Thyatira
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Playing hockey
Uh oh, that goalie has nice gear! Probably has an NHL contract in the works...
He was TERRIBLE! We blew them out like 11-2!
Sometimes the outside doesn’t matter
It’s the inside that counts
YouVersion Bible App: Thyatira - Rev 2: 18-29
Head East to Thyatira from Pergamum
Least of all 7 cities - but longest letter
Known for textiles (wool, linen, leather) and bronzework
Big trade union - each with gods
Not a religious city, so not as much persecution
But trade gods demanded worship
Ceremonies had wine, dinner and orgy
Could lose job without participating
Perhaps reached by Pauls converts in Ephesus
Hometown of Lydia - Acts 16 - A seller of purple who cared for Paul, Silas and Timothy on their journey
Women were powerful in Thyatira (designing women)
That’s why you see a powerful woman is the problem for church
Jesus Introduction
Jesus Introduction
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Ephesus - holds the stars
Remember Jesus is the one it’s all about - don’t forget first love
Smyrna - First and last who conquered death
Jesus has eternal victory - don’t worry about persecution
Pergamum - Sharp two-edged sword
He is the powerful Word of God - seek truth
Thyatira:
Son of God - points to His deity
Eyes of Fire - signifies judgement
Jesus is called Kardiognostes (the heart knower)
He sees all, and punishes
Fire purifies, and so He sees truth
We’ll see why He judges in a minute
Feet like burnished bronze - He stands pure and firm
Strongest metal at time - something these bronze-workers understood
For Them
For Them
19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
Thyatira
Thyatira
I know your works: Insignificant city, but Jesus still paid attention
They have love, faith, service and patience
Sounds like a model church!
Likely largely because of the powerful women in the church!
Best part is latter exceeds the first
Means they are improving!
That’s why its about progress not perfection
CrossPoint
CrossPoint
Do we have works of love, faith, service and patience?
Specifically, do our women encourage this?!
I’d say we do all those things
But our women are especially good at them!
Sometimes Tash comes home to talk about women’s stuff
I get a little jealous, ain’t gonna lie!
Man, I don’t have a secret sister telling me how great I am and buying me stuff!
We have fantasy football, talking trash about how terrible the other guy is!
About how Scott lost to Uriah after having only 2 losses all year!
Seriously, I do believe Jesus would commend us - specifically in areas of love and faith
And I look forward to progress
I believe God has some big things for us this year
Once the COVID stuff is lifted I’m hoping for green flag racing
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
Thyatira
Thyatira
Angry guys at the mill - Dan Howard and Steve Miller
Dan kicking the bump stop
Steve shattering the glass in the door
People were scared, but also too scared to say something
They had write ups, days off, anger management… but not fired
They were tolerated
Problem 1: They were dangerous and unhealthy
Problem 2: Everyone allowed it
To change the saying
Mistreat me once, shame on you
Mistreat me twice, shame on me
That’s what happened here - they tolerated a bad girl...
Ever see “Who’s on First?” by Abbott and Costello?
Talking about the names of the guys on a baseball team
Who’s on 1st, What’s on 2nd I Don’t Know’s on 3rd
Who’s on 2nd? No! Who’s on First! I don’t know!
No! He’s on 3rd!
It’s a classic! Link is in YouVersion Bible App
There’s another story similar to “Who’s on First?”
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
They had a problem that was everyones responsibility, but nobody did anything
Maybe they’re afraid, maybe uninvested, maybe just didn’t notice!
Sometimes we miss what’s in front of us
How many of us has notices that we have 7 churches and 7 colors?
Thyatira is red, Pergamum blue, Smyrna yellow, Ephesus green, etc.
Sometimes we miss stuff
I don’t know why Jezebel was tolerated, but she was
This isn’t literally Jezebel
Some woman with too much power doing bad things
Some think she was even the pastors wife
Don’t even think about calling Tash, Jenny or Jess Jezebel!
Symbolic name from OT
Not a nice name at all!
Like me saying, “Whatever you say Hitler!”
Who was Jezebel?
