Christ’s Examination.

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze: 19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works, 23 I will strike her children dead.,Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets, of Satan”—as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you. 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations— 27 and he will rule, them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery,— 28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. 29 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. [1]

Context

This week, we continue our look at the 7 churches in Revelation, turning our attention to the 4th church in Thyatira. Each of these letters since their sending even until today and will continue to be until Christ comes to us, as warnings, commendations, and glimpses into the mind of Christ; what Christ is calling all churches to aspire to and what they need to examine about themselves and correct. With that in mind, and with these messages, we LaFayette Baptist are called to do just the same, just as every church through all of history has been called to do (whether they did or not). So with that, there are some difficult truths in these messages, in these scriptures. They are very difficult, I know they are. But, look what Christ says He will give to the conquerors, those churches that turn more and more to Christ and increase in their faith, devotion, and reliance to Him. The first was told that they would receive the crown of life, the second will never be harmed by the second death, the third will receive some of the hidden mana and a white stone with their name on it, and the fourth (what we are looking at today) will get to reign with Christ and receive the morning star.

Furthermore, in chapter 1, we see that a special blessing is given to the church that reads these prophecies aloud, who hear the words, and keep (meaning does and continues to do) the words within them. So, hear my heart brothers and sisters. As we examine ourselves, it is not to hurt and demean or dishonor one another, if that’s the point, if your point is to fire shots at someone else, then you have to repent. Rather, the point is that we as a church and as individuals can receive these blessings that Christ promised and (what really matters) glorify God as He is calling us into a new and deeper and more trusting relationship in Him.

Something to know about the church in Thyatira, is that the town and the church within it was not like the other 3 we have read before. The other three were very rich and prosperous towns. This town, Thyatira, was a very average town with very average people within it. Despite this, and the seemingly averageness of the place, notice something about the letter to this church. Notice that it is the LONGEST of all the letters. Notice that Christ has the most to say to them. Notice that Christ isn’t just focused on the big church in the big town, the small church in a big town, or the big church in small town; He is concerned for even the most average church in the most average town.

What am I saying? That Jesus cares about every church everywhere and is calling each church into more a greater faith and reliance in Him. The same is true for us. Another thing to notice about this church, is that it had something critically wrong within it, the church was being defeated from the inside, in essence the reliance on God and faith in God and love in Christ that it had was caving in, imploding because they tolerated false teaching and false worship within their midst. Despite this, still a small remnant of lovers of God remained and so their works for God were increasing. It’s clear here, that Christ takes this matter and situation very seriously. So, let’s dive in and From the text today, I want you to see, understand, and do these actions as Christ tells us and churches about His Examination.

Message

The first action to see, understand, and do is: Greater works for Christ.

18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze: 19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first

Christ addresses this church, in a way that would they understand, just has He had for the others. He calls Himself, the Son of God, whose eyes are like fiery flame whose feet are like fine bronze. This would have been a “Oh Wow” kind of moment for this church, as in this town and in the church were many metal smiths within it. They would have known what strong fire looked like and the might within it, and they would have known the importance and strength of something that had strong feet made of fine bronze. Christ addresses them, I know You, I know everything about You. I created you, I sustain You. Your lampstand is mine and I hold your elders in my hands. I have been watching you, I know what you are doing. I know your works. I have seen how you have increased in the love of me, how you have increased in faithfulness, you have increased in service to me, and you have endured. I have seen the progression of your lives and existence.

Christ is saying to them and He is saying to us, this progression is commendable. Those of you that are doing this, keep this up. Always be progressing in your faith to me. Don’t ever be content with where your faith level is. Always be asking yourself, where and in what way am I holding out on God? Where do I need to surrender to Him? What do I need to do (what do we need to do) so that our next work was greater (meaning more pleasing to Christ) than the last one we did? What do we need to, what do I need to do or remove from my heart so that the next action glorifies Christ more. This is something we should, you should, I should aspire to, greater works for Christ. That however, brings us to our next action to see and understand from Christ. This is an:

Examination from Christ

20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works, 23 I will strike her children dead.,Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Despite all of this good, Christ tells them, “But hey, there is something you need to know and something I’m not pleased with at all.” You have tolerated Jezebel the false prophetess. You have allowed her to deceive my servants (my children) into many forms of false worship and idolatry. You have tolerated, condoned, allowed other believers to be deceived. I sent for her to repent, she has had the opportunity time and time again, yet she will not stop in her sexual immorality, she will not stop in her rebellion against me. So, she is going to receive the judgement that she deserves. She and those that follow her false teaching, her rebellion against me will be made sick and afflicted unless they repent! For the sake of my name and my glory, if they don’t I (Christ) will strike them dead. I care about My name, I care about my kingdom, I care about my children and will come to the defense of them. When I do this, when I remove these false worshipers and deceivers, you will know that I Christ examine the mind and the heart and I will give to each of you as you deserve.

