Opener:
We are excited to be here as we are continuing our sermon series this morning on the seven churches found in the book of Revelations.
We have already looked at the church located in Ephesus, who they had forsaken their first love. The second church we looked at was Smyrna who experienced persecution and were encouraged not to live in fear but to have faith. The third church Pergamum where some appeared to be seduced and were displaying a morally compromised lifestyle. This morning, we are looking at the church in Thyatira, this church appears to tolerate sin and teaching that was misleading some believers.
One of the key buzzwords in our world today is being politically correct. We are told in the media that we need to be tolerant of others. To be tolerant is one of the most highly prized goals of personal or self actualization. The so called academic and cultural elites push this agenda.
We are told that we need to tolerate, to allow and to include those that have different ideas and lifestyles than us. One of the things that we entirely stay away from is being judgmental. If you display any kind of thoughts or beliefs that would push back against any kind of sin, you are then treated as a back woods hillbilly and someone that is not sophisticated.
While there is certainly a balance and we do not judge others, we also have a standard that God has set forth in the Bible and we are called to live by that standard. Jesus accepts people where they are at, but He does not want them to stay there, He wants them to meet His standard. Not the other way around.
There is a great paradox to these so called tolerant people, while they push Christians to be tolerant, yet they show complete intolerance to Christianity. All their rules apply to everyone except if you are a Christian, well then they can treat you like trash.
As we look at our church Thyatira there are some things that we need to know. This city was founded by Alexander the Great. It was actually named by Alexander in commemoration to his daughter’s birth. While this city is the smallest of the previous cities, it is the longest letter so far. It is interesting that the Lord has a lot to say to this compromising church. This town was a military town that was built to serve as a decoy to guard the capital city of Pergamos which was about 40 miles away. This town was an industrial city that had bronze workers, potters, tanners and dyers of wool. One of the main industries was to make brass armor which was exported to wealthier cities. Another big industry was wool and then dyeing that wool. They used a bluish/purple dye that was extremely rare and expensive at the time. This purple die came from two sources, the root of a plant and from a small shellfish. To give you an idea, just one gram of this valuable dye took 8,500 small shellfish. These garments that they were producing were very popular with royalty particularly the ruling class in Rome. As with all these letters to the churches, this letter commends the church and then gives some correction which is followed by advice in order to overcome.
With that being said, let’s hop into our text this morning found in Revelation: 2:18-29 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: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 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. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 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. 24 “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. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 27 ‘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; 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 Son of God
A. The Counselor
a. There is so much in this first verse there in our text. Let’s take another look there at verse 18: 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:
b. When looking at the saying: The Son of God, this text, it is interesting to note that the Lord only uses this reference just once in the book of revelation and that is here.
c. This really is an act humility in pointing to the fact that yes He is The Son of God, yet He suffered tremendously. Something that the church as going through at the time.
d. The book of Hebrews 2:17-18 NKJV17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
B. Eyes like fire
a. The eyes of the Lord see everything. There is absolutely nothing that His gaze misses.
b. There is no amount of disguise that will cover sin, nothing can be hidden from the Lord.
c. Truly, the Lord is the divine judge and there is nothing that evades the Lord’s attention.
d. This reminder keeps us in place of repentance and should deter us from living a loosely committed life.
e. The higher you view God, the higher devotion that you will have towards Him.
C. Feet of brass
a. John see’s Jesus feet that are like brass.
b. Jesus feet will step down on seductive teaching and compromise. His feet will come down on false teachers.
c. Jezebel was claiming to be a prophetess, she was claiming to be the voice from God and yet the Lord deals sufficiently with her and those that were following her.
d. These are feet that are glowing like bronze because they are feet of purity, they are feet of holiness.
II. Good Works
A. The good
a. Let’s go back to verse 19: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
b. I love the fact that the Lord starts out with the positive things first.
c. The Lord puts these positive things in four different categories; Love, Service, faith, and greater works.
B. Love
a. The love of this church was powerful. It was the love that they had for the Lord and the love that they had for one another that got the Lord’s attention.
b. Not only were they loving well, they were serving those in the church and in the community. This church was active in the town of Thyatira.
c. They had a powerful faith as well. They were dependable people, if they said they were going to do something, they followed through with what they committed.
d. This church was really doing a nice job in perseverance. They did not quit when others would have. They ran their race well.
