CHURCH OF PERGAMOS | Pr Matthew Chang

You're listening to a message to go from acts church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

Today. I'm gonna be continuing on this series on the

seven churches in the Book of Revelations, and today we're

gonna go to a very interesting church. It's called the

Church in Programmers, or some people call it Programmers, and

it's called the Compromising Church. Okay, turn with me to

Revelations chapter two, and we're gonna read from verse twelve

to verse seventeen. Before I do that, almost forgot, I

just want to send woman's regards from passing can f

passenger to you all as well. They do miss you all. Okay, okay,

let's turn to chapter two, verse twelve, Revelations to verse twelve.

All right, now, the title says that it's called the

Compromising Church. Okay. So before that we have touched about

the loveless Church, the persecuted, persecuted church, and now the

compromising Church. He says verse twelve. And to the Angel

of the Church in Pergamo's right, these things says he

who has the shop two edged sword, okay, underlying that

he who has the shop too edged sword, okay, verse thirteen.

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's

throne is Oh okay, And you hold fast to my

name and did not deny my faith even in the

days in which Antipas was my faithful martyrn who was

killed among you where Satan dwells. But I have a

few things against you, because you have there those who

hold the doctrine of Baleen, who taught bail Ballack to

put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to

eat things sacrificed to idols, and to come med sexual immorality.

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of

the Nicolaitans. Which things I which thing I hate, repent

or else. I will come to you quickly and will

fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He

who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit

says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will

give some of the hidden manner to it. And I

will give him a white stone, and on the stone

a new name written, which no one knows except him

who receives it. That's the reading of the Word of

God in man. Now, Wow, there's a lot of things

to be unpacked here, many many things. You know, we

talked about swords, we talk about martyrs, we talk about

sexual immorality, and we talk about manner. We talk about

what else are white stones? Wow? Sounds like a Lord

the Ring show, you know things. There are so many

allegories and uhtions. Okay, it's okay, so let's go slowly.

But today I'm gonna spend less time on the some

of that. I usually go a bit detailed in some

of the history, but I'm gonna know a bit lesser

on that. Okay, But we're gonna focus on a few

other key topics. Okay, So now let's focus on programs. Pergamas.

It's a very powerful city. Okay, I'm not I'm gonna

go through into much, but you can study if you

want to. Red powerful city, and it's mainly known for

its uh Like like I said, places of worship. They have,

they worship a few main guards Okay. One of the

major ones of course is Zeus who was there as well. Okay.

And actually programs, if you go right now, you can go.

It's it's basically near Turkey there, uh. And there's actually

a very large museum there. So but maybe you can

put up the slides if you have. Okay, so up

the line they go through that first saw. This is

how Programmam will actually look like in the modern times.

It's actually seated on a heel and it's quite actually

quite amazing. Okay, on the heel. There are always the

main structures and the main buildings, not where people stay.

The main structures are always the temples Zeus Temple and

the theater. And also what I mentioned before the last time,

we call it the imperial cult. You know what's the

imperial count the worship of emperors. They detify humans as gods. Okay,

so they have too the worship of the pagan gods

and the worship of the so called the imperial cults

as well. So on these two they will be seated

and they on the top there and then below that

you will see and there's these stairs. I think that's

about a ten to twenty thousand seater. Theater is beautiful,

you know, imagine a theater going to watch a movie

and then at the sign when you turn to the site,

you can oversee the rest of the city. It's a

beautiful theater. And then I'm sure they don't have any

problems with the acoustics. There side as well, very beautiful.

And if you read through the scriptures there it will

says that. It says there in verse thirteen, Jesus says

to the church, I know your works, and where you

dwell where Satan's throne is? Whoa Satan has a throne?

What does a throne look like? Is it a chair?

Is it a room? You know? How how does Satan's

throne look like? You know, if you look at the bib,

if you look and into you know, sometimes you know

illustrations in online or in video games or in movies. Right,

Satan's throne looks like something dark and you know, eerie

and nightmary, you know, and stuff like that as well.

