Avoiding False Teachers

Good morning, beloved congregation! It's a joy to be here with you, standing on the solid ground of God's truth, ready to open His Word together. We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. And we are not here to hear the words of a man, but to hear from the God who fashioned us, who knows us, and who loves us with an everlasting love.

[Title: Avoiding False Teachers]

As we continue in our series of Jesus’ letters to the seven churches, we will be turning to the second chapter of Revelation, verses 18 to 29. This is a passage that speaks to us across centuries, echoing with the voice of the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's a passage that challenges us, that warns us, and that calls us to a higher standard of faithfulness and purity.

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: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.

And I will give to each one of you according to your works. “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Revelation 2:18-29

So, my church family, what does this passage say to us today? How does it challenge us? How does it call us to faithfulness and purity? Let's consider these questions as we look at our first main point: Discerning Deception in Doctrine. Which is a way of saying: are we rightly reading, understanding, and teaching the word of God so that we know when someone is trying to pull the spiritual wool over our eyes.

Discerning Deception in Doctrine

In the passage we just read, we found a church in Thyatira that was commended for their deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance. Yet, they were also reprimanded for tolerating false teaching within their midst. This false teaching was personified in the figure of Jezebel, a woman who was leading God's servants astray. Note that the actual meaning of the phrase “that woman” in our scripture refers to the pastor’s wife. Jesus is literally saying: “You are allowing your wife to corrupt the church.” The church in Thyatira was failing to discern deception in doctrine. Now, this does bring into question those churches that treat the First Lady of the church as co-pastor…which is unbiblical and leads to the problem Jesus spells out in the church of Thyatira.

We live in a world that is filled with various voices and teachings. Some of these teachings align with God's Word, while others do not. As followers of Christ, we are called to discern between truth and deception. This is not always an easy task. It requires us to be grounded in God's Word, to be led by His Spirit, and to be vigilant in our pursuit of truth.

The first thing we need to about discerning deception in doctrine is understanding the importance of sound doctrine. Doctrine is not just a set of beliefs that we hold. It is the foundation upon which we build our lives. It shapes our understanding of God, of ourselves, and of the world around us. Sound doctrine leads us to a right relationship with God, while false doctrine leads us away from Him, and is geared to lead you toward the one delivering the message. That is one of the first signs of false teachings, when God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are just a little blip in the church teachings, while the leaders and the church are at the forefront. I was at a place once, where they never gave God praise, but heaped up a lot of praise for the founder of the organization…the beginning of false doctrine being preached.