This statement of Christ rings true for us today. He examines minds and hearts, he knows. He knows. This section also speaks to something that every church needs to take very seriously. This is that we have to be very careful and about who select and allow to teach and lead within in our church. As James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Teaching and instructing in God’s word is a very serious matter. And unfortunately for Thyatira, they did not take it seriously enough. I say can this about us LaFayette Baptist, I can with confidence say that there are no false teachers here with us today. Now, I’m not saying that any of us (myself included) are perfect. But, After observing all the teachers and teaching ministries of our church, they are all true and right and where and if there are mistakes, we as church try to correct those and own up when we have messed up. Praise God for that, Christ examines hearts and minds and sifts out the bad after giving them time to repent.

Cling close to Christ.

. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets, of Satan”—as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you. 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come.

After speaking the truth of his examination to the false teachers and followers that do not turn to Christ, Christ then turns his attention back to the faithful minority. He says, to the rest of you, who do not know and rely on these “Secrets” or Knowledge of Satan, I am not putting any burden on you. Only keep doing what you have been doing. What were they doing? They were keeping Christ close, they always have the cross in their sights. They were increasing their faith day by day, as was right. Remember what Christ said to them, I know that your last works are greater than your first. Meaning, you keep seeking me and serving me more and more. You aren’t fearing anything else other than God. Keep this up, hold on to this until I come.

Beloved, this is what Christ wants of all of us. To cling on, hold on to Him until He comes. Nothing else. So often we want to. So often what we think on surface level can be clinging close to Christ can be clinging on to something else. This would have been the experience of many of the so called “children” of Jezebel. They believed something wrong, because they were taught something wrong. Much like some of the previous churches, they were having it both ways, they were trying to have their cake and eat it too. I often do this myself. I try to cling to my own control in my own life, trying to hold on keep things the way I want them to be. You have heard me say this before, this is a sin that I struggle with and have to combat often, especially when it comes to my own resource of time. This has led me to have to repent to God and apologize several times and right wrongs that I’ve done, even with my own family. In these cases, I didn’t cling close to Christ. Instead, I clung close to my knowledge, my own wants; but I took my eyes off of the kingdom, I took my eyes off of Christ. We all do this from time to time. We all make these mistakes, but we can rest assured that when we turn to Jesus in true faith and repentance, we can and will be forgiven. This is the Father’s love for us, that even when we mess up, even when sin, even when we rebel against God, when we repent and cling close to Christ we are forgiven. Hallelujah and Amen!

Authority along with Christ.

26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations— 27 and he will rule, them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery,— 28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. 29 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Here it comes, Christ tells us what is in store fore the conquerors, those that cling close to Christ. Look at this honor here. Jesus (the king of the world) said that he will give the conquerors authority over the nations! And get this, we get to rule with Christ! Just the opposite as we experience now, where Christians are seemingly always the persecuted and punished for the faith, now we will have authority so strong it would be like an iron scepter smacking pottery of clay! Just as Christ is receiving from His Father, so He is giving to His Bride, the conquering churches. Jesus also says, that He will give us the morning star. This is another one of those mysteries, we can’t definitively say what this. But, after time in study and research it appears to be and according to Thomas Shriner, “here it refers to Jesus himself, as Revelation 22:16 explicitly says. He is the star prophesied in Numbers 24:17—the star who will crush all his enemies and rule forever. The greatest reward believers receive is Jesus himself, and they will reign with him.[2] So, what is that, it means Jesus, that GOD is our greatest reward in and of itself. We couldn’t want or desire anything else, nothing is worth more than knowing Christ crucified. When this is your hearts true desire, when you seek God like this, know that you will be there, you will be their ruling with Christ.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let me speak plainly to you. I don’t want to say this out of hatred, but out of caring correction and love as we turn our eyes towards Jesus. Your hearts all hurt, I know it and it is a good thing. As I look at our church today, I am so reminded of the faithful minority that Christ addressed in our passage today. What a wonderful testimony you all have, and I am honored to be your pastor, even though some in our own town call our church and myself as your pastor pitiable (even to my own face).

