Day 3

Scripture to Read: Revelation 2:14

We read yesterday how many of the believers in Pergamum were holding tightly to the Name of Jesus, and they did not deny their faith in Him. But, in Revelation 2:14-15, our Lord rebukes the believers for allowing some to hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Note here in Revelation 2:14, But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching 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. In Numbers 22-25, Balaam tried to use his gift of prophecy to curse Israel in exchange for money. Balaam also tempted the Israelite men to compromise by being unfaithful to our Lord by prostituting themselves with Moabite women. Jesus rebuked some of the believers in Pergamum for committing acts of sexual sin by following the teaching of Balaam. Those believers were stumbling blocks to others in Pergamum. Jesus, in Matthew 18:6, says this about stumbling blocks, “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus says that a stumbling block is better off drowning himself than to cause someone else to stumble. Jesus definitely hates when someone causes someone else to stumble. We must guard against walking in our “flesh” (Galatians 5:13-23) so we don’t cause anyone to stumble.

Challenge & Application

1. What did God teach you today about stumbling blocks and not submitting to your flesh? 2. How are you actively guarding your heart so that you are not giving in to your flesh but walking in God’s Spirit in you?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

This week we examine the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ to the church in Pergamum. In speaking to the angel of the church of Pergamum, our Lord introduces Himself this way in Revelation 2:12,“ And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this. In Revelation 1:16, John made this observation o...

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Day 2

We continue to examine today what our Lord Jesus Christ had to say to the church at Pergamum. Jesus encourages the church of Pergamum because they were faithful in the city where Satan’s throne was. We read in Revelation 2:13 ‘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 day...

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Day 3

We read yesterday how many of the believers in Pergamum were holding tightly to the Name of Jesus, and they did not deny their faith in Him. But, in Revelation 2:14-15, our Lord rebukes the believers for allowing some to hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Note here in Revelation 2:14, But I have a few things against you, bec...

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Day 4

We unpacked God’s truth about stumbling blocks in yesterday’s devotion. Therefore, we know our Lord hates for anyone to be a stumbling block to someone else and cause that person to sin. We continue examining our Lord’s rebuke of the believers in Pergamum. Jesus also rebuked the believers for holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, which...

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Day 5

Walking in obedience to our Lord and His Word is what Christ expects from us. Our Lord can expect this from us because He has already given us everything we need to be able to walk in obedience to Him. God says it this way in 2 Peter 1:3-4, seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the...

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Day 6

We ended yesterday seeing that Christ would come against any believer unwilling to repent with the sword of His mouth. God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). God’s Word is so incredibly powerful that God calls His Word the “sword.” A sword is used to kill things, and God wants us to be able to kill any and all temptations we ...

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Day 7

As we end this week, our Lord says in Revelation 2:17, “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.” The reference to the “hidden manna” is God’s perfect bread, Jesus Himself. Jesus said of Himself, in John ...

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