So the scholars actually went and look into like what

Satan's throne actually is. Of course, you can look at

two two thrones, okay, first throne, like I said, there

are two worships. The first throne is also the pagan

worship where they have the throne of oh you call

it the throne for Zeus, okay, and you can go

to that picture. Then the second one the altar, they

call it the altar of Zeus. This is actually the

actual museum, you know, the actual museum so it's so big, right,

it's bigger than this place, you know, probably like double

the size of this place. And it will have it's

called the altar okay, where if you look at the

science the engravings that are actually quite accurate. Okay, they're

quite accurate. But this is in this replica. Okay, how

they have the pillars. If you do look at the

site of the drawings there these are all the different gods. Uh,

they can have Athena and all sorts of things that

she drew it there as well. But if you want

to go and study, you can go online. There's plenty

of study. But it's called the Altar of Zeus in

the museum, very famous. And on this altar, and then

there will be in amongst them there will be a

big Texas barbecue. No ask you they but yes there

is a big barbecue. It's called the Altar of Sacrifice,

huge one. Okay. A lot of times. So what happens, Okay,

we nowadays we go to gya grocer, we go grab well,

we go to NSK we buy meat from them. By

that time is different. All the meats. Most of the

time in these places they come up to the altar

for us. Okay, they can't. They bring it there, they

offer to use the sometimes they will charboil it just

for hygiene purposes, and then from the top they bring

it down to the marketplace to be sold. Makes sense, Okay,

they don't go to supermarket straight one. They will bring

it there and bring it down first one. Okay. So

a lot of times most of the meat are already

offered to idols already most of the time ninety percent, okay,

very rare. They have their meats. They are on their

own one. Most of the time you will be brought up,

offered and brought it down and then the rest or

the people will actually buy from their party from there

as well. And so if you can imagine that, if

you want to be a Christian, to want to abstain

from idle foods, you have a kind of a big problem, there,

isn't it. Huh, kind of have a big problem. You

struggle or to buy food, and you know, talk about food,

whether you can eat food, offer to idol. Just to

assure you you're actually in the Bible if you read

the Book of First Corinthians. Paul actually addressed the issue

with the believers as well, because people were like, should

we eat, should we not eat? Should we eat from

the altar? Or should we it from the marketplace? How

are people who can eat with their conscience and not

in the conscience. People were struggling it with a well,

but why is it certain parts of the Bible says

that eating is wrong? Why certain parts of the Bible

say it's permissible. Which is right? Which is wrong? Anybody

got any answer? You're like, no, no, it's a name. Okay,

you want me to explain, You want me to explain

a bit over them? Okay. Generally, if you look into

First Corinthians, what Paul says. First of all, the first thing,

there are no gods, only one God, our living God.

There's a doctrine. Again, the doctrines know how the gods,

if you offer the idult, they don't exist because they

don't exist. You can say they worship demons and stuff

like that. But all are there, no gods. There's only

one true living God, and all the earth in its

fullest belongs to the Lord. Okay have you heard this? Presto,

The earth in its fullest belong to the Lord. Okay,

So in a way that if you know in your conscience,

in your understanding. So if you're understanding that comes down

to your conscience. Doesn't mean you have understanding, means your

conscience is clear. Now a lot of people can understand,

but their conscience you struggle. So your understanding has to

take time to trickle down to your conscience. That you

eat with a clean conscience. You get mean, right, That's

why it takes time. Okay, So Paul, his understanding has

also cleared his conscience. Say, I can eat and I

know this offer food offered to idolts. I'm not sinning

because they don't exist. So they're understanding and their conscience

is ready to partake in there as well. Now, most

of the time this pols is partaking of the food

in the marketplace because food from the altar coming down,

you're not partaking in the worship. But if you eat

of the food, you bring the food to the alter

and you eat of it. It is not just about

the food. It's about the act of worship that you

abstain from. Makes sense or not. You don't partake in

the worship, makes sense or not. It's that you bring

you you kill. You don't bring it to the alto

af already. But if you buy it go to the

if you got if you go to NSK right now,

you go to a gig grocer. I don't know what

they did. Maybe they do certain things, but no, as

long as I give grace to the law, I don't

need to know everything is of the lot. My conscience

is clear. I don't partake in what you do. My

conscience is clear, makes sense or not. So there's a

difference partaking of the food on the alter and on

the marketplace. So the Christians, when you go and buy,

you don't need to party in that. You don't need

to know what this ilies as well. Your conscience is clear.

But what the Bible says. Yeah, when you go to

the altar, you bring the food. You're in it that

right from there, you're not just eating, you're partaking in

the act of worship. Makes sense or not. There's a

different one, and not buying food and act of worship

is very very different as well. Makes sense. So that's

why we don't ask you to go and do all this.

You know, traditional ancestral worship. You got to be very

careful because it's not just about all. It doesn't say no,

it's an act of worship. Okay, you buy the food.

Do you know where they come from? Maybe halfway the

truck feller chant something? Do you know? You know? You

don't know, You don't partake in it. But your conscience

is clean. That's what you eat, You give thanks, you get,

you give grace. It's the Lord bless the food, sanctify

onto our body, because it is your name that sanctisfies it.

Not us, but it's your name. That's why our conscience

is clear. Makes sense or not. But there are those

who Christians who come, They when they look at their food,

they are not ready yet pauses. In that case, love

is higher. You get me right, So when we conduct

ourselves there is conscious there is understanding, but love goes higher.

So when you eat, it's not about whether I can

eat or not. It's not about hey, if I eat,

will my brothers stumble because their understanding has not trickled

down to their conscience yet you get what I'm saying that,

So I rather I don't eat, so that they are

ready they don't stumble. So in this matter, it's not

about my right, it's about others. So in your act

of not eating, it's not about whether it's right or wrong.

Your act of not eating. It's about serving others. Makes sense,

makes sense or not? It's about love. Okay. It's like

I go to a restaurants. My children cannot eat spicy food.

I can eat spicy, but I die that and order

everything spicy? Is it? Then my children you just suffer.

You can just eat it is everybody getting one you can't.

Then after day they're like, I don't want to go

to any restaurant anymore. You know what I mean. I'm saying.

