REVEALING THE REVELATION –PART 4
“The Church at Thyatira”
September 20, 2009
(Thanks to Denn Guphill for doing most of the work for this sermon)
"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. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead.
Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
’He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:18-29
In our series of “Revealing the Revelation” we come to the church at Thyatira. Thyatira is located about 37 miles southeast of Pergamum. There were no real distinguishing features about the city. It was not situated on a harbor like Ephesus or Smyrna. It wasn’t on at hill like Pergamum. It was in the middle of a valley. Even though it was situated well away from the Mediterranean Sea it was on the road which connected Pergamum and Sardis. This was the Imperial Post Road. The army and all those connected with it travelled on it - so while Thyatira may not have been a large city - it was a thriving city. It was a city of merchants and manufacturing. The city actually had a large number of trade guilds, which were the early equivalent of unions. So it could be said that Thyatira was a union town.
The city is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Paul’s missionary work in Europe. His first convert on that continent was a woman of Thyatira, Lydia. Lydia was a seller of purple cloth – which was a rare item in that day.
Religiously, Thyatira had no special significance. It was not a centre of Caesar worship like Pergamum, or of Greek worship like Ephesus. Religious persecution was not an issue in Thyatira. It was very much “live and let live” when it came to religion. But there was a type of economic persecution that came as a result of the trade guilds we mentioned earlier. These guilds represented different trades in the city - but they were much more then that. The guilds operated much as service clubs do today - like Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions. So their influence in the community was pretty great if you were a businessman.
The problem was that these guilds often held banquets, which more often then not happened in the temple. They would begin and end with a formal sacrifice to the various gods. The meat served during the meals would have been meat offered to one god or another. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the meals often became an excuse for drinking and often degenerated into immorality.
And so the question was: Should the Christian be involved in the guilds when their involvement would include, at the very minimum, attendance at these events. The other option for the Christian of course was to not belong to a guild. However due to the influence of these organizations this option would virtually guarantee economic ruin.
Have you ever been in a position where you’ve had to decide between playing it safe at work or taking a stand for something you believe in? Isn’t easy is it.
So what then was the response of the Thyatira church? Jesus begins by introducing himself and this time there is no missing the description. He is pretty plain and simple. He says, in Revelation 2:18,
“This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze”
Most commentators agree that this is a description of two of Jesus attributes. That he is all 1. seeing and all 2. powerful. Some think the description of his eyes reflects his anger over sin and, also, that he sees deep into our hearts and interior motives. “Eyes bright like flames of fire”!
Bronze was the strongest and most impressive metal of this day. With the feet you could kick or stomp or destroy. The feet held everything else up. So feet of bronze represented power.
Jesus begins this letter to the Thyatirians, as he does in all but one of his letters, with praise. Plus – minus – plus. In this case he says (Revelation 2:19)
“I know all the things you do— your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”
Notice that none of these traits are passive - they are all active and they are all positive. Jesus begins with the words “I know all the things you do”.
We keep coming back to this, Jesus knows everything we do. Did you catch that Jesus knows everything we do, the good the bad and the ugly? He knows it all. When you helped the little old lady across the street - He saw that. The extra money you slipped into the offering box - he knows that. The time you spend in prayer and scripture reading, yep he sees that. The time you cussed the driver out who cut you off in traffic, uh-huh. The hurtful thing you said to your spouse or kid - what you read, what you watch and listen to, how you behave. Someone said that character is how you behave when no one is watching. Well, remember Jesus is watching. And if you have any reason to doubt what I say listen to what Jesus says a little further along in the letter. Revelation 2:23 says,
“And 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.”
Scary huh? Now with that said, Jesus begins to tell them what it is that he knows about the church at Thyatira. It’s interesting that three of the four qualities mentioned here are all listed as fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
1) Jesus mentions first their Love. The love mentioned here is not a mamby, pamby, wishy, washy type love that is spoken of in popular media. This isn’t the word that can be used for anything from enjoying anchovy pizza to undying loyalty to your spouse. Instead, this is Agape love - an all giving kind of love. A love that loves regardless of ‘what’s in it for me’. And this type of love can only be put in your heart by Christ himself. It is produced by the Holy Spirit in and through you – with your permission and cooperation.
