“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.

When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing...

Because the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.

But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Holy One of Israel,

As Your people, bought by the blood of the spotless Lamb without blemish and sealed with Your Holy Spirit, we confess we have not kept ourselves from evil thing. Your call to us today is no different than your call to Your people throughout the ages.

We confess we like the idea we are chosen, we like the privileges we get with our salvation but we confess we too easily forget the calling and responsibilities we have. We live our lives with disregard to Your call to be holy. But You have chosen to be holy, to be a blessing to You and a praise and glory to Your Name throughout the earth. You have chosen us to a be a holy nation, a people set apart, to shine like the sun right here and now. To be salt in a tasteless world. We are to shine as lights in the world. We are to hold fast the Word of life.

Forgive us that we have compromised our testimony time and again. We are to be in the world but not live like the world. You have made a difference between us and the world, You have placed within us Your Holy Spirit, so we might be sanctified and set apart from the world, to keep ourselves form every evil thing, yet how often do we live no differently than the world.

We confess our light is dim and all but snuffed out.
We confess our salt has lost its flavor and about to be trampled.
We confess we have not held fast the Word of life.

We have sinned against You in word and deed. In doctrine and practice we have not been holy. We have compromised again and again. And now we are seeing the fruits of this, both in our own personal lives, our nation and in the church. We are in danger of having you take away our lampstand unless we repent.

Have mercy on us, O Father. Has not Your Holy Spirit shown us these things so we might repent? We come to You and ask forgiveness, no we beg forgiveness, for we have nothing to commend us to You, we have known to do good and not done it. We have sinned against You, our merciful Redeemer. How can we have done that? No, we can only appeal to You through the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. Will You not have mercy on us, for Your Son's sake? Will You not come and sweep in us and clean house, purify Your people, Your Church, so we might be a glory and praise on the earth once more? Come, Holy Spirit, to sanctify us once more. We have seen our sin before You. We confess before You today we not kept ourselves from every evil thing.

Like the churches at Pergamum and Thyatira, we have sinned against You. We have compromised. We have lived corruptly. We have not held fast to the Truth. We have not lived holy lives. Forgive us, O God. Have mercy on us, O loving Father, who sent Your Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. Return to us once more and shine Your face upon us. Rend the heavens and come down and cleanse and purify us. Make us holy. Revive us, O Holy One of Israel.

We confess we have no excuse for living like we have done. We have been given Your Holy Spirit, the life of Your Son within us, so we might be holiness to the Lord, to be the holy people You have called us to be. Your commandments are not burdensome to us because with Your commands You always give us the power to fulfill them.

When You call us to keep ourselves from evil thing, You mean it.
When You call us to keep ourselves from evil thing, You give us the power to do just that.

Forgive us, O Holy God, we have sinned against You. We have received Your grace, yet time and again we have showed contempt for the wonderful cross and blood which bought us and delivered us from hell.

Holy Spirit, You dwell in us to make us holy. Holy Spirit, renew our minds, so we might have an ever-increasing desire for holiness. Holy Spirit, work in us to make us Holy as You are holy. Holy Spirit, work in us a desire to cleanse and purify ourselves as You are clean and pure and holy. Holy Spirit, help us not to quench or grieve You so we might live as the holy people our Father has called us out to be. Holy Spirit, make us holy. Holy Spirit, work in us so we might keep ourselves from every evil thing.

Have mercy on us, O God. Return once more and walk among us. We are Your people. Your covenant with us in Christ is sure. We confess we cannot go on from here without You. Purify us, O God. Rend the heavens and send Your glory among us once more. Right now the glory has departed. Show us Your glory once more. Come into our midst and walk with us once more.

We know we come to You not on our own merits, for we are unworthy and undeserving of anything from Your hand, but we come boldly and with assurance through the torn body and shed blood of Your holy Son Jesus Christ. We come to You as His joint heirs, as Your children, O Father, ask for mercy and grace to help us now in this time of need. Our need is great, O God. Be merciful and gracious to us. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Do not treat us as our sins deserve. Revive us, O God. We are nothing apart from Your strong arm and mighty hand coming down upon us. Yet we know Your arm is not shortened that You cannot save! Revive Your Church so You might be glorified once more. Spotless Lamb, sanctify us, come and wash us with the water of Your Word so we might be a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish.