So it's not about my ride, but what I like

to eat is about serving my kids, my kids. You know,

I eat the children's meal. You're like, oh, such a

nice oh see the my best somebow ever. But then

my children's daddy, I want pizza. I'm like, seriously, I

want pizza with pineapple. The horror, the horror. It's like, oh,

at least all there some Italian pizza or all the

pizza with pineapple. Oh it's okay any Italians? Yeah, No,

you don't saying what I'm saying. It's out of love,

you know, it's not about why we act out of

there as well. Okay, so that's about food. But if

you want, I highly encourage to go and study about

it as well. Uh you know, First Corinthians. I think

it's First Corinthians nine, I think mistaken. Okay. So, uh so,

if you want to talk about where Satan's throne is,

there is there. And then they also there's an imperial worship.

I think that at that time the emperor was Tragian

or something, Okay, Trajan Trajan. Okay, so the worship, but

I'm not going to focus too much on that today, okay,

But I'm gonna focus here on the next few verses.

And he says, here and you hold fast to my

name from verse thirty, and did not deny my faith

even in the days in which Antipass was my faithful martyr. Okay,

Antipass was one of the martyrs. Well, he's if you

want to know how he died, it's a very horrible way,

which I won't do it here because of children, but

you're going if you want to go and read it

a very horrible way, okay. But it says there even

though they were faithful, even though they were suffering in

a very difficult and deceitful evil place. In verse fourteen,

Jesus has a warning to them. They say it verse

fourteen I have a few things against you, because you

have there those who hold to the doctrine of Balem,

who taught Ballock how to put a stumbling block before

the children of Israel, to eat things, sacrifice to idols,

and to commit sexual immorality. So this is where I'm

going to focus on. I want to focus on Baylem. Hey,

you know about the history about Bayleim. How many of

you know the story of Bailim? Yes, hands up, quickly,

hands up? Okay. For those who don't know, okay, you

can go and read in the Book of Numbers. Okay.

So this Balem was a very powerful prophet. Hey, not

all prophets are mentioned in the Bible, Okay, not all.

But outside of the Bible, we can clearly see that

there are incidences where a few characters are called in.

You don't see the Book of Bailim. Okay, there are

other prophets there as well. Even in the time of

Pall there were virgins who were actually profits as well. Okay,

So doesn't mean that you're a prophet you must have

a book. Okay. So this is one instance. We know

that even if you're a prophet, you might not have

a book. So God has ordained certain prophets to have

the authority to write scripture and whatever it is to

be canonized as well. But clearly Balem is recognized here

because he's not not only recognizing in the Book of Numbers,

but in later parts in I think in the Book

of Peter and the Book of Revelations. So powerful this

guy so important. His lesson is that he was mentioned.

But what did he do so he came? He existed

during the time of Moses. Okay, the people, okay of

Israel were in the wilderness and the king the Ballack.

There's this guy called Balack okay Bala, who is the

king of Moab. He was very fearful of the Israelites, Okay,

because the Israelites were like that. Neither sad. No, they

describe them as cows. You know why. They describe them

as cows, not just one cow, but many cows who

come to a field and just lick up all the

grass and then they move on to they lick up everything.

That's how they describe the Israelites, like cows licking up

the grass. There's so many of them and they and

they were just staying quite near by them, and every

day the inhabitants of were filled with dread, okay, just

filled with so much dread. And as he feared, Ballack feared,

he sought to weaken them. Okay, he said, Oh, many

people have fought against them and they lost. There must

be a better way. So what did they do? He

went to find this guy, a renowned prophet and diviner okay,

called baalem To want to curse the Israelites. Okay, but

before so he so Ballack sent emissaries, you know, people

of renowned prince and princesses, you know, to go. You know,

it makes a different one and know you instill just

get an email. But if there is an envoyur an

entourage that comes and meet you and hey, say tim,

you know, suddenly you see outside there ten mercedic s

class coming to your front door, rolling out the red carpet,

bringing you gifts. You know, not just one two free

endless gives. You know this spend happen hour just shaking

hand and then give culling up in your house and

all they show you the glory, you know, the you

know it's like, oh, I've never seen my fridge so

full before that, just pumping up, you know, so many things,

and then said, hey, greet things from b Luck okay,

from the morbides. Okay, we have heard of your tales,

we have heard of your exploits and power that whatever

that you speak, God hears and God will ordain as well.

There's power. Why don't you come? You know, see all

these rewards and there will be more if you will

follow us, and you will and what you call it

and treat us with your favor. Okay, he said, shure.

But before he did, they did that. But but Baylim

actually had a dream, God actually appeared to him saying

that you will not follow them. Okay. But then Bayleem,

first of all he said, ah, I will not go

as much as you give me as well, all these

things I cannot. I cannot go with you because I

know what you want to do. But despite if you

read the Book of Numbers, are despite all Baylim saying

all the right things, all the right words, right, you

know that there's a hidden agenda okay, And that's why

sometimes even in the scripture is not said. But even

the people like Peter and Paul, and especially the rabbis,

you know, the Jewish, they know what Baylim actually did.

His words betray him because he actually betrayed the people

of Israel. Okay, so Ballad was actually offering what enticing

Baylum with one money okay, enticing with a lot and

a lot of money to come and to curse the Israelites. Okay.

