What Have We Become? 10

Word’s Are Powerful!

Text: Revelation 2:18-29

Introduction

How many of you believer WORDS are powerful? Example being, God spoke the universe into existence.

How many of you believe WORDS OF TRUTH are more powerful than WORDS?

Here is what is interesting. All of us here today have been wounded by WORDS! More interestingly, those very words that wounded us were not even true! So, the lesser thing truly can impact the hearts, emotions, actions and future practices of people.

What we will get into tonight is the battle ground of a battle between WORDS and TRUTH.

1) A Place Of Hard workers

Background

Forty miles east of Pergamos.

Began as a military garrison.

An important valley between important commercial centers and a very strategic stop on the imperial post road.

It’s thriving economy can be contributed a lot to Roman protection.

Famous for many trades: wool workers, linen workers, outer garments, dryers, leather workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, and bronzesmiths.

Famous for it’s “turkey red” dye (Lydia seller of “purple”)

Idolatry

“Tyrimnos” the sun god was the city’s deity. Later that changed to Sambethe (son of Zeus)

Every guild had it’s own patron god.

To be in good standing with their god, it would require tributing feasts and participating in sexual activities.

All of this was a development that stems back to king Solomon in his venture to build God’s House.

Solomon did not use God’s people for the bronze and stone work, he wanted the best.

The best came from Phenecia…a place of baal worship.

Problems for Christians

Serious economic pressures to compromise.

Participating was necessary to maintain good standing and therefore surviving economic hardship.

Some started adopting the idea that “a tip of the hat” was not really harmful since they would maintain belief in Christ.

Some started to think they could have it both ways!

2) A Church Of Importance

Even though there was corruption, DON’T MINIMIZE their value!

Service — an expression of love

Servanthood will always be the pathway to greatness.

Faith

IMPORTANT!!!

Jesus values faith up to the hightest!

Examples:

Matthew 9:20–22 “20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

Matthew 15:27–28 “27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Jesus sees this faith in Thyatira!

Patience

Ability to endure heavy burden over an extended period of time.

Their existence had been threatened for some time.

“last more than the first” = continued progress

His is not referenced as the “Son of God” to any other of the seven churches…WHY?

Who was the main god they worshipped?

Thyatira was a city who collectively worship the “son of Zeus.”

God has had a history and will continue in the future to be greater than any man made god! — Revelation 22:13 “13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

“fine brass” or burnished bronze (polished until it gave your reflection) — A comparison of what they thought they saw and the truth Jesus saw.

They polished brass until it became mirror-like.

“feet” — they take you where you need to go.

TOGETHER…Jesus is saying, “I will show you who you are and take you in the direction of being a healthy church of truth if you repent.”

It also carries the implication of SEVER WARNING.

3) A Church Of Corruption

A. Words of false teaching were permitted

“Jezebel” (known as a sibal) — got her messages from the underworld and Apollo.

“sexual immorality” and “idols” — trade guilds

Reading the text in light of the text (think like a jewish Christian)

Psalm 2 & 118 — Son of God

1 & 2 Kings — Jezabel

Jeremiah 17 — hearts and minds

Numbers 24 — morning star

Daniel 10 — burnished bronze

4) A Church Jesus Loves

Notice the opportunity Jesus gives them to repent.

Notice the room Jesus grants them to continue.

Notice the promises and hope Jesus offers them.

God oddly likes to give forgiveness to those who will repent

Isaiah 55:6–9 “6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Closing thoughts:

It is vitally important for you to put God’s WORDS in you so God may USE YOU to put HIS WORDS into the lives of others.

LISTEN…if harmful and untruthful words are powerful, then how powerful are the words of almighty God!