FOCAL POINT PERGAMUM: TAKING CUES from WHO

¹³ “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. Rev. 2:13

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:17

Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. ³⁴ You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.  Hebrews 10:32-34

So Jesus in his opening letter to the church of Pergamum let's the know he's aware of what they are going through and points them to look at one of his loyal followers, Antipas.   Now we don't know a whole lot about Antipas except for the fact that He was a faithful witness who was martyred because of His faith in Jesus Christ, and Jesus encouraged the members  of the church in Pergamum to take their cues, some notes, from the devotion of Antipas.

In America we are constantly being thrust upon with a multitude of messages.   We are constantly being bombarded by messages regarding politics, homosexuality, same sex marriages, tolerance, post modern culture, celebrating diversity, COEXISTING, and moral relativism while our culture is becoming more accepting of any and everything.   So as American believers we don't suffer like some in other countries where people are being snatched out of their homes in the middle of the night for their belief in Jesus Christ, but what we endure is mix between intimidation to be accepting of "THIS IS JUST THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW..." or subtle shift of the cultural current to becoming accepting of the perversion of the way GOD originally intended things to be.

Whether the hot button topic is the legalization of gay marriage or being able to pray in school as Christians we are asked to represent GOD's KINGDOM principles, even if that means being ostracized.   Paul in two separate accounts mentions suffering being a part of a believers DNA.   In his letters to the Christians in Rome he reminds them as Christ suffered, so must we, and by doing so we will share in His glory.  Then in the book of Hebrews he reminds them to remember what it is we went through and that you went through it with JOY, because you knew what was up ahead, meaning after this life.

Why do I bring this up?  Because Revelations is a book like many of the books of the Bible filled with promises....and if we choose to avoid to take the cues that WE ARE THE CHURCH and CHRIST IS COMING BACK for us, then there is a possibility that we will be on the wrong of the promises.  So are you suffering well?   Despite who you work with, or are married to do you stand firm and do so with love?  Or do you complain much during your suffering to gain sympathy of others, and do you condemn others instead of ways to love them out of their knot of perversion of what TRUE LOVE is?  Whatever you are doing.....you are taking your cues from either the CULTURE, or CHRIST!   LGLP