To the Church in Pergamum - Henry Knapp

When I was growing up, I was frequently asked if my head was full of granite. A favorite phrase of one of my peers, every time I did something of questionable intellectual value (that is, every time I did something stupid), he would ask after my rock-hard brain. I’m glad he didn’t know the term, “blockhead,” or I’m sure I would have heard a lot of that too. Behind his insult was the thought that nothing good could ever penetrate such a stone-filled head.

The prophet Ezekiel describes the one who is separated from God as having a heart of stone (Ezekiel 11 and 36). The same idea is behind my “friend’s” reference to my granite-head - What good can come of a head/heart of stone? The great blessing of the Gospel is that God can change a heart of stone (or a head filled with it) into a heart of flesh—a beating, vibrant, alive heart, turned toward God Himself. Usually, this shaping and molding in my life is a slow and often unrecognized process. My mind, my desires, my whole life’s orientation is slowly refashioned to yearn for the things of my Savior. But, every once in a while, God dramatically shifts and changes things for me.

Such a time occurred a number of years ago. I was in a men’s Bible study and we began talking about temptation. Someone asked, “When do you experience temptation? Where are you tempted?” My initial thought was “Always! And everywhere!”, but when I took time to think about it, I did discover that there are times and places where temptation arose more powerfully for me than at other times and places. Of course, the follow up to this was a warning to avoid those times and places. If you are particularly susceptible to a kind of temptation, then don’t put yourself in that position. If you struggle with alcoholism, don’t go to a bar! If surfing the internet is not healthy for you, avoid being alone on the computer. The concept is so straightforward that I was surprised at how powerfully the idea hit me.

Of course, a lot of this depends on your ability to identify your weaknesses when confronted with something that deprives you of God’s joy. We are surrounded by sin, and sin infects our very lives, so it is no wonder we often think that temptation is all around us—it surely is. But, pinpointing the particular ways that we are confronted by temptation is an important step in avoiding it. Satan seeks to rob us of the pleasure of God’s blessings, and a primary tool is tempting us with that which is unhealthy. Knowing when and where you are most vulnerable to these temptations is a key way of combatting Satan’s ploy, and resting in the goodness of our God.

Again, so much of this insight is lost on us if we don’t confront head-on the ways sin and evil impact us. Paul writes, “We are not unaware of Satan’s schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11), but I worry all too often that we ARE unaware! We do not know of our vulnerability, of the means and manner of Satan’s attacks. If we do not know, then we all that more easily fall into temptation. Of course, the cross of our Savior is ever before us. Ignorance of our temptations, even falling into temptation, does not separate us from the grace of God expressed to us in Christ. In this we rejoice and celebrate! But, like Paul, we want to be aware of the trials and temptations that come our way, so we might more faithfully avoid them.

In Jesus’ letter to the church in Pergamum, He criticizes the church for failing to recognize and stand up against temptation. While the particulars of what that congregation dealt with might be different from Hebron, we too need to hear the challenge and confront the presence of temptation in our lives. Come join us on Sunday as we explore what the Spirit says to the churches!

Read Revelation 2:12-17.

1. In verse 12, what is the “sharp two-edged sword”? Why do you think it is described this way?

2. Why would someone dwell “where Satan’s throne is” (vs. 13)? Where do you think that is?

3. Notice the pronouns in verse 13b—“MY name” and “MY faith.” What do you think Jesus might be stressing here? How would this help the believers when they are being persecuted?

4. What are the teachings of Balaam (see Numbers 22-24)? How do these same “teachings” apply to us?

5. Jesus offers a simple solution in verse 16, what is it? Why could it really be that easy? What does that mean?

6. What would it mean for Jesus to make war against us with “the sword of his mouth”? What would that practically look like in today’s world? In your life?

7. The hidden manna and the white stone (vs. 17) are particularly rich images, but also hard to discern. What might be implied here?