Read about her in 1 Kings
King Ahab was the worst king ever - married Jezebel who brought Baal worship
Baal was the popular God - Israelites were torn
So Elijah challenges prophets of Baal to burn a sacrifice and God showed up
All Baal prophets killed and Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah
She did lots of horrible things
Elijah later prophesied that she would die and her corpse eaten by dogs
Which it was...
It means something that Jesus called this woman at Thyatira “Jezebel”
Jesus tells us why:
“teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols”
Probably those union meetings I mentioned
You may have noticed a theme
Jesus complaints have been uniform
Thom Rainer - Top 5 things churches fight over
1. Changing service times
2. Dealing with moral failure
3. Length of services
4. How much power the congregation/elders/pastors have
5. Worship style
Jesus has only referenced the moral behavior one
Really, Jesus is upset about one thing! False teaching...
Now, in the next 3 churches He’ll talk about other stuff...
But the first 4 all have doctrine problems
It is important that we learn from this - PLEASE check my teaching!
After the message, open Scripture yourself and study!
God is VERY concerned about what we believe! We should be too!
For Jezebel, Jesus gave her time, but she wouldn’t listen
Now He’s upset that the church is allowing it!
And so He does this:
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
Wow, Jesus is really mad!
Jesus shows two sides here
First, His mercy
Although Jezebel was sinful, He gave her a chance to repent
Second, His judgment
God gives us all time to repent...
But it’s not unlimited
Receiving grace doesn’t mean sin doesn’t matter
We have to take our sin seriously
Amaka Imani Nkosazana: “When God takes out the trash, don't go digging back through it. Trust Him.”
CrossPoint
CrossPoint
Fortunately, we don’t have this exact struggle
Ladies, you are phenomenal!
No one eats food sacrificed to idols...
The truth, I probably don’t know about a lot of your sin
And you don’t know mine
We’ve got be honest about that
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
Remember, the church is good at love, faith, service and patience
Outwardly it looks great!
But the bigger problem is hidden...
Its not the sin itself, it’s the heart!
The problem with Jezebel isn’t her immorality or idolatry - that’s the symptom
It’s her heart - Jesus is upset about unrepentant sin!
Thyatira was filled with fashionable women - concerned about the appearance
This is something we struggle with as individuals
In church you have to look pulled together
Afraid to admit the sin in your life, so you put on a smile
Inside, sin is tearing you apart
You’d ask for help but what would people think?
Eh, as long as I look good outside we can forget inside
Take the Packers
Ugliest uniforms in football - Colors are green and yellow
Only better than the Browns...
Their stadium is junk - built in the 50’s, sit outside, even still has bleachers!
Their fans actually wear cheese on their head
But the Lions!
The Lions uniforms look great - Honolulu blue and silver
Their stadium is a dome built in 2002
Lions fans… wear bags on their head
Why? Went 5-11 - haven’t won a playoff game since I was 6!
The Lions just hired 4th GM and 12th head coach since 2000!
Who did they get? Their former TE!
The one who helped them win?
No, the one who played when they became first to go 0-16!
Yet the Packers are playing in the conference championship today
Working on going for their 13th championship!
I’ll tell you this, as a Lions fan, it’s not the appearances that matter
It’s about the inside, the heart!
You think you’re a good Christian if you look good and your sins are hidden?
WRONG! God doesn’t give a rip about your outside!
He ONLY cares about your heart
So what do I do? Am I responsible for everyone’s sin?!
Encouragement
Encouragement
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.
You can’t stop everyone with force...
Jesus says don’t listen to false teaching, seek truth, don’t tolerate it, and you’re good!
He doesn’t expect anything else from those who are not participating with Jezebel
Same goes for us!
If we can keep unrepentant sin out of our lives, we’re good!
For us, we are to keep doing good - even when others fall!
Ravi Zacharias, Carl Lentz, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakkar...
People leave the church - I understand a fresh start, but leaving the CHURCH?!
No, no, no… We put our hope in God, not man
Leaders WILL fail you! We’re human!
Jesus didn’t expect anyone to stop being a part in Thyatira
He expected the church to remove that person
And then to continue in their faith
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself 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 promises that we will rule with him!
