Laissez-Faire Series

LAISSEZ-FAIRE

Revelation 2.18-29

S: Sin

C: Tolerance

Th: God Speaks to the Church

Pr: NEVER IGNORE SIN!

CV: We will passionately pursue full devotion to Jesus Christ.

I. THE CORRESPONDENT

II. THE CHURCH

III. THE COMMENDATION

IV. THE CONCERN

V. THE COMMAND

VI. THE COUNSEL

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Realize that orthodoxy and orthopraxy are essential partners.

• Let go of sin (it just slows you down and messes you up).

• Live with purity.

Version: ESV

RMBC 15 February 09 AM

INTRODUCTION:

This is a sobering time for our community.

• Green family

• Clarence Center

• Eliason family – explosions unnerved Debbie

• Students at Williamsville South lost their dad – I know that they are Joel’s friends

• UB professor – colleague of Mitsu Shimojo

• Chris Kausner lost sister – Chris was in stockade and played on our football team we used to have.

This has been a sad time for our area.

Many are suffering a lot of grief today.

It is a reminder to us…

When tragedy strikes, it is a reminder to examine one’s own life.

We do not know when our life is going to end.

We all desire to live a long, full life, where everything basically goes well.

But as we have experienced over the last few days, we know that does not always happen.

Sometimes, there is an interruption to our plans.

I will not pretend to understand the accident that occurred on Thursday evening.

But I do know this…we should never waste tragedy.

For tragedy is a sobering time.

It is a time to remember that we are not in control of all that happens in life.

It is a time to remember that life does not always goes as we have planned.

It is a time to remember that we need to be ready to meet God at any moment.

Note this…God would have us be ready.

He is communicating to us, gently and lovingly, if we will listen.

And sometimes, He allows circumstances to come into our lives to really wake us up.

OUR STUDY:

God is speaking.

That has been our theme as we have been studying Revelation: God speaks to the church.

I believe that God is still speaking to the church today.

And as we review what He has said to seven different churches, we are wise to consider what He might be saying to us as well.

(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. (19) I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. (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. (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 as your works deserve. (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. (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.”

I. THE CORRESPONDENT

Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of God.

This is a title of deity.

In other words, He is one with the Father.

They are of the same essence.

So His reassertion of this title communicates His authority.

He is in control.

The readers of this message need to understand this.

For…

Nothing can be hidden from Jesus.

He has x-ray vision.

His eyes are flames of fire.

They are penetrating.

He peers deep into our soul, seeing everything and knowing everything.

His feet are of bronze.

Bronze represents power here.