Standing Our Ground

REVELATION 2 v 12-17
What does it take to withstand in a place of a stronghold?
Proverbs 12 v 12 - "The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures."
-  The church in Pergamum were in a Stronghold of evil and idols.
-  The city was strong on a hill top and well protected, people would come from all around to be healed by the Asclepius. It says in Revelation this is the place where Satan has his throne - this city was the centre for four cults and Asclepuis was represented by a serpent. 
-  God didn't want the people to become corrupted by the goings on in the city, he wanted their roots to remain in righteousness.
-  God was going to judge this city that is what the double-edged sword represents.
-  The church in Pergamum were surrounded by all these horrible things but God commended for staying strong in their faith even when their leader was put to death.
-  How strong does our faith remain in the middle of the battle ground?
-  In this situation it is or was never easy but choosing the alternative to God is deadly.
-  The key to them remaining and growing while in this evil stronghold was there faith.
-  The church Pergamum were not out to fight people but to get along with and live side by side BUT not to compromise!
-  This is the main issue John tackles, some of the members of the church are compromising with the values of the idol worshipping people and forgetting some of the roots.
-  The pressure was so great that some bowed to it and became open minded to sexual practices and idol worship.
-  What we have to remember is that their situation was incredibly difficult, it was not easy. But this doesn't mean they are allowed to sin.
-  To withstand in such strongholds or dangerous places we need to be firmly rooted in our faith.
2 Key things we need to do...
    1. Have a firm foundation and know our roots and how deep they go. Matthew 7 v 24-29 - "²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
 ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."
   2. Seek the after what God wants us to do for the Kingdom of God. Matthew 6 v 33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Sometimes God places us in a place which is a stronghold but by doing the 2 key things, putting on the armour of God and using the power of the Holy Spirit we can do things for God wherever he calls us too whether it be in the midts of such things as Pergamum or where over powers and principalities rule over.