Thyatira: Tolerating the Intolerable
Series: The Church Restored
Sermon: Thyatira: Tolerating the Intolerable
Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29
One of the great things that the world of medicine has been trying to do is to teach preventive care. In other words, they want to teach people what is a healthy lifestyle and health living. And the concept is very simple: eat moderately, eat healthy and exercise daily. Too often, however, we haven’t listened to the good doctors and we have ended up abusing our own bodies by ingesting unhealthy substances and living sedentary lifestyles. That was not the way our bodies were created to operate. If you want a healthy body then there are certain things you must do.
What about a healthy church? Do we know what is required to have a healthy church? Jesus and the apostles have given us certain criteria that, if followed, will result in a healthy church. We are about as likely to follow the directions for a healthy church as we are to follow the directions for healthy living. Because the same principles of discipline, desire and determination are require to achieve a healthy body or a healthy church.
Jesus, through John’s vision, has sent 7 letters to 7 churches. In these letters Jesus is defining for us what is healthy and what is not. We’ve looked at 3 we’re on number 4: Thyatira. (Read text)
Lesson #1: A healthy church must be a balanced church. Ephesus had a clear understanding of truth, but had lost their love. Thyatira had a strong love—for the Lord, and for people—but they had fallen prey to false teachers. So, what’s the answer? Balance. Jesus arrived with an unusual balance in his life that was immediately recognized. He was filled with grace and truth. Too often churches are over balanced one way or the other.
Lesson #2: A healthy church cannot tolerate blatant sin. Look at what happened to Israel when one of their own was guilty of disobedience and what happened to the nation as a whole. Look at the church in Corinth. (Ask Bill to tell the story.) Let me correct a serious misunderstanding that has created a myriad of these problems. Your sin does not affect only you. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people (believers) say, “What I do doesn’t affect anyone but me.” That, my friends, is a lie that comes straight from hell and smells like smoke.
Lesson #3: A healthy church will not tolerate false teachers. Let’s make sure we understand the difference between false teachers who are spreading a false gospel, and those with whom we disagree on a point of doctrine or interpretation. Not everyone who disagrees with us is a false teacher. False teachers are those who would attempt to change the core, foundational doctrines of the faith. Are there false teachers today? Yes, and you don’t have to look very far to find them.
Lesson #4: A healthy church is one that honors Jesus with their lives. We must understand that Jesus is able to discern the hearts and minds of every person. (v. 23). You will not hear many teachers, preachers or evangelists mention this truth much anymore. It sounds too mystical. It’s a biblical truth that has not been taught much. But it’s there in Scripture and it’s true. Jesus knows your heart. He knows your thoughts. And He says “I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” To Jezebel he told her to repent, but she didn’t and he was going to lay her on a bed of suffering. And those who committed adultery with her would also suffer intensely. Excuse me, but isn’t that exactly what Jesus said he would do? By our actions we are either honoring or dishonoring the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus will give us time to repent, but he will not wait forever.
Good health is not as difficult as it seems. Certainly there are times when disease infects the body, but the worst abuse against our own bodies comes from our own hands. The same is true with the church body: the worst abuse against the body comes from our own hands. A healthy church is possible. Jesus has told us what is healthy. It’s up to us to be obedient.