So Baylim consulted with God, who told him not to

go and not to curse Israel because Israel God's chosen people. Wow,

very very important. So there's first attemn, second attem, and

even there's one incident where the angel and you know

where the Baylim had had an incident with the donkey.

You know, so they came into a ravine. You know,

the donkey would not pass and go and hit the fella.

Wait until the donkey turned around became Shrek you know donkey.

You know, the donkey start speaking. You know, oh my goodness,

this is not Pixar animation. You know, the donkey actually speaks.

And then suddenly God opens his eyes and realized that

what the donkey was speaking is true. There's actually the

Angel of the Lord with the sword drawn in front

of the donkey. If he passed, he would have been dead.

So the donkey saved Baalim. Donkey say Baylim, the Angel

a lot of toy. Did you realize your donkey just

saved you? Don't You just saved you? And there's the

Angel of the Lord. He fell flat down. Okay, So Baylim,

it's not like to say he's a powerful, powerful and

anointed person, but also have powerful encounters with God and

God warning you and then God appearing to almost kill you.

You have speaking donkey, or how much more do you

need in your life? Huh? You're signs from God? What

other signs you need from God? Huh? Speaking donkey? Huh?

Angel of the Lord? What more signs do you want?

He had everything, you know, all these things that they

will qualify him as a very powerful or at least

as someone that got used powerfully. Okay, So I think

there's four times. Okay, I think it's four times. He

tried to, you know, but Lad tried to get Baylim

to curse, but every time he couldn't do it. He said,

no matter what much money you gave me, I couldn't

do it. But yet, if you read in numbers a

few chapters later, numbers thirty one, okay, thirty one, I

think it's thirty one, you will realize there's something happened

to the Israelites. The Israelite started what marrying the moral

black women, marrying them and taking on their gods especially

they are pagan idols, all the bales and all this

worship into among them as well. And then all that

and God became so furious and twenty four thousand people

were judged and killed. Okay, twenty four thousand people and

judge were killed. And then eventually she reviewed these were

the people who were not These people were actually trapped

or at least atlisa what do you call it? Part

of They died because of judgement because of what Balem did. Okay,

So Baalim couldn't directly curse the Israelites. God said no,

So he said, if I do, I'll die. Baylim also

practical guy, Okay, if I do this, I'll die. So

what did he do? So instead of cursing the Israelites

what you bade them? Do? He get the Israelites to

curse themselves. Oh, Julia, if I can't curse you, I

get you to curse yourselves. How many if you were

to curse yourselves, you don't know that. If I can't

curse you, I will get you to curse yourselves. This

is what the devil does in gay turn to your neighbor.

Please don't curse yourselves, and please don't curse anyone else. Okay,

Please don't curse anyone, not yourself, not anyone. Please don't

do Okay. So the devil works by getting you to

curse yourself. Wow, how do I actually get to curse myself?

By enticing you to do the things that you like,

that follows your flesh, and that is contrary to God's commandment? Okay,

So that's how you curse yourself. That's why you get me.

God doesn't have to do anything to you. Want to know,

a lot of times you say, oh, God is judging me.

God doesn't have to do anything to you. You know,

judgment happens when God releases his hand upon you. It's

like if you're gonna fall down from there and God

is holding you. Don't fall down. But they said you

keep wanting to go to the God. God's judgment is basically,

you want your way. I'm just gonna real let go.

Gravity will do its work. You don't say what I'm saying. Ah,

God doesn't have to do it, push you anything, one

and all the day and the day you disbelieve that

disbelief is your judgment. Ready, Yeah, I mean right, disbelief

itself is already judgment. That's what Jesus said to the Pharisees. No, you,

the fact that you disbelieve that is already judgment. Let go.

I'm trying to speak to you, trying to talk to you,

trying to hold you. But you say, if you don't

want so when I let go, that disbelief is your judgment.

So scary, isn't it. God doesn't have to do anything,

you know. But the Israelites were deceive by the evil

one again. So Baalem, his love for money was so

all great, okay, his eyes and everything was so I

think the kings they probably knew what Bayleem's weakness were.

I don't think it was a coincidence. You know, they

didn't bring women or they brought money. You know, he

didn't bring foolhood. They knew what he wanted. They must

have done their research already. They knew what he wanted,

what he liked, but he couldn't do it. But he

went the other way. So the doctrine of Bayleem is

about what the doctrine of Bayleem. It's about enticing and

getting purpelled to curse themselves. Happens to Christians can happen

to a church and it's happening break privately at their time,

and so what happens? How do you what are some

of the examples of Christians or churches, uh, deceiving themselves

into a faith and a belief that it's not like

what God wanted at all? You know what I'm saying. No,

you're saying, I trust, trust me out. We can be

like Baylor man anointed encounter with God Ah, but yet

still deceived and curse you. Baylor must cursed, and he

cursed the people as well. Both for Cus, you know,

I see what I'm saying. Both for Cus Bayleem was

cursed because he loved the world, not because of his

anointings from God. He was cursed because he loved money,

and out of his love for money, he cursed he

and he cursed like he got. He tricked the israet

to curse themselves. So because now that is rest love,

the women love their gods. So both were a cursed Okay,

very very dangerous everybody. Okay, so far makes it make

make a lot of sense or not. Okay, So how

do we go about protecting ourselves so that we don't

become like Bayleorm or be affecting other people to curse

themselves as well, don't become a victim or become a

back Baylem. Okay, So what are some of the things

that we need to be careful of? Okay? Second Peter,

Chapter two, verse fifteen. Okay. Second Peter, Chapter two, verse fifteen. Okay.