Amen.

After commending the church in Smyrna and encouraging them to remain faithful through persecution, Jesus brings rebukes to the churches in Pergamum and Thyatira:

And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

In the third chapter of his second epistle Peter warns us of that false teachers similar to those in Pergamum and Thyatira will come into our midst:

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (KJV)

Holy Father,

We can leave no room for compromise or corrupt teaching in Your Holy Church. You have set apart the bride of Christ to be pure and blameless. You have made it clear to us Your call to us is a call to holiness. You call us to be pure in our doctrine and practice. We are to have no other gods but You. You sent Your only Son Jesus. We can only know You through Him. He has said He is the way, the truth and the life. We are to follow no other way but Your way. We are to hold to no other truth but Your truth. We have no life apart from Your life. We cannot live the life You call us to live apart from Your life. We are to hold to no other gospels but Your Gospel for there is no good news for sinful men apart from Your Gospel.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

Thank You that You have warned us about false teachers, so we might not be surprised when we see them in our midst. Today You are giving us opportunity to confess and repent of our sin of permitting these false teachers to go unchecked and have free reign among Your flock, those sheep You have purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. O, Holy Father, forgive us for turning a blind eye to these false teachers, these wolves in sheep's clothing, who have come among the flock to attempt to deceive and manipulate and to steal, kill and destroy those sheep Your Son died for.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

We confess for the sake of outward unity and for the sake of keeping the peace, we have often allowed these false teachers, which Peter calls  "natural brute beasts" or "irrational animals, creatures of instinct" (ESV) to have their way in the church rather than keeping rooted in Your way, which is the way of holiness. Forgive us, Holy God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who teach any gospel contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ are "accursed" and yet how often do we welcome them into our midst! Forgive us, Holy God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

These false teachers have forsaken the right way; they have gone astray. Father, have mercy on them. May You bring them back to Your way. May You make it clear to Your children those teachers who have Your anointing. Just because men and women teach in Your Name doesn't meant they are sent from You. For the sake of Your Name, for the sake of Your Church, show these teachers for who they really are. There has been too much compromise. The truth slides into error. A little leaven is mixed in and soon no one really takes notice. Give us eyes to see those who are Yours and those who are opposed to Your Gospel.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

Forgive us for allowing these false shepherds in our midst. Help us to put on Your whole armor to fight them and to remain in vigilant in prayer. Help us to continue to look to You and lift up praise to You as a weapon against Your enemies. We are grieved for the souls of these men and women but we cannot extend fellowship to those who teach error, falsehood and lies, we cannot have fellowship with any who seek to corrupt and distort and tear down the sufficiency of Christ, because those who do so have removed themselves from fellowship with You so we have no basis for fellowship with them in and through Your Son.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

As we have allowed sheep to be enticed and deceived by these false shepherds, many unsteady sheep have also gone astray. Holy Father, forgive us. Merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on these souls. Good Shepherd, bring them back to Your good and right way, the only way, which is through the Lord Jesus Christ. By Your grace, as it so pleases You to do so, may You use to lead them back.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

Forgive us for allowing unsteady sheep to be enticed and lead astray by these false teachers. Help us call them back to You with a clear proclamation of Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Give them ears to hear Your voice and bring them back into Your flock. Help them to run from the voice of strangers and to hear only Your voice.

Forgive us as we have allowed these natural brute beasts to come in as blots and blemishes upon Your Holy Name and Your Bride.

Forgive us as we have allowed these natural brute beasts to serve their leaven to us and many of us have eaten it without checking their teaching against Your Holy Word. Give us discernment, Holy Spirit; lead us into all truth.

Forgive us as we have allowed these natural brute beasts to serve their leaven to us and many of us have eaten it and grieved Your Spirit as we have done so. Give us discernment to know the true bread from the false leaven and to spit out the false. Lead us to Your true bread.

Forgive us as we have not continued to feed the sheep with Your living bread. How can we do so when we continue to eat leaven?

Forgive us as we have allowed these natural brute beasts to be wells without water to us and many of us have drank there without checking their teaching against Your Holy Word. Give us discernment, Holy Spirit; lead us into all truth.

