Out of the frying pan
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And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
Thyatira - Not a lot known about he church.
Only a little is known about the city of Thyatira.
Trading town. It’s position in relation to Pergamum means that Pergamum was to be attacked, they would have to go through Thyatira. So the city would have been destroyed, and rebuilt and then destroyed an rebuilt again. This and its position in relation to trading, meant that it was a hub for trading guilds.
It was known for wool-workers, linen workders, makers of outer garments, leather workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers and bronze-smiths. Also it was known for a particulart purple dye made from resources found near the city.
First European convert:
14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Lydia and her family most likely started the church in Thyatira.
Longest of all the messages to the churches.
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you.
25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;
27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also 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.’
Jesus’ introduction:
In chapter 1 John describes the Lord Jesus Christ with different attributes.
In the introduction of these messages to the churches, Jesus highlights a different attribute, depending on the message he has for that church.
Here it is
The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feel are like burnished bronze…..
The only time is Rev that Jesus is referred to as Son of God. In Chapter 1, it is one like the Son of Man, which, while references His deity, it highlights His connectedness with mankind.
The Son of God reference highlights His Power and Authority over Man.
Eyes like a flame of fire. He sees all. Nothing escapes his gaze….
Feet like burnished bronze. His imminent judgement.
I KNOW
I KNOW
19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
Every church has it’s own feel. When people come here, they are met with something that doesn’t look like a church. It has a very informal feel and down to earth real people. You can’t really hide in a church this small but you look around an don’t feel like anyone is judging you by how you are dressed.
Last week I went back to FBC Kennett for the funeral of my HS best friend’s mom. The stained glass windows and the dark wood around the pulpit. It was old. The people were old. Because I had my white beard, most of the people there didn’t recognize me. I know this, because they told me that. When they figured out who I was I immediately went from being treated like an outsider to family. (Which is ,and as long as I can remember, always been the feel of that church.)
The church in Thyatira had its own feel (characteristics) that made it unique.
Jesus points them out:
Love, faith, service and perseverance. Not only that, they were growing in their good deeds.
But they had a big problem!
20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Her name was most likely not Jezebel.
Adolph, Judas?
In 1 and 2 Kings you can read about the most evil King to every rule Israel. King Ahab. His wife’s name was Jezebel and she led the Jewish people away from God and toward Baal worship. She had people killed, she arranged false witnesses against one man, which got him stoned to death, because her husband wanted his vinyard.
She was evil. Her end can be found in 2 Kings 9. There God says that the whole house of Ahab would be wiped out… and as for Jezebel, The Lord said, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel , and none shall bury her.”
SO….None is going to name their baby girl Jezebel…..
But this woman in the Thyatira was doing the same things that the original Jezebel did.
Calls herself a prophetess: She was claiming to speak for God.
Leads My bond-servants: Saints. Saved people.
Acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.: The best way to think of this is to think categorically.
Acts of immorality: Even without God’s Word, because you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, you know right from wrong. So did they, but the lie is appealing.
Adam and Eve….They knew that God said not to eat of the knowledge of good and evil, but the lie was attractive.
Eat things sacrificed to Idols: To not hold sacred that which God calls sacred.
Put them together: Promote self and make God subservient to man.
For the Christians in Thyatira, they would have been under a great deal of pressure to conform to the world. To make money there you would most likely have to be in the trades. To trade freely you would have to be in a guild (union). To fit in with the guild, you would be pressured to do the things they did.
So….Having one of your church leaders tell you, “God say’s is OK to do what you want.”
We see this lie today……God Loves you just how you are, and you don’t have to change to please HIM.
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Her condition:
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
Judgement:
22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
Her deeds…..turn away from.
23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
Children: inner circle.
Make an example out of her……
Ananias and Sapphira……..
Give each according to your deeds…..
You are riding down the road, doing the speed limit. Got your endorsement, insurance and tags are up to date. And you get pulled over…..
Grace or Justice?
You decide to clean out your pipes and are doing 84 in a 45.
Grace or Justice?
Your righteousness is like filthy rags…..
24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you.
25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
What burden is there? Deal with the sin in the church.
Those that were committing the acts with her need to repent. Those that weren’t need to pull this false doctrine out by the roots.
Promise
26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;
27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also 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.’
Are you listening? If you have been listening, then you see a formula for how churches fall.
Ephesus: Loose sight of our first love: Christ.
Face tribulation and temptation: Smyrna.
Tolerate sin: Pergamum.
Promote Sin: Thyatira.
The United Methodist Church affirms human sexuality "as a sacred gift and acknowledge that sexual intimacy contributes to fostering the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of individuals and to nurturing healthy sexual relationships that are grounded in love, care and respect." (2024 Book of Discipline, Paragraph 162.C). This applies to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Further, The United Methodist Church affirms that Christian marriage is "a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another" (Paragraph 162.D).
Are you listening?