The apostle Peter talks about Baylem as well. Second Peter

two fifteen says they have forsaken the right way and

gone astray, following the way of Bayleem, the son of Beor,

who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but he was rebuilt

for his iniquity. A dumb donkey speaking with a man's

voice restrained the madness of the prophet. Wow, call him

a mad man, you know, crazy? Okay, So let's talk

about some of the ways that Christians tend to compromise.

You see, the people at Pergamos that don't have it easy,

what they have is actually very pure. I think whether

they eat or don't eat, the conscience, really they want

to keep themselves pure. You see her. It's not easy

enough to be like someone like you're staying in programon.

If you're a Jill, if you went to Jerusalem, you

travel like hundreds of a mile down to Jerusalem to

worship at the Temple, and then suddenly there as you

travel with your family, you met this guy Jesus, who

were feeding the five thousand, who were healing. And then

after that you heard that he died and rose up

three days later, and you're like, wow, this is amazing.

I believe, and I've seen the apostles work. But now

I have to go back to my hometown. I have

to travel back hundreds of miles back northward, and I

come to this place. Got Jesus or not, got apartls

or not. It's just me and surrounded by pagan worship.

Some of you you know what I'm talking about. Some

of you are students. Maybe you come from some place,

from your family or from your environment. Wow, such a

nice place exchange were people of faith and worship and

home saying, you know, it's a nice surrounded the other day.

Holiday time come you go back to your hometown. Wow,

it's just everything is so different. I don't belong here,

you know, It's like, oh, I wish I could be

back here. Well we you know, we appreciate the affection,

you know. But if God calls you back, if God

places you in a place like program On where sometimes

it mean tough. You are there for a purperson a

reason when you know it doesn't mean that you must

always stay in the church or stay in Jerusalem on it. No,

God scatters wanted, not scattered, so that you can build

a church wherever you are. That's why we believe in

church planting. You know, if everybody, I just all our

militia said we don't want we just want to come

back to Subang or coming to bj only how they

cannot think church beyond outside a single location. They cannot

think of a God's glory in their home places or

in their hometown as well. So imagine met with me,

this person coming back. Everything it all sacrifice to I

want to open up a shot, want to buy a land,

I want to do anything. I want to get married

or so difficult. Everything is about idle. Worship's struggling you all. No,

maybe a while, maybe you find one rare Christian you know,

who actually believe, But most of the rest of the people,

who they look at you. They look at you as

someone who is weird and someone who maybe occurs to

the society because you have such a different belief. Okay,

afterward it gets one It gets tiring, isn't it. It

gets tiring. You know, I want to eat meat. I

don't want to just eat it. I want to eat meat.

I want to be able to walk anywhere I want.

I want to do anything I want. I want to travel,

I want to You see, it gets tiring. And after

a while, when not being a Christian, you know, some

people say being a Christian, you know, I want my

Sundays to be free, so difficult. Yeah, no, I want

to serve, but I serve or so I have to

go to a certain meeting or so and not so

difficult hiring, you know, and you think, whatever you're experiencing

it now, it's just this church or here onia. I

tell you it's been from the very beginning of time people,

from the very beginning of time. No differently all I

tell you it was more and all. You actually go

back every day Father's parents. If you're tired of you

go beck, how you need to teach again? You know,

they say that you're supposed to teach a children the

ways of the Lord. So, father's every morning before you

make breakfast, you're supposed to teach your children at the

commandments of the Lord. Now, ah, God, such a thing

I cannot outsource our tuition can ah? Ah kids? It kids,

is not done by church one and all. Your family

is supposed to teach one. Now that's how did you

know that the Israelites were one of the most literate

people in the ancient times. One of the most literate

people became because you are forced to know the law

and to know the worship and to teach it to

your children. So it's like not like Falstaff, but okay,

national education among the family members who give me. Everybody learned.

And even in the times of the Reformation, what did

they do. Worship wasn't music. Worship was about lyrics and

all they taught. People didn't want to come for Bible studies.

People didn't want to comfort sermons. You know, all the

people were just so tired. So what did they do.

They put teaching into songs. That's why when you look

in the hymns are and why the hymnsa got one stanza, two, three, four,

four verses And if you read the verses. You realize

it about creation, It's about say, it's about God's saving,

It's about the return of Christ. You know why they

were putting doctrine into worship so that people will not

doctrin and teach their children. Oh I didn't know that. Yes,

they will get them people to learn English and to

learn the Bible by worship. It's not about you know

what song are you playing today? Tickle me a bit,

you know, no, completely different people. That's how we arrived

people here, you know, we didn't. They didn't just float

in a Christianity didn't just float here, you know. Okay,

it was intentional, Okay, So I was I talking about.