Forgive us as we have allowed these natural brute beasts to be wells without water to us and many of us have drank there and grieved Your Holy Spirit as we have done so. Give us discernment to know the living water from the strange waters. Lead us to Your living waters.

Forgive us as we have not continued to feed the sheep with Your living water. How can we do so when we continue to drink from wells without water?

Forgive us as we have not lifted up Jesus Christ and Him crucified as we have ought. Give us boldness to do so.

Forgive us for not caring for and guarding Your sheep as we ought. Each one is precious to You.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

There are false gospels of licentiousness as well as legalism preached in churches today. Those teachings are not of You. Your Gospel is a Gospel of freedom leading to holy living. We confess we have been apathetic and lethargic and have sat back and allowed this to happen. Forgive us, O Lord God. Have mercy on us and on Your Church for Jesus' sake. You have set us apart for You. You have chosen us that we might be holy and without blame before You in love. You have done these things to the praise of Your glorious grace. But so long as false teachers continue to have their way, Your glory in us is obscured. Give us a zeal for You and Your Gospel and Your Holy Word and Your truth. Deliver us from these false teachers. Restore us to the glory that You have intended for us. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. You are our Shepherd. Come to us, Good Shepherd, deliver us from these false shepherds. We ask this for Your Holy Name's sake, that You might receive all the praise, honor and glory due Your Name, for Yours in the Name that is above all other names. Be glorified in us, in Your Church, in Your bride. You are able to do exceedingly above all that we can ask or imagine. O, we know that what we ask today is exceedingly above all we can ask or imagine, but we know You are able do it and we know that You want to do it. Restore us, revive us, return us to the glory You have intended for us. Wash us with water so we might be without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish and be the pure, chaste Holy bride of Christ, a glorious Church to You, our Redeemer and Lord. Amen.

Forgive us for allowing natural brute beasts in our midst!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Lord Jesus, You who have the sharp two-edged sword. Though You do commend us today in some things, we ask that You give us ears to hear what the Your Spirit is saying to each one of us today regarding our sin. May Your kindness lead us to repentance.

Where are we holding to the teaching of Balaam?
How are we worshiping other gods?
How are we not making Your Lord of all?
How are we trying to serve two masters?
How are we holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans?
How are we taking the liberty we have in Christ turning it into licentiousness?

By Your Word, O God, show us these things. We are deaf to our sin apart from Your opening our ears. We are blind to our sin apart from Your opening our eyes.

Your Word, O God, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from Your sight, but all of us are naked and exposed to the eyes of You to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:14-16, adapted)

We know we must give account to You.
We confess that we often hold to the teaching of Balaam.
We confess we worship other gods.
Your Body was torn so we might eat of You alone.
Forgive us, O God of gods, when we go to eat elsewhere,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

We confess we lust after and gorge ourselves with earthly food rather than feeding upon the angels' food You provide, Your heavenly manna.
We confess we don't see Your food as sufficient for us.
We confess we don't see Your food as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
We confess we eat food sacrificed to idols.
Forgive us our iniquity, O Bread of Life,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

We know we must give account to You.
We confess we do not make You Lord of all.
We make ourselves lords of our lives.
Forgive us our iniquity, O Lord of lords,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

We know we must give account to You.
We confess we try to serve two masters.
We try to serve our lusts and serve You.
Forgive us our iniquity, O Master of our souls,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

We know we must give account to You.
We confess we hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
We confess we worship our own lusts.
You loved us and freed us so we might worship You and You alone.
Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls, when we play the harlot,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

We confess we lust after and covet after earthly joys rather than being satisfied with the pleasures forevermore available to us in Your presence.
We confess we don't see Your presence as sufficient for us.
We confess we don't see Your presence as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
We confess we follow after our own lusts.
Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls,
Though we have tested and provoked You,
Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Create a new heart in us.

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2 O my soul , thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

(Please also read Psalm 78.)

Turn us back to You so we might abide in You. As we dwell in Your presence, as we follow Your path of life, You will provide fullness of joy to us and satisfaction abounding. No earthly joys can compare to You. Lead us to back to You once more and taste and see that You are good. We confess we are prone to wander. Guard us and keep us in Your care, O Good Shepherd. Amen.