 10% will do it. Amen.

We're living in a day when more and more churches are compromising to please the world. So He says to them, I have this against you. And it's such a big issue—compromise is such a whopping issue—He says, "Therefore repent, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war with them with the sword of My mouth." And He's talking to His church. "I will make war with them." Who's the "them"? The Nicolaitans who were teaching the false doctrine. So if you care about them, you better go talk to them.

The Promise to Overcomers

And then it comes to the great verse, verse 17. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it." Okay. "He that hath an ear, let him hear." Because just because you can have an ear doesn't mean you hear. We've all talked to people who can repeat what you said, but you know they weren't paying attention. So that means pay attention; this is big. He that hath an ear.

So now, while He's talking to the churches, He says I'm speaking to every individual. So now it's self-examination. "To the one who overcomes." That's our word: "Nike." Overcomes what? Overcomes the temptation to compromise, or to tolerate compromising. To the one who overcomes, to the one who operates by divine conviction—particularly among believers, because He's talking to what was happening in the church. You can't control what non-believers do, but in the family of God, the care for one another means that we need to correct, help, challenge one another when we are compromising on biblical principles.

To the one who overcomes, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give him, first, hidden manna. Hidden manna. Okay, remember: some things God does. Some of it is in time and some of it is in eternity. Okay? We don't get it all now. We get some of it now, some of it later. Okay? But if you overcome, what I will give you is hidden manna. So let's talk about manna. Manna was cornflakes from above. Okay? When Israel was going through the wilderness and they ran out of food, God rained down corn flakes from above, or manna.

The Hebrew word "manna" means a question: "What is it?" Okay? That's what the word manna means: "What is it?" Why would He call a food a question? Because He wanted him to answer the question: what is it? Well, it was a supernatural provision of God that stayed hidden until God was ready to release it. When they went through the wilderness, there was the Ark of the Covenant, that was a little chest where the law was in it, and there was a jar with manna in it, with some of these cornflakes in it.

The reason He put the jar in the box was so that they would remember that God was their provider. Just as He supplied manna, He will be your provider. Okay? The manna was hidden because it was up in heaven until He was ready to release it. "To the one who overcomes, I will give him or her hidden manna." What that means is, God's got some stuff He wants to do. He ain't ready to show it yet. It's hidden. He's not ready to show it yet. He's not ready to let you see it yet. And it won't be released until He sees an overcoming.

So if you're compromising, you could be holding back something God wants to release, but He can't release because it's hidden because you haven't given Him freedom to release it because of compromise. And to those who overcome, when they stand before the Lord, they will get the reward of special provision not available to every Christian saint. John chapter 2, at the end of the chapter, it says, "And many believed on Him." Many God saved. But it says, "But He would not commit Himself to them."

Because even though they were saved, they weren't committed. And what God has today are a lot of saved, uncommitted people. A lot of Christians who love the Lord on Sunday and compromise on Monday, who love Jesus in the praise service but love the world in their weekly activity, who if they were accused of being a Christian on their job, there would not be enough evidence to convict them because they compromised just like everybody else on the job.

And He says, for that, the manna stays hidden. There will be some things when you get to heaven, God will say, "I would have done, but there was too much compromise, so I wasn't free." And these are the rewards you lose out on. Even then, He says, "And then I'm gonna give the one who overcomes the temptation to compromise, I'm gonna give him a white stone." That's what He says in verse 17. I'm gonna give him hidden manna, then I'm gonna give him a white stone.

Okay, so all you married ladies, you got a wedding ring on. You got a diamond on your finger, or if he was cheap, cut glass that looks like a diamond. Okay? But you have a stone on your finger. That stone means you're special. Okay? The stone means you're not just one of the crowd. There's a special relationship. On the stone, He says, I'm going to write a name nobody else knows. Verse 17 says a secret name. And how special you are will determine some of what you get now and some of your rewards then, predicated on how you view your commitment of compromising.

So you carry My name? I like that. But you compromise and tolerate compromising. Now, none of us is perfect, but He's talking about a toleration of it rather than a resistance to it. One day the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is going to step forward. And when He steps forward, all of the believers will be around the throne. But don't you want to be one of the folk? You know, "Oh, Billy, I see you over there, Billy. You walked with Me during your life. Ruth, I see you over there, Ruth. You were a faithful servant of Mine. Daddy, I see you over there. Betty, girl, you hung in there for Me. Daniel, I see you over there, Daniel. I thank you for hanging in there with Me."

All of us will be a part of the crowd who know Jesus Christ, but only some will get their names called because they refused to compromise and stood up for the values of the Kingdom of God.

Reflection & Discussion Questions

1. What is the significance of Jesus describing Himself as having a "sharp two-edged sword" coming from His mouth?

It signifies His supreme authority. The sword represents His Word, which has the power to judge, divide, and establish truth. It reminds the church that true authority and change come from Christ's spoken Word, not human ideas.

