What is Jesus saying to His Church? (5)

Winds of Doctrine

This morning, I’d like to start with the Scripture and then we’ll dive in and see what it says and how it applies to us as Christians today.

Revelation 2:18–29 NLT

“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: “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. “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. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. “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. 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. “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 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

What do we know about Thyatira?

Thyatira was about 65 kilometers southeast of Pergamum. In contrast to Pergamum, which was on was a fortress, Thyatira was found on a fertile plain.

It was a smaller city, but it was a city where there were many different trades, so many things were manufactured there.

There weren’t any major temples in Thyatira, but they did worship the emperor as well as Apollo as the guardian of their city. (LANTC)

Just as a note, Lydia, a woman who gave her life to Christ was from there.

Acts 16:14 NLT

One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

How does Jesus describe Himself?

Revelation 2:18 NIV

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Son of God

I find this interesting that He calls Himself the Son of God. This speaks to His deity.

Colossians 2:9 NLT

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Life Application New Testament Commentary (The Message to the Church in Thyatira / 2:18–29)

This sets him against Apollo and the emperor, who were said to be sons of the chief god, Zeus.

Whose eyes are like blazing fire...

and

His feet like burnished bronze.

Daniel 10:6 NLT

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.

Life Application New Testament Commentary (The Message to the Church in Thyatira / 2:18–29)

The blazing eyes indicate the penetrating power of his vision; the feet of bronze indicate strength for executing judgment.

Hebrews 4:12–13 NIV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Isaiah 11:1–5 NIV

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Jesus wanted the people from Thyatira to know that He is the One who sees all things and He will judge wickedness.

Jesus’ Commendation

Revelation 2:19 NLT

“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.

Jesus saw what they were doing, and He sees what you are doing and have done. Sometimes it seems like nobody sees what you have done, but Jesus sees your love for each other. He sees your faith and your faithfulness. He sees how you have persevered even when it was hard.

Galatians 6:7–10 NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Jesus’ Rebuke

Once again, as was the case for the church in Pergamum, there was compromise.

There was a corrupt woman that Jesus referred to as Jezebel that was teaching the people to live worldly lives. She taught them to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to participate in sexual immorality.

In Pergamum, they compromised by turning a blind eye to these sins, but in Thyatira, one who called herself a “Prophet” was misleading the people to sin.

Jezebel

I don’t know if that was her name or just a title, but in 1 KIngs, there was a woman who married Ahab, one of the kings of Israel.

She was wicked. She led the people of Israel to worship Baal and Asherah, and she had God’s prophets persecuted and put to death.

If you know the story of the prophet Elijah, you will know the story about Jezebel. She personified the most wicked woman that ever lived. If someone uses the term, “Jezebel”, that’s what they are referring to.

Winds of Doctrine

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Children of God

This week, read about a group that came out of the 1960’s. Yes lots of different religious groups emerged out of 1960’s California. This group was called “Children of God” but is now known as “The Family International.”

It was started David Berg. He grew up in an evangelical ministry home. His dad was a pastor and his mom was an evangelist. He was credentialed for a time with the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

He started this group up and before long, they were living communally with the commune being in charge of how your children were raised.

It seemed to start out like any other Christian group, but before long, Berg had divorced his wife, and married another. He began to promote polygamy as well as adulterous affairs within the group.

There are too many stories to tell about how Satan has misled Christians and deceived many with false teachings.

2 Timothy 4:3–5 NLT

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

Sin won’t go unpunished

Revelation 2:21–23 NLT

I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. “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. 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.

Finding balance

God is merciful and yet He is holy. God is full of grace and yet He is just. Time and time again in the Old Testament, He called His people to return to him and yet they refused, so He would take His protection off of them and allow other nations to punish them.

Jesus said that He gave Jezebel much time to repent, to turn from her evil heart, and she refused, so He was going to throw her on a bed of suffering.

This isn’t a blanket statement, but sickness is caused from the original sin. There are people that are sick because of their sin, but just because you are sick doesn’t mean that you have sinned.

There are times that we need to ask God if our sickness is a result of our sin, but the answer isn’t always yes. Godly people have sickness, but that doesn’t mean that we should settle for the sickness, but we must believe God’s word and stand on what He has said.

Psalm 103:2–3 NIV

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Isaiah 53:5 NLT

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Jezebel walked in rebellion, she refused to obey God, and she led others to do the same. if they refused to turn and obey God, God’s wrath would be on them too.

Lord give us hearts to follow you wholeheartedly and faithfully.

Jesus said,

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.

God knows our hearts. He knows our thoughts and our intentions and He will reward each according to what they have done.

Psalm 139:23–24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jesus’ encouragement

Revelation 2:24–25 NLT

“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 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.

To each of you who have walked faithfully and hold firmly to the word of God. Keep on persevering until Jesus coming. Hold on firmly to the truth you already confess and possess.

To the victorious

Revelation 2:26–29 NLT

To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Go in the name of the Lord and in the strength of His might. Go and make disciples. Walk in the power and the authority that is in the name of Jesus. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This authority is not a magic wand. It is the power of the living God that raised Christ Jesus from the dead. He has called us to bring life to those who are imprisoned and spiritually dead.

There is no power of hell that can stand against the name of Jesus and He has given us this same authority. Let’s be about the Father’s business.

I will give you The Morning Star

This refers to Jesus. He is the morning star.

Life Application New Testament Commentary (The Message to the Church in Thyatira / 2:18–29)

A morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is coldest and darkest. When the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bringing his promised reward.

The morning star may also picture the authority given to the saints because of their faithfulness.

Don’t give up! Press in! Take hold of the prize!

Revelation 22:12–17 NLT

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 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. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. “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.” 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.

Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!

Revelation 2:29 NLT

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Brothers and sisters, let’s be found in Christ. Living out the gospel each and every day! Serving and loving Jesus and loving each other.

Let’s pray!