That's my train authority Okay, compromising okay, getting tired being

excluded from so many things, missing out, having to live differently, okay.

And so the temptation is what is what we call

this this famous what it's called syncretism. You can write

now syncretism, very famous for syncretism. What the syncretism means,

it's the same meaning as assimilation, synchronizing yourself with the world.

Don't be so different now, I know, you know, stay

a bit, not enough data, so I steal your WiFi,

you know data, you know, plug into the WiFi. I

don't want to miss out. Gotta plug into the WiFi

of the world. Okay, synchronize yourself maybe something you try

to you know, it's not so wrong, you know, Okay,

maybe you know, we do a lot of things, you know,

you know, trying to know what the world is changing.

You realize that the world is changing, well is changing,

and we try to adore, you know, trying to change,

you know, like, for one example, I told you, I

told you about the worshiper. Worshiper. Yeah, talk about all

this verse just one keyboard, very difficult. We need to

play something maybe a bit more relevant. Now. Why don't

we much coplay and worship? Yeah, you know, it's like

cool man, she was like co play, you know. It's like,

you know, maybe we'll go Bruno Mars. You know that,

didn't you know, I don't know. Oh, it's sports season.

Maybe we put together with sports. It's hey, God, good leadership.

You all talks and let's put it together and stuff

like that. Oh, go nice stadium, let's do nice stadium.

We're synchronizing with the world, synchronizing, Okay, So we synchronize

with what the world, and we reduce and reduce, continue

to discount and stay relevant until we come back to

the whole. You come back to your house, you don't

even recognize the house anymore. Peper will say that recently.

I don't want to say who is it, but it's

a very famous religious person sadly says that every road

leads to God. Every road leads to God. Doesn't metal

your phone? This, pay this, fay this, pay this, face

this way. Everyone needs to God. Why why he will will? Oh?

Such a person say that because syncritisma inclusive, Corona sounds

very inclusive, sounds very powerful. You know, it's like John Lennon,

imagine all the people leaving the world in peace. Oh love,

oh so much love, seventies love. You know, yeah you

want seventies love? You want? Sure not it's the world peace? Yeah, peace,

everybody's peace. Everybody shouting for peace. You know. But by

doing that you connect and trying to so much be

like the world. People have not recognize what is Christianity.

It's just another religion. It's just another faith. It's just

another do good people. After that, people will see not

just knowing your similarity, people will also see your words,

You're just like any other cust just just want money.

You're just like any other people who want to control people.

You get I mean right, there's no more distinction between

the church and the government. There's no more distinction than

the church and the world anymore. So though you get

the good and you also get their bad as well. Ah,

you see what I'm saying now, there's no difference anymore anymore. Okay,

I actually have a slide but about the different gods.

But because of time, maybe one day I will talk

about it. La if you're because it really burns me up,

because people always say they're all paths lead to God.

It doesn't make sense people, It's illogical. It's illogical. It's

like saying every Android machine is the same as Apple.

It doesn't work, people, it doesn't work. Did I go

into the airport and you say that every plane goes

to the same place. No, doesn't mean he has two wings, Okay,

doesn't mean he has an energy. It goes to the

same location. It doesn't make sense. Okay, but I will

talk about it another time. Areas will be compromise as

hydrocor close values and moral standards. We compromise on our money.

Of course, this is like baylorm sex have sex places

in a role in our community, in our society. Hey,

gender fluidity, like I mentioned before to you before, can

be identify yourself as the right pronouns so that you

don't offend people, because in your offend people, you will

ruin their life and they will blame you for the

rest of their life as well. Okay. If that is

the case, then we don't. We can't have education then,

because everything in education is offensive. Okay. Relationships okay, people

will want to debate can be unequally your I like

the girl first, I like the guy first, A merry first,

then after that we convert the person. It doesn't work

their way, people, it doesn't work that way. Okay, I

don't have time now, but I will addressing it at

our time. Okay. Drinking people, this one, this one very

very very very very very dangerous. Oh drinking. Churches can drink,

they can drink. I saw pastors drink. This man drink.

It's a law. If I drink already, you know, well

the church leader look at me differently and stuff like that. Okay,

this is your own conscience. Okay, but if you look

at the book of proverbs. Are you look in the

Book of soundsa especially the Book of problems are Tell

me how many times the word drunkeness come up? Tell

me doesn't have have a so much problem. I'm not

saying that it's drinking. It is wrong. People say that, Oh,

but Jesus drink turned water into wine as well. Immediately

be green light. Yeah, a lot of things that are

permissible but not actually good for you. You don't say

how I'm saying. You know. You tell me one person

who doesn't drink, who actually really are in danger very rarely.

You know, if you don't smoke, you really get into danger.

You don't gamble, you really get into danger. I'm not

saying you're perfect, but you cut yourself off from a

lot more risks if you drink. I'm not saying that

you want drink for a special occasion good, But when

you play with fire, What if you suddenly love drinking?

What if your small occasions becomes general occasions. What if

one day one go break up with you and the

only comfort that you have is just drinking. You see,

something can be so insignifi can be played a big

part of your life because you allowed it. You can

I'm saying, you know, it seems hamless, but it's not

about them. It's about you. You become weak. That's the problem.