2. Why does Jesus commend the church in Pergamum before criticizing it?

He acknowledges their faithfulness in holding to His name despite living in a hostile, satanically influenced environment ("where Satan's throne is"). This shows God sees and values our perseverance under pressure, even when other issues exist.

3. What was the core problem Jesus had with the Pergamum church?

Their tolerance of compromise. While they held fast to Christ's name, they allowed false teachings (the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans) to exist within the community, blending biblical truth with worldly practices.

4. How did Balaam's strategy reveal a truth about God's character?

Balaam discovered he could not directly curse God's blessed people. However, he knew God's holiness could not tolerate compromise. By enticing Israel into idolatry and immorality, he caused God to judge His own people. This shows God is against compromise within His covenant community.

5. What is the dangerous misunderstanding of "grace" mentioned in the sermon?

It is using God's grace as a license to sin or compromise, thinking forgiveness is automatic so behavior doesn't matter. True, proper grace is the power that teaches us to deny ungodliness and frees us from sin, not to continue in it.

6. What's the difference between judging "preferences" and judging "principles" within the church?

Believers should not judge personal preferences (matters of opinion or Christian liberty). However, they must judge biblical principles—clear teachings and moral standards from God's Word. Tolerance of sin and false doctrine is a failure to judge principles.

7. What practical costs might come from refusing to compromise?

The sermon lists several: loss of money, damage to relationships, loss of position or status, and loss of notoriety or public approval. Faithfulness can have an immediate earthly cost, as it did for Antipas who was killed.

8. What is the "hidden manna" promised to those who overcome?

It represents God's special, supernatural provision and reward that is reserved in heaven. It is "hidden" because it is not fully revealed or released in this life. It is given as a future reward for those who remain faithful and uncompromising.

9. What does the "white stone with a new name" symbolize?

It signifies a special, intimate, and unique relationship with Christ. In ancient times, a white stone could indicate acquittal, victory, or a special token of favor. The secret name known only to the receiver symbolizes personal acknowledgment and unique reward from Jesus.

10. How does compromise affect God's activity in a believer's life?

Compromise can cause God to withhold blessings, provision ("hidden manna"), and the full operation of His power. God's holy character means He cannot bless or fully commit Himself to willful, tolerated sin. It hinders our relationship and His working through us.

11. According to the sermon, what does it mean to have "the sword" and for it not to be "dulled"?

It means living under the authoritative, sharp Word of God that brings conviction and change. A "dulled" sword results from mixing God's Word with worldly compromise, rendering it ineffective. We keep it sharp by adhering to it without dilution.

12. What is the application for churches today regarding false teaching?

Churches must not tolerate teaching that contradicts God's Word, even if it makes the message more palatable to the world. Allowing a little false doctrine ("10% arsenic") corrupts the whole. Leadership must confront it to protect the flock.

13. What does the story of Balaam teach us about how spiritual defeat often occurs?

Defeat often comes not from direct frontal assault but through subtle compromise—especially in relationships (intermarriage) and adopting surrounding cultural practices (idolatry). The enemy seeks to dilute our distinctiveness as God's people.

14. How does the sermon define an "overcomer" in the context of Pergamum?

An overcomer is one who resists the temptation to compromise on biblical truth and who refuses to tolerate such compromise within the believing community. It involves standing firm on principles despite cultural pressure or personal cost.

15. What is the difference between being "saved" and being "committed," as referenced from John 2?

One can be saved (believing in Jesus for eternal life) yet remain uncommitted in daily discipleship. Jesus does not fully entrust Himself or release all He has for those who are saved but live in compromise. Commitment involves a life aligned with His lordship.

16. What should be our response when we see fellow believers compromising on biblical principles?

Out of care for the family of God, we should lovingly correct, challenge, and help them, not ignore it. This is part of judging principles, not preferences, and is essential for the health of the church and the sharpness of God's Word among us.

17. Why is the location ("where Satan dwells") important to understanding the church's situation?

It highlights the intense spiritual battle and external pressure they were under. Their faithfulness in such an environment made their compromise more tragic. It shows that even in Satan's strongholds, God expects faithfulness, and compromise is still unacceptable.

18. What is the ultimate warning Jesus gives to the church if they do not repent?

He warns He will come quickly and make war against the compromisers within the church "with the sword of My mouth." This means He will use His authoritative Word to judge and purify His own church if it does not deal with sin internally.

19. How does the promise of rewards motivate faithfulness?

It provides a future, eternal perspective. Not all believers will receive the same rewards. The "hidden manna" and "white stone" are incentives to live faithfully now, promising intimate fellowship and special acknowledgment from Christ that outweigh any earthly cost.

20. In a "post-Christian" culture, what is the primary challenge for believers according to this message?

The challenge is to hold fast to Christ's name and not deny the faith despite increasing hostility, while simultaneously resisting the internal temptation to compromise biblical truth to fit in or avoid cost. It's a call to courageous conviction.