Are You a Nicolaitan? by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning. This morning we will be reading from a few different places. We are going to begin in the book of Acts. We are going to be in chapter 6 and read the first 5 verses. In this chapter, the new church has been established and has began to grow.

        And in those days, when the number of disciples was multiplied, there arose among a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the ministration.

        2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

        3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

        4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

        5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Phillip, and Prochorus, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch. 

        In this portion of scripture we see the establishment of deacons with in the church body. The first name listed is Stephen, who would be an important figure at the start of Paul's conversion. The last name listed, Nicolas, was a proselyte, or a convert to the faith from Antioch, In this period of time, the Jewish people would reach out and convert usually Greeks to the faith. The men listed in verse 5 were seven spirit filled men to tend to the widows and daily ministrations.

        Now, with that introduced, let's turn to the book of Revelation. We will be reading chapter 2 and the first 6 verses there.

        Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

        2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars;

        3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.

        4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

        5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

        6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

        Let us focus for a second on that 6th verse. The deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. When some people have a bit of authority, in their life or even in the spirit, sometimes their flesh allows that to go to their head. Jesus recognizes the danger of this by saying that the person is leaving their first love.  Who is the first love? Jesus is the first love.

        The Nicolaitans had no problems in having indulgences. They held to the doctrine of Balaam. That doctrine taught Israel "to sin by eating things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. You can see that over in Numbers 24. The Nicolaitans had one foot in the church doing the daily ministration of meeting peoples needs, with love and humility, and then practice worldly things after. This is a broad parallel to the American church today. Jesus spoke about the church of Pergamos in this chapter, for they were similar to the Nicolaitans.

        Faith in one word is obedience. When you obey a rule or commandment, that's faith in action. The stumbling blocks we have in the way from obtaining the fullness of God is the loves of our flesh. What we indulge our flesh, often we elevate to equal or higher stance than God. You're asking God the right requests, and God delivers you a word. You, in turn, reject it on the whole because it goes against your belief. 

        I know it's convenient to portion out events in your days, every day. "You can have the allotted 2 hours of my attention and time on Sunday, Jesus. That's the best I can do for you." He, who gave us life and salvation, and we in turn treat him as an obligated weekly visit to check in and see how he's doing. Sunday is everyday. You need to live your life everyday like it's Sunday. If you see Jesus as your true love, you will commit to him daily. You are surrounded by a reality filled with lies so pervasive, some are cleverly disguised as the truth. 

        We are going back to Acts 17 and read at verse 16.

        16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, while he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

        17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with them.

        18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

        19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

        20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

        21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

        22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are tpp superstitious.

        Now Paul could have called these certain philosophers names and not gotten anywhere in his witness. Instead, he said they were superstitious.

        23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

        There are many chapters written in the old testament where people or the country tried to walk in holiness and the world. In chapters 22-24 of Numbers, you can read about the prophet Balaam. In 2 Kings 9-10 there is the account of Jehu. Jehu was a commander in the army of Ahab, who was king of Israel. Jehu was a reformer and eradicated the house of Ahab as well as the idol worship that the king participated in. The next chapter, God would choose Jehu to be king of Israel. Jehu though would continue the idolatrous worship of King Jeroboam, God built up Syria and shrunk down Israel. The thing I want to stress this morning is God will intervene, but there's still an avoidable outcome.

        People will grow in their walk up to a certain point and put a cap or ceiling on their potential. There are two warnings in scripture. Not to faint in well doing and don't attempt to walk without Jesus guiding you.

        Today is not a new nor different age from what had come before. The world is not what it appears to be. It distracts and lulls you as Jesus wants you to wake up and to grow your faith. This flesh is a bondage your spirit needs to fight daily. Until you believe in God is when he will answer and move. You will be held accountable to God for your life. The question to ask this morning is are you a Nicolaitian or a christian? All things begin with forgiveness in your walk. How many of you are serving an unknown God? How do you know when you were awake? Your won't do what you can if you don't believe that you can. If you ever see you're ugly, you know God has a hold of you.

        Compassion, strength, forgiveness, and joy are four things you need to have in going through your days.

        Sunday is everyday to the committed believer. You need your life everyday as like it's Sunday. If you see Jesus as your true love, you'll commit to him daily. You are surrounded by a world filled with lies so pervasive, some are disguised as the truth.