This is the type of love that Missionary Amy Carmichael defined when she said “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
The second thing that Jesus commends these believers for is 2) Their Faith. This faith isn’t just a believing faith - it’s also a faithfulness. It is a stick-to-it-ness that overcomes. It is the highest form of loyalty. This is a faith that says “I may not understand or agree - but that’s ok. I’m with you. You can count on me.
Those are the kind of people I value in our church and leadership team. I don’t want people who always agree with me. There is no such animal. But I long for that person who is so faithful – so committed – that I know they are with me, no matter what. I know they got my back. I know I can count on them. If we could always understand God - He wouldn’t be much of a God. He doesn’t ask us to always understand him – or even agree with Him. Instead he asks that we will always trust and obey. And that’s why the Bible says,
“…it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Next, Jesus mentions 3) Their Service. St. Augustine said
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”
Agape love inevitably must express itself in service. And while service isn’t mentioned specifically as a fruit of the Spirit - it is implied in goodness and kindness. If love doesn’t cause you to do something to ease a person’s burden -then it may be pity or sympathy you feel - but it’s not love.
This word service means anything done voluntarily out of love or concern for someone in need. This is what James the brother of Jesus speaks of.
“Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”
(James 2:15-16 )
Tony Campolo tells a story about being a guest speaker at a mission rally in Philadelphia. During the meeting the chairperson reported a prayer request from a missionary doctor in Venezuela. The need for her services was so great she had to turn people away. So she wanted to raise $5000 to add on to the medical centre.
Having shared the prayer point, the chairperson asked Tony to lead the meeting in prayer that the $5000 would be raised. He refused. He said he would only pray after every person in the room had emptied their pockets and placed all their cash on the table at the front. Then he would pray for God to make up the shortfall.
Tony began by putting his hand into his pocket and pulling out everything he had that day - just $2.25. He put it down on the table and then asked the chairperson to do the same. She hesitated, "Thank you Dr Campolo. I think we’ve all got the point."
"No! I don’t think we have!" said Tony. "My $2.25 is on the altar. Now it’s your turn!"
So the startled and embarrassed woman opened her wallet and pulled out the $10 she had in it. Tony then went round the room and got every person to do the same. By the time they finished they had $8000. Tony concluded by saying, "The audacity of asking God for five thousand dollars, when He has already provided us with more than eight thousand dollars. We should not be asking God to supply our needs. He already has.”
Jesus commended these people for 4) Their Patient Endurance. This is another part of the fruit of the spirit. This endurance comes from the faith that God is in control and is coming again. It’s not a resignation to whatever happens, “Oh well, can’t change it! I might as well live with it.” B.C. Forbes said, “Many a man thinks he is patient when, in reality, he is indifferent.”
Do you truly believe that God is in control, no matter what? This book is full of promises - promises for today and promises for tomorrow. Promises for the here and now, and promises for the there and then. But unless you read the book you won’t know what the promises are. If you know the promises it will instill a hope, a trusting expectation, and it will enable you to endure.
And then I love this next statement: And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. 5) Their Growth. Do you remember what the church in Ephesus was criticized for? For losing their first love. And at that time we spoke of how our initial response to the gospel is often full of enthusiasm and then as time goes along it cools down, we lose our first love. But that wasn’t the case here. They just kept getting better and better. Christianity isn’t supposed to be stagnant. It is supposed to be vibrant and exciting. It’s supposed to get better and better. It’s supposed to be about growth. That’s why the bible
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowships with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Not if we stand or sit in the light - but if we “walk” in the light. It is a matter of growth. Could Jesus look down at your Christian life and say “I can see your constant improvement in all these things?” Or are you a case of arrested development. You grew for a little while and then you stopped. And don’t blame me, too many people blame the pastor saying “Well I’m just not being fed on Sunday” What would happen if you only ate food on Sunday? You’d starve to death – eventually. Some of us it would take awhile. My prayer when someone tells me that, is “Lord, teach them to eat.” It’s up to you to grow, and by growing you become the Christian you are supposed to be. Motivational speaker Les Brown summed it up when he said “In the end, it is the person you become, not the things you have achieved, that is the most important.”
About this time the church must be feeling pretty good about themselves. Jesus seems pretty pleased with them - until we read the word “BUT”. Generally, after the “but” comes the truth. Jesus goes on to say Revelation 2:20-21.
