Tolerating Jezebel

Revelation 2:18-26 Letter to the Church in Thyatira

God Greets the Church

God has a specific purpose in addressing this Church and that purpose is no different than He has in addressing our church today.

A look at the city: Thyatira was a city with no natural defences. They were not up on a hill and was subject to predators and military invasion.

The inhabitants of the city however was a strong and formidable force and had strength. They were descendants of Macabean soldiers and had retained much of their military training and strength down through the generations.

They were in a very strategic location for commerce and the area had very fertile soil promoting good crop harvests and commerce.

They were renowned for their making of textiles and armor of bronze.

Their commercial success was part of the problem that the inhabits and the church had.

They had trade guilds and to be able to sell and be a successful business owner the individuals had to be part of a trade guild.

The bad thing about this was that paganism was entrenched in the trade guilds.

Members of the guilds had to attending meetings/pagan celebrations where idols were worshiped and the food that was served was first sacrificed to the idols.

This need to be a guild and to be a part of it to be able to be “successful” by that times measure of worldly success made sure that all the successful were part of a guild. This basically required them to partake in worship of false gods and to participate in idolatry.

This is not much different from how the enemy operates today sneaking paganism and idolatry into our modern day church in America..... and yes even right here in Brundidge, Alabama.

We have a burning need and desire to be successful, to meet the status quo, to participate in certain activities and things to attain a certain social status/station.

sports

jobs

education

etc...

These things, which in themselves, are not necessarily bad but when they become what we are serving and focusing on in place of God they become idols!

We in America are indoctrinated from an early age to pursue wealth and success to live the American dream. To become better and better with each passing generation!

However we do not see that we are wretched, poor and naked! We think we have it all yet are lacking what truly matters- Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 8:17–19 NKJV

17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.

We cannot bow down to organization, plans or anything else that does not exalt our Lord! We are to take no part in them and are to come out of them!

We view success through deceptive lenses. That is how the enemy operates through the power of deceit and witchcraft- to keep the Truth Hidden- that's what the occult is, that what witchcraft does

it keeps hidden the truths of the things God has revealed and it is from the enemy and has blinded millions upon millions both within and outside the church!

For example: look at church responses to covid 19- an outright forsaking of God’s Word and command to not forsake the assembling together of yourselves.

Also look at a ballgame and our response to it and how blinded we are to Truth. Let a football game go into overtime and the crowd and players go wild cheering on their team, celebrating in the excitement!! But let church last a little overtime, let a small group class go over time.... and we have a response and we make some noise but it is certainly not celebrating what God is doing in that moment but instead of grumbling and complaining that we can’t leave and go do the things we want to do!

Oh how the powers of the enemy has blinded us to the truth and how we refuse to acknowledge it!

We measure success upon how far we go in our education, how good of a job we have and how big of a house. The vacations we can go on etc..

and in the church the numbers that attend, how much money is coming in the offerings each week

We are blind to the truth! We are not to pursue these things but instead should measure our success based upon Truth- God’s Word

How Holy are we becoming?

How burdened are we for the lost and seeing them saved?

How much do we desire to know God?

Read His Word

Talk with Him

Blinded are our hearts and mind, cold calloused hearts of stone set upon self and the idols of this world.

So yes this message today is for us! This church. This people.

Proverbs 3:1–5 NKJV

1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

God measures success by our living obedience to Him! Our pursuit of Him. The way that we treat others in forgiveness and love and longsuffering. The way we trust in Him. The way that we get our understanding from Him and His ways not ours!

This love of money and worldly success. Our drive and desire to be popular.... to be in a certain social network is nothing more that idolatry! No where in these pursuits and at no time do we every stop and consider that TRUE SUCCESS IS ONLY IN GODLY OBEDIENCE AND IF I AM LIVING IN OBEDIENCE I WILL NOT BE POPULAR, I WILL BE HATED, JUST AS JESUS WAS!!

God reveals Himself

God the Son- Jesus Christ addresses Himself as: “the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass- Revelation 2.18

Revelation 2:18 (NKJV)

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

He is exalting His diving position as the Lord and stating the fact that no other idol or false god can stand before Him

When we stand before Him our educations, our credentials, our bank accounts, the worldly successes we pursue today, or talents in athletics or music etc.... WILL NOT MATTER UNLESS THESE THINGS WERE USED TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND NOT OURSELVES!

In Jesus’ address of Himself He is directly opposing the man made strength of the trade guilds that fashioned bronze armor which was as source of great pride for the people at Thyatira.

He is saying He sees all and that nothing remains hidden from Him.\

He is saying that the fires used to melt down and mold the bronze armor, and gold coins that the citizens were worshipping is nothing as HE AND HE ALONE is the source of the fires.

He is saying that prosperity and success can be found in Him and Him alone as He is the only source of it and pursuing it in anything else is bowing down to false gods and allowing ourselves to become under the influence of the power of the enemy which will lead deeper into a hiding of the Truth of God!

Take no part in these things folks

and if someone you now is leading you to take part in them or enabling you to take part in them or encouraging you to join them in pursuing these things FLEE FROM THEM. They are not a true friend. If they can sit around and gossip and lie about someone else you better believe they can do the same to you! Have no part in the works of darkness. COME OUT OF IT.... DO YOU NOT KNOW YOU ARE CALLED TO BE SET APART- A HOLY, OBEDIENT LIVING SACRIFICE TO GOD!

Now to live we must have some money and to get money we must work. God is not telling us to not work… in fact He tells us in His word that if we don’t work we don’t deserve to eat!

