7 Churches - Thyatira
Notes
Transcript
This morning we embark upon our 4th church in our series of the 7 Churches of Revelation.
We now travel from the church furthest north and begin going south. Thyatira was considered a gateway to Pergamum - it was an inland community with a stopping road for commerce.
It was not steeped with the depth of RELIGIOUS CENTERS for the Greek Gods or for Caesar Worship - which meant that the Christians were not experiencing a great degree of persecution. There was a well know female fortune teller, some temples for worship (though not large hubs, and one in particular for Apollos the sun God - which some feel is why Jesus referenced the Morning Star in this passage.
In many ways the city was the least important of all the cities we see letters to, but that does not meant the church was the least.
The background to this city that becomes really important is that it was a center for various trade guilds.
Cloth making, garments, linen, wool, pottery, bakers, cloth dying (Lydia at Philippi came from here), bronze workers, and slave trade are amongst the trades in this city. The guilds here would hold some real power over tradesman to conduct business and sell wares, etc.
Although it was more blue collar, it was also small business, so being a part of the guild was critical to survival financially.
A guild is like a union today or a chamber. It created guidelines for pricing, where one could sell, you would pay a fee to be a member - and it was very important to do our modern networking to be a member which meant participation.
Now, taking that into account, the common place to network was at feasts offered in temples and in and amongst the community of pagan practices - this just like today could mean brokering power, engagement in partying, sexual practices, and the like as being a part of society.
To not participate in these idol feasts would put you at a great disadvantage. These feasts began with meat offerings offered to idols and these feasts were know for drunkeness, revelry and slack morality.
The church at Thyatira appeared sucessful in many ways (probably had generous contributions from its business owners, etc.) It was thriving in activity, providing services for those in need, etc.
Think of many churches today we see as big, offering multiple ministries, having an appearance of doing much for the community and having resources.
But under the surface of the church was an element of compromise that was greatly concerning.
18 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:
19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.
22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.
23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you
25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.
28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
1. The Lord Who Sees All
1. The Lord Who Sees All
This passage opens with a description of Christ that takes us back to the book of Daniel...
Son of God whose eyes are like flames of fire and feet are like polished bronze...
6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
The blazing eyes are symbolic of God’s anger at sin.
I understand that God is full of grace, but you are aware that sin makes Him angry?!
This week I reposted a meme that a parent asks - God, Why don’t my kids listen to me, and God’s reply was - LOL
We don’t listen to God - we can be very disobedient.
The penetration of the gaze in Christ’s eyes points to His ability to see into the heart of man- the very depth of what is inside.
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Yikes, God sees into our very souls. --- He has given us the tool of God’s Word to convict us of what is right and wrong, but don’t think we can disguise our hearts and motives from Him...
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
We will be held accountable for what we do with His WORD in our lives!!!!
Therefore his bronze feet - speak to us of his power and judgment!
Christ is powerful and unchanging - durable like bronze, but more than anything, we see bronze as a symbol in the Temple of God in the outer court representing judgment.
Jesus approaching the church at Thyatira is a little intimidating, He is basically saying I can see through your outside to your inside and discern your heart and I come in my power to judge!
So, when Christ appears and recognizes
their love
faith
service
patient endurance
Continuous improvement in these things
We see a church on the outside that looks highly succesful!!!
Everyone is happy, loving each other and God (Love Jesus, love people)
Faithful to their community of believers and working to promote the Kingdom of God
Growing in this stuff...
What could be wrong --- the fact that what is often seen on the outside does not mean there is not something wrong under the surface.
(this week I watched a documentary on the Shanann Watts story of how her husband Chris killed her and her two children and unborn child - everything on the facebook feed looked good! Loving husband, nice home, beautiful kids, a new baby coming, and even though there were some texts between them that depicted some rough spots - her willingness to work through...
Under the surface however was adultery on his part… he thought he could have his family and another lover - and when the gig was up, he killed his family for his lover)
THIS IS JESUS ISSUE WITH THIS CHURCH
2. Don’t Two Time Jesus
2. Don’t Two Time Jesus
Interestingly enough this passage deals highly with a woman called Jezebel from the Old Testament.
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab, and she came to Israel from a pagan country and brought her idolatry to Baal with her. She was ok if the Israelites still worshipped God, as long as they incorporated Baal into the mix!!!
Likewise there was a woman in this church, most likely, who was leading the Christians of Thyatira and telling them it was OK to participate in idolatry in addition to Jesus.
She was teaching them to COMMIT SPIRITUAL ADULTERY!!!
It was easy to do as the demand to participate in the many guilds of the business and trades demanded their participation. It was removing the guilt - perhaps the easy - well you have to do what you do to earn a living!!!!
However, this interaction with the guilds was leading people into sinful lives and compromise.
How much of SIN IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY is COMPROMISE so we can blend with others for the sake of fitting in and MAKING MONEY!!!
Christ promises JUDGEMENT for this. SICKNESS and DEATH! Getting what you deserve.
What was that Scripture in
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
We spoke of this last week, NO MAN wants a bride who has been rolling in the mud with another man and shows up filthy to the wedding!
Neither does Jesus! (Same goes to you men, your wives want a faitfhul man who keeps himself only for her.)
The greatest sin of Israel led by Jezebel was their hearts being carried away to other idols on earth.
MONEY, PLEASURE, SIN, SEXUAL IMMORALITY
This topic of sexual immorality has arisen again. can I make this easy...
SEX IN MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND WOMAN IS BEAUTIFUL - anything else is IMMORAL.
Pornography, homosexuality, pre or extra marital sex, pedophilia, beastialiity, looking, thinking, dating apps, sexting, living together outside of marriage — CMON CHURCH - stop excusing it!
Spiritual adultery is also as bad!
They were coming up with some “deeper truth” or Understanding to falsely teach all this was ok --- just like many churches today are trying to embrace or ignore these sins - but Jesus called these truths the depths of Satan in v 24
3. Rewards for FAITHFULNESS
3. Rewards for FAITHFULNESS
Just like all the other churches so far, to overcome in these areas, Christ promises reward to His people!
He says in v. 25 to hold tightly to what you have (in Christ) until He Comes!!!
Those who are victorious will...
Give them authority over the nations - they will rule with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots...
Ok, for all those who get frustrated with wickedness in government --- those who chose righteousness in our lives now - will reign with Christ later!!!!
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’ ”
We will stand in HIS authority over the nations and rule.
In addition, He mentions will give them the Morning Star — this may be a reference to the temple of Apollo in their city - the SUN GOD - as The Morning Star is the real light! and Jesus is that Morning Star.
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
He is promising the gift of HIMSELF for them to dwell in HIS LIGHT
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
So, once again in concluding, Jesus closes by saying -
Hear what I am saying to you and to the churches!!!!
We are living in the last days, Jesus is coming soon, we need to have our lives in order before the Lord!!! We need to listen to the message He is speaking to us!
What will you do with this Word of the Lord today?
- Is there immorality in your heart and life?
- Do you come to church and even participate and grow and yet you have another spiritual love you are committing adultery with?
- Is the pursuit of acceptance and success in society more important to you than success in your relationship with Jesus??
Now is the time to make things right and hear what Christ is saying to your life!