III. The challenge
A. The bad
a. It was no doubt great hearing all the positives things. Then the Lord calls the church out because of things that they were falling short.
b. Let’s go to verse 20 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. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 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.
c. Let me say this, When times of correction come, this can be very disheartening in our lives.
d. This can really challenge us to the core of who we are.
B. Internal compromise
a. It is interesting because a lot of the other churches were experiencing a tremendous persecution. This church was not experiencing this, but they were in a place that they were compromising.
b. This compromising came from inside the church.
c. If the devil cannot destroy the church from outward persecution, then he will use people within to destroy the church.
d. I have seen and heard of several churches that have been destroyed by internal conflict.
e. This all starts with the devil getting a foothold in a person’s life and they then become an instrument used by the devil.
f. That is scary, and really why it is so important that we have to be careful in our life and what say and do particularly when it comes to the church!
g. God will drastically judge those that have worked to destroy the church! We need to protect the church at all cost!
C. Story of compromise
a. Back in 1931, Irving Thalberg of MGM decided he wanted to buy the film rights to Tarzan, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. So Thalberg sent Sam Marx to negotiate with Burroughs, telling Marx not to spend more than $100,000, an extraordinarily large sum in those days. Marx contacted Burroughs and asked how much he wanted for the film rights. "$100,000," said Burroughs. When Marx offered him $25,000, Burroughs walked out of the meeting. However, Marx and Burroughs continued to negotiate throughout the summer. Burroughs eventually settled for $40,000. After signing the contract, Burroughs admitted that he had wanted MGM and Thalberg to make the picture so badly, they could have had it for nothing if they had insisted. "Mr. Burroughs," replied Marx, "If you had held out, you would have gotten $100,000!"
b. Compromise can definitely cost you something.
D. Jezebel
a. The main point here is this church gave way to this character named Jezebel.
b. Jezebel was one of the most wickedest women found in the bible.
c. She was a worshiper of Baal (Devil Worship) and she infiltrated Israel with this immoral worship.
d. She encouraged everyone to participate in this ungodly worship.
e. Jezebel was a self proclaimed prophetess, she claimed that God had given her a special gift and that everyone needed to hear her.
E. Her agenda
a. Jezebel was teaching things contrary to the Word of God. She was seducing the people by misleading them, but presenting with them human logic verses the Word.
b. She was encouraging those to commit fornication; she was pushing believers to worship idols.
c. Those that were following Jezebel would suffer because they would be thrown into a bed of sickness.
d. Those that refused to separate themselves from the world and to change their lifestyle would suffer greatly.
IV. Turn it around
A. Repent
a. After sharing their misdeeds, the Lord encourages those to repent of their sin.
b. Jesus does not mince His words and sin is sin.
c. Jesus shares in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 that sin is more than an act, it actually is a matter that is in ones hearts.
d. We must always confront and reject sin within our hearts.
e. If we do not, it will spread like wildfire in our lives not only in one area but to many areas of our lives.
B. A way out
a. The truth is, that God will always give us a way out.
b. In fact the bible says 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
c. Friend, God is faithful, He will always give you a way out.
d. Always, look for that way! When you keep your eyes on Jesus, your path will be light up and you will see that way!
Closing:
As we wrap up our time here this morning, we can be encouraged to persevere in our faith. When we walk humbly with Jesus, we will grow deeper in our faith. The encouragement here is to hold fast to the Lord. Do not allow compromise in your life, knowing that compromise would lead to a pollution of your soul which will dissuade you from following the Lord. Don’t allow your life to be spiritually calloused. If you do, your heart will grow cold and you will find yourself far away from the Lord. Jesus is calling the church to be overcomers in their lives. The difference between a believer who overcomes and the one who refuses is one simple thing. That is repentance. The person who refuses to repent will only find themselves in a bed of suffering that will bring about a spiritually deadness in their lives. Therefore, we are encouraged to live humbly and be quick to repent so sin does not take root in our lives! Amen!