That's the problem I have with my kids. If they drink,

Say no, you cannot. It's very hard for you to

watch over yourself. And with the moment you get into

that problem, it's very hard to come out you. I'm

saying no. So when we tell people, it's not just

like on a country no no, no, no no. Do

you know how many times the Bible is warning about

drunkenness or not. The Bible calls it's them full, you know, literally,

you know, fool. Okay, So I'm not saying that you're not.

You want to argue with me. If I myself, I

don't drink. I don't really enjoy drinking. I get allergies

when I drink. As well. You want to drink, it's fine,

but really be very very careful. A lot of times

some things you learn to cut off. Some things you

just nah, don't really need to. Some things you say

when you go to offices, hey, just drinking, you know, casual,

because if I don't drink, I'm cutting off from the world.

Because my bosses they spend hundreds of dollars drinking ten

o'clock eleven o'clock. And that's where all the cafes make

the money. You know, from alcohol. One they won't make money.

You wait, hey, some of the shops that open solid

because they make money from their alcohol. They make so

much money some people. One bill can be five hundred,

one thousand to a few hundred dollars, a few thousand

dollars just on on these things. They make a lot

of money. And your business opportunity, opportunity, your promotions, your

business expansion can come from there as well. But what

are you going to compromise? Do you want to get

into a position where you curse yourselves? Getting right, God,

it's not going to cust you, But you don't want

to put yourself in a place where you curse your selves. Okay,

I know I'm not saying it because I'm a pastor.

I'm saying because I have personal family members who struggle

with this personal I know people directly, my family and

my friends who struggle with this one. Okay, other parts

your devotion spending less time in prayer and devotion, but

you're spending more time in building your dream and your

kingdom and your house, that's your You can see. We

have godly devotion now, which is focusing on God, but

we have also carnal devotion where we focus How many

of you when you drive, are you want to dream about?

What's the next big car? You want to drive? What's

a nice house? Is? What next new revenervation? Where do

you want to go traveling? Every time we go into

TikTok and lert, it's the time is devotion with the world.

You don't realize that we spend devotion with the world

and not before you step in mass no instagram wuld

be devotion to the world spending if the devotion we

will spend with the world will be put into God.

How much more difference, isn't it? Huh what does Jesus

look like instead of like what does other people look like? Huh?

So different? Now let's look at one last chart there

I have here the last chart that has is about

why Christians have become I call one group of people

or where I used to be like actually identify me

and my younger self as a believer who is entertainment

and romance driven. That used to be myself, But now

I'm finding myself that I need to be. I'm not there,

but I need to be more discipleship focused and spiritually

aground the Christian. Let's look at let's look at some

of this difference. What is an entertainment and romance driven

Christian that's like the world? Okay, flashy emotional services. Hey,

come to one church and let me take my time.

I want to visit different churches first after a few years. Okay,

I understand. Okay, if you just come back or you

just become a believer, you want to find a place

to But understand, I'm not saying wrong, but you continue

doing that for a year, two year, five year tenure,

still visiting churches, still checking around, still comparing, still cannot

set thing now, Hey this one or this this one?

God that comparing. It's like you you keep adding to

your cart up, but you can never purchase something. Okay,

you're your car, it's got like twenty items there. You

know what are you waiting for a great discount? You're

waiting for the church to discount, give you a discount?

Is it waiting for God to give you a discount?

Is it? Why is a discount? Give you a good blessing? Wow?

I went to this service at that time, this pastor

said this prayer at this moment, at this seat, and

I got your promotion. That was a discount and blessing

you were looking for all this time. But if you

know you're still looking around, you know I don't get

a feeling flashily emotional. It was a time where I

have the most memories and stuff that hey, I'm not

saying one. I was like that. I was like that.

I honestly tell you. When I came out, I was

like that, I want to go to the WHOA hear

this and there I want to go. I want to

go to big conference. I want to go to great pastors.

I tell you, WHOA. This worship was so annointed, and

all I tell you, remember this one sort annoying. I

want to visiting more. I've been there before. Okay, I

look at myself as I've been there before. But now

I tell you, even if the worship has no music,

I was you stay. I went to Baro. I tell you,

not a single except for the main service and all

the house worship with it. Ninety percent of time, not

a single instrument played, not a single lyric was put on,

and everybody memorized the lyrics. They just walk into a house.

Homes Hey, abakaba, how are you? You know? You any prainny? Okay,

before we do, let's sing song Halle Lou. Yeah, you know,

Blessed the Shore. I tell you we did that one

day at like almost fifteen twenty times, you know, every

different houses, everybody there after that. Then the mother was cooking.

Halfway He's like, okay, come, let's sing together, less the Shore.

These ties like that, you know what I mean. Right,

It's just like that pleasure around Jesus. We went to

the school assembly, no roof, hot sun, ten o'clock in

the morning. Okay. I was like, oh, what are you

gonna do? Worship? Okay everybody? No, there is no project

or no book, nothing, just in there. Jesus lost me

and they were singing with their hearts and the hard crying.