He is telling us not to compromise and use the money we work for to do things that are not of God! Not to pursue money above Him.

The pursuit of the American dream is indoctrinated into each and every American child from a young age and it is from the deepest darkest pitt of Hell and is nothing more that leading our children into the snares of the Devil. Teach your children to pursue God and you live out an example on how to pursue God yourself in all your ways and actions

what you watch on TV

the words you say

how you talk about other people

how you spend your time

When we bow down to immorality, to sin and compromise to achieve worldly success we are guilty of the same sins that was occuring in the Church at Thyatira.

God is addressing the sins of compromise, such as eating and digesting the words of the enemy and believing Satan’s lies over God’s Words of Truth!

Have we given place to Jezebel? Are we under this false teaching and belief system of our world and many of our churches today? What about at home MOM AND DAD what are you teaching your kids?

To pursue the world

To gossip

To go after popularity

OR TO PURSUE THE THINGS OF GOD....... ANYTHING SHORT OF PURSUING THE THINGS OF GOD IS YOU MOM AND DEAD LEADING AND GUIDING YOUR CHILDREN INTO HELL!! STOP IT!

You see God has made me aware of a gossip problem in our Church and of individuals trying to manipulate others. You see the kids doing the same thing! WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN??

LET US CRY OUT AT THE ALTER OF REPENTANCE FOR OUR SINS AND FOR LEADING OUR CHILDREN ASTRAY!!

MAY GOD GRANT US MERCY AND MAY BE DO BETTER!

HIS EYES ARE LIKE FIRE- THEY HAVE ALREADY SEEN OUR SIN BUT FIRE CAN PURIFY AND CLEAN US UP IF WE LET HIM

WE CAN PLACE OUR SELF AT HIS FEET OF FINE BRASS AND THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS RECEIVE FORGIVENESS IF WE IN REPENTANCE COME TO HIM TODAY!

Man made idols of this world are not match for Jesus Christ. The demonic forces associated with those idols are no match for Jesus Christ. His purifying consuming eyes of Fire and His mighty unbreakable feet of bronze has trampled upon the enemy and it is casting down every stronghold and work of the enemy for the GLORY OF GOD!

Pray 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Christ’s Commendation:

He commends them for their love, faith, service and endurance. Without love we are just making noise!! We can sing and do good works but if not done in love then God is not pleased! The enemy, just as Jezebel did and does, works to stop this expression of love and gets our focus opon ourself. We become selfish and put our desires above God’s!

serving with youth, late night talks and visit, leaving family behind

but Spirit of God worked in obedience and in our surrender and sacrifice

Some have said we are under attack by the devil and yes to a degree we are as a church but part of it is because we entertain and enjoy his company and ways!

Another part of it is because many are trying and desperately seeking God.... especially some of these youth! Moms and Dads don’t work against it.... you get put in a very dangerous place spiritually and physically. Coming against the Holy Spirit of God! Many your mouths be shut tight and your every world be guarded by the Sprit of Truth!

Once a group or a church gets focused on seeking God, once they fervently start praying, once they start denying themselves and following Jesus the full forces of the enemy are put on alert and begin waging a full out assault against God’s people!

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

This battle, this attack has assured victory through the Blood of Jesus Christ if we repent and turn to Him and fall on our faces seeking Him!

Those who call upon the name of the lord shall be delivered!

Joel 2:32 KJV 1900

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, As the Lord hath said, And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

START BATTLING FOR YOU CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE SOULS IN OUR FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS THAT ARE GOING TO HELL!

Plead the blood of Jesus, Ask His Spirit to draw and convict and grant repentance, belief and faith.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Pray the Word of Truth over your families and yourself and live it!

Christ’s Condemnation

those that tolerate the teachings of Jezebel and give into the lies and words of the Devil are under condemnation

Many profession Christians love to twist scripture when it comes to this.

We take great comfort in scripture that says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus so all this is covered by the blood and the sacrifice of Jesus, I believe it so this doesn’t apply to me Amen!

BUT KEEP READING THE WORD

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If we are walking according to the flesh pursuing the things of the world but not the things of God then WE ARE STILL UNDER CONDEMNATION!

And we often are leading our families into it also!

so many churches today are being led by the flesh and doctrines of devils

we must allow God to awaken us.... to remove the blindness from our hearts and minds so that the Truth can be received by each of us!

pray open eyes and search our hearts:

Psalm 139:23 (NKJV)

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

These verses in revelation speaks of spiritual adultery and partaking of the devil’s food or words/lies.

spiritual adultery is fornication, spiritual immorality is partaking of idols

FOLKS ANYTHING THAT COMES BETWEEN US AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST IS CONSIDERED BY HIM TO BE AN IDOL!

What rules your life?

job

money

your children/family

Does pleasure have first place?

Do our selfish desires come before Him?

How about food, television/entertainment, social media, sports?

How about religion?

If the enemy cant seduce us with immorality, he entices us with religion and legalism.f

We don't’ owe allegiance to a church, we have allegiance to Christ.

Our first loyalty is to Him

We are to be God pleasers, not man pleasers

Christ’s warning

consequences of just tolerating idolatry… Jezebel will be cast into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her. Her followers will be open to sickness and disease. Great tribulation will come to them- tremendous pressure, affliction and great distress if we continue to tolerate and fail to repent.

But God

He forever is encouraging us to repent that we may experience forgiveness that is available to all through the cross of Jesus Christ.

This surrender leads to reward to all who overcome: the reward is Christ!