Not the only place we learn this:
3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
And so God’s people will reign with Jesus
And then Jesus says
“and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”
Jesus is quoting Psalm 2 - a POWERFUL Psalm!
Essentially, just as the Father shares in power with the Son
The Son will share in power with us!
Someday, if you believe, you will be a ruler!
Because you will gain the “Morning Star”
Rev. 22 tells us what that is...
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The brightest star of all!
The one that still shines even as daylight breaks
The best reward of all! A relationship with the Creator! The Son of God!
What an opportunity! Must be for special people!
Well, Jesus closes with His repeated phrase
He who has an ear, let him hear
That means this message is for? EVERYONE!
Closing
Closing
Basically we have a choice for our outcome
The deep things of Satan, or the heights of the Morning Star!
Why do we do what we do?
Tony Robbins says humans have 6 needs
These are what motivate to do things
1. Certainty
Without certainty, you can’t focus on anything else
If you weren’t certain the floor wouldn’t cave, you wouldn’t listen!
But if everything is certain, it also gets boring!
2. Variety
We need things to change
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t!
Who wants to eat the same thing for dinner every night?
3. Significance
You want to matter, be unique, be special
I always say I want to be different just like everyone else!
You can quote that...
We don’t want to crawl around our planet for 80 yrs and disappear
Tash never wants to live in a housing tract
Marshall wants to have plugs in his ears
I want to be a Lions fan
4. Connection
We want to connect and love other people and other things
Who doesn’t love to see their dog wagging their tail when you walk in?!
We are meant to connect with each other
5. Growth
We desire to improve
Judi got promoted - manager at Goodwill on University - she’s pumped!
Why? She’s progressing, getting better, she’s growing!
When things stop growing, they start dying!
6. Contribution
We do things that we will never get our return on
A fireman dies saving a child from a burning building
A soldier jumps on a grenade to save his buddies
Why? Yes, to be a hero...
But he/she will never experience that
They’ll never see the reward, their dead
There’s something in us that makes us want something bigger than us to win
Even if there’s no personal reward
I think Tony Robbins is right, but I think he’s slightly off
He presents this as if we do things to fulfill these needs
But what if we actually have these needs to help us do these things
And we do these things to fulfill God’s purpose!
And Satan’s game is to get us to believe our needs are greater than our purpose
That would be a very clever strategy wouldn’t it?!
Certainty
Our need for certainty give God a chance to work in our lives
When we trust that HE is the source of our security, that need is filled
But we try to replace that with security cameras, planning and worry!
2. Variety
God has given us plenty of variety!
We have different gifts, relationships, adventures, and natural beauty
But we replace that with sin! We become gluttons for variety
I don’t want just one sexual partner, just one God, just one sober view of life!
3. Significance
Your significance comes from God
He is the one that adds worth to your being
He designed you to be unique, special
You matter because you matter to Him!
But we replace that with titles, accolades and even problems
I need special treatment because I struggle with this or that
We seek fame, but even that is fleeting
Who was president between Clevelands two split terms?
Benjamin Harrison
Very famous, one of most powerful in the world - no one knows his name
How many other millions go on and aren’t remembered by the world
And yet Scripture says God knows every detail about YOU
4. Connection
God gives us healthy connection and love
He created marriage, children, the church community
He even allows us to pray to connect with Him
And yet we replace that with abusive relationships, drinking buddies and false spiritual experiences
5. Growth
God has designed us to grow
Even Jesus had to grow and learn
God designed us to grow, to improve and make progress
But the same thing applies, if you’re not growing you’re dying
6. Contribution
God has given plenty greater than ourselves
Think of the martyrs, the persecuted, the saints...
Jesus tells us to think of others as greater than ourselves
Remember the Gifted series?
God gave us all different gifts to edify the church
Not for us, but the church...
If these are our needs, they can ALL be filled with God
Or we can fall short by substituting Him with other things
There’s a name for that: idolatry
This is why it comes down to your heart
Will you seek fulfillment in God
Or will you worship another idol?
Today is the day, let God be your only source
Prayer
Prayer