Over the last year and a half, I have heard many stories about “the glory days” of our church. In turn, I have also heard blame placed on several individuals who are all no longer here and some of them may no longer be on this earth. I’m not going to name names, so don’t ask. But, I want to point something out to you. Just as I don’t right now, maybe we each don’t have the full story. As I have researched and looked through old history books both here and in other places, and asked questions from us that have been here a long time, I have come to realize something. I want this to be a freeing statement for you church, I’m not blaming anyone and certainly no one here, I’m just saying this is what I have noticed….. Some of the people we have placed blame on for our church’s decline, are victims of the situation just like us. Now granted, I’m not saying all, but I am saying some. I have noticed from the saints in the room, that by in large we have seen it and try to not engage in it; and try to speak life or don’t speak at all. But, just to be plain, these situations didn’t stem from 5 years ago, or 10 or 15 years ago, they didn’t stem from 20 years ago, it wasn’t even 30 or 40. The root goes much further back. To be honest, the records aren’t good enough to know for sure when or what it was, but I can share with you an indicator from 50 years ago. And this indicator, shows that something was up long before that.

As you know, our local association just celebrated it’s 100th anniversary. 100 years of ministry, and our church get’s to honestly say that we were one the first churches, one of the charter churches of the association. So, with 100 years gone by, we were asked to share some of the ministry highlights of our church, to elevate God and what He has done in our church for the last 50 years. While doing this, something was uncovered, this was the same thing, but only at the 50-year anniversary. So, 50 years ago; our church submitted a report on what was going on in the church and how God was at work. You want to know what was in that……? Nothing but Gossip. Just the talk of the town. Nothing about what God had done, only about girls skipping town and eloping and ministers being shamed by it. Nothing about God, nothing about souls won, nothing about God’s glory. When discovered, I asked that this report would never see the light of day again, because I know all the saints here wouldn’t want their church and their savior so thought of and remembered.

I can tell you, when speaking to mentors, reading books, and reviewing the Biblical texts; often these sorts of problems arise when someone or some group of unqualified leaders take the helm of a church for a time. Just to be clear, I’m not saying our leaders today are unqualified or bad leaders (we are very blessed to have the leaders we have today, in fact in this church I can all of those that are around often are a leader of some kind), but it looks like someone or some people back in time were. Just like Jesus was saying to the church in Thyatira, we have to be careful about who we allow to teach and have leadership roles, it’s a very serious matter; one that if not handled correctly can have effects for generations down the line.

That story of us in the past is not us today. Church, we have been well sifted, and I have found myself wondering if the church in Thyatira was our church just a few years ago, but now God has put puzzle pieces together so that now we can really get at and dig into ministry. I honestly believe, that the best days of LaFayette Baptist Church are before us, not behind us. I honestly believe that in our 134 years of ministry, we have that and more years left in us (If Christ doesn’t return by then).

Beloved, Christ is calling us to a new and deeper love, commitment, devotion, and faith to Him. He is calling all believers at all times to this. Are we listening? Are we ready for what Christ has in store for us both as a church and as individual believers! LaFayette Baptist family, I’m excited, I’m thrilled to see what God is going to do in, to, and through us! I know it’s scary. I know it is, I know that some-things are going to hit us right where fear the most. But, with a God like ours on our side, we cannot fail. It is impossible!

As we contemplate this, I want to invite you; if you have not yet filled out your worksheet, the answers will be on the screen. Take a few moments to fill it out, consider it and the implications it has on us. Then, take a few moments in personal prayer about it. While you do this, the alter will be open and anyone who needs can come forward. Also, as you go through the week, continue to pray as we have done today, and if anything comes to mind, write it down on your worksheet. After this few moments Then, I will lead us in a prayer to God that He will strengthen us, and give us all knowledge and wisdom as we seek His will for us.

· Give 4-5 minutes to fill out worksheet and for prayer.

· Lead a prayer

[1] Christian Standard Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2020, p. Re 2:17–29. [2]Schreiner, Thomas R. “Revelation.” Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Iain M. Duguid et al., vol. XII, Crossway, 2018, p. 584.