“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 is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality.”
He’s talking about 6) Their Compromise. Before we examine the complaint that Jesus has against this church – let’s realize that those qualities that the church in Thyatira are being praised for are wonderful! Many, many Christians lack those qualities in their lives. But just because they had so many good things going for them doesn’t excuse them from their faults.
Whoever this woman was - she had convinced some of the believers in the church that she was a prophet. She was speaking for God. She had convinced them “SHE knew God’s will.” And she taught them that they could indulge in actions that were not acceptable Christian behavior and not be afraid of the ultimate consequences. In other words, that they could sin – and get away with it. Anyone ever tell you that you can be a sinning Christian? The Bible says, “I write these things so you won’t sin.” Jesus said,
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30
Does that sound like Jesus will just wink at sin? And when I say “sin”, I am defining it as a “willful rebellion against the known will of God.” Not “a deviation from the perfect will of God.” That definition has to be incorrect because then Jesus would have sinned. His will was different from God’s. He prayed “Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
I’m not sure what sin this “Jezebel” convinced these people was okay – but it wasn’t. Sin always has consequences. It always hurts. Even forgiven –it scars. Someone said,
“Sin will take you further than you want to go. It will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay.”
Now, the church in Thyatira didn’t go from being a model church one day to a church involved in these practices the next. And as a church we need to learn from that. I’m sure, if ten years before, the congregation in Thyatira had been told what they would accept eventually they would have denied it quite sincerely. “Not us! Never!” And yet here they were.
The fact remains today that as we lower our standards in a few things, it becomes increasingly easier to lower them in all things. Those of us “Old Timers” remember that happening to Television. When I was a kid, almost all stories had a good moral to them. There was no cursing or anything thing like that. But year after year – it got a little worse. An old middle eastern proverb says “Once the camel puts his nose in the door of your tent if won’t be long before he is sleeping in your bed.” I’m sure that the phrase that Jezebel used was “everyone else is doing it.” And the major downfall of this church was their toleration of sin.
Regardless of the outward appearance of religion - regardless of the wonderful things a church does, regardless of how accepted a church is - if it‘s leadership has gotten to the place where sin is tolerated - then the church has become apostate and adulterous.
Once we forsake the Bible as the ultimate authority for our beliefs, our actions and our morals, we have lost the right to be called a Christian church. The warning then is this: a church that is crowded with people and overflowing with activity is not necessarily a real church. It is possible for a church to be crowded because its people come to be entertained, not instructed. To be soothed - instead of confronted with their sin and the offer of salvation. It may be a highly popular Christian Country Club rather then a real Christian church.
And then we read in Revelation 2:24-26
“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching. 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, I will give authority over all the nations.”
7) Their Promise There it is again! Hold tightly! Be victorious! Don’t give up! What happened to the church in Thyatira isn’t limited to churches. Individuals can fall as far and as hard as an entire congregation. Men and women who once accepted the authority of Christ and the direction of the word of God, can began to falter. And one sin leads to another, and another, until finally they are no different then the world. But they refuse to give up the title “Child of the King.” Whether they are entitled to heaven or not will never be resolved this side of eternity, but they should not smear the name of Jesus with their actions. They have the power to make Christianity look bad – and many do. But the promises of Christ are to those who overcome and are obedient until the end.
I don’t want to sin. I want to live a holy life. I believe with the instruction from God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit – I can do that. Otherwise – why would God command such a thing as holiness? Be perfect? No. We can’t do that. Be error free? Not possible. But our hearts and intentions can be pure and holy. And we are a holiness church. I want you to understand that the Church of the Nazarene is a holiness church. We strive for it. We exist to promote it. We are here to help you live a victorious and holy life. We are here to help you to become ‘Christlike’. That’s our mission. But it has to be your desire.
If you have compromised a little bit; if you have allowed sin to enter into your heart and life – Jesus makes it easy to be forgiven and cleansed. All we have to do is confess our sins and invite Him in. Pray a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus,
Forgive me for compromising. Forgive me for sinning. I want you to take my sins away and make me holy. Break my will so that I only desire to do your will. Shape me into your image. Make me Christlike in word, thought and deed.
In Jesus name,