Oh my goodness. It's like, you know, you know, it

was like, wow, it's so reverent, nobody pulling and for

nobody sipping their lattice and stuff like that. You know

it's true. Yeah, man, it's just so reverent. It's just

one gone you get, I mean right, so you know

it's I'm not about whatship being about expressing my feeling.

Or yesterday I listened to the best heal song was

so good. I pray this what she neither will pray

this song? You know, if i'm if, i'm if I'm

worship leading, if I'm praying, I pray that the church

would choose this song and all. If they don't choose this,

how what kind of theology the believing? Cannot they understand

the power of the song. Why they haven't sounded this

song already introduced five years ago, we're still not singing

this church? Not relevant? I tell you the church I

went to send the song on twenty thirty years ago,

and on not changing God steal worker, God steal work,

Bible study, minimal engagement. Wow, what you're looking for inspirational talk?

I don't know who you're looking for. Ah, I a

church message? What point I am most of the time.

I just go a toilet when I go home. Hey,

I want to choose different pastor I want a black

pastor this one it's oh, very good, this one twenty

minutes on it or even better still or no, you're

not just it. I want two times to speak to

see by the time I get home. I already finish

two sermons. Ready see better still, But instead of doing that,

instead of asking people to preach to you, Okay, that's

my cue. Ready, we need deep study. Thank you for

the inspirational moments. I will I will report that I'm

get too excited. Don't worry, okay. Instead of asking the

speakers to speak to me, I want to allow the

Bible to speak to me. You know what I mean? Right,

focusing on someone to speak to me, I'm gonna go

into devotion and let the word speak to me. Whatever

I received from the change, it's beautiful, doesn't matter it

preached ten times, twenty times, three times. It's pure beautiful

faith experience. You seek feel good emotions. Oh my faith

grows when I feel good, when I feel like I

don't when I feel like going to church. That's where

my faith grows. When i'm my faith the reasult. How

I know my faith grows is when I'm raising my

hands aloud and oh no, my faith grows when I

persevere through suffering and troals. You know I mean right,

it's not your faith doesn't mean that when you come

you feel like it. Your faith grows when you come

when you don't feel like it. That's the evidence of faith.

You can't mean right, it's like a it's like it's

not when I compare this, I know I'm thinking of

your time, but let me that it's like comparing a

Christian or a young lover. You just want to date,

but you don't want to get married. You know I'm

saying no. You start off dating, going to movies, part

tolling and all, do that some thing, but you never

want to settle down. You never want commitment. You never

you see a love. It's not about having all the

movies and all love is about you still coming back

home and attending to your wife and your children and

your husband, be regardless how tough the day is. That's love.

He came in. How many Christians nowadays we really want

to get beyond the romancing and the dating with God

and settling down and get married. God is not looking

for a data, did not come for a day. You know.

He gave his life for the bride and her. He's

coming to stay and to live with you. Is a

commitment and all that's what God wants, you know, And

we have to manage the expectations and all. It's not

for dating a it's really a marriage, you know, being

identified as one with Christ. Your prayer life, sorry, community engagement.

You attend if there's something for you, but then can

you enjoy or not? But when you grow older, you

attend because you serve others. How many of you like

to go to kids birthday parties? How many do you

want to go? Ten? Twenty a year? Afterward it gets

tiring and oh, childrens are like swarming me up, I

have to bring so many food? You get there for

the kids? No, you go there because for your kids.

You serve your kids, you serve other kids, true or not?

How many birthday parties you want? It's not about you anymore,

because that's what parent thing is about. It's not about you.

It's about others. So it's Christian idea as well. Your

tend not because about you, it's about others. Your attendance

matters to everybody else, especially the older ones, especially younger ones.

When you join, you make a difference. It's never about you,

it's about others. Prayer life, you pray for personal desires,

but your come to prayer service for what so that

you pray for others. Prayer service is not about you

and a prayer service about other people you know. You

go to hospital, you think of sport. It's about you

getting a medicine. You go to hospital because your love

ones are there, You're your friends are there, they need

prayer and you go there. View of love focused on romantic,

fewl good feelings, but you realize that love is about sacrifice.

When you're hurt, you still stay with your wife and

your when your spouse, when they are not fully understood,

when they misunderstand you, you still stay on and you

continue to forgive. You continue to believe, even it may

take a year, two years, five years. Sometimes you may

never get the full understanding, but you stay on faithful

commitment to grow six exciting experiences, install experiences, you pursue maturity,

church involvement, find activities. But instead of find activities, what

is for you? What you're really looking for is discipleship,

not by me. What I need to give, what I

need to surrender. And your view of suffering is not

about avoiding. It's not about asking why. It's about King Lord,

can I pass to the end Yemen? Right? It's not

asking why, It's about how long can I sustain? Help

me to go through it? You're used to it anymore.

It's like if you've never been to Binanga actually to

drive bin Nanga? How many hours? Three hours? The first time? That?

How long? How long? How long? Oh dad did? How

much longer? Some of you you've been to Pinan for

many times, are like fifty times in your life? Right

You're like, Okay, how can I stay a week? How

can I get through this? Even if it's jam in Epo,

even it's rainy, you ask yourself, how can I get

through this? That's muh cho amen.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit as Church RG. We

are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that

this week is going to be.

A good week.

I hit for you.

God bless